Death of Family History Societies?

[Neil Wilson]

Death of the FHS?

Well, as a committee member and web master of a smallest one, I can say I agree with most of what has been written.

Moving with the times. - We still sell fiche - won't move over to CD's as they think people will just copy them.

The web site has just been revamped - how difficult is that to get through a committee!

I am just putting together a 'CLOSED' forum, can't have a open one to the general public!
It has been on line for a week, to committee members only - 2 signed up, still the chairman hasn't ventured that far but he isn't sure about it. (How if he hasn't registered, he know what it looks like).

Society magazine online - now that a good idea - less postage etc. Still waiting for it to arrive by email to see if I can 'do it' yet.

On other things, we moved our meeting place because it was unsuitable (car parking) new venture - same problem, moved again - bigger venue, more parking, still getting those who moan about - yes you guess it, not enough parking (they haven't got one with their name on it!!!) You just can't win with some members.

Societies have to move with the times, the internet, digital records etc are here to stay. Fees are good in the UK, but they have to be used to keep their heads above water.

Anyway must go and get to work,

Eileen - I know you are a member of the above FHS, so mum's the word, I think I am safe from any other members or am I???

[MarkJ]

Interesting to see you mention fiche Neil. Microfiche is great at the County Records Office or the FHS HQ, but apart from the lucky few who manage to grab an old reader from somewhere, it is a terrible format. I can understand that there is a risk of copying if they release information on cd, but - apart from printing onto reams of paper - it is the only really practical media for most of us.
As Bob Dylan said - "..the times they are a-changing!"

Mark

[Pam Downes]

Moving with the times. - We still sell fiche - won't move over to CD's as
they think people will just copy them.

I can understand that, but any FHS should be really considering putting their records on Family History Online. Nothing to stop people accessing information on behalf of a third party - but they have to pay for it first. And the way it's set up makes it quite difficult in my opinion (though I am a non-techie ) to obtain stuff for copying without spending quite a lot of money. Yes, the FHSs have to spend some time getting the data into the format acceptable to the site but they then get money they would not normally get because people won't buy fiche. Win win win situation as far as I can see. FHS get funds - and I get the info I want!

Society magazine online - now that a good idea - less postage etc.
Still waiting for it to arrive by email to see if I can 'do it' yet.

Great minds think alike - even if one of them is a little slower than yours, because I only thought about it yesterday when my latest FHS magazine dropped through the letterbox. Not only saves on postage, but saves members storage problems if they're like me and like to keep the magazine.

Edited to add: I do wish you hadn't used 'online' and 'email' in the same sentence, because I nearly made a right idiot of myself, because I was thinking of emailing the magazine to members as opposed to them just viewing it on the FHS website. You would probably still have to print the 'Members' interests' and send to everyone. I know a lot of Societies do an online version, but not everyone elects to go on it. Also it was bad enough waiting for a reply to an email I sent direct to a possible new cousin last year. If I'd had to wait for my 'please forward my details email' to be forwarded through the FHS I'd have been a complete wreck.
Pam

[Neil Wilson]

Pam

Not in the mood to quote - sulking - my old and trusty Black and Decker started to smoke and that was that, job half done!

Anyway- family history online - It was decided before my time that they wouldn't join it, the person who transcribed most of the data says it is his and he just let the society have them on fiche (hope I got that right).

Online magazine, with password access for members only, or otherwise no one would join.

The Forum will go 'live' at the AGM, whilst I am on a train home from work. It is still not a patch on this


MarkJ
Sorry I know what you mean, reams of paper, then you drop it and spend the next day putting it in order.

[BeeE586]

Death of the FHS?

Eileen - I know you are a member of the above FHS, so mum's the word, I think I am safe from any other members or am I???

Wouldn't dream of giving you away, Neil. I had to stop going to meetings because of limited parking and haven't tried the latest venue yet. By the way, this is not the Society I wrote about - your officers have always been most appreciative of any work I have done.

Eileen

[Neil Wilson]

Wouldn't dream of giving you away, Neil. I had to stop going to meetings because of limited parking and haven't tried the latest venue yet. By the way, this is not the Society I wrote about - your officers have always been most appreciative of any work I have done.

Eileen

Hi Eileen
I recognised that it wasn't us you were talking about. Hope you can make it to a meeting one day, the parking is doubled the last place and it will be nice to met you (I think you give a talk the last time I saw you so that is a few years ago).
all the best

[BeeE586]

Neil

I spoke about my Russian Coachman, but had not 'met' you here or on Brett's Chatline at that time.

Eileen

[Neil Wilson]

That's the one, before Brett's chatroom and BG forum.

An excellant talk if anyone wants to hire you

[Hamlet]

They may be old fashioned, but they are invaluable in helping out of district members.

It may be that as more information comes on line there will be a reduction in the number of members, but then more people seem to be interested than was the case 20 years ago when I joined mine.

For people interested in the lives of their ancestors, the input from members- especial if they run a computer membership link, is untold.

Long may they prosper

[Sean K]

I feel I have to leap in to the defence of FHS! Maybe I have had only good experiences, the Cambridgeshire FHS seem to be very organised and e-savvy and I would not hesitate re-joining when I have more time in the near future.

As someone who has built his 'tree' through visits to record offices, buying certificates and fiches, I've got very little time for people who want their information instantaneous, accurate, plus cheap (preferably free) and online. There are too many 'name collectors' online nowadays.

FHS's are quite within their rights IMO to protect their databases. Genealogy today is big business!