We All Need A Coach Sometime

We all need a coach sometimes.

We get stuck,

and just need a new set of eyes

to give us a fresh look.

Last year at RootsTech,

I volunteered to help out at the

Coach's Corner.

I was so happy to be able to point some of the attendees

in a different direction for their research.

And, I even had some pointers

that others gave to me.

This year, 

the Coach's Corner will be running again.

So consider taking the time to look through your research,

and have an expert help you see a different approach

to your research.

Here is how to sign up:

Book an appointment now.

How do I come up with a topic?

I thank you all for the many comments I received private

on yesterday's post

A Day in the Life of a Genealogy Speaker

I can't recall a time when so many people 

reached out to me to thank me, and to ask questions.

One of the questions I had several people ask me was,

"How do you come up with all of these topics?"

That is actually a very good questions.

I can't speak for all genealogy speakers, 

but let me tell you how I do it.

First and foremost,

they come from researching my own family.

I have spent years taking up the research where my parents left off.

And, just when I think I have seen everything there is to see,

I find something new!

I have run across:

counterfeiters

moonshiners

illegitemacies

patriots

tories

people who should have received awards

people who should have kept quiet

veterans

grass widows

"idiots" on the 1880 DDD schedule

families that were nearly wiped out in 1918

babies that were previously unknown

courthouse burnings by my own family

cemetery destruction

massacres

school records

migration trails...

Oh, I could go on and on.

And, so could you.

But, if any of you have heard me speak,

or listened to webinars I have given,

you will notice that many of the above topics 

have been the subjects of my presentations.

I figure if they have happened in my family,

perhaps they have happened in someone else's, too!

So, I take what I learn...

and, I teach it to others.

There is another way I come up with topics.

I listen.

I listen very carefully during conversations at

conferences,

at luncheons,

to those passing me in the hall,

while waiting in line,

to those that may ask a question during a presentation,

when I see heads nodding at the answer to that question

(whether in one of my classes or someone else's).

All it takes is for someone to say they are having a problem in a certain area,

and my ears perk up.

Because if they're at a standstill,

then perhaps others are at a standstill, too.

So, I begin to research everything I can get my hands on

to learn about it.

WThese are two ways that I come up with topics.

And, when I say to my friends that I am always in research mode, 

it means

I am always in research mode.

Always.

There are many people who would love to eventually become 

a genealogy speaker,

or perhaps they are just starting out.

With all my heart, I say

welcome!

There is room for all.

Each one brings their expertise to the table,

and can perhaps help someone that has been struggling for a long time.

Here is how I have done it.

1.  Start out by letting local societies know that you have a topic that they may be interested.

They usually plan their programs a year in advance, 

but let them know that if something falls through,

you would like to be considered.

2.  When word gets around, say yes!

Say yes to societies, public libraries, schools, Scout groups, luncheon groups, etc.

These will all give you experience,

and your comfort will grow at standing in front of any crowd.

3.  Keep track of every single presentation you have given!

All of these presentations will show how serious you are at becoming a speaker.

Here is an example from my own portfolio:

Lecture Experience:

Ambassador – RootsTech 2016

Ancestry Academy - 2016

BYU Family History Conference - 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015

Crawford County, Ohio Genealogical Society/Bucyrus Public Library – 1996-2016

Darke Co., OH – Full-day Seminar- 2012-2015

Dayton, Ohio Family History Jamboree – 1996-2015

Fairfax, VA Annual Spring Conference – 2014

Galion, Ohio Public Library – 2008, 2009-2012, 2014

ICAPGen Conference, BYU, Provo, UT – 2007

Indianapolis, OH – Full-day Seminar – 2013, 2014

Knox County Career Center - Adult Education, 1997 – 1999

Legacy Family Tree Webinars - 2015-16

Muncie, IN Genealogy Symposium – 2012-2015

National Genealogical Society- 2016

OGS Conference – 1998-2016                                                                           

OGS Summer Workshop - 1999 - 2012
Ohio State University - Adult Education, 1994 – 1997

RootsTech – 2015-2016

Shelby Co., OH – Full-day Seminar – 2014

Southern California Genealogy Jamboree – 2015-2016

Webinar, Illinois Genealogical Society – 2012-2016

Webinar, Southern California Genealogical Society – 2013, 2014

Webinar, Wisconsin Genealogical Society – 2014

I don't show this to scare you off.

It's just example of how I have a visible list for organizers to looks at.

I also keep a spreadsheet that shows what I spoke about

at each of the above venues.

