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

WCGS Calendar July-August 2011

This is the calendar for the next two months — so far. Other items will probably be added and posted here and on our Facebook page. Check your email often.

July 18 (Monday)
>>>> 5 p.m. — Pre-training meeting at Peralta’s. (This is open to all members and guests even if you aren’t going to the training.)

>>>> 6:30-8:00 p.m. — Computer training at the Quitman Public Library. This week: Mousing, Mailing, and General Connecting (If you signed up and don’t plan to attend, let us know as early as possible. Also, if you have a wifi enabled laptop, don’t forget to bring it.)

August 3 (Wednesday)
>>>> 8 a.m. — Setup tables, chairs, Canopy

>>>> 6 – 7:30 p.m. — First shift manning the booth (Be ready at 6:00)

>>>> 7:30-9 p.m. — Second shift manning the booth

August 4 (Thursday)
>>>> 6 – 7:30 p.m. — First shift manning the booth (Be ready at 6:00)

>>>> 7:30-9 p.m. — Second shift manning the booth

August 5 (Friday)
>>>> 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Genealogy Workshop (open to members and the public) at the Shamburger Room of the Quitman Public Library by national genealogy expert and speaker George G. Morgan.

>>>> 6 – 7:30 p.m. — First shift manning the booth (Be ready at 6:00)

>>>> 7:30-9 p.m. — Second shift manning the booth

August 6 (Saturday)
>>>> 6 – 7:30 p.m. — First shift manning the booth (Be ready at 6:00)

>>>> 7:30-9 p.m. — Second shift manning the booth (and close down booth)

This is one of our biggest and busiest weeks of the year. Please plan to volunteer to help if at all possible. More details on the Friday workshop will be out soon.

You can volunteer for times and tasks with an email to wcgstx@gmail.com. We will put a sign-up sheet in the library soon, and bring one to the July 18 meetings.

Eating Meeting Next Monday at Peralta’s

Members, guests, and visitors are invited to join our group meeting at Peralta’s Mexican Restaurant in Quitman next Monday (August 16) at 6 p.m. If you can make it, you’ll find us having a good time, talking, and sharing. Some of it will be genealogy (nothing official) and some just plain fun.

Eating Meeting and Museum July 19

Our unofficial “eating meeting” where we visit and talk about what we want to (including but not restricted to genealogy) is going to happen at 6:00 p.m. at Peralta’s Restaurant in Quitman across from the Governor Hogg Park on Highway 37.

This is the last meeting to discuss what we’re doing at the Old Settlers’ Reunion celebration the first week of August. If you have forgotten what you volunteered to do, show up and we’ll get out the list. If you would still like to help, show up (or contact Deason Hunt) and we’ll put you on the list. We are still looking for ideas.

Also, as a special treat, after we finish visiting and eating, member Barbara Coleman has arranged for those who are interested to tour the Wood County Historical Commission Museum on the courthouse square in Quitman. Pretty good for an unofficial meeting, huh?

All members, guests, and visitors are welcome to come to either or both. There’s no charge unless you eat or drink something. We have arranged to use a room near the back of the dining areas so we won’t disturb others at the restaurant — too much. Some people there might not like hearing laughing and fun. You never know.