RootsMagic 2012 RootsTech Treasure Hunt: Game on!

RootsMagic is holding an online treasure hunt during RootsTech and the prize is an iPad!

Here's the best part: you don't have to be at RootsTech, you can play along from home!

Read more about the RootsMagic online treasure hunt on their blog, and check out the RootsMagic Treasure page on Thursday, February 2.

Special thanks to the RootsMagic crew for holding this treasure hunt and including the folks at home in the fun.

Good luck, everyone! I hope one of my readers is the iPad winner!

A RootsTech Room with a View

Greetings from Salt Lake City!

I arrived yesterday. I've already been to the Family History Library and seen several other genealogy friends. I've also seen and talked with 4 bloggers, so only 86 or more to go to accomplish my goal of meeting all the bloggers scheduled to be here for RootsTech.

It's going to be a busy week, so buckle up and get ready to read all about it.

RootsTech Live Broadcast of Genealogy Sessions

[Below is a press release and list of sessions that will be broadcast live from RootsTech. This is a great chance to experience the conference from home. If you look at the list, it's a full slate of sessions each day, just like you're there!  --Amy]

RootsTech Conference Will Broadcast Select Sessions Free Online

SALT LAKE CITY—RootsTech, a leading family history and technology conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 2-4, 2012, announced today that fourteen of its popular sessions will be broadcasted live and complimentary over the Internet. The live broadcasts will give those unable to attend worldwide a sample of this year’s conference content. Interested viewers can watch the live presentations at RootsTech.org. The second-year conference has attracted over 3,000 registered attendees.

The free online sessions include the keynote speakers and a sampling of technology and family history presentations. Following are the fourteen broadcasted sessions and speakers. All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST):

Thursday, February 2

8:30-10:00 am, Inventing the Future, as a Community (Keynote Address) by Jay L. Verkler

11:00 am-12:00 pm, Do I Trust the Cloud? by D. Joshua Taylor  

1:45-2:45 pm, Effective Database Search Tactics by Kory Meyerink     

3:00-4:00 pm, Twitter – It’s Not Just “What I Had for Breakfast” Anymore by Thomas MacEntee  

4:15-5:15 pm, Eleven Layers of Online Searches by Barbara Renick     

Friday, February 3

8:30-9:30 am, Exabyte Social Clouds and Other Monstrosities (Keynote Address) by Josh Coates

9:45-10:45 am, Publish Your Genealogy Online by Laura G. Prescott     

11:00 am-12:00 pm, Optimize Your Site for Search Engines by Robert Gardner    

1:45-2:45 pm, Genealogists “Go Mobile” by Sandra Crowly  

3:00-4:00 pm, Google’s Toolbar and Genealogy by Dave Barney      

Saturday, February 4

8:30-9:30 am, Making the Most of Technology to Further the Family History Industry (Keynote Address) by Tim Sullivan and Ancestry.com Panel

9:45-10:45 am Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101 by Lisa Louise Cooke    

11:00 am-12:00 pm, Future of FamilySearch Family Tree by Ron Tanner

1:45-2:45 pm, Privacy in a Collaborative Environment by Noah Tatuk    

Fun with Search Terms

It's time for another round of "Fun with Search Terms!" People type certain words or phrases into search engines. If the combination is right, my blog turns up in the search results. Sometimes the searches are funny. Sometimes I can provide more information to users, if only they'd comment on my blog. Either way, I enjoy the process. Please note that these searches are anonymous so I don't know who is stumbling on my blog. I just comment in the hope that they find it again.

Now on with the show. Actual search phrases are in bold.


Can I use another sd card in flip pal scanner?
I used an sd card with more memory when I did my marathon scanning project last year. It worked fine. I've not heard of any brand of sd card not being compatible, but you never know. However, from my experience, it's never been a problem.

