Godt nytår! Or “Happy New Year” in Danish! I was fortunate to have spent the new year in a new country (Denmark), exploring new cities (Copenhagen, Hillerød; Malmö and Lund in Sweden) with new people. However, it is a new year which means new genealogical resolutions!
I realized this week that last year’s posts marked five years that I have partaken in creating genealogical resolutions starting back in 2018. Honestly, despite not being able to finish each goal each year, it is nice to have them recorded and it does push me to actually want to get them done. Looking back over the years, I saw that many of the “big” goals I wanted to accomplish (whether related to DNA testing, taking a genealogy course, or getting serious about genealogy as a business) I have been able to meet. So this year I want to create ten new resolutions that I would like to see completed for 2024.
If you have not seen my genealogical resolution reflection for 2023 – Make sure to check it out!
Genealogical Resolutions for 2024!
1. Get on the BCG Clock
This is definitely a big leap of a goal. It would be mean that I am ready to apply to become a “Certified Genealogist” with the Board of Certified Genealogists. So far I am taking the steps to prepare myself: such as finding families for the different elements, outlining potential research, and I am a part of an accountability group that meets bimonthly in order to discuss where we are in our process and as the name suggests – to keep each other accountable.
Getting on the clock would give me a deadline to submit my application and to push “send” finally for my certification, it is a big task and not everyone passes on the first go around so I want to make sure I dot my “i”s and cross my “t”s when submitting my application!
2. Research in Andalucía, Spain
I hope that while I am here in Spain I will be able to research again in southern Spain (Andalucía) in a small town called San Juan del Puerto where my Dávila ancestors were from. The last time I was able to research in that town was before the pandemic, so I am not sure if it is still possible to research in person and what the new (if any) protocols would be.
The last time I went it was the hours were also run by a volunteer who would meet me on certain days in order to complete research and this was during the summer. So I wonder if it will be possible to research during one of my holidays because typically they are Catholic holidays in nature and I imagine the church would be closed those days. I will have to call and figure this out soon!
3. Understand more about genetic Endogamy
DNA is definitely an important tool when it comes to research, finding cousins, and making connections via your autosomal DNA and genetic ancestors. However, one of the biggest hurdles is the fact that endogamy is common on the island of Puerto Rico. Therefore, what might seem like a third cousin might actually be a fifth cousin or much further. Since many Puerto Ricans have been on the island for many, many years – many of our trees experience pedigree collapse when somewhere down the line our ancestors appear in more than one place on our tree.
That is why I am hoping to learn more about how one can overcome endogamy in DNA in order to help me use the various kits of tested relatives I have to my advantage. My goal is to find various webinars that can help me achieve this resolution.
4. Continue learning Catalan
This year while in Spain I started learning Catalan on my own. One of my Catalan speaking coworkers recommended the series “A Punt” which I have been using to learn the language for about the last two months. I decided to use some of my free time to learn Catalan on my own since it is one of the languages I use in my research in Mallorca. I felt that I should begin mastering some of the basic phrases and elements of language so that I can better understand last wills and testaments, for example.
I also want to have Catalan as a potential language I can speak in when I visit the island as well. I think it is a cool way to engage with the history of my ancestors. Especially since my ancestor was from a small town on the island, Catalan is more commonly heard there compared to in Palma, the capital of the island.
5. Attend a genealogical conference in person
This will require me being in the United States which I am definitely slated to return after this academic year. Since I started my professional genealogical journey during the pandemic and then subsequently moved out of the country for two years, I have yet been able to attend a genealogical event in person. This means that most of my connections with other genealogists have solely been online, and while this is fine, I do want to be able to meet other genealogists in person and to attend workshops, conferences, etc. to begin establishing a “physical presence” in the genealogical community.
So hopefully in the summer or fall (and at the latest, the winter!) I will be able to attend a conference in person!
6. Get paid for a genealogy event
This is a part of my “make genealogy a business” resolution that I have slowly been working on. So far, I have given two chats online pro-bono but I would love to work an event and get paid for it as a genealogist. I think this for me is more symbolic than anything. I have not been paid yet for my genealogical work (some of it my choosing) and I think it would be cool to finally make a dollar (or more) on my name in genealogy.
7. Reach 25 hours for apg's "continuing education"
As a part of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), every year that you are a member you are expected to complete 12 hours of “continued professional education”. This can range from college courses, institutes, conferences, discussion groups, lectures, webinars, online courses (not college), self-directed study, or other. I will talk on a later post of what I completed last year as a part of my 12 hours but in 2024 I would like to complete 25 hours.
Why? Well, I just got a yearly subscription to Legacy FamilyTree Webinars and I would like to use this subscription to my advantage and watch as many webinars as I can related to various topics I deal with in genealogy (slavery, genetic genealogy, BCG Portfolio, etc.).
By adding a resolution, my hope is that I can complete this goal easily and learn lots along the way.
8. Complete at least two elements of the BCG Portfolio
Tied to resolution #1 this is definitely another big resolution. With being “on the clock” for the Board of Certified Genealogists (BCG), you can complete your work either before or during your time “OTC” (on the clock). Some people prefer to solely work on the clock, using the countdown as a way to push them to their deadline. Others, prefer working slowly beforehand, and then going on the clock, already having some of the heavy lifting work for their portfolio already completed. Mainly I think it depends on what kind of person you are.
Since I have a lot of free time here in Spain, I want to use that time to not only outline the elements for the portfolio, but to also begin writing at least two of the elements. This way when I return home I can edit, review, add more citations, etc. to things I could not finish up while I was in Spain. This would hopefully help me feel less stressed (if and) when I decide to get on the clock.
I am really hoping I can get two elements done (either in their entirety or the bulk completed) because this will propel me forward to apply to the BCG.
9. Look for genealogy jobs
This one can be hit or miss depending on what is available in the market at the time and what kind of work I want to get involved in. For example, I have seen organizations (such as the NYPD) looking for genetic genealogists to work on their team to help solve cold cases. Other jobs may include working for societies or historical organizations as a part of their research team. Lastly, there are companies out there that hire whether it be full-time or contracted genealogists on their team to complete casework for clients interested in learning more about their families.
For the time being, I am not completely sure that genealogy for me will keep the lights on (yet!) but I do want to see what is out there and what I can apply for. I think with my research skills honed the last 3-4 years with the courses I have taken and with the various languages I speak, I feel fairly confident that I can complete genealogical research outside of just a “hobby” level. It just depends on what type of genealogical job I want to pursue.
Though I might not find a job for 2024, knowing what is out there, what requirements they are looking for, and putting myself in a good position to get one of those jobs is important!
(RECYCLED) 10. Begin planning a trip to Guadeloupe and Martinique
This was a goal I had set up way back in 2018, did not get to complete, but one that I honestly would like to see come to fruition! I love to plan trips and so if I can create an “itinerary”, a route, or even find places to visit on both islands, then I will feel that much closer to making my dream come true of traveling to both islands.
Now that I feel way more comfortable communicating in French in comparison to 2018 when I first created this goal, I think it feels that much more feasible. Granted, I would need to save up money for this trip and decide whether or not I need to do this trip in one or two stints but I would love to be able to visit these islands in the Caribbean.