Appreciating Our Volunteers

This year National Volunteer Week will be celebrated April 21-27, 2013. We think one week just isn't enough time to honor the volunteers at the California Genealogical Society and Library so we will be celebrating throughout the month of April.

2013 Board of Directors: Lisa Gorrell and Laura Lee Karp [holding sign]; Tom Gesner, Nicka Smith, Kim Cotton, Shannon Reese, Karen Lemelin, Henry Snyder, Jim Sorenson, Steve Harris, President Jeff Vaillant. Not shown: Diana Edwards and Ellen Fernandez-Sacco.

Here's a message from our president:

Every facet of our society depends on our member volunteers – they run the library, maintain our computers, and process mail, book sales, research requests and membership renewals. Volunteers also work from home: writing, editing, proofing and formatting our many publications; coordinating member programs and events; managing our Web presence, and so much more. 

Our volunteers come from many walks of life and their experience brings an added dimension to our society. Members with financial know-how keep our books and safeguard our investments. Librarians maintain the highest professional standards in our facility and online catalog. And everyday volunteers stretch to learn new skills to expand our reach using social media, video, electronic publishing, and other online registration, sales, and communication tools. 

Volunteers are working across committees to find new ways to raise funds to keep our library open. 

We will be honoring our volunteers throughout the year. If there is someone special you would like to recognize, please let me know. 

Thank you for all you do, 

Jeffrey Vaillant 

President, 2013

Here at the blog we will be running a monthly "Committee Spotlight" article to tell you more about the work our volunteers do and to mention them specifically by name. Look for an article about our Events Committee next week.

And please be sure to come to the membership meeting on Saturday, April 13, 2013, and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism within our society. We will be honoring our longest serving volunteers. 


Photograph courtesy of Arthur Karp.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.