"we went" "chickasaw cultural center"
Cool, "we did, too."

genealogy society blog replace newsletter
and
increasing genealogical society membership
I put these two together because the best solution for each is the same. Tap in to the resources of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. These are the very issues they discuss and assist their societies with on a daily basis. Your society does not need to be a member (though you should be) to read the FGS Voice blog or listen to the FGS Radio podcasts.

riley fuzzel road named for
Really? You can't figure this one out yourself?

montgomery county library texas genealogy family history
My oh my you were very thorough in your search terms! I'm surprised you ended up on my blog instead of the Central Library in Conroe that is part of the Montgomery County Memorial Library System. Mozy on over there if you have a chance. They have a fabulous genealogy room.

hypothetical ancestor
Hypothetical response.

geneology is boring
Maybe, but GENEALOGY is awesome! As is spelling.

Thanks for playing, folks! See you next month!

A RootsTech Moment with Janet Hovorka of Family ChartMasters

One of the sessions offered at RootsTech 2012 is "Advocating Genealogy and Growing the Market: Issues of the New Genealogist," being taught by Janet Hovorka. You may also know her at The Chart Chick and part of the Family ChartMasters team. 


I asked Janet some questions about her session and RootsTech in general, and she was kind enough to share with us:

Is this a new presentation? What compelled you to discuss the issues of genealogy advocacy as it pertains to the growing market?

This is a new presentation.  I did try it out last month at the BYU Family History Center for a dry run.  I proposed this session for RootsTech because it was a topic I wanted to hear a lecture on and I'm hoping we'll have a good discussion.  I am fascinated with what attracts people to genealogy, and why some people appear not to be interested in genealogy.  I wanted to explore the issues in the genealogy community that create a welcoming environment and how we can all help to grow this hobby and share all the fun.  And I want to catalog the things the genealogy community does that turn off newcomers so that we can learn to be more hospitable.  

Can you briefly describe the session?

We are going to start with some definitions of the different levels of genealogists using Ancestry Insider's Genealogical Maturity Model.  Then we are going to discuss why new genealogists need advanced genealogists and why advanced genealogists need new genealogists.  I have several discussion points here to get the feeling of the students on these issues.  I'm hoping we can learn from each other.  Then we are going to talk about some of the brick walls new genealogists run into when they begin interacting in the community.  And finally we will discuss a vision for a healthy society that embraces newcomers.  

What can visitors expect to see in the Family ChartMasters booth?

We are redoing our booth materials for RootsTech this year.  We want to show off some of the fantastic charts that we do and display why we really are the masters of printing genealogy charts.  We can print any chart you want to dream up.  You'll be able to get all sorts of ideas for how you can display your family history in beautiful ways.  We want you to be able to share it with your family and others around you.  We'll also have our fill-in-the-blank charts on sale in case you just want to take one and work with it before you're ready to print one of our masterpieces.  

Do you have any advice for RootsTech first-timers?

I think my best advice for RootsTech first timers is just to be friendly and introduce yourself to people.  When you go to class, sit down by someone and talk to them.  And when you come to the vendor's hall, be friendly and ask lots of questions.  At RootsTech you'll get to rub shoulders with the people you see online, the authors of your favorite genealogy books, and the genealogy product developers.  They are all very friendly.  I love working with genealogists.  They are the nicest people in the world.  I'm sure newcomers to RootsTech will find the same.  

Great advice! Thanks again to Janet Havorka for taking the time to share her insights. Be sure to meet her if you're going to RootsTech. 

Disclosure: I am an official RootsTech blogger. 

Latest News about RootsTech

RootsTech is just around the corner. I know I always say that, but now it really *is* around the corner.

Here are the latest developments from Salt Lake City:

Now you can download the RootsTech app. It features information about the conference sessions, speakers, maps a calendar and more. It is available in the Apple App Store and the Android Market.

Several sessions will be live-streamed at RootsTech. Lynn, The Armchair Genealogist, put together a list of them. If you attend the sessions from home, follow along and participate in the discussion on Twitter. It's great fun to interact with your friends in the audience.

