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Join APG for our next FREE professional development webinar, “Preparing for In-Person Research: How to Win Over the Record Keepers,” on 15 May 2024 from 12:00–1:30 pm EDT.

As online records proliferate, we know there are thousands (likely millions!) more that can only be found the old-fashioned way—in-person. In-person research is that step that ensures we're accurately reconstructing the family history we seek. Whether you're heading to a genealogical library, research center, or a local courthouse, there's lots of prep work—and things to keep in mind once you're there—that can make your research trip more productive. Join panelists Kaye Prince-Hollenberg and Megan Clark Young and moderator Kelley Conner Lear as they share their tips and tricks in “Preparing for In-Person Research: How to Win Over the Record Keepers.”

Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lAgaEXJOQba1b8QaBTHaUQ.  Open to non-members. Closed captioning provided. Sponsored by APG’s Professional Development Committee.

Do you have questions about APG’s Continuing Education requirement?  Would you like help in planning your continuing education journey for 2024?

On 4 March 2024, a New Jersey legislator introduced Senate Bill 2930, which has the potential to disrupt New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

On 14 March 2024, the APG Board of Directors submitted a statement to several New Jersey legislators, expressing concern for the recent proposal:

The overly broad definition of "personal identifying information," will make it more difficult, if not impossible, to gain access to currently-public records which facilitate our clients in understanding their origins, acquiring citizenship, and distributing assets to heirs. The failure of this bill to place time limits on these protections would likely inhibit access to unredacted historical records, and would place additional burdens on government staff to perform tedious, time-intensive reviews of records before providing access.

APG’s comment also urges New Jersey legislators to reconsider the need for this proposal at all.

The full text of APG’s comments can be found at https://silkstart.s3.amazonaws.com/ec45ee24-724c-4afe-96d3-8893b3c5ba56.pdf.

APG is now accepting proposals for creative, interactive, and actionable learning presentations to energize and boost attendees’ genealogy careers at the 2024 Virtual Professional Management Conference (PMC) Set Sail: Navigate Your Genealogy Career, scheduled for 19-21 September 2024. The deadline for submissions is 21 April 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT.

The PMC is a premier event dedicated to exploring the latest trends, insights, and best practices in genealogical career development and business management. As we embrace the virtual format this year, we are inviting dynamic and knowledgeable speakers to share their expertise with our diverse and engaged international audience.

For full submission details, suggested topics, and more information, visit the PMC website.

Ready to submit? Click here to submit your proposal on Whova.

APG welcomes speakers from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to participate in our event. Committed to creating an inclusive environment, we value and respect diversity, and we will strive to provide accommodations to ensure that every speaker can fully contribute their unique insights and experiences.

New and original presentations tailored to professional genealogists and their businesses are preferred. APG will consider proposals from non-APG members and encourages submissions from international professionals.

Suggested topics focused on the theme, Set Sail: Navigate Your Genealogy Career include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced Technology/Artificial Intelligence Integration
• Business Expansion Strategies
• Client Relationship Management
• Collaboration and Networking
• Diversification of Services
• Educational Services and Training
• Ethical Considerations
• Financial Management
• Forensic Genealogy
• International Business
• Legal, Privacy, Confidentiality Insights
• Marketing and Branding
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Professional Writing and Publication
• Websites

Deadline for submissions is 21 April 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Our programming team will carefully review all submissions and select presentations based on their relevance, innovation, and potential impact on the professional genealogy community. We look forward to receiving your proposals and creating an enriching virtual experience for our community.

Feel free to share this call with your contacts and others who may be interested.

Questions? Contact Dawn Carey Henry, PMC Manager at apgpmc@gmail.com.  

Sponsorship Information: Contact APG Advertising Manager Pam Israel at admgr@apgen.org.

On 15 December the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice issued a consultation document on the storage and retention of original will documents, proposing to digitize and then destroy original wills after 25 years (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/storage-and-retention-of-original-will-documents). 

On 21 February 2024, the APG Board of Directors submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice, expressing concern for the recent proposal:

While APG applauds the initiative to digitize and make accessible the wills held by the Ministry of Justice, APG does not support the destruction of these valuable documents, as there are real risks in digitization. Wills provide a valuable glimpse into the networks, lives, and families of citizens and residents of the UK and the former Empire. They are of immense genealogical value and oftentimes paint a picture of the people being researched. Not only that, wills provide valuable data for social and economic history, telling the stories of the commonfolk and luminaries alike. The destruction of the original wills will effectively put three centuries of history at risk; in particular, the history of those often forgotten.

APG’s comment also urges the Ministry of Justice and Parliament to reconsider this proposal and find a solution that will preserve and make accessible these valuable pieces of British and global history. 

Back by popular demand! Join your colleagues on Monday, 19 February 2024 from 2:00–3:00 PM EST for the APG Career Idea Exchange, a special hour of networking and discussion. In our focused breakout rooms, you will be able to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and visit with your fellow APG members. Register at https://www.apgen.org/events/career-idea-exchange-members-only

In early 2023, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed significant price increases to the fees required to access their genealogy records. Such increases would have negatively impacted genealogists’ ability to access the records, also impacting their businesses.

As part of a campaign spearheaded by Records Not Revenue, genealogy professionals and others who would be affected submitted comments in opposition to the proposed fee increases. APG’s Advocacy Committee was quick to organize the association’s response, encouraging association members to submit their feedback to USCIS; you can read APG’s official comments on the proposed fee increases here.

On 31 January 2024, the USCIS published the final rule, one that included a reduction in fees for the genealogy program.

“The fee reduction announcement shows that grassroots advocacy works,” said Renée Carl, APG Advocacy Committee member and Records Not Revenue volunteer. “Hundreds of genealogists, hobbyists, and historians took the time to send comments to USCIS, and they let their members of Congress know about the issue. This accomplishment would not have happened without the groundswell of support.”

According to Records Not Revenue, under the new rule, a Genealogy Program Index Search will drop from $65 to $30, if filed online. Genealogy Program Record Requests filed online will now cost $30 per record. This is a 54% fee cut to access the USCIS historical records. See the image for further details.

The records held by the USCIS Genealogy Program include immigration and naturalization documents for millions of immigrants to the US. The new rule states that Genealogy Program records that have already been digitized (including Alien Registration Forms and Certificate Files created before about 1944) will be provided with the results of an Index Search, with no additional fee. Visa Files, Registry Files, high-numbered C-Files, and A-Files all remain in paper form.

It's that time! Please record your continuing education hours using our form at 

https://www.apgen.org/cpages/continuing-ed-report . Members are required to report at least 12 hours or use the form to request an exemption. New members and honorary lifetime members are exempt.

Date: 10 January 2024
Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Visit www.timeanddate.com for worldwide time equivalents.

Join Alec Ferretti, chair of APG's Advocacy Committee, as he discusses how APG has been working to lobby for the interests of genealogists worldwide, and how all genealogists can — and should — be involved in advocacy efforts.

This event is free and open to the public. Register to attend at
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BHYw51ttSWGs91FkMHwv5g

About the Presenter: Alec Ferretti is a New York City-based professional genealogist specializing in the genealogy of 20th-century immigrants to the United States. He works for the Wells Fargo Family & Business History Center and is a graduate of NYU and LIU’s dual master’s program, with degrees in archives and library science. He is the President of the New York Genealogy & Technology Group, an informal organization that meets bimonthly to discuss topics brought forth by members. He is also on the board of Reclaim the Records, a nonprofit dedicated to wrangling public records from restrictive government agencies.