Register for FGS2015 and get a RootsTech pass for $39!

Guys, guys, GUYS! I'm still at FGS2014, but I received this press release about FGS2015. Registration is open! But it gets better. Register for FGS2015 and get a pass to RootsTech for only $39! Both conferences will be going at the same time. This price for an add-on RootsTech pass is a steal. Take advantage of it! Will I see you there?  -Amy

2015 FGS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Connect.Explore.Refresh — A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists

August 27, 2014 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) opened registration today for their 2015 conference scheduled for February 11–14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This highly anticipated genealogy event puts the FGS and RootsTech conferences under one roof at the Salt Palace Convention Center (SPCC).

Registration opened with a special early bird price of $139 for a full FGS conference registration. That pricing is available throughSeptember 12, 2014. Attend only FGS or add-on a full RootsTech pass for an additional $39. Register now at http://FGSconference.org/2015.

FGS President, D. Joshua Taylor, shared "FGS 2015 will undoubtedly be part of the largest family history event in North America. We are delighted to partner with RootsTech to bring the best of tradition and innovation to the family history community."

Conference Highlights

·       Conference Sessions: The program features lectures for genealogists of all experience levels. Attendees will learn from a variety of tracks including Tried and True Methods, The Most Useful Records Hidden in Plain Sight, Compiling Singular Records into Lively Stories, A Retro Look at Organizing and Planning, and Modern Access to Vintage Resources. See the full program and list of speakers at http://FGSconference.org/2015.

·       General Sessions: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings will kick off with a joint general session for all FGS and RootsTech attendees.  

·       Expo Hall: Both conferences will share an expo hall covering more than 120,000 square feet, which will offer at least 240 booth spaces and a Demo Theater featuring special vendor presentations.

·       Research Opportunity: The Family History Library is the reason that Salt Lake City is the dream destination of genealogists everywhere. The library is a located in walking distance of the Salt Palace Convention Center and the four conference hotels.  

·       Focus on Societies: Sessions on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 will give society leaders and volunteers ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, increase membership, and develop sources of revenue.

·       Librarians’ Day: On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, ProQuest will sponsor a full pre-conference day of sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serving family history researchers.

Visit the FGS conference website at http://FGSconference.org/2015 for additional details including links to the conference hotels. Watch for future announcements about general session speakers, special activities and more on the FGS Voice Blog at http://voice.fgs.org/ and through FGS social media channels (links available on the conference website).  

See you in Salt Lake City in February.  

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.

Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FGSgenealogy), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/FGSgenealogy) and on our blog at (http://voice.fgs.org).

FamilySearch Media Dinner Recap for FGS2014

I had the pleasure of attending the FamilySearch media dinner on Tuesday evening. This is an event usually held at major genealogy conferences where they invite bloggers and other media types to learn about the latest news and developments with FamilySearch.

This evening was no exception. The event started with an update from Chief Genealogical Officer David Rencher. He spoke briefly about FamilySearch Family Tree and how they're trying to improve metrics. He gave an example of a person in Family Tree having multiple people linked as parents, and the steps being taken to omit that.

Next up Dan Call spoke about RootsTech 2014. He showed a video and gave the attendance numbers. I wasn't able to write them all down, but paid attendance was 5,250. That didn't include special events like kid's day, LDS training, etc.

Call then turned his attention to RootsTech 2015, being held February 12-14, 2015. He did apologize for it being Valentine's Day, but I can't think of a better present than genealogy. Innovator Summit will be February 11. They must have got some mixed feedback from the last one because the 2015 version will be retooled. Another thing Call mentioned was more intermediate and advanced classes. I don't know what that entails. We'll have to wait and see when the schedule comes out.

Registration for RootsTech opens August 29. The early-bird price is $139, and I believe that price will be held for two weeks.

Remember, RootsTech will be running concurrently with the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference. I've been told that you will be able to register for FGS2015 and add a pass to RootsTech for $39. I do not know if the same is the case if you register for RootsTech and want a pass to FGS. This is all so new and I think everyone is a little confused.

