News from Other Societies

"Thou Shalt Teach Them Diligently Unto Thy Children."
Presentation by Dr. Herman Koren
Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting
Sunday, October 14, 2007

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will hold its October meeting at 2:00 PM Sunday October 14, 2007 at Temple B'nai Israel, 1685 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida for a presentation by Dr. Herman Koren on "Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children." This is a presentation of a love story found within the pages Dr. Koren's book "Histories of the Jewish People of Pinellas County, Florida, 1883 – 2005". This book is a comprehensive documentation of Jewish life throughout the history of Pinellas County. Dr. Koren spent several years researching and writing this remarkable book.

This joint meeting is combined with Temple B'nai Israel's program for the Tampa Bay area presentation of Dr. Herman Koren's book on the history of the Jewish People in Pinellas County. The book tells a community story within the framework of the continuum of Jewish values and history. It represents the cooperative efforts of many hundreds of people throughout Pinellas County and throughout the United States.

Dr. Koren is widely known and respected for his fifty years as a researcher, teacher, consultant, and practitioner in the environmental health field, and in the occupational health, hospital, medical care, and safety fields. He has a PhD from Indiana University, and is Professor Emeritus from Indiana State University. In addition to many publications and presentations at national meetings, he is the author of seven books. He has received the Walter S. Mangold Award, the most distinguished award offered in the environmental health science field.

This is not Dr. Koren's first venture into documenting the history of a Jewish community. In 1984, when he was active in the United Hebrew Congregation of Terre Haute, Indiana, a Reform Temple, he became the historian for that Jewish community by volunteering to write "The 150-Year History of the Jewish Community of Terre Haute, Indiana." He successfully applied his knowledge and skills from his education and professional writings to research and write Terre Haute's Jewish history. Now he has applied this same skill and knowledge to a history of the Jewish people in Pinellas County.

For information on the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay or directions to the October 14th meeting call Sally Israel at 727-343-1652.

FGS Tampa's 2007 Fall Conference is a Great Success

The 2007 FGS (Tampa) Fall Seminar was, by all accounts from attendees, vendors, and the FGS Board, an unqualified success! Our speaker, Amy Johnson Crow, CG, delivered four information-packed presentations from which every attendee -- both beginner and veteran researcher -- agreed that they learned a great deal. Amy is a consummate presenter who incorporates quality information and humor in all of her materials. We are exceptionally proud to have brought Amy to Tampa for this, our third annual Fall Conference.

Our vendors, societies, and other exhibitors enjoyed the intense interest of all of our more than 80 attendees. In addition, there were 20 door prizes, as well as many free books and magazines, donated by the following: Aha! Seminars, Inc., AncestorStuff.com, Ancestry Publishing, Digital Genealogist, LLD, Everton Publishers, the Florida Genealogical Society, Inc., the Genealogy Guys Podcast, the Hillsborough County Public Library System, RootsMagic, Inc., Trevetta Hartline Wunderlin, and more. We are sincerely grateful for the support of our society's activities by these wonderful people .

One of the great delight and highlights of the annual Fall Seminar is the awarding of the FGS Volunteer of the Year award. This year's recipient is Loraine Jacobs Rose. Loraine is a much-loved and -respected member of the society and the Corresponding Secretary of the FGS Board. She s, coordinating the Telephone Tree to remind our members of monthly meetings and other upcoming events, handling correspondence, and contributing her efforts and talents wherever they are needed. Despite personal and family health concerns, she has worked tirelessly in the past year (and indeed for many years) to make our genealogical society a high quality, professional and scholarly organization. Loraine is shown at right receiving her 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award plaque from society president Drew Smith. In addition, her name has been added to the society's Volunteer of the Year Award plaque that hangs in the Ceta Rodgers Armitage Room at the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. Her name joins that of Treveta Hartline Wunderlin, the 2006 award winner, and their names and contributions will be honored and remembered for all time by our society.

Planning is already under way for the FGS 2008 Fall Seminar, which will commemorate and celebrate the society's 50th anniversary. We are the oldest genealogical society in the State of Florida and are planning a gala conference for next year! Watch for details in the coming months, and let us know if you'd like to volunteer to be part of the planning and excitement!

Florida State Genealogical Society Newsletter is Available

The Florida State Genealogical Society's quarterly newsletter, Florida Lines, is available at http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/pub_newsletter_floridalines/vol25issue3.pdf for your information and enjoyment. Included are articles about identity theft issues, the upcoming FSGS annual conference in Orlando on 9-10 November 2007, and the slate of nominees for election to the FSGS Board.