4.  Not only do I have a teaching list like the one you see above,

I have a learning list, too.

Each time I listen to a webinar,

go to a conference,

or a society meeting,

I keep a running track of what I have done to further my own education.

I don't want to get stale.

Nor do I want to get into a rut.

So, this is just a small sampling of what I do.

And, I have way too much fun doing it!!

Peggy speaking to a crowd in Sidney, Ohio.

It doesn't matter if the size is great or small,

they still get the same quality of program.

Getting ready to teach a Beginner's Class at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference.

Or was it a Land Platting Class?

Sisters Cindy and Jodi came up right before one of my RootsTech classes last year.

I grew up with these remarkable women!

All of these experiences led me to be invited to be an instructor for

Ancestry Academy.

I remember starting out with storytelling at my children's school

They would bring me in when they were learning about Ohio history.

The neat thing is that the stories I told about early Ohio history and the 

Northwest Territory

always involved stories about my own family.

My kids became heroes!

Their friends loved it!!!

There is no credential war

First let me say that I appreciate the comments that have been made, both publicly and privately, concerning my post of late last evening.  It has been lively and enlightening, to say the least.

But, I do want to make one thing abundantly clear, that there was absolutely no intention of pitting the two credentialing programs against each other.  None whatsoever.  I don't work that way.  I am a builder and a lifter, not one who tears down.

A few have made the comment that I must not make an assumption of an entire organization based on the actions of one or a few.  Ummm...I'm a Mormon.  I have dealt with this all of my life.  How many times have the actions of a polygamous community been confused with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its teachings?  Or a political candidate representing all Mormons?  (That was certainly a hotbed!  I felt like I was constantly putting out fires during the election.)  Or the mainstream news organizations consistently tagging "Mormon" bank robber, or "Mormon" thief, or "Mormon" whatever...instead of just dropping the "Mormon" off completely.

I believe that for me and what I do, maintaining my AG and all of the requirements that go along with it are fine for me.  And, not for one moment am I basing one as being superior over the other.
Both bring us as genealogists to a higher level of polishing our skills and helping us to learn things we didn't know we didn't know.

So, to all of my genealogy friends, rest assured that there is no problem.  As a matter of fact, the individual that made the remarks still has my respect, for their skills are sorely needed in the professional genealogy world.  I will not publicly name the individual to maintain the respect that has been so earned.

Again, I don't work that way.

Why I Will Not Seek Certification

I have decided not to become a Certified Genealogist.

Now don't get me wrong.  I AM a professional, having been accredited through ICAPGen for nearly fifteen years.

But, that is where it ends.

For several years prior to taking the test for accreditation, I thoroughly researched the difference between becoming certified through BCG (Board for Certification of Genealogists), and even going on to pursue that of being a CGL (Certified Genealogical Lecturer).

There wasn't a lot out there to help me at the time I was seeking the credentials that would identify me as a professional.  Accredited Genealogists (AG) seemed to be more of a western thing, for the testing was done by the LDS Church at the Family History Library.  Certified Genealogists (CG) seemed to be more well known, but I didn't know if I could pass the testing process.

Actually I didn't know if I could pass either of the testing processes.

I decided to become an AG for the Southern States.

It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I thought I was fairly good, but this process refined me and polished me.  I submitted my paperwork and received word that it had been accepted.  The next step would be to make an appointment at the Family History Library.  This would not be a problem since we travel to Utah frequently to visit family.

At the time I tested, the Southern States included everything from Virginia to Texas.  That was a bit of a problem for me, for I didn't really know much about Texas, or Louisiana, or the other states associated with the deep south.

But, I had to learn.

On a Wednesday in October, I dropped my oldest son off at the Missionary Training Center to leave for a two-year mission, drove to Salt Lake City with tears in my eyes, and began my testing that evening.

Little did I know how difficult the next three days would be.  At the end of each day, I had to wait to find out if my test results came back at 90% or above.  If they did, I would be invited back for the next day for more testing.

This went on until the final day, which included a minimum of four hours of an oral examination in a room with eight individuals from the Family History Library.  Oh, my!  I was grilled.  I sweated bullets.  I twisted in my seat.

But, I passed.

During the last thirty minutes, I was asked to leave the room while they discussed me.  I gladly left!  Soon, I was invited back in.  A question was asked of me:  If I were to be granted this Accreditation, what would I do with it?

I answered without pausing.  I simply stated that I would take what I learn and teach it to others for the rest of my life.

