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:

• Director of Programs
• Director of Postal Operations
• Director of Special Projects
• Director of Historical Record Keeping 
• Director of Library Liaison

Scroll down the page to see details.

Director of Programs

Overview

The Director of Programs is responsible for the administration of the Society’s monthly membership meetings by choosing the program topic, arranging the presenter, creating an annual calendar of programs, and managing the event. 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:

• Produce and host ten (10) monthly programs of genealogical or historical content.
• 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.
• Provide a monthly report to the Board involving exchange and publication activities
• Write a year-end summary of activities that becomes a part of the WGS annual report to the library.
• Check file cabinet files at the Advanced Learning Library at least twice a month for material.
• Comply with more detailed instructions and guidance contained in the Society’s Operations Manual for this position and recommend any updates to the Operations Manual.
• As a member of the Board of Directors, perform other ancillary Society duties as may be requested by the President.

Qualifications
The Director should possess the following qualifications:

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 Postal Operations

Overview
The Director of Postal Operations is tasked with processing all physical incoming mail sent to the Society’s post office box, following the duties and responsibilities outlined below. 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:

• Attend and participate in the monthly Board of Directors’ meeting. Participation consists of sharing in the discussion and decisions of items coming before the Board regarding the operation of the Society.
• Pick up the mail from the post office once a week. During annual conference registration (approximately one month before the annual conference), mail should be picked up twice a week.
• Record contents in the mail log. If possible, those entries that contain money are recorded in RED.
• • When queries are received: Record the amount of money received
  • Record if a self-addressed and stamped envelope or first-class stamp is included.
  • Record the queries also in the mail log.
  • Stamp all received checks with the bank endorsement stamp that reads “For Deposit Only – Wichita Genealogical Society” and put in Treasurer’s folder.
• Distribute mail to appropriate folders in the WGS file cabinet.
• If any mail has been misfiled, place it in the “mail” folder for re-filing in the WGS file cabinet.
• Report to the Board of Directors any exceptions or trouble with the mail process.
• Review this Position Description annually, making any adjustments for procedures which may have changed because of new standing rules, updates, or convenience.
• Turn over all records to the successor at any time one is appointed.
• Comply with more detailed instructions and guidance contained in the Society’s Operations Manual for this position, and recommend any updates to the Operations Manual.
• As a member of the Board of Directors, perform other ancillary Society duties as may be requested by the President.

Qualifications
The Director must be detail-oriented during the process of collecting, recording, and distributing the mail.

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.

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:

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:

1. Project goals and benefit to the WGS and WPL, including how genealogists will use the finished project.
2. 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.

Inquiries:

• Retrieve mail in the “Inquiries” folder in the WGS file cabinet in the library.
• Conduct research, supply the information to the requestor via email or USPS mail, including source documentation of items researched (including items researched but no information located).
• Keep a detailed log on research requests (e.g., name, address, request verbiage, how satisfied, date received, and date responded).

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.
• Provide a report to the Board at monthly meetings of activity/progress on any special projects and number/status of any inquiries.
• Maintain a copy of the Special Projects job description.
• Review the Job Description annually and update as needed.
• Turn over all records to the successor if one is appointed.
• Maintain a detailed activity report to be submitted to the president at the end of each year.
• Comply with more detailed instructions and guidance contained in the Society’s Operations Manual for this position and recommend any updates to the Operations Manual.
• As a member of the Board of Directors, perform other ancillary Society duties as may be requested by the President.

Qualifications
The Director should possess the following qualifications:

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 Historical Record Keeping

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:

Qualifications
The Director must have a passion for history and for genealogy and:

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

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

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.