Can You Help?

One of the biggest issue facing the Ontario Genealogical Society, Ottawa Branch and most other genealogical organizations is the declining membership. Within OGS, it is probably the branches who have more influence bringing in members than the Society does.To attract new members, we have to let prospective members know that we exist and that we have a great deal to offer. I am still amazed at the number of people that I talk to at events who are working on their genealogy and have never heard of OGS. We need to get the word out. And we cannot afford the budget to run commercials during the Stanley Cup playoffs like some of the commercial organizations.That is why it is so important to have somebody handling publicity.

Something relatively new is our ability to webcast the meetings. If you can attend a meeting from across the country, or world, is there more incentive to join? For example, I have attended several Niagara Branch as well as two Ottawa Branch meetings this year without leaving my house. I can sit there in my pyjamas and sip a cup of tea while enjoying the presentation. I miss out on the juice and cookies but one has to make sacrifices. :-)

Another way to reach out to potential members is by running courses in likely locations i.e. seniors centres and community centres. We need to consider adding a new member to the Board who would be an Education Coordinator and help to arrange presentations on the hobby to various groups. We have a number of people who would be happy to talk to groups. But I have neither the time nor ability to arrange things like this.

These are just a couple of the tasks that need volunteers if we are to keep Ottawa Branch and the Ontario Genealogical Society functioning into the future. Can you help? Contact pastchair@ogsottawa.on.ca