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Professional genealogists from all over the world will gather this October in Salt Lake City (and virtually) for the 2023 Professional Management Conference, Reset Refresh Refine Your Genealogy Career. APG is pleased to announce that Judy G. Russell, JD, CG^®, CGL^℠,will deliver the keynote address at this year’s conference.

Known by many around the world as ‘The Legal Genealogist,’  Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree, and an educator who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. Judy will share her own inspiring story of resetting and refining her own genealogy career many times over—and why it is so very important to stop and smell the roses.

In addition to the keynote presentation, in-person attendees will have 22 sessions included with registration, in addition to networking events; virtual registrants will have access to 11 sessions (plus the live stream of the keynote). Workshops will be available each day for an additional fee (limited spaces available).

Do you know a young genealogist with a bright future? Encourage them to apply for the APG Young Professional Scholarship! The scholarship is awarded to students or young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35 who have a significant interest in genealogy and a strong interest in developing a professional career in the field. 

Applications for the 2023 Scholarship are due by 1 June 2023. For eligibility, judging criteria, and a link to the application, visit https://www.apgen.org/cpages/awards-young-professional-scholarship. 

The scholarship winner will receive a complimentary registration for the APG Professional Management Conference (PMC) and reimbursement of up to $500 for hotel and travel expenses when attending the PMC in person. The 2023 APG PMC will be held 19-21 October 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and virtually on Whova.

The APG Advertising Sales Manager is an independent contractor (non-employee), who reports to the Executive Director (ED), and works in cooperation with the editors of APG publications. The Advertising Sales Manager will be compensated $200 per month and receive a 20 percent sales commission on ad sales, paid on a quarterly basis. The position also includes complimentary registration to the National Genealogical Society conference in 2023.

The Advertising Sales Manager is responsible for procuring advertisers for publications of the Association, managing advertiser relationships, and maintaining records of advertising revenues.

The Advertising Sales Manager shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
     ●   Maintain current advertiser relationships and develop new ones through a proactive sales approach.
     ●   Report advertising sales to the Executive Director.
     ●   Provide a quarterly report of advertising sales with calculation of commission.
     ●   Prepare run sheets for the APGQ editor and eNews editor, and PMC syllabus, as required.
     ●   Distribute media kits or flyers to solicit advertising from genealogical and related businesses.
     ●   Encourage members to advertise services to one another through the Quarterly, eNews, and PMC Syllabus.
     ●   Maintain a revenue history of advertisements placed in each issue of the Quarterly and prepare an annual report outlining advertising income by quarter and by advertiser.

Interested candidates should send an introductory letter and resume to APG Executive Director, Michelle Dwyer Cohen, admin@apgen.org, before 5 p.m. on 21 April 2023.

Join APG for our next FREE professional development webinar on 13 April, "Developing, Marketing & Teaching an Online Course: 3 Examples, 7 Decision Points" with Jill Morelli, CG, CGL.

As a teacher of successful (and some not-so-successful) online classes, Jill has learned to engineer and re-engineer a course to make it work for her and for the students. Based on her experience with three different online courses in two different organizations, this presentation will outline some of the pitfalls and rewards of online teaching.

We will review the 7 decision points you will need to address and the lessons learned, whether it's a one-of-a-kind course like the Certification Discussion Group or the Applied Genealogy Institute, with an ever-changing selection of course material. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Even the financial and legal structures of each will be shared. Come learn about what happens behind the curtain!

For more information and a link to registration, visit https://www.apgen.org/events/webinar-jill-morelli-developing-marketing-teaching-an-online-course-3-examples-7-decision-points

APG has submitted comments to the public record opposing the proposed fee hike for access to historical records held by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Genealogy Program, due to the negative impact it will have on members’ small businesses. The full text of APG’s response can be viewed at https://silkstart.s3.amazonaws.com/e8795957-08b5-4319-871e-df7c35d704a4.pdf.

The deadline for comments is Monday 13 March 2023. We urge our members and others in the genealogy community to submit their comments about the impact of the proposed rule on their businesses at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/USCIS-2021-0010-0001.  Comments are welcome from non-U.S. residents.

