Manitoba Genealogical Society

Membership and Members

Membership in the Manitoba Genealogical Society Inc. is open to all those interested in researching family history. There are five classes of membership available in the Society to suit particular needs. Annual memberships are for a period of one year from the date the application is received by the Society. Branch membership fees may be paid to MGS or directly to the branch involved. Some branch memberships operate on a calendar year and thus branch expiry dates may differ from the MGS expiry date.

Benefits of Membership

• Free use of the Library & Resource Centre in Winnipeg with borrowing privileges
• 4 editions of our journal, Generations, per year
• Members’ Interests pages on our website
• A comprehensive New Member's Packet
• Free inclusion of your research interests & queries in the Generations
• Inclusion of your family pedigree chart in our Resource Centre for others to find
• Direct information from our local database collections of local ancestors
• Local knowledge of many other members willing to assist you
• Meetings & Events - evening meetings, field trips, workshops, seminars
• Research Services - look up service & paid research services
• Online Research - online database subscriptions exclusively for members
• Registered charity - tax receipts for donations
• Support provincial not for profit organization for eligibility to apply for grants to provide more resources to researchers both provincially & worldwide.

Conditions

A condition of your membership to the Society is that you agree to your name, address, email address and membership number being held on a computer database. This is essential for administrative purposes and will be used by the Society solely for such purposes.

Categories

• Individual members - have full voting privileges and the right to hold elected and appointed office in the Society. Individual Members receive current issues of the Society's journal Generations and are permitted one free query in "Generation Gaps" annually. New Members receive a "New Member's packet".
• Associate members - are those who reside at the same address as Individual Members and have all privileges of Individual Members except the right to receive Society publications.
• Life members - have the same privileges as Individual Members.
• Institutional members - are libraries, societies and other similar organizations. Institutional Membership entitles the subscriber to receive the Society's Journal during the paid membership year. The institution may also designate one or two representatives if they choose to make use of the Resource Centre & Library.
• Corporate members - are commercial, for profit, organizations. Corporate members have the same privileges as Institutional Members. The organization may also designate one or two representatives for their company if they choose to make use of the Resource Centre & Library.

Annual Membership Fees: [fees are in Canadian funds]

• Individual - $40.00
• Associate - $20.00
• Life - $350.00 [one time payment only]
• Institutional - $40.00
• Corporate - $115.00

Branch fees are listed on the membership application form & on branch websites.

To join the MGS, print and complete this membership application form and mail to the Manitoba Genealogical Society Inc. enclosing the appropriate payment. Thank you! (Sorry, at this time, we do not accept credit card or on-line payments.)

Please do not send cash through the mail. Always use traceable forms of payment.

Some frequently asked questions:

User Fees: Do I have to be a member of the MGS to use the Resource Centre?

No - we have a daily User fee of $5.00. Non-members can use the resources in the center, but may not borrow materials.

Student Fees: Do I have to pay a fee if I am a student?

No - we waive all fees for students up to high school who are working on school assignments and projects. They should have a student card for proof. They may use materials in the Resource Centre but do not have any individual membership benefits.

MGS Journal - Generations

The Society's quarterly journal entitled Generations publishes articles on genealogical research methods and sources and provides information relating to Society business and events. Although Manitoba subjects and themes are most often featured, articles of genealogical interest concerning other provinces and countries appear as well. A special feature is ‘Generation Gaps'; a queries section where individuals request help from others researching similar names and locations.