Syllabi for the RootsTech sessions are available for public view. This is a big deal, as they're usually reserved for conference attendees. You can access the syllabus for each session by clicking on the session link from the Schedule page.

Finally, here's a great deal for anyone who even plans to go to Salt Lake City. Janet Hovorka, aka The Chart Chick, authored a FREE publication titled, The Chart Chick's Quick Insider's Guide to Salt Lake City. Go get it. Now.

If anymore RootsTech news develops, I'll keep you posted!

[Disclosure: I am an official RootsTech blogger. See my disclosures page for more details.  -A]

The Wallflowers Guide to RootsTech

Genealogy conferences can be fun and scary depending on your perception of the unknown. Will I be alone? Will everyone be smarter that I am? Will I get lost? Will I get a spot in that popular speaker’s class?

The genealogy world, just like the regular world, is full of all types of personalities and characters. If you’re new to the conference circuit, this can be an overwhelming experience. Just like those junior-high dances, you’re most comfortable observing everyone from afar. Please reconsider that wallflower pose. Here are some steps to get you out on the RootsTech dance floor in no time:

Make a new blogger friend

Genealogy bloggers are some of the friendliest people on the planet. It’s a tight-knit group that everyone is welcome to join. Make a plan to meet and chat with at least one genealogy blogger during the RootsTech conference. How can you spot a genealogy blogger? It’s pretty easy as they usually wear one or more sets of colorful Mardi-Gras beads. They also congregate at the Media Hub in the exhibit hall. GeneaBloggers.com has a great list of bloggers attending RootsTech.

Chat with some vendors

Exhibit halls are designed for wandering. Big, long aisles make it easy to walk down the middle and observe vendor booths from afar. Resist the urge to breeze through the hall. Take the time to interact at a least two vendor booths. Talk to the representatives, ask questions, sample the wares. Do this because you never know when you might need these items down the line. Even if you never use a particular brand of software, chart making tool, or whatever is being sold, you will have the knowledge to give to someone else.

Meet your neighbors

Smart genealogists get to conference sessions early so they get a good seat and are ready to learn. Make the most of the pre-session time by chatting with those seated around you. Don’t feel awkward introducing yourself to strangers. Remember, we all have genealogy in common and love to talk about it. You never know who you might meet just by making small talk.

Attend a class outside your comfort zone

Rootstech offers a variety of course subjects at several experience levels. Pick at least one class on a topic about which you know very little. Do not be afraid to be clueless. How else will you learn? Besides, nobody else will know you’re lost and you just might learn something that will help you with your genealogy research.

Explore new territories in the Family History Library

The Family History Library: it’s big and intimidating as all get out until you learn your way around the place. Then it becomes the happiest place on Earth (sorry, Disneyland). If you’re not familiar with the FHL, join up with a tour and learn the ropes. If you’ve been there, done that, explore some “new to you” areas. Research in new geographic locations, learn to use new machines, attend a class or anything else that strikes your fancy. See Banai's great FHL post for more helpful advice.

Embrace spontaneity

You’ve spent weeks (or months) planning your RootsTech trip down to the wire. Planning is good, but not written in stone. Use your schedule as a guide, but don’t be afraid to stray from the plan. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be invited to lunch with one of your new friends. Or perhaps an unconference pops up in one of your favorite subjects. Don’t be afraid to take a detour and go where curiosity takes you. That’s what makes conferences fun.

So what do you think? Are we ready to ditch the wallflower ways? Come find me at RootsTech. I have a present for you.

My RootsTech Blogger Challenge

GeneaBloggers.com has been keeping track of the slate of genealogy bloggers planning to attend RootsTech. Currently there will be 81 bloggers and the number just keeps growing.

I printed out the list of names and I'm going to try to connect with each one. There are at least 29 bloggers I've never met, so I will add a lot of new friends to the mix.

