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Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat Ratings
Our society's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats were identified in a previous survey. Now we would like to determine the strength/relevance/importance of each item.
1.
Please rate the following
Strengths
(INTERNAL characteristics that are unique, special, highly valued, and positive relative to our Society).
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Flexible/Creative/Resourceful/Good Problem solving skills: We are not afraid to jump in and try new things, ie zoom right after the pandemic, hybrid meetings
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Longevity: Established more than 60 years ago
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Use of Technology to aid in the retention of members at a distance
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Mutually beneficial Relationship with/support of the Dalla Public Library
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Good base of genealogical speakers: Known as the place to get a speaker
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Experience, passion and knowledge and Team Work of current leadership
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Marketing Commitment
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Have technological expertise that most societies don't have
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Neon & its capabilities
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Cohesive branding: We provide a professional appearance through our website, branding, artwork
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Zoom Hybrid Meeting Capabilities
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Good Listeners: Open to ideas
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Newsletter
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Special Interest Groups
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Partnerships with charitable organizations for funding
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Offering 3 seminars each year with presenters of national renown
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Hybrid meeting format used for General Meetings, Seminars and SIG meetings.
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Creative members with good technical know-how.
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Knowledgeable: Large (400+) and stable base of Family history-passionate members Expertise in Dallas and North Texas
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Welcoming: Enjoyable/good vibes/kind
Weak
Neutral
Strong
In-person AND online educational presentations/meetings
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Website development/support team and the current Website design - easy to find things and to navigate
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Continuing to have meetings available on Zoom
Weak
Neutral
Strong
Dependable
Weak
Neutral
Strong
2.
Overall Comment(s) on our Strengths?
3.
Please rate the following
Weaknesses
(INTERNAL to our organization/network. They are things we need to improve on (and we can control)).
Minor
Neutral
Major
Presentation/utilization of recordings we have created
Minor
Neutral
Major
Scheduling board meetings immediately after the General Meeting
Minor
Neutral
Major
Lack of delegation by some board members
Minor
Neutral
Major
Dependance on Ken Johnston for artwork
Minor
Neutral
Major
Creating/maintaining marketing materials
Minor
Neutral
Major
Automatic negative reaction to new ideas
Minor
Neutral
Major
Leadership development and recruitment with genealogical influencers in non-white population
Minor
Neutral
Major
Lack of relationships
Minor
Neutral
Major
Vague/unclear areas of responsibilities for some Board, Director an Administrator positions
Minor
Neutral
Major
Low utilization of "long distance tech" used with SIG's.
Minor
Neutral
Major
Special Interest Groups
Minor
Neutral
Major
Making members aware of record preservation activities
Minor
Neutral
Major
Inconsistent use of DGS brand identity graphics/colors/ etc.
Minor
Neutral
Major
Outdated model of interaction with DPL now that COVID restrictions are receding
Minor
Neutral
Major
Creating board reports and posting them in the correct place
Minor
Neutral
Major
Recognition of accomplishments & achievements by members, volunteers and the society.
Minor
Neutral
Major
Board members who are very opinionated and set in their ways
Minor
Neutral
Major
Member networking
Minor
Neutral
Major
Lack of new approaches to communications or operations
Minor
Neutral
Major
Not having a well-defined financial strategy that would allow the society to be more self funded over time
Minor
Neutral
Major
Creation of/use of Videos in our marketing efforts
Minor
Neutral
Major
Failure to provide General Meeting slides
Minor
Neutral
Major
Not remembering what we decided from meeting to meeting
Minor
Neutral
Major
Lack of a good way to document volunteers, their interests, and their participation.
Minor
Neutral
Major
High event prices relative to other organizations
Minor
Neutral
Major
Poor succession planning and lack of a focused program to develop a pool of future leaders.
Minor
Neutral
Major
Lack of volunteers with required skills
Minor
Neutral
Major
Soliciting & utilizing member input
Minor
Neutral
Major
Majority white membership and all-white leadership in a multicultural city
Minor
Neutral
Major
Communication between society leaders.
Minor
Neutral
Major
Reaching out to engage younger or more progressive members
Minor
Neutral
Major
Communication with new board members
Minor
Neutral
Major
4.
Overall Comment(s) on our Weaknesses?
5.
Please rate the following
Opportunities
(EXTERNAL situations/things that may provide "opportunites" for growth and improved service. We cannot control them and they may be time sensitive).
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Step into the void being left by state and national organizations who are not holding in-person conferences.
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Coordinate with other Genealogical societies to create joint record sets
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Increasing multicultural population - need to be their genealogical partners
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Seek out media publicity to enhance all aspects of organization
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Usage contracts with libraries elsewhere for sharing resources
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Offering rides to members who can’t/won’t drive downtown
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Helping/taking a leadership role for those societies in the area that are having membership problems.
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Incorporate more membership (and their ideas) in society activities
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Provide engaging presentations that attract under-65 attendees
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Unique workshop formats
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Improve outreach to non-white genealogical leaders (HOGAR, Hispanic, People of Color) and identify opportunities to team with them for projects.
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Better/Expanded use of social media to connect with younger demographics
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
More online opportunities
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Establish/improve relationships with other historical/genealogical local entities (such as DallasArchives, Preservation Dallas, cemeteries, LDS Churches, etc.) and find ways to collaborate on programs and services.
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
More promotion of DGS Youtube channel & topics
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Regularly scheduled classes
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Mentoring programs
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Assuming members and records from local societies that are/have ceased operations.
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
What do we provide that other societies/people want? Are we known for specific collections? Advertise them
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Create more unique record sets to draw people to website
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Presentations to outside organizations for a projects like the cemetery project
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Interviews with elders of communities of interest: Latino, People of Color, Asian
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Explore new fundraising opportunities to make up for the lack of revenue from seminars, ie research trips, ect
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Make DGS an increasingly online resource for family history
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Do "Finding Your Roots" studies of Dallas celebrity, for publicity
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
Create/manage more transcription, Indexing or imaging projects
Low Priority
Neutral
HIgh Priority
6.
Overall Comment(s) on our Opportunities?
7.
Please rate the following
Threats
(Situations/things that may challenge our existence or our ability to impact change. We cannot control them: We hope to avoid them or plan to lessen their impact).
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Declining interest in volunteering
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Anxiety about in-person meetups due to viral exposure: Another flare up of the pandemic
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Post-pandemic preference for virtual meetings and learning and its effect on membership "loyalty"
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Aging demographic in membership
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Tornado
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Negative perception of downtown Dallas that makes people hesitant to visit the library for events.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Reduced number of people who visit the genealogy section due to reduced library hours.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Membership skewing older and aging out
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Need for increased social media presence Tik-Tok, Instagram, YouTube
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Lack of revenue from seminars: more competition for online seminars at lower prices
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
People's engagement becoming increasingly online.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
People not showing up physically for events held at the library.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Migration of genealogists/family history researchers to online resources and away from local societies.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Online genealogy training and resources that don't require society membership
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Generational differences in joining and participating in organizations
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Decrease in society memberships: fewer people joining societies
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
People who do not like virtual programming and interaction
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Changing priorities for a younger group of researchers
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Fire
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
“All the records are online” mentality
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
Reduced/limited access to Dallas Library facilities due to restricted hours of operations.
Low Threat
Neutral
High Threat
8.
Overall Comment(s) on our Threats?
9.
Thank you for participating in this survey. Please provide any additional comments you would like to share.