tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post3922600445862202948..comments2024-02-06T01:45:26.884-06:00Comments on The We Tree Genealogy Blog: Genealogy Society Memberships: What Makes You Join?Amy Coffin, MLIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00612044786240692282noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-11700008635116933202011-01-30T22:44:54.260-06:002011-01-30T22:44:54.260-06:00Thanks for the tip about the West Valley Genealogi...Thanks for the tip about the West Valley Genealogical Society! I didn't know they were offering Footnote and WorldVitalRecords with their membership. My Footnote is up for renewal soon. Hmmm...Michelle Goodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427355155193196767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-86777454926042048622011-01-30T22:27:51.692-06:002011-01-30T22:27:51.692-06:00Unlike most of you, I don't belong to any gene...Unlike most of you, I don't belong to any genealogical societies - yet. I remember Thomas MacEntee posting a comment on my blog about how the Southern California Genealogical Society offers at-home internet access to NewspaperArchive.com. Normally this would cost $72/yr, however, it is included with your $30/yr membership at SoCalGS. I also just learned that our local West Valley Genealogical Society membership ($35/yr) includes at-home internet access to both Footnote.com and WorldVitalRecords.com (normally $80 and $99/yr each, respectively).<br /><br />Offering this type of access to their members is definitely an added benefit.<br /><br />Irene WinterburnJireneGen (Jirene's Genealogy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02357658968436306180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-23703028658938277312011-01-22T15:31:47.828-06:002011-01-22T15:31:47.828-06:00Amy,
Just catching up with the blogs and wanted to...Amy,<br />Just catching up with the blogs and wanted to add my voice to the "job well done!" chorus. This article should be required reading for every member of every genealogical society board which is why I'm emailing it to my fellow directors at the California Genealogical Society. Thanks for telling it like it is. (And thanks for your membership.)Kathryn Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14508373744866161837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-61831095460789110342011-01-21T14:28:35.418-06:002011-01-21T14:28:35.418-06:00Tina, thanks for the comment. I hope you like the ...Tina, thanks for the comment. I hope you like the distance society. I really enjoy supporting mine.Amy Coffin, MLIShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612044786240692282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-39820212369828693632011-01-21T14:23:02.929-06:002011-01-21T14:23:02.929-06:00Just found your blog and love it. I printed out my...Just found your blog and love it. I printed out my first membership form last night to a distant genealogy society that I will be joining since my ancestors are from there and I hope to learn more. <br /><br />I've gone to the local GS off and on but never truly feel welcome there. I am going to try again next month.<br /><br />Thanks.Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-23364969792149968332011-01-17T12:59:51.942-06:002011-01-17T12:59:51.942-06:00You are certainly not alone, as many of the commen...You are certainly not alone, as many of the comments already indicate. I'm doing the same kind of review simply because the money isn't there this year. I'm finding it to be a painful process, as I really don't have any good reason to let any of my memberships lapse except the money situation. The same applies to my subscription sites...if only I could win the lottery :)Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09699560976080566224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-83352452143356767792011-01-14T12:41:05.143-06:002011-01-14T12:41:05.143-06:00I just went through the same process and it was si...I just went through the same process and it was similar to yours. One local society I've belonged to for years and plan to remain a member and hopefully become more involved.<br /><br />I have been a member for years of another local society that is not in my area. I am a huge fan of theirs not only because of the great work they do but because they so warmly welcomed me when I attended one of their meetings when I was in the area. I am extremely happy to be able to support them.<br /><br />Since I've joined so many new organizations over this last year, I expect to have to put even more thought into my choices next year.Michelle Goodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427355155193196767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-77408196122165834482011-01-14T09:22:15.442-06:002011-01-14T09:22:15.442-06:00Excellent post, Amy! I've been lucky with my ...Excellent post, Amy! I've been lucky with my local society. I joined to take advantage of the classes and see if I could volunteer or help others with my experiences. I didn't expect to be the youngest person in the room by a few decades and was a bit hesitant, but they were all very kind to me. <br /><br />Having said that all of the positions seem a bit fixed and they don't ask for much input on the society. Just a show up, socialize for a couple minutes, then sit down and have the class. I suppose it could be worse. Sorry you had such a bad experience with yours. You would think that bringing in younger blood would be a point of excitement!Cherie Cayemberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00748187506552981093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-55593033885183329342011-01-14T08:34:50.658-06:002011-01-14T08:34:50.658-06:00I