Questionnaire Results May 2020

​Thank you so much to all the members who took the time and effort to complete the Questionnaire 
and we so appreciate your honesty.  And, we are grateful to those handful of members who were thoughtful enough to give Bev accolades for her long service as Editor, and to the Committee and Volunteers for their great work.
Margaret Deacon

Total Number of Responses  47  (17% of membership)

Responses to Questions are in Red Text ​​
  • Q1. ​​ ​Do you receive a hard copy of the Rootes Journal?  Yes/No
  • ​35 members read their hard copy of Rootes out of 39 who receive it
  • Q2.  If yes, do you read it?  Yes/No/Sometimes                  
  • Out of 39 who receive it, 2 sometimes read it
  • Q3.  Do you read the journal online?    Yes/No/Sometimes
  • 4 read the journal online while 39 do not
  • Q4.  What sections of the journal do you read/enjoy?
  • Approx. 90% read ALL the sections of Rootes and the rest read most sections
     
​     Coming events  -  President’s Report  -  Library Report  -  Articles on family history stories
     Informative Research/sources  -  Historical stories  -  Library Acquisitions  -  DNA
  • Q5.  What other items/articles would you like included?
  • A brickwall section, ‘how to’ section, settlement of Qld and early settlers family histories, history events that impact life,​ articles on the Gold Coast (suburb names, local identities), stories of members’ research
  • Q6.  In relation to the Journal format – are you happy with the current booklet?  Or an A4 layout?
  • 21 members are happy with the current booklet and 7 would not mind an A4 layout
  • 7 are happy with either and 6 said they would be happy to read it online
  • Q7.  If the Society continues with a paper version of Rootes, would you be prepared to assist?  Yes/No
  • 17 members indicated that they could assist with the future format of Rootes​
  • Q8​.  Do you read Saplings?    Yes/No/Sometimes
  • 45 members said they read Saplings and 2 sometimes read it
  • Q9.  How often do you access the Society website?    Daily  |  Weekly  |  Monthly  |  Never
  • Weekly (2), monthly (20), occasionally (10), rarely (3), never (12)
  • Q10.  What do you see as the benefits to you in being a member of the GCFHS?
  • Most everyone reported on the benefits of being a member;
  • Too numerous to mention but overwhelmingly positive and heart-warming
  • Q11.  What are the negatives?
  • Disparaging manner of some members x 1 
  • Parking x 1, More Irish support x 1, Too far to travel x 1, Printers not always working x 1
  • Q12.  Do the Society Opening hours/days suit you? Do you have other preferences?
  • The opening hours & days suit 99.5% of responses
  • Q13.  Do you believe that the Society meets your needs? Yes/No.  If not, why not?
  • 100% (47) replied that the Society meets their needs
  • Q14.  What would you like the Society to provide that is not already available?
  • Comments on what the Society could provide:
  • ​Saplings could replace the journal but consider those who do not use email  

  • Course for new researchers
    A. The Society already provides a Beginner’s Class twice/year
 
  • Brickwall meetings
    A. The Society has Computer nights and brickwalls are often addressed, and there is a Special Brickwall Computer night,
    as noted by Saplings e-Newsletter
 
  • Rootesireland
    A. The main Irish subscription site is Irish Rootes and the company does not provide subscriptions to Family History Society
    ​and libraries.      It can only be purchased by an individual.
 
  • List of names that members are researching
    A. There is a Member’s Interest List and form under Membership on the website with information on how it works
 
  • The ability of members to be able to contact expert members via their phone
    A. This was only possible during the Coronavirus lockdown and will not be continued.
 
  • See Catalogue in Black folder above film cabinet to access FamilySearch films
  • The Society has not considered the option of being able to access datasets from home
  • The Committee is setting up an Editorial Team to assist in putting a new form of journal together​
Thank you
Gold Coast Family History Society Committee