About
BIGWILL is ...
an organization of individuals, mostly residing in Wisconsin or Illinois, who are interested in British Isles ancestry and genealogical research in the British Isles.
Our Mission ...
We are dedicated to helping all members trace their ancestry in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
We Provide ...
There are a lot of benefits of a BIGWILL membership. They include:
- Access to knowledgeable and dynamic presentations dealing with different aspects of research in the British Isles.
- Support and networking for beginner and advanced researchers.
- Our own bimonthly newsletter to keep you up-to-date on events and resources which can help your research.
- The BIGWILL Register, a growing database where you can publicize surnames for time periods you are searching in the British Isles. This helps other researchers know who and where you are researching. Non-members can also contribute to the BIGWILL Register (for a nominal fee).
Annual Dues ...
- With emailed electronic newsletters: $25.00 for individual regular membership; $5.00 each for additional family members
- With printed/mailed paper newsletters: $34.00 for individual regular membership; $5.00 each for additional family members
- Charter members (persons who have been BIGWILL members continuously since 1993): $15.00
- Additional family members are entitled to vote in all membership matters, to submit surname lists and BIGWILL Register entries, and to receive member discounts as applicable, but do not receive any additional mailings or publications.
Membership is on a calendar year basis. Checks and money orders for dues should be made payable to BIGWILL and sent to:
BIGWILL
ATTN: Membership Chair
PO Box 192
Richmond, IL 60071-0192.
Our Governing Documents:
Bylaws
Policy and Procedure Manual (Temporarily removed while it is being updated).
Actions of the Board of Directors ...
- Minutes of the 8 September 2001 meeting
- Minutes of the 20 April 2002 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 August 2002 meeting
- Minutes of the 15 February 2003 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 May 2003 meeting
- Minutes of the 16 August 2003 meeting
- Minutes of the 21 February 2004 meeting
- Minutes of the 21 August 2004 meeting
- Minutes of the 16 October 2004 meeting
- Minutes of the 19 February 2005 meeting
- Minutes of the 20 August 2005 meeting
- Minutes of the 24 June 2006 meeting
- Minutes of the 18 November 2006 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 February 2007 meeting
- Minutes of the 21 April 2007 meeting
- Minutes of the 19 January 2008 meeting
- Minutes of the 15 March 2008 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 May 2008 meeting
- Minutes of the 19 July 2008 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 January 2009 meeting
- Minutes of the 21 March 2009 meeting
- Minutes of the 22 August 2009 meeting
- Minutes of the 15 January 2011 meeting
- Minutes of the 19 March 2011 meeting
- Minutes of the 16 July 2011 meeting
- Minutes of the 20 August 2011 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 17 September 2011 meeting
- Minutes of the 17 March 2012 meeting
- Minutes of the 3 August 2013 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 17 May 2014 meeting
- Minutes of the 9 August 2014 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 21 March 2015 meeting
- Minutes of the 15 August 2015 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 23 July 2016 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 21 January 2017 meeting
- Minutes of the 18 March 2017 meeting
- Minutes of the 29 July 2017 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 17 March 2018 meeting
- Minutes of the 11 August 2018 Board Retreat
- Minutes of the 17 November 2018 meeting
Notes from membership meetings ...
- Notes from 20 January 2007 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 May 2007 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 July 2007 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 November 2007 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 January 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 15 March 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 May 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 July 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 20 September 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 15 November 2008 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 January 2009 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 March 2009 membership meeting
- Notes from 16 May 2009 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 September 2009 membership meeting
- Notes from 16 January 2010 membership meeting
- Notes from 20 November 2010 membership meeting
- Notes from 15 January 2011 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 March 2011 membership meeting
- Notes from 16 July 2011 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 September 2011 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 November 2011 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 March 2012 membership meeting
- Notes from 18 May 2013 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 May 2014 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 July 2014 membership meeting
- Notes from 14 November 2014 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 January 2015 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 March 2015 membership meeting
- Notes from 16 May 2015 membership meeting
- Notes from 14 November 2015 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 May 2016 membership meeting
- Notes from 16 July 2016 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 November 2016 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 January 2017 membership meeting
- Notes from 18 March 2017 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 March 2018 membership meeting
- Notes from 19 May 2018 membership meeting
- Notes from 21 July 2018 membership meeting
- Notes from 15 September 2018 membership meeting
- Notes from 17 November 2018 membership meeting
BIGWILL is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization; therefore contributions to the society may be deductible for income tax purposes.