Welcome to Our BVGS Website!!

Treasurer Julie and Secretary Loree are happy to welcome you to the BVGS website!

     The Botna Valley Genealogical Society is happy to welcome you to our website!  BVGS was started in January of 1980 after a common interest in genealogy was discovered among local citizens at a workshop offered at the Oakland High School by Iowa Western Community College.  There were thirty-one charter members in the Society.  Membership has fluctuated over the years with nineteen members at the end of 2023.  We hope you enjoy your visit to our site, and that you will come back often.

     Our Society meets the first Monday of each month at the Floyd Caughell Genealogy Room in the Eckels Memorial Library in Oakland, Iowa.  (Beginning in 2019 it was decided not to meet during the months of December, January and February due to weather concerns.)  Most meetings consist of a business meeting, scheduled program, and/or a work session.  Starting in 2006, these meetings changed from evening meetings to 1:30 p.m. meetings.  We are always happy to have visitors or new members join us!

     New membership dues for the year 2024 remain at $10 for individual, $15 for family, and $1 for junior members to the age of 18 years.  An October new membership dues will apply to the next year.  If you have a change of address, be sure to let us know.  Annual dues are payable in January and become delinquent at the April meeting at which time the membership will cease.  

2024 BVGS Officers & Committees

• Barbara Butcher - President/Registered Agent
• Pam Paulson - Vice-President
• Pam Paulson - Secretary
• Julie Miller - Treasurer

2024 Committees

Board:  Jan Kenkel (2), Frieda Peterson (1), plus Officers Barbara Butcher, Pam Paulson and Julie Miller. 

Newsletter:  When published - Barbara Butcher.

Scrapbook:  Pam Paulson.  

Member Volunteers Needed . . .

Volunteers Needed:  Members, please don't forget to spend some volunteer time in our genealogy room.  If nothing else, we need to be there in case someone comes in looking for information.  Look around and become acquainted with all of our resources.  Read some of our magazines or newsletter we get from other organizations.  Or, spend some time reading newspaper microfilm and extracting obituary information for our records.  Please remember to "sign the calendar" when you volunteer in the room.  

Others items that could be worked on include:  Typing "Obituary Cards after 1990" index.  Index "Funeral Memorial Cards" in three-ring binders that have not been indexed.  Add "Funeral Memorial Cards" to the alphabetized boxes.  "Obituary Card Files" need to be checked and out-of-order cards put back in alphabetical order.  Scan more recent obits not done.  Add information to our military binders from our microfilmed newspapers.

Tentative 2024 Programs:

January 1, 2024 - No Meeting Scheduled

February 5, 2024 - No Meeting Scheduled

March 4, 2024 - Welcome Back to All BVGS Members and Guests.  Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room at Eckles Library in Oakland.

April 1, 2024 - Morning Field Trip to Danish Museum Research Center in Elk Horn, Iowa.  Lunch following.

May 6, 2024 - Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Oakland Cemetery for a work session in preparation for Memorial Day visitors.

June 3, 2024 - Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room at Eckles Library in Oakland.  Program will be by Carolyn DeLay on "Sources:  What they are and how to cite them."

July 1, 2024 - Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room at Eckles Library in Oakland.  

August 5, 2024 - Morning Field Trip to the Shelby County Historical Museum in Harlan, Iowa.  Lunch following.

September 9, 2024 - Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room at Eckles Library in Oakland.  Work in room on projects including the Humbert Family Donations.

October 7, 2024 - Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room at Eckles Library in Oakland.  Program will be using phone aps for scanning all-size negatives.

November 4, 2024 - Year-End Luncheon Outing. Meet at Sue's Kitchen at the Embers in Avoca, Iowa, at 11:00 a.m.  After lunch, a visit to the Newtown Country School and the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum.

December 2, 2024 - No Meeting Scheduled

* * * * * * * * * * 

January 2, 2023 - No Meeting Scheduled

February 6, 2023 - No Meeting Scheduled

March 6, 2023 - Welcome Back to All BVGS Members and Guests.  Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.  Region 16 Representative Sandra Bengtson plans to attend.

