Those Places Thursday

Editor's note: Today's post was written Sandra Gardner-Benward

More opportunities ……… remembering back only a couple of weeks ago & the NGS Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now you can purchase CD’s of many of the classes presented there. Good News, you can look through their list of CD’s.  (actually you can go back as far as their 2008 conference). This is amazing to me. If you are researching a certain area or a subject I’ll bet that you can find that their  CD’s are a great way to listen to experts and learn at your own pace. You can start and stop the CD as much as you need too. It gives you an opportunity to take notes, rewind, rewind, rewind, create list of suggestions of records to research. This also gives you an opportunity to hear speakers and subjects that may not be typically available at a local society’s meeting or conference.  Check it out JAMB    

Mark your calendar 21-24 August 2013 in Fort Wayne Indiana for the FGS Conference. Don’t know what Fort Wayne, Indiana is all about? Located there is the Allen County Public Library which houses the second largest Genealogical section. Oh yes it is a big deal.

 

Here I am in Burbank California for the 44^th Annual Southern California Jamboree.  What a quiet and relaxing place to be, especially when Sacramento area is forecast for 104-108 degrees OUCH!!  I ended up sitting in the courtyard between Marriott’s Hotel and the Convention Center. Wow, quiet, a nice cool breeze – so relaxing I almost fell asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! But I didn’t. 

It is the calm before the storm…

 

                                                        Very little activity in the hotel lobby yet

Very  little activity in the social/ blogging area

 

 

A little more activity- doesn't this look refreshing? 

                  A couple of people in the outside sitting area. Sure is relaxing and quiet right now

 

And the courtyard between the hotel and the convention center will have a set up for breakfast foods in the morning and then change over at noon to lunch foods. It will also be the center for the DNA day registration. Right now it is a little slice of heaven.

 

The Convention Center Hub area - eerie and quiet. Registration is straight ahead. Raffles down the right side, exhibit hall near right side ,some classrooms down at the end of the hall and tents outside but not yet

 

 

.     

.........and up this hall will be many many large rounds tables each for a different discussion.   On Sunday it will be all societies showing off and that includes Root Cellar) Food court will be set up outside to the right and another entrance to the exhibit hall



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Visit a little bit of Sacramento at the 2013 NGS Conference

[Editor's Note: Today's post was written by Richard Hanson. Image courtesy of NGS.]

Are you attending the NGS 2013 Family History Conference (May 8-11 in Las Vegas)? The local Sacramento German Genealogy Society is hosting a vendor booth at that event. They will be selling books and memberships. Booth volunteers will include Shirley Riemer and Ingeborg Carpenter. Be sure to stop by and say hello! Or in their case, Hallo!

The Sacramento German Genealogy Society is one of two local sister societies of Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society. The other is the Genealogical Association of Sacramento.

NGS 2012: What I learned from Curt Witcher

Curt B. Witcher was the speaker at a luncheon sponsored by the Association of Professional Genealogists on May 9, 2012    He is the manager of the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I've heard him speak a couple of times now and have enjoyed both presentations.  He spoke at the luncheon about the 21sters (twenty-firsters) - the people who have come to genealogy through technology.  This group of people are the so-called "next generation of genealogists".  I heard D. Joshua Taylor speak about this at the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in 2011.  It's a hot topic.

As genealogy societies recruit new members or educate the general public about genealogy, the audience they hope to engage will be generally more tech-savvy and want to approach family history research using technology.  Small wonder what with television trying to capture this growing market with commercial advertising by Ancestry.com and the series Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots on commercial  and public television, respectively. 

The key to be mindful of is that the new generation of genealogists is not necessarily younger people.  They also may seek learning opportunities using technology rather than in meeting facilities.

Curt provided several examples about how the learning environment has changed such as EdX, TED-Ed, Khan Academy and the more familiar YouTube, webinar and apps.  

"Why should a genealogy society pay attention to any of this?" was the question he said that is often asked.  Curt's reply was to ask yourself "Why not do it?"  He posed another question, "Who do you want to engage?"  His point was to sustain genealogy itself or a genealogy society, there's a need to use more and different ways of reaching people.

