Hampshire Genealogical Society Membership

Do I need to join any Society at all?
Even if you have no relatives in the area in you live or work the advice is, from many people deeply involved in researching Family History, to seek out and join your nearest Family History Society (FHS). It is through meeting other 'like-minded' individuals that you can gain new insights and guidance on the next steps to take. Most societies cost around £10 a year annual membership. This provides members with a society magazine, as well as funding meetings and projects such as indexing of records. It will then be useful to join the County Society where you will be doing research. They will have their own indexes and search services. You may only belong to a distant Society for a few years, but it can be well worth the small investment. Many researchers remain as members of distant societies, learning more about the area in which their ancestors lived and worked.

So, how can I join the Hampshire Genealogical Society?
Membership of the HGS is available through two methods, either online, or by post.

Please note that new memberships will run for twelve months from your effective joining date. This date may be delayed for a few weeks if the mailing list has already gone to the journal distributor, but you will receive four quarterly journals during your membership year.

Online Applications (For non-EU Researchers Only)

• Applications may be made online through the FFHS GENfair HGS Membership Application Page. This will allow non-EU Researchers to join the HGS using a credit card paying in your own local currency.

 
• Overseas members with a UK bank account might wish to take advantage of the Direct Debit scheme, see below.

Postal Applications (For All Researchers)

• New applications to join the HGS: You need to use our Postal Application Form (Downloadable PDF). You can pay by cheque but we would encourage you to pay by Direct Debit. There is no risk to you, and you can cancel it at any time. Before any amount is taken, our agents - Eazipay Limited, will advise you at least 14 days before, of the date and amount to be taken. There is also a Direct Debit guarantee in place. If you would like to pay by this method, please download and complete the Direct Debit Form (Downloadable PDF) and simply return it, together with your completed postal application form, to the Membership Secretary at 52 Northern Road, Cosham, PORTSMOUTH, PO6 3DP. The address is also printed on the form. At this stage you should leave blank the Reference Number box. Please keep a copy for your records.

 
• For renewals only: You may wish to set up a Direct Debit so that payments may be taken by the HGS each year. Before any amount is taken our agents, Eazipay Limited, will advise you at least 14 days before of the date and amount to be taken. There is also a direct debit guarantee in place. If you would like to pay by this method, please download and complete the Direct Debit Form (Downloadable PDF). Please note that for renewals, the reference number required is your membership number made up with zeros to the left. This may be the only way of identifying you if the account name is different from the member’s name. When complete, simply return it to the Membership Secretary at 52 Northern Road, Cosham, PORTSMOUTH, PO6 3DP. The address is also printed on the form. Please keep a copy for your records. If you currently pay by standing order it would help us if you switched to Direct Debit; if you do so you must advise your bank to cancel your standing order, as the Society cannot do this for you.

 
• As a tax-payer you may wish to consider Gift Aid: To allow the society to reclaim tax that you have paid you may wish to declare your membership subscriptions as gift aided. If you would like to help the society in this way, please download and complete the Gift Aid Form (Downloadable PDF). When complete, simply return it to the Membership Secretary at 52 Northern Road, Cosham, PORTSMOUTH, PO6 3DP. The address is also printed on the form. Please keep a copy for your records.