Judith Ross, SCCOGS Member and Founder and Coordinator of the French Ohio Day event submitted the following:

"The 7th Annual "FRENCH OHIO DAY" was held on August 13th at the Holy Trinity Community Center at Careys Run-Pond Creek Road in McDermott. The day was officially called "FRENCH OHIO DAY" by the Scioto County Commissioners.
The Service salutes the early French pioneers who once lived in the Portsmouth area and then moved to the Pond Creek area in or about 1850.
The Historical Marker was purchased in 1999 by the descendants of these early pioneers and is placed on State Route 73 on the property of the Holy Trinity Church and by permission of the Catholic Diocese in Columbus, Ohio. The Historical Marker reads:

You are standing in French, Ohio, named after the French settling here about 1850. French consisted of a sawmill, blacksmith shop, wheelbarrow factory, a school, a two lane bowling alley, small stores, a corn and flour mill. Most were farmers and some worked on the Erie Canal. Many volunteered under Lincoln's first call for the Civil War. A post office opened May 27, 1880 with Ben Brown Postmaster followed by Ben Bowers, John Weisbroadt, John Montavon and Joseph Montavon. In 1884 GAR Post 485 was formed. On February 25, 1903 mail was discontinued. Preserved: GAR list, door, key and desk of Post Office. Pictures of school, PO, first Priest, Church and settlers are displayed.
Settlers included Montavon, July, Cattee, Kirkendall, Jeanguenat, Rev. Joseph Mertain, Vernier, Delhotel, Simon, Jacquey, Debo, Schackart, Levernier, Lovey, Noel, Lombard, Johnley, Lordier, Narjoz, Piquet, Faivre, Graf, Cooper, Dettwiller, Smith, Redoutey, Prose, Henry, Robert. Sponsors: (of the marker) Rev. David Young, Georgene Troncone, Carl, Rita, Joan Montavon, Geneva Ladd, Holy Trinity Church, Kathleen Vernier, Jean Jeanguenat, Jackie Servidea, Judy Cooper, John Simon, Don and Garnet Davis, Bernadine Gemperline, Ralph and Joan Sommer, Families of Wade Lawson, Wm and Albert Montavon, John Orlett, Edward A. Graf, Daniel Prose, W A Lilly, Trustees Ross Strickland, Ron Cox, Historian Judith A Ross.

In that same year the Albert Montavon family built a small building that houses pictures and history of French, year round. People have been to the Historical Marker from all over the World and the United States. The Edward Glockner Family donated the glass case that came from the original business on Second Street.
French, Ohio was located in two different Townships. They are: Union Township until June and on June 3, 1867 was totally located in Rush Township when it was formed.
Two French Flags, a Civil War Flag, two Ohio Flags and many American Flags have flown each year at the Historical Service. The National Anthem and the French Anthem are sung or played. "

Old Business:
· The SCCOGS office is in the Masonic Temple Building, with records from Probate Court. · The officers have keys to the office, Room # 432; it will be open by appointment. · Gladys asked for volunteers for a "call list" who could open the office when needed. · There is an index of the probate records at the Office.
· Gladys reported that the Historical Society has some old records to dispose of; we should contact them.
· The Griswold book that was donated to the Chapter is with Joyce Sadler to be scanned & copied; it was voted on at the Feb. meeting to keep the book until it is copied (not to be given to 1st Presbyterian Church until that time.)
· Gladys thanked the members who helped at Greenlawn Cemetery Memorial Day weekend. Judy Ross reported 949 signatures in 10 hours; she extended her thanks to members, also. Judy reported that the Chapel and mausoleums will be open again for Veterans' Day, November 11, 2005.
· Gladys distributed lists for volunteers to help finish Nile Cemetery and do the Bloom & Vernon cemeteries; members should contact the Ramsey's for directions to these cemeteries. Nile Township cemeteries should be finished in order to do a publication to sell.

New Business:
· Gladys polled the officers prior to this meeting, and it was decided to hold the next regular Society Meeting at French, OH, August 13, 2005. Members should be there at 1 p.m., and the meeting will be held about 2:30 p.m. Judy Ross reported that the French Ohio Days event will be held for the 7th year; food will be available. Judy noted that we should take publications to sell and membership forms.
· Gladys distributed a sign up sheet for volunteers to work as a group to go to cemeteries; dates were July 16 and September 17, 2005.
· Gladys reported that Jackie Journey has agreed to be our new Librarian.

