Can Social Media Save Genealogy Societies?

My colleague Elyse Doerflinger at Elyse's Genealogy Blog has started a dialog concerning the future of genealogy societies and how bridging the "technology divide" can mean sink or swim in terms of society survival.

In her post, Elyse discusses many different ways a genealogy society can leverage technology and social media to not only increase membership but also to expand services and functions - all at low-cost or no-cost to the society. If you've been following societies such as the Southern California Genealogical Society or the California Genealogical Society and Library, you know all about their recent successes.

One aspect which must be addressed: the perception that you must be "young" in order to learn and leverage these technologies especially social media.

While I am no spring chicken like Elyse (I believe I may own clothes older than her . . .), it is easy to automatically look to a generational gap when discussing technology. I was lucky that I "fell into" the technology field when the first IBM PC made its debut in 1981. I immediately embraced it and have made it a career for almost thirty years now. Younger genealogists and family historians find it much easier to use genealogy software, websites, etc. since technology has been automatically part of their academic environment.

And I have heard - most times pejoratively - comments made about older genealogists in terms of their tech skills or the lack thereof. Having been a technology trainer and one who specialized in working with the 50 and over crowd, I can tell you assuredly: the mastery of Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other forms of social media is not the domain of the young and that with the right tools and training anyone - regardless of age - can learn how to use them. Or at the very least, they can learn what the technologies can and cannot do for them as genealogists and genealogy society members.

I think it is time that both sides of this generational/technology chasm come together and determine how best to exchange much needed information:

- those with a technology background should consider giving a presentation at a local genealogy society on various types of technologies and how they can benefit the genealogy researcher

- those seasoned society members should work with newer and younger members to teach sound research and source citation methodologies - as well as why not all research can be conducted on the Internet

- those with strong social media skills should create a marketing workshop for societies looking to expand membership

- those who can use Facebook, Twitter and blog all at the same time might want to "buddy up" with a genealogy society and consider training a board member or volunteer on how to use these services so they can send out information about upcoming events and research resources

The possibilities of partnering with a local genealogy society are endless - but first we must overcome perceptions that exist about who can best use technology in the genealogy world. As I've told students many times: it is attitude over aptitude. Which means I'd rather work with someone who has a great attitude and is receptive to learning instead of someone who either constantly thinks they know everything or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, constantly discounts their own ability to learn.