They concurred that I had indeed passed the necessary requirements, and they felt good about the work I had done.

And, it's enough for me.

I have renewed my credentials every five years, as required.  I have had to show that I am keeping up with current trends, both as a genealogist and as a speaker.  I keep a spreadsheet showing the classes I have taught, as well as the many opportunities I have had for learning.  I have almost as much to submit for renewal as I did at the beginning.  I was the last person to be tested by the Church before the testing facility evolved into what is now known as ICAPGen (The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists).

Now, why do I even bring this up?

This past weekend was the annual OGS Conference (Ohio Genealogical Society), of which I am a frequent presenter.  I love this event, for it's right here in my home state.  People come from all over the country to attend.

A few conversations rolled around to my becoming "double credentialed".  In other words, to add being a CG and CGL to my postnomial AG might be a good idea to consider.  I was encouraged, for having been a professional for most of my life, it would not be hard to complete the process.  However, I left the conference feeling this is not to be.

Though the two credentialing parties have different focuses, they are every bit as stringent.  Methodology is used in both cases, with the exception that AG's must test in a specific area.  (Since my initial testing, the Southern States have been divided.  I am now accredited in the Mid-South.)

www.icapgen.org

One of the last people I talked to before leaving informed me that becoming a CG involved such rigorous testing that I would literally be astounded.  Apparently, becoming an AG was a piece of cake compared to becoming a CG.  I believe I had just been insulted.  And, it takes a lot to insult me.  All of the respect I had for this individual suddenly diminished, for it was obvious they had no respect for the process of becoming an AG.

So, I will maintain my status as an Accredited Genealogist and will not seek for more.  Some people have no postnomials at all, and are every bit the professional that I am - and even more!  I will continue to lift up and build the confidence of my colleagues.

And, I will take what I learn and teach it to others - for the rest of my life.

Anatomy of a Genealogy Conference

It has been a wonderful experience at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference this weekend!

Though I was unable to be there when the conference first opened, I arrived just as soon as I could on Friday afternoon.  This year, the conference was held at the opulent Intecontinental Hotel, which is part of the campus of the renown Cleveland Clinic.

It was a big weekend for Cleveland, for it is also the time for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductees to be in town.  Nearly every hotel room was filled.  The good thing is that many of the genealogy attendees and speakers were flying home Saturday evening, and since many of the rock and roll fans were staying over until Sunday, it was easy to get a flight home - including being bumped up to first class!

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame

I have never been to a conference that was not worth the time and the money to get there.  I was a speaker at this conference, but I am also a learner.  It's important to be both.  So, after I presented my class at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, I was set for a day of learning.

Friday night was an absolute joy!  I was asked to be part of the "Panel of Experts",  where the speakers are asked to be part of a panel to field questions asked by attendees.  I was astounded at the vast amount of knowledge that was represented by those on the panel!  I was honored to be asked to be part of the panel, for I would have enjoyed it just as much if I were in the audience asking the questions.  Most of the panel members are quite well-known in the genealogy community, so when I say I was honored to be among them, I mean it with all sincerity.

Networking is such an important part of any conference, and this one was no different.  One of the first persons I saw was good friend Laura Prescott.  We picked up right where we left off when we saw each other in August of last year.  Soon, I was running into more genealogy "peeps" - Bruce and Laurie Buzbee, Gary and Diana Smith, Debbie Deal, Barara Renick, and on and on and on...  These are people I have grown to love and admire through the years, and have taught me many things.  I cherish their friendship.  And, I feel it is important to commend them when they have done a fine job in their respective jobs and assignments.  Someone I know was giving a brand new lecture for the first time, and I made sure they knew just what a great job they did. 

No one is more important than the attendees, the lifeblood of conferences.  I cherish their devotion and their input.  Many times, someone will approach me and thank me for classes that I taught over a decade ago, and begin telling me about their grandfather that they told me about way back then.  I smile, because most of the time I can't recall their particular problem, but am grateful for their gratitude.  This morning, they were already in my room when I was setting up my equipment at 7:15 a.m. - and the class didn't even begin until 8:00 a.m.!  I applaud their enthusiasm - it's contagious!

Conference co-chairs Diane Gagel and Jana Broglin did an exceptional job of pulling this conference together.  They always do.  Few of us know the frazzles that may be going on underneath it all, but on the surface it appeared that all went well.  I commend them!

But, in addition to the fellowship of fellow professionals and attendees, I feel my most important duty is to continue learning. 

Sometimes, I am amazed at what I didn't know that I didn't know...