Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

Guild Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member/transcriber of the Immigrant Ship Transcribers Guild. You can become a working member of the Guild by completing the application below. We also accept contributing members who are unable to do the actual transcribing of a passenger manifest but who wish to contribute to us in some way so that our work will continue. You can contribute your time and talents, reels of film you would like to see transcribed that you have purchased and donated to the Guild or you can contribute money to assist with our operating expenses. We accept new members on an ongoing basis, however depending on staff time, we may only review applications once each quarter. Please specify the type of membership you are requesting in the application.

We work to maintain the highest quality in our transcribing. Please read our typing tutorial before completing this application. If you have access to your own lists, you are free to copy and transcribe them from the microfilm. We cannot accept lists which are copied from any books, cd, or other works currently under copyright protection. If you wish to transcribe a list which you have seen in a newsletter or other form (such as cd), please write to the author and obtain written permission.

If you already have a list in your possession which you would like to transcribe, you do not have to become a Guild member to do so. While you are working on your list, we will subscribe you to our mailing list so that you will have as much help as you might need. This will give you access to all of our volunteers, many of whom have a great deal of experience and expertise.

While we have membership requirements which we believe work for the good of all, we also understand the value of family and loved ones. In all situations, your family and loved ones come first. Guild members are encouraged to take a leave of absence, go off on a vacation or just take a break from time to time. We like to keep our priorities in balance and we want you to also. As much as is possible, we prefer to work in a no pressure atmosphere.

Your application should be printed out, signed and mailed to address below. Please include a ten dollar application processing fee. Checks may be made payable to ISTG. This money covers passenger lists sent out to new volunteers, which are never transcribed and never returned. Unfortunately, it is an expense we must absorb and this processing fee is the only way we can cover those costs. We accept new members on an ongoing basis. Please specify the type of membership you are requesting in the application. After reading the instructions on typing and formatting your passenger list, and the rules and obligations of the membership, if you are still interested in joining the Guild, please print the application, complete and sign it and return it to us by way of your postal service, along with the $10 processing fee. The time and the patience it will require you to do this is nothing compared to the patience it will require you to decipher and transcribe a list. Please be advised that this information is held in confidence and will not be given out to anyone other than the appropriate staff members who need it to process your application.

_____I wish to become a working/transcribing member.

_____I wish to become a contributing member only.

1. Your Name and your Email Address (please type or print, distinguish zero from the letter O and the number one from the letter l (el).

2. Your Complete Street Address

3. City, State, Country, Zip or Postal Code

4. Please list your phone number.

5. Please tell us about your computer system, including which browser you use.

6. Please tell us if you have had any experience transcribing old records...this is not required but we would like to know.

7. Please tell us what other genealogical organizations or foundations you belong to.

8. If you read any languages other than English, please list them.

9. If you speak any languages other than English, please list them.

10. If you do not read or speak another language, are their specific ethnic names with which you are more familiar than others?

11. If you have a source for obtaining your own lists please tell us what that source is, otherwise lists will be mailed to you.

12. Please tell us why you would like to work with the Guild.

Please read this agreement before signing the application.

1. I agree that the copy of the partial or complete lists or manifests I receive is owned by ISTG.

2. I agree to complete the transcribing of the lists or manifests within a three month period or return to the Guild. Please communicate with the Guild Coordinator if you need more time.

3. I am in control of the number of lists I receive and I may elect to do only one list in a three month period. Lists vary in length and number of passengers, from 2-3 pages containing few passengers to as many as 200 pages, containing 1500+ passengers. Long lists are usually split between several transcribers.

4. I agree to transcribe 4 lists per year or forfeit my membership with the Guild. I may elect to take on other responsibilities in lieu of the 4 list requirement.

5. I agree that I will return to the Guild in good condition all lists which I have received should my membership be cancelled by myself or by the Guild.

6. If I copy my own lists, I agree to provide the Guild Coordinator with a copy of those lists and I understand that this must be done before those lists are uploaded to the website.

7. I have read the rules/instructions regarding the transcribing and agree to complete my lists as instructed or forfeit membership.

8. I agree to remain subscribed to the ISTG mailing list and to read it so that I am aware of the changes which may take place or announcements which apply to policy and procedure. I understand that this mailing list is a vehicle for communicating with the other members of the Guild and that the Guild Coordinator cannot advise each Guild member individually.

9. I agree to pay for the postage, copying costs of my partial or complete list(s) plus a minimum of one dollar upon receipt of my list. If I am unable to pay, I agree to make private arrangements with the Guild Coordinator.

10. I agree to a 90 day trial period to allow the Guild and myself the option of acceptance or refusal of membership.

Your signature here please:_____________________________________Date___________

Your application should be printed out, completed, signed and mailed (along with the $10 processing fee) to:
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
PO Box 461054
Aurora, Colorado 80046
Attention: New Volunteer Coordinator.

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