RootsWeb: TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-L Re: [TGF] A transitional-genealogist's viewpointonProfessional Genealogy

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From: "Terri Sprague" <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] A transitional-genealogist's viewpointonProfessional Genealogy
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 13:55:36 -0800
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Melissa, I totally agree with what you wrote. I've been doing genealogical searches for 26 years. I do not have a degree, certificate or anything other than what I have taught myself and learned from other genealogists. I am, however, a professional. I can see where there might be college wide standards for what is needed for a degree in Genealogy. From the amount of colleges that are now providing classes, degrees and certificates, there seems to be set of core classes that are being required. I find that I am looking forward to see what comes of it. I find that the standards for becoming a Certified Genealogist, through the BCG, are great. They are definitely not 'easy,' and I am looking forward to seeing how I come through it. Everything that the BCG looks for, and requires, are essential to being a professional and treating our clients appropriately. In looking to set standards for classes, I would start with the BCG standards and work backward. In order to do the reports, what do we need to learn? We can't rule out life experience, either. There are a lot of us who can qualify on that alone, and I feel we should be able to. Terri Http://www.tlsprague.com Shawn's Mom 1980-2006 Http://northwest-wanderer.spaces.live.com -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Melissa Barker Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 12:49 PM To: Subject: Re: [TGF] A transitional-genealogist's viewpoint onProfessional Genealogy Dear List, Hello, I read Mary's post with much interest and would like to comment to the entire list. I am a professional genealogist and have been for the past 3 years. I have no credentials other than my 20 years of experience in the particular geographic area that I offer my services. I have considered obtaining official credentials however I do not feel at the present time that the long process of obtaining the desired credentials would significantly add to my business. I am one of the "self-appointed" professional genealogist that Mary refers to in her post. I applaud and encourage anyone who wants to pursue higher education or credentials in our field, but that does not mean that people like myself are not as "professional" or "experienced" as those that have obtained credentials. My husband is also a business professional with no official credentials other than his many, many years of experience. His profession is Insurance Adjustor and he has owned and operated his own business since 1989, quite successfully I might add. In Tennessee there are no laws stating that he has to be licensed in anyway or have any credentials to perform his job and business. He is very well known in the field for his professionalism, outstanding work and ethics. The point I am trying to make is that yes maybe there are some "self-appointed" professional genealogist that do not measure up to the "professional" status. But that doesn't mean that we are all that way. There are many of us out here that conduct our business in the most professional way and we have ethics that we follow and we produce excellent work for our clients. If we are not ready, not able or have no desire to pursue higher education or credentials, then we should not be considered "unprofessional". I have been reading the APG list concerning this issue and have not commented on that list because I am not a member of APG. I respect and believe APG is a good organization trying to to what is best for their members and I think it will all work out in the end when all the dust settles. However, I am concerned about the tone of the conversation towards non-credentialed professional genealogist like myself. Just because I don't have letters after my name doesn't mean I don't do excellent work or work that is comparable to a credentialed researcher. I consider myself to be an excellent genealogy researcher, if I didn't I wouldn't be in this business. I am not perfect and I am always reading literature and listening to my fellow researchers to learn and advance my knowledge of the field of genealogy. There is always room to sharpen my skills and learn more about the field I have chosen and love. I would say to all of us, it is my understanding that this list's purpose is to help people that are transitioning from a genealogy hobbyist to the profession of genealogy and starting your own business. We should encourage those that are seeking to start a business to be the best they can be. That they are welcome into our profession with open arms no matter if they are credentialed or not. I have heard many speak about the fact that our older professional genealogist are not as strong in numbers as they once used to be and that there is some fear that the younger generations are not interested in pursuing this career. I know of several young self-appointed professional genealogist that I try to mentor and they are very good and will be an asset to our profession. They are also discouraged by the conversation on professionalism on the APG list and where they will fit in. They are feeling pressured to have to obtain credentials in order to remain in the profession. Will they get discouraged enough to quit? Will they feel like they are not accepted fully because they are self-appointed? Who knows. Lastly, I believe the conversation concerning professionalism is actually a healthy one and I believe it will make all of us evaluate our commitment to our profession and possibly give us reason to bring ourselves to a higher level in our own businesses. Sincerely, Melissa Barker Genealogist for Tennessee and Kentucky ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary E. Petty - Heirlines, Inc" <> To: <> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 1:25 PM Subject: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist's viewpoint onProfessional Genealogy > Dear Dee Dee and Carolyn, > > As practitioners in the industry of Professional Genealogy move towards > professional designation and leave self-appointment behind as > unprofessional, I am glad to hear that APG is interested in the views of a > transitional-genealogist. Here are some of my thoughts and solutions for > APG, today's practitioners, the Industry and the future of Professional > Genealogy. > > I am a transitional-genealogist. I am very interested in this discussion > on Professional Genealogy Research Services having worked with a > professionally designated genealogist, James W. Petty, AG, CG, B.A. > (History) B.S. (Genealogy) for nearly 40 years. > > Dee Dee King quoted me: > "Since becoming a member of APG, there are frequent discussions, as Mary > Petty mentioned: > > ... the professional route to designation as a professional > genealogist/practitioner, the standards and the best practices (etc) of > the professional genealogy research services industry. In our evolving > industry, a discussion on these elements and a key player - the > transitional-genealogist - is essential. .... And so we can not escape > from a discussion about these elements because they will shape the > practice and behavior of professional genealogy research services." As > there are frequent discussions about defining the various specialties and > even the term professional genealogist. Carolyn was somewhat goaded into > taking on that little project. :-)" > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Every