Benefits of APH Membership

Join a growing international network of professional men and women who share your commitment to help others preserve their life stories! The Association of Personal Historians Inc. is a unique non-profit trade association for entrepreneurs in the field of preserving personal histories. It is the only organization in this sphere of interest that offers ongoing support, training and information sharing. Membership is open to individuals, businesses and organizations. Whether you.re a novice or an experienced Personal Historian, the APH can help you advance professionally.

Members come from diverse backgrounds that include journalism, film and video, oral history, psychology, storytelling, graphic design, publishing, genealogy, history, and education. Our shared enthusiasm for recording and preserving people's stories brings us together into this emerging field of service.

Members benefit from a stronger public presence as a Personal Historian, a dynamic and informative Web site, support via an interactive online Forum and Listserv, regular newsletters, active media outreach and marketing expertise, a resource-filled annual conference, and the opportunity to network in regional and committee activities. APH members are proud to add the professional designation, "Member of the Association of Personal Historians," to our business cards, letterhead, brochures and promotional materials.

APH Web Site
APH's attractive Web site provides each member a listing in the Membership Directory. Here members describe and promote our services and products to clients who are seeking Personal History services, with contact information and links to our own Web sites. The members-only section of the site is filled with helpful tips, marketing ideas, sample forms, official documents and other valuable resources for Personal Historians. The public section of the site educates potential clients about personal history services and offers helpful suggestions about the field.

APH Forum The APH Forum is an enriched communication feature available to APH members. If an article about you and your business is published in your city's newspaper, post the link in the APH Members in the Press. If you have experience to share in appropriate lighting for video interviews, post your message in the Video Forum. If you have a question about the best software for digital audio recordings, ask it in the Audio Forum. And if you are offering a workshop, post it on the Calendar of Events. This is a great tool for APH members! After you join, you can quickly learn the features by listening to the audio "Getting Started on the APH Forums'.

APH Listserv
Our online communication resource, the APH Listserv, provides an ongoing dialogue among members. It is a forum for exchanging ideas, asking probing questions and finding creative solutions to problems. Restricted to members only, the Listserv provides a friendly and supportive setting for floating trial balloons with our mentors in cyberspace.

APH Newsletter
Our three-times yearly newsletter is entertaining and informative. This attractive publication contains valuable how-to articles, notices of upcoming events, helpful marketing tips, information on new techniques and technologies, member profiles and analyses of current issues that affect Personal Historians.

APH Media Outreach
The Board of Directors promotes the value of personal history as well as the Association and its members by creating and pursuing opportunities to attract media coverage in print, broadcast and electronic forms. Every effort is made to increase public awareness and member visibility. In addition, the APH Marketing Committee seeks and provides resources to help members promote our products and services.

APH Annual Conference
Held in a different city each year, our conferences are designed to enhance members' success and keep us on the cutting edge of the field. Conferences include workshops, speakers, forums and panel discussions for all levels of experience as well as opportunities for networking, brainstorming, and viewing the work of other Personal Historians. Whatever your skill development, the knowledge you gain at an APH conference will help you grow professionally.

APH Committees
Everyone in APH has an opportunity to shape and contribute to this evolving profession and to the APH organization. Working with your fellow Personal Historians on one of our many committees is a rewarding way to learn and grow together. Cooperating with your colleagues in developing programs for this unique and worthwhile association is a satisfying way to increase your knowledge and promote your business in the process.

APH Regions
Gather with other Personal Historians in your area for regular meetings to network, learn from expert speakers, share referrals, problem-solve, plan community events and join together to promote your services at opportune venues.