The National Genealogical Society Establishes Delegate Council Steering Committee

The following announcement was written by the (U.S.) National Genealogical Society:

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 20 JANUARY 2021—The National Genealogical Society (NGS) announced the formation of the Delegate Council Steering Committee, an advisory group to help create the representative body for societies and organizations in the “new NGS.”

“”The Delegate Council will be a forum where genealogical organizations can collaborate, communicate, and counsel among member organizations and the new NGS,” said Dawn Carey Henry, chair of the steering committee. “This is something all organizations need, especially now during these unprecedented times.”

The steering committee will help establish the council’s procedures to provide regular engagement with and among member organizations and an avenue for feedback to the NGS Board. The steering committee is planning a kickoff workshop for delegates to be held 17 May 2021.

The steering committee represents genealogical societies, libraries, and other organizations located throughout the United States. They are:

    • Chair: Dawn Carey Henry, Michigan
    • Vice-Chair: W. Samuel Williams, Virginia
    • Taneya Y. Koonce, MSLS, Tennessee
    • Elissa Scalise Powell, CG®, CGLSM, Pennsylvania
    • Susan K. Howard, New Mexico
    • Laurie Hermance-Moore, MLS, AG®, Ohio
    • Lois Abromitis Mackin, PhD, Minnesota
    • Ari Wilkins, Texas
    • Cheri Hudson Passey, NGS vice president, Society & Organization Management (liaison to the board of directors.)

“The steering committee’s goal,” said Dawn Carey Henry, “is to build the framework for the Delegate Council to ensure effective governance and operations. It established the name for the body, keeping the word ‘delegate’ in the title to honor the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ history of member representatives serving as delegates.“

In the coming months, the committee will further define the roles and responsibilities of a delegate. It will also identify ways for member organizations to collaborate and communicate with each other and NGS.