Federation Of Family History Societies

How to Join the Federation

 

Who Can Join?

Any society concerned directly or indirectly with Family History which has:

• been in existence for at least 12 months
• an agreed constitution
• a membership of at least 40 members
• a magazine/journal which is published regularly

Why Should You Join?

The Federation offers a number of benefits to members, including:

• FFHS is represented on governmental and national bodies: It is respected as an authentic and audible voice for the many needs and concerns of our member societies and other family historians. See our 'Archives Liaison' pages.
• FFHS provides news on Family History matters through its e-zine (electronic magazine) and its e-mail mailing list FFHS-News.
• FFHS provides Insurance cover: Membership includes a cheap comprehensive Public Liability Insurance within the annual subscription; cheap Personal Accident Insurance and Assets Insurance are also available to member societies if required.
• FFHS offers general advice and assistance: through its Officers and Committees, it can help on a wide range of subjects such as VAT, choosing suitable computer software, and publishing on fiche.
• FFHS gives specialist advice: it produces booklets on specialist topics such as Copyright and Data Protection.
• FFHS produces free guidelines for societies: examples include those for Society Secretaries, Treasurers, Editors, Project Leaders, Conference Organisers and Lists of Recommended Speakers.
• FFHS provides a model constitution for UK Societies. This complies with the known requirements of both the Charity Commissioners and the Inland Revenue, allowing Societies to obtain the benefits of charitable status should they wish to do so.
• FFHS runs one day seminars for officers and task-holders: these include Secretaries, Treasurers, Editors, Projects Co-ordinators, and Web Masters. A Getting to Know You seminar is also held annually to allow new Society committee members to learn more about the Federation, its services and officers.
• FFHS Publications titles are discounted in price: these are available to societies for resale on their Bookstalls, and each gets a review copy of every title on publication.

What sort of Membership is appropriate?

Categories of Membership are:

Full member

Full Membership is awarded to societies in the British Isles specialising in family history or an associated discipline.
A full member pays an annual subscription of 34p per each of its own members (as at year end), with a minimum of £30 and a maximum of £750 for large societies of 2,206 members or more.

Each full member is entitled to nominate or second a candidate for election to the Executive at the Annual General Meeting to fill those vacancies that occur.

Associate member

Associate Membership is awarded to overseas family history, genealogical and heraldic groups, as well as to other bodies within the British Isles for whom family history is a secondary interest

An associate member pays an annual subscription at the fixed rate of £45.

How Do You Join?

In the first instance contact our administrator at