2024 CLF Executive Board Elections & Bylaws Revisions
Clayton Library Friends is pleased to announce that voting for the 2024 CLF Executive Board election will open soon. Voting members have the opportunity to shape our organization’s future by participating. The election is being conducted entirely online on the CLF website. You will receive a separate email with the link to your ballot.
The election will open Saturday, November 11, and close at 11:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, November 18, 2022, during the quarterly membership meeting. Once you vote, you will not be able to revise your vote.
In preparation for the election, you may review the slate of candidates show below. This slate was recommended by the CLF 2023 Nominating Committee as prescribed in the bylaws.
You may also nominate a candidate “from the floor” to be added to the ballot. To make a nomination, email info@claytonlibraryfriends.org by November 5. The Nominating Committee will verify each nominee’s eligibility and add them to the ballot. Nominees must be an active, dues-paying CLF member for the current year and agree to be a candidate for the position.
SLATE OF NOMINEES
Robert A. (Bob) Olsen - Treasurer
I was born and raised in a small town in Central Iowa. I graduated from Wartburg College with a degree in Music Education and taught public school music for eight years in two schools in Illinois. I then attended Concordia University in Illinois where I received a Master of Church Music degree.
In 1989 I started a career in Oil and Gas Accounting in the Chicago area and was transferred to the Houston area in 1996. I retired in 2017 but continued to work as a church organist-choir director in several Houston area churches, a career in church music that I started in 1966 playing the organ in my small hometown church. Looking for somewhere to volunteer I discovered Clayton Library for Genealogical Research and began volunteering at Clayton House and the Microprint desk on the second floor of the library. My love for genealogy came from my mother who had done some research in that field including a trip to Germany where many of her ancestors had been born. In 2004 I took her to Ireland to explore our Irish roots. After her death I was the recipient of her research and expanded upon it, having worked on family trees for several members of my extended family as will as friends. Much of my free time now is devoted to genealogical research and I have just recently come back to Clayton House to assist with the Clayton Library Friends Book Sales.
Trudi Coston Becht - Director of Acquisitions
Born in Texas - raised in South Florida - attended college at the University of California-Santa Barbara (B.A. Anthropology, 1993). I worked in the social work field prior to becoming a mom in 2008. Presently co-leading a Girl Scout troop of 10th graders working toward their Gold Awards.
Genealogy Education & Institutes:
- Boston University Genealogical Essentials - May 2017
- International Institute for Genealogical Studies / Professional Learning Certificate
- American Records (in progress)
- TIGR / From Spanish Rule to the Republic; Research in the Lone Star State - June 2021
- IGHR / Understanding Land Records - July 2021
- DNA Skills & Skills + workshops w/ Diahan Southard - 2022
- IGHR / Intermediate Methodology - July 2023
- Current Registrar for Daughters of the Republic of Texas / San Jacinto Chapter
- Current Director of Acquisitions for FHRC - Clayton Library Campus - 2023
Dora “Sam” Akkerman – Director of Correspondence
I began researching my family’s history about 10 years ago, attempting to answer the many questions left by my parent’s generation.
Prior to becoming involved with genealogy, I served 20 years as the Fleet Historian of the now 126-year-old Houston Yacht Club. During this time I created their archives; researched and wrote several periodical articles; researched and authored two editions of the book From Buffalo Bayou to Galveston Bay, the History of the Houston Yacht Club as well as several periodical articles; curated two separate historical photography exhibits, one at the Museum of Printing History and one at the Texas Seaport Museum; researched and processed what is now the Humphreville Beasley Photograph Collection (glass plate negatives and prints) at the Houston History Center; and contributed to Rice University’s online exhibit Business & Pleasure on Houston’s Waterways, 1897-1927.
I also volunteered as a long-time member of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, the Houston Junior Forum, and the Blue Bird Circle benefitting pediatric neurology.
I’m a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
I have a B.A. in English Lit. from the University of Houston.
I worked as a technical editor for an engineering society.
I’ve been a member of the Clayton Library Friends for about a year.
I’ve been trained on Vivid-Pix and volunteer on Scanning Saturdays to help patrons scan and restore photos.
PROPOSED BYLAWS REVISIONS
Article III – Purpose
The purpose of Clayton Library Friends as stated in the Articles of Incorporation shall be for education and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In this connection, its purpose shall be the enrichment of the resources and facilities of Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research the Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus (hereafter referred to as “Clayton Library”), a Special Collections unit of the Houston Public Library. Its further purpose shall be to do any other lawful act or thing incidental to or connected with the above purpose.
Article V - Meetings
Section 5.4
Twenty-five Ten percent of total current members, calculated at the time of the meeting, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Friends, regular or special. Each member shall have the right to cast one vote on matters brought before the membership, provided the member is in good standing and complies with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. No votes shall be cast by proxy for other members. Voting may be done electronically. The Board shall notify members of voting procedures before any election in which votes are cast electronically.
Article VII – Officers and Directors
Section 7.5
Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the annual meeting for elections in which voting is conducted only in-person. For elections conducted electronically, the Board must provide a process and publicize a period in which members may nominate additional candidates before voting begins. No name shall be placed into nomination without the consent of the nominee. The election of Board members shall be by ballot; however, if there is but one nominee for any office, election for that office may be by voice vote. A majority vote shall elect.
Article XII – Relations with Clayton Library
It is recognized that Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research the Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus is a Special Collections unit of the Houston Public Library and that the Friends plays a supporting role. Projects of the Friends directly affecting the facilities of, or the materials owned by, Clayton Library will be undertaken only upon agreement with the Library management. Publication of materials jointly developed by the Friends and Clayton Library shall be published only with the agreement in writing of Clayton Library and the Friends.
Article XVII – Dissolution
If the corporation, Clayton Library Friends, should be dissolved, either voluntarily or involuntarily, it shall be liquidated in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act and all other applicable laws of the State of Texas. After all debts, obligations, and liabilities of the corporation shall have been paid, satisfied, and discharged, all money and property constituting the residue of the assets of the corporation shall be paid over and delivered to Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research Houston Public Library – Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus if it is then in existence, or otherwise to the Friends of Houston Public Library if it is then in existence, or otherwise to the Houston Public Library System, or otherwise to one or more organizations qualified as “exempt organizations” under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as now in force or hereafter amended, or successor provisions of the Internal Revenue Code then in effect. One or more such organizations shall be selected and designated by resolution duly adopted by a majority of the then qualified and acting Executive Board of the corporation.