It is time
again for the Nominations Committee (me) to try to find replacements for the
Board members who have completed their terms or are stepping down for other
reasons. For the first time in a long time, we do NOT need a new Chair as Norah Cousins-La
Rocque will remain for a second term. However, her term will
expire in 2104 and we do need a Vice-Chair who is prepared to step up to the
Chair’s job in another year. Heather Oakley has
filled in as Vice but she’s done the Chair’s job several times now and we could
use some new leadership in the Branch (I speak from experience-too much
experience).
We also
have a vacancy as Secretary. Grace Lewis has
filled in there but she is taking over as Librarian with the incumbent stepping
down for personal reasons. We also have vacancies at Stray Coordinator and
Member-at-Large.
Several
others have spent many years on the Board and would welcome replacement: Editor
of The Ottawa Genealogist, Publication Sales. If you don’t feel up to the task
right away, you could work with the current volunteer before assuming full
responsibility. Few of us knew what to do when we started and we learned our
way with on-the-job training from those who were more experienced. If you are
serious about genealogy then this is a great way to learn more about the hobby.
I don’t have any Ottawa area ancestors but I help out with the Branch to give
back for those volunteers who make it possible for me to do my research in the
rest of the world.
Is there
something specific that you would like to do? The Member-At-Large positions have
no firm duties, so we could use people who would like to assist with tasks such
as Gene-O-Rama, Outreach, Special Events, Social Media, Liaison or Publicity.
Or would you like to run a project that would help the lot of genealogists in
the area?
The
Board meets once a month from September to June and we are now using Skype for
those who cannot physically join us in the room. They generally run 60-90 minutes and
over the last few years have become very efficient with the agenda, reports and
minutes all sent electronically. The
meetings only deal with running of the branch while most discussion takes place
beforehand by email. The Chair, Vice, Secretary and Treasurer must be members of OGS and Ottawa
Branch, while there rest should be… but we can be flexible. The job
descriptions are posted on our website at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/OB-Job-Descriptions-2010web-1.pdf .
We are
one of the successful branches in The Society but this can all be for naught
without people willing to contribute a few hours of their time to help run
things. Several other branches are at risk to fold because volunteers will not
come forward. This could happen here unless you step up. Please consider
helping us; get in touch with me at pastchair@ogsottawa.on.ca so I
can stop whining in the newsletter and before every general meeting. If you
want to participate without a specific job we will welcome you to our meetings
and find a way for you to help in an area that interests you. Thanks (with a
tip of the hat to Bob Dawes of Quinte Branch for allowing me to steal some
lines from his recent plea for volunteers).
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