Federation of Genealogical Societies Uses Electronic Balloting for Annual Election

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is using electronic balloting for the first time for its 2010 annual elections. The election of FGS officers takes place each fall in accordance with its bylaws. Those bylaws, which can be found at http://fgs.org/about/bylaws.php, call for the distribution of the ballots by September 1 to the delegates of member genealogical societies, historical societies, and family associations. (Member libraries, archives, and associate members do not have delegates and are not entitled to vote in elections.) Ballots are to be returned by October 1.

This year's ballot is being distributed via email by midnight tonight to all delegates of record for all current societies as listed above. Delegates can make their selections for candidates for officer and board member positions electronically and immediately submit their ballots.

FGS has made the move to electronic balloting in order to streamline the process, eliminate the expenses of printing and mailing paper ballots, insure the timely and precise tabulation of votes, and help protect the environment.

We will share more information about the process of developing and implementing electronic balloting in coming months in both an article in the FGS FORUM electronic magazine and in a new Society Strategies Series paper.

Election results will be reported to the FGS President and Secretary by October 15th in accordance with the FGS Bylaws, and the results will be announced in this blog, in the FGS Voice newsletter, and in the FGS FORUM.

FGS Launches New Login and Password Information

The Federation of Genealogical Societies today launched a new Login ID and password system for its members. In response to members' requests, FGS has developed a new Login ID and password program that uses the same ID and password to access both the Members Only area of the FGS website and the newly re-launched Society Hall.

An email was sent to the primary contact and delegate for each FGS member organization in good standing today that email contains the organization's new Login ID and password. (Associate member organizations do not have delegates.) With this new information, you can access two important areas and take advantage of members-only benefits.

Members Only Area:

• The Members Only area provides access to the electronic magazine, the FGS FORUM. Member societies receive two complimentary copies of this electronic magazine published quarterly in PDF format. The archive of electronic copies are available from 1989 to present
• The archive of the FGS Voice, FGS' monthly electronic newsletter is available here.
• The Society Strategies Series papers provide suggestions and instructions for the management of genealogical societies, historical societies, and family associations. These documents are free to members and are available in PDF format.
• FGS offers a free review of societies' bylaws and make suggestions for changes and updates. Details about this service are available here.
• Details about the FGS National Insurance Program for Genealogical Societies is also available here.

Society Hall:
 
FGS issued a press release on August 18, 2010, at the 2010 FGS Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, about the re-launch of its Society Hall information service at its website. FGS members in good standing receive an enhanced listing for their organization that contains contact information, a link to its website, membership benefits, periodicals, publications, and other information. The new Login ID and password allow you to update and maintain your listing, thus providing you with yet another way to publicize your society or organization.

Members in good standing with up-to-date dues will continue to enjoy these benefits. If your genealogical society, historical society, family association, library, or genealogical vendor is not yet a member and is interested, please visit the Membership area of the FGS website at http://fgs.org/membership for more information and to join FGS.

New Society Strategies Series Paper Released

FGS has just released a new Society Strategies Series paper. The new paper, #S4-5, is titled "Bookkeeping 101" and was written by FGS Teasurer Cath Madden Trindle, CG. FGS Members can access the new paper at the Members Only area of the FGS website at http://www.fgs.org.

FGS is in the process of reviewing all of the Society Strategies Series papers and will be updating them as appropriate. We also have some new papers being created that address 21st century societies' issues. Watch the FGS Voice and the FGS website for announcements of these new papers.

News from the FGS Conference: FGS Delegate of the Conference

The Federation of Genealogical Societies each year celebrates the delegates in attendance from its member societies by selection a Delegate of the Day for each day of the conference. Delegates enter a drawing for Delegate of the Day and each winner receives a certificate. This culminates on the last day of the conference with a drawing for Delegate of the Conference, and that delegate receives a certificate for a free registration to next year's FGS Conference for his or her society.

This year's winners are:

• Delegate of the Day for Wednesday: Connie Olson of the Michigan Genealogical Council
• Delegate of the Day for Thursday: Scott Fitzgerald of the East Texas Genealogical Society
• Delegate of the Day for Friday: John B. Morehiser of the Jefferson Genealogical Society
• Delegate of the Day for Saturday: Janice Forte of the Afro-American Genealogical & Historical Society of Chicago
• Delegate of the Conference: John B. Morehiser of the Jefferson Genealogical Society

We congratulate all of our winners!

Society Hall, the Online Directory of FGS Member Societies, Is Relaunched

The Federation of Genealogical Societies, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, announces the re-launch today of the popular Society Hall at its website at fgs.org.

