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From: "Christy Fillerup" <>
Subject: Re: [TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM] Introduction - James Burton
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:00:41 -0700
References: <5dc318ec0712171543r13f94cacn4377cc8367fdd248@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <5dc318ec0712171543r13f94cacn4377cc8367fdd248@mail.gmail.com>


Hi James,

I've been wrestling with the same question as you - certification or clients
first? It seems that you can't get clients without certification and can't
get certification without the experience that taking on clients brings. My
personal compromise has been to take on a small number of clients that I
know personally and are interested in their family history, but not in the
process. I'm hoping to apply for certification by the end of 2008. I'd be
interested in everyone's opinion on this catch 22. I'm also wondering what
the general opinion of ICAPGEN Accreditation (http://www.icapgen.org/).

So James, what do you think of NIGS? I'm also attending there (English
Certificate) and have a love/hate relationship with the process. The
information on records is generally outstanding, but the focus on forms is
getting to me.

Cheers,


On Dec 17, 2007 4:43 PM, James Burton <> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I would like to thank Christy Fillerup as well for her post on the APG
> list,
> where i've been lurking for the past few weeks. I would not have known of
> this list otherwise. I am not a professional genealogist myself nor a
> member
> of APG (yet), but I am interested in becoming one.
>
> I have been researching my family history since I was 15 years old, which
> was about 14 years ago. I am 29 and I'm glad to see other 20 somethings
> are
> interested in genealogy. Sometimes, you can feel like the only one. I
> don't
> remember what initially sparked my interest, but I do remember reading
> Angus
> Baxter's "In Search of Your Canadian Roots" and asking my parents for
> Family
> Tree Maker software for our computer.
> Baxter, in his book, suggests writing to the local paper in the place
> where
> your immigrant ancestor left. I followed this advice and my request was
> printed in the paper in Copthorne, England (very close to Gatwick) and I
> received some mail from my grandmother's first cousins who she had never
> know. With their letters they also sent photos of my gg-grandmother
> celebrating her 100th birthday. I would say that this is when I was bitten
> with the genealogy bug for life.
>
> I recently started taking courses through the National Institute for
> Genealogical Studies (http://www.genealogicalstudies.com), which is based
> in
> Toronto, Canada. I am working towards their Canadian Records Certificate.
> My
> goal is to finish the certificate and becoming certified through BCG
> within
> the next two years. By the end of 2008, I am hoping I will be ready to
> start
> a small business for myself offering my genealogical services. I live in
> Toronto and have access to the Archives of Ontario, the Toronto Reference
> Library, North York Central Library (which houses the collection of the
> Ontario Genealogical Society), among others. In the new year I'm planning
> on
> volunteering with the Ontario Genealogical Society. Also, I'm considering
> composing an index for two local history books that I've been using in my
> research. I've been hunting through the text for any reference to my
> ancestor (Jacob Henry BOGART) and an index would be an immense help.
>
> I'm looking forward to participating in the discussions on this list and
> getting to know everyone.
>
> I have some questions for you all. Do most people who offer their services
> have certification? Is it possible to be successful without the
> certification, at least initially? Is it advisable to start taking on
> clients before becoming certified? Perhaps by offering to do research only
> in areas and/or records that you are familiar with?
>
> James
>
> -------------------------------
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--
Christy Fillerup
Millenealogy, LLC
Salt Lake City, Utah

Millenealogy (mə-le-nē-äl-ə-jē) n. 1. genealogy for the new millennium 2.
the synergistic relationship between genealogical expertise, technology,
and you.

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