Why I Donated to the Capital Campaign: Ken Haughton

Ken and Beverly Haughton

Our third in a series of blog posts entitled, Why I Chose to Contribute to the Capital Campaign focuses on life member and donor, Ken Haughton.

Ken has given generously of his time and money for over 39 years to California Genealogical Society (CGS).  He was CFO for many years and has served on our board of directors. Ken also started our endowment fund and trained our current Investment Committee members, Chris Pattillo and Jim Sorenson.  He now serves as a sounding board to our investment committee.

Here are a few questions that I asked him on why he chose to financially support our society:

By contributing to the Capital Campaign, what do you hope to accomplish? The economy of the United States is somewhat temperamental.  A slump could affect the income from membership in a negative way.  It is important to keep the organization active and vital, no matter what happens, so that it can continue to preserve all forms of family history for future generations.

You have many organizations to choose from when considering a donation, what made you choose us? Well, history has an effect on history.  I have had many positive interactions with the Society and feel it should continue to perform in that manner with many more folks.

How does donating to CGS extend your personal legacy or the legacy of California Genealogical research? Providing facilities and assistance goes a long way toward extending the legacy of the Society and if it is healthy, this effect is multiplied.

How did CGS' genealogical resources help your research efforts? It's hard to enumerate all the ways it has helped me.  The Library and all of it resources have led me to any number of discoveries.  But most of all, the community associated with it has led me on with questions and suggestions (and general advice).

What would you say to those contemplating a donation to the Capital Campaign? This is an honest and solid society that provides an unbiased look into history on the personal level.  Anything to help this objective is worth the effort.  Besides, it's fun.

The idea behind the Capital Campaign

The California Genealogical Society's Capital Campaign kicked off this past February with a goal of raising $1.2 million dollars. The goal was created to coincide with the beginning of our 120th Anniversary in 2018. 

The money raised from the Capital Campaign will help ensure that our society will remain a leader in genealogy and give us the necessary financial cushion to weather various storms in the future.

A committee chaired by Chris Pattillo was created to lead this effort. Chris also has the considerable help and talent of both Jane Lindsey and Sandy Fryer to ensure that the campaign will be a huge success.

Are you interested in donating to our Capital Campaign?  Please contact Jane Lindsey or Chris Pattillo with any questions.  They would love to hear from you.  Thank you.

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

What the California Genealogical Society (CGS) Can Do for You

by Chris Pattillo (Chair), Sandy Fryer & Jane Lindsey

Want to hear how CGS has helped some of your fellow members?
Lavinia “Vinnie” Schwarz, long-time research volunteer & member told us, “When I first joined CGS, I just wanted a lovely local library where I could quietly concentrate on who my ancestors are and where they came from. I used the books and computers to research the pushes and pulls that made my families migrate.  But I found so much more. I took advantage of many CGS classes – like how to do English, African-American, Jewish, German, or Japanese genealogy, or how to organize material, use old newspapers, date photographs, navigate digital archives, plat maps, and use a genealogy database.

CGS is an all-volunteer organization whose members have histories from all over the world.  They are willing to share their knowledge and expertise in running the society and doing research. We continue to learn together how to study the past, and how to write up our work in the present so the stories will be known in the future.  It's an extraordinary place.”

One member told us a story about going on the CGS research trip to the Family History Library and how it jump-started her genealogical research. Other members have said that they really appreciate the help they received breaking down a brick wall.  Still other members say they appreciate the classes that CGS has offered that enabled them to hone their genealogical research skills.  

Member Lisa Gorrell said, "The RootsMagic Special Interest Group (SIG) helped me become more efficient in using the software so that I can keep better track of my research." A more recent response is that members appreciate the help they received interpreting their DNA results. What we’re hearing is that most members feel that CGS has significantly helped them with their genealogical goals.  Help us keep up the good work.

What have you given back to CGS?
Many of us start giving back to our university a few years after we graduate and we start to appreciate what our education has done for us. We may start donating to a medical non-profit when a medical crisis impacts our family or close friends. We may support our local arts, museums or institutions that interest us.  How many of you have considered supporting CGS in a significant way?  

Will you do something for CGS?
The Capital Campaign was started last year and the goal was set to raise  $1.2 million, an amount that will strengthen the financial stability of our society for the long term. To date, we have received one large donation and many other donations ranging from $20 - $15,000 in support of our campaign. Thank You!  As of June a total of $330,000 has been donated to the campaign.   We appreciate everyone who has made a contribution, but if we are to reach our goal more members must get involved and make significant contributions.   

