X is for Xtinction, Xpertise and Xcite #A-ZChallenge

-

 


Welcome to Day 24 of the  #AtoZChallenge.  Don't know what the AtoZChallenge is? Find out more here.

My theme is about Family History Societies.  What they are, How they work, Who is in them, Why they exist.

And which ones begin with X ! 

Um - none that I could find :(

 

 

Xtinction?

Are we just facing the inevitable extinction of family history societies. In this day and age of labour saving devices and smart technology we seem to have less and less time.  Are Societies an old fangled concept, implying restricted access to information that should be free and shared anyway on the wonderful interweb? And yes, I am being deliberately provocative here.  Does family history even matter for goodness sake?   Can we ever learn from the past?  I am a slow learner at the best of times.  Maybe my time would be better employed in housework or making quilts and using up that wool I seem to be very good at collecting.  How can we not seem like quaint dinosaurs that are past their use by date and of true value to our community?

 


Xpertise

I think what differentiates Societies from say commercial providers, is the ability to access special expertise.  I have learned so much from my fellow members at QFHS.  There are experts in DNA, experts in Scottish genealogy, experts in Welsh, Irish, etc.
 
What experts do you have in your Society? How are you capturing their knowledge?

 


 

Xcitement 

How do you convey the Xcitement of family history as it is practiced in your Society?  Do you document or record your activities? On a blog? On your website? On YouTube? At conferences? Social gatherings? Zoom meetings? 

Do you have fun? What do your members really enjoy? What gives them a buzz? 

Maybe we can't all jump for joy like those people in the Toyota ad but you know excitement when you see it.  If you don't, ask your members what the best thing is about being a member!  Is it getting 20% off something?  Is it the raffle at the end of the meeting?  Is it contributing to the Salvos basket every Christmas?  Is it getting a jar of jam personally delivered to your door by the President to thank you for all your hard work indexing this year?  Is it finding great aunt Myrtle's signature on the Queensland women's suffrage petition?

When do you get a buzz out of being a member of your Society?


 

 

 

Comments

GeniAus said…
I fear that many societies are on the road to extinction as many in society think that the internet has all the answers.

I plug away promoting our group on Facebook and with weekly blog posts extolling the benefits of collaboration, community knowledge and camaraderie.
April 28, 2021 at 2:57 PM
ScotSue said…
Snap from me this time in the way you, like me, are coming up with more eX words. I do wonder how many societies will pick up their activities after Lockdown and people becoming even more dependent on the Internet.
April 29, 2021 at 3:59 AM
Cassmob (Pauleen) said…
There are certainly risk with societies these days and one is the increasing age of the members. Does the society make it possible for younger members who have families and are working to be involved? How do we convince members and potential members that local knowledge and networking within a society can knock down brick walls? It’s certainly a challenge in this day and age.
April 29, 2021 at 2:31 PM
Alex Daw said…
Dear Jill, Sue and Pauleen - thank you all so much for taking the time to comment on this blog posst. My goodness. Haven't we done so well this year with the challenge. Jill, beautiful words - nothing can replace collaboration, community knowledge and camaraderie. They are invaluable.

Sue, yes, I am worried already at the change in behaviours I can see in myself and others. I don't want to turn into a recluse but I feel it slowly happening.

Pauleen - that is the $64,000 question I think. How do we do this? We need to tell those brick wall stories in a captivating way and on platforms where those people are maybe e.g. Facebook.
April 29, 2021 at 3:27 PM
Jennifer Jobes said…
As much as I love and appreciate them, I’m very concerned about family history societies. Us oldies won’t be here forever and I don’t think the younger researchers coming through will want to be involved. I really do hope that I’m wrong.
April 29, 2021 at 8:12 PM
Molly's Canopy said…
I also worry about society extinctions and view DNA as a double edged sword. On the one hand, it provides valuable genetic heritage insights especially for people whose paper trail has been disrupted -- and has become a field of focus in and of itself. But nowadays, when you mention genealogy to a novice, most will say, "Yes, I must get a DNA test done." As if that will reveal all without accompanying research. Like Jennifer, I hope I'm wrong. https://mollyscanopy.com/2021/04/x-bedroom-i-have-to-move-atozchallenge/
April 30, 2021 at 2:01 AM
Alex Daw said…
Hi Jennifer and Molly - thanks for swinging by. Jennifer, I hear you. I find it greatly concerning too.

Molly - yes. That is what we hear all the time here too. It's so much more than DNA isn't it? Another labour saving device but it is not the be all and end all to family history.
April 30, 2021 at 7:14 AM
J Lenni Dorner said…
I get excited being out in the forest. Or when I get a good book review. Make new blogger friends. Help a fellow author.

I love letter X posts! Always such variety.
It's hard to believe the blogging challenge is almost over for 2021. Down to the after survey, reflections, and the road trip sign-up.
Plus, I'm taking part in the Bout of Books read-a-thon in May. So much excitement!
J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
May 1, 2021 at 3:28 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Family Lore

-
Image
Image by hurk from Pixabay Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to write about our Family History again in 2024 using her 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.  The theme for Week 1 is "Family Lore." Many of us have heard stories from our grandparents about incredible feats our ancestors did or a famous person we're related to. What's a tale that has been passed down in your family? Did it end up being true or did it turn out to just be a good story? You can join the challenge too her e. The most famous/shocking story handed down in our family was that my father's great-grandfather was meant to have shot himself.  Lo and behold it wasn't the entire truth (he lived to tell the tale) but there was certainly a large kernel of truth in the story handed down by my grandmother.  You can read the story of Edward Conner's life here . Of course there's always more to be done isn't there?  I ordered his death certificate years ago but it was lost in transit so...
Read more

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Week 3 - Favourite Photo

-
Image
      The theme for Week 3 is "Favorite Photo." Amy Johnson Crow has devised these prompts and you can participate too by signing up here. Tell the story of a favorite photo: Who is in it, when and where it was taken, and why it was taken. (That last part is often left out!)   Barbara Conner hanging up washing in Edinburgh     This is a photo of my mother hanging up the washing when we were living in Edinburgh in the 60s. I think my father took it to record what ordinary life was like at the time and to send back to the folks at home in Australia.  I'm sure my mother was not pleased but I am so grateful because you can see so much in this photo.  They had a kettle, something like a Sunbeam electric frypan.  I think I can spot a toaster and a radio up on the top shelf.  You can see that the glass came in milk bottles in those days and that the twin tub washing machine was in the kitchen.  There are canisters for things like tea and c...
Read more

Barley Sugar

-
Image
  Photo by Alex Daw Barley Sugar It's been a while since I've blogged and boy do I miss it. Have you received an email from Ancestry lately suggesting you check out new traits?  DNA doesn't lie, so they say, but I beg to differ.   This will probably be an intensely boring post for those of you who don't really know me but I feel compelled to record my responses to the alleged traits for the amusement or interest of posterity and my family. 16 new traits have been identified for me.  There are 56 identified traits altogether. Let's tackle the new traits first: Competitiveness - likely to be competitive - influenced by my maternal side apparently.  Yes I agree but not with the side of the family.  If you'd asked me I would have said the paternal side.  My paternal grandmother was I believe intensely competitive - witness the articles I have written about her swimming prowess.  I'm struggling to recall any competitiveness displayed by my mother ...
Read more