Any questions, contact Elisa Gutierrez at 763-7415

June 2006

Event:    Genealogy Interactive Workshop
                
Where:   San Martin de Porres Church, Meeting Room #3
                 
Date:      Saturday, June 17, 2006
Time:      10:00 a.m.

                John Campbell, local genealogist, will open the workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  We will break for lunch (which will be on your own) and return at 1:00 p.m. to the same meeting room.  In the afternoon, we will share family lineages or you may start your own family tree.

                Bring pencils, tablets, notes, and above all your own family tree/charts to share with everyone else.  Those of you who have last year's Journal might want to bring it to use the Research Checklist pages, Family Group Record pages and Ancestral Charts.

                Please RSVP so that we may know how many people will be attending.  RSVP to Licha Gutierrez at 568-0995 or email her at gutierrez0265g@yahoo.com.

May 2006

Event:    The 2nd Annual Sarita Kenedy Ranch Museum Festival in Sarita, Texas, with Homero Vera, 
                curator of the museum.  "A Historical Perspective of Kenedy County from Late 1600 to 1870."
Where:   Sarita, Texas
Date:      Saturday, May 6th, 2006
Time:      10:00 a.m.

                    * No admission for the festival.  Lunch is on your own at the festival.

• 7:15 a.m.   - Caravan meets at  H.E.B. Saunders.
  10:00a.m.  - Festival begins.
  2:45 p.m.   - Leave festival to travel to King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas for a historical tour.  Entrance fee is $8.00 per person.
  4:00 p.m.   - King Ranch bus tour begins.

        * Following the tour, the group will travel to Robstown, Texas for dinner at Joe Cotton's (on our own).

        * Laredo members are encouraged to volunteer vehicles to take other members of the group.  A $10 gas donation per person is suggested to offer the driver of the car.  Those who plan to attend the festival must call Sanjuanita by Monday, April 17th.

        * Members outside of the Laredo area will meet at the festival or at designated areas enroute to the festival.  Call Sanjuanita at 722-3497.

April 2006

Event:    "Mexico: Its Folklore in Dance"
                Presented by Gabriela Mendoza-Garcia of the TAMIU Ballet Folklorico.
Where:   Sanjuanita Martinez-Hunter's home on 1314 Greenway Lane
                 Pot Luck Dinner  (722-3497)
Date:      April 21st, 2006.
Time:      6:30 p.m. 

                    The Society will furnish the main course (barbeque brisket with potatoes, salad and beans).  Members may bring salads or desserts for 8 servings.  Picnic attire is suggested.  Call Sanjuanita if you plan to come.                

March 2006

Event:    Picnic/Field Trip.  "A Visit to New and Old Guerrero" with Maria Eugenia Guerra of LareDos
                Publishing Company and Jaime Gutierrez, Secretary of Los Caminos del Rio
                Heritage Project.
Where:   San Ygnacio, Old Guerrero
Date:      Saturday, March 4th, 2006
Time:      8:00 a.m.

• Caravan meets at H.E.B. Saunders parking lot at 8:00 a.m.
  Meet Meg Guerra at Pepe's in San Ygnacio at 9:30 a.m.
  Meet Jaime Gutierrez at 11:00 a.m. in Nuevo Guerrero Presidential Offices.
       Tour the archives and church.
  Lunch at noon (Cabrito).
  Continue to Old Guerrero.
  Return to Laredo approximately at 6:30 p.m.

• Call Sanjuanita at 722-3497 to volunteer your vehicle for carpooling to Guerrero.
  
  
• In order for your name to appear in the genealogy journal, please send your dues by February 28, 2006.