Here are some ideas on how to give:

• One or more members could give a very large donation. In return, CGS will consider naming the library after the donor or the person of their choice. Genealogical research and/or a publication can also be rolled into a major gift.  
• If just 2-5% (25-50) of our 1000+ members donate $10,000, then we would have $250,000-$500,000.
• We also would love members to consider becoming a Life member at $1200 as a way to support our campaign.  If 100 of our members become Life Members at $1200, then we would have an additional $120,000.  Life Member dues are donations to the Capital Campaign.  

Thank you for all of the support and financial contributions that you may have already made!  Without you, The California Genealogical Society wouldn’t be here to support genealogical research or have our library to serve as a community-gathering place.  You are what has made and continue to make this possible. Please consider donating to the Capital Campaign and know that every dollar counts and is appreciated.

Photos courtesy of Chris Pattillo

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

6 Tips on Preserving Your Family’s Legacy

by Chris Pattillo

Are you beginning to think about where all of your cherished photos, letter, documents and other family mementos will one day find a home? 

As the Chair of the current Capital Campaign for The California Genealogical Society (CGS), I have been hearing this concern voiced by many of the donors that our committee members (myself, Jane Lindsey & Sandy Fryer) have met with recently.

With that in mind, here are 6 things you can get started on right now that will allow you to begin preserving and sharing your family’s story:

1.   Label Your Family Photos

We’ve all got that big, messy and intimidating box or boxes of old, unlabeled photos that we’re dreading tackling.  Sorting them would be a great opportunity to kick-off conversations with your family, especially the grandchildren, and help draw them into their own family's stories.

Check out this great article from the Ancestry Blog that gives you detailed instructions on how to accomplish this important task.

2. Buy the Right Tools

Photo courtesy of Chris Pattillo

We’ve all heard that having the right tools makes any job easier, right?  So, do yourself a favor and consider getting these two essential tools that allow your scanning and recording endeavors to be both mobile and easy to accomplish. 

I recommend a photo scanner and voice audio recorder.  You will need to budget about $150 currently for good quality items, but it’s really worth it.

I personally have a VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand portable scanner and an Olympus VN 702-PC digital recorder.  Both of which are available from Amazon at reasonable prices. 

I have been very satisfied with both since they have regularly handled all of my needs. When shopping, please be 

sure to buy devices that enable you to easily download files to your computer.

3. Scan Your Photo

You’ve got your scanner and you’ve labeled the photos, so next it’s time to digitally preserve them. When scanning an image, I use the JPEG format at 300 dpi.

In addition to the boxes of photos you’ve scanned, you more than likely also have images that are in photo albums or are framed.  What should you do?

Ideally you should remove photos from their frames before scanning, but sometimes you just can’t. In that situation I’ve scanned through the glass. The scan may not be perfect, but it’s better than not having any copy of the photo. Another option is to take a photograph of your photo with a camera. Again, this is not optimal, but it is better than nothing.

4. Share Your Photos

You’ve done the hard work of scanning and labeling, now share them and reap the benefits of getting help from other genealogists, family and friends.  You may have some photos that you can’t identify, but asking your network might yield positive results. 

A good place to start is Facebook.  Upload them to your Facebook page or your grandchild’s Facebook page (if you’re confident they will like it). 

Not interested in using social media?  Go low-tech and put the images on a flash drive and mail it to descendants.  Either way, you’ve distributed your treasures to those most likely to value them one day.

5. Collect and Explain Other Family Documents

Don’t forget about these other important sources of research material and keepsakes that you or other family members are likely to have in your possession.  By cataloguing these items, it might help tell a story about family members or places they have lived.  You’re providing context and this makes your story much more compelling to the next generation. 

Ideas for collection are family bibles, photo albums, old love letters, school records, newspaper clippings, business documents, yearbooks, and awards received.

6. Record Your Oral History

Imagine how you would feel if you could listen to a recording from your great grandmother and hear her tell you about what her life was like.  Wouldn’t that be amazing?

After purchasing a digital recorder (covered in Tip #2) you‘re ready to start. Even though you may not find your own life very interesting, someone will one day.  How to begin?  Start by telling your own personal life history.  Here are just a few ideas on how to create an amazing experience for your descendants:

• If married or in a committed relationship, describe how you met your spouse or partner.
• Describe your wedding.
• Talk about how you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan or similar holiday.  
• It is better to record in several short pieces, about 3 minutes in length---keep in mind that most people have short attention spans.

After completing the recordings, don’t forget to share your audio files via flash drive, your blog, personal website, etc.

There are many more ways to help you begin preserving your family’s legacy, but these 6 tips will get you started off on the right foot.

Future Planning

Remember that we have the expertise, resources and volunteers devoted to preserving your family legacy.  Let us help you accomplish your goals.

Currently, we’re developing a presentation that we hope to begin giving by the fall on preserving your family legacy.  In the meantime, if you have questions on this topic or anything related to our Capital Campaign, then please send either Jane Lindsey or myself an email.  We’d love to hear from you! Thank you.

       

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society