IAGenWeb Logo

History of IAGenWeb

 

In the beginning . . .

In March & April, 1996, a group of genealogists organized the Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database. The idea was to provide a single entry point for all counties in Kentucky where collected databases would be stored. In addition, the databases would be indexed & cross-linked, so that if an individual were found in more than one county, they could be located in the index.


The idea caught the imagination of genealogists across the United States. Within months the project expanded from Kentucky to all areas of the United States, becoming the USGenWeb Project.

Year one . . .

By July 1996 it fell to Kelly Boldan, Rochester, Minnesota, to apply for and be awarded the nod to set up the State of Iowa in the USGenWeb Project. Kelly Boldan became the first IAGenWeb Project State Coordinator that July. On August 6, 1996 Kelly launched the IAGenWeb page on Rootsweb. The state of Iowa joined the USGenWeb in a very visible way on August 6, 1996. That is the first date of record and the date Kelly opened Iowa for county adoptions. The IAGenWeb Project was born.


The first year was filled with a pioneering growth expanding into a territory where no human had ever trod. Kelly expanded the management of the IAGenWeb to a cabinet of volunteers as it became apparent the job needed to be done within a team.


The first cabinet consisted of Kelly Boldan, Dennis Walsh, Sue Soden, Randy Dop and Loren Toomsen. The group looked for examples of successful volunteer organizations to establish succession. The model chosen was that of Toastmasters, Rotary, Lions Club, Kiwanis and other service organizations. The position of State Coordinator would last a term of one year commencing on July 1st and lasting until June 30th. A coordinator would make a three-year commitment to the Iowa Project. The first year would be served as Assistant State Coordintor. The Second Year as State Coordinator and the third year as Immediate Past State Coordinator. This would guarantee a commited group, continuity and important depth to the project. It also provides for every person who wishes to lead the project an opportunity to serve.

List of officers . . .

1997-1998

Loren Toomsen, State Coordinator
Randy Dop, Assistant State Coordinator
Kelly Boldan, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Dennis Walsh, Welcome Host
Sue Soden, Welcome Hostess

1998-1999

Randy Dop, State Coordinator
Richard Harrison, Assistant State Coordinator
Loren Toomsen, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Dennis Walsh, Welcome Host

1999-2000

Richard Harrison, State Coordinator
Margot Hill, Assistant State Coordinator
Randy Dop, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Dennis Walsh, Welcome Host

2000-2001

Margot Hill, State Coordinator
Mark Christian, Assistant State Coordinator
Richard Harrison, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Dennis Walsh, Welcome Host

2001-2002

Mark Christian, State Coordinator
Don Kelly, Assistant State Coordinator
Jenny Bethurem, Welcome Hostess

2002-2003

Don Kelly, State Coordinator
Gail Meyer Kilgore, Assistant State Coordinator
Mark Christian, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Sharyl Ferrall, Welcome Hostess

2003-2004

Gail Meyer Kilgore, State Coordinator
Sharyl Ferrall, Assistant State Coordinator
Don Kelly, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Greta Thompson, Welcome Hostess

2004-2005

Sharyl Ferrall, State Coordinator
Greta Thompson, Assistant State Coordinator
Gail Meyer Kilgore, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Peggy Tebbetts, Welcome Hostess
Linda Ziemann, Welcome Hostess

2005-2006

Greta Thompson, State Coordinator
Barbara Hug, Assistant State Coordinator
Sharyl Ferrall, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Laura Blair, Welcome Hostess
Peggy Tebbetts, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2006-2007

Barbara Hug, State Coordinator
Karen De Groote-Johnson, Assistant State Coordinator
Greta Thompson, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Laura Blair, Welcome Hostess
Lynette Edsall, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2007-2008

Karen De Groote-Johnson, State Coordinator
Richard Harrison, Assistant State Coordinator
Barbara Hug, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Welcome Hostess
Linda Ziemann, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2008-2009

Richard Harrison, State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Assistant State Coordinator
Karen De Groote-Johnson, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Welcome Hostess
Greta Thompson, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2009-2010

Constance Diamond, State Coordinator
Linda Ziemann, Assistant State Coordinator
Richard Harrison, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Welcome Hostess
Peggy Tebbetts, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2010-2011

Linda Ziemann, State Coordinator
Ralph Leonard, Assistant State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Welcome Hostess
Sharon R. Becker, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2011-2012

Ralph Leonard, State Coordinator
Stephen D. Williams, Assistant State Coordinator
Linda Ziemann, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Welcome Hostess
Sharon R. Becker, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2012-2013

Stephen D. Williams, State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Assistant State Coordinator
Ralph Leonard, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Welcome Hostess
Cheryl Siebrass, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2013-2014

Constance McDaniel Hall, State Coordinator
William Haloupek, Assistant State Coordinator
Stephen D. Williams, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Welcome Hostess
Cheryl Siebrass, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2014-2015

William Haloupek, State Coordinator
Karen De Groote, Assistant State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Linda Ziemann, Welcome Hostess
Kermit Kittleson, Welcome Host
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2015-2016

Karen De Groote, State Coordinator
Cheryl Siebrass, Assistant State Coordinator
William Haloupek, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Welcome Hostess
Kris Meyer, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2016-2017

Cheryl Siebrass, State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Assistant State Coordinator
Karen De Groote, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Welcome Hostess
Cindy Booth Maher, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2017-2018

Lynn McCleary, State Coordinator
Paul Nagy, Assistant State Coordinator
Cheryl Siebrass, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Cindy Booth Maher, Welcome Hostess
Karon S. Velau, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2018-2019

Paul Nagy, State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Assistant State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Cindy Booth Maher, Welcome Hostess
Karon S. Velau, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2019-2020

Constance Diamond, State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Assistant State Coordinator
Paul Nagy, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Karyn Techau, Welcome Hostess
Karon S. Velau, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2020-2021

Constance McDaniel Hall, State Coordinator
Cindy Booth Maher, Assistant State Coordinator
Constance Diamond, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn Diemer-Mathews, Welcome Hostess
Cheryl Siebrass, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2021-2022

Cindy Booth Maher, State Coordinator
Kris Meyer, Assistant State Coordinator
Constance McDaniel Hall, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn Diemer-Mathews, Welcome Hostess
Lynn McCleary, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

2022-2023

Kris Meyer, State Coordinator
Linda Ziemann, Assistant State Coordinator
Cindy Booth Maher, Immediate Past State Coordinator
Lynn McCleary, Welcome Hostess
Karyn Techau, Welcome Hostess
Mark Christian, Technical Team Leader

 

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