Karl Sala, Ancestry International Genealogist since 1979!

Karl Sala — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:23:10 GMT

In spite of (or because of?) my 1995 Near-Death Experience & Traumatic Brain Injury, & resultant disabilities, I am striving to thrive as an International Genealogist.

"They" told me I'd never be a professional genealogist again. Ha! I've found more clients' ancestral family members AFTER the incident than before!

Ancestry, Family History & Genealogy

Karl Sala — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:43:54 GMT

Ancestry, Family History & Genealogy

Regardless of your (dis)abilities, this photo represents the frustrations we all experience with un-indexed, un-cataloged, user-non-friendly online & offline, on-site & off-site, domestic & foreign archives, bureaucrac(ies), libraries, records offices, repositories—each with their somewhat hidden treasures of certificates, data, documents, files, records, resources, researchers, etc.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>The following half-joking--but nonetheless half-serious--quotes were said to me back in the 1980s @ 1) the Family HIstory Library & 2) in a European archive behind the former Iron Curtain. "Ah, Karl, why should I (an international reference consultant) help you get to our international records for your clients’ research, when I only get a measly salary here?" (As if I get big bucks.)<o:p></o:p>"Ah, Mr. Sala, my job as an archivist is to keep you researchers from getting at my records" <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>When she was alive, my native German--but proud <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> citizen mother--married to a US Air Force member & Vietnam Veteran, taught me: "To get the data, documents & images your clients want, you'll need to learn to 'dance with the bureaucrats.' " Isn't that the Truth. <o:p></o:p>The internet has alleviated some, but not all, of that scuffle. We love to help people find what they seek. Indeed, we have grown weary of thousands of people seeking--but not finding--what they seek! <o:p></o:p>By the way, Mom taught me how to dance in more ways than one, for she successfully dealt with the German & US military & civilian bureaucracies for decades. Were it not for Mom, I would not have applied for Social Security Disability Income. Indeed, she went to the office & passionately detailed my disabilities to the case worker. That income surely assisted me for several years until--I am proud to say—that due to my challenging, but income-producing forays into the Real World, I am no longer receiving SSDI. "Are you bragging or complaining," my Dad might have asked. Bragging, of course.<o:p></o:p>When Ancestry.com created a short-lived--but effective & profitable--research team to help their subscribers find what they were seeking, guess who were THE VERY FIRST TWO PEOPLE ANCESTRY.COM SELECTED FOR THE ad hoc TEAM? 1) KARL SALA & 2) LYNELL SALA, a decades-experienced successful ancestry, family history & genealogy research couple. Unfortunately, the corporate leaders--and perhaps investors--opted to no longer assist their subscribers with research.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>This makes Karl Sala available to you for some potentially complimentary coaching, counsel, results & service. He regrets that he cannot help everyone, but will help those who seem to have a good, quick answer for their dilemma.

Disaboom karlmsala

Karl Sala, Ancestry International Genealogist since 1979!

Ancestry, Family History & Genealogy