NEW! Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

I am excited to be a part of this new virtual genealogy institute! This will a unique program in genealogy education, as it be will in-depth instruction the quality of established genealogy institutes, but will be available online. No need to travel! For more information on the Institute I have included the press release below, or you can visit www.vigrgenealogy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research to Offer Unique Opportunities in Genealogical Education

RALEIGH, North Carolina, 9 September 2014. Professional genealogists Catherine W. Desmarais, CG, Michael Hait, CG, and Melanie D. Holtz, CG, are pleased to announce the formation of the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. The Virtual Institute is a unique educational opportunity for genealogists of all skill levels.

The Virtual Institute will offer courses on a wide variety of genealogical subjects, providing “Vigorous” year-round education for the genealogical community using a virtual platform. Each course will consist of a total of four 90-minute lectures, two each presented on consecutive Saturdays, extensive syllabus material, and practical exercises. Limited class sizes of only one hundred registrants per course allows for a higher level of class participation and instructor feedback than typically offered by genealogy webinars.

Courses are currently planned around the topics of genealogical writing, advanced methodology, DNA testing and analysis, and cultural, regional, or record-based research strategies.

Many of these subject matters—as well as the depth of instruction—have never before been offered in a virtual format and are ideal for genealogists around the world. “The Virtual Institute will allow genealogists who work a full-time job or have limited travel budgets to more easily advance their genealogical skills,” Institute co-administrator Melanie D. Holtz stated.

Registration for each course will cost $69.99 and includes digital video recordings of all four lectures, available within two weeks of the close of each course.

For more information on the Institute and to register for upcoming courses, visit www.vigrgenealogy.com and subscribe to the mailing list for updates on future courses.

UPCOMING COURSES

Michael Hait, CG, “Writing Logical Proof Arguments,” 1 November–8 November 2014

J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, “Preparing the Field: Understanding the Agricultural Records of our Ancestors,” 17 January–24 January 2015

Maureen Taylor, “Family Photographs: Identifying, Preserving, and Sharing Your Visual Heritage,” 21 February–28 February 2015

Donna Moughty, “Strategies for Finding Your Irish Ancestors,” 7 March–14 March 2015

Blaine Bettinger, “(Finally!) Understanding Autosomal DNA,” 21 March–28 March 2015

Billie Stone Fogarty and Rick Fogarty, “Verifying the Family Legend of Native American Ancestry,” 18 April–25 April 2015

Melanie D. Holtz, CG, and Melissa Johnson, “Genealogical Applications of Dual Citizenship by Descent,” 2 May-9 May 2015

Paul Milner, “An In-Depth Look at the Big Four Records of English Research,” 30 May - 6 June 2015

Angela Packer McGhie, “Digging in Federal Land Records,” 19 September-26 September 2015

CG, Certified Genealogist, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations by the Board and the board name is a trademark registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Forensic Genealogy Institute Registration Opens Today

2015 Forensic Genealogy Institute Registration Opens September 9, 2014, at 1 pm EST

FGI 2015 Set to Be the Largest Offering of Forensic Genealogy Training to Date

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dallas, Texas – September 8, 2014 – Registration for the fourth annual Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) opens tomorrow, September 9, 2014, at 1 pm EST online at www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute. With 100 seats available to registrants, FGI 2015 will be the largest-ever offering of forensic genealogy for intermediate and advanced genealogists.

The educational arm of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG), FGI will be held March 26-28, 2015, at the Wyndham Love Field Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Registration for each course is $445, which includes 20 hours of instruction by expert forensic and genetic genealogists in just three days, minimizing travels costs and time away from family and work.

The 2015 FGI features two brand-new, concurrent courses designed for intermediate and advanced forensic genealogists:

·         Advanced Genetic Genealogy and Unknown-Parentage Cases

·         Forensic Genealogy Master Practicum

The “Advanced Genetic Genealogy and Unknown-Parentage Cases” course applies DNA and traditional genealogical research to uncovering the genetic heritage of individuals with unknown parentage. This area of forensic research is expanding rapidly, and genealogists who can use DNA to successfully address unknown-parentage cases are in great demand. Enrollment is limited to 60 students.

The “Forensic Genealogy Master Practicum” offers hands-on experience in researching various types of forensic cases, working with clients (including interviews and contracts), writing forensic reports or affidavits (students will write three reports), and participating in or observing a mock trial to defend a forensic report. Enrollment is limited to 40 students.

Courses are expected to fill, so early registration is encouraged at www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute beginning at 1 pm EST on Tuesday, September 9, 2014. The website also includes full details of each course’s curriculum as well as faculty biographies.

About CAFG

Established in 2011, the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) is a business league with a professional membership dedicated to the advancement of forensic genealogy, which is research, analysis, and reporting in cases with legal implications. CAFG promotes high standards of professional and ethical conduct, provides education and training opportunities, and assists in professional development though mentorship, full membership, credentialing, and awarding of fellowships. Learn more at www.forensicgenealogists.org.