February 2006

Event:    "Learning to Use the Computer for Genealogy".  Mr. Joseph Lambert, Principal and
                Branch President in Laredo of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and
                assisted by Elder Bateman.
Where:   Eagle Academy of Laredo, 1720 Hillside (Corner of Hillside & Daughterty
                in the base area by old airport)
Date:      Saturday, February 11th, 2006
Time:     10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

January 2006

Event:    An afternoon tea with Rose Mary Swisher.  "My Ancestors"  An afternoon with two
               prominent South Texas historical families - founder of Victoria, Texas, Martin De Leon and
               rancher Petra Vela Kenedy.
Where:  Home of Raquel Senties, 325 St. Julien, JSJ Estates 
              (at entrance take immediate right -- house with blue dome)
Date:     Saturday, January 21st 
Time:     3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

• "Rosa Maria Rodriguez de Swisher, descendant of two prominent South Texas families, will present a brief history of the Martin de Leon and Petra Vela Kenedy families. Martin de Leon, the "Empresario," was the founder of Victoria and was Rosa Maria's great-great-great-grandfather. Petra Vela Kenedy, who was the wealthy widow of Luis Vidal, and subsequently married Mifflin Kenedy of the King Ranch partnership, was Rosa Maria's great-grandmother. Both families had a great impact on South Texas." 

• RSVP by January 18 if you plan to attend.  Members are encouraged to bring guests to join the society.  January and February are enrollment months for new members, and we will be collecting dues for 2006.  For more information and RSVP, contact Sanjuanita Martinez Hunter at 722-3497.

December 2005

Event: Traditional Christmas Tamalada
Where: Home of Hector and Diana Farias on 404 Chevy Chase Drive
Date: Saturday, December 03, 2005
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

        For more information call Sanjuanita Martinez-Hunter at 956-722-3497.

November 2005

Event: A Tour of San Ygnacio Ranches" with Maria Eugenia Guerra of LareDos
Where: Tour group will form at HEB on Saunders 
Date: November 05, 2005
Time: 9:00 a.m. 

    For car pooling and directions to the first site on the tour (which will be at the oldest home in Texas "Los Corralitos", RSVP by Thursday, November 03 at (956) 722-3497.

A cook-out is planned for lunch at Maria Eugenia Guerra's ranch in San Ygnacio.  We will gladly except donations of side dishes such as salads.

October 2005

Event: 250 Years of History Conference Program
Where: Texas A&M International University
Date: October 13-14, 2005
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. on October 13 Welcome

• There will be a 30 minute business meeting of the Society from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Student Center Room 120 on the 1st floor at TAMIU. 

September 2005

Event: 26th Annual Texas Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conference
Where: Holiday Inn - Civic Center, 800 Garden St., San Bernardo and IH 35 South
Date: Thursday September 01, 2005 Early Registration
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for Early Registration

     Maps depicting the number of registrants who attended the conference can be viewed on the State Conference page!

        Click on "State Conference" button at top of this page for details on registration, schedule of events, dates and times

August 2005

Special committee meeting for convention updates will be scheduled by Mirta Barrera or Sanjuanita Martinez-Hunter, chairwomen of the conference.

July 2005

Event: Genealogical Research Workshop
Where: Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd., 2nd Floor, Special Collections
Date: July 16, 2005
Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon

 For additional information contact: Elisa G. Gutierrez at (956) 712-0265,
  or email: gutierrez0265@sbcglobal.net 

May 2005

Event: Pot Luck Dinner, Business Meeting - "Where are We?"
Where:  Home of Sanjuanita M Hunter, 1314 Greenway Drive 
Date: Tuesday May 17, 2005
Time: 6:30pm
Speaker: Marie F Rollin (retired LCC educator)
Topic: Her book The Fighting Padre of Zapata
  Marie's book received the Jim Parrish Award, Webb County Heritage Foundation, 2003, and 
  the Peter J Foik Award, Texas Catholic Historical Society, 2004
 RSVP: by Friday, May 15, 722-3497 (Sanjuanita)
 Suggestions: Casseroles, salads, desserts or anything your heart desires for the Pot Luck Dinner.
     Come dressed casually.  Bring $7.00 dollars for June Trolley Historical Tour.

