BEHIND THE PROBLEMS AT NGS
(Please be aware this post was written in 2004 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
In December genealogists with their ears tuned to the national scene were surprised with rumors and innuendos emanating from Arlington, Virginia, home of the National Genealogical Society. The NGS president, vice president and treasurer had resigned and the board of directors had taken control. The executive director was terminated as were several full time employees.
On January 12, the NGS Board issued a public statement on the unpleasant events at the society headquarters. According to that statement the board learned they had not been shown the complete financial report at the November 2003 Board meeting. They also learned NGS’s investments had been depleted from over $500,000 to $50,000 in less than four months.
A forensic auditor was retained by the board to analyze financial reports and to discover how and where the money was spent. The audit revealed expenditures much greater than revenues were being paid with reserves without the knowledge and consent of the full board. No evidence of fraud or embezzlement was discovered in the audit.
The board members remaining after the resignations of the top officials elected new officers and continue to run the organization, protect the remaining funds and strive to rebuild funds in the depleted accounts. NGS is one of the oldest, largest and most respected genealogical societies in the nation. The officers state expeditures have stabilized and everything is under control.
The new NGS board consists of the following: President – Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL, of Missouri; Vice President – Marsha Hoffmann Rising, CG, FASG, of Missouri; Treasurer – Patricia O’Brien Shawker, CGRS, of Maryland and the Board of Directors; Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, of New Hampshire; Sandra M. Hewlett, CGRS, of Pennsylvania; Cyndi Howells, of Washington; Barbara Vines Little, CG, of Virginia; Ann Lisa Pearson, of Colorado; and Shirley L. Wilcox, CG, FNGS, of Virginia
CROOM SPEAKS IN GALVESTON
Nationally known genealogical author and lecturer Emily Anne Croom of Bellaire will be the featured speaker at the Galveston Genealogical Society’s February meeting. The meeting will be held next Thursday, February 5, at 7 p.m. in the Wortham Room of Galvestons’ Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Avenue. For more information contact Connie Taube at hermantaube@sbcglobal.net .
Croom’s topic will be Cluster Genealogical Research. The public is invited to attend the meeting and learn why Cluster research, the study of an ancestral neighborhood, has become one of the modern methods of researching families. By studying neighborhoods researchers find ancestral relatives with last names different than those being searched, business associates, church associates and future marriage partners.
WANT TO LEARN IRISH?
One might say Tim Theisen has a knack for languages. He speaks German, some French and even Spanish. In 1989 he took an Irish language course so he could understand the Gaelic lyrics in his two hundred-plus Celtic CD music collection. Now he teaches conversational Irish to others.
Anyone interested in learning Irish should contact Theisen. His classes are held each Wednesday at 7 P.M. at Brian O’Neill’s Restaurant and Irish Pub located at 5555 Morningside in Rice Village.
Classes are tailored for the beginner with no exposure to Irish. Students will learn conversational greetings, helpful phrases, informative travel type tips, asking directions and how to pronounce some of the mystical Celtic words. There is a $5 donation to cover handout copying expenses.
Theisen may be contacted be e-mail at Jeaniebotl@aol.com or by telephone at 713-263-9691.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND MORMONS PROMOTE FAMILY HISTORY
AAHGS-H-Town, the Houston chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, will join with the Church of LatterDay Saints and the Robert James Terry Library (TSU) to sponsor a lecture on conducting family history.
Free and open to the public, the program, Uniting the African American Family Through Family History Research, will be held at 7 P.M. Tuesday, February 2, 2004. For more information contact Susanna Davidson at 832-276-4600 or by email at lds_speakers@yahoo.com .
