FULL MEMBERSHIP is open to the Scottish Family History Societies and those associations with an interest in Scottish family history. Full members are expected to send representatives to Council meetings. A new society, wishing to become a full member, is offered the first years subscription free of charge, and the opportunity to receive help and advice from established societies.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP is available to other societies outwith Scotland with an interest in Scottish family history. All member societies receive copies of the Minutes of the Council meetings.

The COUNCIL of the ASSOCIATION is made up of representatives from the full member societies, who meet twice a year in Edinburgh. This enables members to exchange information and debate matters affecting family historians in Scotland. The Council defines policy and, by discussion, agree and set standards for family history societies.

The ASSOCIATION'S NEWSLETTER the Bulletin is published twice yearly and distributed worldwide. It contains reports on the latest news and activities of member societies, with an up to date list of the secretaries' addresses.

INSURANCE The Association has arranged Public Liability insurance for it's Full members, with a legal liability limit of £2,000,000 per claim; this is funded from subscriptions. An optional Personnal Accident insurance is also offered to societies wishing to cover their members and helpers against injury while taking part in Society activities, together with All Risks insurance designed to cover the loss or damage to societies assets.

LEGAL ADVICE The Association will try to help members with competent advice on such matters as Copyright, Insurance, the Data Protection Act and Charity status in Scotland.

ANNUAL CONFERENCES are organised by member societies in conjunction with the Association who is willing to help and underwrite such events. They promote family history to the public through programmes of talks, sale of publications and recruitment of new members to societies. Those attending have the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and exchange ideas.

REPRESENTATIONS & CO-OPERATION The Association is spokesperson with National & Local Government bodies and Agencies in Scotland on matters affecting the study of family history. SAFHS has a seat on the British Genealogical Record Users Committee, and regularly attends it's meetings in London to represent Scottish interests. The Association through member societies represents approximately 26,000 family historians in the UK. It seeks to co-operate with Archive Centres, Museums, and Public Record Offices in Scotland, and has regular contact with the Federation of Family History Societies, who represent England and Wales, on matters of common interest.

NATIONAL PROJECTS are co-ordinated by the Association to avoid duplication of effort by societies. The Association also co-operates with other national bodies in the UK to ensure uniformity in research projects.

EDUCATION an important aspect of promoting family history, is achieved through annual conferences, regular programmes of talks, seminars and workshops by member societies, who also promote family history courses in Stirling and the Open Universities. SAFHS has a list of speakers available to talk on family history, genealogy and heraldry.

PUBLICATIONS the Association has a range of publications on topics that cover the whole of Scotland. Members benefit through purchase of SAFHS publications at two thirds of normal cost; the Association produces these publications at a lower cost per copy, giving members publications for sale with low capital expenditure. Members exchange journals, information and advice concerning new publications and review other societies' publications in their journals.

THE ASSOCIATION acts as a clearing house for Scottish inquiries, and advises correspondents which societies are most likely to be able to assist them. Member societies have gained many new members through these introductions.