>Forgive our ignorance but could you please explain what the abbreviations 
mean after your name in your signature? 


The "standard" in genealogy for postnominals is that they should represent
credentials within the field itself. There are two types of postnominals
that are used after names: 

1. Earned credentials
These represent a degree in genealogy itself, certification, accreditation,
or other credential earned through a vetted or peer-review process such as
the one by which one becomes a fellow of the American Society of
Genealogists.

2. Honorifics
These are typically given by societies or colleges/universities, for
meritorious service (volunteerism, etc.) rather than through any peer-review
process that evaluates the quality of their genealogical work. In some
cases, of course, the honorifics are given "in appreciation" of a very
generous donation to the society or the school.

The specific postnominals that I could, might, or do use are these:

Earned credentials
CG = Certified Genealogist
CGL = Certified Genealogical Lecturer
FASG = Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists

Honorifics
FNGS = Fellow, National Genealogical Society
FUGA = Fellow, Utah Genealogical Society

Usually, I use only those that represent earned credentials.  



>And where is Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical
Research?

The Samford University IGHR was founded in 1964 at Samford University, a
gorgeous campus of rolling hills, fragrant flowers, and stately buildings
along Lakeshore Drive in the suburbs of Birmingham. 

The IGHR is a one-week institute held the second or third week each June,
and it offers 10 to 12 tracks of course instruction each summer. The first
four core courses go from beginning to advanced. Beyond that, it offers a
number of specialty courses that vary from year to year. Unlike genealogical
conferences, one does not pick-and-choose lectures from a smorgasbord of
offerings on a session-by-session basis. Instead, one enrolls in a specific
(and intensive) course of study. Some of the courses are lecture classes.
Some have out-of-class assignments that let the students apply, at night,
what they are learning during the day (specifically: my advanced methodology
class, Dr. Thomas W. Jones's genealogical writing course, and Elissa Scalise
Powell's "professional practices" course).  

For more about the institute, go to
http://www.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR_courses.html.  As you will see,
however, three of the classes for June 2009 have already filled (in fact,
they filled within hours of the time enrollment opened a couple of weeks
ago). Several of the others are almost filled.

Incidentally, and because several listers have asked me offline in the last
couple of days: ProGen also has chapters on genealogical
certification/accreditation and genealogical education; the latter covers a
number of learning opportunities elsewhere.

Elizabeth

-------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
Advanced Research Methodology & Evidence Analysis
Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research

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