Formation of the Keeping Genealogical Records Open Workgroup (KGROW)

The following announcement was written by the Association of Professional Genealogists:

WESTMINSTER, Colo., March 21 – The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) contends that there is no proof that open records significantly contribute to ID theft or terrorism. In a position paper that outlines the case for open public records, APG asserts that open records are rarely used by identification thieves and maintains that the benefit of open access to records far outweighs any potential abuse.

APG has joined forces with other genealogical organizations including the National Genealogical Society (NGS), The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) in endorsing the position paper and calling on legislators to keep records open.

“Public records allow genealogists and other professionals such as medical researchers, journalists, historians and academic researchers to do their jobs,” explains APG President, Jake Gehring. He urges that “concerned citizens tell their representatives that they want to keep public records open.”

A group of professional genealogists within APG formed the Keeping Genealogical Records Open Workgroup (KGROW) in 2007 and prepared the position paper. Melinde Lutz Sanborn, FASG (Fellow, American Society of Genealogists) and member of the committee, says, “Open records and transparency in government are the best protections we have against twenty-first century fraud.”

The KGROW committee recommends in their paper that “lawmakers respond to the ID theft problem, not try to prevent a nonexistent problem.” Further, they encourage “private companies and government improve their protection of personal data.” The Case for Open Public Records position paper is available on the APG website at http://apgen.org/publications/press.

The Association of Professional Genealogists is an independent organization whose worldwide members number over 1,800. The group’s principal purpose is to support professional genealogists in all phases of their work: from the amateur genealogist wishing to turn knowledge and skill into a vocation, to the experienced professional seeking to exchange ideas with colleagues and to upgrade the profession as a whole.

Comments

[Oxa]

They made their first major mistake in the name they gave this group: Keeping Genealogical Records Open Workgroup. It implies that the goals of the group benefit a narrow group of people-- those "little old lady" genealogists. If they had named it Keeping Public Records Open (KPRO), it would have implied that their interests went beyond the small genealogical community and encompassed the public at large, thereby garnering more support from the both the public and legislators. In this and other areas, APG needs some serious public relations help.

[Marjorie]

Better yet, Keeping Public Records PUBLIC... (KPRP) would address the real problem of fixing what isn't broken. But if you want the group to hear your thoughts, go to the website and use the contact buttons to express your opinions to them.

[Jennie Vertrees]

I feel I am proficient in finding what I want in public records as a genealogist, but it took me a long time to reach this proficiency level and I was in those records constantly and searching. One state closed their records after I did my first research there and then reopened them at a later date and I went back and got the information I needed, but didn't know I needed on my first visit. So many things come out in the newspapers, which come from public records. One has to be court house savvy to find records even on the persons in one's own family. I see no reason to close those records lest one's identity be snatched. I should think there would be much quicker ways, IF one really wanted to snatch another person's identity.