Bryce Roper is the product manager for Family Tree. He talked about available apps. They are FamilySearch Tree and FamilySearch Memories. More information can be found at the FamilySearch Mobile App Landing Page.

Did you know FamilySearch Family Tree has hints now? They're like that other site's shaky leaves, but it is a different symbol. In fact, Family Tree shows record hints, research suggestions and confirms data quality. (I think "data quality" means they point out when you have a mother whose death date is before a child was supposedly born.) My takeaway from this segment was that FamilySearch is trying to clean up trees and increase accuracy and growth.

Robert Kehrer was a brave soul who did a live presentation. He showed the different types of hints on FamilyTree and how to add sources, people. etc. Bloggers asked good questions about privacy regarding living people in the FamilyTree, ability for others to change information and copyright. FamilySearch is pretty confident that there isn't much fighting over family tree information. Seems like there is, but what do I know?

All in all it was a great event and I'm thrilled to be up to date with all that's going on with FamilySearch.

If you want to keep up with the latest FamilySearch news, follow their blog.

Librarians' Day Re-Cap at FGS2014

Today was Librarians' Day at FGS2014, which is before Society Day, which is before the actual FGS conference.

The event was sponsored by ProQuest, which I must add because they gave us lunch among other things.

David Rencher, Chief Genealogist at FamilySearch, gave a presentation on the War of 1812 pension collection. See Preserve the Pensions for the public effort to get funding to digitize and care for this collection. He shared some of the incredible things one can find in a pension file.

Three takeaways you must know about this presentation:

1. The War of 1812 pension collection is available for free at Fold3. Yes, Fold3 is a subscription database, but these items will be free.

2. You say you don't have any ancestors that served? War of 1812 pensions have lots of names and information about others who were related to or knew the pensioner. Take the time to examine the collection. You never know what you'll find.

3. These pension documents are falling apart. We need to help digitize them before it is too late. Donate to Preserve the Pensions today.

Craig Scott of Heritage Books discussed "Building a Core Genealogical Collection for our Library" in the next segment. Libraries often serve many different audiences. This session stressed the importance of having an acquisitions plan to ensure you have the genealogy collection your users want. Communication between departments was stressed, as well as sharing with city government the importance and dollars brought in by genealogy tourism.

Lunch was great. William "Bill" Forsyth gave some minor updates with regard to ProQuest. He said Heritage Quest will be updated. After that he shared a case history from his own family and how he utilized military records for genealogy. It was a very interesting presentation.

The biggest takeaway you need to know from lunch is that Critical Path exists. Forsyth used it to see film of where his grandfather served in World War I.

Frank Faulkner of the San Antonio Public Library Texana and Genealogy Collection was the after-lunch speaker. There are two takeaways you need to know from this session:

1. The word "genealogy" in the collection title often scares people away. Texana means anything having to do with Texas or its history.

2. This collection is HUGE. It covers all 50 states, so do not ignore it.

James Harkins of the Texas General Land Office was the final speaker. He gave a brief history of the GLO, then a brief example of what they have. This is such a neat repository with so much historical information in Texas and even pre-statehood.

Takeaway from this session: check out their website. They have things online.

I ended up winning a prize! It's a very cool historical map.

All in all, I call Librarians' Day a success. Special thanks to Sue Kaufman, Queen Bee at Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, for planning it all.

Online Registration for FGS 2014 Ends August 19!

2014 FGS CONFERENCE ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS AUGUST 19

“Gone to Texas” – A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists

August 15, 2014 – Austin, TX.  Online registration for the 2014 Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference, scheduled 27-30 August 2014 in San Antonio, Texas, ends Tuesday, August 19. Register at http://www.fgsconference.org/registration.  This year’s conference theme is “Gone to Texas,” and the local hosts are the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society (SAGHS) and the Texas State Genealogical Society (TSGS).

Pre-registering for the conference gives you access to some great benefits. Those who have already registered for the conference still have time to purchase tickets to the conference "extras."

