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[[Category:Strategies for Program Chairpersons]][[Category:Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves]][[Category:Programs]]

TEN SEASONAL PROGRAM IDEAS
INTRODUCTION
General membership meetings provide an
opportunity for societies to inform, entertain, and
motivate members while attracting new members
from those who are first-time visitors.
Most societies find the business portion of the
meeting is best concluded prior to scheduled
activities or program. The business meeting
should be kept to a strict minimum and attention
should be paid to allowing enough time for the
program portion of the meeting. If necessary, a
business meeting can be interrupted for the
duration of the program and resumed at a later
time or date.
SPRING IDEAS
Spring programs can address the coming
vacation season, when researchers will be
chasing ancestors far beyond their local area.
Instructions on visiting courthouses, on
interacting with records custodians, on note
taking and abstracting, and on planning ahead,
will help your members make the most from
limited research time.
IDEA # 1: COURTHOUSE VISIT —
Move the program to the courthouse for an
evening or a Sunday. Negotiations with county
clerks might open the door to a "members' only
session" at which a county representative
discusses general record keeping principles and
locations of oft-used materials. Follow this with
a society member who gives a brief introduction
to specific records — from a researcher's view.
Then allow time for members to use the records.
NOTE: It is a good idea to limit attendance at
this program to members only as your society
will be responsible for their actions in the
courthouse and in the use of records. The signing
of a code of ethics statement, required for
membership in many societies, identifies
members who are committed to the preservation
and conscientious use of records.
IDEA # 2: RESEARCH TRIP PLANNING
Spring is also the season for a serious discussion
of the courtesies and formalities necessary to
conduct research in records repositories:
appropriate dress; calling or writing ahead for
directions and procedural information; studying
a guide to the collection you intend to use;
limiting what you carry into the repository;�
Ten Seasonal Program Ideas
Page 2 FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 1
copy-right restrictions; etc. Intersperse the
practical with the frivolous — how to pack
"wrinkle-free"; easy-care haircuts for men and
women on the go; clothes and equipment for
cemetery hunts, etc. The light-hearted approach
to these latter subjects will make members more
receptive to the "serious stuff" — especially the
concept that researchers leave behind a legacy in
the repositories they visit — a legacy from which
the next researcher will benefit or suffer.
IDEA # 3: A NEW LOOK AT LAND
RECORDS — Since nearly 90% of American,
white males owned land at some point in their
lives, the tracing of land is critically important to
genealogists. Help members understand the
different types of land records and what
important clues can be located in them.
A program which details not only the types of
deeds, but helps members recognize the methods
by which family members transferred land title,
can be very important. Maps can add flavor to
the program and the speaker can be asked to
demonstrate how to locate a piece of property on
a map which illustrates section, township and
range.
IDEA # 4: GETTING ORGANIZED —
Spring is a great time to do housekeeping chores.
It is important to establish priorities and
determine what to keep and what to throw away.
Yes! Sometimes items can be discarded! Outdated
correspondence can be abstracted,
addresses saved, but some actual letters tossed.
Several methods of arranging material can be
discussed including the positive and negatives of
each. Members should be encouraged to arrange
material in small categories and keep paper in
each file to a minimum so that material can be
easily located. After family folders have been
created, material can be grouped according to
category such as military, probate, school,
church, deeds, etc. If there is great deal of
material for each of those folders, they can be
divided again into groups such as “Military
Records 1850-1900” and then “Military Records
1861-1865” until the categories are small
enough to be contained in a single file folder.
Costs should be discussed with an emphasis on
viewing the sacrifice of hours spent attempting
to locate a document.
SUMMER IDEAS
Turn program time into project time. Or just use
this season as an opportunity for members to
unwind and exchange information.
IDEA # 5: CEMETERY PICNIC —
A fun-event with a serious goal. Organize a
cemetery recording session (with a rain-check
date firmly in hand) and follow it with a familystyle
picnic at a nearby park or volunteer's
residence. Members who prefer not to
participate in the walking and recording of the
cemetery may be willing to prepare or shop for
food. A multi-purpose event in which everyone
can play a role.
