Greetings,

 

Today I have verified and updated our LINKS page and added a new link for anyone interested in Croatian research.  It also has some good advice for beginning your family history hunt anywhere.

 

If you visit our LINKS page and notice that a link isn't working, please let us know by emailing this information to webmaster@pgcgs.org.

 

Thanks!  We're all in this together.

 

Barbara

In a few days we will hold our first monthly meeting of this program year, which began July 1, 2025.  Our meetings through November will be in our library in Bowie.  We hope many of our local members will make the effort to come out in person to meet and mingle with other members.  We all found out during the pandemic how important it is to meet with each other live -- good for the soul, good for your mental and physical health, and also good for our society.  If you see someone you don't know, introduce yourself and ask how their research is coming.  You can never have too many friends.

 

Heather, our program chair, has lined up some interesting talks for the rest of 2025, with two speakers we are familiar with and one who is new to our group.  (See Events tab.)  We do aim to provide you with talks that will shed light on new areas of genealogical research, as well as some new slants on old and familiar areas.  With genealogical research methods changing rapidly, it's important to keep up with what's new.  Our talks usually focus on research areas generally, while our newsletter editor, John, usually tries to focus on records of Prince George's County and how to access and use them.  He is gifted in describing clearly the process of accessing these records.  Between the two, we are really a researcher's dream and a bargain at only $20/year.

 

Please join us!  We look forward to seeing you soon.

In a few short days, we will hold our biennial elections and this society will then have a new president.  Before I leave this post, I just want to say it has been my pleasure to serve this venerable organization, the oldest continuing county genealogy society in the state of Maryland.  Running things and managing people are not my favorite things to do, but the helpful, and forgiving, spirit of our council and our general members have made it easier for me and I thank all of you for your support.  To those who stepped up to volunteer, or continued your long service to the organization, I thank you with an extra hug.  Participation from the membership is essential to the suvival of any group and I hope more of you will step up in the near future to support our incoming president and our dedicated council members who have served long terms already.  I will continue to be the webmaster for the time being, so I'll definitely be around.  I won't be monitoring the president's email any longer, but you can still reach me at communication@pgcgs.org.  Drop me a line once in a while and let me know how you're doing.

In June, we will hold our biennial elections.  Our secretary and vice president have agreed to continue serving.  As president, I am restricted to two terms by our constitution.  Darrell Brown has agreed to run for president.  He is currently treasurer.  As he becomes president, we will be in need of someone to serve as treasurer.

 

The job is not difficult.  The treasurer deposits checks; keeps track of CD maturity dates, acting in the best interest of society needs; keeps a double-entry system of recording income and expenses.  There are taxes to be filed -- quarterly sales tax payments to Maryland Comptroller for any book sales made to Maryland residents.  The form is simple; if no taxes were collected, all that's required is a phone call and the recording of a confirmation number that the call was made.  Also state and federal income taxes for our 501(c)(3) organization.  Mostly, the federal form is filed via postcard and no payment is due.  The Maryland form includes an inventory which must be updated yearly; this is not complicated and can probably be handled in less than an hour once a year, each fall.

 

Training and other support are abundantly available.  We need someone to step up and serve.

 

The same core of people has kept this society going for years and years.  Some are tired, getting older, have other interests they'd like to pursue, etc.  If no one steps up to serve as officers, how will this society survive?  We are the oldest continuously existing county genealogical society in the state of Maryland, and it is because of these dedicated, long-serving individuals.  

 

Do you really want to lose this society?  We are still a bargain at $20/year for nine monthly meetings, most with a speaker on genealogy topics; a newsletter rich in resources for researching your county ancestors; the ability to find other researchers who are studying those same names you are; the camaradie of people with similar interests; a library with over 6500 resources for researching our county, Eastern states and many other US states and countries around the world; research services at nominal fees; and special program offerings such as workshops, classes and open houses.  Do you really want to lose all this?  Somebody has to run things.  If not you, then who??