IAJGS Membership Development

IAJGS Membership Development Committee

The IAJGS created the IAJGS Membership Development Committee in 2011 with 10 committee members representing the international Jewish genealogical community. The members were selected based on their skills and experience and on the size and geography of their member society. Each of the members has been assigned responsibility for a region. The committee members' JGS affiliations are listed only for identification purposes.

Jan Meisels Allen, IAJGS Vice President, President JGSCV (US West)
Daniel Dratwa, President, Cercle de Généalogie Juive de Belgique, [JGS Belgium] (International)
Barbara Hershey, President of JGS Oregon (US Pacific Northwest)
Marlis Humphrey, JGS Orlando (US Southeast)
Mark Nicholls, Chairman of JGS Great Britain, IAJGS Board Member (International)
Carol Shkolnik, Chairperson, Columbus (Ohio) Jewish Historical Society (US Midwest)
Janette Silverman, President, Phoenix JGS (AZ Jewish Historical Society) (US Southwest)
Chuck Weinstein, Immediate Past President of JGS Long Island (US Northeast/Mid-Atlantic)

Michael Goldstein, ex officio, President of IAJGS (Israel)

Mission Statement

The purpose of the IAJGS Membership Development Committee is to identify potential new members from existing organizations, help encourage the formation of new JGSs in areas where there is a Jewish population and no existing JGS, enhance membership of existing member societies, and help struggling member societies to survive and grow.

The Membership Development Committee is an on-going IAJGS committee comprised of IAJGS members reflective of different organizations based on geographic locations, size, and structure.

Membership Development Resources

Starting a JGS - The First Steps: For a PDF file with a detailed list of suggestions and steps how to form a Jewish Genealogical Society in the US click here. If you would like to form a JGS outside of the US use this file.

Why Form a JGS: For a PDF file with a detailed list of reasons why and how to form a Jewish Genealogical Society in the US click here. If you would like to form a JGS outside of the US use this file.

Why Someone Should Join a JGS: A flyer template is available that genealogy societies may use to encourage people to join their society. It is a Word document (DOCX rather than PDF) so that each society can add their own logo, name, and contact information and make any other desired changes. You may wish to add highlights of your society's activities, photos, exclusive membership provisions, dues information -- whatever your society deems best in promoting membership in the society. Click here to download the file. Do not use the OPEN option; rather use the SAVE option to place the file on your disk.

Why a Society Should Join IAJGS: For a PDF file with a detailed list of reasons why a society should belong to the IAJGS, click here.

Why a Person Should Join a JGS: For a PDF file with a detailed list of reasons why someone should belong to a Jewish Genealogical Society, click here.