Donna Holt Siemiatkoski
Her Legacy

Established in August 2001, the Donna Holt Siemiatkoski  Genealogy Volunteer Award is presented annually to that individual who, in providing outstanding volunteer service to the New England Regional Genealogical Conference or its member societies (as defined in the NERGC bylaws), and as  such to the field of genealogy, over and above the job to which they were elected or appointed to do, best personifies  the volunteer and creative spirit demonstrated by Donna Holt  Siemiatkoski.  Donna Holt Siemiatkoski, who passed away at home on Monday,  August 6, 2001, was a founder of the Descendants of the  Founders of Ancient Windsor and served as its first  President.  She was also the newsletter editor, program  chairperson, and representative to the New England Regional Genealogical Conference for most of DFAW's history.  And yet, she was so much more.  For through her unique talents,  she helped others discover their own unique talents and wove  them together in a way that could best take advantage of  those talents.
 
Recognizing the need for a forum in which Connecticut's  professional genealogists could learn from one another and work together to assist organizations like the Connecticut  Historical Society and Connecticut State Library on certain volunteer projects, Donna was the impetus behind, and the  first president of the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council.  Again, she used her special talents to weave together an ongoing organization, certainly a memorial in itself.  That organization, in turn, has established an ongoing memorial to her in the Donna Holt Siemiatkoski Acquisitions Fund, which will be used to purchase genealogical books and other materials for area research libraries.
 
Donna served on the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, was an active chair of their Government Relations and Program Committees, and was their representative to the Federation of Genealogical Societies.  Her ability as a communicator and her multiple Government  Relations hats put her in the unique position to promote the  genealogy community's needs in the wider world, especially  to those governmental agencies in charge of records and  record keeping.
 
 For nearly twenty years, Donna was virtually a permanent  fixture in the History and Genealogy Unit.  The H&G and
 State Archives staff felt she was not so much a patron but a  friend.  In turn, she looked at each of us as her friends.
 Donna was ultimately appointed by the Governor to State Historical Records Advisory Board, chaired by State
 Archivist Mark Jones and also represented the genealogical community on the Connecticut State Library's Newspaper Project Advisory Board.
 
 Donna felt strongly about CSL.  After Saturday hours were eliminated due to budget cuts almost ten years ago, Donna became a vocal leader of those who worked for years to secure legislation to have those hours restored.  That dream finally became a reality on July 28, 2001.  The State Library is now not only are open Saturdays from 10:00 until 2:00 but also remains open Thursday evenings until 7:00. Donna pulled members of the genealogical and historical community together to support legislation that provides a mechanism to fund the preservation of Connecticut's original  records.  One of the results of those efforts, annual grants to town clerks for records preservation, was became a  reality in July 2001 and was recognized at a ceremony at the State Library.  When it became clear that the State Library, including the State Archives, had a true space crisis, Donna literally marched a group of genealogists from the State Library across the street to the Legislative Office Building to testify.  Through these efforts, a new off-site storage facility was secured.
 
In her role as delegate to the New England Regional Genealogical Conference, Donna continued her mission to
bring people together.  She believed strongly in NERGC and its promise of cooperation between a score of societies with differing interests.  Despite her poor health, Donna made a special effort to attend NERGC meetings.
 
At one time or another, Donna encouraged so many of us in the New England genealogical community  to join or assist one of the many organizations in which she was involved. She encouraged us to speak out on genealogical and other issues.  She brought out the best in us, encouraging and developing strong ongoing leadership for each organization of which she was a part.  Above all, she showed us as individuals and as organizations how to work together for the common good. 
 
In recognition of her volunteer work on behalf of NERGC, at its August 2001 meeting the delegates unanimously voted to establish the Donna Holt Siemiatkoski Volunteer of the Year Award to be presented annually to that person performing volunteer services to NERGC or one of its member societies who best personifies Donna's spirit of volunteerism.

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