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Our 2022 Volunteer Staff Rocked Our World

The Kentucky Genealogical Society is an all volunteer organization. Without the kindness of many family researchers across the United States, we could not accomplish our mission. With Thanksgiving around the corner, it is the season to be thankful. The Board of Directors wants to acknowledge the many volunteers who have helped make our goals possible this year.

Volunteers Are Not Just in Kentucky

Our volunteers come from many areas of the country and all spans of life. Some help a few times a year, while other volunteers assist on multiple committees and dedicate many hours each month to our projects.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Kentucky Genealogical Society,” said Chris Padgett, President. “The talents, time, and commitment of volunteers make everything possible. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary, we have so much more work to do. We’re just getting started. I want to invite all members who have the capacity to please sign up to volunteer in some way. Join us as we bring about a revival of this important resource for Kentucky researchers around the globe.”

Volunteers Benefit Also

While many think volunteering is about the society, it also benefits the individual.

“Volunteering is an excellent way to meet other members across the United States,” said Kathy Keyser, our Membership Vice President. “They might be people who are researching the same surnames, geographic area, or even same time period. You build relationships with people you would normally never even meet!”

Many of our volunteers are long-time family researchers who know the tricks of the trade. “I have met so many great people. My family gets bored talking about ancestors, but not this crew,” agreed a society volunteer. “Plus, I know I am helping forward a cause I believe in.”

If you are interested in volunteering, use this Volunteer form to show your interest and availability. You can accomplish many of our opportunities from your desktop with a few hours a month.

The Volunteers Who Rocked Our World

During 2022, our volunteer staff from across the United States assisted with the following committees and projects. Our society is better today than it was yesterday, thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

Communications Committee

This committee informs the membership and public about programs and events through social media and periodical publications. The team writes and edits blog posts, the newsletter, and other society communications.

This committee is led by Tricia Aanderud (Palm Coast, FL).

  • Ken Aanderud, Palm Coast, FL
  • Kandi Adkinson, Frankfort, KY
  • Rogers Barde, Paris, KY
  • Melissa Barker, Tennessee Ridge, TN
  • Beth Blankenship, Versailles, KY
  • Susan Court, Arlington, VA
  • Brandon Cowles, Bowling Green, KY
  • Betty Darnell, Taylorsville, KY
  • Charles Driscoll, Lynchburg, VA
  • Ann Futrell, Philpot, KY
  • Cyndi Haynes, Lexington, KY
  • Rusty Heckaman, Lexington, KY
  • Allen Horn, Hewitt, TX
  • Cynthia Hussain, Glen Carbon, IL
  • Barb LaFara, Cape Coral, FL
  • Cynthia Maharrey, Tarpon Springs, FL
  • Shelley Murphy, Palmyra, VA
  • Deborah Oliver, Nancy, KY
  • Deborah Outland, Lexington, KY
  • Judy Owens, Lexington, KY
  • Christopher Padgett, Louisville, KY
  • Fran Salyers, Frankfort, KY
  • Teri Pfeffer, Clarksville, TN
  • Marsha Waggoner, Somerset, KY
  • Mark Watkins, Wadsworth, OH

Digitization Grant Committee

This committee recruits applicants and selects the recipients of the digitization grant.

This committee is chaired by Susan Court (Arlington, VA).

  • Jane Charida, Louisville, KY
  • Donna Cook, Concord, CA
  • Diane Isaacson, Marlborough, MA
  • Marsha Logsdon, Livermore, KY
  • Paul Rieken, Lakeville, MN
  • Eileen Strenecky, Louisville, KY

 

The committee was assisted in reaching out to potential applicants by:

  • Claudia Gleason, Oxford, MS
  • Patti Gilpin, Louisville, KY
  • Elora Goshe, Jasper, AR
  • Cynthia Hussain, Glen Carbon, IL
  • Marilyn Isaacs, Marysville, OH
  • Diane Isaacson, Marlborough, MA
  • Leslie Morris-Smith, Wyndmoor, PA
  • Sheryl Smith, Cape Girardeau, MO
  • Yvonne Stacy, Cedar Lake, IN

Membership Committee

This committee prepares soliciting new members, responds to member questions, and encourages renewals. This committee is also responsible for the monthly Front Porch Talks meeting.

