Consolidate projects?

It looks like the "Genealogy Specialists" project is gone, so I presume this has been done?

No, the decision was made to keep the projects separate.

The project http://www.geni.com/projects/Genealogy-Specialists-on-Geni/1319 was renamed to:

Expert Genealogists on Geni
French: Généalogistes experts chez Geni

And the mission clarified, as well as a redirect to

This project aims to collect a list of eminent experts in the field of genealogy who are, or have been active, on Geni. Please feel free to add additional experts to the project.

Volunteer genealogy specialists to consult with can be found at:

Geni Genealogy Research Volunteers
http://www.geni.com/projects/Geni-research-volunteers/9996

Geni Experts with knowledge or access to research materials who are available to help members to consult in their specific areas of interest.

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There are a couple of questions raised about the project name
"Geni research volunteers"

1. It doesn't have the word genealogy (or genealogist) in the title
2. I wouldn't list myself because the word research could imply someone "on the ground," which i am not

So I am wondering if renaming it to a simple

Genealogists on Geni

Wouldn't be more effective?

Private User & Private User in particular for comments, all welcome?

Erica Howton Are the volunteers strictly "genealogy" research consultants, or are they also available for site overview guidance, creative brainstorming, and general feedback, perhaps more like a volunteer museum docent?

That sounds like a Geni curator to me?

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The purpose of this project is to provide a central location for Geni users to list the areas of the world family tree where they have particular expertise, knowledge, research interests or capabilities, or access to research materials that others may not have.

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Example from a research volunteer who is also a curator

David Prins Western European Jewry - especially Dutch and German and UK - and exiles from Spain from 1492 - and their migration to other parts of the world

I originally created http://www.geni.com/projects/Geni-research-volunteers/9996 when I was not a curator, to encourage people who were active on Geni to come forward to offer their assistance with research on Geni.

I deliberately used the word volunteers rather than experts, because many who can offer help to others would not consider themselves experts.

I did not add the word genealogy or genealogist in the title for two reasons:
1. I thought it was redundant - what else are we doing on Geni if not genealogy?
2. I didn't want to put people off - people who can actually help others but don't actually consider themselves as formal "genealogists".

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In contrast, as currently worded http://www.geni.com/projects/Genealogy-Specialists-on-Geni/1319 is a showcase of experts in their field. It doesn't say in the project description that any of the people listed will volunteer their time to help anyone. You can be listed there even if you only ever do chargeable work and never volunteer anything.

I now see that Malka Mysels expressed the difference between the two projects quite well at http://www.geni.com/discussions/150179?msg=1045963

"While Geni Research Volunteers help provide collaborative services,
The Genealogy Specialists are not listed as volunteers, but rather as potential consultants, though some experts fit both project parameters."

Erica Howton said in the other discussion "the word "researcher" actually, it does imply someone who goes to archives, compared to a compiler (or genealogist for that matter)."

That was not intended. This project does not use the word "researcher" in its title or description. It talks instead about "research volunteers". The emphasis is on volunteers. Volunteers may or may not consider themselves researchers or genealogists, or any other kind of "....er" or ".....ist".

They may go to archives or cemeteries or they may not. They may do only desk research. They may happen to have their own databases compiled from old newspapers or cemetery visits, etc. They may be broad in geographical scope or maybe they have just intricately researched who inhabited one village in 1850.

As the project description says, the project is open to those with "research interests and abilities and like helping others on Geni". Or more broadly "have particular expertise, knowledge, research interests or capabilities, or access to research materials that others may not have".

I have been disappointed that in the years since the project was created only 12 people have listed themselves. But that is the way of projects on Geni some become very popular and take off, while some do not. Maybe this project will still have its day.

David -

Re: "I have been disappointed that in the years since the project was created only 12 people have listed themselves. ..."

My *theory only* is because the word "genealogist" is not in the title of the project. Frankly I had forgotten the project was there (while i was getting lost in thinking - I'm not a "real" researcher compared to David Prins!)

I agree that the term is redundant, but it's still a keyword that resonates. And now that the companion project has been updated, wouldn't it look well together & be more intuitive?

- Expert Genealogists on Geni
- Genealogists on Geni (list your specialty areas)

Erica - I was explaining the thinking of setting up the project. I am of course always open to ideas to change and improve.

I think the word Volunteer should stay in the project title. If you think adding the word genealogists in the title would help, go for it.