Committee Reports:
Pat Russell reported on the Membership Committee:
1. the chapter lost 21 members from last year
2. we regained 3 members from prior years
3. we received 9 new members so far in 2005

· Pat held a door prize drawing of a genealogy t-shirt, compliments of Joyce Sadler; the winner was Jack Sheets
· A new idea is to offer a "gift" to anyone who brings a new member to a meeting. A gift certificate for one of our publications could be used as a "prize."
· Old newsletters from other chapters that we exchange with, were offered to all members. They will be offered again at the next meeting at the Library.
· The membership committee presented a suggestion for raising dues; this was approved by the officers prior to this meeting. Dues have not been raised for 8 years.

It was proposed:
1. Annual dues $15.00
2. Members can receive notification of the newsletter online if they want to receive the newsletter quicker than by receiving a printed copy.
3. Contact members from prior years - let them know they've been missed and that they can rejoin for one year at the old price of $10.00.
4. Current members may receive the $10.00 dues price for one more year if they pay their dues BEFORE Nov. 1, 2005.
5. Small Business/Professional category was suggested for $35.00 - for which they will receive a blurb or web link in each newsletter and a newsletter by email.
6. Corporate level - $75.00 - for which they will receive a small ad in each newsletter and a newsletter by email.
7. Life membership offered at $200.00.
A motion was made by Mima Vita to accept the report and raise the dues to $15.00 with stipulations mentioned above. Jack Sheets seconded the motion.

Judy Ross stated that it is illegal for a non-profit organization to sell ads. Pat Russell will check into this before offering a business category.

Pat reported on the Publications Committee:
· All copies of publications are being housed at the Office at the Masonic Temple Building, with an inventory list. This committee chairman will get reprints of publications as necessary.

Gladys mentioned that the October meeting will be a cemetery day.
The business meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m., and Jack introduced the speaker, Mrs. Belinda "Bunnie" Bowman-Schaefer, who reported on the OGS Conference that she attended in April. Bunnie donated a copy of the syllabus from the Conference and donated it to the Chapter.

A great day was had by all who attended .

Approximately twelve members and guests attended the April Meeting of SCCOGS. The members only meeting was held at noon in the office of Irene Ashley, Scioto County Recorder as a research day.

In other business, discussion included:
the office space at the Masonic Temple Building for SCCOGS and the moving and storage of our probate records .
The ongoing cemetery project and it was noted that more volunteers are needed.
The letter received from Todd Book, State Representa tive with answers to two of our questions.
Well wishes were sent to members Ruth Vance and Jan Edwards, who both recently broke their legs.
Donating the Julia Churchill Griswold book to the First Presbyterian Church, where Mrs. Griswold is a member was discussed. The motion was tabled.

A great day was had by all who attended.

The February Meeting of SCCOGS was held at 2:00 p.m. in the Church Parlor of the Second Presbyterian Church on 8th and Waller Streets.

The speaker for the February meeting was Mr. Todd Book, State Representative. Mr. Book told the members of speaking with Ms. Guthrie of OGS and of her plans to have cemetery laws on the OGS website soon. He also spoke with Doug White of The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing regarding the registration of active cemeteries. Mr. Book stated that there is a new bill, HB 9, regarding the access to Public Records. He took several of our questions and concerns regarding access to birth and death records and the legal issues of the Probate Records we have accepted with him and stated that he would research and find the answers and report back to us before the next meeting.

In other business: The ongoing Cemetery and Probate Records Index Projects were discussed. The issue of renting storage space to store the records we have received from Scioto County Probate Court was placed before the members and it was decided that we will rent a suite of offices at the Masonic Temple Building and share these offices with the Scioto County DAR Chapter. Pat Russell, Publications Chair, spoke about the rising costs in preparing our publications and stated that a price increase would come into effect in March. A motion was made and passed that SCCOGS purchase an inscripted brick in the new OGS library at a cost of $100.00. Member Judy Ross asked for volunteers to staff the Greenlawn Cemetery Chapel and Mausoleums for the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday.

The December meeting of SCCOGS was held at 2:00 p.m. at the Second Presbyterian Church, 8th and Waller Streets, Portsmouth, Ohio. The guest speaker was Mr. Michael Moore, author of "From These Hills. An American Family's Odyssey."There was an election of the 2005 slate of SCCOGS officers: Gladys Reynolds, President; Jack Sheets, Vice President; Jan Edwards, Corresponding Secretary; Joyce Sparks, Recording Secretary; Mima Vita, Treasurer. Appointed Committee Chairs include: Joyce Sadler, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster; Pat Russell, Publications and Membership Chair; Jan Edwards and Joyce Sadler, Cemetery Committee Co-Chair. Other business included discussion of where to house the records we will receive from Probate Court. All members are asked to do what they can to help find a place we could use for a storage and research facility at a minimal cost. The meeting was adjourned with best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season.