I assume that Google's announcement of the impending termination of
the answers service (unfortunate at best for a great resource) will be
accompanied with a migration of its professionals to similiar
services, hopefully a single service for the majority that will
maintain the community.  In your opinion, what are the most likely
candidates?  Also, with the realization that Google may not have
relaxed their policies sufficiently for an answer, are there any plans
to provide reference services to the participants so that they can
continue building on the reputations established here?

Hi aidan3211!

Thanks for asking!

The answer is there is talk behind the scenes of all of that. While I
cannot say the _who_ of things _here_, I can direct you to two
locations on the Internet to keep your eye on, to see what we're up to
collectively, and individually:

Web-Owls
http://www.web-owls.com
A GAR ran Blog

GA Alumni Association (at Google Groups)
http://groups.google.com/group/GAalumni?lnk=li
Open to GARs, Clients, and Commenters.

Please stop in both places!

~~Cynthia-ga

There was a suggestion at <a
href="http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=786788">MetaTalk</a>
that Google Researchers be invited over to <a
href="http://ask.metafilter.com/">Ask MetaFilter</a>. I can't speak
for MetaFilter, but since I do have accounts both here and there,
please consider yourselves invited.