TSGS Board Member is Editor for a Special 911 Edition

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TSGS Board Member, Don Counts, is one very busy man. In addition to all of the acivities that he is involved with, he is a reporter for The City-County Observer and was recently appointed Editor of a "Special Edition" called "Heroes" for Veterans, Police, & Fire Fighters.

CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR... A well-deserved honor and acknowledgment of our heroes. When I was first asked to be the editor of the HEROES edition, I was excited and the excitement continued to mount the more information I gathered as I worked on this edition. Please take the time to read and look at all the pictures of the area HEROES. As most of you know, I am a Marine veteran with 24 years’ service and welcomed this opportunity. I have found through the years Veterans, Police and Fire HEROES get very little coverage in the local media. This has provided the City-County Observer and me an opportunity to pay credit where credit is due. I hope all of you enjoy reading this edition as much as I did in working on this special edition and putting it together. As a member of the Editorial Board, I plan to have more information of interest to veterans in the upcoming issues. Don Counts

This first link will take you to the online version of the City County Observer with 3 videos about service men & women... very stirring and patriotic (for all 3 videos total time is less than 20 minutes).
http://city-countyobserver.com/?page_id=588
This second link takes you to a PDF file of the articles of local people that are featured for this special edition.
http://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Heroes2009.pdf

From the Captain's Treasure Chest - Newspaper Clippings

At 97, life is worth a big fuss
Six generations gathered at matriach's birthday party
By Rich Davis Posted July 25, 2009 at 12:32 a.m. courierpress.com

Photograph by shootMyPhoto.com Bessie Moore, center, is surrounded by her son, Don Moore, and, from left to right, great-great-great-granddaughter, Emma Marie Collins (born July 1), great-great-granddaughter, Laicee Collins, 21, great-granddaughter, Damarda Doss, 39, and granddaughter, Martha Welborn, 58. Photo and story in the Evansville Courier & Press

THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN THE REGION?

2009 Best of Best (As listed in the City-County Observer)

TSGS Member of the Board of Directors... Don Counts named 2009 CRUSADER FOR EQUAL TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABITILIES! Crusader is a good title for Don and his work to help those with disabilities. Congratulations, Don, for this recognition of your tireless efforts for many years of service.

- Compiled by JGWest

Have Fun... Be a Volunteer!

TSGS Member of the Board of Directors ~
Larry Goss

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Larry Goss, left, and Carol Schmitt, longtime employees of the University of Southern Indiana, get a good laugh at a photograph from the 1970s that showed a friend and colleague as they sorted through photos to try to identify the people in them at the University Archives and Special Collections at the David L. Rice Library on Wednesday afternoon.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then the University of Southern Indiana's History Days at the Archives has nearly 10 million words to filter through to help establish a history of the school.

That's because staff from the University Archives and Special Collections has 10,000 photos filled with unidentified faculty and students they are trying to identify to build an online database.

Larry Goss, a faculty member who retired in 2001, felt he could help because of his experience with archiving. "I've been doing nothing but archiving, archiving, archiving, mostly photographs and documents for genealogy and that sort of thing," Goss said. He felt compelled to help when he heard about the project. "When the opportunity came here for me to help the university, I thought 'Sure, why not?'"

Read the full story on the Evansville Courier & Press website:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jul/23/usi-gaining-photo-captions/[click here]

Brief TSGS Officer Profiles - Becky West

Becky West was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Tri-State Genealogical Society. She was recently photographed at the Louisville Zoo and seems to have wings like an angel! Believe me, as her husband for 40 years, this was a staged photo! But like the volunteers of TSGS that are willing to serve as officers and committee members, they are all truly angels!

Becky graduated from Bosse High School, attended Lockyear Business College, got married and started raising a family that consisted of 3 sons and a husband. When the youngest was 10 years old, Becky entered the world of employment outside the home. Most of that time has been at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Evansville as a nurses aide.

