Ancestry Magazine

My letter in the last issue of Ancestry Magazine called attention to the fact that the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) has been particularly successful in channeling the efforts of state and local genealogical societies all over the United States. With more than five hundred member organizations representing more than 200,000 individuals, FGS is at the forefront of several major genealogical and historical projects that will affect virtually everyone’s genealogical research.

Since its inception in 1976, FGS has found leadership in an extraordinary array of talented people from every corner of the country. These volunteers gather for meetings four times a year; two of these meetings are held in conjunction with major genealogical conferences.

At the federation’s last national conference, held September 3—6, 1997 in Dallas, Texas, the organization paid tribute to two of its leaders by bestowing them with its most prestigious awards. These two individuals have made enormous contributions to the federation and to the genealogical community as a whole. The David S. Vogels, Jr. Award is presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding career contributions to FGS. The Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award is presented in recognition of the lifetime contributions of a rare individual whose positive personal influence and example have fostered unity in the genealogical community, provided leadership to its individual members, and helped make family history a vital force in the community at large.

This year’s winner of the David S. Vogels Award was Gary Mokotoff of Bergenfield, New Jersey. In presenting the award, FGS director James Warren noted that “serving at various times as FGS director, vice president, and treasurer, Gary brought to the federation a depth of business experience, common sense, and directness that strengthened the organization. Gary proposed, urged, and implemented positive and successful innovation in FGS publications, financial management, and board operation.” The FGS board has benefitted from Gary’s business acumen as a lecturer, professional genealogist, author, and president of Avotaynu, Inc. Gary is the creator of numerous databases of interest to those genealogists doing Jewish and Eastern European research.

The 1997 winner of the Rabbi Malcolm Stern Humanitarian Award was Curt B. Witcher. Curt served as FGS president for four years, from 1992 through 1996. James Warren noted that “we have all benefitted from Curt’s vision, leadership, and judgment at a time of rapid and critical change in our field.” Curt is an active member of the Allen County Genealogical Society and founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society, serving as its president six of the last eight years. Curt is a former vice-president and current director of the National Genealogical Society. He has led the Civil War Soldiers System project from its infancy, and serves on the board of the GenTech conference. He has kept these commitments while working full-time as manager of the Historical Genealogy Department of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, a post he has held since 1987. Curt has long been active in the American Library Association, and also acts as a genealogy consultant to the National Archives.

Ancestry Magazine joins genealogists everywhere in thanking these two leaders for the work they have done and are continuing to do.

Loretto (Lou) Szucs
Executive Editor