Contact:
Anastasia Harman

FGI Coordinator
institute@forensicgenealogists.org

###

NARA Hosts Second Virtual Genealogy Fair

The National Archives is going to host it's second Virtual Genealogy Fair on October 28 - 30, 2014. These presentations are designed to teach genealogists about federal records and their use in genealogy research. The presentations will be given by National Archives experts from around the country and from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service. The live broadcasts begin at 10:00am Eastern time each day and will be available for free on the internet. The live broadcast format will allow participants to ask questions at the end of each presentation. Click here to see the schedule.

Randy Seaver's FGS 2014 Conference Blog Compendium

Thanks Randy! Every time I miss a national genealogy conference I can count on you to compile a handy list of blog posts so I can read all about what went on. This week is no different as Randy has posted his list from the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in San Antonio, Texas.
See his post "FGS 2014 Conference Blog Compendium" for links to posts from at least nine different bloggers.

Two New Gen Proof Study Groups Forming

There are two new Gen Proof Study Groups forming to study the book Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones. There is no charge to participate other than the cost of the book.

The group mentors have all been through the book in their own mentoring group with Tom Jones.

We are now offering groups at two different levels: Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced. The same material is covered in each group. The self assessed skill level of the participants is what determines the group you would register for. This way participants with similar skill levels will work
through the book together.


For more information on the Gen Proof study groups see:

"Gen Proof" Groups to Study Mastering Genealogical Proof

Gen Proof Study Groups – How To Get In

Here is the information on the two groups:

Shelley Bishop will mentor an Advanced group using Google+ Communities with a video chat (hangout) option. They will cover one chapter per week beginning September 1st. Solid intermediate participants are welcome in this group as well.

Julie George will mentor a Beginner/Intermediate group using Google+ Community. This group will also cover one chapter each week and begins September 8th.

Both mentors have selected the following format for their study groups: Asynchronous discussion board-- The group will not meet at a designated time but have ongoing discussions on a private Google + Community discussion board throughout the week. The mentor will log on each day to
answer questions and highlight certain concepts, and participants should check in daily also.

If you are interested in either of these groups or would like to be placed on the waiting list for a future group, send an email to genproofstudy@gmail.com. Include your preference of group level
(beginner/intermediate or advanced.)

If you have any questions, please email genproofstudy@gmail.com.

BCG Announces New Webinar Series!

I was excited to read on the Board for Certification of Genealogists blog that they are starting a new webinar series! These webinars are open to anyone who would like to participate, and will be held at
8:00 pm Eastern on the following dates:

Monday, September 22, Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, will present “Fine Wine in a New Bottle: Guidelines for Effective Research and Family Histories.” Updated, retitled, and reorganized, genealogy standards first published in 2000 are now available in a new edition. The webinar will describe the changes and what they mean for all family historians. Dr. Jones teaches at three genealogy institutes, co-edits the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and is the author of Mastering Genealogical Proof.

On Wednesday, October 15, Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL, will explain “Kinship Determination: From Generation to Generation.” Requirement 7 of the BCG certification application asks for a Kinship Determination Project in which the applicant writes a three-generation narrative and explains how the relationships are documented. All genealogists do this regularly while placing relatives with their appropriate connections in the family tree. A familiar speaker at conferences across the country, Judy will coordinate the Advanced Methodology & Evidence Analysis course at the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research in 2015.


To register for either of these webinars, or to watch for future presentations, see to the BCG blog.

Forensic Genealogy Institute Registration Opens Sept. 9th

FGI Offers Two Brand-New, Cutting-Edge Courses for Forensic Genealogists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dallas, Texas – August 12, 2014 – Registration for the fourth annual Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) will open on September 9, 2014, at 1 pm EST. The educational arm of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG), FGI will be held March 26-28, 2015, at the Wyndham Love Field Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The 2015 FGI features two brand-new, concurrent courses:

• Forensic Genealogy Master Practicum
• Advanced Genetic Genealogy and Unknown-Parentage Cases

Registration for each course is $445, which includes 20 hours of instruction by expert forensic and genetic genealogists in just three days, minimizing travels costs and time away from family and work. Enrollment is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

“In keeping with CAFG’s goals to promote and maintain high standards of professionalism, the fourth FGI enlarges and expands upon the curriculum offered at the previous institutes,” said Leslie Brinkley Lawson, CAFG President. “The 2015 program offers must-have education, training, mentoring, and professional development to those thinking of careers in forensic or genetic genealogy.

The “Forensic Genealogy Master Practicum” provides hands-on experience in researching various types of forensic cases, working with clients (including interviews and contracts), writing forensic reports or affidavits (students will write three reports), and participating in or observing a mock trial to defend a forensic report. Enrollment is limited to 40 students.

The “Advanced Genetic Genealogy and Unknown-Parentage Cases” course applies DNA and traditional genealogical research to uncovering the genetic heritage of individuals with unknown parentage. This area of forensic research is expanding rapidly, and genealogists who can use DNA to successfully address unknown-parentage cases are in great demand. Enrollment is limited to 60 students. For full details of each course’s curriculum, as well as faculty biographies, visit www.forensicgenealogists.org/institute.


About CAFG

Established in 2011, the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) is a business league with a professional membership dedicated to the advancement of forensic genealogy, which is research, analysis, and reporting in cases with legal implications. CAFG promotes high standards of professional and ethical conduct, provides education and training opportunities, and assists in professional development though mentorship, full membership, credentialing, and awarding of fellowships. Learn more at www.forensicgenealogists.org.