I am a brand new 2018 member of the Utah Genealogical Association. However, I don’t live in Utah, nor do I have any roots there. So, why did I decide to join?
I actually joined for several reasons.
- I believe in supporting genealogical societies, but choose carefully because retired funds are limited. In the “olden days” before the internet, if the society wasn’t near where I could live, I joined mostly for its publication and contact with person who lived in a community where I needed to research. Today, I am attracted to societies that have an online presence and offer perks to members who aren’t local. The Utah Genealogical Association offers that.
- SLIG (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy) has been beckoning to me for the last few years, although I’ve never attended. I think I might jump in and experience it firsthand in 2019. UGA members are offered a discounted price if they attend SLIG.
- UGA has a Virtual Chapter, which I think I will love. I can still participate even though I live 775 miles away.
- After I joined, I looked at member benefits and was amazed at the discounts offered for software and genealogical products. I was really happy to see that there are some restaurants and hotels around Temple Square that offer discounts to UGA members, too!
I am really looking forward to participating in my first Virtual Chapter meeting.
Genealogical societies are one of the most important connections for a genealogist to have. If you aren’t currently a member of any organization, look online and consider joining a local, state, regional or national genealogical society and reap the many benefits.