April 2005

Event: Field Trip of Texas History - Goliad, Texas
Date: Saturday April 2, 2005
(1) Fannin Plaza
(2) General Zaragoza State Historic Site
(3) Goliad State Park (Lunch)
(4) Market House Museum
(5) Presidio la Bahia
(6) Cost:  $60.00

March 2005

Event: Spring Picnic in San Ignacio, Texas
Where: Adrian Martinez Ranch
Date: Saturday March 5, 2005
Time: 10:00 am - Meet at Nuestra Senora del Refugio Catholic Church (in front of Plaza Uribe);
                              historic home of Adrian Martinez, Maria Eva Uribe Ramirez, Acela M. Martinez,
                              and lunch at Martinez Family Museum
Speaker: Lecture by Dr. Beatriz de La Garza on "Old Guerrero" at 1:00 pm

                 Poster signing - Jose Luis Aun - 250th Laredo Anniversary Celebration.  Posters will be sold at picnic.

RSVP - Sanjuanita Martinez Hunter at 956-722-3497 by February 22 - For picnic, members are free - guests
             $5.00 each.

             ** Dues for 2005 and the $60.00 for the Goliad trip will also be collected.

February 2005

Presentation: Presentation of George Washington - Richard Haynes - Pocahontas - Patricia Davila
Where: Home of Chito and Pat Davila, 1420 Seymour Avenue
Date: Thursday February 24, 2005
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

RSVP-Sanjuanita Martinez Hunter at 956-722-3497 by February 22

    * Refreshments will be served.

January 2005

December 2004

Event: Annual Tamalada
Where: Home of Dr. and Mrs. Hector Farias, Jr.
Date: Thursday December 9, 2004
Time: 7:00 - 9:00p.m.

November 2004

Event: Field Trip to Austin ($65 Fee)
Where: Laredo to Austin, roundtrip
Dates...
Friday November 12, 2004 (a) General Land Grant Office
(b) Bob Bullock Museum Archives
(c) Nettie Benson Latin American Library - UT Austin
(d) LBJ Library (Barker Archives) UT Austin
(e) LUNCH with Dr. Andres Tijerina as Guest Speaker
Galen Greaser, Beatriz de la Garza, and Laura Gutierrez Witt (tour guides of research facilities and luncheon guests)
(f) Drury Inn on IH 35 North - OK Bus Lines from San Antonio
Saturday November 13
(a) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Collection

VSALGS Meeting
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
The Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society Cordially invites you to attend the book signing and lecture presented by Dr. Beatriz de la Garza, former Laredoan, now living in Austin, Texas. Her book, entitled A Law for the Lion: A Tale  of Crime and Injustice in the Borderlands, is a true story of a double killing of two prominent Laredo land owners Don Francisco Gutierrez and his son Manuel.

The evening presentation is co-sponsored by Dr. Ramon Dovalina, President of the Laredo Community College with the History
Department.

Place: Kazen Center, room 121, LCC
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., A reception and book signing will follow her lecture.

For additional information contact:
Norma S. Hagy Historian, 956/723-6276 nhagy@stx.rr.com or
Lupita Ramirez, founder, 956/722-1464  lupitacramirez@aol.com

BEATRIZ DE LA GARZA was born in Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico, also known as Old Revilla, the setting of several of her works, among them Pillars of Gold and Silver, the novel, and the short story of the same name in The Candy Vendor's Boy and Other Stories. As a result of the flooding and destruction of her hometown by the Falcon International Reservoir, Beatriz moved with her family to Laredo, Texas, where she grew up. Beatriz, who enrolled in school in Laredo without knowing English, began writing short tales and poetry in Spanish. As she learned English she also began to write in this language, and while in high school she worn Honorable Mention awards for her short stories for two consecutive years from Seventeen Magazine's short-story contest.

Beatriz received a scholarship from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times of Corpus Christi, Texas, to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and creative writing and where she won the undergraduate short-story contest in her senior year and had her short stories published in the student magazine.

