RGS minutes 2003/2004

June, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
June 17, 2004
Mt. Hope Cemetery

This meeting was the annual outing held each June.

After a picnic lunch was enjoyed by approximately 35 people,a walking tour of the Mt. Hope Cemetery was guided by Dr. Emil Homerin, Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion and Classics of the University of Rochester. Dr. Homerin discussed not only the significance of some of the grave markers but the meanings of style and the gravestone art of different periods. In visiting the Anthony plot, he discussed the simpleness of the Quaker tradition from which Susan B. Anthony came before her change to the Unitarian Church.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

May, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
May 20, 2004
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Larry Blackman conducted the meeting in the absence of Roy Thurston, Vice President for Programs, who was in Salt Lake City. He introduced Mr. Peter Van Der Voorn and Mrs. Evelyn DeSoto, who spoke on Dutch genealogical research. Mr. Van Der Voorn was born in Haarlem in the Netherlands and immigrated with his parents in 1957. He has done extensive research at the local Family History Center and via the Internet. In 1998 he published a history of the Van Der Voorn family. Mrs. DeSoto is first-generation American, both of her parents having been born in the Netherlands. She is particularly interested in the Province of Zeeland and has made numerous research trips there.

Business Meeting
Larry Lavery conducted the business meeting in the absence of Jim Swarts who was in China.

The nominating committee, chaired by Cal Graziano, submitted the following slate of candidates: Vice President for Programs, James Hutton; Treasurer, Peter Bush; Membership Secretary, Patricia Mims; Historian/Genealogist, Marian Henry. There were no nominations from the floor. The candidates were elected unanimously.
The next CIG meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2004. Paul Blake will speak on organizing and displaying digital pictures.
Officers and Committee Chairs were recognized. Handouts of reports on the continuous loop were available on the Up for Grabs table.
Survey sheets for the society’s annual state and county survey were distributed. Members were encouraged to indicate locations for their current research interests as an aid in planning the 2004-2005 programs.
The next Board of Directors meeting is Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 6:30 pm, at the Family History Center.
There were four first time visitors.
The annual book donation to the Local History section of the Rundel Library was presented to Larry Naukam by Marian Henry on behalf of the Board.

Main Program
The main program was a “Stump the Experts” session. The panel accepting questions consisted of Ruth Metzler, Jim Hutton, Larry Naukam, Paul Blake, and Ozzie Salyards. Questions focused on, but were not limited to, computers and use of the internet.

Marian Henry
in the absence of Kathryn Heintz, Recording Secretary

April, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
April 15, 2004
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

This meeting is the annual Joint meeting with the Kodak Genealogical Society. RGS President Jim Swarts opened the meeting by introducing Dr. Marian Henry, President of the Kodak Genealogical Society who conducted a short meeting of that group.

Business Meeting
Jim Swarts began the business meeting by reading a letter from Peter Bush who resigned from the Nominating Committee. Cal Graziano, chairman, of the Nominating Committee then presented a slate of candidates to be voted on at the May meeting. They are as follows: Vice President for Program, Jim Hutton; Treasurer, Peter Bush; Membership Secretary, Pat Mims; and Historian/Genealogist, Marian Henry.

Roger Heintz has volunteered to be the new Webmaster for the RGS website.
Larry Naukam announced that there are two new on-line subscriptions available at the Rundel Library newenglandancestors.org and otherdays.com.
Jim introduced the Officers and Committee Chairs.
The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on the continuously running slide show during the break. Handouts from the continuous loop tape were made available on the Up for Grabs table.
There were eight first time visitors.

Main program
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, introduced Ms. Linda Jonas, whose topic was “Genealogical Research in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.” She discussed search strategies using familysearch.org, the importance of gazeteers, and the particular value of British census records. Her excellent handout explains the use of Boyd’s Marriage Indexes (England) and Griffith’s Primary Valuation ( Ireland), as well as many other resources.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

March, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
March 18, 2004
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Ms. Mary Lester, who sang several Irish and Scottish folk songs, accompanying herself on the Gaelic floor harp.

Business Meeting
Jim Swarts began the business meeting by announcing the Nominating Committee, composed of Cal Graziano, chairman, Peter Bush, Rebecca Ott and Pat Southcombe. The committee will present a slate of candidates at the May meeting for the positions of Vice President for Program, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Historian/Genealogist.