For almost 40 years, Becky has served as her husband's personal secretary for his many non-profit organizations & political community service involvement. This was the Young Democrats (YD's), 4-H, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), TSGS (over 30 years). She assisted her husband in each of these organizations as advisor, sounding board, secretary, remedial task master, and supporter. She has become one of the most experienced organizational "non- board member" to get elected to a Board of Directors! :)

Becky was a runner-up in the first Miss Evansville Pagent in 1967, was elected President of the Eighth Congressional Young Democrats (YD's), was a volunteer Adult 4-H Leader for over 20 years and is currently very active with the Ladies Auxillary of the Sons of the American Revolution. With the members of the Ohio Valley Chapter of SAR, Becky and a few other wives march (in Colonial dresses) with the SAR Color Guard in parades & other events. Becky was adopted as a baby and finally found her birth family at the age of 42... she has developed an interesting presentation for interested groups concerning her "Journey to the Beginning - An Adoption Story" to discovery her birth family. Becky wrote a poem to her deceased birth mother that most have stated was a real "emotional"message. She not only assists with my SAR "Flags Over America" programs, but she serves as the "pack-horse" helping me pack, load, carry, set-up and take down over 160 flags used in the presentation. Come to think of it maybe she is an angel... she has to be after putting up with me for 40 years!

Thanks for serving, Becky... and Welcome Aboard TSGS!

- Submitted by JGWest

INSSAR Elects 2009-2010 State Officers

Indiana Society

Sons of the American Revolution

2009-2010 State Officers

Second from left is State Historian John G. West (member of TSGS & the Ohio Valley Chapter [OVC] INSSAR) and in the center of the photo (seventh from left in a Revolutionary War uniform) is State Chaplain Don Counts (member TSGS & OVC). Also in this photo is INSSAR District One Director J.D. Strouth & District Two Director Dr. T. Rex Legler, II both members of OVC. Counts & West were recently re-elected to these offices at the April 2009 Annual House of Delegates Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The OVChapter will meet later this morning at Willard Library... TSGS members Ken Gilkey, President & Chris Myers, Secretary. West serves as the Chapter Treasurer while Counts is the Chapter Vice-President.

- Photo submitted by Don Counts (photographer unknown)

"TSGS Members Elected to State SAR Posts"

Indiana Society

Sons of the American Revolution

Elects State Officers

Four members of the Evansville based Ohio Valley Chapter of INSSAR were elected to state offices on 18 April 2009. Two are TSGS members (*). Second from the left is John G. West * - Historian, fifth is J.D. Strouth - District One Director, sixth T. Rex Legler, II - Recording Secretary, seventh dressed in Revolutionary War red, white & blue uniform is Don Counts* - Chaplain.

Memorial Service being conducted for the past year's deceased members across the state. L-R: U.S. Flag Carrier Robert Cunningham, Flower Vase Holder State Genealogist Mark Kreps, with back to camera John G. West, conducting ceremony is State Chaplain Don Counts, Rose Holder State Registrar Robert Howell, SAR Flag Carrier James Arnold. John West is placing a rose in the vase in honor of Earl Sinnett who died this year as a member of the Ohio Valley Chapter. Compatriot Sinnett is the father of TSGS member Cheri Baumberger.


Photo of Memorial Service with the four Musket Carriers to the left (Rex Legler is at the far left). Once all of the deceased members were honored one by one with a rose being placed in the vase, these four Compatriots fired their flint lock musket as a salute to the deceased members.

The State Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates was held in the Indianapolis Propylaeum Club Building (not shown) with the Memorial Service held on the lawn of the Propyleum. During the state meeting, John West, Don Counts and J.D. Strouth each were presented the INSSAR Bronze Service Medals for their contributions to their local chapter. John West was also awarded the INSSAR Silver Service Medal for his work as a District Director.


Photos taken by Janet Kreps and submitted by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

TSGS had a great dinner meeting last night at the Sirloin Stockade with a nice crowd. Everyone seemed to have a great time. We recognized 3 individuals for their contributions toward the society's blog (TSGS Cruiser Blog that you are reading now). These three each were awarded a TSGS Certificate of Appreciation for being great TSGS Bloggers: Don Counts, Brenda Jerome and Chris Myers.

