FamilySearch names new top officer
FamilySearch recently named David E. Rencher as its chief genealogical officer. He will coordinate FamilySearch's initiatives and act as a liaison to key industry communities and associations worldwide. He will also explore third-party affiliation opportunities and related marketing initiatives for FamilySearch.
Rencher is a 28-year veteran of FamilySearch and, according to a press release, "a popular leader in genealogy and archive circles." He has held leadership positions with several national organizations and is a professional genealogist and public speaker. In addition to his new role, Rencher will continue to direct FamilySearch's collection development activities.
During his career at FamilySearch, Rencher worked on the development of key services and databases. He has worked to ensure that patrons of family history centers had more timely delivery of microfilm, and he has extended microfilm circulation to public libraries. He initiated the book-scanning program for the Family History Library collection and helped produce the automated indexes for the Social Security Death records, the 1880 U.S. Census, the 1881 British Census, and the military casualty files for Korea and Vietnam.
Rencher will continue to serve as the vice president of the Genealogical Society of Utah.
"David will provide a public face for FamilySearch to communities it serves and be a representative voice for the genealogical market, products, and services," Jay Verkler, chief executive officer of FamilySearch, said in the press release.
Restaurant plans benefit
FARR WEST, Utah — A benefit silent auction has begun for Briggs Hill — the 3-year-old son of Mormon musician Brenn Hill — who was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer in November. Bella's Fresh Mexican Grill is hosting the auction, which began May 20 and will run through May 30 at the restaurant, 2651 N. 1850 West. Among the donated items are a rechargeable scooter, spa basket, signed Utah Jazz pictures, concert tickets, hotel stays and dinners.
The restaurant also will host a fundraiser dinner on May 28 at 6 p.m., followed by entertainment. Local comedian and 101.5 FM morning host Keith Stubbs will be the headliner, and local entertainers also will participate. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple and may be purchased at Bella's, by calling Maree Cottam at 801-791-2281, or e-mailing maree_cottam@msn.com.
According to Brenn Hill's Web site, brennhill.com, "Briggs has just finished his third round of chemotherapy and is undergoing a stem-cell harvest … He will get a short break at home and then be admitted … for the final phase of treatment: three more rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with a stem-cell rescue/transplant."
All proceeds from the silent auction and dinner will go toward Briggs' medical expenses, Cottam said.
Historic buildings open this weekend
SPRING CITY, Sanpete County—The official residence of early Mormon apostle Orson Hyde heads the list of 17 restored homes, religious and commercial structures open for public tours during Spring City Heritage Day on Saturday, May 23. The entire center portion of Spring City is a national historic district, and scores of buildings constructed between 1850 and 1910 have been restored to one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century Mormon settlements in the West.
Friends of Historic Spring City, a local preservation group, sponsors Heritage Day every Saturday before Memorial Day. The day kicks off with a community breakfast between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. and includes lunch and an art and antique sale. For more information, visit historicspringcity.org.
BYU 'Visionism' artist featured
OREM — Artist Hagen Haltern will present a program Thursday, May 21, in the Orem Library, 57 S. State, 7 p.m., that will highlight a display of works by Haltern and fellow artist Jared Harlow, which will be on display until June 19. The series of works, entitled "Visionism," contains 31 pieces, each of which began as a drawing, a collage, a photograph or a lithograph, but expanded through computer graphic manipulation.
Haltern began teaching at Brigham Young University in 1977 after studying art in his homeland of Germany. He was initially unfamiliar with the capabilities of graphic manipulation. Harlow showed him the extent of the computer's abilities, and the two teamed up.
The collection was inspired by an address to BYU faculty/staff in 1967 by former LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball — "catch the total vision of our potential and dream dreams and see visions of the future" — as well by previous generations of artists, philosophers, theologians and astronauts.