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WGS Volunteer Opportunities – Want to get involved?

The Wichita Genealogical Society is 100% staffed by volunteers who have a passion for genealogy and are interested in helping the society operate as a premier asset to the city and genealogists.

Current Openings – Standing Committee Directors

The Board of Directors includes Standing Committee Chairs that serve a minimum one year at a time, though many have been in place for over five years. These positions are voting members of the Board of Directors and provide active opportunity in important decision making. They require attendance to the board meetings, which are held the second Monday of the month at 6:00 P.M. at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 West Second. Current openings are:


Scroll down page to see details.

Program Director

Overview

The Program Director manages many aspects of the monthly genealogy meeting/presentation. 

Tasks/Duties/Processes

  • Chair a committee that researches and selects presentations/classes for the following year, and arrange for selected speaker to commit to a scheduled presentation.
  • Supply the webmaster and PR director with program details for promotions.
  • Check with the presenter one month before meeting to verify equipment needs and their attendance.
  • Check Library Conference Rooms at least one hour before presentation for correct setup and verify projection system works. Coordinates with Library staff for requested items such as microphones, etc.
  • Greets monthly presenter and assists them in setup.
  • Attend the monthly Board of Directors meetings, 2nd Monday of the month, 6:00 PM and report items that have been archived the previous month.
  • Training and assistance is provided.
  • Publishes a yearly calendar of events and provides the data to the library for promotion.

Qualifications
The Director should possess the following qualifications:

  • Project management skills.
  • At least an intermediate level of genealogical knowledge.
  • Comfortable in speaking in front of audiences.


If interested or wish more information,
please contact Fred Knoblauch, President at 316-218-2783 or email to President@wichitagensoc.org. For a printable PDF of this position, please click HERE.

Director of Special Projects

Overview
The Director of Special Projects is responsible for managing two processes.

  1. Manages projects approved by the Board that result in genealogical-related information or data, in the library or on the WGS website, that will assist genealogists in their research of Wichita or Sedgwick County.
  2. Conducts member-only research requests sent to WGS using available resources and generally limited to one hour of research. This is performed for a donation of five dollars ($5.00) to the WGS by the requestor.

Tasks/Duties/Processes

Special Projects:

  • Coordinate with the library genealogist on projects the WPL may request.
  • Create databases for the website that will assist genealogists with their research of Wichita or Sedgwick County.
  • Analyze requested projects for their feasibility, amount of time/labor required, and whether it is appropriate for WGS volunteers to conduct.
  • Submit project description with estimated resource requirements to the Board for approval or change. Project descriptions should include:
  • Project goals and benefit to the WGS and WPL, including how genealogists will use the finished project.
  • Define other resource requirements to host or present the finished project. (e.g., can or should it be posted on the website?)
  • Develop a plan to conduct the project, including volunteers needed and the tasks they need to perform.
  • Assist in conducting the project and solicit volunteers to assist with the project.
  • Oversee and assist the volunteers to ensure a quality finished project.
  •  Review requests from genealogists to conduct and provide them with simple genealogy research on records we have. Complete request if possible.
General:
  • Attend and participate in the monthly Board meetings, including sharing in the discussions and decisions of items coming before the Board regarding the operation of the Society.
  • Attend and participate in monthly Board meetings which meet the second Monday of the month at 6:00 P.M. in the Advanced Learning Library, 2nd Floor, Hyde Conference Room.

    Qualifications

    • Project management experience a plus, along with an intermediate level of genealogy knowledge and experience.

    If interested or wish more information, please contact Fred Knoblauch, President at 316-218-2783 or email to President@wichitagensoc.org. For a printable PDF of this position, please click HERE.

    Technology Director

    Overview

    WGS licenses a complete web and integrated membership management system from WildApricot (www.wildapricot.com) a leading membership management software provider. Web updating is accomplished through a template and menu system. Complete training will be provided.


    Tasks/Duties/Processes
    • Manage & update WGS web pages as required.
    • Support Membership system for use by Registrar.
    • Manage Administrative access by Board Members.
    • Support external Membership database (Vertical Response)
    • Manage Zoom subscription and assist in meeting setups.

    Qualifications

    • Proficient with web concepts, links, and editing a template-based web site.
    • Possess an understanding of database concepts for building searches and reports is helpful.
    • General familiarity with computer systems and ability to troubleshoot challenges.
    • Willingness to solve problems encountered by users.

    Join Us

    If interested or wish more information, please contact Fred Knoblauch, President at 316-218-2783 or email to President@wichitagensoc.org. For a printable PDF of this position, please click HERE.

    Historian

    Overview
    The Director of Historical Recordkeeping, also known as the Historian, is tasked with assembling and maintaining an ongoing history of the Society. This would consist of both paper format and digital format content. The regular and consistent timing in the performance of the duties described below is critical to the success of our Society.

    Tasks/Duties/Processes

    The Director is responsible with the timely and diligent execution of the following duties:

    • Collect or create digital images of monthly society activities including photographs, documents, brochures, flyers, press releases, announcements, etc.
    • Request digital files from board members of items they created.
    • Maintain an index of items collected.
    • Attend and participate in the monthly WGS Board of Directors meetings. Share in the discussion and decisions of items coming before the Board regarding the operation of the Society.
    • Report to the board items that have been archived for historical purposes.
    • Write a year-end summary of activities that becomes a part of the WGS annual report to the library.

      Qualifications:

      • Possess a desktop computer system (preferably PC) to collect and organize historical artifacts.
      • Have internet connection and experience or willingness to learn an online service. Dropbox (or similar) experience a plus.
      • Have basic graphics skills to capture and save images to viewable files.
      • Be familiar with PDF files and can create them from basic applications.

      If interested or wish more information, please contact Fred Knoblauch, President at 316-218-2783 or email to President@wichitagensoc.org. For a printable PDF of this position, please click HERE.

      Library Liaison

      Overview
      The Director of Library Liaison is tasked with representing our Society at the monthly Wichita Public Library board meetings. The regular and consistent timing in the performance of the duties described below is critical to the success of our Society.

      Tasks/Duties/Processes

      The Library Liaison is Wichita Genealogical Society’s representative to the Board of Directors of the Wichita Public Library and keeps them apprised of activities and projects beneficial to the Library.

      • Submit a monthly report to the WPL summarizing the current WGS in advance of the WPL monthly board meetings for their meeting packets.
      • Submit year-end report to the Board summarizing the WGSs accomplishments and contributions to the WPL. 
      • Attend the monthly WGS Board of Directors meetings and report anything regarding WPL which might affect WGS's operations or projects.
      • Write a year-end summary of activities that becomes a part of the WGS annual report to the library.

      Qualifications

      The Director must be comfortable presenting both a written and an oral report to the library and business leaders, and:

      • Present an appropriate appearance to the Wichita Library Board of Directors
      • Understand the importance of serving with city leaders and participate in discussions when invited.

      If interested or wish more information, please contact Fred Knoblauch, President at 316-218-2783 or email to President@wichitagensoc.org. For a printable PDF of this position, please click HERE.

      Note:  The above positions are available to all interested and qualified people, even if you not a current member. However, if you wish to become a volunteer in one of the open positions, you must be willing to become a member and join the WGS upon selection for the position.

      Project Volunteers

      Project Volunteers help the society and the Wichita Public Library with projects that last weeks or some are on-going. These projects and positions are very rewarding themselves. We have some dedicated individuals who have been volunteering for upwards of ten years.


      • We are currently compiling a list of project volunteer opportunities for 2023. This will page will be updated soon.

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