IDEA # 6: MY FAVORITE ANCESTOR
A time for sharing (but a limited time!). Ask
members to identify their favorite ancestor and
why s/he deserves that title. Explain that each
discussion will be limited to five minutes. The
President should appoint a timekeeper, provide
a watch with a second hand and a noise maker
to signal time is up. One clever idea to monitor
this is to have an oversize sand-filled hour glass
that requires five minutes for the sand to change
sides. Give it to the speaker and when the sand
is gone — so is he. Or, use a portable oven
timer — one with a buzzer that cannot be
ignored! This program can be great fun and�
Ten Seasonal Program Ideas
FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 1 Page 3
interesting as members learn the qualities that
make some ancestors more fascinating than
others. The group may even want to vote on who
has the most intriguing forbearer.
IDEA # 7: PRESERVING FRAGILE
DOCUMENTS — Invite an archivist or an
individual who sells preservation materials to
speak. This individual does not have to be a
genealogist. Ask the individual to discuss
preserving several different types of paper,
documents, photographs etc. Your group may
have a type of document in which they are
particularly interested, such as newspapers. If the
speaker is given this information before the talk,
the focus will be more specific and thus more
helpful.
FALL IDEAS
For most societies Fall is a "back-to-business"
season and programs are geared to the more
serious aspects of research. This is the time to
utilize speakers from other disciplines whose
expertise can enhance that of the genealogist. It
can also help people from other disciplines learn
to appreciate genealogists.
IDEA # 8: NON-TRADITIONAL GUEST
SPEAKER — Engage a speaker from a related
field, such as a title searcher or an expert in
historical photography or map making. Consider
the specialties of nearby university or high
school instructors: anthropology, geography, oral
history, regional studies, archeology, etc. Prepare
this individual by describing how you think his
or her specialty can strengthen the study of
genealogy. Many will feel they cannot help
genealogists because they know little about the
field. The program chairman should have ideas
about how these related fields do pertain to
genealogy and what the members can gain by
knowing about similar, but not identical areas of
research.
IDEA # 9: SHARING SESSION —
Employ three or four society members who are
experienced speakers and let them chose their
own success stories. Or, permit any member to
share — just be sure to limit the sharing to a
definite time frame! Similar programs, but with
a slightly different twist are “Rogues, Rascals
and Rapscallions.” Not all of our ancestors were
virtuous, of high principle, trustworthy and
loyal to mother and country. In fact, some of the
most interesting are those who managed to get
into a little — or a lot — of trouble! If the
program focuses on this type of ancestor, no one
will feel s/he is the only one with an ancestor
who came as a convict instead of a Mayflower
passenger. Related programs are “A Special
Woman in My Family, or “Have You Found An
Immigrant Ancestors' Home? How?” This last
program gives those with late arriving ancestors
an opportunity to share their experiences with
passenger arrivals, foreign research and perhaps
foreign travels. Be sure to note the time-keeping
devices under Idea # 6.
WINTER IDEAS
Winter scheduling of programs brings concern
to those who live in the northern climate and
who seldom have advance warning of inclement
weather. It is a good idea to have a "fall-back"
program that can be produced on an hour's
notice if the speaker fails to dig out of the snow
but members, closer to the meeting site, do.
IDEA # 10: “THE NO-FRILLS FALL-BACK
PROGRAM” — Show a video or slides of the
society activities (social and project-oriented)�
Ten Seasonal Program Ideas
Page 4 FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 1
from the previous year (or years). The success of
this program, of course, will depend on whether
or not the group arranged for events to be
photographed. If done with flair, this is a real
crowd-pleaser and is a chance to showcase some
officers and volunteers who are deserving of
recognition. Draw attendees together with
popcorn machines set up around the room and
home-made signs saying “only those who are
seated will be served hot popcorn!”