joined Mayflower, but not DAR. The Mayflower gr...I joined Mayflower, but not DAR. The Mayflower group is small in our state of NH and I got involved immediately with the scholarships and the newsletter. I have fun with the other people, all about 35 to 65, on the board. DAR was too small and grandmotherly, but my daughter wants to join in Boston because there is a small, yet young group there. To each his own! The others I join mostly for the journals. I don't consider NEHGS a "Society" even though it is in the title. I consider my NEHGS membership the key to a great library, both online and "brick and mortar".Heather Wilkinson Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-13577050847314583582011-01-14T06:12:48.296-06:002011-01-14T06:12:48.296-06:00This was a very enlightening post, Amy! As were ev...This was a very enlightening post, Amy! As were everyone's comments. I think some societies are geared more toward the geneasnobs rather than the geneablogs. :-) It's too bad because there should be room for all people, all backgrounds and all skill levels.Susan Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02788283253544225956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-57337937914305911362011-01-13T20:34:27.058-06:002011-01-13T20:34:27.058-06:00I did the same type of review at the end of Decemb...I did the same type of review at the end of December when renewing (I wanted to get those "end of year" business expenses in) for my genealogy societies - I belong to about 15 of them.<br /><br />I am on the fence about one national society because I think they finally are "getting it" in terms of social media.<br /><br />Otherwise I support many far-flung societies not only because of their databases but because I believe in their mission and they have forward-looking attitudes!Thomas MacEnteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925130637060406529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-39480408610763479402011-01-13T20:31:52.298-06:002011-01-13T20:31:52.298-06:00Amy, I liked the thought process in deciding wheth...Amy, I liked the thought process in deciding whether to join/renew or not.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07948553013206247354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-69961917015819995232011-01-13T20:11:41.431-06:002011-01-13T20:11:41.431-06:00I am definitely in the over 55 age group! I dropp...I am definitely in the over 55 age group! I dropped membership in a local society. I attended three or four times and could not seem to start a conversation with anyone. Then in the newsletter they advertised for volunteers for an interesting cataloguing project - and I've worked in a school library. At the next meeting when I tried to volunteer, I was passed around to four different people, the last one abruptly told me, "That's done. We don't need anybody. Maybe you could bring refreshments." So why did they put the appeal in the newsletter? I didn't return and didn't renew. I do belong to several societies either because of databases they offer, or because I believe in supporting their projects.Kay Hadenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16775054088464354234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-31731115130659282432011-01-13T19:57:54.447-06:002011-01-13T19:57:54.447-06:00I've just joined my third society, and am only...I've just joined my third society, and am only a recent member of my other two. It's not possible to join all the societies I would like to support. The membership fees would add up too quickly! The three that I've joined either offer services to me, or I want to support their work to preserve local heritage.Shelley Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008715347583341427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-37085722827932328072011-01-13T17:31:14.980-06:002011-01-13T17:31:14.980-06:00Amy,
My decision making follows the same guidelin...Amy,<br /><br />My decision making follows the same guidelines as yours. Though I've never had a group say *that* to me before. :) The only difference I have is that some societies I join because of the databases they offer online. I don't go to their events or participate in any other way except perhaps for reading the publications. In those specific cases that works for me. I've cut back a lot on my memberships the last few years.Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738104230962644360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-34352013114125899772011-01-13T17:08:05.476-06:002011-01-13T17:08:05.476-06:00Jen, this society was set in its ways. Their membe...Jen, this society was set in its ways. Their membership #s were strong, so it's not like they were hurting for seat warmers. I'm kind of thankful it happened because it saved me the time of trying to build relationships there. Every group is different. That one is just *really* different.Amy Coffin, MLIShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612044786240692282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849506599116665235.post-12810567758855647442011-01-13T16:59:39.431-06:002011-01-13T16:59:39.431-06:00Wow I had no idea you had to be 55+ years old to b...Wow I had no idea you had to be 55+ years old to be considered responsible enough to handle things besides taking care of yourself and actually committing to something. What a terrible thing to say to someone! I would think societies would welcome anyone who wanted to help out, in whatever fashion, because volunteers are desperately needed. Sorry you were treated that way. It is so wrong.Jennifer Holikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14376766797515931160noreply@blogger.com