My copy of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society Quarterly , showed up in the mailbox a couple of months ago. Here were some of my direct ancestors, relatives for whom I had very little information. You can imagine how thrilled I was. I'm not saying that everyone will make a connection such as the one I found. However, there are lots of important benefits to joining a society.
Membership is inexpensive.
These organizations have reasonable annual dues. They have a healthy respect for the past and are usually the great custodians of the past. Their collections of books, pamphlets, periodicals, clippings, journals, and diaries, are preserved for future generations. Many societies undertake projects whereby they may maintain cemeteries, compile information on cemetery stones, transcribe courthouse records for marriages, collect lost manuscripts, produce books and other educational materials, volunteer to teach library patrons how to research their families, and a myriad of other important projects. While most societies house and maintain their own collections, some partner with libraries and archives to make their materials available to the public.