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Archiver > ROOTS > 1997-09 > 55127


From: Susie Martin-Rott <>
Subject: Re: Gen. Soc. Meetings
Date: Tue, 02 Sep 1997 16:25:21 -0700
References: <199709020346.UAA03255@bl-30.rootsweb.com>


One thing that keeps me away from meetings or joining our local
societies is that the guest speakers don't have "universal" appeal. I
am NOT intersted in every speaker being about the Mayflower, Colonial
America, the DAR, etc. Most of my relatives came in the mid 1800's to
the US and settled in the midwest.

Speakers need to have a more "wide" appeal. I'm about to be on the
other end of this, being scheduled next week to speak at the Greater
Brandon (FL) Genealogical Society on the USGenWeb Project and the
USGenWeb Project Archives. I'm hoping that the topic is one which
everyone can find some interest in, not just those researching a
specific time frame or geographic location.

Another problem I've HEARD about from many folks and Genealogical
Society Meetings is the "snob factor"...the long time members who "snub"
newer approaches to research, including the use of computers and
internet as research tools. I've had SEVERAL folks tell me that they
were an instant outcast because the society "founders" flat told them
"we don't use computers, don't want to have anything to DO with
computers and you aren't doing real research if you use them".

I cannot attend the meetings of the one society I do belong to because
they are 1100 miles away (Henry Co Genealogical Society in Kewanee, IL)
but I would most surely be there if I did live in the area. I do what I
can for the group by sending submittals for the Quarterly via email and
by maintaining their website for them. They are very open minded about
the use of the computers and I believe we have a good working
arrangement even though I cannot personally attend the meetings.


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