PLEASE SEND ANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS DIRECTLY TO: [email protected] Officers of three of the six OGS chapters in the Athens District (Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, and Vinton) met at the Jackson City Library on Saturday Oct 1. We discussed recent problems faced by the chapters and genealogy in general. We exchanged ideas on things that have worked, and those that have not, and we discussed ongoing local projects. We talked about how we and OGS might help each other, how to promote ourselves locally, and what might be done to counter the rash of poorly done genealogy research. Most companies selling online genealogy helps and services don't even mention the importance of a properly researched and documented family history. We are investigating the possibility of holding a miniconference, possibly on Saturday Nov. 4, 2006. That is over a year from now, but it takes time to organize and advertise these things. One goal is to have at least one of the officers of OGS as a speaker. There are many locations in the district that have ample facilities for such a gathering. Athens, Gallipolis-Rio Grande, Jackson, and the Ironton-South Point areas were all mentioned as having housing for out of town attendees, meeting facilities, and research possibilities nearby. 1) Athens: Home of the Athens County Historical Society and the Athens County Chapter, has the neccessary facilities, unless that happens to be a football weekend. It has the county courthouse, the museum and library operated by the Historical Society, and the OU Alden Library, which houses the SE Ohio Regional Archives for Local Government Records. Athens County was organized in 1805, with Washington as the parent county. 2) Gallipolis-Rio Grande area of Gallia County: has facilities and research possibilities in the county courthouse, the library, and other locations. Gallia County was organized in 1803, so houses records dating to the earlies days of Ohio statehood. Washington was the parent county for most of SE Ohio, having been organized pre statehood, in 1788. 3) Jackson, Jackson County: has facilities and the county courthouse, the Jackson City Library, and other local research sources. The Wellston Library with its resources is about nine miles to the east. Jackson County was organized in 1816. Athens, Gallia, Ross, and Scioto were its parent counties 4) Ironton/South Point area in Lawrence County: Ironton has the courthouse, Briggs Library with the Hamner Room, and the county museum. South Point has three motels, at least one with several meeting rooms. Additional area research facilities include the Minnie Winder Room of the Boyd County Library, just across the Ohio River in Ashland, KY, abut half way between Ironton and South Point. The Winder Room is probably the best research source in the area, with a large collection of material covering the states of origin for many regional settlers. To the east is Huntington, WV, with the Cabell Co. courthouse, the history room in the Cabell Co. Library, the Special Collections section of the Marshall University Libraries, and the Genealogy Library of the KYOWVA Genealogy Society. Lawrence County was organized in 1817, with Gallia and Scioto as parent counties, both of which were organized in 1803. Meigs and Vinton Counties weren't present today, and don't know what facilities they may have. Welcome info on what facilities they might have If you would be interested in attending such a program, we welcome your id eas and suggestions. PLEASE SEND ANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS DIRECTLY TO: [email protected]