April 3, 2023 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.  Program will be locating burial places at Oaklawn Cemetery.

May 1, 2023 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.  Program will be new members sharing about families they are researching.

June 5, 2023 - Meet at Genie Room at 1:30 p.m.  "Field Trip" to Mary's home to celebrate her birthday!

July 3, 2023 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.  

August 7, 2023 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.

September 20, 2023 - Field Trip to State Historical Library of Iowa in Des Moines.  Meet at Barb's home at 8:00 a.m. to carpool.   

October 2, 2023 - Looking for Graves at Oaklawn Cemetery in Oakland, Iowa.  Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Genie Room in the Oakland Library. 

November 6, 2023 - Year-End Holiday Luncheon.  Meet at The Backfield Bar & Grill in Walnut, Iowa at 11:00 a.m.  

December 4, 2023 - No Meeting Scheduled

January 3, 2022 - No Meeting Scheduled

February 7, 2022 - No Meeting Scheduled

March 7, 2022 - Meeting canceled due to snow.

April 4, 2022 - Welcome Back to All BVGS Members and Guests.  Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m.

May 2, 2022 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Nishna Heritage Museum on 117 North Main Street in Oakland, Iowa.

June 6, 2022 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to Begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum at 504 North Elm Street in Avoca, Iowa.

July 11, 2022 - Meeting scheduled at the Eckels Library Genie Room in Oakland beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Special Birthday Celebration. 

August 1, 2022 - Meeting scheduled at Clear Title LLC located at 535 West Broadway, Suite 203 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Meet in the Conference Room at 1:30 p.m.

September 12, 2022 - Meeting scheduled at the Eckels Library Genie Room in Oakland beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Work on Funeral Memorial Cards.

October 3, 2022 - Meeting scheduled at the Eckels Library Genie Room in Oakland beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Work on the Turner Family History Donations.

November 7, 2022 - Year-End Holiday Party at Destinations located in Oakland, Iowa.  Meet at the restaurant at 11:00 a.m.

December 5, 2022 - No Meeting Scheduled

January 4, 2021 - No Meeting Scheduled

February 1, 2021 - No Meeting Scheduled

March 1, 2021 - No Meeting Scheduled

April 5, 2021 - Roll Call:  Covid-19 Experience.  Program:  Catch-Up on Everyone.  Please wear masks.

May 3, 2021 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.  

June 7, 2021 - Regular Meeting Scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

July 5, 2021 - Roll Call:  Are you related to the Minick Family?  Program:  "Memoirs of the Minick Family" by Julie Miller.

August 2, 2021 - Program:  "VHS Tapes to DVD" by Pam Paulson.

September 13, 2021 - Field Trip:  To IGS Library in Des Moines, IA.  Open hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 4, 2021 - Program:  Using Scanners and Scanning Programs.

November 1, 2021 - Lunch at Destination Coffee & Cuisine in Oakland at 11:00 a.m.

December 6, 2021 - No Meeting Scheduled

January 6, 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled

February 3, 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled

March 2, 2020 - Roll Call:  Update on your Genie work in the last three months.  No Program - Time spent visiting!

April 6, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

May 4, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

June 1, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

July 6, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

August 3, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

September 14, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Guidelines

October 5, 2020 - President Barbara Butcher will be at the Genie Room at 1:30 p.m. and invites any interested members to stop by if they feel comfortable.  Coronavirus Guidelines to be followed.

November 2, 2020 - Meeting Cancelled Due to Continued Local Coronavirus Cases.

December 7, 2020 - No Meeting Scheduled

January 7, 2019 - No Meeting

February 4, 2019 - Roll Call:  Do you have any 2018 Christmas celebrations left besides BVGS?  Program:  Re-Scheduled Christmas Party.