So what do you think? Can I meet the other 80 bloggers and still find time to see everything I want to see? I'll have fun while I try and keep you posted on the results.

Say Cheese! Remember the Town Photographer in Your Genealogical Hunt

Alberta Russell (1873-1952) is my first cousin, three times removed. That means that her mama (Ann Williamson) and my great-great grandfather (William Woodberry Williamson) were siblings. Ann married Alva Russell, as in Russellville, Arkansas, where my Williamsons have been since the 1830's. The city was named for Alva's father, Thomas Russell.

Alberta married John H. Ganner, town photographer. This got me thinking...

Have you researched your town's photographer? If not, you should.

Not only was John Ganner a local photographer for decades, over 3,000 images of his collection are housed at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

I see several names that I recognize in this collection. Not only Ganners, but Russells, too. The photo at the top of the collection page shows another cousin of mine. If you look closely, you can see Anna "May" Russell in the door of the photography studio. She is Alberta's sister, also my first cousin, thrice removed.

How I wish I could visit this library and get permission to view these images! I wonder if any of my Williamsons are any of the "unidentified" subjects in the photos?

If you have any studio photos of your ancestors, look for the name of the photographer somewhere on the photo. You can also use city directories to identify local photographers.

Research the photographers names and see if their work is being housed in special collections like that of John Ganner. You never know if your ancestors are in there.

Also, be sure to browse the special collection portions of the library web sites of colleges and universities in the regions where your ancestors lived. Look for images of the towns and their residents. Often, Google does not search this deep into library databases, so you have to do the browsing work yourself.

The genealogical information provided about Ganner and his family is a gold mine to my own tree. I am thankful his granddaughter donated the collection. Maybe I'll find the time someday to head to Fayetteville and seek permission to view it myself.

Until then let's remember to research the local photographers. Their pictures tell our ancestors' stories, too.

Genealogy Workshop in Liberty, Texas

Below is an announcement I received via email. I have no affiliation with the Liberty County Genealogical Society, I'm just trying to publicize regional genealogy events. --A

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Presented By

THE LIBERTY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Saturday, February 18^th

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

$25.00 Workshop Fee

$10.00 Lunch (optional) Catered by Quiznos

St. Stephens Episcopal Church Meeting Room

2041 Trinity Ave.

Liberty, Texas

Introduction to Genealogy

Finding Civil War Ancestors Online

Thinking Outside the Box

Newspaper Archives: Opening Windows to Your Ancestors

For Additional Information Contact

Stacy Sundgren –  936-336-6048  936-336-6048

Or

stacy.sundgren@yahoo.com

Paid Reservations Including Lunch Must Be Received by February 16, 2012

Make Checks Payable To: LCGS

Mail to: LCGS   P.O. Box 723   Liberty , Texas  77575

Include Name, Address, Phone, & Email Address

$25.00 Workshop Only OR $35.00 Workshop & Lunch

Please Indicate Sandwich Choice – Ham or Turkey if Purchasing Lunch

Registration Open for RootsTech 2012 Workshops

Workshop registration is now open for RootsTech 2012. These are twelve hands-on workshops in a computer lab. They are separate from the regular RootsTech sessions and have limited availability so register now if you are interested.

If you are already registered for the actual conference, go to the Edit Your Registration page and sign up there. If you haven't registered for the conference yet, you can to that and sign up for the hand-on workshops at the same time.

Hurry though because space is limited.

See you there.

[Edit 1/20/12: I've been told that the workshops have filled up.]


[Disclosure: I am an official RootsTech blogger.  -A]

FGS 2012 Conference Registration Now Open

[Below is the press release announcing open registration for the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2012 conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Don't worry if you don't have "kin" 
down there. I didn't have a single ancestor in Illinois and the 2011 Springfield conference was one of the best I'd ever attended.  
Won't you join us?  --A]

Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers in the "Old Southwest"

A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists

January 16, 2012 – Austin, TX. Registration for the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, scheduled for August 29 - September 1, 2012, in beautiful Birmingham, Alabama, is now open. This year’s conference theme is “Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers in the ‘Old Southwest’,” and the local host is the Alabama Genealogical Society (AGS).