I think Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society has begun engaging its existing members with technology through its new website, this Blog and the Facebook page.  Some efforts like putting the newsletter online were born out of financial necessity due the cost of mailings.  Root Cellar's electronic presence has also created increased visibility for our organization both locally and nationally, and thus engaged some 21sters.  Will they become members?  Maybe.  Will they grow their interest in genealogy? Probably - because of technology and its many ways to keep them engaged. Now, about that YouTube Channel for Root Cellar...

posted by and opinions of Denise Hibsch Richmond
 

NGS Cincinnati 2012: Cousin Connection!

NGS 2012 logo
Root Cellar, Official Blogger

The crowd was swelling outside Room 206 this afternoon at the NGS conference.  Small wonder - the next session was being presented by Thomas W. Jones, a well-known genealogical scholar and speaker.  I started chatting with a woman who was also waiting for the room to open.  We told each other where we were from, she from Florida but originally Ohio, me from California.  Anyone who tells me they are from Ohio is always asked "what county?".  I am hopeful their answer is the name of one of the five counties in which my ancestors lived.

Jackpot!  She said Adams, I said Clark, she said Daniel? Yes!  I said he's my link to the American Revolution.  She said, well, you get the point.  We made a connection and quickly exchanged emails.

How cool to find Cousin Susan!

Yet another reason to attend a national genealogical conference.  You're bound to be related to someone!

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond 

NGS Cincinnati 2012: Reflections

NGS 2010 logo
Root Cellar, Official Blogger

The curtain was lowered on another National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference today at 5:00 p.m.  I hope the organizers are patting themselves on the back because they hosted an excellent conference.  I'm writing this in my comfy clothes with my feet up and hopefully they are doing the same! 

According to NGS President Ann Hilke, the total attendance was 2,156.  I believe it.  Every session my husband Scott and I attended was packed to the walls.  The room monitors were diligent in identifying empty seats and directing people accordingly.  I was out of the room on a couple occasions while Scott saved my seat.  He had to nearly side-straddle it to ensure it was available when I returned.  What a guy!

View of the Exhibit Hall from the second floor

The conference was a genealogical education intensive for four days, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  I delegated Scott to attend two sessions while I cruised the Exhibit Hall. That's not his thing.  I bought some books and novelties; also talked to the people at the WikiTree exhibit and may just ask Thomas MacEntee to invite me to get my own wiki.  I've been looking for a way to share my genealogy with family members, some of whom may be interested in adding their recollections or images to the tree.  WikiTree allows for such collaboration.  Speaking of Thomas, we saw him ever so quickly as he was running to set up for his session.  No time to visit but we'll see him on March 16, 2013 at the Root Cellar Spring Seminar.  But I digress...

Are you curious about what sessions we attended?  Here's our playbill:

1. Solving Problems with Tax Records, Victor Dunn
2. Strategies for Finding "Unfindable" Ancestors, Thomas W. Jones
3. Moving Out: Migration Patterns into the Midwest, Carol Elise Smith
4. Military Bounty Lands: A Rich Resource, Rick Sayre
5. National Home for Disabled Soldiers' Homes: The Aftermath of the Civil War, Rick Sayre
6. Ohio: The Great Land Experiment, Jana Sloan Broglin
7. Best of Roots Tech: Effective Database Search Tactics, Kory Meyerink
8. Pension Research: You Stopped Too Soon, Craig Roberts Scott
9. Locating and Understanding the Law: An Essential Part of Good Research, Barbara Vines Little
10. You're Not in Kansas Any More: Essential Resources for Urban-Area Research, Jeanne Larzalere Bloom
11. Pursuing Your Genealogical Research in the Library of Congress Without Traveling to Washington, D.C. James Sweany
12. Advanced Probate Research, Michael J. Leclerc
13. Ohio Cousins May Have Migrated: Did Family Records Go Along?, Paula Stuart-Warren
14. How to be a Bad Genealogist, William B. Saxbe, Jr.
15. Using Techniques of Creative Non-Fiction to Enhance Our Genealogic Narrative, Willias White
16. Trails West to the Ohio and Beyond, Barbara Vines Little
17. Information Overload? Effective Project Planning, Research, Data Management and Analysis, Elizabeth Shown Mills
18. Solutions for Missing or Scarce Records, Thomas W. Jones
19. Newspaper Research - More Than Obituaries, Patricia Walls Stamm

19? No wonder we're pooped!  Now we just need to take action on this educational abundance!

