It is good to see that this thread is having some response with the IOMFHS.
Thank you Susanne for taking this to Ernie Cleator, as it just proves that the Society has not been monitoring this bb.

Anyway lets hope that out of it will come some form of more electronic participation by the Society. There is certainly a need for it.

While I appreciate that the Committee or many on it are not connected to the Internet, they are representing a membership and a hobby which is becoming more and more electronic. Therefore in the interests of the future of the Society and Manx genealogy, if they wish to be our representatives, then I feel they really need to give due consideration to the genealogical future of research in the Isle of Man.

People are these days using this form of research more than ever and it is not going to be doing themselves, the Society or the future any service by not moving into this area.

I fully appreciate the fact that people on any Society committee are there voluntarily, however in being there, they are duly responsible to serve the wishes and desires of the members.

And it would seem that the desires of genealogists all over the world, not just members of the IOMFHS, is for more and more instant, quick, and electronically responsive organsations. So in seeking representation on such organisations, people are more than duty bound these days to be qualified, or make themselves qualified, to meet the needs of electronically-minded individuals who are using it. Otherwise the service of any organisation, voluntary or professional, becomes redundant.

There is no intention here to personally offend anyone on the IOMFHS committee. I am just attempting to help them become more aware of their responsibilities, and the needs which we, as members, want met.

Whether they like it or not, the future of the Society will be assured if it becomes electronic. Members need it to be so; members are, by the comments of this thread, demanding it become so.

Therefore perhaps one thing the Society can do for its members is to encourage their Committee to become more electronically aware with the view to moving forward into the Computer age as individuals and as a Society.

Thank you
Elizabeth Australia