Another twist is to have tickets — prepared in
anticipation of this event — with row and seat
numbers. Assigned seats will bring new people
together. Be sure you allow some time for
informal conversation so that your mixer will
permit mixing! With very little advance work
(except for the photography, the editing for the
show and being sure your equipment is in
working order), this can be a great fall-back
program. (And, if this performance is not needed
in the Winter, you have a ready-made afterdinner
show for your Spring workshop!)
END OF THE YEAR CHRISTMAS
PROGRAM — Ask each member to bring a new
tree ornament that depicts an event in theirs or
an ancestor's life or an ornament to honor the
efforts of a society member. As members arrive,
they draw numbers and in that sequence they
briefly describe the ornament's significance
before hanging it on the tree (or giving it to a
more nimble person to hang). After punch and
Christmas cookies for all, the decorated tree is
removed and taken as a donation to a social
service agency, children's classroom, or needy
family which might otherwise go without a tree.
Tip: arrangements for the disposition of the tree
should be made well in advance of the
decorating event. Call your city or town services
administration for ideas on recipients.
Another Christmas idea is a favorite holiday
recipe that was passed down through the family.
Cookies, cakes, fudge, gingerbread men, apfül
küchen, pfeiffer nüise, and other unusual
pastries can make a delightful program. Ask
each of the contributors to give a brief
description of which ancestor was famous for
the delicacy and from which region or country
they came.
FGS SOCIETY STRATEGIES SERIES
SET I. STRATEGIES FOR SOCIETIES
SET II. STRATEGIES FOR PRESIDENTS
SET III. STRATEGIES FOR VICE-PRESIDENTS
SET IV. STRATEGIES FOR TREASURERS
SET V. STRATEGIES FOR SECRETARIES
SET VI. STRATEGIES FOR PROGRAM CHAIRPERSONS
To receive a list of available titles and current price sheet, send your name and address to:
FGS-Publications, P.O. Box 200940, Austin, Texas 78720-0940.�
Society Strategies
FEDERATION OFG ENEALOGICALS OCIETIES
P.O. BOX 200940 � AUSTIN, TX 78720-0940
Series Set 6 Number 2 August 1991
The FGS Society Strategies Series© consists of papers which offer suggestions and instructions for
innovative and effective management for genealogical and historical societies. The Federation holds a
copyright to this material.
STRATEGIES FOR PROGRAM CHAIRPERSONS
MORE SEASONAL PROGRAM IDEAS
INTRODUCTION
Most successful programs are the result of good
planning. One of the most important aspects of
arranging a program is to be certain that the
invited speaker appears. Therefore, it is wise to
confirm the date, time and place with your
guest. If the speaker is invited for a conference or
an all day workshop, confirm at least thirty days
before the event. If the lecture is to be presented
in a regularly scheduled meeting, a week in
advance is sufficient.
SPRING IDEAS
IDEA # 11: TOMBSTONE STUDY —
The best time to visit the cemetery is early
spring. Weeds and varmints are at a minimum
and in spring everyone is eager to be outside.
This is an ideal time to schedule a speaker who
can discuss the best ways to read and copy
tombstones and do the least amount of damage.
The necessary equipment can be brought for a
“show-and-tell” presentation. The time of day to
read and photograph stones may also be
included.
A variation to this lecture can include how to
locate old cemeteries in a given geographical
area. Discovering maps, cemeteries, sextons,
church burying grounds and city cemetery
records are all interesting topics. Most
genealogists find tombstone art and the various
material used to construct tombstones relevant
topics for their research.
IDEA # 12: ENLARGE THE FAMILY
CIRCLE — Spring is a time of re-birth and
rejuvenation. It is a time to consider the
significance of family. An appropriate topic for
this focus is the collateral family. Too many
beginning genealogists highlight only the direct
line and the nuclear family in their research. The
importance of studying brothers and sisters,
aunts and uncles, as well as in-laws, can provide
valuable information for society members. Ideas
for identifying, locating and studying these
lesser known relatives can be part of the
presentation. If time allows, success stories and
interesting relatives located can be part of the
sharing process.
