Earlier this week a NewsLeaf update arrived by email from the Ontario Genealogical Society. Three things stood out to me.
- A survey found that three-quarters of the membership would be comfortable with a fee increase to at least $70. The current basic Society membership fee has remained $63 for 15 years. Expect an increase.
- The biggest benefit of membership, according to two-thirds of those surveyed, is access to online records and databases. There’s a long list of databases available through the Society. A close second is webinars and educational events, although the live feed is available free to all. The member benefit is the on-demand replay. Connecting with other genealogists through the Society is a priority for fewer than 20% of members. Social media fill much of that role.
- Government cutbacks, federal and provincial, are hurting the Society, especially its digitization initiatives. Members would be well served if the Society took a more active stance, jointly with other heritage, historical and cultural societies, in advocacy?