15th Anniversary of Walworth County Genealogical Society Features "The Orphan Train Lady" "The Orphan Train Lady," also known as Becky Higgins, will be the featured speaker at the 15th annual celebration of the Walworth County Genealogical Society on Tuesday, the 2nd of September. The annual dinner and elections will be held at the Latimer House, 523 E. Walworth Avenue in Delavan, beginning at 5:30. Guests are welcome to attend. Ms. Higgins will be in period clothing and have several display tables of items to share with attendees. Higgins is a direct descendant of an Orphan Train Rider and is on the Board of the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America. She is currently serving as President of the Elgin Illinois Genealogical Society. Ms. Higgins is a current member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE). Fifteen years ago, founding members Barb Achtel, Ebellyn DeLong, Jean Lees, Jan Bores, Bette Cameron, Barb Wheelock, Debbie Soplanda and Kay West started the Walworth County Genealogical Society on its way to being what it is today. Bette Cameron was the Founding President, from 1988 to 1990,and is still a very active member today. Others having served as President are: John Stevenson, 1990 - 1992; Charlotte Gates, 1992 - 1994; Donna Long Kjendlie, 1994 - 1997; Peggy Rockwell Gleich, 1997 - 2002. Currently, back by popular demand, is Donna Long Kjendlie, as our President. The 150 plus members are actively walking cemeteries, copying stones, entering data into computers and publishing cemetery books; printing newspapers collections, collecting Bible records for publication, entering data into our library computer to make information easier to access for members and visitors; saving family histories of Walworth County families as well as other families; collecting other records for publication and variety of other projects. Registration will begin at 5:30 with dinner being served at 6:00 p.m. A short business meeting with the elections will follow the dinner. Door prizes and awards will complete the meeting. The cost is $15.00 per person and the deadline is the 20th of August for your reservation. You have a choice of Sirloin Steak or Breast of Chicken. Your reservations may be mailed to WCGS Reservations at PO Box 159, Delavan WI 53115-0159. Please contact John Stevenson at 262-728-3719 or Sue Kronwall at [email protected] if you have questions. Membership in WCGS is $10.00 for an individual, $12.50 for a family, and $25.00 for a contributing membership. We also have a $7.50 student membership. We are currently accepting donations for our new computer fund and we also have a Memorial Fund. On our Wish List is a new computer and monitor, family histories, Bible records, members and volunteers. Contact person: Peggy Gleich [email protected] 608-752-8816