APG Blog

Today at the 2010 Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference in Knoxville, Tenn., the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG^®) honored five of its members for their outstanding achievements in the field of genealogy. APG President Laura Prescott presented the awards at today’s luncheon, which featured Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG, FUGA, who presented, “Writing Genealogy: Are You a Saint, Sinner, or Bumfuzzled Soul?”

Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG, received the APG Professional Achievement Award. The award, created in 2007, recognizes exceptional professional achievement and ethical behavior with contributions to the field of genealogy. Rose has more than three decades of experience in serving genealogical organizations and societies as a researcher, lecturer, author, columnist and volunteer. She has served on the faculty of the National Institute of Genealogical Research (NIGR) in Washington, D.C., and on the faculty of The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University, as both an instructor and coordinator. Rose is the author of several genealogy books including, Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures and Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case.

APG also awarded Alvie L. Davidson, CG, the Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit, an award honoring personal commitment and outstanding service to the APG. A professional genealogist and private investigator, Davidson served on the APG Board of Directors from 2003?2008, and was elected again in 2010. He has served on numerous committees and is currently booth chair, organizing member volunteers to answer questions at the APG booth during conferences.

Diana Crisman Smith received the APGQ Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional articles submitted to the organization’s quarterly magazine. Smith provided an article on writing for each issue in 2009, including “Ready for Prime Time? Tips for Making Your Writing Fit for Print” and “How is Your Writing? Enter a Writing Contest and Find Out.”

Certificates of appreciation were also presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to APG, by a member or a non-member. Angela Packer McGhie was recognized for her leadership as president of the APG National Capital Area Chapter, as well as for her educational efforts in coordinating the ProGen Study Groups, directing her local Family History Center and in initiating a workshop featuring Thomas Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG.

Polly Kimmitt, CG, received a certificate of appreciation for her activities as president of the New England Chapter of APG in 2009. During her tenure, Kimmitt was responsible for spurring an increase in meeting attendance and chapter memberships and motivated the organization to design a chapter logo, brochure and new interactive website. Under her leadership, the chapter created a booth and presence at the New England Regional Genealogical Conference and its featured Ancestors Road Show. The chapter credits Kimmitt’s energy and guidance in helping it be named “Golden Chapter” at the APG Gathering of the Chapters at the 2009 National Genealogical Society Family History Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We congratulate today’s award recipients,” said APG President Laura Prescott. “As the world’s leading professional organization of family history and related professionals, the APG celebrates excellence and ethics in the genealogy profession. These recipients have distinguished themselves in many ways and have strengthened APG as a result. They are models for what it means to be a professional genealogist.”

Please mark your calendar (and set your phone to remind you) to attend the APG Annual Meeting and Roundtable panel discussion on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Salon AB, Hilton Hotel, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Annual Meeting and Roundtable will begin at 7 p.m. and is held in conjunction with the FGS conference.

The Roundtable topic is “Your Internet Presence- How to get IT and what to do with IT: A discussion of what IT is.”

Professional genealogists are always talking about the need for a “web presence” to enhance and grow their business. What are the options to gain and maintain a “web presence” and use the Internet to increase your audience and grow your business? Join the APG Roundtable on Tuesday evening, August 17th and discover what our panel of professionals has to say on the subject.

Panel members include Drew Smith, Josh Taylor, Kathy Hinckley, Thomas MacEntee, Katherine Flynn (via the Internet) and Laura Prescott, moderator.

The panel members will each discuss a particular option or area that can enhance a professional’s web presence then the discussion will be open to the audience for questions and a sharing of ideas. This is a subject that can have some of us quaking in our boots while others are smiling with the opportunity to expand their horizons. Which are you?

The APG Roundtable is open to all APG members and their guests.  If you are interested in becoming an APG member you are welcome to participate in learning and sharing from other professionals.

Kathleen W. Hinckley, CG
APG Executive Director

CALL FOR PAPERS

Professional Management Conference (PMC)
sponsored by the Association of Professional Genealogists

Friday and Saturday, 9-10 September 2011
Springfield, Illinois

at the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ Conference

*****Deadline for Submission: 1 July 2010*****

Lecture and workshop proposals for the 2011 Professional Management Conference at the Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference are now being accepted. The PMC encourages all members of the genealogical profession to look at ways to improve both their genealogical and their business skills.

Lectures and workshops should:

• Challenge genealogical professionals to think outside the box?
• Help professionals evaluate and review their current business
• Encourage professionals to meet the demands of the twenty-first-century client

Lectures and workshops must be new, original, and on topics relevant to professional genealogists, but do not need to be specifically genealogical. Presentations from other professional fields that would benefit professional genealogists will be considered. Lectures will be one hour, including questions; however, consideration will be given to longer or interactive presentations. Workshops should be hands-on, interactive, and last approximately two hours, including questions.

Proposals should be submitted electronically to admin@apgen.org either in Microsoft Word or PDF format and should include the following:

• Name, address, telephone, fax, and e-mail address of speaker
• Title of the presentation
• Detailed description of the presentation
• Short one-sentence summary for the program brochure
• Short one-sentence biography for the program brochure
• Biography of 150 words for publicity
• Audio visual requirements
• List of lectures given in the last 18 months including topic and location

The Association of Professional Genealogists (http://www.apgen.org) , established in 1979, represents over 2,000 genealogists, librarians, writers, editors, historians, instructors, booksellers, publishers, and others involved in genealogy-related businesses. APG encourages genealogical excellence, ethical practice, mentoring, and education; and supports the preservation and accessibility of records useful to the fields of genealogy, local, and social history. Its members represent all fifty states, Canada, and thirty other countries.