The next CIG meeting on April 8, 2004 will feature Bruce Hahn of Hahn Graphics who will discuss the use of digital photography in capturing images of library materials that are too fragile to copy or scan.
A new Webmaster for the RGS website is needed. An important part of this job is to update the website monthly.
Barb Kohler has volunteered to be in charge of the Mt. Hope III project. She will be contacting those who have packets for this project.
Jim introduced the Officers and Committee Chairs.
The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on the continuously running slide show during the break. As an experiment, handouts from the continuous loop tape were made available on the Up for Grabs table as an experiment to improve the dispensing of information more efficiently.
Cal Graziano thanked everyone who participated in the survey of member interests. Many suggestions for speakers and for field trips were received, as well as volunteers for various functions.
The next Board of Directors meeting is Thursday, April 29, at 7:00 at the Family History Center.
There were three first time visitors.

Main program
Ms. Mary McMahon, President of the Irish American Cultural Institute, spoke on the topic, “Aspects of Irish Genealogy.” The mission of her organization is to put people together, in Ireland and here. She reported that the Irish government in Dublin is making a substantial effort to get the Irish records in one place, sometimes putting them into databases. She mentioned some of the sources in Ireland which are useful to genealogists.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

February, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
February 19, 2004
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Dr. Emil Homerin, Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion and Classics at the University of Rochester, who spoke on the topic, "Speaking Stones." Dr. Homerin, who teaches a class centered on Mt. Hope Cemetery, discussed various aspects of the cemetery, iconography, history, epitaphs, and religious customs bearing on burial practices. He mentioned various projects which his students have done and some unexpected outcomes.

Business Meeting
Jim Swarts began the business meeting with the announcement of Jim Paprocki’s resignation as Chairman of the Mt. Hope Project III. He will need a volunteer to take on this responsibility. A Nominating Committee needs to be appointed by next meeting and Jim is looking for volunteers. Also needed is someone to maintain the Up for Grabs table.

Jim introduced the Officers and Committee Chairs.
The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on the continuously running slide show during the break.
The next Board of Directors meeting is Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 at the Family History Center.
Bob Coomber announced that anyone interested in the research trip to Salt Lake City should indicate that to Bob tonight.
The deadline for the next Hear Ye Hear Ye is March 1. Editor Dick Halsey is interested in submissions from any members.
Larry Naukam announced that the Rundel Library has CDs of Mt. Hope Cemetery records. He also announced that an index of New York state birth, marriage and death records would be online soon.
There were two first time visitors.

Main program
Dr. Marian Henry, President of the Kodak Genealogical Society and Historian/Genealogist of the Rochester Genealogical Society, spoke on the topic, “Vital Records in Upstate New York before 1880.” She discussed the work of three individuals, Roy Vosburg, Gertrude Barber, and Fred Bowman, and outlined the areas and dates where each worked and the types of records (land records, will extracts, church records, newspaper extracts) that each compiled. Dr. Henry also indicated the locations where these various compilations can be found, including the Rundel Library and the Family History Center.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

January, 2004

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
January 15, 2004
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Mr. Larry Lavery, Vice President of the Rochester Genealogical Society Computer Interest Group who spoke on the topic, "GPS... You'll Never Ask for Directions Again." Mr. Lavery discussed the handheld gps units and how they can be useful in locating places such as cemeteries which are important in our genealogical research.

Business Meeting
Jim Swarts conducted a very abbreviated business meeting, with the goal of shortening the total length of the meeting. There was poor attendance because of severe cold and snowy weather.

The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on the continuously running slide show during the break.

Main program
Dr. Seymour I. Schwartz, Professor in the Department of Surgery of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, spoke on the topic, "Names on the Land." Dr. Schwartz has an interest in geography and map making and is an important collector of maps of North America. He discussed the evolution of the geographic representation of the United States through a study of maps and map making.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

November, 2003

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
November 20, 2003
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Ms. Judi Baker who discussed her experience tracing her African American ancestry. Hers was an inspiring story of research using LDS records, the internet and also traveling to North Carolina in search of her family.

