WSGS
The Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program provides recognition to those individuals who have been identified by their local genealogical organization to be honored for exceptional efforts. The Washington State Genealogical Society (WSGS) started this program, not as a competition between organizations, but as a means for societies or groups to give widespread recognition to their best volunteers. WSGS produces award certificates using brief narratives of accomplishments and digital photographs. The awards are announced at the WSGS annual meeting and conference, and the certificates are given to those honored volunteers who are present. Remaining award certificates are sent to the originating society for presentation. The narrative is also abstracted into the WSGS Newsletter and onto the WSGS website to show others around the state what good works volunteers do.
Generally, awards are given in two general categories: (1) for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of their home society, and (2) for outstanding efforts in the identification, preservation, dissemination or publication of information of genealogical importance and value to researchers interested in the families of Washington State.
TCGS
TriCity Genealogical Society Board Award is given in recognition of “Extra Mile Service” to the Society and the community it represents. The Award will be presented at the November Annual Meeting to one or two persons when the Board decides a selection is appropriate.
2017
Art Kelly was selected for his dedication and enthusiasm to improve his local society. Read More
Janis Littlefield was selected for her commitment to advance the society’s technological presence and efficiency. Read More
The TCGS Library Recataloging & Renumbering Team, Sandra Floberg, Veronica, Anguiano, Linda Stephens, Dan Metzger, Mikal McKinnon & Margie Beldin, was selected as the TCGS recipient of the WSGS Outstanding Team Award. Read More
2015
Margie Beldin is recognized for untiring support of TCGS as its Education Chair for many years. Read More
Veronica Anguiano has distinguished herself in untiring support of the TCGS as its Research Chair. She has also been heavily involved in re-cataloging the TCGS library holdings to make them searchable in the Catalog search on FamilySearch.org website. Read More
2014
Donna Potter Phillips is recognized for her leadership, knowledge, and volunteer efforts toward the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Read more
Linda Stephens is recognized for her leadership, knowledge, and volunteer efforts toward the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Read more
2013
Pat Ballowe is recognized by TCGS for going the extra mile when she touched every book, microfiche and microfilm while updating the holdings list for the TCGS Library (see certificate).
Linda Stephens is recognized by TCGS for going the extra mile when she helps the Publications Committee to resolve concerns & issues for each bulletin and proofreads the bulletin before release. She has also proofread many of the scanned indexes to the 52 years of TCGS bulletins in preparation for an All Surname index to our Bulletin (see certificate).
John Covey of Richland, Washington is recognized by WSGS for his leadership and innovation in making genealogical records available to members of the Tri-City Genealogical Society and others interested in records about Tri-City area residents. Read more
Gordy Freeman of Richland, Washington is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. He served two terms as Treasurer and as the WSGS 2011 Conference Treasurer. Read more
2012
Susan Davis Faulkner of Kennewick, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional leadership and consistent support of the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Read More
Janet Lemon McKinnon of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional leadership and consistent support of the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Janet McKinnon has served the Tri-City Genealogical Society with distinction as the Vice President and Program Chair from 2010 through 2012, performing many tasks that helped to support the Society’s mission and broaden an understanding of genealogy. Read More
Gary Kenneth Miller of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts to provide information of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society researchers and others interested in the families of the Tri-Cities and Washington State. Read More
2011
Mikal “Mike” A. McKinnon of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to the Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Read more.
Wilburn Lee Smith of Pasco, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Lee Smith is once again recognized for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operations of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Read more.
2010
Sandra (Meacham) Floberg, of Kennewick, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Read More
Roger Arnold Thiede, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to the Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Roger Thiede has been an active member of the Tri-City Genealogical Society’s School Census Transcription Project for more than five years. Read More
2009
Patricia (Rotan) Gould of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Patricia Gould has provided cheerful support to the Tri-City Genealogical Society through exemplary service as the Society’s treasurer. Read More
Stanley and Carolyn (Frantz) Slippern of Richland, Washington, are recognized by WSGS for exemplary and consistent volunteer service to preserve records as a goal and purpose of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. Stan and Carolyn Slippern have distinguished themselves through their steadfast and unwavering dedication to the preservation of accurate records of great genealogical significance to the Tri-City Genealogical Society and the Columbia River Exhibition of History Science and Technology Museum (CREHST). Read More
2008
Ray Baalman, of Pasco, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Ray Baalman serves as the TCGS librarian and board member. Read More
Elaine Stahl Wasil, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Elaine has participated in several records preservation projects and was the research chair. Read More
2007
Richard P. Allen, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Richard Allen has served as Director of the Richland Family History Center (RFHC) for the past sixteen years. Read More
Susan Davis Faulkner, of Kennewick, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Read More
2006
Marjorie Anne Stein Beldin, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Margie Beldin has distinguished herself in untiring support of the Tri-City Genealogical Society as past President, Vice President/Program Chair and Education Chair of the Society. Read More
Janis Wirth Littlefield, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Read More
2005
Clark Denise, of Kennewick, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Clark Denise distinguished himself in support of Tri-City Genealogical Society and other Washington State researchers through his leadership in a project to preserve, index, and make accessible the North Light Studio photographic collection of 16,000 images held by the Columbia River Exhibition of History Science and Technology (CREHST) in Richland. Read More
Anne Nolan, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Anne Nolan distinguished herself in support of Tri-City Genealogical Society and other Washington State researchers through her technical computer skills and untiring data entry efforts in a project to preserve, index, and make accessible the North Light Studio photographic collection of 16,000 images held by the Columbia River Exhibition of History Science and Technology (CREHST) in Richland. Read More
Mary Hahn, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Mary Hahn distinguished herself in untiring support of the Tri-City Genealogical Society as President from 1988 to 1990 and Membership Chairman from 1990 to 2003. Read More
2003
Lois Price, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for outstanding efforts in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to Tri-City Genealogical Society and other researchers interested in the families of Washington State. Lois Price distinguished herself in support of Tri-City Genealogical Society and other Washington State researchers through her unselfish efforts in preserving records and maintaining a significant collection of genealogical material in the Society’s library. Read more
Lee Smith, of Richland, Washington, is recognized by WSGS for exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of Tri-City Genealogical Society. Lee Smith distinguished himself in support of Tri-City Genealogical Society through his untiring efforts to contribute to the Society’s publications, to help ensure Society meetings run smoothly, and to assist others in their research efforts. He has served on the Society’s Board for many years, and assumed the position of Publications Committee Chair upon the resignation of his predecessor. Prior to this he had been the editor of the Society’s Bulletin, which is published 3-4 times per year. After a new Publications Committee Chair was appointed, Lee returned to the post of editor full time, performing this function almost single-handedly. He attends Society meeting with great regularity, getting there early to help set up and staying late to help put things away. He also is the guardian of the Society’s sound system and other equipment, making sure they are available at each gathering. This past spring, Lee led a group of researchers to use the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For several days he helped the handful of members to use the Library’s resources to best advantage. Lee is a tremendous asset to our Society. His constant support and many hours of labor have helped ensure the Society’s success.