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President's
Report - Annual
Meeting September
27, 2009
As required in
the by-laws of the Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society I
herewith
submit the President's Annual Report.
Over
the last year many
positive accomplishments have been made for our society.
- The biggest
among them has been the ability to pay down our mortgage at a rate
greater than
ever before; this happened because of the generous donations made by
the
membership.
- Our library continues to grow by adding
valuable printed materials
and supportive photographic documentation.
- The
Quarterly, through its editor, researched material and submission of
articles
by the membership is truly first rate and stands out among similar
publications.
- A continuing program of upgrading the
computers in the library is in
place. - Not to be outdone the physical building has been well
maintained with
many upgrades through the efforts of our building supervisor. Windows
have been
repaired, shrubbery is being pruned and painting has taken place to
name a few.
- Of most worthy note our membership has been
maintained in a time that has seen other societies fail for lack of
members. We
celebrated 45 years of existence this year and remain the oldest
chartered
society in Illinois.
How did we get
to be this old? The answer lies in three parts: first the volunteers,
second
the membership and third the executive board.
If not for the
volunteers
working the library, collecting, sorting and cataloging obituaries; if
not for
the volunteers scrutinizing and restoring probate records for Vermilion
County
so they may be archived; if not for the volunteers cataloging
pedigrees; if not
for the volunteers working the library to serve researchers and
genealogists,
valuable historical references would be lost to future generations.
The membership is the life
blood of our society. Through their support and donations the IGHS
survives. And
to the executive board one cannot forget them as an asset. It is the
goal of
every executive board to improve and carry forward the ideals of the
organization they serve. The executive board of the IGHS is one of the
finest
with its teamwork approach and determination to move forward.
Your IGHS is solid,
tempered by strongly committed members and I believe
that commitment, combined with a desire of
yet uncommitted volunteers just
waiting to lend a hand, will continue the programs that make IGHS the
best in
the state.
Addendum
As each
of you know we are coming closer every month to paying off the mortgage
on the
building. At the end of November 2009 we owed $7,800.00. You, the
member, are
responsible for this and I want to thank you again for your generosity.
If each
and every one of us would consider $5.00 to $25.00 in addition to our
membership dues for 2010 we will reduce the mortgage by at least
one-third of
the total pay off or completely pay it off with the reserve to go
towards
operations. What can you do to help? These members are recognized since
the
last Quarterly for their donations:
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Mark Denman
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Earl
Black
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Mary
Williams
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John Cavanaugh
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Sally
Duchow
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Robert
Hageman
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Michael Elliott
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Diane
Siddens
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James
& Virginia Hoelter
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Peggy Fuller
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Emil
Spezia
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Mary
Lou & Rogers Coleman
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Jeanne Palleiko
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Donald
Taylor
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Robert
& Dail Henry
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Larry & Mary Vance
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Carl
& Rebecca Olson
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Philip
& Jean Darnall
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George & Kathryn
Massing
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Alice
Albert
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J.W.
Cavanaugh
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James Scott
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Larry
& Kay Thomason
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Joyce
Guymon
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Dona
Clodfelder
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Jay
Thomason
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DAR
Governor Bradford Chapter
Emil
Spezia and Robert Hageman have been added to our Sponsor Plaque.
To each
of you and all of the volunteers who keep IGHS up and running, and to
the
Executive Board for their commitment, I hope you all had a very Merry
Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Larry
Thomason
Illiana
Genealogist, Winter 2009
Volume
45:4
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