NEW-ZEALAND-L Archives

Archiver > NEW-ZEALAND > 2005-06 > 1119332302


From: "W.Dickey" <>
Subject: NZSG
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 17:38:22 +1200


Should one join or not join the NZSG that is the question.

I joined the NZSG and would make the following observations from my experience.

When I joined the NZSG I was sent some information about the resources and the services that they provide.

When I first went to their Research Centre at Panmure I was largely left to fend for myself although there were Volunteers there to presumably help people that required help.

It would be good if new members could have the opportunity to be able to contact a capable member of the NZSG for an Induction course on using the library facilities and other resources offered by the NZSG.
In other words embrace the new member and offer the support that they will no doubt need to get the best out of what is available.
I am sure that this will pay dividends with the new member happy to renew their membership.

There is no doubt that the society has members that put in a lot of work on various projects which are available to the public at various centres like Public Libraries and LDS Family History Centres.
Some of the branches of the NZSG like St Johns sell CD's such as WW1 NZ Service Personnel and reservists, 1893 Electoral roll for NZ.
So their hard work is rewarded to some extent.

Likewise at Branch level and Special Interest Groups embracing new members and making them welcome.
Contacting them with reminder email advising them when the next meetings is to be held would do a lot to retaining members.

The NZSG don't have the funds to be able to have with the resources of Auckland Library's Research Centre so they need something else to be able to attract members to keep them.
Yes they have a certificate collection service where you may be able to obtain a certificate relevant to your research rather than having to pay for it from Register Generals Office.
The NZSG Research Centre should at least have one set of the information collated by NZSG members.
They also had a policy to exclude members not being able to ask for help on genealogy matters on their web site.
Take this into account with their rising membership fees and perhaps it is no wonder that people don't retain their membership.
They do however have some very good individual members that contribute very much to this list.

Wayne Dickey

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