“APG members utilize USCIS records because these unique primary source documents and testimonies cannot be located in other resources. These records are invaluable, and they help our members do valuable work,” said APG President Annette Burke Lyttle in the comments.

“These fee increases stand to severely cripple genealogists’ ability to execute research…and would impose a severe financial burden on their livelihoods.” Lyttle continued, “APG’s members, including many who are sole proprietors and small business owners, would suffer greatly.”

APG’s comments strongly urge USCIS to: (1) publicly present a plan to fix the program; (2) outline how they intend to work with the National Archives and Records Administration to implement the overdue transfer of records; and (3) permanently shelve the proposed fee schedule increase.

REMINDER:
Call for Presentations Now Open for the 2023 APG Professional Management Conference
Reset, Refresh, Refine Your Genealogy Career

APG’s 24th annual Professional Management Conference (PMC), Reset, Refresh, Refine Your Genealogy Career, will be held 19–21 October 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and virtually on Whova.

APG is now accepting proposals for creative, interactive, and actionable learning presentations to energize and boost attendees’ genealogy careers. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 19 March 2023, so submit your proposal today!

We are seeking new and original presentations tailored to professional genealogists and their businesses. Prospective speakers may submit up to four (4) proposals (presentations, workshops, or panels). Both in-person and virtual presentations will be considered. APG will also consider proposals from non-APG members. Proposals from international speakers are encouraged.

PMC presentations are longer than the traditional genealogy conference format to allow for in- depth exploration of each topic.

     ●   Presentations are 60 minutes, plus 15 minutes for questions and answers for a total of 75 minutes.
     ●   Workshops or Panel Discussions are 150 minutes (2.5 hours) which includes time for activities and class interaction.

Suggested Topics:
Suggested topics focused on the theme Reset, Refresh, Refine Your Genealogy Career include, but are not limited to:
     ●   Accounting and bookkeeping
     ●   Business formation options and resources
     ●   Designing and presenting lectures and courses
     ●   Diversifying your product offerings
     ●   Ethical considerations
     ●   Finding your niche market
     ●   Forensic Genealogy
     ●   Innovative client reporting
     ●   Marketing, brand, and social media strategies
     ●   Mentoring
     ●   Offering packages, pricing, and setting rates
     ●   Project management software and tools
     ●   Safeguarding yourself and your business
     ●   Startup strategies, business planning, and goal setting
     ●   Thinking like an entrepreneur
     ●   Working with a genealogy librarian or archivist
     ●   Writing and publishing

For full details, visit https://apgen.org/cpages/2023-professional-management-conference. The online submission form can be found at https://forms.gle/iEyS8QmBGC7hVgQv9.

Luncheon Presentations: If you or your organization would like to sponsor a luncheon, please do not use the online submission form; instead contact Dawn Carey Henry, PMC Manager at apgpmc@gmail.com.

Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 19 March 2023.
If you have any questions, please email Dawn Carey Henry, PMC Manager at
apgpmc@gmail.com.

APG’s Professional Development Committee has announced the first three webinars of 2023, free to members and the public.

With a variety of television programming focused on genealogical research, how should today’s professionals target their audience and connect to the community to gain marketing points? Learn about several techniques that have been successful at attracting research clients with commercial, cable, and public television programs. Develop a strategy that connects you to the people who are looking for you.

Event Page: https://www.apgen.org/events/webinar-j-mark-lowe-lights-camera-marketing-my-business-with-connections-to-tv-and-social-media

16 February 2023, 6:00pm EST
Managing a Genealogy Business Downunder
Shauna Hicks

14 March 2023, 5:00pm EDT
Win-Win Mentoring
Kathleen Brandt

Learn about the goals of both mentors and mentees using an actual genealogical firm’s mentoring program guidelines. It is said that a mentor acts as an advisor to a less-experienced individual, but this is a limited definition. Even though the ultimate goal is for the mentor is to build a bridge for the genealogical enthusiast to meet professional goals, we must remember the Latin proverb: “docendo discimus,” — “by teaching, we learn."

Event Page: https://www.apgen.org/events/webinar-kathleen-brandt-win-win-mentoring