General Meeting Minutes
Harmony Library
Harmony and
Community Room
President Ken Goldsberry called the meeting to order at
Slideshow Presentation
President Goldsberry introduced Dolores Ray and her daughter, Dawn Ray, who had prepared a slideshow of Society activities from 2004-2006. Dolores thanked those who had helped provide the pictures: Bob Larson, Gwen Kelly, Cathi Smith and Sonny Hygh. She also thanked her daughter, Dawn, who was instrumental in organizing the show. The members enjoyed seeing pictures, set to music, of various Society activities of the last two years including annual picnics, Christmas get-togethers, general meetings and workshops.
President’s Report
President Goldsberry next presented his President’s Report for 2006 (see attached). The report described all of the progress made by the various Society committees and also included a month-by-month listing of all Society Activities.
Some of the highlights of the report included a description of the Budget and Finance Committee which has set a budget for 2007. The budget will allow the Society to better plan income and expenditures in the future. The Treasurer’s section of the report detailed the creation of a new form of record keeping which details monthly income and expenses as well as year to date balances. This section of the report also reported briefly on the success of the Affiliates Program on the Society Website. Through these programs, the Society made over $100 in 2006.
Education and Outreach was another successful committee in 2006. Gwen Kelly, Kathy Patrick and Louise Mosnick developed a well-received Girl Scout Heritage Merit Badge Program which other societies have expressed interest in using.
The Archival Committee (formerly Historical) has been accumulating old Society photos and information. Cathi Smith has been working on 2004, 2005 and 2006 Society scrapbooks. The Society is interested in working backwards in time with these scrapbooks and may ask long-term members for help identifying older photos.
Many members have donated money to the “Goodies Jar” and have also brought treats to various meetings. President Goldsberry and Committee Chairperson Marge Abrames thanked everyone for their help.
Bob Larson has been the “substitute” committee chair for Membership for several months. He reported that there were 155 members of the Society in 2006. Dale Eriksen has recently agreed to become the new Membership Chair. Bob Larson has also been the editor of the newsletter. Bob collected information and articles which he then forwarded to Kareen Whatley. She organized the newsletter using Publisher software. Julia Hillen has been in charge of mailing out the newsletter.
Publications sold over $900 worth of publications in 2006. In addition to selling the Society publications, Publications also has several videos that may be useful to researchers. These are available for members to check out and view.
Kathy Patrick is chairman of the Publicity Committee. She is
responsible for
informing the general public about the Society’s programs.
The Society receives few requests for research at this time. Requests that are received are referred to Carol Stetser or Al Boswell. The Society may wish to publicize the availability of research in the future.
Dolores Ray is the Society Webmaster. 2006 saw several new programs on the website
including the formation of a “website member” category for researchers outside
the local area who may want to access the databases that the Society has placed
online. In addition, local
At the conclusion of the President’s Report, a break was taken for refreshments and conversation. Since the January meeting is the annual dessert potluck, the treats were varied and delicious. At this point the Hospitality Committee also passed around a clipboard for members to sign to bring goodies to various meetings during 2007.
Election of Officers
Nominating Committee Chairperson Dale Eriksen reported that the Society has four vacancies including: President, Corresponding Secretary, one-year at-large director and two-year at-large director. He reported that the committee is re-nominating Ken Goldsberry as President and Carolyn Jones as Corresponding Secretary. Hap Hazard has been nominated as one-year at-large director, and Bob Grundborg has been nominated as two-year at-large director. After reading the list of candidates, it was moved and seconded that they be accepted. The resolution passed unanimously.
Storytellers
At this point President Goldsberry read the members an article about how one member of every family is “called” to be the storyteller of the family. This person feels compelled to accumulate and pass along the stories of the tribe so that they are not lost. Following, Ken reported that he has a handout available on ways to do family history.
Committee Reports
Recycle Table
Cathi Smith reported that the Recycle Table has a number of new items for sale including bumper stickers, magazines and books. Everyone is encouraged to donate items and shop the table at meetings.
Education and Outreach
Chairperson Dolores Ray handed out a 2007 Program and Workshop sheet (see attached). Thirteen workshops are planned for 2007. She reported that Gwen and Joe Kelly will be presenting a program on using Publisher software on February 3 and 17. In addition, a workshop on “Researching your Genealogy on the Internet” will also be presented on February 3. Registration forms for these workshops are also attached.
As part of outreach several programs are planned. These include the Girl Scout Heritage Merit Badge, a Teen Genealogy Program and an Oral History Program.
Dolores stated that she needs to retire as chairperson of the E & O committee. She reports that many programs are already set up and that the committee works as a team. It merely requires someone to volunteer to continue the work in progress. If members don’t volunteer to get involved, many of the programs started in the past won’t be able to continue in the future. She confirmed that the committee is a great group and asked members to consider joining it.
Website
Webmaster Dolores Ray recommended that members continue to use the affiliate programs to access Amazon.com and Ancestry.com through the Society website.
She also reported that the password protected section of the website will be instigating a new password as of February 1. Members will receive the new password when they renew membership.
Genealogy Gems
Several members recounted genealogy gems. Julia Hillen reported on finding records of several of her husband’s trips as a government employee. These are trips he doesn’t speak much about, so it was thrilling to find documentation of them. Carol Stetser reported that these records are undoubtedly on Ancestry.com, which has placed a number of relatively recent immigration records online. These are definitely worth checking out.
Margo Butner reported that she found an obituary for her great grandmother on one of the US Gen Web sites. The obituary was full of useful information.
Ken reported finding immigration data on an ancestor whom he had previously been unable to locate.
Finally, Dolores Ray mentioned that Ancestry.com subscriptions can be ordered through the Society Affiliate program. Ancestry is relatively inexpensive at present, so this is a good time to subscribe or renew.
Final Thoughts
President Goldsberry concluded by reminding members that the Society still needs a Publications Chairperson, an Education and Outreach Chairperson and a Newsletter Editor. Bob Larson has recently resigned as Newsletter Editor, and Ken thanked him for all of his hard work in making the Society newsletter one of the best. Ken reiterated how important it is for members to get involved in the Society.
At this point several items were given away in a drawing including a book called “Memories of Railroading”, a genealogy lapel pin and a wall-sized pedigree chart.
The meeting was adjourned at