The regular monthly meeting of the Troy Irish Genealogy
Society was held on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at the home of Cathy
and Bill McGrath. The following individuals were in attendance:
Kris Ayotte
Jack Seppi, guest
Kay Brearton
Peggy Seppi, Guest
Tom Delaney, guest
Lori Skiff
Cathy McGrath
Lizette Strait
Bill McGrath
Jan Sullivan
Doris Moak
Ellen Tolan
Mimi Nicotina
Donna Vaughn
Kris White
The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Donna Vaughn, President.
Donna thanked Cathy and Bill McGrath for hosting the meeting and
thanked everyone for bringing refreshments. She also welcomed the
guests – Tom Delaney and Peggy and Jack Seppi.
A motion was made by Kris Ayotte and seconded by Jan
Sullivan to approve the minutes of the August 20, 2006 meeting.
The motion passed. The minutes have been posted to the website.
REPORTS
Donna recently attended the Irish Festival in Herkimer
and was impressed by the display set up by their local genealogy
society. She shared some of the handout material she had obtained
at their booth. They included an application to their Society. Donna
will look into the possibility that TIGS do something similar next
year at the Irish Fest in Altamont. The Irish Fest is scheduled
this year on September 16.
Kris Ayotte, Vice President, discussed alternate meeting
sites. Kris will check on a new restaurant which will be opening
in North Troy in the Old Daley location. Cathy McGrath spoke with
a staff person at Moscatiello’s Restaurant in North Greenbush
and has reserved a small meeting room off the bar area for the September
meeting. Kris Ayotte noted that next month notes the 3rd anniversary
of the creation of TIGS and suggested that each member try to bring
one additional member with them to the meeting.
There was no report from the Secretary.
Cathy McGrath, Treasurer, reported that there is currently
$458 in the treasury and she collected $110 in dues this month.
There are 47 current members. Fourteen members who paid in 2005-2006
have yet to pay for 2006-2007.
There was no report from the Webmaster, Jeanne Keefe,
who is on vacation.
Lizette Strait, List Administrator, reported that
there are currently 164 list members.
Bill McGrath, TIGS Project Coordinator, reported on
the Marriage Index Project and the 1903 City Directory projects.
Jan Sullivan and Kris White have been working on the 1903 City Directory
Project. Guest, Jack Seppi, who has since joined the TIGS mailing
list, offered to help with this project. When the 1903 city directory
project is finished we will have another data base of over 700 deaths
in 1903 in the areas of Troy, Cohoes, Watervliet, Waterford and
Green Island. Bill McGrath said scanning of Volume 2 of the Rensselaer
County Marriage Index will start in September and he will post a
message requesting volunteers to help with the data entry. Bill
reported that Lin VanBuren’s website on Rensselaer County
has numerous links to data series and articles that are on the Troy
Irish Genealogy Website. Address for her website is http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyrensse/
OLD BUSINESS
Kris Ayotte explained that she posted a request on
the website for anyone who would be willing to share genealogy resources
they have with others on the list. She has received several responses.
A location is still being sought for a presentation
about Troy by Jeanne Keefe. Lizette contacted the Troy Public Library
and they would have a room that could be used. Bill McGrath suggested
the Rensselaer County Historical Society; Kay Brearton will check
with them.
The “Brick Wall Project” was tabled. Lizette
will contact Mike McAlonie to check on the status of the logo for
the sweatshirts/T shirts. Donna pointed out that there are still
dates when the Aqua Duck tours will be conducted in Troy. The items
regarding WMHT and the Garden Tour were tabled.
NEW BUSINESS
Bill McGrath has sent four new articles from the book,
“Troy’s First 100 Years”, to Jeanne Keefe for
posting on the LOCAL HISTORY section of the TIGS website. Mimi Nicotina
is checking with a Brother from LaSalle Institute to obtain permission
to post some old photos from the school. The TIGS brochure will
be updated and reprinted for distribution. The next meeting will
be held at Moscatiello’s Restaurant in North Greenbush (near
HVCC) at 6:30 p.m. on September 21, 2006.
OPEN GENEALOGY FORUM
Guests were asked to share the names they are researching.
Tom Delaney is researching several surnames; among them are Delaney,
King, Dohan, Fitzsimmons, McCarthy and Brearton. Peggy and Jack
are researching Miles Scully and Mary Aberton. Ellen Tolan, a TIGS
member, is researching O’Neil, Tolan, Wallingford, Flanigan
and Hart. Bill McGrath shared a book he compiled for his siblings
that contains over 500 letters that were written to him by his mother
when he was in the service in the 1960’s. Jack Seppi shared
a binder containing some of his genealogy research.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Cathy McGrath and seconded by
Kris Ayotte to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved and
the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Brearton, Secretary
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