Arte Publico Press published her first collection of short stories, The Candy Vendor's Boy and Other Stories, which received a Star review from Publishers' Weekly, which also commented that "[t]he author shows a remarkably polished craft for a first time writer, imbuing her characters with rare emotional resonance."

Pillars of Gold and Silver, a novel for young adults, was published by Arte Publico Press in 1997. Booklist said of Pillars of Gold and Silver, "De la Garza weaves a story of sunlight and moonlight, memory and affection, and the crossing of two cultures."

Her latest book, A Law for the Lion: A Tale of Crime and Injustice in the Borderlands, the true story of a double killing that took place in South Texas in 1912, was published by the University of Texas Press in the fall of 2003.

Beatriz de la Garza has lived in Austin, Texas, for more than twenty-five years where she has practiced law and taught at various colleges and universities, as well as being active in civic affairs.

VSALGS Meeting
Saturday March 6, 2004
This will be the annual ranch meeting, where a tour of San Ygnacio will be provided. The tour will be followed by a BBQ and meeting at the Ramirez Ranch close to Zapata, Texas. Here is more information on San Ygnacio.

San Ignacio Tour
Tour Time: 9:00 am
Tour Guide:  Viqui F. Uribe
Directions: From Laredo go on Hwy 83 South towards Zapata. In San Ygnacio turn for tour right on Washington St., a block after Pepe's Exxon Street leads to the Plaza in front of the Catholic Church. The group will trave to Guadalupe  Ranch after the tour for BBQ lunch.

Ranch BBQ
After the tour we will meet at the Ramirez Ranch for our annual BBQ
Time: Noon
Directions: From Laredo, Go Hwy 83 South towards Zapata, one (1) mile past the roadside park, turn left on Mendoza Road.  Go in one (1) mile, turn right, "Guadalupe Ranch Beefmaster"
Speakers:  Arnulfo (Fito) Santos and Tony Ramirez
Topics: Arnulfo's topic will be "What To Look For in Locating Pre-Historic and Historic Human Occupations"
Tony's topic will be "The Traditional Herbal Medicine of South Texas". You may read an article by Tony titled "The Use of Medicinal Plants in South Texas"

Short Biography on Tony Ramirez
Since 1975, Tony Ramirez has been researching and cataloging the traditional medicinal ethnobotany of south Texas and Mexico.  He travels extensively throughout indigenous areas of Mexico, learning from native healers. Ramirez, formerly with the Texas Department of Agriculture, has authored over seventy articles on medicinal plants.

He currently presents workshops and seminars on the medicinal plants of south Texas and Mexico.  He offers a consulting service for practitioners and patients, and is an instructor of Herbal Medicine for the STEER Program in Laredo, an Environmental Medicine/Border Health Elective of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

VSALGS Meeting
Thursday February 26, 2004
Where: Family History Center, 1520 E Hillside, Laredo, TX. 78041, 956/753-9249
Speaker: Mauricio Gonzalez

Presentation: "My Grandfather's Grandfather", He also sells copies of his books for $15.00

VSALGS Meeting
Thursday January 22, 2004
Where: Pat Davila Residence, 1420 N. Seymour, Laredo, TX. 78040, 956/722-3240
Speaker: Laura Gutierrez Witt

Presentation: "Paleography of Ancient Spanish American Manuscripts"

VSALGS Meeting (X-mas meeting)
Friday December 19, 2003
Where: The Home of Lupita Ramirez  at 8707 Crossway Drive in Laredo, TX
Agenda: Social with “Tamalada” and our goal is for the Journal to be ready for that evening

VSALGS Meeting
Thursday November 20, 2003
Where: The Home of Sam Johnson Jr., 1402 O'Kane in Laredo, TX.
Speaker: Ricardo Palacios, Attorney

Presentation: "A Pictorial History of Juan Salinas"

VSALGS Meeting
Thursday October 2, 2003
Where: Interiores Mejicanos, 4000 San Bernardo in Laredo at 6:00 p.m.
Speaker: Mr. Jorge Vega.