profession has the challenge and the responsibility to identify its > practioners and standardize the route to professionalism in their field. > To provide a sound and viable marketplace, each industry must educate the > public as to who is qualified and a valid and recognized practitioner in > the industry. Because professions desire to have a hand in their own > destiny outside of governmental control, because future qualified > practitioners are desired to continue the industry, because professional > designation is in the best interests of and does serve the good will of > the industry, the practitioner, the general public, the consumer, the > hobbyist, future practitioners, and governments - the professional > credentialing process has been developed and instituted as the route to > professional designation as an industry-specific practioner. The > hallmarks of this process are Qualifier, Credibility, and Accountability. > > Let's look at 4 professions- > > Professional Genealogy is the industry name - the highest level of > practitioner is professionally designated a Professional Genealogist. > Entry level practitioner may be earned or self- designated and is > unlicensed - except for business license, and is non-industry regulated. > > > Professional Education is the industry name - the highest level of > practitioner is professionally designated a Ph.D. or Ed.D. Entry level > practitioner is earned and licensed and industry regulated. > > Medicine is the industry name - the highest level of Practitioner is > professionally designated a M.D. Entry level practitioner is earned and > licensed and industry regulated. > > Accounting is the industry name - the highest level of practitioner is > professionally designated a CPA. Entry level practitioner is earned and > licensed and industry regulated. > > Each one of these industries of professional education, medicine, > accounting and professional genealogy has an industry-specific route for > entry where professional status is earned and provides levels for growth > and development. Industry-specific means earning the practitioner > professional title, protected status, and qualified stature in the field > of medicine, professional education, accounting and professional > genealogy. As an emerging profession, only Professional Genealogy allows > earned professional designation and self appointment to practice > professional genealogy research services ; and as of yet, is the only > profession here listed as having no industry-specific self-regulation or > governmental licensure. > > > The route to professional designation is earned and industry-specific. It > is the same for all four listed professions - ( ee description below - all > except #7) > > First- formal career college academic education/degree; > Second - formal career training/internship; > Third - formal career membership (either governmental regulated and > recognized like Medicine or industry regulated and recognized like > astronomy) where the career practitioner joins a qualified members-only > body that can honor, censure and/or boot him out depending upon his > performance as a practitioner. The practitioner takes an oath to live by > industry methodology and standards of production, ethics and business > requirements including continuing education; > Fourth - formal career experience/on the job experience following > education and training; > Fifth - formal career credentials and certifications; > Sixth - business license > Seventh - Government Licensure - an additional level of Governmental > regulation and licensure for Medicine, Accounting, and Professional > Education - it has not happened to Professional Genealogy yet. > > Each of the above mentioned industries started at something less than what > we in professional genealogy recognize today as professionally designated > and professional. Grandfathering in qualified practitioners was paramount > to starting off with a clean slate and a clear vision for the future. I > see this happening here in Professional Genealogy as it has occurred in > the past for Professional Education, Medicine and Accounting. > > I hope as you gather information from this transitional-genealogist forum > and the APG-L, you will also be contacting the professionally designated > practitioners who adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in > the Professional Genealogy Industry. Otherwise, it will be the tail > wagging the dog. And in the end when government comes a calling, the > professional designated alone will have the evidence and the proof for > their professional status and ya'll might not like how Government does the > grandfathering. > > One interesting side note - two of America's most prominent professionally > designated genealogists (both have industry-specific degrees, credentials, > membership and so on) do not qualify to professionally teach genealogy at > an accredited university because they only have a bachelor's degree in the > field - all that was available when they began their careers in the > 1960's. That is a Professional Education qualifying rule. So who will > professionally teach the next generation - not today's professionally > designated genealogist! Just something to think about. > > > > > Sincerely yours, > > Mary E. Petty, B.A. > ============================================================== > Ancestors are the People of History. Do you know who yours > are?<br><br>Let the Professionals at HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy > find your ancestry! > 1-800-570-4049 ▪ www.heirlines.com ▪ PO Box 893 ▪ Salt Lake City, UT > 84110 > > -----Original Message----- > From: > [mailto:] On Behalf Of > Dee Dee King > Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 8:40 AM > To: > Subject: Re: [TGF] transitional genealogists > > Thanks to all the folks who responded positively, espcially all the > private email! > > Since becoming a member of APG, there are frequent discussions, as Mary > mentioned: > > ... the professional route to designation as a professional > genealogist/practitioner, the standards and the best practices (etc) of > the professional genealogy research services industry. In our evolving > industry, a discussion on these elements and a key player - the > transitional-genealogist - is essential. .... And so we can not escape > from a discussion about these elements because they will shape the > practice and behavior of professional genealogy research services. > > As there are frequent discussions about defining the various specialties > and even the term professional genealogist. Carolyn was somewhat goaded > into taking on that little project. :-) > > I'll create a little questionnaire, totally anonymous and private for > those who volunteer to be guinea pigs. Let's answer some of the questions > that come up in these discussions and quantify the responses to replace > our usual empirical responses. Much of the discussion about > "professionalizing the profession" centers on you guys and "future > professionals". So ya'll are the perfect guinea pigs for a questionnaire > about how folks are coming to this profession now. What ya'll need and > expect. Give me a bit of time to get this all worked out. I'd like to > write up the results to submit an article, perhaps for the APGQ. > Thanks, Ya'll! > > Dee > > > > -- > Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist > www.ForensicGenealogyServices.com > 133 N Friendswood Dr Suite 325 > Friendswood TX 77546 > telephone/fax 281-431-3525 > Member Association of Professional Genealogists, > Event Coordinator of the Lone Star Chapter. > > CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the > Board for Certification of Genealogists used under > license after periodic evaluations by the Board.