What is your favorite activity, service, perk, etc. provided by the genealogical society you belong to?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sherry Leafgreen on July 20, 2009 at 7:22pm

Mine is being able to pay back all the help II have received from various local genealogy societies by transcribing local records.

Permalink Reply by Deason Hunt on July 22, 2009 at 7:30am

I agree, Sherry. I have received so much help from so many people. Genealogists are some of the best "pass it on" people in the world.

Permalink Reply by M. Diane Rogers on July 21, 2009 at 9:49pm

Agree about the getting together - with people who are encouraging and supportive - that's what renews my enthusiasm, I believe. And the practical advice is very important too, of course.

My second favourite thing is probably our BC Genealogical Society library though! (And I do meet & talk with a lot of like minded people there!)

Permalink Reply by Deason Hunt on July 22, 2009 at 6:56am

Sometimes, I guess, we don't think of it as a service, but a local county resident just contact our society about what to do with an early 1900's diary of a family member. He had nothing to do with it (I assume because no other family wanted it) and asked our society to accept and keep it so it would not disappear. We have at other times received books, brief memoirs, and genealogy papers of family researchers. Tose are now kept and made available to the public so that that "work" is not lost as someone's passing.

Permalink Reply by M. Diane Rogers on July 22, 2009 at 7:18am

I think that's a service, Deason.
Our society does the same - sometimes it takes work to put together someone's papers so that future researchers can use them too.
We are encouraging our members to sort out & donate their materials 'now'.
We are having sessions in the fall on 'how to write up your family history' so people can give something to family who want it & donate copies to appropriate libraries/genealogical societies & to the Family History Library too.
Not too long ago, we became aware that family had 'tossed out' years of work by one of our deceased members, so this topic is an immediate one for some of us.

Permalink Reply by Glenn Roy Browne on August 10, 2009 at 1:32pm

One perk/service we have at our genealogy meetings is the use of a projector/screen connected to an online computer. For example we look at the findagrave.com page and demonstrate how to use it and what is available. We also do the same thing with Familty Tree Maker and Ancestory.com. Now that we have our own genealogy social network page we can review any additions and discuss problems. At the next meeting, August 12th/09 we will introduce everyone to Genealogy Wise.
The equipment is not cheap (donated funds) but it a great tool when talking about all the online advantages. Everyone pays attention during the presentations and take notes. We also have presentations on how to use your computer and get the most use out of it. All our members at the present time are seniors and appreciate computer tips.