Job Description: Vice President of Programming (Board Position)

Organization: Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society (Mount Prospect, IL)
Reports to: Society President
Collaboration Team: Board of Directors, Publicity Chair, Webmaster, Newsletter Editor
Commitment: ~5–8 hours per month (Virtual)

Position Summary

The Vice President of Programming is a member of the NWSGS Board who shapes the learning experience for our members. This role focuses on listening to member interests and identifying engaging speakers who can present high-quality Zoom programs throughout the year.

If you enjoy discovering great speakers, staying aware of genealogy trends, and helping create programs people look forward to, this is a highly rewarding role.

This is a volunteer leadership position with shared responsibility and strong board support.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Speaker Selection

  • Listen to member interests through surveys, feedback, and informal conversations.
  • Identify and schedule 8–9 speakers per year for Zoom-based presentations (August–May).
  • Maintain a balanced program lineup that reflects a variety of genealogy topics, skill levels, and research interests.
  • Work with the board to review speaker fees and stay within the approved program budget.

Speaker Coordination

  • Contact selected speakers to confirm availability, presentation details, and expectations.
  • Coordinate presentation logistics such as titles, descriptions, biographies, photos, and handouts.
  • Confirm permissions related to recording and member-only access to presentations.
  • Stay in touch with speakers leading up to their presentation to ensure a smooth experience.

Meeting Support

  • Introduce speakers at meetings and help set expectations for the presentation.
  • Moderate Q&A sessions following each program.
  • Coordinate occasional pre-meeting or “Members Helping Members” sessions with support from the board.

Collaboration & Communication

  • Work closely with the Publicity Chair, Webmaster, and Newsletter Editor to share speaker information and timelines.
  • Provide program updates during monthly board meetings.
  • Review meeting feedback and use member comments to inform future programming decisions.

Skills & Qualifications

  • Listening & Curiosity: Enjoys learning what members want and translating that into engaging programs.
  • Communication: Comfortable reaching out to speakers and sharing information clearly.
  • Organization: Able to manage timelines and multiple presentations across the year.
  • Comfort with Digital Tools: Willing to work with Zoom and shared online documents.
  • Interest in Genealogy: Helpful, but not required. Enthusiasm and follow-through matter most.

Prior experience booking speakers or coordinating events is a plus, but full guidance and templates are provided.

What We Offer

  • A collaborative board that shares responsibility and supports one another.
  • Established processes, past speaker lists, and planning templates.
  • Flexibility in how and when work is done.
  • A meaningful opportunity to shape the programs of a long-standing genealogy society.

Interested or just curious? We’d be happy to have a one-on-one conversation to explore whether this role is a good fit.