Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

BCG CERTIFIES RESEARCHERS

 Founded in 1964 the Board of Certification of Genealogists is a non-profit organization of professional genealogists created to uphold and promote high standards of competence and ethics in genealogy. Their address is P.O. Box 14291 Washington, DC 20044.

 The Board views the practice of genealogy as a profession or hobby that requires training and advanced skills.  Individuals certified in genealogy, as in other professions, are expected to  pass stringent qualifying examinations. At the end of each five year certification period individuals undergo reevaluation to ensure their skills are continually updated and the work they produce for clients, readers or family members maintains the quality expected of modern genealogy.

BECOMING CERTIFIED

 Researchers wishing to reap the prestige being certified brings with it will be expected to demonstrate knowledge in their area of research and in the general skills of communication and professionalism.

 To demonstrate their ability and knowledge, candidates prepare a portfolio in which they complete testing materials furnished by the Board, discuss the merits and shortcomings of resources frequently used in their specialty area and submit samples of their research reports and other works.

 Once the requirements have been submitted three judges from a rotating panel of national level experts independently and anonymously analyze and evaluate the submission. Upon acceptance by the BCG, the applicant will be certified for five years. He will also be qualified to use the postnomial associated with the category of certification earned.

 The categories of certification are: Certified Genealogical Records Specialist (CGRS); Certified Genealogist (CG); Certified Lineage Specialist (CLS);  Certified Genealogical Instructor (CGI): and Certified Genealogical Lecturer (CGL).

 The BCG maintains a website at http://www.bcgcertification.org/. Readers who would like to learn more about the BCG and certification are urged to visit the BCG website.

GPS NEW GENEALOGICAL STANDARD

 Originally borrowed from the legal system as the standard of proof necessary in civil trials the term preponderance of evidence has been dropped from the evidentiary language of the Board of Certification of Genealogists.  It was replaced in 1997 by the term Genealogical Proof  Standard and  the acronym GPS. GPS, the BCG articulates, leads to a higher degree of reliability.

GPS IS A FIVE STEP PROCESS

 The BCG measures the credibility of statements about ancestral identities, relationships, life events and biographical details through the  Genealogical Proof Standard's five step process. Amateur or certified researchers who utilize this process can expect greater reliability in their research findings. The five steps are:

  Conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for all information that   is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or   situation in question.

  Collect and include a complete and accurate citation to the source   or sources of each item of information used.

  analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its   quality as evidence.

  Resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that    contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed or    hypothetical solution to the question.

  Arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.

NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF

 The Board of Certification's new publication, The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual: Millennium Edition, was published earlier this year. It is designed to clarify, codify and organize uniform standards of competence and ethics that have become generally accepted throughout the field of genealogy.

 The Standards Manual is organized in four sections, the first three address standards for researchers, writers, teachers and ongoing skill development. The fourth and largest section consists of a series of appendices that provide information about the Board and includes example reports and compilations. The last section also contains a subject index to the text and concepts illustrated in the examples.

 The standards of genealogical competence discussed in the Standards Manual extend to all phases of a research project: collecting the information; evaluating the evidence and; compiling the results. They also apply to all teaching activities including lecturing, presentation and preparing instructional materials.

 The Standards Manual should be carefully read and re-read by every researcher wishing to conduct accurate, reliable and credible genealogical research. It may be purchased for $23.45, postpaid, from Ancestry.Com/Paula Parke at P.O. Box 842052 Houston, TX 77284-2052 or by telephone 281-550-7935.