MEETING OPENED: 10:39 am – Vice-President John Blest presiding.
REPORTS:
A. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
B. Treasurer's Report:
C. Membership
Treasurer Donna Shine announced that the BIGS dues
for GAAA members will be reduced to $10 to accommodate the change in Buffalo Irish Times subscriptions.
Anyone wishing to place articles and/or queries in the next issue of the Times needs to submit the information prior Nov15th
Individual genealogy reports are wanted for inclusion in the binder located in the library. Information may be submitted in any convenient format.
All members are asked to notify Donna Shine whenever they have a change of address and/or email address.
Reminder: All donations to BIGS are tax deductible.
D. Correspondence:
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society will be sponsoring a conference on New Yorkers and the Military: from the Colonial Era through World War II. It will be held November 10-12 in Saratoga. Brochures are available from Donna Shine.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Events:
The Buffalo Irish Festival for 2005 went extremely well. We had sufficient volunteers to provide good coverage for our booth. John Blest extends his thanks to everyone who helped.
The January meeting will include the Gathering of the Clans. It will take place in the Emerald Room on Saturday the 21st. The meeting will immediately precede the event and will be held in the library at 6:00 pm. The theme of this year’s Gathering is The Dying Folkways of Ireland – presented by Ed Patton.
Suggestions for future topics are: April - Gary Zwick, historian Buffalo Fire Department and July – the Irish and the Digging of the Erie Canal
B. Projects:
The Holy Cross Cemetery records through the year 1881 have been indexed in Excel format. Entries through 1876 have also been verified.
C. Purchases/Acquisitions:
Several new items have been acquired for the library. Suggestions for purchases for the library are to be given to Donna Shine.
D. Library:
The collection has been catalogued and we are now ready to begin lending books. Library cards will be issued for this purpose. BIGS members will need to obtain cards before borrowing.
We are in need of someone who is willing to assume the responsibility of serving as the librarian. Fall hours are in effect. Volunteers continue to be needed to assist patrons.
The new magazine racks have been installed.
Signs to direct people to the library have been received and installed.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Election of Officers: Kevin O'Brien’s employer has transferred him to a new location downstate causing his to resign his position as President. An additional office – Financial Secretary – is proposed. This individual will receive and deposit membership payments, reducing the heavy workload currently being managed by Donna Shine. Ed Patton has volunteered to serve as President, Joan Scahill has volunteered to serve as Vice-President and John Blest has volunteered to fill the Financial Secretary slot. Donna Shine and Margaret Fabinsky have agreed to continue in their present posts. There being no contest for any of these offices the above listed slate was approved by a vote of the membership.
B. Item from the Floor:
- October 22nd there will be a Family History Fair at the LDS FHC on Maple Road. John Blest will present two sessions – on Beginning Irish Research and Using Irish Resources. There is no charge for attendance. Contact John for further information.
- John has also copied our research guide on to disk. Copies will be available to members at the next meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 11:15 am
FEATURED TOPIC: Ben Maryniak, President of the Buffalo Civil War Round Table on the Irish Brigades and the post-war Fenian Raid/Battle of Ridgeway.
NEXT MEETING: Saturday, 21 January 2006 @ 6:00 pm
M. E. O'Grady-Fabinsky