We enjoyed the opportunity to listen to nationally-known genealogical experts and talk directly to commercial vendors and representatives of non-profit genealogical and historical organizations.  Equally valuable were the people we chatted with during the luncheons and before each session.  We met people from Arizona; Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Indiana, Washington State, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio and California (Auburn, Ventura, Sacramento). The NGS blog has some great photos of the conference.

I highly recommend you attend a national genealogical conference.  Take note -  the next NGS conference is in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 8 - 11, 2013.  So close and yet not so far to drive or fly! 

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

NGS 2012: Reunion #2

Roberta Jenkins, standing,
with Scott and Denise Richmond

I was walking down the hallway toward the session room and saw this woman feverishly waving at me saying "Hey Legacy, where's your husband?" It was Roberta Jenkins who we met on the 2011 Legacy Family Tree cruise. 

I only wish Amanda Perrine was there to get a group reunion picture.  We were able to have lunch with Roberta and chat in another session during the conference.  Such fun!

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

NGS Cincinnati: Tuesday Dinner with FamilySearch

David Rencher, Chief Genealogy Officer

On Tuesday, May 8th Sandi Benward and I represented Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society at a Media/Bloggers dinner sponsored by FamilySearch.  My husband Scott joined us as we rubbed elbows with the Ancestry Insider, Amanda Perrine, and Leland Meitzler. 

l-r: Sandi Benward, Leland Meitzler, Denise Richmond

If Leland looks familiar, it's because you may have seen his son Dale and his wife and newborn son selling Family Roots Publishing Company books at the recent Root Cellar Spring Seminar.  By the way, baby Nickolas is here at NGS and is now 2 months old and adorable. 

FamilySearch presented several updates after dinner:

• The 1940 Census Ambassador Project has 470+ participants.  Those who were at the dinner were recognized for their work. Find out how to become an ambassador here.
• The digitization of Italian civil records continues apace.  Twenty dedicated camera teams are working this project.  Lucky you who have Italian ancestors.
• Indexing the 1940 census may be completed by the end of July 2012 if the current pace continues.  WOW! Several Root Cellar members are already addicted to indexing - what about you? If you sign up, be sure to do so under Root Cellar.
• Need help?  FamilySearch has 10,000 tech support volunteers representing 13+ languages available 24/7 to help you.   

It was a great evening talking to old friends, meeting new ones and learning about the happenings at FamilySearch.  Thank you!
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

NGS Cincinnati: The Reunion

Wow, ya start goin' to enough genealogy-related conferences or cruises and you begin to 'know' people. Scott and I were happy to see Amanda E. Perrine at the FamilySearch Blogger Dinner on May 8, 2012.  Amanda and her husband, like me and my husband Scott, were on 2011 Legacy Family Tree cruise.  Congrats to Amanda who just graduated from Syracuse University with a Masters in Library Information Science. 

Pictured are (l-r) Amanda, Denise and Scott Richmond.

Posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Shaking Off Jetlag In Cincinnati

Lunch at the Rock Bottom Brewery

Sunday, May 6th was my second day in Cincinnati and I had grand plans to explore northern Kentucky.  Had.  I wimped out, just too pooped from the travel day before.  When I finally emerged from the room, I took some pictures of the neighborhood here in downtown Cincinnati. 

A couple hours later I was back in my room to finalize my plans for personal research northeast of Cincinnati.  Sandi Benward arrived later in the day and we visited at her hotel.  She will also be posting this week.

