2018 is quickly drawing to a close. Year’s end is always a good time for retrospection and planning for next year and years to come. Each year I evaluate my genealogical successes, failures and unfulfilled plans. I use this information to prioritize my to-do lists and come up with a new research plan for the next year. We are doing a similar process at WSGS.
As genealogists, you are aware of all the changes which have come about in our industry. Some of those changes have drastically changed the way we do business, the way we work, the way we communicate, the way we educate and so much more. What societies did for years, no longer works as well today. This means WSGS must continue to change if we wish to remain alive and relevant.
Several years ago, WSGS began an evaluation of itself by looking at what we were doing well and what we weren’t doing so well. As a result, we began making changes in the Society. Our first changes were to improve the WSGS website and the Blog. Next, improvements were made to the Recognition and Awards program. We initiated the Innovative Grant program to help societies with special projects and educational events. For the most part, these endeavors have been successful.
This past year, we focused on making further improvements to the website. Our goal was to provide better access to resources for genealogists and for genealogical societies. Information on each genealogical society in Washington was updated and expanded, including info on special collections held by societies. Information on museums in Washington was added to the website. We began revitalizing the Speakers’ Directory. In addition, for the second year in a row, WSGS provided Society Management classes at the Northwest Genealogy Conference in Arlington. We are working on a collaborative relationship with the owners of the Civil War Veterans Buried in Washington State website.
The WSGS Board will be holding a two-day retreat this spring to bring forth new ideas, evaluate, plan and move WSGS forward. Board meetings are open to the membership. I welcome any thoughts you have on WSGS. Just drop me an email at geneahunter@gmail.com.
Wishing you all peace, hope and joy in the New Year.
Ginny Majewski, President
Great summary, Madame President. Thanks, too, to Roxanne for getting this done 🙂 I do hope that all WSGS members, and all other working genealogists in Washington, will hop on the WSGS wagon and share their ideas, time and talents. Only working together will WSGS become as good as it could be.