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<DIV>Elissa is right about putting something out there that people value.
However, after you build it, you need to let people know it's there. The
web (websites, social networking, etc.) is essential, but it takes much
more. In smaller communities, it is possible to get media exposure, but in
larger metropolitan communities media exposure is hard to come by.
Networking with related organizations is one strategy. Neighborhood
newspapers are worth a try. It is important to promote both your society
in particular and family history in general. I can't say my organization
excels at any of these things, but we're trying.</DIV>
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<DIV>In a message dated 4/5/2010 4:36:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
Elissa@PowellGenealogy.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>If you
build it, they will come. <BR><BR>IOW, if a society provides a service of
perceived value, people will be<BR>willing to pay dues. These include member
only benefits including newsletter<BR>content, website content or access to
subscription sites, research help<BR>(queries or actual help), program (and
how to reach geographically diverse<BR>members), volunteer opportunities (such
as compiling records), and social<BR>opportunities (excursions to
repositories, etc.).<BR><BR>And of course don't say that the Internet stole
your members -- BE on the<BR>internet if that is where the people
are.<BR><BR>-- Elissa<BR>Former president of two local societies<BR><BR>Elissa
Scalise Powell, CG<BR>www.PowellGenealogy.com<BR>CG and Certified Genealogist
are Service Marks of the Board for<BR>Certification of Genealogists, used
under license by board certificants<BR>after periodic evaluations by the
Board. <BR><BR><BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From:
apgpubliclist-bounces+elissa=powellgenealogy.com@mailman.modwest.com<BR>><BR>[mailto:apgpubliclist-bounces+elissa=powellgenealogy.com@mailman.modwest.com<BR>]
On<BR>> Behalf Of Nancy Lyons<BR>> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 5:19
PM<BR>> To: apgpubliclist@apgen.org<BR>> Subject: [APG Public List]
Genealogical Societies<BR>> <BR>> Although this question is not directly
about genealogical procedures or<BR>> methodology, I wanted to ask the
group what genealogical societies they<BR>have<BR>> observed that have a
done a particularly effective job in the area of<BR>> membership
development, and how they have done it.<BR>> Many thanks,<BR>> Nancy
Menton Lyons<BR>> Delaware<BR><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=2 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Jay Fonkert,
CG<BR><A href="http://fourgenerationsgenealogy.blogspot.com/">http://fourgenerationsgenealogy.blogspot.com/</A><BR>Saint
Paul, MN<BR><BR>Director, Association of Professional
Genealogists<BR>(</FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=1 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="8">professional profile at <A href="http://www.apgen.org)/">www.apgen.org)</A></FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR>Member, Genealogical
Speakers Guild<BR></FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=1 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="8">(professional profile at <A href="http://www.genealogicalspeakersguild.org/)">http://www.genealogicalspeakersguild.org/)</A><U><BR></FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></U>Member, International Society of Family History Writers and
Editors <BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=1 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="8">CG (Certified Genealogist) is a service mark of
the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by
Board-certified associates after periodic competency evaluations.</FONT><FONT lang=2 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>