Present: Bill McGrath, Jeanne
M. Keefe, Patrick Surace, Ron Vaughn, Donna Vaughn, Gail Landrigan,
Kathy Buckley, Chris Connelland Joan Durso
1. Call to Order: President Chris Connell called
the meeting to order at 6:50 P.M.
2. Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s
Report submitted by Lizette Strait was presented by Chris Connell.
Balance as of 2/29/2016: $4,380.97; Expenses: $100.00 Check #1009
2016 Membership Irish American Heritage Museum (Not Cleared);
$125.00 Check #1010 2016 Membership RCHS (Not Cleared); Deposits:
$55.00; Balance as of March 14, 2016: $4,210.97; Petty Cash: $21.63;
Total Assets: $4,232.60; Paid Members 2016: 67; 2015 Paid Members:
81
3. List Subscribers reported by Kathy Buckley: 301
4. Membership Report: 751 Facebook Likes (+3 this
week)
Donna Vaughn conducted a basic genealogical workshop for over
40 people from St. Michael’s Church; her workshop was well
received. She will be conducting a future presentation for the
Princetown Seniors in Schenectady and possibly one for The Eddy
in Troy.
5. Project Updates from Bill McGrath: St. Joseph’s
Cemetery Waterford (includes Cohoes residents): Bill McGrath gave
Jeanne Keefe the following: 113 files covering 17,237 names for
which Jeanne will build web pages and an introduction to the database
which has six graphics showing: The Cemetery, St. Joseph’s
Church, Cohoes, N.Y. and scenes of the Cohoes Mills.
A question was previously raised as to the purpose
for having witnesses to deaths. For French Canadians, this custom
dates back to the 1600’s when there were no government officials
readily available.
Marriages in Troy Newspapers 1797 – 1860
There are 13,540 records. A TIGS volunteer in Massachusetts matched
the brides’ records to the grooms’ records. The files
were returned to Bill in March. Problems were identified with
names, dates, etc. Bill is in the process of fixing the data.
He will put it in the correct format for Jeanne to post to the
website and he will write an introduction.
Kathy Buckley is transcribing deaths in the 1905
Troy City Directories; 1901 – 1904 are already on-line.
6. On-Going Business / Old Business:
Watervliet Scanner/ West Troy Church Records –
The Watervliet Historical Society’s scanner worked very
well. Chris Connel gave Bill McGrath a flash drive of two of the
three West Troy Methodist Church records.
The Watervliet Historical Association is considering
scanning city directories. Since 1904 is the only Troy City Directory
not on Ancestry.com, Chris may recommend they start with the 1904
directory.
Commemorating James Connolly Badges – 2016
is the 100 year anniversary of the Irish Uprising. James Connolly
lived on 10th Street in Troy, N.Y. for two years. On 5/14/2016,
there will be a ceremony in Troy and James Connolly Commemorative
badges are available for $10.00. There is a facebook page devoted
to
James Connolly in Troy. https://www.facebook.com/JamesConnollyinTroy/
Scanning / Transcribing old Troy Burial Records
– Chris Phillipo started scanning them. Jeanne Keefe has
them and is reviewing them to correct old errors. Rensselaer County
Rootsweb was putting them online.
2016 Genealogy Look-up Days – The first of
three is scheduled for the Watervliet Public Library on Saturday,
4/9 from noon - 2:00 P.M. by appointment in half hour increments.
If time permits, walk-ins will be accepted. People from any area
are welcome.
Charter Review Status Report – Donna Vaughn,
Lizette Strait, Gerri Sherry and Bill McGrath reviewed the charter.
Their recommendations are in Attachment A. Charter Review Status
Report.
The charter, the proposed slate of officers and
word documents for voting will be sent to paid members in May.
7. New Business
Membership Watervliet Historical Society –
Chris Connell proposed that TIGS join the Watervliet Historical
Society. She will send the officers an e-mail proposing the expenditure
of $100.00 for this purpose. TIGS has been using their scanner
to copy the West Troy Methodist Church records.
Rootsweb Issues and Alternate Hosting Options
Jeanne Keefe reported on the Rootsweb issues. The viruses reported
by TIGS site users came from Rootsweb not from the TIGS files.
The links are not necessarily correct as of right now. Last year
Kris Cooney-Ayotte went through the surnames and made certain
that all of the links were ok and current.
The server has been down a few times and Ancestry.com
does not appear to be supporting Rootsweb.
Jeanne recommends TIGS switch to a professionally
hosted website. Jeanne is also recommending that TIGS pay to have
the website redesigned. She will obtain estimates and report her
findings to TIGS in May.
New Projects – Bill McGrath has a stack of
transcriptions of tombstones from St. Agnes Cemetery showing birthplaces
in Ireland; Bill needs transcribers for this project.
Slate of TIGS Officers for 2016 – 2017 - Nominations
to be made in April.
8. Next TIGS Meeting:
The next TIGS meeting will be April 21, 2016 at
6:30 P.M.
tentatively at Scarborough’s, 497 Old Niskayuna Rd, Latham,
NY 12110.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made and was
passed.
Respectfully Submitted by: Joan Durso, Secretary
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