Bringing Genealogy Societies into the 21st Century - FGS Radio

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mysociety/2011/04/23/bringing-genealogy-societies-into-the-21st-century

Call In Number: +1 (619) 638-8565

Saturday, April 23, 2011

2-3pm Eastern US

1-2pm Central US

12-1pm Mountain US

11am-12pm Pacific US

Join us for the premiere episode of My Society, a new Internet radio show on Blog talk Radio presented by the Federation of Genealogical Societies on Saturday, April 23, 2011 starting at 2pm Eastern, 1pm Central, 12pm Mountain and 11am Pacific when this week we'll be discussing bringing genealogy societies into the 21st century.

Our special guest leading this discussion will be Curt B. Witcher, Senior Manager for Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN where he manages The Genealogy Center, serves as general curator for that institution’s Rare and Fine Book Collection as well as the institutional archives, and is the Supervisor for the newly acquired Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection.  Curt is the project lead on the library’s digitization initiatives--initiatives that include partnerships with the Internet Archive, ProQuest, Footnote, and WeRelate as well as growing a site of free, searchable data files at GenealogyCenter.org. He is a former president of both the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, and the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society.

Curt was distinguished in 1995 as a fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association (FUGA) and received the Federation of Genealogical Societies' Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award, in 1997.  Curt was recognized in 2006 by being named the first fellow of the Indiana Genealogical Society.  He was honored in May of 2007 with the National Genealogical Society’s P. William Filby award for outstanding, life-time contributions to genealogical librarianship.

Links

• Preserve the Pensions
  http://www.fgs.org/1812/
• National Black Genealogy Summit
  http://www.blackgenealogyconference.info/
• Our Military Heritage
  http://www.genealogycenter.info/military/
• Genealogy Center
  http://www.genealogycenter.org

My Society will also feature a member society of FGS during the broadcast. Please join us for great conversation and an exchange of ideas concerning genealogy societies every Saturday afternoon!  

Federation of Genealogical Societies Radio Debut - My Society

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2011

FEDERATION OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES RADIO DEBUT

Special Guest Curt Witcher to Discuss 21st Century Genealogy Societies

April 20, 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the debut of My Society, the first Internet radio show dedicated solely to genealogy societies. Broadcast weekly each Saturday at 1:00 pm Central, My Society will host discussions of genealogy society topics with a variety of guests including well-known genealogists and genealogy community leaders. This unique media outlet can be accessed at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mysociety.

Debut Episode of My Society with Special Guest Curt Witcher

On Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 1:00 pm Central, Curt Witcher, Senior Manager for Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library, will be the special guest on My Society hosted by FGS board member Thomas MacEntee. Witcher, who is also a former president of both FGS and the National Genealogical Society as well as the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society, will discuss bringing genealogy societies into the 21st century.

Internet Radio and FGS

Each week, My Society will focus on a selected topic relevant to genealogy society management and the role societies play within the genealogy community. Future topics will discuss increasing membership, developing a social media and Internet presence, member services, and more. In addition, each episode of My Society will spotlight a member society of FGS and discuss their various programs and offerings. Using the Blog Talk Radio platform, listeners will not only be able to hear a live broadcast, but they will also be able to call in and speak with the show’s host and guests to discuss their own genealogy societies.

George G. Morgan, FGS Vice President-Membership and veteran genealogy podcaster notes: “FGS strives to provide information and value to its members and to the entire genealogical community. We recently announced the FGS series of webinars, beginning on April 30th. However, we are also significantly expanding our offerings in 2011 to include the launch of regularly scheduled, live FGS Radio broadcasts over the Internet. These program will feature leaders in the genealogical field, and genealogical and historical societies sharing their success stories and best practices. Listeners can call in with their questions and comments. The programs will be recorded and made available for free download at the FGS website. We are very excited and proud about this new offering and look forward to expanding communication in the genealogy community.”

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org.

FGS Award Nominations - Deadline: June 1

Each year at the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, awards are given to genealogical societies and members of societies for outstanding or notable service to the genealogical community. This year awards will be presented at the Keynote Session on Thursday morning. These and some other awards are also announced in the FGS FORUM.

You are encouraged to nominate individuals or societies to receive these awards of recognition. You know the societies and the people who make up those organizations. You know the activities/projects that an individual or society has successfully undertaken. These are the people, the societies, and the activities FGS is looking to offer gratitude to with these awards. Note: only FGS-member societies and individual members of FGS-member societies can be nominated for the FGS Awards.

• Certificate of Appreciation: Individual or organization in thanks for duty in exemplary or outstanding manner.

• Award of Merit: Individual or organization for meritorious service or distinguished work in genealogy and family history.

• President's Citation: Individual or organization to whose contributions or service to FGS or the genealogical community are singled out for recognition by the FGS President.

• Delegate Award: Individual Delegate of a member society in recognition of exemplary service to FGS as a member of an FGS standing committee or as an active participant in an FGS project.

• Distinguished Service Award: Individual or organizational recognition of outstanding service to FGS or to a member society. The organization must be a member of FGS, and the individual must be a member of an FGS member society.

• Director's Award: Individual or organizational recognition of both exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy and family history, and extra-mile efforts to promote good will and improve services.

• George E. Williams Award: Individual with outstanding contributions within a single year to FGS, a member organization, or both.

• David S. Vogels Award: Individual for recognition of outstanding career contributions to FGS.

• Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award: To a rare individual for lifetime contributions and whose positive personal influence and example have fostered unity in the genealogical community, provided leadership to its individual members, and helped make family history a vital force in the community at large.

• Archives Award: Individual or organizational recognition of exceptional contributions in the area of archival access, preservation, or services.

Any member of the public can make a nomination - you do not need to be a member of a FGS-member society in order to make a nomination. More information about the awards and a link to a submission form can be found at the FGS website: http://www.fgs.org/awards/index.php.

The deadline for submission of awards for 2011 is 1 June 2011.

Tri-City Genealogical Society (Richland, Washington) Hosts September 16-17, 2011 Event

Join the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS) for "Building Ancestral Bridges" with featured speaker, Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL at the Washington State Genealogical Society’s 2011 Annual Conference, hosted by TCGS. Patricia Walls Stamm will present 1 topic Friday night with Dinner, and 3 more topics Saturday w/lunch. 15 Breakout session choices will be available for 3 more classes. Leland Meitzler and approximately 10 other vendors are planned. Latest details at www.tricitygenealogicalsociety.org.