An added attraction to the focus on the broader
family is the planning of a family reunion. Stepby-
step methods for planning a successful
family reunion are available in several current�
MORE Seasonal Program Ideas
Page 2 FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 2
publications and magazines. Genealogists should
remember there are many kinds of reunions —
other than family — which can be helpful in their
research. Organizations, military units, school
classes, sororities and fraternal organizations all
have held, and are currently holding, reunions. It
is a good time to try to locate lost relatives.
IDEA # 13: REGIONAL, STATE and
NATIONAL PROJECTS — With the season of
rejuvenation comes energy and creativity. It may
become comfortable for society members to
focus only on their own organization and
community and lose sight of what may be
transpiring at a regional, state or national level.
Various indexing projects, newspaper retrieval
projects, records preservation projects, and
primary source identification ventures can all be
discussed. These activities are reported by both
national organizations and various regional
historical and genealogical societies. Ask ten of
your society members to each research
publications and newsletters and present a fiveten
minute summary of their discoveries.
SUMMER IDEAS
IDEA # 14: LOCATING AND USING
RESEARCH REPOSITORIES WITHIN A
DAY'S DRIVE — Summer is the time for
traveling — both near and far. It is amazing how
many genealogists restrict themselves to research
in their local library and do not venture even 50
or 100 miles from home. Often this is because
they are intimidated about using a new and
unfamiliar repository. This fear can be alleviated
by discussing some of the basics of using the
state library or archives. The program can detail
not only the sources which are available, but
even more important for the timid researcher, the
best route to take, the parking facilities,
restaurants or food dispensaries, open or closed
shelves for research, photocopying mechanics,
helpful and accessible staff members and other
basic concerns of the audience. If the members
know what to expect before the trip, they will
feel more comfortable venturing out. It may be
possible for a more experienced member to
accompany the novices for a field trip. These
trips can provide rewards for everyone involved.
IDEA # 15: PLAT MAPS — Learning
activities which take place indoors are always
needed during summer heat. While challenging,
learning to plat metes and bounds land surveys
is a skill needed by many genealogists in their
research. Many are surprised to learn that
drawing a plat is not nearly as difficult as they
were afraid it might be. For this lecture, the
program chairman needs to find a good teacher.
Helping the students learn step-by-step how to
read the deed and follow the directions is
essential. However, after the initial steps are
learned and the students become proficient, they
can help each other!
When the event is announced, request that each
member of the audience bring a ruler and
protractor. Pencil and paper can easily be
furnished. It is a good idea to have several
people in the audience who already have
acquired the skill, so that they can circulate after
the instruction and help members of the
audience as they apply what they are learning.
Every genealogical researcher should be able to
locate 40, 80, 120 acres on the section,
township, range system. Once the survey system
is explained and a few examples demonstrated,
each member of the audience can be provided
with a map with township and ranges marked.
The leader then gives a land description and
asks each member to place a “r” in the quarter
section where the land is located. In the next
description, the members of the audience, can
place a “#” in the quarter section. Be sure that�
MORE Seasonal Program Ideas
FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 2 Page 3
each member can perform the assignment. If not,
the lecturer needs to review the material until
each can accomplish the task. Land records are
simply too valuable for the genealogist not to
acquire this skill.
FALL IDEAS
IDEA # 16: RELIGION AND FAMILY —
America's history is replete with the rise and fall
of various church denominations, branches,
sects, and persuasions. Although lectures which
discuss the record keeping methods of various
denominations such as Quakers, Presbyterians,
and Roman Catholics, are helpful, they are not
all the genealogist needs to know. Knowing the
tenets of an ancestors's faith may be more helpful
to understanding him than learning the date of
his baptism. Learning about “the New Lights,”
the “Great Awakening” and various waves of
missionary and evangelistic fervor may help the
genealogist understand why an ancestor migrated
as he did, behaved the way he did and raised his
children the way he did. This topic has the
potential for several excellent programs and will
interest those researchers eager to add “meat to
the bones” of their ancestor's lives.
