If you are like me and have zero time to volunteer for another lineage group that doubles as a "service organization," consider one of the family lineage societies. Nothing against the service-oriented groups, I belong to a couple, but frankly at the end of the day, it's the same people, doing the same community service, but reporting it to each group they belong to. Precious little history gets taught or learned in return for the time involved. As a historian, I'm not happy about that. Family societies, with their narrower focus and emphasis on genealogy and history are different. You don't have to be in a parade, organize a garage sale, volunteer at a food bank, package medical supplies, or other activities unrelated to the core purpose of the group. While some may need to do fundraising, it is specifically for their own scholarship fund or for the upkeep of that ancestor's property and if you live thousands of miles away they won't expect you to take a turn mowing the 20-acre lawn.
For example, Soule Kindred in America publishes a newsletter three times per year, underwrites its own modest research efforts on the origins of George Soule and wife Mary Becket in Europe, participates in General Society research, and has a get-together almost every year in different locales around the country. The 2015 reunion was in Indiana, home of the Allen County Library. The 2017 reunion will be in Duxbury, MA. They also have a database and a forum where you can post your Soule questions. I know a few members personally and have found them all to be very welcoming, bright individuals interested in history and genealogy.
From time to time this year I will post a writeup about a different Mayflower family group but in the meantime, check them out on the Links page to your left.
For example, Soule Kindred in America publishes a newsletter three times per year, underwrites its own modest research efforts on the origins of George Soule and wife Mary Becket in Europe, participates in General Society research, and has a get-together almost every year in different locales around the country. The 2015 reunion was in Indiana, home of the Allen County Library. The 2017 reunion will be in Duxbury, MA. They also have a database and a forum where you can post your Soule questions. I know a few members personally and have found them all to be very welcoming, bright individuals interested in history and genealogy.
From time to time this year I will post a writeup about a different Mayflower family group but in the meantime, check them out on the Links page to your left.
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