NOMINATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY FOR IAJGS MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Beginning with their meeting at last year’s IAJGS Conference in Philadelphia, Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogical Society Co-Presidents Rich Schlesinger and Nancy Grayson have revamped and revived the organization, as follows:

• Incorporated the circa 2009 Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogy Society as the Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogical Society, now a 501(c) non-profit, operating under the auspices of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. 

• Returned monthly meetings to the Tucson Jewish Community Center from one of the local synagogues. The move served three purposes: 1) more centralized location, 2) increased community visibility from JCC foot traffic, and 3) increased opportunities to cross-promote with JCC programs. For example, the JCC plans to incorporate a SAJGS “Introduction to Jewish Genealogy” presentation at one of their upcoming Lunch and Learn programs.

• Established a monthly speaker’s series via Zoom and in-person. Recent presentations have included “Beyond the Manifest: Methods for Confirming One’s Ancestral Origins” by Phoenix Jewish Genealogy Group chair Emily Garber, “Intro to JewishGen and Jewish Genealogy” by Avraham Groll, and “They Changed My Name: Immigration Myths and Mythologies” by Dr. Janette Silverman. Speakers of a similar caliber are currently scheduled through September 2025, including an in-person lecture by Todd Knowles from the Jewish Research Division of FamilySearch. 

• Began working with the Tucson Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee to offer two Study Groups for their 2025-2026 sessions. The first Study Group is an “Introduction to Jewish Genealogy” and the second Study Group will teach how to transform one’s genealogical materials into book form. Both Study Groups will feature two sessions and will be co-presented by two SAJGS board members.

• Began outreach and cross-promotion efforts with the Tucson Jewish History Museum & Holocaust Center via Davya Cohen, a new SAJGS board member who is also affiliated with the Museum.

• Other recent outreach efforts have included presentations by Co-President Rich Schlesinger to a Jewish Day School to inspire genealogy interest in school children, and presentations to Jewish clubs within Tucson’s large retirement communities. One of Rich’s recent talks to a local Chabad group taught attendees how to convert Yahrzeit dates to the secular calendar. 

• Began developing a Jewish genealogical lending library for members. These resources are already benefiting the group. For example, prior to the May, 2025 monthly meeting, the SAJGS greeter invited two JCC passersby to attend. The wife discovered her family’s name in a Sephardic name book from the library. She had never located her family name elsewhere. 

• The SAJGS is also expanding a relationship with Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (formerly the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona). Recently the SAJGS began posting upcoming events on the JPSA Community Calendar “News Flash,” which offers the largest email reach in Southern Arizona. 

• Ongoing outreach efforts are underway with the Weintraub Israel Center, Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, and all local Jewish organizations and synagogues through their ongoing programming, chavurot, sisterhood and men’s clubs. 

• A field trip program is also being developed, to include the Tucson Jewish History Museum & Holocaust Center as mentioned above, the Bloom Southwest Jewish Archives at the University of Arizona Special Collections, the Tucson FamilySearch Center and other significant sites. 

• The SAJGS has recently created a Facebook page, and an email address, and is developing a website. Much like the IAJGS disseminates news and significant research materials to member organizations, the SAJGS has begun disseminating timely info to the membership, e.g. the recent JewishGen “Jewish Genealogy 101” webinar by Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff. 

• A more structured mentorship program has begun, and “Brick Walls” sessions are offered, with members bringing laptops to meetings for hands-on help from more experienced leadership.

• The group created a new logo and is printing business cards for all members to pass out to interested parties. 

• The SAJGS board of directors has expanded and necessary committees are developing. A dues structure and a consistent meeting schedule have been established. 

Over the past year, the SAJGS has significantly increased visibility within the Southern Arizona Jewish Community and continues to offer resources and expertise to all organizations and individuals interested in genealogical research and discovery. 

Thank you in advance for considering our application.