IDEA # 17: NO QUESTION IS TOO DUMB
TO ASK — Arrange a panel of the more
experienced researchers in the society. They will
be available to TRY to answer questions from
the audience. Too often genealogists do not
adequately use the knowledgeable resources in
their own community. There are reasons for this.
None of us want to appear stupid, we may not
know the “right” questions to ask, or we may not
even know what it is that we don't know. In
preparation for this panel, the leader should have
some “plants” in the audience who will start the
ball rolling with good, general, appropriate
questions. This will encourage others to
participate and will model the most helpful type
of questions.
Incidently, the panel should be encouraged to
admit when they don't know the answer. No
expert knows it all. However, the question asked
should not be ignored. Encourage someone to
research the question and return to the group
with an answer. Beginning genealogists will
soon discover that even the experts must learn
how to locate the information they need rather
than be able to retain everything in memory.
If the society's membership is particularly timid,
and you are concerned no one will rise to the
occasion, ask the panel to develop their own
questions as well as answers. The panel title will
thus change to “Questions Most Frequently
Asked,” or “Haven't You Always Wondered
About ... ”
The important thing is that the program address
real, practical, and sometimes very basic
questions, that often go unasked and therefore,
unanswered.
IDEA # 18: YOUR IMMIGRANT
ANCESTOR — Ask members to choose an
individual or family and request they make a
short presentation. When did the family come to
this country? Why? Where did they come
from? Do you know what port they left and
where they arrived? Where did they settle?
Why? Did other family members come? How
can one locate the answers to these research
questions? �
MORE Seasonal Program Ideas
Page 4 FGS Society Strategies, Set 6 Number 2
WINTER IDEAS
IDEA # 19: MIGRATION PATTERNS —
Winter was the season for migration. The crops
from the last harvest were in storage; the new not
yet planted. The roads were frozen and could be
traveled. This is the best season to learn about
our migrating ancestors. One could study the
avenues of migration — the roads, riverways,
canals and railroads. The program could focus on
the new geographical areas which opened for
settlement at various times — upstate New York,
the Northwest Territory, Trans-Appalachia, the
Trans-Mississippi, the Gulf Plains, the Frontier
West and the Far West. When did they open?
Why and what records were produced? How did
our ancestors migrate? What were the methods
of conveyance? What were the advantages and
disadvantages of ox carts, barges, wagons, and
trains? Do records exist? Where might one
look?
It is important to emphasize that people did not
migrate as individuals, but rather in family and
community groups. Who were the people who
traveled with your ancestors? They may be
closely related even though the name is not the
same.
IDEA # 20: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION —
LEARN A NEW SOURCE AND USE IT!
Winter brings in the New Year and with it new
resolves. It is time to learn a new genealogical
resource. We each have our favorite sources to
explore when tracing family history. Too often
we become stumped if our old standbys cannot
be located or do not bring the desired results.
No individual researcher can possibly be abreast
of all available sources. If each society member
locates a source new to him or her, uses it and
then reports back the results, each member's
horizons will broaden. Perhaps the new source
did not reveal the exact connection sought, but
something new will always be learned. How
easy or difficult was access and use of the
source? Was it indexed? What kind of
information did the source contain? What did it
lack? What kind of genealogical problems
would it likely solve, etc?
§ § § § § § § §
Creative programs are not difficult to conceive,
but they do require planning and organization.
And, no program chairman should forget that
some of the best potential speakers are within
the society itself.

Seasonal Program Ideas - Revision history

Admin at 02:29, 13 August 2012

Admin: Created page with "[NOTE: this page has not yet been formatted. If you are interested in assisting in the care and maintenance of the FGS Wiki Content, please contact Thomas MacEntee at publici..."

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Category:Strategies for Program Chairpersons]][[Category:Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves]][[Category:Programs]]
-TEN SEASONAL PROGRAM IDEAS
+=Ten Seasonal Program Ideas=
-INTRODUCTION
 General membership meetings provide an
 opportunity for societies to inform, entertain, and