Elk Grove Historical Society Board Members

The Elk Grove Historical Society is an all volunteer non-profit organization. The board consists of six elected positions voted on by the membership (350+) in November of each year and three appointed positions by those six. All are society members who have stepped up to a bigger role. Here is a small synopsis of each board member’s history and interests.

PRESIDENT – Barbara Claire

“I moved to Elk Grove in 1994 and became a member of the Historical Society in 2008. Since joining I have held the following positions: Currently the Assistant Treasurer, formerly an Assistant Archivist, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Publisher, 1^st Vice President and President.  I have also been a frequent room decorator and responsible for many historical displays in the ballroom, as well as decorator for the Spring Tea several times.  As Publisher, I was co-author on the cookbook, “Tasty Memories”, the historical publications of “Jared Dixon Sheldon & William Henry Daylor, California Pioneers”, and “Alexander Hamilton Willard & The Lewis & Clark Expedition”.  I created the Historical Society website and Facebook page.  I also created our online store, Heritage Park Treasurers and ran the store for a while, plus I was instrumental in setting up our system to take credit cards. I have also created programs and flyers for many events. I retired from the University of California in 2014 after 30 years of service.  I held the position of Administrator for the Violence Prevention Research Program with a payroll title of Analyst IV.”

First Vice President – Jalynne Callori

“I was born in Sacramento, California and moved with my family to Elk Grove in 1965.  I graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1970, married in 1973, and moved with my husband to Sacramento. I started a job with the State of California while I was attending California State University, Sacramento and in 1983, graduated with a BS in Business Administration/Marketing. My husband accepted a bank manager position in Modesto, and we moved to Elk Grove, which was a reasonable commute. Our son, Dominic was born in 1980, and our son Dain was born in 1986. By then, we had grown to love Elk Grove and wanted our sons to attend local schools and take part in local sports organizations. I retired in 2013 as a career executive manager, after a 30+year career with the California Department of Health Care Services, and my husband retired from his banking career in 2014. We then began our secondcareers: caring for our three grandchildren while their parents are working. It has been a privilege being with them and supporting their educational, athletic, and artistic endeavors. We also enjoy local RV trips and an annual trip to Maui, Hawaii. I joined the Elk Grove Historical Society in 2023 and trained to be a docent. It’s been fascinating learning about the history of the area and sharing it with the community. I am honored to work with a knowledgeable and committed group who are enthusiastic about collecting and preserving historical documents, buildings, and artifacts from the Elk Grove area. Thank you for welcoming me to your organization.”

SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT – Peggy Forseth-Andrews

Peggy has been involved in the Historical Society for many years, as president in 1989-1991, and is now a lifetime member. She has lived in the Elk Grove area for over 40 years and has always been interested in history and its importance to the quality of our lives. Her late husband Steve Andrews’s mother was a Schafer whose family arrived in the area in 1917.  Right after the end of WWII Steve’s parents Jim & Ruth Andrews opened Elk Grove Variety ( The 5 & dime as many called it.) Upon her arrival to Elk Grove she became involved in the Historic Preservation of Old Town most notably assisting in the writing and testifying in the designation of it becoming a recognized Historic District. she was one of the original 5 committee members that assisted in saving the Elk Grove Grammar School which now houses the CCSD. She wrote and had approved the building’s designation as a Historical Point of Interest and currently sit on the City of Elk Grove’s Historic Preservation Committee. She received EGHS Individual of the Year in 1987. She retired from Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigations and currently is the manager of The Red Door Antiques in Old Town. She sits on the Boards of the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center and Elk Grove Cosumnes Cemetery District.
She volunteered at the Historical Society Mother’s Day Tea & Yard Sale and hopes to have a more prominent role.

