Tips for Program Planners from my Experiences

If you are involved in doing program and event planning for your local , regional or other genealogical society, you might benefit from the speaker’s experiences that follow. I invite you to read and take note.

Advertisement

Teaching Genealogical Society Management Skills

A month or so ago I was talking with a member of a local genealogical society in the west about a society management issue. She mentioned that at their annual leadership retreat ( an all day Saturday event) they analyzed the past and planned the future of the society. She mentioned having a speaker come in and talk about an issue like membership, programming, newletters, public relations, fund raising etc. I was impressed. During the day the worked as a group and as pairs or trios on various plans. Then at the annual meeting the published their plans etc. a great idea.

Now my friend Jana Broglin, VP of the Federation of Genealogical Societies is looking for speakers to help such groups. If you can speak to a society on some aspect of society management, Jana wants to here from you.

Recordings of Lectures at FGS Boston

Sharon Sergeant, the innovative genealogy educator at ancestralmanor.com
sent along the following message recently concerning recorded lectures at FGS Boston. These lecure recordings, when combined with the syllabus material make a very practical package for self directed learners. interested? Read on.

Do You Need a Virtual Advisory Board?

Often in the business of genealogy education we need to consult with people to improve our performance, our offerings and our services. some people recommend forming a collegial mastermind group of peers doing similar work to exchange ideas and motivate. While collegial mastermind groups can have a tremendous impact on our genealogy education business, we might also consider forming a Virtual Advisory Board (VAB) with clients from our target market. Here’s how it might work:

Thoughts on Getting a Letter From Steve

Steve Myers sent me a letter this past week. A nice letter but not a happy one. Steve is chairman of the programs committee for the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2007 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Steve wrote to tell be that my 6 lecture proposals were among the 530 rejected proposals. There were gentle words at the end, boilerplate excuses, I mean reasons, why mine did not make the cut. Perhaps you received one too?

National Institute for Genealogical Studies West Coast Road Show

My friend, Louise St.Denis, Managing Director of the National Institute claims she’s having a vacation on the west coast of British Columbia. Utter Hogwash. Consider her schedule and you tell me if Louise is on vacation.

Paul Milner and the Britain and Ireland Forum

I see in the news that The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has just announced that
Paul Milner is joining the NGS Britain and Ireland Forum as co-leader.
Paul joins Sheila Benedict, CG, in leading the Britain and Ireland
Forum, an NGS members-only Forum established to assist members with
their research in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man. I like Paul. I like the way he teaches. And I like what he teaches. This is a good thing for the Forum.  Here’s a bit more about Paul.

Lecture and Workshop Topics for Professional Genealogists

Ever been asked to speak to a chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists? Now there’s a group you can present the challenging topics to. Here are some topics for lectures or workshops some speakers have done for the pros.

Topics to Teach Genealogy Society Executives

There is a special group of people in every genealogy society that need help. they are hungry for practical ideas, and motivational learning. Its the executive; public minded volunteers that hold a society together. I think every genealogy speaker should have one or two presentations in their list of lectures and workshops that can be aimed at the executive group.. This year i am working on delevoping a lecture on effective newsletters. I've noticed some others offer such lectures. Here are a few examples

Nervous?

Do you get nervous just before you begin to teach or lecture? Happens to all of us. Its not necessarily a bad thing. But how do we controll it?