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Archiver > APG > 2007-01 > 1169154726


From: "Elissa Scalise Powell, CG" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Whippersnapper - educational priorities
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:12:06 -0500
In-Reply-To: <20070118194253.86965.qmail@web83002.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


To Kay and all the others who have recently joined the list, welcome! As I
told the business tract class at the Salt Lake Institute for Genealogy last
week in the Educational Opportunities lecture I gave: This list is a *must!*


The second best thing you can do is join APG (membership available through
the website www.APGen.org). The Quarterly publication is chock full of
pertinent articles to those who want to create, maintain and grow and a
genealogical business and profession. The APG is our voice in the
genealogical community and its initiatives strive to better our personal
professional goals through educational opportunities (Professional
Management Conference held each year at FGS) and consumer education (why
hire a professional?).

Next to consider is genealogical education. For those who do best learning
in a classroom or structured environment there are many opportunities to
take classes on-line and through the programs already mentioned. The
National Genealogical Society (another organization that should be at the
top of your list for dues payments) has a CD based Home Study Course. You
can choose the self-grading option or have someone grade and give you
feedback. The latter would help to personalize the experience and is the
only option on the last lessons which includes writing a footnoted
genealogical narrative.

Education also can be found through the many lectures presented at
conferences. Of course NGS (held this year May 16-19 in Richmond, VA) and
FGS (held this year Aug. 15-18 in Ft. Wayne, IN -- home of the 2nd largest
genealogical library in the U.S. I am told) are the largest with over 100
lectures over the 4 days. The exhibit halls are free to enter and another
type of education takes place there. At FGS Boston this past year,
downloaded recordings of the lectures were made available for $1.99. Between
that and purchasing the syllabus, you would at least have the essence of the
lectures.

But don't discount smaller venues. I received my "college of genealogical
knowledge" through annual attendance at the Ohio Genealogical Society
conferences each April. Half the price and half the time of the nationals, I
was able to squeeze out for an overnight much more easily since we live only
30 miles from the Ohio border. The lecturers are top-notch with many
national names on their program. See www.OGS.org for more info on this
April's conference in Columbus, OH. Another conference of this type is the
New England Regional Conference also held this April in Hartford, CT. (see
www.NERGC.org).

I should mention at this point that I began my genealogical career when I
decided to stay home to be with my daughter and then 2 years later with my
son when we were living 12 hours from our hometowns and relatives. My first
trip to Salt Lake City was a 5 year wedding anniversary gift from my husband
who made all the arrangements including child care for our 3 year old
daughter and 13 month old son. Family support is one of the very important
issues that will also make or break a career.

After that trip to SLC (and a couple of others), researching locally at
courthouses, attending genealogical society programs in my area, and the
annual trek to Ohio, I sent my Certification portfolio in with about 9 years
of actual experience in the records under my belt. It took me 3 weeks to
assemble the notebook over Easter with the young elementary age children
home and religious obligations taking up some of that time. But I was ready.
My drawer-full of client reports allowed me to choose some samples for which
I wrote for permission to use. Most of the 3 weeks was waiting for their
replies (remember snail mail? <g>) The rest, as they say, is history.

My point is that formal classes are fine, but EXPERIENCE in the records is
the best teacher. Become the expert in the type of records you work with. Be
the person others write to for information in that record group or
geographic area. (Being listed in the APG directory helps here.) Write your
reports BCG Standards Manual style, properly cited. Practice good form and
it will become a habit so that when you reach for a client report in your
drawer to include in your certification portfolio (or accreditation
pedigree) you will know it is a true sample of your good work.

The initial leap may be scary but there is much support on this list and
among the other professionals. I believe the resistance that has been
recounted in previous posters' messages is probably from locals who have
risen to the top of the local area and are afraid of the local
whippersnappers displacing them or that they would lose their power. They
remember you when the younger ones first started and have them pegged at
that novice level for 25 years.

Kay, become very familiar with your 2 good genealogy libraries and the
regional federal records center. Take classes about their collections, if
offered. Do pro bono work or answer queries that come in to the local
society just to experience taking a cold case, researching and writing your
findings. It can take time to reach your goal, but if it is something you
love, you will enjoy every minute of it!

Best wishes,
Elissa in Pittsburgh

Elissa Scalise Powell, CG
www.PowellGenealogy.com
CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the Board for
Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations
by the Board. http://www.BCGcertification.org/


> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:] On Behalf
> Of Kay Armstrong
>
> I joined this mailing list a few weeks ago to learn more about genealogy
> as a profession. [snipped] I'm considering teaching
> or professional genealogy as my second career.
>
> I've avidly followed the discussion regarding education since my plan
> includes updating/increasing my knowledge to gain certification. My
> question is this: With hard work, could I make enough to support myself?
> I live modestly except for the above-mentioned obsession. I reside in a
> metropolitan area with 2 good genealogy libraries and a regional federal
> records center. From my previous career, I am comfortable using new
> technologies as well as formulating business plans and budget planning. I
> believe these skills would assist me in my new career.




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