This year's FGS conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. Over 175 educational sessions and 13 luncheons are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a variety of records, strategies, and other tools available to those interested in researching their family history. Special sessions include a wide variety targeting members and leaders of genealogical and historical societies. In addition, special events, such as the Alabama Genealogical Society Opening Social at the Alabama Theater, the FGS Evening Social at the historic Sloss Furnaces, Spotlight on Societies, and daily sponsored lectures provide an excellent environment to meet and network with others interested in family history and genealogy.

Session sponsors include FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, findmypast.com, the National Archives and Records Administration, and others.

Conference Highlights

• Librarian’s Day: On Wednesday, August 29, 2012, ProQuest is sponsoring a full day of sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serving family history researchers.

• Conference Sessions: A wide variety of genealogy-related lectures and workshops for all experience levels. Topics include Southern research, Settlers and Indians, soldiers, strategies and techniques, technology, and writing.

• Special Events: Include the AGS Opening Social at the Alabama Theater and the FGS Evening Social at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark—all providing an excellent environment to meet and network with others interested in family history and genealogy. This exciting week of genealogy closes with a Farewell Brunch on Sunday.

• Exhibit Hall: Filled with a wide array of vendors and organizations, Cyber Cafe and lounge area sponsored by RootsMagic, and a special Spotlight on Societies area will showcase local and regional genealogical and historical societies.

There are more activities and research opportunities too numerous to list. However, you can learn all about the 2012 FGS Conference and register for this exciting four-day event at http://www.fgs.org/2012conference. Be sure to also visit or subscribe to the FGS Conference Blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org for more information and travel advice. We look forward to seeing you in Birmingham in August!

Learn More and Stay Connected

• Visit the Conference News Blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org

• Follow the Conference on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/fgs2012 and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fgs2012

• Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau athttp://www.birminghamal.org

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org

Rejected Genealogy Conference Proposals

Genealogy conference season is almost here. Several groups are accepting speaker proposals for their events. Here are some of the suggested sessions that didn't quite make the cut.

Because We’ve Always Done it This Way: Genealogy Society Bankruptcy in 6 Easy Steps

This session will teach you all the best ways to resist change, including digging in your heels, refusing to listen and alienating other board members. Your group will disband in record pace!

Keep Beating that Dead Horse: Worst Practices for Arguments on Email Discussion Lists

Learn how to resurrect old debates, argue in circles and create random tangents that are guaranteed to fill your email box with countless pointless opinions perfect for wasting time and money!

Advanced Techniques for Making Your Cell Phone Ring During Genealogy Sessions

Join us in this fast-paced session that will show you all the best ways to ignore requests to turn off your cell phone. You will also learn all the loudest ring tones, how to pretend you don’t hear your own phone ringing, and how to stare blankly at your ringing phone as though you have no idea how to answer it. Reserve your seat now!

How to Beat a Ticket from the Citation Police

A well-known genealogy outlaw will show you all the tips and tricks to skirt the law when the citation sheriff comes to town. Includes all the best techniques for designing your own citation “system” that no one else will understand.

New Ways to Judge Others Based on their Lineage Society Memberships

Strategies you can utilize to ensure that everyone knows how important your ancestors are as opposed to others. Learn how to order special pins, clothing and “bling” to show that you’re top dog, making it easy for you to look down on others.

Passive-Aggressive Blogging for Beginners

This in-depth session shows you how to write a blog post about someone that makes you angry without naming names, though everyone knows who you’re talking about. Also includes ways to blow issues out of proportion and write pieces without thinking to ensure you’ll regret what you said tomorrow.

GEN-ealogy or GENE-eaology? Pronunciation Fight Club

There are two camps in the pronunciation of genealogy. The session puts both groups in a closed room. Last man standing wins pronunciation rights.

