From the President: Something to be Grateful For

by Tony Hanson

I must admit to a certain amount of vanity when it comes to being associated with the Dallas Genealogical Society. I love to hear luminaries like David Rencher talk about the great relationship we have with the Dallas Public Library. Our recent survey revealed how much our constituents value our commitment to live-streaming and recording high quality meetings. It is gratifying to hear other society leaders say (usually followed by a deep sigh) “Well, we can’t all be like Dallas…”.

Recognition is good, especially when it comes from our peers, which makes the awards we just received from the Texas State Genealogical Society so rewarding:

• Our Newsletter placed Second in the annual “Periodicals of Partner Societies: Newsletters” category (congratulations to the Denton County Genealogical Society for their First-place finish!).
• Our Website placed First in the “Website of Partner Society” category.

Recognition is even better when it reflects the value placed on the knowledge and experience of our members. We receive a steady flow of requests for presentations from surrounding organizations. The Irving Police Department recently contacted us requesting information pertaining to a cold case they are working on. And thanks to some assistance from the Arlington Genealogical Society, we were able to respond to an inquiry and identify the burial location for an aunt who was murdered in 1937.

But recognition is at its best when it attracts high quality, motivated and dedicated volunteers who enable our society to continue to provide programs and resources that meet the needs of our constituents. Those who serve on our Board, lead our Interest Groups and volunteer for other activities are motivated by something greater than a paycheck or a good benefits package (for the record, we don’t offer either one!), and we should all take a moment to recognize, and be grateful for, their contributions.