March 4, 2019 - No Meeting

April 1, 2019 - Roll Call:  How long have you been a BVGS member?  Program:  Photos from Our Past.

May 6, 2019 - Roll Call:  Yes or No - Do you know anything about Amelia Jenks Bloomer?  Program:  Carolyn DeLay portrays Amelia Jenks Bloomer.

June 3, 2019 - Roll Call:  What are your birth & childhood locations?  Program:  Ruby Bentley "Something Macedonia."

July 8, 2019 - Society's 40th Anniversary Dinner Party.  Meet at 11:30 a.m. at Buck Snort in Oakland, Iowa.  "Photos from Our Past" at Genie Room following meal.

August 5, 2019 - Roll Call:  What did your family do for fun in the old days?  Program:  Gayle Strickland "The Good Old Days."

September 9, 2019 - Roll Call:  If you could do it all over, what Dream Career would you choose?  Program:  Pam Paulson.

October 7, 2019 - Roll Call:  Tell your Grandmothers' first and middle names.  Program:  Loree Hamilton "Diary Stories Etc."

November 4, 2019 - 2019 Christmas Party in Genie Room!!

December 2, 2019 - No Meeting.

January 1, 2018 - No Meeting

February 5, 2018 - Roll Call:  Did you make any New Years Resolutions?  Program:  2017 Christmas Party.  (Meeting Canceled due to snow storm.)

March 5, 2018 - Roll Call:  Do you subscribe to any newspapers online?  Program:  Last chance for our 2017 Christmas Party.  (Meeting Canceled due to rain, hail, sleet, & wind.)

April 2, 2018 - Roll Call:  Have you had any recent successes with your research?    Program:  General Organizational Meeting.

May 7, 2018 - Roll Call:  Do you subscribe to any newspapers online?  Program:  Barbara Butcher "Using Digitized Newspapers."

June 4, 2018 - Roll Call:  How many binders of your own family history have you made?  Program:  Mary Sternberg "Using Binders in the Genie Room."

July 19, 2018 - Tenth Anniversary Dinner Party.  Meet at 11:30 a.m. at El Sol Family Mexican Restaurant in Oakland. 

August 6, 2018 - Roll Call:  Are you the owner of any diaries?  Program:  Loree Hamilton "More Diary Stories."

September 10, 2018 - Roll Call:   Did you have any ancestors serve in the Revolutionary War?  Program:  Carolyn DeLay "Jeremiah Hatch."

October 1, 2018 - Roll Call:  Do you have any ancestors with the surname of Lewis or Clark?  Program:  Colleen Wilbur "Lewis & Clark in the Loess Hills."

November 5, 2018 - Roll Call:  Tell us some fact about yourself that we probably don't know.  Program:  TBA or "Writing Your Own Obituary."

December 3, 2018 - Christmas Party in the Genie Room!

January 2, 2017 - No Meeting

February 6, 2017 - Roll Call:  Did you ever keep a Diary?  Program:  Loree Hamilton - "Yesteryear This 'n That" - More Diary Stories.

March 6, 2017 - Roll Call:  Name an ancestor you truly admired and tell why.  Bring a photo if you have one.  Program:  Show 'n Tell of two treasured items from your family history.

April 3, 2017 - Roll Call:  Easter Traditions.  Program:  Pam Paulson entertains with Easter Songs.

May 1, 2017 - Roll Call:  If you could be any person for a day, who would it be?  Why?  Program:  Susan Vance will have the program on Coal Miners.

June 5, 2017 - Roll Call:  How many siblings did you have?  Your mom?  Your dad?  Program:  Mary Sternberg - "Mama's Sisters - Against All Odds!"

July 10, 2017 - Anniversary Dinner Party - Meet at 11:15 a.m. at the Embers Restaurant in Avoca, Iowa.  Tour of the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum after we eat.

August 7, 2017 - Roll Call:  Do you go to the Iowa State Fair?  Program:  Peggy Engle will have the program on Essential Oils.

