After waiting for nearly a year I finally joined APG this week. The Association of Professional Genealogists is an immensely important entity for those of us working towards building a career in the ever-growing genealogy field. A strict adherence to ethics which enforce the belief that a professional is constantly working towards further education and excellence is central to the group's core values and I'm glad I can finally feel comfortable to call myself a member.
My decision to put it off was primarily because I didn't feel like I was up to the task. Two years ago I made the decision to start looking into genealogy as a profession but up to that point I had been a hobbyist and knew absolutely nothing about the field beyond the realm of personal research. It took me almost another year to find out about BCG, APG, and all of the societies and educational resources out there and at the time I knew I was not ready to be listed in APG's extraordinary member list. I'm still a beginner to the business side of the field, but after spending some hard time refining research skills and getting a few pro bono jobs from friends and relatives I'm more anxious than ever to continue to grow and expand my experience with clients and building an actual business for myself. Now is a great time for me to join APG and start taking advantage of their wonderfully informative Quarterly and to get involved with the local chapter as well.
If you aren't an APG member yet, take some time to consider doing so. You must carve your own path and what seems to be working for me, may not be the right way for you. Some people do decide to join an organization like APG earlier on in their development, and you may be one of them. Whether you decide to join sooner or later isn't the real point here though, as long as you do join. Being able to read the articles and go to the chapter meetings is more than just a vital learning step, it's also a great way to feel proud of yourself for getting this far and for making the commitment to continue to grow as a professional. Take some time and consider joining. Maybe I'll see some of you at the next APG Roundtable....
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I finally joined this year also. And even though I really haven't seen any clients come my way from it, just being able to say that I am a member makes me feels more professional!
ReplyDeleteIt would be wonderful if we knew your name.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! FYI, you don't have to be a professional genealogist to join APG. It's one of the best ways to learn the biz. Don't forget to join the members mailing list.
ReplyDeleteYou and I seem to be in the same boat with the same current job. An extra challenge to keep everything balanced, don't you think?
It really is a good feeling, Sheri. I'm glad I finally did it. You're right, Amy, and that's what a lot of people have told me in the past but it just didn't feel like the right time for me. I know people say that joining APG brings additional educational growth through the roundtables and chapter meetings and the quarterly too, but I wanted to wait until it felt right. I was also juggling about three society dues last year which didn't help matters. This year I'm giving up NEHGS for starters so that made some room for APG too. It just seemed like the right time for me. Others may feel differently though for their own situations.
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