Message from Our President

Dear SCGS Members,

Welcome to 2026, the Year of the horse, and a year of exciting changes ahead for our society.

I'd like to begin by expressing our gratitude to two directors whose terms on the Board have

recently concluded. Jan Uehlein of La Quinta, California, made the difficult decision to resign

for personal reasons. We appreciate her service and extend our best wishes for the future. Rocco Hindman brought invaluable leadership as head of the Italian Interest Group and as a member of our financial committee, and he spearheaded our search for a new venue. His business acumen and practical wisdom will be greatly missed as he relocates to Ohio, and we wish him every success.

I'm pleased to welcome back our re-elected Board members: Adrian Foushee, Lyn Young, and Cathy Romero. We're also delighted to introduce our new directors, Barbara Gaitley and Linda Winters, both of whom have dedicated several years to serving in our library and are valued members of the Library Operations Committee. You can learn more about all our Board members by visiting the Board Officers and Board of Directors pages on our website.

Last year's membership appeal received a strong response, and we're truly grateful for the generous donations that many of you made to support our mission. As we look ahead to 2026, we face several significant challenges. We're developing a strategic plan for the next

3-5 years to chart our course and establish clear objectives for this year.

Looking forward to the road ahead.

One of our most pressing priorities is finding a new venue in the San Fernando Valley. Our

The current rent is too high, and we're actively seeking a more affordable space to lease.

This move will also mean streamlining our library collection to fit a smaller footprint—a task

we're approaching thoughtfully to ensure we keep the resources that matter most to our members.

At the same time, we're looking forward, not just inward. We're committed to expanding our

outreach programs to connect with more people in our community who share our passion for

genealogy and to make sure SCGS remains a go-to resource for researchers throughout the

region.

This is where we need your help...

We are building our Speakers Bureau and would love to add your name to the list if you'd be willing to give talks on genealogy topics.

These presentations could take place at retirement homes, libraries, community centers, and other venues throughout our area—either free of charge or for a minimal fee. If you have expertise you'd like to share or a ready-made talk you'd be willing to present, please let us know. This is a key part of our outreach effort, and your participation would make a real difference.

We'll keep you informed about our activities throughout the coming year. Please follow our

website at https://scgsgenealogy.com and our Facebook page to stay up to date on upcoming

webinars, meetings, and activities. Thank you so much for your continued support.

Warmly,

Louise Ratliff

President, SCGS