About BCG

THE BOARD'S VISION

Of genealogical practice: a profession or avocation that

• is of value to society's understanding of its history; and
• requires training, experience, and advanced skills.

Of genealogical clients: those who benefit from the practitioner's efforts, regardless of whether:

• the results are delivered in writing, orally, or online;
• work is done for a fee, or for a salary, or without compensation; or
• the practitioner's own or another person's ancestry is the subject of study.

Of certification: an important step in one's personal growth as a genealogist and a vital part of maintaining quality and public confidence in the field.

• For genealogists, certification says "I care about the quality of work I compile for posterity."
• For consumers, certification offers reassurance and a recourse as they seek professional help in a field that is still, for the most part, free of governmental regulation.

THE BOARD'S ACTIVITIES

Promulgating Standards

Since its beginning in 1964, the BCG has promoted standards in genealogical research (see BCG History). The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual, published in 2000 by Ancestry.com for the Board, is designed to clarify, codify, and organize standards generally accepted in the field. This publication makes them readily accessible to all genealogists, whether or not they envision applying for certification.

Education

The Board does not offer a course of genealogical instruction. Its commitment to education is expressed in the following programs:

Education Fund

The BCG Education Fund, a tax-exempt charitable trust, advances the educational aims of the Board for Certification of Genealogists by funding learning programs and by providing incentives for study and scholarly research.

Publications

• OnBoard, an educational newsletter, is published each January, May, and September. It carries news, associate profiles, and feature articles on certification, genealogical standards, skillbuilding, and sources. OnBoard is free for certified associates and preliminary applicants. It is otherwise available by annual subscription. Subscriptions and back issues can be ordered here.
• The BCG Application Guide, which sets out the requirements and procedures to be followed by applicants for certification; and
• A complimentary tri-fold pamphlet series that describes specific aspects of research or the process of applying for certification. Click the following links to download PDF versions of the pamphlets into an Adobe Acrobat reader for personal use:
  
• Educational Preparation for Certification
• Application Tips: Q's & A's
• Genealogical Certification: Who? What? Why? How?
• Why Hire a Board-Certified Genealogist?

Sponsorships and Cosponsorships

• of national-level institutes such as the National Institute on Genealogical Research and the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research;
• lectures and workshops at national-level conferences such as those sponsored annually by the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies;
• lectures by its representatives at regional and local seminars and meetings; and
• this website

Recognition of Certified Persons

The BCG Certification Roster, a listing of the names, addresses, category designations, and other information about certified associates, is published electronically elsewhere on this website.

Mediation

For consumer protection, BCG offers the public an arbitration service. Should a problem ever arise with the conduct of one of its associates, BCG will mediate the case if brought to it on formal complaint. BCG reserves the right to rescind certification in instances of flagrant violation of the Genealogists' Code.

THE BOARD'S ORGANIZATION

Structure

The Board consists of fifteen trustees, a professional executive director, and a panel of approximately forty-five judges. Trustees are elected by the certified associates to serve three-year terms. Officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and executive committee member at large) are elected annually by the trustees. All trustees are certified, and all serve without compensation.

The BCG Officers and Trustees are:

BCG Executive Director
Nicki Peak Birch, CG

BCG Emeritus Associates

It is the policy of BCG to offer Emeritus status to a certified person who has had a long and distinguished career with BCG who is retired or semi-retired, to be determined on a case-by-case basis by vote of the trustees. Those indicated with an asterisk are deceased.

The following individuals have been awarded BCG Emeritus status:
Joan Ferris Curran*
John Frederick Dorman
Margaret Hickerson Emery*
Jeanne Hand Henry
Helen F. M. Leary
Virginia Pope Livingston*
Dorothy M. Lower*
Lynn C. McMillion
Joy Reisinger
Milton Rubincam*
Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr.*
Grahame Thomas Smallwood, Jr.*
Harriet Stryker-Rodda*
Neil D. Thompson
Nora Miller Turman*
Elizabeth Pearson White*

Annual meeting

The scheduled annual meeting takes place in the fall, usually in October, at a site chosen at the previous annual meeting. Additional meetings are held throughout the year, often just before or after a national conference. Meeting results are reported in OnBoard.

Bylaws

BCG's bylaws are a public document and may be accessed online or obtained by writing the Executive Director at the office address, and enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope (SASE) with the request.

Addresses

The Board's Addresses

• Post Office Box 14291, Washington, DC 20044
• office@bcgcertification.org
• www.bcgcertification.org

Appointments and Committees

Advertising Manager: Stefani Evans, CG
Advertisment Designer: Sharon Tate Moody, CG
APG Delegate: Beverly Rice, CG
Booth Coordinator: Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
Certification Publicity Releases: Debra Mieszala, CG
FGS Delegate: Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL
General Counsel: Donn Devine, JD, CG
Intellectual Property Chair: Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG
Mail List Archivist: Pat Stamm, CG, CGL
Ombudsman: Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL
OnBoard Editor: Will White, CG
Records Preservation and Access Delegate: Barbara Mathews, CG
Skillbuilding Track Coordinator: Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL
Small Conference Coordinator: LaDonna Garner, CG
Webmaster: Amy Larner Giroux, CG, CGL

Outreach Committee: Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL, Chair
CindyLee Butler Banks, CG
Laura DeGrazia, CG
Stefani Evans, CG
LaDonna Garner, CG
Amy Larner Giroux, CG, CGL
Barbara Vines Little, CG
Dave McDonald, CG
Debra Mieszala, CG
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL

Independent Cooperating Organization
BCG Education Fund, a Massachusetts charitable trust
Trustees
Stefani Evans, CG
Barbara J. Mathews, CG
Patricia O'Brien Shawker, CG
Kathy Gunter Sullivan, CG
Debbie Parker Wayne, CG