A Message from Outgoing StLGS President, Karen Goode

With the election of new StLGS officers behind us, current StLGS president, Karen Goode, will be stepping down from her whirlwind four years in office. For those who may not know, Karen was vice-president of programs when COVID shut down our society for most of 2020. We had a Family History Conference featuring noted genealogist Judy Russell already planned and a full schedule of meetings and classes on our calendar, since, like most, we had no idea how long it would take to resume normal operations. When it became clear that business as usual was not going to happen, Karen grabbed the reins, gathered a committee around her, and plunged us into learning how to do Zoom webinars. Her foresight saved StLGS from what might have been a devastating blow. After Karen assumed the presidency, hybrid meetings were an ingrained part of our programing, opening up almost all of our events to those who cannot attend in person. In addition, Karen led us through an office overhaul that included moving tons of furniture for a long-overdue paint job and new carpeting, and then, just a few months later, weeks of leaky roof damage and plastic drapery covering most of our work space. She was clearly the right person at the right time for the right job!

Karen wanted to share some "farewell" thoughts with everyone, so we thank her for writing this week's post.

St. Louis Genealogical Society’s main purpose has always been to help people get started with their genealogy, guiding them on the best practices, and providing help in many ways. I first joined the St. Louis Genealogical Society (StLGS) in 1970/71. At that time, I wasn’t aware that the society had been newly formed just a couple years prior. My father’s interest in genealogy sparked my interest. I was fortunate that a co-worker of mine was a member of StLGS and helped me start my research by first taking me to the society’s office on Brentwood Boulevard, above the skating rink. The volunteers there helped me get started with my genealogy by advising me the best way to do my family history research. My co-worker went with me to the county health department and to a couple of cemeteries, showing me how and what to do. By then I was addicted to genealogy. I wished I had known what genealogy was while my great-grandmother was alive in 1967, just a few years earlier. I have regretted not learning more about my family history from her ever since.

Over the years, genealogy has been an off-and-on hobby due to a growing family. I looked forward to my free days without other obligations to do my research. I first started volunteering at StLGS after retiring in 2008. By that time my husband, Bob, was already volunteering at the office in Maplewood, and we were actively attending meetings, conferences, and the Speaker Series.

Volunteering at the office is fulfilling and never boring. Bob was on the board of directors, and because their meetings were held immediately after office hours, I was often sitting nearby doing other things but also listening in on their discussions. What I heard was a group of dedicated people conferring about how they could improve our society, the best way to support our members with their family history research, and what they could do for the community. 

The Joys of Volunteering

One of the best things I have done in my retirement years has been to be an active volunteer with our society. I am always learning something new, even today after volunteering at the office for the last sixteen years. Many of the volunteers have their own areas of expertise that can help with almost any genealogical question you may have. In 2009, my first year of volunteering, Rosemary Emnett asked if I would take over being the volunteer coordinator. I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I enjoyed meeting new people coming into the office, giving them tours, and finding out what type of volunteering they would like to do. (There are so many projects waiting in the wings––waiting for someone to decide it is something they would like to do!)

Being the volunteer coordinator also gave me the opportunity to be on the board of directors, a dedicated team that is responsible for the society’s policies and procedures. It is their work to guide StLGS in the right direction and ensure that we follow our mission statement to promote family history research, provide educational opportunities, offer community service, and preserve and publish genealogical and historical records. 

I remember the first time COVID appeared in St. Louis; it was Saturday, 7 March 2020, and many of us were having a great time at our annual Trivia Night at the Maplewood/Richmond Heights Community Center. We first heard the news around the fifth round of questions, and we wondered what effect the disease was going to have on StLGS. We found out very soon after!

Since then, we have seen a lot of genealogical societies (local, county, state and regional) close their doors. Our board of directors had to work hard that year to keep our society active and strong. We would not have been successful if it weren’t for our supportive members. Your donations kept us from failing.

Teamwork is What we are all About!

St. Louis Genealogical Society is a team. As president for the last four years, I am proud that we have recovered some of the ground that was lost. This would not have happened if it were not for the dedicated team on the board of directors, the volunteers who took turns to come into the office to work (we had to limit the number of people in the building at one time), and our members, with their generous donations and support.

I am thankful we have some dedicated officers who have stepped up to the plate to do their turn in keeping StLGS successful: Kathy Franke and Jeani Ward as co-presidents, Debbie Benoit as secretary, Jim Yochim as vice-president of membership, Donna Foelsch as vice-president of programs, and Michelle Pearce as treasurer. These roles are an important part of the team, and being a team member means that you are never alone out there on the tree limb. There are always others supporting you, offering their strengths, expertise, and encouragement. 

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of our society’s team for the past four years. I know the next team is going to do an outstanding job, especially with your support!

Karen Goode