The RIGS Board of Directors is composed of six Officers, seven Directors, and the Committee Chairpersons of various standing committees. Members of the RIGS
Board of Directors are elected at the annual meeting in May.President – Thomas H. Wilber
In conjunction with Geri Clarke, Tom has placed the 26-year-index to Rhode Island Roots
on a CD in a digital format that allows readers to easily search for specific surnames and information. Currently Tom is transcribing all the Federal Censuses
and developing an all-name index for the town of Voluntown, Connecticut.
Past President – Robert Allen Greene
Robert Allen was one of the founding members of RIGS and over the years has
mentored many Rhode Island genealogists. He is an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, past Governor-General of the Mayflower Society, member
of the Rhode Island Historical Society Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for the Roger Williams Family Association. His in-depth publishing and genealogical
experience provides RIGS with both continuity of purpose and practical knowledge of genealogy.
1st Vice President – Patricia Chappell
For many years Pat has been an energetic member of RIGS, the friendly face that greets new and old RIGS workshop attendees and part of the RIGS Reporter
newsletter distribution committee. Over the years her search for French Huguenot ancestors has taken her to France and she has accumulated a wealth of information on Rhode Island Huguenots.
2nd Vice President – Helen Smith
Helen's interest in genealogy began early as she helped her mother gather research information at family reunions and picnics and she still enjoys the "people side" of
genealogy. She plans RIGS bus trips to various regional research facilities, finds speakers for RIGS programs, and organizes special-interest workshops.
Treasurer – Otis C. Wyatt
Although not officially a genealogist, Otis has been the RIGS Treasurer for several years and has been the RIGS delegate to the New England Regional Genealogical
Conference (NERGC). He also served as president of NERGC and recently was elected as their treasurer.
Assistant Treasurer – Doris Blaney
Recording Secretary – Tom Clarke
For over fifteen years Tom has been the one and only member of the Transcription Committee and has recorded most of the RIGS quarterly and annual workshops. He
will continue in that capacity, as well as documenting the various RIGS meetings. Many of Tom Clarke's ancestors were colonial-era Rhode Island residents so his
family research has taken him through 200+ years of Rhode Island history.
Corresponding Secretary – Marie McShane
A graduate of Dominion College, Marie taught Head Start and first grade for ten
years. She has been doing genealogy research for twenty-two years, focusing on her Irish roots and her husband's Spencer-Mitchell-Wood family lines. In March 2007
Marie submitted to RI Roots the story "Alice's Ring" – the account of her grandmother's wedding ring. Marie has been a member of RIGS for fifteen years.
Director – Term 3 Years – Lois Sorensen
A retired high school teacher, Lois began her family research six years ago after reading old letters written by her great grandmother. She has progressed quickly
and now maintains a website that documents her family's past. She fields many queries through her website and helps people figure out where they fit on her family tree or how they connect to other early RI families.
Director – Term 3 Years – Letty Champion
Letty has been working on genealogy for thirty-five years, with many "brick walls"
remaining. An amateur detective, she finds the hunt enjoyable. In addition to being on the RIGS board, Letty is a member of several other genealogical and
historical societies. A current project is helping Barb Austin photograph the gravestones in all the historic cemeteries on Aquidneck Island.
Director – Term 3 Years – Geraldine "Geri" Clarke
In addition to participating on the RIGS Board of Directors, Geri Clarke has indexed Rhode Island Roots for the past twelve years. Her index to the entire series is an invaluable part of the CD, entitled
Twenty-Six Years of Rhode Island Roots 1975-2004, sold by RIGS.
Director – Term 1 Year – Charles Carpenter
Charlie is a retired Police Lieutenant who began researching his family after being
named in a will of an old Washington County family twenty-five years ago. The research turned into a hobby, which has proven that both his paternal and maternal
family lines descend from the founding families of RI, MA, and CT. He is a longtime member of both RIGS and North Kingstown Genealogical Society.
Director – Term 1 Year – Trish Harmon
Patricia Woodard-Harmon has been actively researching genealogy for the past ten years. Her interest was piqued when within the first couple of months of research
she found a direct maternal line to Reverend Roger Williams. Trish joined the Roger Williams Family Association where she has held several positions, including recording
secretary for the past four years. She also is a member of the North Kingstown Genealogical Society, and First Families of America. In the past Trish was a docent
at both the John Brown House in Providence, and at Smith's Castle in Wickford, where she participated in living history demonstrations and was a leader of the
junior docent training program. She is currently compiling the lineage book for Daniel Williams, one of the six children of Reverend Roger Williams & his wife Mary Barnard.
Director – Term 1 Year – Andrew Boisvert
Currently Archivist at the Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, MA, Andrew became interested in genealogy in 1988 when the topic was assigned to his brother
as a school project, and since that time he has not stopped researching his roots. Andrew's mother's paternal line descends from several of the founding families of RI,
MA, and CT. Andrew has worked in the field of history and genealogy for 12 years, including at the Rhode Island Historical Society; Bridgton Historical Society, Bridgton, Maine; and the Old Colony Historical Society.
Official Committee Chairpersons also serve on the RIGS Board.
The Chair of each standing committee is appointed by the President and approved
by the Officers. These Chairs are then voting members of the Board. Since some RIGS officers also serve as Committee Chairpersons, there is some overlap of duties
and responsibilities in this group. Their interests and responsibilities are described in the Committees and Special Projects section.
