I’ve hung around and sipped chilled Chardonnay with genealogists long enough to know many have opinions about what their society should be doing to ensure it continues to thrive. I’ve no doubt expressed a few of my own thoughts.
Genealogical societies are similar to other volunteer-based organizations. They have members who are happy with the way the organization is run and want it to continue as is. They also have members who have ideas about how things could be done differently and improved — and members who have no opinion either way.
To find out what their members are thinking, the British Columbia Genealogical Society (BCGS) is holding a 30-minute brainstorming session at this month’s meeting.
The society wants to “take stock and talk about priorities for the next five years, the next 10 years, and beyond.”
Hallelujah! A society that is planning its future. Did I tell you about the society I know that didn’t know where it planned to be five months from now, let alone five years from now? But I digress.
During the the BCGS brainstorming, board members will sit at each table and “facilitate an open discussion on where the society should be going.”
Brilliant idea.
Will this session solve all problems? Probably not.
What the brainstorming session will do is give members an opportunity to voice their opinion and share their ideas for helping the society thrive. Equally important, board members will have an opportunity to listen.
Bottom line is the brainstorming will open communications between the board and members, and this can only help.
Speed dating
If time allows, I recommend incorporating a speed-dating approach into the brainstorming session. At 15-minute intervals, ring a bell to signal to members they must move to another table — any table they want. The board members remain at their table. That way, members have an opportunity to speak to more than one board member, and the board gets to meet and hear from more members.
BCGS posted the following image on social media about their brainstorming session.
Genealogical societies not interested in evolving and moving forward can read the blog post about why a historical society closed after 61 years. Those interested in learning how to make changes going forward, can read this blog post about the importance of needing to know where your society is today and how to make changes,
Bravo to BCGS for having the know-how — and knowing when to listen.
Savoir faire is an occasional feature about genealogists and genealogical societies that are doing good things. To read about other creative and inspirational ideas, click on the ‘Savoir faire’ category in the right margin.
Hold on, there’s supposed to be chilled white wine for genealogists? Someone’s been holding out on me!
Always. It makes the conversation flow so much better. You’ll have to join us one of these days.
Any excuse to visit Montreal!
I lament that many societies are in the same boat – no planning, few volunteers, uncertain future – but have no compass, sail or oars with which to set and maintain their course. The intransigence of some (older) members also get in the way of planning and recruitment. It’s one of the reasons I no longer participate in local groups. But I do look at them from time-to-time and wonder about whether they or I might benefit with a new association with each other. I still have a few friends with those groups, many of whom still work very hard. Then, I think that life is too short to fight the same battles again.