2015 SCGS Webinar Schedule Announced

I was excited to get the press releases from the Southern California Genealogical Society regarding their 2015 webinar schedule. I have enjoyed their webinars in the past and appreciate that they are free to the public. There are some great speakers and topics in this lineup.
 

The Southern California Genealogical Society proudly announces plans for the 2015 Jamboree Extension Webinar Series. Since 2011, SCGS has offered twice-monthly webinars for genealogists and family historians around the globe.

The goal of the Webinar Series is to fulfill an important element of the Society’s Mission Statement: The Southern California Genealogical Society exists to foster interest in family history and genealogy, preserve genealogical materials, and provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques.

What does it cost?
The live webcasts are open to the public free of charge. Please tell your cousins, fellow genealogical society members and others about our program. We'd love to have them join us.

When are they held?
SCGS webinars are held the first Saturday and third Wednesday of each month. They are held at hours that most people are not working: Saturday 10am Pacific time and Wednesday 6pm Pacific time.

I’m sold. How do I sign up?
It’s really easy. Go to the SCGS website page with the Extension Series information. http://tinyurl.com/2015-SCGS-Webinars

You’ll see a list with all of the upcoming webinars and links to register. Click on the links to register for the live webcasts you want to attend. Fill out the registration information and you’re all set. You’ll get a confirmation email and will also get reminders before the webinar, as well as a link to a handout for every presentation.

On the day of the program, click the link that you received in those emails and you’ll be taken to GoToWebinar for your session. You can watch the webinars on your laptop or desktop, on your tablet or even your smartphone. If you don't have an internet connection, you can even dial in by phone and listen to the presentation.

What if I can’t watch the live webcast?
As a benefit of membership, SCGS members may view any of the 125 or so archived sessions any time, day or night, on the SCGS website. Webinars are posted online about two weeks after the webcast. A list of the archived sessions can be found on the SCGS website. To learn more about the valuable membership benefits available for SCGS members, visit our membership webpage.

Download the 2015 Webinar flyer and post it on your office's bulletin board.

Join us for the first session on Saturday, January 3!

Is the Virtual PMC on Your Holiday Wish List?

If you are not able to travel to Salt Lake City in January you can still participate in the APG Professional Management Conference from home. You may want to suggest to a loved one that you would enjoy a Virtual PMC registration as a holiday gift, or treat yourself to some professional development. I hope to "see" you in-person or online for this event! Here are the details from the APG press release:

Is Virtual PMC on your holiday wish list? With individual sessions beginning at just $20, a special $45 DNA bundle, or access to the full virtual conference for $145, Virtual PMC is a gift that fits every budget. Let your friends and family know which classes you want to attend, and they can purchase a registration for you at https://virtualpmc2015.eventbrite.com.

Virtual PMC 2015 offers TWO full days -- 9 total sessions -- of PMC classes streamed live to your computer or mobile device. All registrations include 3-months' access to recordings of the same sessions!

Plus, Virtual PMC attendees are automatically entered to win a 1-year Ancestry World Deluxe subscription. The door prize winner will be selected and notified a day or two after Virtual PMC.

The Virtual PMC line up is:

Thursday, 8 January 2015
"Taxes and the Professional Genealogist," James M. Beidler
"Finding the Law," Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
"Mind Maps for Genealogy," Ron Arons, MBA
"DNA and Genealogical Proof," Angie Bush, MS

Friday, 9 January 2015
"Get Paid for Your Passion: Setting Fees," Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL
"Finding Your Niche: Matching Passion, Professionalism & Pecuniary Interest," James M. Beidler
"How to Have Difficult Conversations with Clients and Colleagues," Christina Grover
"Time Management: Successfully Balancing the Demands of Our Many 'Clients,'" Angela Packer McGhie
"Genealogy Professionals Needed: Help Adoptees Discover Their Genealogical Roots with DNA" (2-hour workshop), CeCe Moore

Visit www.apgen.org/conferences/classes.html for class descriptions and speaker bios.

