The first Saturday of every month is usually the date of our general meetings. For exact times, please check our website.
Meetings will take place virtually via Zoom during the 2023 - 2024 season. Dates and topics are available on our website.
A lively learning and sharing session on all things genealogy will take place at 9:00 a.m. with the "Members Helping Members" session. At 9:50 a.m., our meeting announcements will begin, and the speaker will begin at 10 a.m. (All times are in the Central Time Zone).
Come meet with us! Guests are always welcome.
NWSGS was founded in 1977 and is located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. Our members are primarily interested in family history and genealogy. The membership of our organization now includes individuals from all over the country, as well as some from overseas. The major purposes of our organization are:
- Encourage the study of genealogy and history.
- Plan and conduct programs and workshops.
- Contribute to the preservation and increase of genealogical and historical collections by working with local libraries and other institutions.
- Provide assistance to members in studying their family histories.
Our monthly meetings feature quality speakers. We offer members informative, monthly newsletters, the opportunity to meet people with similar interests, and the opportunity to meet new cousins!
Here is a link to our 2023 - 2023 Meeting Schedule.
Our History
A High School District 214 continuing education class in genealogical research taught by Carol Rademacher (1928-2012) left some of the participants eager to continue learning. Under the leadership of Harold Weary (1908-2014), they held an organizational meeting of a council of genealogists at the Mount Prospect Community Center on Oct. 28, 1976. Bylaws, approved in February 1977, adopted the official name of Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists (NWSCG) to distinguish it from similar groups in Chicago and Wilmette.
Membership grew quickly — to 22 in February 1977, 55 in April 1977, and 65 in June 1977. NWSCG became an incorporated organization with an IRS number that summer.
The group met regularly to hear informative speakers. Over the years, members offered numerous genealogical workshops for libraries and other organizations; created exhibits; indexed local births, deaths, and marriages; conducted cemetery readings; hosted book fairs; sold Entertainment discount books, and even sponsored the winning candidates for Princess of the 1978 and 1979 Mount Prospect Plaza Charity Fairs.
The organization maintained a close relationship with the Mount Prospect Public Library. In 1977, the library established a special collection of genealogical materials, and NWSCG and its members have made numerous donations to the collection. In January 1978, NWSCG members began serving as volunteer helpers in the genealogy room a few hours per week. In November 1988, the genealogy collection was named for Harold Weary, who had volunteered many hours of service to the library. The collection and volunteer programs continue today.
From 1976 to 1988, the Mount Prospect Public Library provided a meeting space for the organization. Meetings were held at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights 1988-1997 and at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights from 1997-2011. Starting in August 2011, meetings were held at the Arlington Heights Senior Center. With the pandemic, all meetings have moved to be virtual via Zoom.
In 2013, officers held a series of meetings to revitalize the organization. Among other changes, the group changed its name to the Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society (NWSGS) and raised dues to provide more money for appealing speakers. These changes brought about an increase in membership, which has grown to almost 200 members.
Ken Seifert Martha Allen Jim Linday Sherryl Dunning Susan Champagne
President 1st VP - Programs 2nd VP - Membership Treasurer Secretary
Jo Ann Flynn Debby Volpe Nancy Reese Howard Cameron Lynda Roddy Ozzauto
Auditor Newsletter Librarian Webmaster Past President
Click on the picture to send an email.
Below is a link to our 2023 – 2024 Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society’s Member Benefits Brochure. Please click and download a copy.
BYLAWS OF THE NORTHWEST SUBURBAN GENEALOGY SOCIETY
Article I: Name and Non-Profit Status
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society, hereinafter called the Society (or NWSGS).
Section 2: The Society shall be a non-profit, tax-exempt organization as provided under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
The objectives of the Society shall be to promote the study of genealogy; to assist members with educational programs and workshops in genealogy and family history; to encourage and assist members with genealogical research; to encourage the preservation and safeguarding of municipal, township, county, state and federal public records; to promote publication of related materials for public use; and to assist libraries in the procurement and preservation of books and other records of genealogical significance.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1. Any person interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2: Application for membership shall be submitted with dues to the membership chair or paid online.
