My Genealogical Experience

My first experience with genealogy was in 1982 while on a family vacation coming home from Florida (the longest drive ever!!). My mother decided to take a detour through northern Georgia to research my Dad's family in Gilmer County, GA. My sister and I were "Index Checkers" for my mom. We had a lot of fun finding our last name! [Hint! Hint! Recruiting technique!]

It took 7 years for the bug to "bite" me, but after my Dad's mom had visited for Christmas in 1989, I started actively researching her family. It was a rough start; however I was successful in finding info on my great-grandmother and had the wonderful experience of sharing it with my grandmother. (My great-grandmother died six months after the birth of my grandmother.) Through my 15+ years of my family research, I have had the opportunity to learn about many areas of genealogy, especially my Cherokee and Ukrainian families. My husband's family has proven to be a backyard research treasure trove as well. His lines have taken me to new areas of research (Moravian and Colonial New Jersey). Beyond my own research, I am a County Coordinator for the USGenWeb Project (Warren Co., NJ and Adair Co., OK).

In 2001, I had to opportunity to pursue professional genealogy on a full-time basis, and offer genealogical research services for central and northern New Jersey. I have used many types of records from local to state level and public to private in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Prior to my working full-time as a genealogist, I was a client service representative and manager with a national financial company for 11 years. My positions allowed me to strengthen my technological and project management skills as well as keeping me in tune with providing quality service to my customers.

As the former Education Chairperson for the Monmouth County Genealogy Society, I have had to opportunity to develop new lectures and plan workshops. Currently, I lecture for local genealogical societies and libraries in New Jersey. My experience with the Internet and web design is being utilized in my position as webmaster for the The Genealogical Society of New Jersey and various USGenWeb projects.

In the past four years as Trustee with The Genealogical Society of New Jersey, my experience with websites and data automation has grown through data automation projects with the assistance of our volunteers. Also, I've become active with the GSNJ Newsletter editorial committee and hope to expand my experience in genealogical publishing.

Currently, I am actively compiling my portfolio for certification with the Board for Certification of Genealogists^®. My goal is to complete the application by Summer 2007.

National Genealogical Society
        National Conference attendee - May 1999; May 2003; June 2005
        "Introduction to Genealogy: An Online Course" - February 2002
Federation of Genealogical Societies
        National Conference attendee - September 2003; August 2006
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
        "Certificate in Genealogical Studies: American Records, Basic Level" - currently enrolled
Brigham Young University Independent Study:
        Native American Research: Basic Records and Research Skills - March 2002
        Native American Research: Native American Record Keeping - March 2002
Monmouth County Genealogy Society
        "Beyond Beginners" - November 1998
        "Beginning Genealogy" - October 2000
        "Intermediate Genealogy" - April 2002
Proprietary House Association's "Family History Day" - April 1996