Register now for Virtual PMC 2015 at https://virtualpmc2015.eventbrite.com

STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR PMC
It’s not too late to register for the full, live PMC. Held 8-9 January 2015 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, the 2-day conference is designed to help professional genealogists achieve success. The event includes:

- 15 breakout sessions taught by industry experts
- $139 in sponsor gifts for each attendee
- Discounted FamilySearch lunch on 8 January. (Seating is more than 85% filled.)
- Keynote by Ancestry CEO Tim Sullivan
- The first-annual PMC Poster Sessions
- Valuable door prizes, networking opportunities, and much more!

Register for PMC 2015 at www.apgen.org/conferences. Online registration ends 30 December 2014.

Mark Your Calendars - Registration for IGHR Opens January 20th

I received the following announcement from the  Institute of  Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR).  I am excited to be involved with IGHR again this year, and thought some of you may like to mark your calendars for January 20th to register for the course of your choice. See in next June!

We are happy to announce that registration for the Institute of  Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) for 2015 will open Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Central, 9:00 a.m. Mountain, 8:00 a.m. Pacific). A link will be provided on the IGHR Registration page (http://samford.libguides.com/ighr-registration) to the online registration at that time. If this is your first time registering or if you just want a refresher on what to expect, please consult the downloadable online registration guide (http://ighr.samford.edu/IGHR101_online-reg-2014.pdf).

To prevent an overload of the online registration system, the opening of course registration will be staggered with different courses being opened each half-hour.

Opening at 11:00 a.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Central):
Course 3: Advanced Methodology & Evidence Analysis
Course 9: Genealogy as a Profession

Opening at 11:30 a.m. Eastern (10:30 a.m. Central):
Course 4: Writing & Publishing for Genealogists
Course 6: The Five Civilized Tribes: The Records & Where to Find Them

Opening at 12:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Central):
Course 8: Research in the South: The Colonies of the South
Course 10: Virginia's Land & Military Conflicts

Opening at 12:30 p.m. Eastern (11:30 a.m. Central):
Course 2: Intermediate Genealogy & Historical Studies
Course 7: Land Records: Using Maps

Opening at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (12:00 p.m. Central):
Course 1: Methods and Sources
Course 5. Military Records II

Every year, some courses fill up in a matter of minutes, so be sure to be wherever you have your fastest internet connection at registration time.

Each time a new set of courses opens for registration, an email will be sent to the IGHR-L list. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please unsubscribe from the list at:  http://maillists.samford.edu/mailman/listinfo/ighr-l

The Institute itself will take place on June 7-12, 2015.

For more information, visit the IGHR website at http://samford.libguides.com/ighr/.

We hope to see you this summer!

******************************

*******************************
Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR)
Director: Lori Northrup
Secretary: Eric Allen

205-726-2846 |office
205-726-4009 | fax

ighr@samford.edu
samford.libguides.com/ighr
800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229

Free Webniars hosted by APG

There are some excellent webinars offered by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) this month, and in 2015. The live webinars are FREE and open to the public. You may want to register soon to reserve your spot.

Building Your Author Blueprint: Writing Opportunities for the Genealogy Professional Presented by Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014 9:00 PM Eastern

Do you enjoy writing about genealogy? There are plenty of writing opportunities available for genealogy professionals. This webinar will teach you how to find work with magazines, educational venues, blogs, websites, private clients, and genealogy vendors. Learn tips and tricks for generating ideas, working with individuals and editors, meeting deadlines, getting repeat assignments, and ways to create your own platform. Discover tools and resources to help boost your productivity and increase your income stream.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/152401632

So You Want a Website? Essential Steps to Creating Your Online Presence
Presented by Carla Cegielski
Monday, 8 December 2014 9:00 PM Eastern

If you do not currently have a website for your business, this webinar is for you. APG webmaster Carla Cegielski will walk you step by step through the process of creating an effective business website. Topics covered include content, domain registration, choosing a platform and web host,
user experience, and evaluating your web presence.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/426952152

MORE UPCOMING WEBINARS

Careers in Genealogy: Personal Historian
Presented by Linda Coffin, president of the Association of Personal Historians
29 January 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/552011353

The Ins and Outs of Speaker Proposals
Presented by Julie Miller, CG
19 February 2015 at 8:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/769109865

Are You Ready to be a Professional Genealogist?
Presented by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
17 March 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/477982617

Working with Genealogists: Tips for Librarians, Volunteers, and Other Research Staff Presented by Amber Case, MLIS
29 April 2015 at 8:30 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/945933873

Using Technology to Manage Multiple Genealogy Projects
Presented by Melanie D. Holtz, CG
30 May 2015 at 12:00 noon Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/784556809

APG webinars are free for both APG members and non-members to attend live, and we ask that you please share the information with your friends, colleagues, mailing lists, etc.