Business Meeting
President Jim Swarts opened the business meeting by introducing Cal Graziano. Cal had developed a survey to determine the interests of RGS members in order to assist the Planning Committee in planning programs. The survey was distributed and with Cal's assistance everyone completed it in a few minutes. The survey will also be printed in the Winter Hear Ye Hear Ye for the input of those who were not at the meeting.

Jim Swarts then conducted a very abbreviated business meeting.
He announced that Jim Hutton would be the December CIG speaker, discussing the family history book he has written.
The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on the continuously running slide show during the break.
There were eight responses to the call for first time visitors.

Main program
Dr. Milton Sernett, Professor of African American Studies and History and Adjunct Professor of Religion at Syracuse University, spoke on the topic, "North Star Shining: New York State's Freedom Trail - an Illustrated Journey along the Underground Railroad." Dr. Sernett traced several movements - the temperance movement, women's suffrage and the abolitionist movement, all of which evolved in the burned over district of western New York. He discussed how these various struggles were related to one another and the contributions to them of Frederick Douglas, Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman as well as lesser known leaders.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

October, 2003

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
October 16, 2003
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Mrs. Colleen Hurst, Historian of the Susan B. Anthony House, who spoke on the topic, "A Firebrand in Our Midst." She discussed the life of Susan B. Anthony and the importance of her House as a community resource.

Business Meeting
President Jim Swarts opened the business meeting by introducing the officers and committee chairs.

The reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian were on a continuously running slide show during the break.

Main program
Dr. Judith Wellman, President and Historian of the Historical New York Research Associates spoke on the topic, "The Mystery of the First Women's Rights Convention, Seneca Falls, New York, Who Came and Why?" Dr. Wellman discussed some of the signers of the "Declaration of Sentiments" at the first women's rights meeting. She mentioned that she has been unable to find much information on a few of the signers and she asked anyone who might have any information on any of these people to please contact her. The names are listed in the Hear Ye Hear Ye Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2003.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

September, 2003

Rochester Genealogical Society
General Meeting
September 18, 2003
Asbury First United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY

Mini-Workshop
Roy Thurston, Vice President for Program, opened the meeting by introducing Michael Meggison whose topic was the Bush family ancestors of Presidents George Herbert Walker and George W. Bush and their Rochester connections. A number of Bush ancestors lived in Rochester and were involved in different occupations here.

Business Meeting
Retiring President Paul Blake opened the business meeting by handing off the gavel to new President James Swarts who welcomed everyone to a new year. Jim then thanked Paul for an excellent job for two years and presented him with a plaque.

Jim announced that volunteers are needed for the positions of Publications Chair and Other Society Liaison.
Jim then introduced all the officers and committee chairs of RGS. He announced that, as had been the case last year, the reports of the Corresponding Secretary (queries), the Treasurer, the Other Society Liaison and the Tape Librarian will be on a continuously running slide show during the break.
Larry Lavery, Vice President for CIG, announced a change in meeting date for the October CIG meeting. It will be held October 2 and the program will be on Roots Magic.
Ozzie Salyards, Chair of the Education Committee, announced three genealogy programs to be held in November, December, and January at Rundel Library.
Bob Coomber announced that the 2004 Salt Lake City trip will have a new lower rate and feature a 6 night option in addition to the usual 7 nights.
It was announced that long-time RGS member Larry Naukum has been appointed Head of the Local History Division at Rundel.
Historian/Genealogist Marian Henry announced that henceforth it wil be possible to view the surname list at each meeting. The list has become too long to mail out to members and is also available on our web page.
Julie Steitz announced that the New York Chapter of Palatines to America will meet on October 11 in Johnstown, NY.
Bags imprinted with the RGS logo will be for sale at each meeting for $20.
There were nine responses to the call for first time visitors.

Main program
Mr. Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, New York Department of State, gave a very interesting talk entitled "Building a Culture of Openness." Mr. Freeman discussed the work of his committee which is non-partisan and responds to queries from government officials as well as ordinary citizens. He makes rulings on questions pertaining to open meetings laws, access to records and FOIL, the freedom of information law.

Kathryn Heintz
Recording Secretary

Rochester Genealogical Society, Inc.

Minutes of RGS Meetings

2003/2004