Unleash the power of your history

Putting together your organization's history. It's like cleaning your desk. You know should¼ you'd probably feel better once you did it. But it's just not a priority. Have you ever considered that unpublished history is like unmined gold? Here are six reasons to unleash the power of your history.

As an introduction

Are you playing matchmaker between your group or company and another? If you were setting up a friend for a blind date, you'd make the introduction by using your friend's history. You'd probably start with some personal information, like hometown, family, education. Then move one to what he has been doing recently, pointing out anything your friend had in common with his date. It gives the two strangers a basis on which to start a conversation¼ that hopefully moves on to a relationship. The same theory holds true when you are introducing your company or organization to another.

For a fund raiser

History is interesting¼ and popular! And not only to the members of your group, but to other groups with the same or similar interest. Say, for instance, you work with a state animal rescue group, and its your 50th anniversary. Your history is part of the national rescue and shelter movement. All the folks who adopted dogs from you ¾ and their children who have such fond memories of that ¾ will want to read it. Do you deal with a particular breed? There is another door that opens up to you, not to mention dog lovers in general.

Leave it as a legacy

By definition, a legacy is something of such value that it is preserved and handed down from one generation to another. It's the best form of inheritance! We all know how important it is to keep our family's stories alive for our children and grandchildren. Your business or association is another sort of family. Leave the same legacy for the generations that will come in those, as well.

To explore and discover

As you collect the artifacts of your history, you will learn so much from the pictures, documents, letters, and notes. As you delve into your history, you can examine the mistakes and the successes as you prepare for the future.

For promotion and marketing

The best proof of your excellence is the accomplishments of your past. Photos, awards, clippings, testimonials¼ say it all for you. “This is what we have done” is your best advertising copy. When you want others — journalists, community and business leaders — to understand what your group is about, you start by telling them your history.

Recruiting

Businesses want and need to attract bright, new employees to insure future success. On that same thought, an association needs new members to help carry out its traditions and goals. Show off your group's history to prospective members.

Our history¼ who cares?

As a matter of fact, many people will be interested in your story. History is popular, and it will be of special interest to a number of groups, including:

· Investors · Vendors

· Stockholders

· Governing Boards

· Local, regional and national media

· Alumni · Members

· Retired members or employees

And that's only the beginning. There are all kinds of special interest groups that you may not even think about who are connected to your organization.

Take Pete Hylton's book Ghost Tracks. Not only has his book caught the interest of SCCA members, but it has crossed over into the associations for vintage race cars. From there, the magazines for sports car enthusiasts ¾ vintage and modern ¾ have reviewed it favorably, opening a whole new section of people the book can reach. Car manufacturers, racing groups, car owners, car collectors ¾ the network of associations and people they reach is nearly endless.

Let us find those extra markets for YOUR book.

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Where to look for your history

Collecting your history can be fun. Think of it as a treasure hunt.

Some of the best places to mine that treasure are:

· Yearbooks

· Scrapbooks

· Newsletters

· Press releases

· Newspaper clippings from local, regional, industrial

· Personnel and recruiting brochures

· Flyers

· Corporate documents

· Memories of those who lived it

· Retirement and alumni associations

· County historical society

· Minutes