SECRETARY, RECORDING – Pam Phelps

“I have been an active member of the Elk Grove Historical Society for many years participating as a docent, decorating for both Halloween and Christmas, and supporting many of our fundraising events. My twenty-three years as a bi-lingual teacher afforded me not only the rewards of educating students, but allowed me the opportunity to team with other educators – both those I worked with as well as CSUS professors- to develop a Spanish-English immersion K-8 school in the Sacramento area.  I served on the Board of Language Academy representing staff for two 3-year terms.  During this tenure I held the offices of Treasurer and Secretary.  I also sat on the Finance Committee for the fifteen years I worked at the school.  I retired two years ago. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the Elk Grove Historical Society and participating in its governance.  Thank you for this opportunity.”

 

SECRETARY, CORRESPONDING – Melissa Pugliese

TREASURER – Jeanette Lawson

 

FACILITIES MANAGER – Dave Chalmers

“I was born in Sacramento, California in January 1957. We lived on Pistachio Orchard Ranch on Bond Road. In 1962 the house burned, so we moved to our other 33-acre property on Grant Line Road and built a house. It was a small dairy. I helped with milking, but also worked for the Mitchell Turkey Farm and Hay Market. I graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1975. I went to Cosumnes River College for 2 years, then married Angela Lewis 1980. In 1983 we put a mobile home on the property. I became a union carpenter and worked at Rancho Seco for 5 years and SMUD’s hydro system at Fresh Pond. I worked construction for a few years. Went to work for Sacramento County in 1998, retiring in 2017. I have one brother Charlie, and one sister Cindy (she passed in 2013). I have one daughter Melissa born May 1984 and one son Justin born March 1987. My grandson is Mac. When my kids got into 4-H, I became a leader for Sheldon 4-H for about 14 years. I think it is important to gather history from the area. I enjoy using my ranching skills and helping on the grounds of the museum and at their various activities.”

 

RHOADS SCHOOL DIRECTOR – Roberta Tanner

“My father was in the Air Force, so we moved regularly when I was growing up. My family moved to San Bernardino where my dad was stationed having just finished a tour in Germany when I was born so I am a native Californian! My husband Bryce and I met at the University of Utah and have been married for 42 years. I graduated in accounting and passed the CPA exam and moved immediately to Michigan for his internship and residency training in Emergency Medicine. His employment at Kaiser brought us to this area. We raised 6 children in the Elk Grove area and have been very happy. I have been PTA President twice at 2 different elementary schools. As a result, I was invited to be on the EGUSD School Naming Committee. It was an amazing opportunity to learn Elk Grove history from some of the founding families–Morse, Waegell, Fite, Signorotti, and others, and especially from Elizabeth Pinkerton who headed the committee. Soon after my committee experience, I became involved in the Sloughhouse Pioneer Cemetery which is owned by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. A friend of mine from DUP was a docent at Rhoads School and suggested I get involved with that program as I was telling the story of the school in the cemetery tours. I have been a docent at the school since 2008 and became director in 2016 when Sharon Baker retired. I became a member of the EG Historical Society and have loved making so many new friends as I’ve served on the board. I also currently serve as the northern California regional representative for DUP, have joined the Daughters of the American Revolution and serve on the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation board. Besides telling stories, I love to sew and make quilts for my grandchildren. I love to travel and visit my children and 13 grandchildren in Boston, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Utah. I collect antique clothing, especially hats, and furniture and love to sing! I have always loved family history and, since my involvement with the cemetery, became involved in the family history of those buried there. I have enjoyed getting to know those families and sharing their amazing pioneering stories as they settled this area.”

 

WEBMASTER – Selene Bendeck

Selene Bendeck is new to the Elk Grove area. Originally from Florida, she has experience in Hospitality, Marketing, and Social Media Management. She was a professional artist for 3 years, and even trained under some of the finest Sommeliers from the world’s largest private wine cellar in Tampa.
She is the Office Manager for the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce. 

These are the voting members of the Elk Grove Historical Society Board of Directors, but like any organization, they are only as good as the people who surround then. Fortunately for us, there are many chairpersons of committee’s and fundraiser’s and many, many volunteers that allow us to exist and continue our mission of preserving and promoting history in our community.

We always need volunteers, sometimes,  just for the simplest of tasks or more as your interests increase. We employ you to give us a call and share in the fun of participation and realize how much you can affect your community.