We had a very interesting program concerning the newly published book "Judge Lynch" written by Posey County Circuit Court Judge James M. Redwine. A huge list of microfilm was read off to those attending that will be soon available to everyone at Willard Library thanks to the Acquisitions Committee: Brenda Jerome (Chair), Mary Lou Bevers, Rena Goss.

John G. West, TSGS President

"Red Cross Heroes"

Don Counts standing at a funeral home for those who stood for us!

Our Heroes for the American Red Cross Program

(below is what was printed in the program):

Patriot Guard Riders - Military Award Winner
Heroes never forget. They roar in, a pack of motorcycle riders determined to remember. They are the voice of fallen soldiers. They are the strong arm for families to lean on. They are the men and women that boldly fly our country's flag, no matter if it is at a soldier's funeral or a welcome home celebration. The Patriot Guard Riders mission is clear: display an unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for America's freedom and security. Members don't care what kind of bike you ride, or even if you ride, the only prerequisite for membership - respect for our country and the men and women serving it. It's a group of people that set all political views aside and rally together when a soldier does not make it home. They attend funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family and sometimes must shield those same families from interruptions created by protestors. The Patriot Guard Riders make remembering each and every service member's sacrifice their personal mission and civilian duty. Each member will tell you they ride to serve those who serve and honor the honorable. Heroes never forget.

"Judging 4-H Genealogy Fair Exhibit Notebooks"

I got a letter from the State 4-H Office at Purdue yesterday appointing me a State Fair 4-H Genealogy Judge which reminded me that 2008 was a good year since I judged for the first time for the State Fair! Despite having my appendix removed, 2008 was not so bad... I went to a y-DNA West family reunion in Nashville meeting a lot of my DNA-proven cousins. But, I guess the highlight was judging at the Stat Fair. 4-H has been a big part of my life since I was 9 years old and that was over 50 years ago. I served for 25 years as the Vanderburgh 4-H Genealogy Project Superintendent and have judged the project in area County Fairs for over 20 years. So, getting to judge at the State Fair is a "big deal." The project requires the 4-H member to properly document their work and follow standard genealogical procedures. In the top left photo I am judging at the Indiana State Fair; and, yes, all those notebooks for Division 3 in the shelves behind me were for 2 judges (over 50 county champion exhibits). The next photo down (centered) was taken at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair. When I was the Project Superintendent, I did not normally judge any of the projects, this year was also my first year to judge in my home county. In the background you see Connie Conrad, TSGS Treasurer judging notebooks, too. The notebook I am judging went to the State Fair and was in the top 5 exhibits to be the State Fair Champion of all the Genealogy Notebook Exhibits. The last photo to the right is of me at home judging surrounding county fair exhibits. I have been judging county exhibits beginning with Warrick County about 24 years ago. - Submitted by JGWest

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

More Notes...

From Chris Myers ~ The Evansville Public Library has some very high resolution scans of Photos and a couple of early City Directories online.
http://evpl.org/research/digitalcollections/

Don Counts honored as a "HERO" in The Veteran's Voice [December 2008]. http://www.theveteransvoice.com/Hero.html

Reminder ~ Tomorrow night TSGS will hold its monthly membership meeting. Please come meet with us , you do not need to be a member to attend our meetings. At 6:30 PM for the HELP Session, Becky West will make you laugh and make you cry as she tells you her "Journey to the Beginning" - her adoption story. She has a lot of "how to" and some entertaining short stories. Connie Conrad will present the program for our regular meeting that starts at 7:30 PM. Her power point presentation "So You Think It Doesn't Exist" will entertain and inform you of ways to find elusive records. Stop by our meeting at Willard Library and tell me what you think about our blog.

Follow-up on the photo submitted by Don Counts concerning J.D. Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights, the annual event raised $142,000 for the Easter Seals Foundation for the Evansville Rehabilitation Center.

