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PRESIDENT'S GUIDE
STATE PRESIDENT'S GUIDE
For several years now we have been opening SGS International Chapters. We now have active chapters in 11 states, two in Canada, and one each in Australia and Brazil. Each chapter has been independently lead, and while we will continue to stress the individuality of each of our local chapters, there are a few items that can and should be maintained in a predetermined format.
Each Chapter should have a designated President. Once a President accepts the position, SGS will prepare or update the Chapter Web Page on the FEEFHS website with the President's mailing address, along with an E-mail address if the President has one, as well as this site.
Each local Chapter is encouraged to develop its own web presence if possible, with hotlinks to the SGS website at www.sloveniangenealogy.org and the SGS pages at FEEFHS http://feefhs.org/slovenia/frg-sgsi.html
Each December each Chapter President is encouraged to prepare a half to full page "Plan of Activities" to be conducted in the next year. This will provide a small outline of activities, however modest, and some framework to work toward. Obviously, changes will occur and each President is encouraged to take advantage of opportunities and move beyond the plan. At the end of each year (November), each President should send a half to full page review of past accomplishments to SGS International that can be shared with the full membership in the newsletter. In this way, good ideas developed in one area can be spread across each area, and misfortunes in one area can be learned about and avoided by the others.
And finally, each Chapter President is encouraged to prepare a "Slovenian Sources and Resources in (Your State or Country)" information document describing the local chapter. Information should include at least one paragraph on SGS International with addresses and Internet sites where information on the organization can be accessed. Specific information (which can be added gradually as collected) would include a listing of the cities in their state or country where Slovenian populations are or were significant. SGS International staff will be available to help determine possible locations. The Trunk translation on our FEEFHS website http://feefhs.org/slovenia/sidb1/trunki.html provides a snapshot of Slovenian presence in and about 1910. (Presidents without internet access can acquire hard copies by dropping a line to SGS Headquarters.)
Genealogical resources in each city should be listed, such as: local genealogical societies; public and private libraries including local LDS libraries; county courthouses with their hours and a list of records held; the name and address of daily, weekly and periodic newspapers and publications; church names, active and retired, along with their addresses; cemetery listings; and Slovenian fraternal groups or related organizations such as Croatian groups in areas where Slovenians were not of sufficient population to maintain their own organizations. If there are fraternal organizations, a listing of current officers and the name of their publication should be included. The example following in a separate E-mail should be used as a guide. But remember, all will not be accomplished quickly, and each should be begun as a long term project with periodic updating. While the list appears daunting at first, it can be accomplished slowly, bit by bit. Do not allow it to overwhelm you. In genealogy as in hare races, slow but steady wins the event.
The Society has an American Resources paper available that offers some general advice for beginning a Slovenian American genealogical search in the United States. We will forward an E-mail version of the document to each President and we encourage each President to read through the document for ideas on the sort of state or country information that might be included. Your comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
My Thanks for all you do!
Al Peterlin
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