Last month I joined ProGen 14 and I think I am really going to enjoy it. This is a great opportunity for genealogists hoping to move from advanced family historian to professional genealogist, something to which I do aspire. ProGen 14 has three groups of 8 members each. Members come from all over the US and from a number of foreign countries. I've had several opportunities and have been putting it off because of the time commitment. Eighteen months with monthly assignments that can take up to 20 hours - A little off putting but I finally jumped in and I think it will be great.
The first question I am approaching is how will I manage a research specialty? My personal research is all east of the Mississippi. That's a big area and between my family and my husband's we've covered a lot of it, but, I live in California. On-site research is only possible here and I have much less experience in California research. I'm also not sure how big a market there is for California research. Well, I'll have to see.
To begin with, I'm increasing my experience with California research and records. I've been working with the Orange County California Genealogical Society on their Civil War soldiers project. It's a great project and lets me research in California Records. I've also started to do Family Search Indexing and am currently working on the California Great Voting Register 1866-1910. I'm hoping that over time there will be a number of different California records to index.
I want to talk to some other professional genealogists in California and see how they handle the distance if their specialty is not California. Most California families trace back to at least the mid-west by the beginning of the 19th century or later. My own family did not come to California until my parents who both came separately after World War II and met here. A lot to think about.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
SCCAPG-Mini PMC
Don't you love acronyms. What that says is Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists Mini Professional Management Conference.
It was today and it was great. I expected nothing less from Jean Hibben and Barbara Rennick who are always great..
Now the challenge for me is how do I jump start a career as a professional genealogist? Any ideas?
It was today and it was great. I expected nothing less from Jean Hibben and Barbara Rennick who are always great..
Now the challenge for me is how do I jump start a career as a professional genealogist? Any ideas?
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