About Us
Western Wayne County Genealogical Society
The Western Wayne County Genealogical Society (WWCGS) explores various methods of tracing ancestry and promotes education both for beginners and more experienced genealogists through speakers, workshops, and seminars, addressing topics of interest. The society also records and publishes material of interest to genealogists.
In addition to offering instruction to assist the family historian, the goals of WWCGS are to promote the gathering and exchange of methods and techniques for pursuing family histories and preserving public records of importance to genealogists. Any person who is interested in pursuing their family history is welcome to join the society or to attend meetings as a visitor.
WWCGS covers the following Michigan cities:
Livonia, Northville, Redford, Westland, Canton Township, Wayne, Romulus, Garden City, Plymouth, Huron Township, Belleville, Van Buren Township, and Sumpter Township. We are proud to have members from all over the United States.
Our history
Founded in 1976, the first formal meeting was held February 18 of that year at the Carl Sandburg Library in Livonia, Michigan with 20 people present.
Upon establishment, the purpose of the society was to form a group of people interested in the exchange of information in one’s genealogy, biography, and history. It continues to encourage and assist other interested persons in researching, compiling, and preserving one’s records of this nature.
WWCGS Operations
WWCGS is governed by a Board of Directors and consists of officers serving up to three consecutive one year terms with elections held annually in May. WWCGS functions through the volunteer efforts of its members.
Our Executive Board organizes current activities, initiates new areas of society involvement in its vision and is the revolving force of example for membership participation. The Board supervises the finances of the society in keeping within the mandates of the members and the society’s by-laws and is responsible for administrative directions of its standing and special committees.
Non-Profit & Affiliations
The society is a member of the National Genealogical Society, a non-profit organization founded in 1903 composed of more than 9000 individual members and over 500 genealogical and historical societies and libraries, representing over 500,000 individual genealogists. In addition, the society is also affiliated with the Michigan Genealogical Council, a non-profit organization founded in 1972, with over 150 member societies in Michigan, representing more than 7,500 individual genealogists.
The Western Wayne County Genealogical Society is a registered State of Michigan non-profit organization and a federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
WWCGS Actively supports Diversity and Inclusion
WWCGS membership is as varied as their family histories. By celebrating and embracing both this diversity and full inclusion, we honor and support the history that is the tapestry of our country and our world.
As WWCGS individual members put together the material of their personal family histories while together we learn, research, and record each of our stories, we reflect segments of the fabric of our Society, and the tapestry of our world. Each member’s personal and family history is like one square of the patchwork quilt that is the fabric composing the Western Wayne County Genealogical Society and one stitch of the tapestry that is the human race.
WWCGS recognizes the contributions of our Indigenous peoples, People of Color, Asian and Pacific Islanders, European and Middle-Eastern ancestors that have made our history into the fabric that composes our character. WWCGS continues to strive and hold a place for those who may not be able to breach the genealogical walls caused by the loss of records of lineage and oral traditions regardless if due to war, genocide, enslavement, oppression, subjugation, or discrimination.
WWCGS acknowledges that we are not a perfect union, so we strive to fully include all peoples regardless of age, race/ethnicity, national origin, religious beliefs, gender, disability, military service, veteran status, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and political ideology.
DNA is helping people expand the details of their family histories. It is WWCGS’s hope that our members and visitors will remember that the DNA of each and every human is a story worth telling – that every human deserves the right to live, love and belong.
WWCGS Bylaws (PDF)
WWCGS Policies & Procedures
Affiliated Organizations
Local Societies and National Organizations
2022-2023
Executive Officers
President
Harvey DeWitt
Vice President
Steve Schwartz
Treasurer
Raul Rodriguez
Trustee
Jamie Fidler
Corresponding Secretary
Charlotte Neary
Trustee
Linda Richardson
Immediate Past President
Mary Hazlett
Trustee
Stephanie Smith
Recording Secretary
position open
2022-2023
Committee Chairs
John Mills
Program Chair
Cemetery Committee Chair
Transcription Guild Team Lead
Steve Schwartz
Archivist
Web Admin – Assistant
Membership Chair
Shirley Connors
Librarian
Raul Rodriguez
Hospitality – Logistics
Velaine Nagy
Research Assistance Team Leader
Harvey DeWitt
Newsletter Editor
Marge Najarian
Hospitality Co-Chair
Charlotte Neary
Hospitality Co-Chair
Rosemary Wood
Hospitality – Greeter
Jamie Fidler
Web Admin
2022-2023
Standing Committee Members
Research Assistance Team
Jan Pierzchala
Transcription Guild Volunteeers
Steve Schwartz
Mary DelaMora
Marcia Korzeniowski
Velaine Nagy
Cemetery Committee
Beverly Blankertz
Patricia Cockfield
Jack Engebretson
Sherry Green
Karen Moran
Velaine Nagy
Charlotte Neary
Richard Posthuma
Society Delegates
NGS Delegate – Stephanie Smith
NGS Admin – Harvey DeWitt
MGC Delegate – Harvey DeWitt
MGC Delegate – John Mills
HSM Contact – Steve Schwartz