Presentation: "A Visual History of Mexico's Art Forms"

Mr. Jorge Vega was born in Monterrey, Mexico and attended school there for the first five years of his life. After his family returned to Laredo he attended Heights Elementary School. He completed his high school education at the Military Academy in Aledo, Illinois. He continued his education at Laredo Community College.

He is married to the former Estela Meza and they have four children, Eva Astrid Barber, Judith Reece, Lisa Paramo and Jorge Alejandro Vega. The family business "Interiores Mejicanos" was started in 1939 and Jorge started his career with the family in 1958. The business was also in Nuevo Laredo at one time, but has since been consolidated and is now located only in Laredo.

Jorge has made many friends in the course of his many travels into Mexico, as well as the many friends he sells to in the U.S. All are made to feel "en su casa" at 4000 San Bernardo in Laredo.

He has extensive knowledge of the art and artisans of Mexico after dealing with them for over 40 years, and counts many od them as personal friends. The event is open to the public. For additional information contact Lupita C. Ramirez, (956) 722-1464 or Norma S. Hagy at (956) 723-6276

VSALGS Meeting
Thursday October 30, 2003
Where: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1520 E. Hillside in Laredo (7 to 9 p.m.)
Speaker: Juan Cristobal Lopez Carrera

Presentation: "Canciones, Historia, Espiritus y Fantasmas en el Delta del Rio Bravo"

Prof. Juan Cristobal Lopez Carrera is a ntive of General Teran N.L.. He was born in 1969. He holds a Master's Degree in History and the Humanities from the UDEM University and "Universidad Autonoma de Monterrey". He is multilingual in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. He is a well known historian, author, and poet.  Prof. Lopez Carrera was he recipient of the "Poetry Literary" Prize of Nuevo leon for his "Bitacora de Astros y Pedernal" and many other awards. He is also active in radio and television, Canal 12, "Sistema" de "Estrellas de Oro". He is very active yet finds the time to be an International Speaker. He has talked to various groups in Mexico, Arizona and Texas. His activities are too numerous to mention, but he can be reached at paurake@hotmail.com

VSALGS Meeting
September 12, 2002
The VSALGS members went on a field trip to find and visit the cemetery at Darwin, located on the mines road, 18 miles west of Laredo. Some members were able to find the resting place of their ancestors. The cemetery is in bad shape with a few clean grave sites. Perhaps we could get donations and hire a person to clean it. This will provide an opportunity to document the graves there. We would need to get permission from the property owners for this project. For more information contact Lupita C. Ramirez LupitaCRamirez@aol.com  (956) 722-1464 or Jose G. Treviño at  jgtrevino@laredo.globalpc.net or (956) 722-3088.

VSALGS Meeting
Wednesday June 26, 2003
Time:        7:00 P. M.   - 9:00 P. M.
Speaker:  Raul J. Guerra
Topic:       "Marriage Dispensation Requests and how to extend your family tree, using the GUERRA family as an example"
Place:       Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1520 Hillside Road

Raul J. Guerra was born and raised in t he Rio Grade Valley (McAllen and Brownsville).  After graduating from college, joined the U.S. Air Force and served for 20 years until retirement in California in 1983.  He then worked for Ford Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas in California until returning to San Antonio, Texas in 1995. 
Mr. Guerra co-author two books on the marriage investigations requests titled "Index to the Marriage Investigations of the Diocese of Guadalajara - Provinces of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Nuevo Santander and Texas," Volume 1,1653 - 1750 Volume 2, 1751 - 1779.  He also co-authored of a book on the GUERRA family titled "Thirteen Generations of GUERRAs in the New World."  Co-founder and past president of The Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR) in California and past president of  Los Bexarenos Genealogical Society in San Antonio, Texas.
He is now retired and works on genealogy and trying to link all the original settlers of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and Texas, especially the GUERRA family.
 

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