This committee is led by Kathy Keyser (Lexington, KY).

  • Barbara Cart, Jonesboro, AR
  • Jenny Coss, Ozawkie, KS
  • Gregory Hile, Martinez, CA
  • Lloyd Keyser, Lexington, KY
  • Marsha Logsdon, Livermore, KY
  • Gretchen Sheridan, LaGrange, KY
  • Doug Tattershall, Lexington, KY

Programs & Seminar Committee

This committee arranges and conducts all adult education webinars and bi-annual seminars. This includes the publicity and IT operations for these events.

The committee is led by Chris Padgett, Louisville, KY.

  • Tricia Aanderud, Palm Coast, FL
  • Melissa Barker, Tennessee Ridge, TN
  • Kathy Keyser, Lexington, KY

Projects Committee

This committee conducts the projects approved by the Board of Directors. There were multiple projects this year.

By-Laws Committee

This team rewrote and updated the KYGS bylaws.

The committee is led by Chris Padgett, Louisville, KY.

  • Kathy Ryan, Union, KY
  • Jeri Steele, Bowling Green, KY

Family Group Sheet Project

This team collected family group sheets, set up and tested the website to contain family group sheets.

This committee is led by Deborah Oliver (Nancy, KY).

  • Margaret Dacko, Seneca, SC
  • Jeffrey Damron, Georgetown, KY
  • Dana Franxman, Independence, KY
  • Sherri Gaskill, Lakeland, FL
  • Diane Isaacson, Marlborough, MA
  • Kathy Keyser, Lexington, KY
  • Ruth Lawton, Lexington, KY
  • Lydia Roll, Chicago, IL

KYGS-FamilySearch Collaboration Project

This team works with FamilySearch to locate genealogically significant Kentucky records to digitize and post online for free.

This project is led by Susan Court (Arlington, VA).

  • Beth Case, Frankfort, KY
  • Monica Edwards, Tompkinsville, KY
  • Claudia Gleason, Oxford, MS
  • Elora Goshe, Jasper, AR
  • Fanta Hammonds, Louisville, KY
  • Stephanie Hestand, Tompkinsville, KY
  • David Hunt, Prospect, KY
  • Marilyn Isaacs, Marysville, OH
  • Deborah Kaiser, Kansas City, MO
  • Ruth Lawton, Lexington, KY
  • Susan Lohr, Raleigh, NC
  • Rebecca McKenney, Cynthiana, KY
  • Sharon Ray, Winchester, KY
  • Marcella Roll, Rossburg, OH
  • Gretchen Sheridan, LaGrange, KY
  • Sheryl Smith, Cape Girardeau, MO
  • Stephanie Wenther, La Grange, KY
  • Sheila Westin, Berea, KY

Lineage Project

This team is establishing the society’s lineage offering.

This committee is led by Terry Smith (Owensboro, KY).

  • Doug Tattershall, Lexington, KY
  • Virginia Mitchell, Sharpsburg, KY
  • Carol Lysandrou, Dublin, OH
  • Julie Wilson, Hixson, TN

Digital Archive Project

This team transferred records from the Member Portal website into the Omeka platform, so the content was easier to search and access.

This committee is led by Tricia Aanderud (Palm Coast, FL).

  • Kathy Keyser, Lexington, KY
  • Angela Belt-Newcom, Hickory, KY

KYGS Board Members

Board members are the lifeblood of this society. Thank you so very much for agreeing to serve in this capacity. Your commitment makes a difference.

  • Tricia Aanderud, Palm Coast, FL
  • Melissa Barker, Tennessee Ridge, TN
  • Susan Court, Arlington, VA
  • Cyndi Haynes, Lexington, KY
  • Kathy Keyser, Lexington, KY
  • Chris Padgett, Louisville, KY
  • Terry Smith, Owensboro, KY
  • Jeri Steele, Bowling Green, KY

About the Author

<h3><a href="https://kygs.org/author/patricia-s-aanderud/" target="_self">Tricia P Aanderud</a></h3>

Tricia P Aanderud

Tricia Aanderud, a retired Data Science professional, lives in Florida with her husband and two bratty Siamese cats. She is a Kentucky native whose family arrived there in the early 1800s. In her free time, she is the editor of the Kentucky Family Stories blog.

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