September 11, 2017 - Roll Call:  Name a favorite food or snack you liked for school lunch that starts with the first letter of your last name.  Program:  Russ Brandes will have the program.

October 2, 2017 - Roll Call:  Do you own a quilt that belonged to an ancestor?  Program:  Colleen Wilbur will do her "Quilts & Pioneer Women" program.

November 6, 2017 - Roll Call:  If our Society had kept a Diary since 1980, what might be an entry that could be found in it?  Program:  Loree Hamilton - "Yesteryear This 'n That" - More Diary Stories.

December 4, 2017 - Christmas Party in our Genie Room at 1:30 p.m.

January 4, 2016 - No Meeting.

February 1, 2016 - Roll Call:  What do you love most about your home town?  Program:  Install 2016 Officers and Annual Meeting with Review of By-Laws.

March 7, 2016 - Roll Call:  Tell how much time you plan to devote to volunteering in the Genie Room in 2016.  Program:  Work session.  That is, unless someone volunteers to do a program.

April 4, 2016 - Roll Call:  Name your ancestors who have lived in the Walnut, Iowa area.  Program:  Barb Butcher will go over searching in the Walnut, Iowa newspapers online.

May 2, 2016 - Roll Call:  Name a place you would love to travel to.  Program:  Phyllis and Russ Brandes.

June 6, 2016 - Roll Call:  What is one thing you would still like to learn to do?  Program:  Susan Vance to present.

July 11, 2016 - Roll Call:  How many years were your parents and/or you married?  Anniversary Dinner Party at Buck Snort Restaurant in Oakland, Iowa meeting at 11:15 a.m.  Visit Macedonia Museum after eating.

August 1, 2016 - Roll Call:  If you could be any person for a day, who would it be/why?  Program:  Carolyn Hotze to present - Marty Rieken from Funeral Home.

September 12, 2016 - Roll Call:  Did you have any nicknames growing up?  What were they?  Program: Carolyn Hotze to present - Marty Rieken from Funeral Home.

October 3, 2016 - Roll Call:  What is the craziest thing you've ever eaten?  Program:  Pam Paulson to present an update on our new computer and technology.

November 7, 2016 - Roll Call:  What is the oddest/most unlikely job you have ever done?  Program:  Diary Entry Reading by Loree Hamilton.

December 5, 2016 - Roll Call:  Name a favorite Christmas tradition.  Christmas Party in the Floyd Caughell Genie Room.

January 5, 2015 - No Meeting

February 2, 2015 - Installation of Officers & Review of By-Laws, etc.  MEETING CANCELED - SNOW STORM.

March 2, 2015 - Roll Call:  Share any comment you like.    Program:  Installation of Officers & Review of By-Laws, etc.

April 6, 2015 - Roll Call:  Your place of birth? story?    Program:  "Organizing the Perfect Family Reunion."

May 4, 2015 - Roll Call:  Share a solved or unsolved family history mystery.    Program:  Work Session.

June 1, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Share a good childhood memory.    Program:  "Now What Did I Name That!?  - Digital archiving and new scanner use.

July 6, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Share your full legal name and heritage.    Program:  Anniversary Dinner Party at the Buck Snort restaurant in Oakland.  Meet around 11:15 a.m. to order around 11:30.  Plan to visit the Oakland Museum after the meal.

August 3, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Share a place of interest you've seen.    Program:  "Unusual Headstones" by Barbara Butcher.

September 14, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Name a favorite clothing fashion period.    Program:  Movie Day.

October 5, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Share a favorite cousin memory.    Program:  Pam will do her "Now What Did I Name That?" program on digital archiving and using our slide/negative scanner.

November 2, 2015 -  Roll Call:  What do you feel is the ideal age? why?    Program:  "Human Interest Stories" from Grandmother's Diary Readings by Loree Hamilton.

December 7, 2015 -  Roll Call:  Tell about an unusual Christmas gift you have received.    Program:  Christmas Party at Floyd Caughell Genealogy Room.

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