Registration Now Open for 2015 NGS Conference

I receive the following press release from the National Genealogical Society:

2015 Family History Conference

St. Charles, Missouri, 13–16 May 2015

Crossroads of America

Arlington, VA, 1 DECEMBER 2014: Registration is now open for the National Genealogical Society’s thirty-seventh annual family history conference, Crossroads of America, which will be held 13–16 May 2015 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri. Conference highlights include a choice of more than 150 lectures, given by nationally known speakers and subject matter experts on a broad array of topics. The conference will open with The Tales of Pioneer Paths: Rivers, Roads & Rails given by J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, a full-time professional researcher and educator, and former APG president.

Continuing NGS’s goal of providing quality educational opportunities to its participants, the conference will feature a variety of lectures for all skill levels from beginner to advanced. Lecture topics covered at the conference will include: researching in many Midwestern states; national and regional migration paths; land, military, immigration, and naturalization records; ethnic and religious groups including African American, German, Irish, Jewish, Native American, Polish, and Scots-Irish; methodology, analysis, and problem solving; and the use of technology including genetics, mobile devices, and websites useful in genealogical research. The Board for Certification of Genealogists’ Skillbuilding track will again be an integral part of the conference and presented over the four days of the event.

Registration is currently open. To register online, visit the NGS website at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/event-registration/ and complete the registration form.

The online searchable program is available at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/agenda/ and the PDF brochure is available at http://goo.gl/x92kAg. The brochure includes an overview of the sessions, tours, pre-conference events, registration times, and rates, as well as general conference and hotel details. Attendees are urged to visit the conference blog, which will feature tips on local and regional research facilities as well as things to do in and around St. Charles and updated information on hotel availability and local restaurants.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.

Review of "Writing Logical Proof Arguments" Course by Michael Hait

As a part of my ongoing series featuring guest authors' reviews of genealogical institute courses, my friend Patricia McIntyre shares her experiences with the "Writing Logical Proof Arguments" course at the Virtual Institute of Genealogy Research.

REVIEW of "Writing Logical Proof Arguments." By Michael Hait, CG. 1 & 8 November 2014. Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research (http://vigrgenealogy.com).

Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

Yet another opportunity has come forth to become a more educated genealogist. Imagine attending a genealogical institute with four 90-minute lectures by a noted expert on the topic, complete with syllabus materials and a recording of each lecture. Now imagine having all of this in the comfort and convenience of your own home. No travel and hotel costs included. This is the objective of the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research, found at http://vigrgenealogy.com.

The Virtual Institute is newly formed and has webinar-style classes in a variety of topics that are scheduled through September of 2015 at the time of this writing. J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, will present the next institute series titled, “Preparing the Field: Understanding the Agricultural Records of our Ancestors.” This particular institute will be held on the 24^th and 31^st of January 2015. Others are scheduled on an almost monthly timetable. Besides Mark Lowe, presenters include Maureen Taylor, Donna Moughty, Blaine Bettinger, Billie Stone Fogarty and Rick Fogarty, Melanie Holtz and Melissa Johnson, Paul Milner, and Angela Packer McGhie.

The home page for the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research promotes that each institute course will include six hours of instruction, syllabus material, “practical exercises,” and a personal copy of the recordings of the classes for use afterwards. This would be helpful if you have to miss a session or if you would like to study the material again. The Virtual Institute courses are priced at $69.99. For many of us who are used to free webinars, this may seem a little steep. But, if you have ever traveled for training at an institute or conference to be taught by experts of their field, this is very reasonable, not to mention convenient.

