They provide potential officers and board members with written job descriptions, operating procedures, and scheduled meeting dates, so that members can realistically commit to the job to be done. Genealogists often get to know one another's ancestors better than they get to know one another. The membership of most societies represents a wide range of occupations, interests, and experiences. Society meetings can accomplish the business of the society, and still be enjoyable gatherings of genealogists. Few societies simply grow and blossom unaided.
Some fundamentals are critical to both short and long term planning for societies.
With responsibility comes accountability. Your society's future lies in all those circles. They have the flexibility to refine their approach when necessary and stay the course as needed. The key to managing the well-run society continues to be the people selected to run the board. The Federation of Genealogical Societies provides a number of materials to assist the individual society.