Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society
Minutes: 18 April 2009

MEETING OPENED: 10:34 am – President Ed Patton presiding.

REPORTS:
A. Minutes of last meeting approved without additions or corrections.
B. The Treasurer's Report was submitted and accepted as read. The treasurer has provided copies of each annual statement since BIGS inception. They are available for review by interested members.
C. Membership- Current membership has risen to 110.

  • Anyone wishing to place a query in the next issue of the Times needs to submit the information prior to May15th.
  • Individual genealogy reports continue to be wanted for inclusion in the binder located in the library. Information may be submitted in any convenient format.
  • Reminder: Donations to BIGS are tax deductible. Gift subscriptions may be purchased at any time and are a good way to promote membership.

    D. Correspondence
    – multiple e-mail requests for research have been received and handled by Jim Shine. Subsequent donations have been added to the treasury.

    OLD BUSINESS:
    A. Events
    - Both parades went well. Donna Shine has requested that BIGS be given more suitable placement in next year’s downtown parade.
    - The 2009 Irish Festival is in the planning stages. Many of the issues that created problems for us in the past appear to be re-emerging.
    B. Projects:
    - The display case construction continues to be delayed. An appropriate carpenter is being sought.
    - Holy Cross Indexing remains in progress. Jim Shine recently completed 1940. The missing files for Holy Cross have been obtained courtesy of member Shelia Strictland in Maryland.
    - Cathedral Day Book project – indexers are needed to get this project underway

    C. Library:
    - DSL is now available on the library computer. There is wireless capacity for laptop users.
    - Shelf space continues to be a pressing problem in the library. An attempt will be made to obtain funding via a member item from a State Legislator. Ed Patton will pursue this possibility.
    - The library printer is deteriorating rapidly and needs replacement. A replacement microfilm reader is also needed.
    - Hours:

  • 1st and 2nd Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • 3rd Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm

    D. GAAA
    - The members voted to increase our annual donation to the Building Fund from $100 to $250.
    - The Buffalo Irish Times continues to be in precarious financial condition but has extended publication until December. Again, all members are strongly encouraged to buy gift subscriptions for family and friends. The cost of an annual subscription is $10. Please send subscriptions to Donna Shine – make checks payable to BIGS and note on the memo line ‘Buffalo Irish Times donation’.

    NEW BUSINESS:
    Members have checked out the Irish Central website click here. It may be potentially useful but appears to be heavily focused on the commercial. It does not readily lend itself to genealogical purposes.

    ANNOUNCEMENT:
    May 9th – Presentation Donna Shine will conduct a brief class on how tro print documents when using Ancestry.com. She will present in the Library at 11:00 am.

    BUSINESS MEETING ADJOURNED: 11:52 am

    NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, 21 July 2009 @ 6:00 pm M. E. O'Grady-Fabinsky

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