Writing Logical Proof Arguments

The first offering by the Virtual Institute was presented by Michael Hait, CG, and titled “Writing Logical Proof Arguments.” The course was broken down into four 90-minute classes. The first, “Principles of Logic and Arguments,” blended the Genealogical Proof Standard element of “a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion based on the strongest available evidence” and the philosophical style of arguments, not to be confused with what we as genealogists commonly call proof arguments.[1] Michael taught us, in a very understandable format, the standard argument form, what a complex argument consisted of, and the difference between a deductive and inductive argument. Next, he moved on to the types of inductive arguments and what were considered logical fallacies. All the while, Michael related this knowledge to genealogical proof and the GPS.

The second class, “Dissecting a Published Proof Argument,” used an article that Michael Hait had authored and had been published in the NGSQ called “Parents for Thomas Burgan of Baltimore County, Maryland,” (National Genealogical Society Quarterly 101 (2013): 19-33.) We had all been asked after registration to read and become familiar with the article. During the class, we were able to analyze the premises that were formed to lead to the conclusions. Individuals in the class were given time to ask questions using the “Go To Meeting” format.

During the week, between the two sessions, we were given homework using evidence that Michael had gathered on a particular family. We were to use what we had learned in the first two classes and develop one proof statement and one proof summary. The exercise was beneficial and helped solidify the new concepts of logical thinking. As with most educational experiences, the more you put into it, the more you benefit.

The next Saturday, the classes were “Turning Evidence into a Logical Argument” and “Putting Your Argument into Writing.” The instructor used the homework assignment to show us his method of organizing the premises or evidence to come to conclusions, which when built one upon another, become the coherently written conclusion that is a part of the GPS. The last class of the course gave examples of different forms of genealogical writing, where to find examples of those forms, and some principles of good composition and writing. Michael Hait used The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White as a resource for this information.

At the conclusion of the classes, I felt that my participation in the institute course had been time and money well spent. Michael Hait had taught me a new way to look at proof arguments and proof summaries using logical thinking. As I read my next NGSQ article, I was able to see the premises and conclusions built one on another. A new sense of literary construction was understood – a light bulb moment, if you will. I had hoped for more time spent on the actual process of writing of the article and organization of it, but came away having learned something far more important. I would urge any genealogist who wants to learn – which should be everyone - to check out the new offerings on the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research website.

UPDATE: The recordings of this course are now available for purchase if you missed the live course. See http://vigrgenealogy.com/2014/11/30/recordings-available/

Patricia McIntyre

Professional Genealogist & Consultant

Linked2Ancestors LLC

linked2ancestors@gmail.com

---

[1] Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 50^th anniversary edition (Nashville, Tennessee: Ancestry.com, 2014), 1-2.

New Openings in Genetic Genealogy and Advanced Practicum Courses at SLIG

Right now is the time to get your foot in the door at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy! Due to cancellations there is space available in three of the previously sold out courses, including:

Getting Started with Genetic Genealogy with Debbie Parker Wayne, CG (four spots available)
Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum with Angela McGhie and Kimberly Powell (three spots available)
Advanced German Research with Warren Bittner, CG (one spot available)

If you are interested in registering for fany of these courses please contact Valerie Hansen, the SLIG Registrar, at sligregistrar@ugagenealogy.org. 

There is also space available in the following courses, and you can register for these on the SLIG registration website:

Finding Immigrant Origins with David Ouimette, CG
Research in Original Source Repositories with John Colletta, PhD
Resources and Strategies for U.S. Research with Paula Stuart Warren, CG

For more information on the courses see the 2015 SLIG Tracks.
For more information on the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy see the main SLIG page.

NOTE on all genealogy institutes:
If there is a course that you are very interested in at a genealogy institute, even one of those that sold out in under 20 minutes, put your name on the waiting list. Almost every year spots open up in the courses as some people have conflicts arise and need to cancel their travel plans. During the last two months before the institute begins there is shifting and openings and those on the waiting lists often get in the courses they want. Some people register for another course and plan to travel to the institute anyway, and at the last minute get into the course that is their first choice.