The last two years have been all about formalizing my genealogy education. And this year will be more of the same, but with the added bonus that I’ll be doing all that around a robust load of very interesting clients and some fun speaking gigs!
That said, I have one big, bad goal for this year and that is…
Genealogy Goal #1: Complete my Certification Portfolio
Truly all my genealogy goals over the past few years has been in service of becoming a Board Certified genealogist. For those who know what that entails, then no explanation needed. For those who don’t, just know it basically requires completing a 4-element portfolio up to 150 pages (plus signing a code of conduct).
I get to choose three of those elements: a case study, a kinship determination project (i.e. family narrative), and a research report for another person. Right now I’m 99% done with my research report, and in progress on the other two elements that I choose.
One of the big scary things about the portfolio is that it cannot be evaluated by anyone except you. Though opinions vary, I’ve taken that to mean that I just don’t talk or write about any of the families I’m working on, ever, ever, ever! That makes my genealogy blogging and content creation life a little weird, because sometimes I’ll start to write a blog post about an ancestor and say “Wait, if my first case study falls through, I could use this one…” Fortunately, I have plenty of folks I can write about, including all but one of of my clients who have all graciously allowed me to use the research I’ve done for them in classes, videos, and blog posts.
That said, I have my material, I just need to make sure it is presentable for my certification portfolio. That is my big, hairy project for 2025. If you see me out and about, feel free to ask me how it’s going.
Really turn up the pressure.
Knock the sweet tea out of my hand.
It’ll help, I promise.
Genealogy Goal #2: Research
#1 – Portfolio
Let’s face it. This is THE research goal.
#2 – Monthly Locality Guide Challenge
After completing three Research Like a Pro Study Groups, I have learned to love and treasure my locality guides. These are guides I’ve made for myself that basically act as cheat sheets for everything I need to know about researching in a county or state. This can be an accounting of records, like what land, tax, or probate records are available in a county, to more contextual knowledge that helps me understand how an area worked in the past. I like to add things such as topography and waterways, migration routes, major industries, and the population of that county every census year so I can see booms and busts.
Actually making a locality guide and using it for a research project the first time is a lot of work. But the magic happens when it’s time to use the darn thing a second time. When using your locality guide a second time, you will adore Past You for making what basically amounts to a magic treasure map with everything you need to know to plan and conduct research in a county.
So I have a super secret stretch goal to make 1 locality guide per month. (It helps that one of my families in my certification portfolio moved about every two years, so a LOT of my locality guides will be made just to help me make sense of their ramblin’ ways.) To keep myself accountable I’ll try to post a fun fact from each of my locality guides once per month. (As long as it has absolutely zero to do with my certification portfolio. Because I’m highly paranoid!)
Genealogy Goal #3: Teach
I know I couldn’t be a public school teacher. I’m not nearly brave enough for that. But I love teaching adult education. I’ve taught subjects as diverse as English as a Second Language (ESL) to beginning screenwriting.
This year I’m happy to announce that I’m teaching a class a the Institute for Genealogical and Historic Research (IGHR)!
I’ll be teaching a session called “Integrating AI in Land Record Analysis for Genealogy” in my cousin Malinda Kashuba’s Course Four – Unearthing Your Family’s Past Using Maps.
It’s going to be really interesting. Especially because AI is changing so fast that elements of the initial syllabus I turn in which likely be outdated by the time the class starts. That’s okay, though, because I like a challenge. Plus, we’ll be talking about some more general AI topics that won’t change, like what you can and can’t trust it to do, the ethics of using AI, and when and how to cite AI.
…Obviously, you should sign up for it! But seriously, I do highly recommend IGHR. Every interaction I’ve had with IGHR, from taking classes to attending other events, has been top notch.
Genealogy Goal #4: Learn
Surprise! This is going to be on my list every single year. With genealogy you pretty much have to constantly be learning.
Institute Courses
Last year I had my entire year planned out, and took institute courses at both IGHR and SLIG. This year… I haven’t decided yet. I’d love to hear what institute courses everyone else is taking. Maybe I’ll tag along!
Accountability Groups
My accountability groups from last year continue apace, though I recently added one with several alumni of Jill Morelli’s Certification Discussion Group. That group of smart women are all in my same boat preparing their certification portfolios. I love surrounding myself with people striving toward the same goal!
Webinars
I know I’ll once again burn up my Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscription this year, especially the BCG sessions. (Though I’m gutted that the 2-year Elizabeth Shown Mills master class is over. I’ll just have to keep following her around on Facebook and picking up her crumbs of wisdom there instead.) Truly, if you want to get some genealogy education and aren’t sure where to start, this is the best $50/year you’ll spend.
In-Person Conferences & Events
- African-American Symposium @ the Georgia Archives, Jan 30-Feb 1, 2025 – This was excellent last year so I’m looking forward to more learning from experts on African-American history and genealogy.
- Rootstech, March 6-8, 2025 in Salt Lake City – This one needs no introduction. Someone smart once told me that if you want to make a career in something, you’d better show your face at that industry’s main conference or trade show, so that’s what I’m doing.
- National Genealogical Society, May 23-26, 2025 in Louisville, KY – Louisville is only about a 6-hour drive for me, and the same as above applies!
- Genealogy Day at the Georgia Archives – This is usually in July and I wouldn’t miss it for the world, despite having burned up a path between here and the Archives over the past year since I began taking clients.
- More??? – Stay tuned.
I’m sadly going to miss the GGS’s “Discover Your Irish & Scots-Irish Ancestors” in person with the Ulster Historical Foundation due to a conflict with Rootstech! Representatives from Northern Ireland will be here in person! This is especially gutting because my one (1) known immigrant ancestral family came from what is now Northern Ireland back in 1820 and I’d love to learn more about research methods for Northern Ireland. So please go (you can attend online, as well) and take notes for me! 🙂
Georgia Genealogical Society Educational Series (GGS)
We also have an excellent educational series at the GGS this year. Stay tuned here to sign up for upcoming webinars!
How about you? Do you have your genealogy year planned out? I’d love to hear about it. Let me know in the comments!