Overhead Transparencies: A Genealogy Speaker’s Best Asset

Learn the earliest and oldest in overhead transparency technology including fuzzy fonts, blurry images and filling the whole page with text. Audiences will be talking about you in no time!


The fact that these gems were rejected just tells you how many great sessions are offered at regional and national genealogy conferences these days. Get out there and have fun (but turn off your cell phone, please). 

Interview with Stories to Tell: RootsTech Vendors and Speakers

In anticipation of the upcoming RootsTech conference, I reached out to vendors and speakers Biff and Nancy Barnes of Stories To Tell Books. Thankfully, they granted me an interview. They are teaching a session titled, "Self Publish Your MS Word Book Like a Pro." The sessions title and content intrigued me so I asked them about it:

1. Your session's title makes it sound really easy to go from Word document to book. Is it really that easy? Does this session provide the steps?

Writing and self publishing a book is easier than it may seem. Really, all authors follow the same process, and we explain it step by step. Like a recipe, if you prepare the ingredients in advance, it is much easier to put a book together. MS Word is very useful for family history books, because it is designed to include footnotes, endnotes, appendixes, the index, and a table of contents. Photos and other images should be scanned and prepared correctly, and this requires photo editing software. We will discuss the benefits and limits of a Word-only book, and provide alternatives, too.

2. Must one already have a Word document in hand to benefit from this session?

We’ll provide everything for the participants. The class is intended to help authors at any stage, even those who have not yet begun to write. Sample book chapters will be pre-loaded on the lab computers so that you can practice each skill in Word as we demonstrate. We will also present a PowerPoint with additional information about self publishing, and provide useful web links. If class participants would like to review the class later, the slideshow will be available to download from our website.

3. What advice would you give to RootsTech first timers?

These conferences can result in information overload! Our advice is to set a few concrete goals before you come, and to choose the classes that match your goals. You want to learn something you can take home and use.

4. What can attendees expect to see at the Stories To Tell booth?

As editors and designers of family history books, we have a lot of valuable information to share about writing, editing and publishing. Visitors may wish to talk about their book project ideas and ask questions. Authors who have written a draft are invited to bring it along for a free consultation. We display examples of different types of family history books. Attendees may wish to purchase our book, Stories To Tell: An Easy Guide to Self Publishing Family History Books and Memoirs. We also offer a CD, How To Plan And Organize a Family History Book. 

Special thanks to Biff and Nancy of Stories to Tell for taking some time to share about what they have in store for RootsTech attendees. Nancy will also be teaching a session titled, "Use Adobe Creative Suite to Self-publish Your Family History Book."

See you soon in Salt Lake City!

RoostTech Update: It's Almost Here!

The session schedule for RootsTech was posted earlier this week. It's possible that this isn't the *final* schedule, so be sure to check back regularly and confirm actual times with the conference program when it is in your hands.

I have been told by an employee of FamilySearch that there will be unconferencing slots available, so think about the topics you're interested in and contribute to the discussion.

There will be some sessions live streamed to those at home, just like last year. As of right now, I can't find anywhere on the web site where it says which ones or when. This makes it a challenge for societies and groups to plan viewing parties. If I learn which sessions will be live streamed, I will be sure to tell you here.

I am on a social media discussion panel hosted by Jill Ball of Genaius. The session is at 11:00am on Friday, February 3 (as of now). I will let you know if that time changes. If you're in the neighborhood, come check us out!

Discounted registration at $149 is still available for RootsTech through January 13.

The official RootsTech Twitter hashtag is #rootstech. Follow the conference discussion at Twitter here. The official RootsTech Twitter account is @RootsTechConf.

That's it for now. Check back to this blog periodically for RootsTech news and developments.

[Note: I am an official blogger for RootsTech. I received a complimentary registration in return for blog coverage of the event. My posts are my own. --Amy]