SLIG 2019 Course Highlight: What Does it Take to Have a Successful Genealogy Business?

What does it take to have a successful genealogy business? Are you thinking about opening one? Are you interested in improving your existing business? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this course is for you!

Instructors

• Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, CG
• Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
• David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA

Prerequisites

• This course requires active interaction and participation. At the end of the week, each student will have a unique business plan crafted from each day’s homework.
• Sessions include hands-on activities. Students should bring a laptop computer with a word-processing and a spreadsheet program installed. Nightly homework assignments will include income and expense accounts, creating a weekly calendar, marketing and promotion, and business plans.

Daily Goals

• Day 1 we focus on setting goals for our business and the tools for measuring and monitoring the health of our business: finances. Students with existing businesses may want to bring three-years of balance sheets and income and expense statements.
• Day 2 we concentrate on client relations beginning with the inquiry through the final report and invoice. These steps are combined with time allocation and management to create a weekly calendar.
• Day 3 the discussions focus on client reports, marketing, promotion, and time management. Students develop the marketing and promotion piece for their business plans.
• Day 4 is devoted to creating future plans for education and credentialing; developing financial projections; creating marketing plans; and time management. Students use the homework pieces as the basis for creating a business plan.
• Day 5 we discuss expanding our businesses beyond client research to include revenue streams like writing and speaking.

Registration

For details, go here. To register, go here.

2019 SLIG Academy Highlight: You're Invited: Public Speaking from Concept to Delivery

Do you suffer from Glossophobia?

Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. The word glossophobia derives from the Greek γλῶσσα glōssa, meaning tongue, and φόβος phobos, fear or dread. Some people have this specific phobia, while others may also have broader social phobia or social anxiety disorder.

Josh Taylor and his team of expert instructors will help students during this intensive week to explore key components of public speaking for genealogists: the “business of speaking,” outlining contracts, pricing, legal considerations, and marketing techniques; “knowing your audience,” focusing on crafting an array of presentations, keeping lectures current, and answering conference proposal requests; “development,” including details on developing handouts, slide presentations, and other visuals; and “delivery,” centered on finding a speaking style, avoiding pitfalls, structuring your presentations, and the opportunity to present two “mini-sessions” to solicit feedback and advice from fellow students and course instructors. 

The ability to transform an initial concept to a full-fledged presentation delivered in front of an audience might seem like a daunting adventure for many professionals. This interactive course is ideal for existing speakers seeking to brush up on their skills and expand their portfolios and anyone seeking to explore how public speaking might align with their aspirations.

For more information and registration go here.

2019 SLIG Academy Highlight: Developing and Managing an Effective Institute Course

This weekend, J. Mark Lowe will be entertaining and educating attendees at the 2018 Fall Seminar of the Alabama Genealogical Society. Mark's topic is "Genealogy's Deeper Well: When the Easy Stuff Runs Dry." Mark is a lifelong genealogist and enjoys opportunities to share his knowledge and expertise. More information on the event can be found here.

In January 2019, Mark will be at the 2019 SLIG Academy to coordinate his course, "Effective Institute Course." With guidance by experienced classroom instructors, participants will learn effective tools to prepare and maintain a successful course of study. Participants will prepare a detailed scope, sequence, and define course learning outcomes. Participants will also discuss how to include opportunities for complex problem solving, decision making, research planning and brainstorming activities in the classroom. The courses defined by participants during the week will be reviewed with faculty towards designing and improving balanced courses of instruction that insure student involvement. Together participants and faculty will work towards developing a course with successful learning activities, available resources, and prepared instructors.

For more information on the course, go here. To register, go here.

SLIG Registration Series: Special Events

Registered for SLIG? or the SLIG Academy? Your next step should be to sign up for special events related to that program. This includes RSVP for the plenary, selecting your meal for the banquet, purchasing guest tickets, signing up for SLIG Night at the Family History Library, even registration for SLIG Extended. All nicely organized into one events form - per program.

Here are the steps (instructions and screenshots update 11/29/18):

Step 1: Return to the SLIG Registration page by navigating to SLIG.ugagenealogy.org > Registration > Register or go directly to: sligregistration.ugagenealogy.org and log in with the email or username and password you created when you set up your account.
Note: If the screen doesn't look like this one, you are in the wrong place:

Step 2: Click on the bright blue "Special Events" box next to the SLIG or Academy registration box.

