Re: LDS Lending Agreement with Quitman Public Library

The following was posted on our Facebook Wood County genealogy page recently. We would like to add our thanks to member and Obituary Chair Person, Mary Ann Niswanger and to member and Quitman Public Library Librarian, Delene Allen.

Delene H Allen posted in Wood County (TX) Genealogy Research Community Delene H Allen 2:32pm Sep 19 Thank you, Mary Ann Koerth Niswanger, for your interest in this service. The contracts are being signed, and the full service should be available by the first of October. The Quitman Public Library has a lending agreement with the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake …

Charles Edward Niswanger 1939-2011

It is with great regret we report the death of Charles Niswanger, husband of member Mary Ann Niswanger. Our prayers and memories are with Mary Ann and her family at this time.

Charles Edward Niswanger, age 72,died Saturday, December 3, 2011 in Mineola, Texas. He was born on Thursday, February 16, 1939 in McLennan County, Texas to the late Lee Franklin and Mattie Niswanger. He was a business owner and the Mayor

Charles Niswanger

of Prosper, Texas in Collin County for seven years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers Bill and Ted Niswanger.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Niswanger of Mineola; a son, William Niswanger of Mineola; a daughter, Sherry Ragsdale and husband Hugh of Alba, Texas; an adopted son Chief Kirk McFarlin and wife Desiree; a brother Fred Niswanger of Teague, Texas; a brother in law, Jim Koerth; a sister, Betty Fletcher of Burleson, Texas; and six grandchildren, Ethen Ragsdale, Charles Ragsdale, Koerth Ragsdale, Natalyn Niswanger and friend Joseph, Jaylyn Niswanger and Greer Niswanger.
Visitation for Charles will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at Beaty Funeral Home in Mineola from 6 – 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Beaty Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Bro. Larry Mitchell, the Rev. Arlon Ragsdale officiating.

Activities & Plans Discussed at First Meeting of Year

Introductions of officers, program plans for Fall 2011, an activity for Old Settler’s Reunion week, and a possible fundraiser project were among the activities at the Pot Luck dinner kicking off the 2011-2012 Wood County, Texas Genealogical Society year September 19 at the Shamburger room at the Quitman Public Library.

A luncheon honoring those who have volunteered time and effort in support of the society activities will be held Monday, October 3 at noon at the Texas Tea Room. We will treat our invited guests to lunch, but the luncheon will be Dutch treat for members attending. It is important that local members who do not have schedule conflicts attend to show support for these folks.

The October 17 regular meeting of the society will be an obituary workshop. All members who have clippings of obituaries or who have been working on our newspapers collected for obituary searching are asked to bring all their papers and clippings to the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting that night. The usual social gathering at Peralta’s Mexican Restaurant will be at 5 p.m., and the Shamburger room at the library will be open at 6 p.m. to help members or the general public with genealogy research questions. Materials also will be made available for beginners to family tree research at the same time.

The society will be responsible for the display case in the library lobby during October in recognition of National Family History month. If you have family history items to display, ideas for the display or would like to help, contact Requisitions and Acquisitions Co-chairs Shirley Bates and Dorothy Harbin next week before the end of September.

Plans were made to provide exhibits at the library during Old Settlers’ Reunion week next year which carry the theme of early families in Wood County. Also, planned was for the society to participate in a fund raiser during the Annual Highway 37 Garage Sale.

A committee consisting of President Ronnie Vance and Requisitions and Acquisitions Co-chair Shirley Bates will work on adoption of criteria for a Distinguished Service Award for deserving members of the society.

Funding a Quitman Public Library subscription to Ancestry.com for use of the general public and members was discussed at the meeting. The biggest question about such a project revolved around funding and how to accomplish that. No motions were made, and further investigation is expected.

Officers and committee chairs were introduced. They are President Ronnie Vance, Vice-President Deason Hunt, Secretary Shirley Patrick, Treasurer Wayne McCluney, and these chairpersons: Ways and Means Ronnie Vance, Editorial Deason Hunt, Membership Shirley Patrick, Budget and Finance Wayne McCluney, Requisition and Acquisition Shirley Bates (co) and Dorothy Harbin (co), Publicity Kathy Lutonsky, Obituary Mary Ann Niswanger, and Hospitality and Gift Sally Allcorn.