The ClustrMaps counter on our regular TSGS Web Site tells us that the site has been visited by people from 8 countries outside of the United States since 14 December 2008. And the old counter registers over 54, 660 "hits" since it started in 1997. The site usually gets fairly low hit numbers, but since we developed the blog and added a few more things to our site, the numbers have climbed significantly. Around Thanksgiving we reached the 52,000 mark which means that in about 6 weeks, the site has had over 2,660 hits! See our site at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/index.html

“A Story About a Newspaper Story”

I recently reviewed a newspaper clipping of a story of one of TSGS former Presidents, Donald Counts. I remember when he got elected President the subject of this story. I first met Don at Central Library in Downtown Evansville. We were waiting at the locked area assigned to the DAR Genealogy Collection. It was only open one day a week for a few hours. One of the DAR ladies would come to unlock the room soon; and, we could do some research. I was really new to doing genealogical research; however, I had been collecting family data since I was about 10 or 11. Don introduced himself and we talked. He told me about this other library called Willard that had a much bigger collection than this DAR collection. He also mentioned this society that he belonged to, suggesting that I should join it. Whoa! What in the world would I want to be a member with a whole lot of old “high society” ladies? I did not have a positive image of societies. Don was a likable regular guy... not what I would call someone that normally would “hobnob” with some society. I finally went to Willard and was very much impressed with the size of the collection. I did not think about this society business again until one day I saw this article about Don in the Evansville Press. I was reading the paper at home and called for Becky to see the “library guy” I had told her about. Wow, he was elected President of the Tri-State Genealogical Society. The article told all about his journey finding his family roots. I decided that if he could get elected President of this group, they must not be too bad. I visited the very next meeting and everyone was so nice. I even knew several people there, so I joined. I soon learned that my notion of societies was biased and not based on any facts.
Don is a unique individual that is active in a lot of very important organizations. He is in Indianapolis today participating in the Governor's Planning Council for People With Disabilities Conference. He has been active with Marine and other veterans groups. Don later proved his ancestry back to Revolutionary War time and was able to join the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). He talked me into joining this organization, too. Don marches in parades and attends events as part of the SAR Color Guard. Don just completed two one-year terms as the President of the Ohio Valley SAR Chapter. He holds the office of State Chaplain of the Indiana Society SAR. In TSGS he currently serves on the Long Range Planning Committee.

See Don's news story in the Browning People Study online database:
http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=801239
- by John G. West

Photo taken at the SAR Informational table at this fall's TSGS Seminar. L-R: Becky West, Ken Gilkey, Peggy Gilkey, Don Counts, John G. West.

Taken in the church basement where the TSGS fall Seminar was held for 2008. The Ohio Valley SAR Chapter displayed a total of 12 flags (10 were Colonial flags). These three are (L-R): John G. West, Don Counts, Ken Gilkey.

“2008 Community Photo Calendar”

(Click on photo to see original size & quality!)

The Evansville Courier & Press 2008 Community Photo Calendar Contest... Chris Myers was one of thirteen winners (12 months & the cover photos... see all 13 photos here:
http://web.courierpress.com/advertising/calendar/winners/ ). His photo is the first one in the slideshow with music. The photo is of the Vanderburgh County, Indiana Old Courthouse taken at night. Chris is a very good friend of mine, but he continually surprises me with his talents. This photo represents just one of his talents. Along with being an incredible computer “geek,” Chris is a great web master. Chris has created two web sites that he has passed on to others. First was his Vanderburgh Co., INGenWeb site
http://ingenweb.org/invanderburgh/ . Second is the Tri-State Genealogical Society's web site
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/index.html . Even though Chris no longer maintains these two sites, they remain online after 12 years. Chris is a great newsletter editor, too. He created the Ohio Valley SAR Chapter's newsletter, The Ohio Valley Arsenal.
http://home.wowway.com/~cdmyers/ovcnewsletter/ovc_newsletters.htm TSGS is proud of Chris' latest achievement in photography. Congratulations, Chris!


John G. West, TSGS President