Council

Governance

The Education & Development Officer, President & Chairperson representing the Society at an event in Dublin

The former Education & Development Officer, President & Chairperson representing the Society at an event in Dublin

The North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) is managed by its Council, all the Members of which are Charity Trustees for the purposes of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. The Council is composed of a number of office bearers elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society and a representative of each Branch.

Council may appoint Members of the Society to Council and may appoint Officers from the Members of Council. The AGM of the Society is held in September and is hosted by the Branches in turn.

The Branches themselves normally hold their own AGM in May and elect their own office bearers.

The main legal guideline for the Society and Branches is that they act in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and its subsequent amendments, and the charity’s Governing Document consisting of the Society Constitution and the Branch Constitution.

 Ex-Officio Members of Council

Under the Society Constitution, each Branch has a Representative Trustee who is a Member of Council by virtue of that office.

Society Officer Members of Council

The following Officer posts are filled by election at the Annual General Meeting, or subsequently by appointment of Council:

  • President
  • Chairperson
  • General Secretary
  • Membership Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Vice President
  • Vice Chairperson
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Assistant Membership Secretary
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • Education Officer
  • Librarian
  • Publicity Officer

Volunteer Roles

There are Volunteer roles undertaken by members to assist Council in providing the various services to members and the public:

  • Minutes Secretary
  • Email Enquiries Assistant
  • Membership Assistant
  • Profile Forms Assistant
  • Members’ Interests Assistant
  • Look Up Service Assistant
  • North Irish Roots Journal Editor
  • Journal Editorial Assistants
  • Ancestor Charts Assistant
  • Family Trees Assistant
  • Mourning Cards Assistant
  • Website Technical Assistant
  • Website Content Assistant
  • Show Event Assistants
  • Newsletter Assistants
  • Shop Publications Despatch Assistant
  • Data Protection Officer
  • DNA Project Administrator
  • DNA Project Assistants
  • Research Centre Bookings Assistant
  • Projects Co-ordination Assistants
  • Transcription Assistants
  • CIGO Representative
  • PRONI User Group Representative

Calendar of Meetings 2024-25

Meetings of Council Trustees are normally at 7.30pm on 2nd Wednesday of the month, except December and July.

  • Annual General Meeting – Saturday, 30 August 2025