President Ronnie Vance thanked all members who helped with the George Morgan workshop and Old Settlers’ Reunion Display

This Year’s Society Business — Dues Can Be Paid Now

Two important notices about the 2011-2012 Wood County (TX) Genelogical Society year beginning in September and the September 19 (at 6 p.m.) kick-off meeting and potluck dinner at the library:

1. Dues ($15 for individual members and $20 for family membership) are payable in September. You can bring them to the meeting or mail them starting now and through September to Treasurer, Wood County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 832, Quitman, Texas 75783. It is important to get them in as soon as possible so that we can start funding 2011-2012 society activities.

2. Officers and chairpersons for the year:
President – Ronnie Vance
Vice-President – Deason Hunt
Secretary – Shirley Patrick
Treasurer – Wayne McCluney

Chairpersons
Ways and Means – Ronnie Vance
Editorial – Deason Hunt
Membership – Shirley Patrick
Budget and Finance – Wayne McCluney
Requisition and Acquisition-Shirley Bates (co)
–Dorothy Harbin (co)
Publicity – Kathy Lutonsky
Obituary – Mary Ann Niswanger
Hospitality and Gift – Sally Allcorn

A number of members indicated they would like to work with the various committees. Now is a great time to contact the chairpersons and let them know what you are ready and willing to do in those areas.

Thanks to Our Volunteers

Thanks to all of you who volunteer time and money (memberships and donations and books, and supplies, etc.) to keep our society going. Right now we have officers and committees doing things we can’t see to help us accomplish our group goals. Every bit helps whether its a short-time or long-range thing that you do.

For instance just recently we had members answering queries, meeting with visitor researchers in the library and over the telephone, sending suggestions and ideas for our organization and for resources for our members. Mark Reid, Barbara Nichols, and Vice-president Dorothy Harbin have recently been helping with researchers. Dorothy and Mary Ann Niswanger recently spent time working on organizing books and recording usage of books in our library. Shirley Bates is working on getting some publications out and ready for sale. The currently operating Nominations Committee (Barbara Coleman, Secretary Kathy Lutonsky, and Mary Ann Niswanger) and budget committees (Treasurer Wayne McCluney, Deason Hunt, and Ethel Kelley) are working behind the scenes to be ready for the May meeting. President Shirley Patrick looks for ideas for online resource links and examples of what other societies are doing and forwards them to the newsletter. And, recently webpage participants such as Bill Lukenbill, Doug McCreight, and Paula Randolph have joined in helping answer others’ queries. I know that I am leaving people out because we have just had a lot of work by groups like the Constitution Revision Committee (Ronnie Vance, Shirley Bates, and Wayne McCluney) and other service such as the help Sally Allcorn gave to Forever Young recently. We appreciate also people who move chairs and tables at meetings, who show up for our programs and business discussions and, not least, join us for eating at Peralta’s and helping other with research before regular meetings. Everybody who participates helps us be more successful.

We welcome suggestions, help, etc., and if you see something that needs doing, just jump in. We appreciate all your time and efforts. We’ll be suggesting things that people can do over the next few months to help out. If you see something you would like to do, let us know.

Nominating, Budget Committees Appointed

The Nominating Committee to recommend officers for the 2011-2012 society year was appointed at the March regular meeting. The committee will present its report of recommendations at the May regular meeting at which time officers will be elected. Nominating Committee members are Barbara Coleman, Kathy Lutonsky, and Mary Ann Niswanger.

The four offices to be filled are president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Because of constitutional limitation on the number of consecutive terms officers can serve, presently serving president, vice-president, and secretary must be replaced.

Anyone willing to be considered for serving in any of the officer positions or anyone wishing to suggest members for any of the positions can contact Kathy at lutonsky5@co.wood.tx.us.

The Budget Committee will submit for approval a proposed budget for the 2011-2012 society year at the regular May meeting. Members of that committee are Treasurer Wayne McCluney, Deason Hunt, and Ethel Kelley. Anyone wishing to submit budget proposals to the committee may contact Wayne at fwaynemc@peoplescom.net.

To contact Kathy or Wayne by postal mail, you may write them at Nominating Committee (or Budget Committee) P. O. Box 832, Quitman, TX 75783.

Welcome to New Member

Mary Ann NISWANGER of Mineola has recently joined the society. We are delighted to have her as a member. Surnames she is researching are RAGSDALE, PARMER, SWAIN, BENNETT, HARRISON, UNDERWOOD, and DUGGER. Her email and other contact information will be added to the member contact list on the member only site at the next update to that file. In the meantime, if you have help to offer on those surnames, feel free to post something here in the comments.