Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society is very thankful for the time Thomas MacEntee spent with members before, after and during the Spring Seminar on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Thomas was very generous with his time and members took advantage of it from the moment he arrived until departure. He was queried about using technology and social media for society operations and personal family history research....and then there was the seminar itself!
We have a few more pictures of Thomas's nonstop visit to Sacramento for you to view. First up, a slideshow of the seminar...
Thomas's visit wasn't all business. Admittedly, we bragged a lot about our society's projects but we also partied and ate a lot. The proof is in the pictures.
Above two photos - Before the start of the general membership meeting on Thursday, March 14th, Thomas joined the Special Interest Group for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio that was facilitated by Sandra Benward. How fortuitous that he could provide some research tips for Illinois (he lives there)!
Above two photos - Thomas is seen here on Friday, March 15th at the Center for Sacramento History. In the first photo, Root Cellar member Marilyn Ulbricht, Chairperson of the Extraction Committee (left), and Pat Johnson, Senior Archivist at the Center, show Thomas the many indexes of Sacramento County records that the Society has published. In the second photo, Thomas poses with Pat Johnson and Extraction Committee members (l-r) Lois Shumaker, Sammie Hudgens, Sandi Benward and Marilyn Ulbricht. Many other committee members were on vacation that day.
Senior Archivist Pat Johnson gave Thomas a tour of the vault at the Center for Sacramento History. Looks like he found an interesting record.
Next, we drove to the Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Library housed at the California State Archives in downtown Sacramento. Thomas went directly to the Illinois section and posed with a book that the Illinois State Genealogical Society has just republished, Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in Illinois. Thomas was very impressed with the scope of our library.
After lunch with the Root Cellar Technology Committee (oops, no photo), we drove to the seminar venue where set-up was underway. Leland Meitzler, owner of Family Roots Publishing Co., the seminar book vendor, took a break from unpacking books with son Dale to chat with Thomas.
With set-up complete we finally let Thomas have some private time at the hotel before his welcome and seminar volunteer appreciation reception Friday evening.
We heard that Thomas was celebrating his milestone birthday all year long culminating on Dec 25th. This might be one of his first birthday cakes of the year.
The birthday boy himself had to cut the cake with Glenda Gardner Lloyd assisting.
Thomas is sitting with Judy Nissila (middle) and Billie Helms. Thomas and Judy learned they were distant cousins on the 2011 Legacy Family Tree cruise. Cousin connections can happen where you least expect them!
A good-looking group of Root Cellar members surrounded by the man of the hour, Thomas MacEntee.
Showtime! Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Spring Seminar. Thomas MacEntee presented four sessions on using technology and social media for genealogy
Facebook, Twitter, Wikis - we learned new ways to connect with cousins and more.
After a successful seminar, it was time to relax with a tall cool one (mine was a double Shirley Temple) at Thomas's thank you and farewell dinner. So many members wanted to bid him adieu that the restaurant moved us to a larger room.
Can't celebrate a birthday too much - this time with lemon meringue birthday pie!
He likes it, he really likes it!
We had three days of fun with Thomas MacEntee at the annual Spring Seminar for Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society. Thanks Thomas for your generous time, advice, tips and tricks in using technology and social media for genealogy. We learned a lot.
P.S. Thomas, thanks for serving as co-pilot and being my "shifter". -D
