Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for growing and sustaining the ITHS community, and for ensuring that membership is meaningful, welcoming, and well understood. Beyond simply increasing numbers, the committee helps prospective members understand what it means to belong, helps new members to find their place, and fosters a culture that reflects the Society’s values.
- Recruit and engage new members
- Identify and reach potential members who share an interest in the history of information technology
- Encourage participation from practitioners, researchers, students, collectors, and enthusiasts
- Answer questions from prospective members about joining and participation
- Define/Clarify what it means to be a member
- Articulate the value of ITHS membership
- Distinguish between:
- social media followers
- registered members
- financial supporters and patrons
- Define membership tiers including:
- a free or no-cost way to see some content
- paid individual membership levels (e.g., Member, Supporter, Patron)
- reduced-cost tiers for students, academics, or others who are cash-constrained
- Set recommended annual contribution levels for each tier, recognizing that:
- some members may comfortably contribute at higher levels
- others may participate meaningfully at modest contribution levels
- Define benefits and recognition associated with each membership level, such as:
- eligibility to attend or participate in events
- ability to ask questions at live events
- acknowledgement on the website or in publications
- opportunities to sponsor or underwrite individual events
- Determine how service to ITHS is recognized within membership status:
- committee members may receive elevated membership recognition
- committee chairs or leaders may receive additional acknowledgement
- Design and maintain the member “welcome journey”
- Create a structured on-boarding experience for new members
- Develop a sequence of welcome communications (email or other notifications) that:
- introduce key aspects of ITHS and its mission
- explain membership levels and opportunities for involvement
- highlight ways to participate (events, committees, content, archives)
- encourage early engagement rather than passive membership
- Ensure every new member is personally welcomed by a human (not just an automated system)
- Increase visibility of ITHS
- Identify unpaid opportunities to reach new audiences, such as:
- relevant Subreddits and online forums
- Discord servers and community chat groups
- local meetups, historical groups, and maker communities
- universities, academic programs, and student organizations
- Evaluate paid outreach opportunities when appropriate:
- targeted social media campaigns
- advertising aimed at members of nostalgia, technology history, or preservation communities
- Ensure membership invitations are clear, visible, and welcoming across all platforms
- Take proactive steps to ensure outreach reaches historically under-represented groups
- Identify unpaid opportunities to reach new audiences, such as:
- Support a healthy and respectful community
- Make members aware of any policies, codes of conduct, or community expectations
- Serve as a point of contact for questions related to membership norms and participation
- Coordinate with other committees when membership issues intersect with events, editorial work, or governance
As ITHS evolves, the Membership Committee will play a central role in transitioning curious visitors into active contributors, while ensuring that every member feels welcomed, informed, respected, and valued.