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Blog Entries: 1 to 4 of 4
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Resource Center is Open for Business
After a couple of months and many hours of planning, packing, moving and unpacking the OGS Resource Center is open for business. I would like to thank everyone that participated in the project for their time and efforts. Both members and non-members helped during the process. The cost of the move was covered by donations from our membership.
The new location is a storefront in the Meridian Plaza Shopping Center on the corner of NW 16th Street and North Meridian Avenue in OKC. The address is 4516 NW 16th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73127. Our mailing address is still PO Box 12986, Oklahoma City, OK 73157-2986.
When you come to the Resource Center for research, classes or SIG there are three restaurants in Meridian Plaza to meet your needs and a city park across the street if you need a break. The Resource Center also has a coffee bar and refrigerator for your use. The facility is on one level and the bathroom is ADA compliant. We have tried to have all areas wheel chair accessible. There are two handicap parking spaces at the front door and a large lighted parking lot out front.
We hope everyone can come and use our new space. Our hours are 9-4 on Mondays (except major holidays) or by appointment. If you have free time please come by and volunteer to help us with our various projects. With more volunteers we can expand our hours and offer more to our fellow genealogists. Being a beginner is not a reason not to volunteer. Everyone can have something to share. Those of us that have been at it for a few decades still learn something new from the experiences of others.
Jim Ike
President
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OGS is on the Move
Changes are a part of life. After almost 8 years we are relocating our OGS Resource Center. The 1125 NW 50th Street location in OKC has served us well but it does not meet all of our present needs and is costing more than our present budget can handle. As of 1 August 2023 the OGS Resource Center will be located at 4516 NW 16th Street in OKC. The new location is in the Meridian Plaza Shopping Center on the corrner of North Meridian and NW 16th. This new space is a little smaller overall but the layout has two large rooms and a couple of storerooms that will better suite our needs at a more budget friendly level. This change will allow us to continue the OGS into the future and still serve the genealogical community as we have over the last 68 years. We will be offering all of the present services (SIGs, classes, research assistance, research materials, project work space, computers, scanners, printers, Internet, etc.) in the new location.
We will be continuing the scheduled classes for July at the 1125 NW 50th Street location but there will not be research available to the public as we pack. This move will not affect the Seminar/Workshop on 7th-10th August at the Oklahoma History Center. The move will cause the Computer SIG for Saturday, 12 August to be cancelled as we will be unpacking and organizing at the new location.
During July the Board and some volunteers will prepare for the move by sorting and boxing materials. Professional movers will be used to move most of the materials and equipment on Tuesday, 1 August. The cost of this move has been covered by donations. After the materials and equipment have been relocated to the 16th Street location the Board may be asking for volunteers to relocate the material from their transport boxes into the book shelves and cabinets. Watch for an announcement on the website or by email asking for volunteers.
Jim Ike
President of OGS |
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Message from the President
Our endowment has collected $41,617 as of 28 Nov 2022. Thanks to everyone that helped us with their donations. It has given us a real boost for our future finances. To continue the growth of our endowment consider adding OGS in your final bequests. See our website www.okgensoc.org for more information.
Present day the OGS can always use your help with your time, knowledge and funds. As a volunteer or board member you can help us continue the programs of the last 67 years. We have projects and tasks to create and improve the sources for your Genealogical endeavors. As a volunteer we have tasks that can be done at home or at our Resource Center in OKC. We will teach you everything you need to know and you may learn a new skill along the way. As a board member you can help us create the activities that will benefit you and other Genealogists into the future. As a volunteer and/or board member your current knowledge and the knowledge of your fellow Genealogists will be blended to the betterment of the OGS and make all of us better Genealogists. Being a volunteer or board member does not require you to be an experienced Genealogist. Beginners can offer their life experiences to the betterment of the OGS while they are learning to be better Genealogists. I was a novice Genealogist when I started with the OGS when asked to set at the registration table at a seminar. After twenty years as a OGS Board Member, I have made over hundred presentations to fellow or future Genealogists, been the editor of two Genealogical books, participated in dozens of OGS projects, helped dozens of Genealogists to find their ancestors, held several offices on the board and become your President for the second time. Please come and grow with the OGS and allow us to benefit from your past and future accomplishments.
As a member of the OGS your dues help us to have the finances to continue our path. We have tried to keep the dues as low as possible to allow everyone to benefit from their membership to the OGS. As any other corporation we have expenses and the dues do not cover everything. As an all volunteer organization we may not have salaries but we have rents, utilities, speaker fees, insurance, etc. to be able to offer the benefits to the Genealogical public. We have augmented the dues with publication sales, fees for seminars and classes, sales of logo products, donations, grants, memberships in First Families of the Twin Territories or Settlers & Builders, etc. If your financial position allows please consider a donation to our general fund. If you have contacts with corporations or organizations that offer grants to non-profits please ask that they consider the OGS (if you need information for applications all you need to do is ask). Are any of our publications or logo products appropriate for a gift to a friend, relative or local library please review our store to see. If you know of a novice or future Genealogist offer a membership to OGS or pay for a class or seminar for them. The addition of new Genealogists to the fold is the only way for OGS to continue for another 67 years. Is there a friend or relative that would be honored with a membership to the FFTT or Settlers & Builders? These are all consideration that could benefit the financial status of the OGS.
If you have the time, knowledge or funds to help the continuation of the OGS please step up and return to OGS the benefits you have received where you can. Please contact any OGS Board Member, email us at president@okgensoc.org or info@okgensoc.org or call us at 405-637-1907 for questions or more information on any of the topics of this article.
Jim Ike
President of OGS
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WE MADE IT
We have reached our goal of $25,000 in our endowment fund. Due to the generousity of our friends and members we have surpassed the $25,000 goal by several hundred dollars and a week ahead of our goal date and the money is still coming in. Your generousity allowed us to receive the matching grant from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund of another $15,000. With the $40,000+ in our endowment fund we our now a part of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
The endowment is not locked and we can continue to grow the endowment with new donations. There is no limit to how much the endowment can grow with the help of our friends and members. The larger the endowment the more money we can receive on a yearly basis to continue our programs into the future. We have been around since 1955 and plan to continue for many more years.
Towards that goal of continued growth of the endowment well past when you are able to donate, I would like you to think about adding the OGS to your list of beneficiaries. The endowment can take donations in many forms other than cash. Property, vehicles, stock, life insurance, mutual funds, 401K transfers, oil and gas royalties, etc. can be donated. The Foundation staff will handle the sales of items as required or help you with the transfers. Go to the www.occf.org website for more information on how you can make the OGS Endowment Fund one of your beneficiaries or contact Jennifer Meckling at the foundation for assistance at j.meckling@occf.org or 405/ 606-2951.
Jim Ike
President of OGS |
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