Section 3: There shall be the following classifications of memberships: individual, family and honorary. All current life memberships shall be honored. Honorary memberships shall be given at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Annual dues for memberships shall be determined and approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 4: A family membership shall be two persons residing at the same address.
Section 5: Membership dues are payable annually as of August 1. Members not renewing by August 31 shall be dropped from membership. New members joining after March 1 shall receive complimentary membership for the remainder of the fiscal year and be considered full members for the following fiscal year.
Section 6: Each member is entitled to one vote in the business of the Society when present at general meetings.
ARTICLE IV: Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be president, a first vice president, a second vice president, a secretary and a treasurer.
Section 2. The Society shall be governed by an Executive Committee consisting of the officers, the chairs of permanent committees and the immediate past president. The permanent committees shall be: newsletter, publicity, library, ways and means, archivist and website.
Section 3. Officers shall be installed at the May general meeting and shall hold office for two years. An interim vacancy of any office shall be filled by appointment by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. A nominating committee of three members shall be announced at the March general meeting and shall present a slate of officers at the April general meeting.
Section 5. The election of officers shall be held at the May general meeting. The officers shall be elected from the slate submitted by the nominating committee and nominations from the floor.
ARTICLE V: Duties
Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The first vice president shall serve as program chair and shall preside at any meeting in the absence of the president.
Section 3. The second vice president shall serve as membership chair and shall preside when both the president and first vice president are absent.
Section 4. The secretary shall keep minutes of all Executive Committee meetings and all General Society meetings where a vote is required. The secretary shall handle all correspondence.
Section 5. The treasurer shall ensure all funds are deposited in an account or accounts in the name of the Society, at a bank approved of by the Executive Committee. The treasurer shall issue checks and make withdrawals against such accounts for the payment of expenses of the Society, or at the direction of the Executive Committee. The president shall also be authorized to sign checks. The treasurer shall prepare a proposed annual budget for the following fiscal year and submit it to the Executive Committee at the May board meeting. The Executive Committee will vote on the budget before the first general meeting of the fiscal year.
ARTICLE VI: Meetings
Section 1. General Society meetings shall be held once a month, except June, July, August and December on dates and places that the Executive Committee is able to reserve. Other meetings may be held at the direction of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month following the General Society meeting unless otherwise designated. Only those members defined in Article IV, Section 2 shall have voting privileges.
Section 3. If not otherwise provided for in the bylaws, Roberts Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section 4. Ten percent of the members of the Society shall constitute a quorum at a general meeting. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at a board meeting.
Section 5. In case of an emergency, a special meeting of the Executive Committee may be conducted by telephone, email or video meeting. Any motion passed by a telephone, email or video meeting shall be confirmed and recorded at the next Executive Committee meeting.
ARTICLE VII: Committees
Section 1. The permanent committees (see Article IV, Section 2) shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint any additional committees as needed to carry out the functions of the Society.
Section 3. Special Interest Groups shall be created as needed to fulfill the interests of the membership.
ARTICLE VIII: Amendments
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at a General Society meeting.
Section 2. A proposed amendment shall be submitted to the membership in writing at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which a vote will be taken.
Section 3. Copies of the current bylaws and all amendments shall be kept by the president, first vice president and secretary.
Section 4. Each member shall have access to a copy of the current bylaws.
ARTICLE IX: Finance
Section 1. The fiscal year shall begin on August 1.
Section 2. An Audit Committee shall be appointed by the president to audit books of the Society annually or (and) at the change of treasurer.
Section 3. No part of the net earnings of the Society shall benefit or be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Society shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II.
Section 4. No member, director or officer of the Society shall be personally liable for any indebtedness or liability of this Society and any and all creditors of the Society shall rely only on the assets of the Society for payment.
Section 5. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed, shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.
ARTICLE X: Enabling Act
These bylaws will go into effect upon adoption.
Revised April 2014
Revised October 2021