Step 3: Navigate through each page. Even though you see this pretty menu at the left, you need to go through the pages in order one by one. The menu will only help you get back to something to make changes once you have completed the page; it won't help you jump forward.

Step 3a,  Meal Events: On this page, you will RSVP for meal-related events. Tickets are included with tuition. You may also purchase a guest tickets.

Dietary information: Note that when a meal event is selected, the menu options appear. Unless you need a special meal, just click on the first item "Menu as Published." If you have dietary concerns beyond those available, or a combination of those listed, please select "Dietary Services: Other" – a text box will open for you to provide the details. The reception items will be labeled, no selection required here.

Other Meals: there are no pre-paid meal options for SLIG this year, but ther are plenty of discounted options available on-site. Don't forget to read about them under "Dining at SLIG" on the website.

Step 3b,  SLIG Night at the FHL: On this page, you will RSVP for SLIG Night (required answer - attending or not), and sign up for tours or classes/labs. Make sure you check "tour not needed" to bypass that middle section if you don't wish to take a tour, and "None selected" under courses/labs if you only wish to come to research and eat refreshments. 

Step 3c,  Special Events: On this page, you will RSVP for the plenary session and the orientation session (everyone is requested to attend this year). 

SLIG Extended: This page also includes registration for the new "SLIG Extended" program - where you can stay and research with guided assistance, or obtain a DNA consultation.  These are held during the week after SLIG, but are part of your SLIG registration.

 Step 3d,   Disability Services and Service Opportunities:
If you plan to bring a wheelchair or scooter, we need to know in order to assure adequate access in your classroom and handicapped access to the shuttle. So, PLEASE check the box if this applies.
If you have other needs, a text box will appear to provide details.

Also on this page: optional volunteer opportunities.

Step 4: Review the Summary and Finish.
The darker colored "Summary" box at the left indicates you have navigated all of the pages and are ready to review. At this point you can click on another page to go back, or use the "back" button to make changes. If everything is accurate, click on "Finish".

You must click "Finish" to save!

You will then see a final summary with this message: "Your selections have been recorded ..." At that point you can click on the PayPal link to pay any amount due, or exit and pay with a check.

Where did that information go? It has been blended together wtih your original course order, so you can see it all in one place.  And you can review your order or invoice at any time.

Review any order or invoice anytime you want: 

a. Return to your registration dashboard by clicking on the SLIG home icon (the mountains) in the top left corner of the browser.

b. Select "Enrollments" from your menu to see your complete registration summary by program - course, prior options, and new special event options - all combined into one.

c. Select "Invoices" to view your invoice. Select your invoice from the list at the top, and it will open a full invoice with a PayPal link and mailing address at the bottom.

This process is similar for the Academy: Just log in and look for the bright blue button by the Academy registration form.

Note: To receive invitations to hosted events from organizations like AncestryProGen or LegacyTree Genealogists you should have already checked the box on your original registration form. It looked like this:

Tech Day and Tours?  Look for a separate form on the Registration Dashboard and follow the same steps. This will not blend together with your SLIG or Academy registration - it will show as a separate registration and invoice.

More questions? 

Email the registrar: registrar@slig.ugagenealogy.org

We look forward to seeing you at SLIG!

SLIG 2019 Highlight - Gothic Script Course

F. Warren Bittner will be back at SLIG in 2019 coordinating his course on Gothic Script and Fraktur.

German handwriting is troublesome with seven forms of the letter s, h’s that look like f’s, e’s that look like n’s, p’s that look like nothing every seen before, and r’s that are just plain upside down. Students in Reading German Records will learn to read Gothic Script and Fracture Typeface and have fun in the process. This course will include German genealogical vocabulary and Latin terms. By the end of the course students will have the tools needed to read basic German genealogical records.

Kathy Holland blogged about her previous experience in Warren's course here.

AncestryProGenealogists Scholarship Program now accepting applications!

Institutes are a great way to increase your professional genealogical knowledge, skills and abilities and now Ancestry helps to make it more affordable!

Ancestry has establish a scholarship program to foster and support professional genealogists in their professional growth and development efforts. Four scholarships are awarded to help cover certain expenses of attending one of four U.S.-based genealogical institutes. 

Applicants must submit an application including a current resume, institute preference, and a 500 to 700 word essay.

Submission deadlines along with more details can be found on their website.