New Book -- Becoming an Excellent Genealogist: Essays on Professional Research Skills

I received the following announcement from Tristan Tolman of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) and am interested in this new book. I have ordered a copy and will write a review after I read it, but thought others may be interested in the announcement:

September 24, 2012

ICAPGen is very pleased to announce the publication of a brand new genealogy book, hot off the press: Becoming an Excellent Genealogist: Essays on Professional Research Skills, edited by Kory L. Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA; Tristan L. Tolman, AG; and Linda K. Gulbrandsen, AG. 

Genealogical research has become one of the most popular pastimes in the United States. As the popularity of genealogical research continues to grow, so does the need for guidance that takes the researcher beyond basic, introductory instruction. This book provides higher levels of instruction to help you become a more excellent genealogist. It illustrates how to use sources and information better, develop more advanced research and analytical skills, and learn new methodologies.

The book is softcover and 234 pages. Price is $19.95. Order yours today at http://www.icapgen.org/icapgen/node/2582

Last Genealogist Standing: Are you Unstumpable?

"Last Genealogist Standing: Are you Unstumpable?" This unique genealogy game show with Craig R. Scott, CG sounds like great fun and will take place at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) on Monday, January 14, 2013. Can't wait until January? Ask your genealogy question now on the "Stump Craig" blog at http://stumpcraig.blogspot.com/

The full lineup of evening courses with at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy is listed below. There are some great topics and from well-known genealogy instructors. Whether or not you are attending the Institute you can register for any of these presentations individually. The Monday night program is free and the other classes are just $10 each. For detailed descriptions click here and for registration click here.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Planning Efficient and Effective Research: A Case Study with Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL

Genealogy Game Show: Last Genealogist Standing: Are you Unstumpable? with Craig R. Scott, CG

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Civil Law Concepts for Genealogists with Claire Mire Bettag, CG, CGL

What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search? with Michael Hait, CG

Small Group Mentoring: Successful Online Search Techniques with Kimberly Powell

Putting it Together: A Case Study with D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Whiskey, Brandy, and Family Migration with Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

21st Century Marketing Tools and Techniques with Thomas MacEntee

Documentation: The What, Why, Where, and How with Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL

Oh, the Things You Can Map! Mapping to Organize Data with Stefani Evans, CG

U.S. Passenger Arrival Records, 1820-1930s: Sources and Strategies for Challenging Cases with John Philip Colletta, Ph.D., FUGA

Thursday, January 17, 2013

3-D Genealogy: Merging and Separating Identities in Family History Research with Jay Fonkert, CG

Patently Unique: Locating Patent Records, Online and Off with Debra Mieszala

Don't Fish in a Swimming Pool: Creating an Efficient Research Plan with Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL

Printed Legends and Missing Footnotes: Dissecting 19th and 20th Century Compiled Genealogies with D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Genealogy Cruise through the Panama Canal

I have never taken a genealogy cruise, but it sounds like lots of fun! They combine genealogy classes with the benefits of a cruise for a unique vacation. Here is the announcement from Legacy Family Tree about their 2013 cruise:

The 10th annual Legacy Genealogy Cruise, to be held September 22 through October 7, 2013, starts in San Diego, California and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will feature speakers Megan Smolenyak, Karen Clifford, Geoff Rasmussen, Randy Seaver and others. It will visit the following ports:

• San Diego, California
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
• Panama Canal (cruising)
• Colon, Panama
• Cartagena, Columbia
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Experience the Panal Canal the way you've always dreamed

Stand face-to-face with the grandeur of the Panama Canal aboard Celebrity Cruises - the only cruise that gives you a full vacation while crossing the Continental Divide. When the Celebrity Millennium enters the canal, it will rise 85 feet in one of the legendary Gatun Locks. As you cross the Continental Divide - a journey that took mariners of long ago many years to complete - a new world of wonder and amazement awaits you on the other side. Join us for what will undoubtedly be an enlightening and rewarding journey.

