By Dawne Slater-Putt, CG®
Greetings! I would like to take my turn to welcome you to BCG’s newly-established blog. My name is Dawne Slater-Putt, CG, and I currently serve as the Board’s recording secretary. I have been Board-certified since 1996. As a reference librarian in The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I feel I am in the minority among my fellow associates in that I do not do client research for hire.
Dawne Slater-Putt, CG
My message to those who ask me about my involvement with BCG is that certification is not just for those who want to take clients! In the ranks of BCG associates are researchers, lecturers, authors and publishers, bloggers, librarians, archivists, and others in all kinds of occupations that relate – or do not relate – to genealogy. What we have in common is our commitment to a set of standards for sound genealogical research, analysis, and writing. I sought certification because I wanted to test my skills and stretch them. I have renewed every five years since 1996 to be sure that I do not become complacent. I want my work always to reflect – or even to exceed, because my portfolio certainly was far from perfect – the effort that I put into my original portfolio.
I would encourage everyone who has an interest in certification to explore thoroughly the BCG website and to talk to Board-certified individuals. Certification truly is for anyone who has the interest and desire to attempt it.
Dawne