Click on the photos to enlarge or click on the title of this post to view on the Blog where you can also leave a comment. Posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond


Gotcha - parking in a clearly
marked no parking zone



Horse-drawn carriage
ride available after shopping at Tiffany's



Love the name - TANK -
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
$1 per ride; $.75 senior rate

Celebrating at Fountain Square
after the Flying Pig Marathon.
High heel hula hooper - who knew?

Hello Cincinnati!



NGS 2012 Logo

This is the first in a series of posts from Sandi Benward and I regaling you with our adventures from Cincinnati as Root Cellar's Official Bloggers for the National Genealogical Society annual conference which begins on Wednesday, May 9th. 

From Sacramento to Salt Lake City to Cincinnati, I winged my way to the Queen City on Saturday, May 5th.  I enjoyed nutritious food during the flights and played games on the iPad.

I walked and walked and rode a train to baggage claim then walked to the rental car shuttle.  Whew, it's a huge airport! The Avis associate was very accommodating as I did my Goldilocks routine: "I can't move the seat forward on this one."  "I can't see over the dash on that one." Finally, a car was found and off I went.  I noted that the plates say I'm from Pennsylvania!  The drive to downtown Cincinnati from the airport was quick (ok, there may have been one wrong turn but Garmin recalculated).  The trees and bushes along the roads were green and lush.  I quickly glanced left and right driving over the Ohio River.  Wow, so many bridges!  They all looked like giant erector sets.  Oh, I just dated myself!

I think I packed fairly light for the week.  The luggage had to be checked at the hotel because my room wasn't ready -- at 5pm!  It worked out though - I went to dinner (real food) and returned to finish checking in.  My room view is of Sandi's hotel so I will be watching her watching me!!  Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are nearby. 

Before the conference begins, there are sites to see and personal family research to be done.  My great-great grandparents lived in neighboring Clinton, Highland and Warren counties.  Others lived in Adams and Athens counties but they are a bit too far away for this trip.  Maybe I will have a Happy Dance report to you!

The weather is great today, no rain and in the 80s.  Time to hit the streets!

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Follow Friday: NGS Family History Conference Blog



NGS Logo

 It's not too early to plan for May 2012.  Make your hotel reservations now if you have the slightest thought about attending the NGS Conference in Cincninati, Ohio.  The NGS blog already has helpful information about the venue, hotels, attractions and research opportunities in the region.  I mapped the three counties where my ancestors lived in Ohio -  60 miles from the conference site!  Looks like a pre- or post-conference side trip will be involved for me!  Did you know that Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society is a member of NGS?  Will I see you there?  I wonder where WKRP is...but I digress

The following press release was received on November 20, 2011:


NGS Conference 2012 Logo

 (Arlington, VA) -- The National Genealogical Society has released the full 2012 Family History Conference Program. It is available online and is fully searchable here. The theme of the thirty-fourth NGS Family History Conference is The Ohio River: Gateway to the Western Frontier and it will be held 9–12 May 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. NGS varies the theme and geographic location of its conference annually and brings together thousands of genealogists and family historians to learn the latest in genealogical research. The online searchable program allows prospective conference attendees to review the full scope of more than forty lecture topics offered daily during the four-day conference in Cincinnati. An exhibit area with over one hundred exhibitors will be open and free to the public Wednesday through Saturday and will include the latest in genealogical software, online research providers, and DNA testing sources.

Registration will begin Thursday, 1 December 2011. To register online, visit the conference page on the NGS website.

The PDF version of the registration brochure is available here. The brochure includes information about workshops, lectures, sessions, speakers, luncheons, tours, pre-conference events, registration times and rates, and accessibility as well as general conference and exhibit hall specifics. Some examples of the diverse offerings of the NGS 2012 Family History Conference include methodology and research, ethnic research, repositories and records, migration, Skillbuilding, GenTech, military records, photos, and writing. E-mail Veronica Tran to request that a registration brochure be mailed to you.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, VA-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists. Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

View the entire NGS Conference blog and press release: NGS Family History Conference: National Genealogical Society Releases Full 2012 Family History Conference Program Online
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond