Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm on Feb. 27, 2007, by President Terry Micks.

Officer Reports

Vice-President Anita Doering read the minutes of the Jan. 23, 2007 meeting. A motion was made to accept the Secretary�s report as read. The motion was approved.

Treasurer Allen Nelson read the Treasurer�s Report. The beginning balance on hand as of Jan. 23, 2007 was $646.70 with receipts of $714.06 and disbursements of $217.91, leaving a balance on hand as of Feb. 27, 2007 of $1142.85.

Correspondence

Upcoming workshops and conferences include:

• Exploring Your German Research at Whitewater, WI, July 14, 2007
• National Genealogical Society�s Conference in the States and Family History Fair at Richmond, VA, May 16-19, 2007
• Family History Seminar at LDS Church in Eau Claire, WI, March 17, 2007 from 1-5 pm

Committee Reports

Archives

Discussion continued about the genealogy magazines under consideration. Next month Anita would like to discuss the possible withdrawal from the library collection the Family Tree Maker � World Family Tree vol. 1-27 that the society purchased several years ago.

Newsletter

The next newsletter will come out in April. Terry would like feedback on the new format of the newsletter, good or bad.

Quarterly

Expect the Quarterly later this week. The next deadline is May 1.

Programs

March 27, 2007: not determined; watch the website for updates.

April 24, 2007: Anita Lee Palmquist will speak on German genealogy.

May: need to determine where and when for the cemetery working meeting

Website

More indexes are added to the website as soon as a new Quarterly is published. Roxanne Munns pointed out that two rules published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2007, relate to fees for reproductions of records at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The largest proposed increase is for the Civil War pension file from $37 to $125, a 338% increase. The government is considering raising copy fees considerably at NARA. Public comment about the new fee schedule will be taken until April 27. Visit the LAGS website for more information.

Unfinished Business

No further progress on the How to Get Started in Genealogy booklet; Jane Radloff & Roxanne Munns are going to do this.

Dues are due and there are no increases for 2007.

Terry touched on the recent membership survey results, although a longer summary will appear in the next Quarterly.
     We should really take a look at not having a January & February meeting
     A Saturday May meeting would work best for doing some cemetery work and having more daylight
     Consider having the business meeting after the speaker
     Hosting and teaching a beginners workshop was encouraged
     Topics for the newsletter/quarterly include photo retouching; most like the status quo
     Topics for programs include more country specific genealogy speakers and types of record research (census, land records, etc.); DNA was also suggested; round table discussions; work to increase membership
Hospitality committee was recommended

New Business

In working toward changes based on the membership survey, in the coming meetings we will discuss:

• Meeting in June & July in lieu of January & February; at this point we have booked the library auditorium for June 26 and July 24 this year in case the group decides to not have a January and February 2008 meeting. More discussion of this will follow after people have digested the membership survey results. Terry has two DVDs of a tutorial (beginning and advanced) for version 16 of Family Tree Maker that could be shown at these meetings in lieu of a speaker.
• Outreach opportunities to schools and scouts was suggested
• Executive Committee will look at cost of publishing four Quarterlies a year and three newsletters; does email and the web replace the need for as many mailings as we do?

It was moved to purchase the magazine Internet Genealogist for the library. The motion carried. Anita will get the information to Al Nelson of the cost.

Program

Everyone in attendance used Family Tree Maker software and no one else shared other program reports. So Terry Micks led a show and tell discussion of the new Family Tree Maker version 16 and the bells and whistles it has for reports.

Adjournment

The business portion of the meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm. Bessie Richardson will bring treats for the March meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Taylor Doering
Vice-President