Genealogy Classes at Sea

While at sea attend classes taught by some of genealogy's finest educators, Legacy Family Tree webinar speakers, and Legacy developers:

• Megan Smolenyak
• Karen Clifford
• Geoff Rasmussen
• Randy Seaver
• Steve Salisbury
• Dave Berdan
• Ken McGinnis
• Luc Comeau

In addition to the classes, you will benefit from the small-group sessions and lots of time to learn from each other.

The Ship

Luxurious accommodations and intuitive service consistently place Celebrity Millennium at the top of the rankings among large cruise ships. A favorite of many vacationers, Celebrity Millennium was "Solsticized" in May of 2012 and emerged with many award-winning Solstice® Class features. She's been renewed with spa-inspired AquaClass® staterooms, the AquaClass signature restaurant, Blu, and the addition of verandas to her chic Celebrity Suites. We can't think of a better way to experience the exotic beauty of the Panama Canal than aboard Celebrity Millennium. Out of the ordinary? Definitely.

Reservations or questions

Prices begin at $1,443 per person, based on double occupancy. The price includes:

• Genealogy classes
• Shipboard accommodations
• Ocean transportation
• Meals
• Some beverages
• Most onboard entertainment
• Port charges

Airfare, gratuities, government fees/taxes, and optional tours are extra.

Click here to securely book your cruise online.

To reserve a cabin, or ask questions, contact our travel coordinator, Christy, at             1-888-505-6997       or send an email to info@trekalot.com.

More Information

For class descriptions, frequently asked questions, descriptions of the places we'll visit, or pictures of our past cruises, visit http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/CruiseInfo_2013.asp

Mark Your Calendar -- IGHR Registration Date Announced

Clear your calendar for January 22nd and bookmark the website. I just received an email from Eric Allen at the Samford University Library announcing registration for the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR):

Registration for 2013 will open Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Central). A link will be provided on the IGHR Registration page (http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR_registration.html) to the online registration at that time. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Eric Allen at epallen@samford.edu

Note from Angela:
Here is the link to the courses for 2013. Many of the courses will fill to capacity in just a matter of minutes. For 2012 there was a rolling registration with two courses opening up each hour so that the online system was not overwhelmed. I will post the schedule as soon as I receive it from IGHR. 

I will also be featuring reviews of some of the IGHR courses over the next few months from some of my friends who have attended. Here are two of the reviews from previous years.

Advanced Library Research Course at IGHR
IGHR - Course 4 - Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis

SLIG Advanced Practicum -- A Second Chance to Get In

Have you ever wished you could get into a genealogy institute course that has been sold out for months? Now is your chance! The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) is considering adding a second section of the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum course. If you would like to participate in the course held January 14 - 18, 2013, in Salt Lake City then go to the SLIG website, scroll down to Course 10 and click "Waiting List Signup Form." If there are enough interested to fill a second section then you will be invited to register for the course.

The Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum is a different type of course where the focus is hands-on experience solving genealogical problems. The students are given a new case to work through each day and then gather to discuss the solution with classmates and top-notch instructors (see names below). The cases are all brand new for 2013 and cover a variety of geographic locations and time periods in addition to providing experience with different methodologies. Students will work to analyze and correlate evidence as well as conduct additional research to solve the cases. This course is designed for advanced genealogists who enjoy testing their skills and expanding their education with hands-on experience analyzing evidence and working on complex cases.

To see what some of the 2012 course participants had to say about the course see: http://genealogyeducation.blogspot.com/search/label/Practicum

The faculty for this course include:

Co-coordinators: 

• Angela Packer McGhie
• Kimberly Powell

Instructors:

• Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS
• Stefani Evans, CG
• William Litchman, Ph.D., CG
• Mark Lowe, CG
• Jay Fonkert, CG

Cross the Pond to the British Isles via Online Course

I think I am going to take this course! I received the following announcement from the National Genealogical Society and I am very interested in the topic. I have heard great things about the instructor, Sherry Irvine, and Pharos courses in general. Would you like to join me for the course? I will post a review when I finish.

My British Isles Origins: Where and How Do I Cross the Pond?

Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd of the UK, in partnership with NGS, is once again presenting My British Isles Origins: Where and How Do I Cross the Pond? This four-week online learning course begins on 18 October 2012 and is designed to show genealogists with British ancestry how to “leap the pond” and discover their roots in the British Isles.

My British Isles Origins: Where and How Do I Cross the Pond? offers students a mixture of history, population study, sources, and research strategies. Its primary objectives are to present practical guidance for launching research into the British origins of immigrant ancestors and to offer help on building contextual knowledge of migration patterns and history, at national and local levels. The presenter is Sherry Irvine, BA (History), MSc, CG, of Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada.

For more information on the course, visit the course web page on the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/pharos_public.

NGS members who register through the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/pharos_public will receive a 15% discount which brings the cost of the course to $55.25.  

Genealogy Labor Day Sales - 30% off and 60% off

It's a holiday and the perfect time to save money on genealogy books and webniars. I am posting announcements I received for two Labor Day sales and invite you to share information on any others you know about.

 

Labor Day Savings from Genealogical.com

Today you can save money any products from the Genealgoical Publishing Company (until 11:59 p.m. EDT, Monday, September 3, 2012). It is time to get those books you have been wishing for.  You can order any product available at www.genealogical.com at a discount of 30% off the current selling price of the books(s) or CD(s) of your choice.

To take advantage of this holiday discount, simply add the special code LD12 (caps, no spaces) in the Discount Code box on the "Shipping and Handling" page of the check-out process.

I recommend the following if they are not already in your library:

The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy
Val D. Greenwood. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2000.

Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace
Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2007.

Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians
Edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001. 

And also the new "Quicksheets" by Elizabeth Shown Mills:

QuickSheet: The Historical Biographer's Guide to Cluster Research (the FAN Principle)
The Historical Biographer's Guide to Finding People in Databases & Indexes

QuickSheet: The Historical Biographers Guide to the Research Process

 

Casefile Clues -60% Webinar Sale--Labor Day Special

Michael John Neill is offering a huge discount on 30 different webinars.Use coupon code "sixty" at check out will reduce your order by 60%. Downloads are immediate. Sale ends at 11:59 PM (Central time) 3 September 2012. 

Topics include:

Females

Problem-Solving

Brick Walls 

Court Records

Land Records

Search Techniques

Genealogical Proof

and much, much more!

Check out his  list of over 30 presentations.

So what do you get for your $2695?

I received the following in an email from Boston University and thought it was valuable information to share with anyone thinking of taking the BU genealogy certificate course. I have not taken this course myself, but have heard nothing but positive comments from friends who have completed the program. 

 

We recognize that Boston University's online Certificate Program for Genealogical Research is a significant investment of both time and money. So what do you get for your $2695? 

Interaction with Boston University's distinguished genealogy faculty Our Certificate program is taught by exceptional faculty who are world-renowned for their expertise and contributions to the field of genealogy, including Melinde Lutz Byrne, FASG; Tom Jones, CG; Elissa Scalise Powell, CG; and Allison Ryall. As a student in our Certificate program, you will have the opportunity to ask our professors your burning genealogy questions.

 

Specialized preparation for the CG certification  Our program is specially designed to teach you the methodology you will need to prepare for your CG certification.

 

Over 100 hours of instructional time  Our professor-led Certificate program offers over 100 hours of contact time, as well as numerous online exercises and written homework assignments.

 

Personalized feedback on your work  The writing assignments you submit as part of the program will be graded and critiqued by our professors, and teaching assistants who will provide you with personalized feedback on how to improve your genealogical research and writing skills.

 

Access to course content anytime, anywhere Our asynchronous course modules can be accessed anytime and anywhere you have internet connectivity. Whether you're an early morning person or a night owl with a busy schedule, you will be able to complete your coursework at a time of day that is convenient to you.

Please call or email us if you have questions about our online genealogy programs. 
Best regards, 
The Boston University Online Genealogical Research Programs Team 

Telephone:             877-290-9005       

Boston University Online Certificate in Genealogical Research