Duties of the NSSAR Genealogist General

by Judge Edward F. Butler, Sr., Genealogist General, 2004-2006

The duties of the NSSAR Genealogist General are not spelled out
in the Constitution or By-Laws of the society. The following
duties should be assumed by anyone elected to that office:

1. Define existing problems in the NSSAR application process, and communicate those problems to the NSSAR Genealogy Committee for action. Report the actions of the NSSAR Genealogy Committee to the Executive Committee.
2. Make recommendations to the NSSAR Genealogy Committee, Executive Committee, and the Trustees about proposed changes in policy regarding the application process, including the use of various types of evidence and the degree of proof required.
3. Act as liaison with any state society that is seeking to amend the NSSAR By-Laws relating to the application process.
4. Propose policy relating to membership requirements.
5. Serve as an ex-officio member of the NSSAR Genealogy Committee and the NSSAR Lineage Workshop Committee.
6. Participate with the chairman of the above committees in setting the agenda for meetings, and work toward the established goals of each committee.
7. Rule on ambiguities and conflicts in the NSSAR application process or policy affecting the acceptability of evidence, or the weight and credibility of evidence submitted in SAR applications. Then report to the NSSAR Genealogy Committee on those rulings. If the committee agrees with the rulings, the committee should adopt same. If the committee does not agree in full, the committee should issue a written statement of policy, otherwise the Rulings of the Genealogist General shall become final. If dissatisfied with the ruling of the committee, the Genealogist General may submit a proposed policy interpretation change to the trustees.
8. Maintain a binder containing at a minimum the stated policies of the NSSAR regarding the application process; copies of all Rulings of the Genealogist General; Minutes of the meetings of the Genealogy Committee and the Lineage Workshop Committee, and copies of all publications of both committees; and copies of all Rulings of the Chancellor General relating to the NSSAR application process or the duties of the Genealogist General. A copy of this binder shall be maintained by the membership department at headquarters.
9. At the pleasure of the current President General, serve as a non-voting member of the NSSAR executive committee, and serve as official liaison with the NSSAR Genealogy Committee and Lineage Workshop Committee.
10. Promote Genealogical Research and Writing in the NSSAR, including the submission of timely articles for publication to both The SAR Magazine and the Headquarters Dispatch, as well as state society newsletters and national genealogical magazines.
11. Promote and/or supervise genealogical seminars and lineage workshops at the NSSAR Annual Congress and in conjunction with meetings of the various state societies and/or district meetings.
12. Maintain an e-mail list of SAR state Registrars and Genealogists, and periodically communicate with them about problem areas and/or changes in the application process with suggestions as how they might improve the quality of applications submitted by them. Inform them about new developments in the NSSAR application process and about genealogical information which might be beneficial or interesting to them. It is important to give them feedback.
13. Communicate to the membership periodically about the status of applications and current events in the field of genealogy that might be of interest to the members. SAR-Talk and the SAR Officers and Chairman's e-mail list should be utilized for this communication together with the e-mail list of SAR state Registrars and Genealogists.
14. Prepare and submit written reports for each of the two annual meeting of the Trustees and for the Annual Congress.
15. Attend the two annual meeting of the Trustees and for the Annual Congress, including the meetings of the NSSAR Executive Committee at each.
16. Respond to queries of the NSSAR membership staff and Executive Director and provide guidance to them.
17. Review problem applications and those submitted to the President General in the appeal process, either approving same or pending them for additional proof.
18. Respond to individual queries of the various state Registrars and Genealogists.
19. Keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of genealogy and genealogy software. This can be accomplished by reviewing online genealogy sites and by subscribing to publications such as Heritage Quest, Family Tree, Genealogy Bulletin and the Magazine of the National Genealogical Society.

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