Society Hall is an informational database accessible on the Internet that can be used to locate FGS member organizations in the U.S. and abroad. This includes genealogical societies, historical societies, family associations, libraries, archives, and vendors serving the genealogical community. Thousands of people searching for information about these organizations visit Society Hall each month.

Every FGS Member society has a Society Hall listing at fgs.org/societyhall that it can edit and maintain. With the re-launching of the service, FGS has updated Society Hall listings with details from its member database. There are many fields that can be used to promote information about your organization. In addition to name, address, telephone, and email, a link can be added to the organization's website. Membership benefits and dues can be listed, as can periodicals and publications, a calendar of events, services, and pioneer/certification programs.

Member societies can access the site to edit their listing's content using an ID and password. FGS will be sending these to all Member Societies in good standing via email immediately following the conclusion of its 2010 Conference, being held this week in Knoxville, Tennessee. In addition, the ID and password will become the access key to the Members Only area of the FGS website and other content there. FGS has developed the single ID and password scheme in response to members' requests.

Ancestry.com previously hosted Society Hall at its FamilyHistory.com site. FGS has now taken over hosting responsibilities for Society Hall at its own website.

Two More Society Strategy Series Papers Go Online

FGS publishes its Society Strategies Series papers which offer suggestions and instructions for the successful management of genealogical societies, historical societies, and family associations.

Two papers have just been posted to the FGS Members Only webpage:

• SI-28 - When Disciplinary Action Is Required: An Outline of Procedure
• SI-29 - Delegate ABC’s

The Society Strategies Series papers are free to FGS Member organizations as one of the membership benefits. The papers are available as PDF file downloads from the Members Only webpage at the FGS website. Non-members may purchase copies for $2.00 each, plus shipping and handling, at the FGS Store at https://www.fgs.org/catalog. (A minimum order amount applies.)

FGS is in the process of reviewing and updating all the Society Strategies Series papers, and new topics will be added soon.

New FGS Membership Handbook Now Online

The new Federation of Genealogical Societies Membership Handbook is now available online for member societies. The handbook contains everything you need to know about getting the most from your FGS membership.

FGS member societies can access the new handbook in PDF format at the Members Only area of the FGS website.

We know you'll find the completely updated handbook helpful!

FGS Conference - Delegate of the Day

Is your society a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies? Click here for the list of member societies. Each member society appoints a Delegate to FGS and we hope that all Delegates participate in activities throughout the FGS Conference, but especially on Wednesday. You will learn a lot to take back home to your society’s board and members.

During the conference, FGS honors one Delegate each day. That Delegate of the Day receives a ribbon that they can wear during the conference and also receive a certificate. The Delegate of the Day is chosen from FGS Delegates who stop by the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall and complete an entry form. Only one entry per Delegate is permitted.

The winning Delegate’s name and society name will be announced over the loudspeaker in the Exhibit Hall but, if you don’t hear that, check the display at the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday through Saturday to see if you are chosen.

On Saturday, a Delegate of the Conference will be drawn from the four daily winners. That Delegate of the Conference wins a free registration for their society for the 2011 Federation of Genealogical Societies and Illinois State Genealogical Society Conference in Springfield, Illinois, on September 7-10, 2011. 

FGS will also announce the names of these chosen Delegates and the name of their FGS member society on the FGS Voice blog, in the FGS Voice e-newsletter, FGS Forum, and in the FGS Conference News Blog. These announcements will include the website link for your society. It’s a great way to promote your organization both at and after the conference!

Have You Put Off Pre-Registering for Knoxville? Time's Almost Up!

If you've been procrastinating about pre-registering for the annual FGS Conference, the clock is ticking down to the last possible moments.  There's still a little time left to go to the online registration (at http://fgs.org/2010conference/) and register.  But Sunday, August 8 is the last day for pre-registration.

If you don't pre-register, you can still register at the door, but pre-registration means not only that you can skip the walk-in registration lines, but also that you can immediately view the online syllabus and print out any handouts for the sessions you plan to attend!  (Pre-registration also gives you a better chance at buying any remaining tickets to meals and other special events, which may not be available by the time you get to Knoxville.)

FGS Conference Syllabus Is Online

The syllabus for the FGS 2010 Conference is now available online for registered attendees. The syllabus contains each of the presenters' handouts, by session number, in PDF format. To access these materials, go to https://www.fgs.org/2010conference/registration, sign in with your email address and the PIN you received when you registered. You'll see the full list of sessions, and you can download and print the individual handouts before you head to the conference.

Every registered attendee will receive a CD syllabus at registration. You can also order a full paper copy of the syllabus for $30 online through the registration area of the website. A few paper copies may be available for sale at the conference, but copies are limited.