Y is for You and the Guild Posted 29 April 2017 by Peggy ChapmanNo matter where you are in the world, you can make 2017 the year where you become an active member in the Guild. What does an active membership mean? It doesn’t necessarily mean that you become a Committee volunteer, or attend every seminar, or write articles in the Journal. We all have different levels of time and energy available and going from passive to active status can be as small a step as reviewing the wiki to see what you are missing. You may not be following the Facebook page and decide to start. Take advantage of the knowledge base that is available to you as you progress in your study. Perhaps you would like to take on a DNA project but feel intimidated by the entire process. There are DNA experts, DNA information sources, and services to help you. Have you given some thought to how to preserve your study? An entire team of skilled and helpful volunteers can support you to set up a website through the Guild project. At the very least, take some time to review the website and I guarantee you will find information or a membership benefit of which you were not aware. It is true that if you live in Vancouver, Brisbane, or Chicago, there may not be a seminar in your region. The geography of some countries means there is not a cluster of members in a given area. As the membership grows internationally, and as technology allows the means to engage regardless of location, opportunities to participate in webinars, watch online presentations given at seminars, and ask questions on Facebook or in a forum, enhance the membership experience. Your regional representative may not live in the neighbourhood but can be a liaison on your behalf. They are easily accessed through email or perhaps there is a closed Facebook group for your area. Get the most from your membership – explore the topics that have been introduced in these posts and add to your one-name tools!