Joining a family history group

[Billyblue]

Gosh, I've just realised, very often the first thing we ask a newcomer to rootschat is  "tell us what you already know", and yes i appreciate thisdoes not include personal information, but the principle is the same.

Mike

Well, yes, but that's so people don't spend time looking for info the OP already knows.
A bit different to asking for everything they know before they can join a group    

Lizzie maybe you could 'sound out' some of the U3A members who are already part of the FH group, to see what it's all about?  Or just ask the person who sent you the form.
Are they the only FH group in your area?   Another group may be more welcoming

Dawn M

[coombs]

If I joined a FH society that wanted my mothers maiden name I'd say "Bloggs" or "Soap". 

[Jebber]

Just remember that many organisations use your mother's maiden name as part of their "security".

Martin

It doesn't need to be your mother's maiden name, they ask that for simplicity, that is why I always use a totally different unrelated name. Sometimes they ask the name of your first pet instead, then I use the name of a Friend's pet.  If at any time you are asked to verify who you are, you just have to remember the names you used when registering.

[heywood]

My local U3A allows members to attend one meeting of a group they are interested in, to see whether it suits them before committing to joining.

Perhaps your U3A also allows this.

Ours does too so you should check if you are able to do this. I don’t go to the FH group in my U3A but I know there are now 3 genealogy groups because of the popularity of the subject.

[Guy Etchells]

Just remember that many organisations use your mother's maiden name as part of their "security".

Martin

Yes but only the naive actually do that, I use a mixture of letters numbers and if possible symbols.

As I have mentioned many times before and most probably will many times in the future the use of any name, pet's name chocolate bar etc., is not only poor security it is worse than having no security.
It gives the naive a false sense of security and leaves them vulnerable.
This was well know by banks etc. way back in the 1980s and leaves them open to compensation claims from people defrauded by such use.

Cheers
Guy

[heywood]

Use of mother’s maiden name is not used for security in the sense of a password which you perhaps mean Guy but as part of a security check by some organisations. This may now have stopped for the reasons you give.

However, I am sure that a reputable organisation like The U3A would not be using information for anything untoward but it seems an odd way to enrol a member.

[heywood]

I was just thinking, is the form for your own use?
Perhaps new members who haven’t got a tree, would fill that in so they could see the gaps and decide where to begin the research.
I run one U3A group and attend another but did not have to fill anything in other than the general joining form.

[BumbleB]

My apologies for this 

Surely the OP - LizzieL - should go back to the Group on U3A and ask them the question as to why they are asking for so much information.  Whatever anyone else believes is irrelevant to the particular situation. 

[heywood]

You don’t need to apologise. It’s your opinion. 

You are of course correct but Lizzie asked and most of the replies advise what you suggest.