Only attendees who preregister for the conference can:

• Access the conference syllabus online prior to the conference.
• Guarantee a spot in the "extra" conference events (on-site tickets may be available to events if they have not sold out):
• ​Add on ​
  13 luncheons over the 4 conference days.
• ​Register for ​
   10  workshops over 3 days.   
  ​(​
  Workshops are filling up quickly but there are still a few spaces remaining.
  ​)​
• Wednesday Night at the Institute of Texan Cultures on August 27
  ​th​
  , hosted by the the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society and the Texas State Genealogical Society.
• ​Friday evening's "Night in Old San Antonio" at La Villita is sold out.​

You can also purchase extra tickets (except for workshops) for your non-genealogy spouses or friends who traveled with you to the conference.

Visit https://www.fgsconference.org/registration/ to register or add "extras" today. We hope to see you in San Antonio, August 27-30.

Learn More and Stay Connected

Like FGS at:  https://www.facebook.com/FGSgenealogy

Follow FGS on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fgsgenealogy and hashtag #FGS2014.

Visit San Antonio at http://visitsanantonio.com/

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 for the family history community), 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.

Do's and Don'ts for FGS 2014

It's almost time for the 2014 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference! This time it's in my neck of the woods, and I'm excited to have all these genealogy folks come to Texas. If this is your first trip to San Antonio, here are some tips to make your trip memorable:

DO try new things. Attend a class in something about which you know nothing, play with the databases in the vendor hall, make friends in the chairs around you while we're all waiting for sessions to start.

DON'T bring your horse or cowboy hat. Downtown San Antonio is a very busy place. Take all your visions of ranches and prairies out of your head and replace them with buses and tall buildings. Leave your boots at home too, unless they're super comfortable and worthy of long walks through the convention center.

DO take advantage of local food and drink. When it comes to after-hours conference entertainment, San Antonio is one of the better FGS settings in recent memory. There are so many choices! Here is a list of nearby restaurants and bars.

DON'T spend all your time in the convention center. I realize genealogy is the reason we're all coming to San Antonio, but take some time to explore the city surrounding the conference. Check out these downtown San Antonio maps for ideas.

DO realize The Alamo is only a short walk from the convention center.This conference offers you a great chance to see it (and realize how small it is). There's even an early-morning Fun Walk supporting the Preserve the Pensions cause. Why not sign up?

DON'T ask where the basement is at The Alamo:

DO come find me at the conference. I love making new genealogy friends!

Long time, no blog

I'm here! I promise.

The good news is that I've been so busy that blogging took a back seat. I went on vacation:

Isn't that pretty? What you don't know is 1. I'm moving there once the nest is empty and 2. I took this photo while my car was stuck in the sand. Prince Charming with silver teeth driving an Escalade helped set me free.

Recently, I've been hired on several genealogy projects large and small. I just finished some research that I think is going to be used for a book. I didn't ask. I was given a specific task so I delivered without questions. It was a fun project.

My most recent project has me attempting to connect a one adult to another, a child to a parent. It's quite complicated as key records are missing and people sort of vanish. This is right up my alley, as I'm becoming an expert in dealing with my own difficult ancestors.

I've also started working more on my family tree. It's pretty boring but necessary stuff. Lots of adding census records and city directories to my RootsMagic database. I need to get all these online discoveries in the database so I can start getting back into the deep research. I want to go on some road trips! But before I do that I need my facts in a row. I started alphabetically with the first person in my database, and now I'm up to Ezekiel Cloyd.

Another reason I've been gone is that I'm deep cleaning the house. I call it Hurricane Amy. I need to get rid of stuff, donate stuff, and fix stuff. I was not kidding about moving to that beach in the photo, people. I have 2 years to get this house lookin' purdy.

Blogging should get more frequent as I make a priority to get it in my schedule.

FGS 2014 in San Antonio is coming up in August, so you'll get some conference posts from me there. Who is going? Will I see you there?

See you in San Antonio!

Good news! I get to go to the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2014 conference in San Antonio!

Even though I only live 3 hours away, it wasn't a done deal. I have a husband who works out of state and a child without a driver's license. Someone had to play taxi that week. My husband will be working from home so I can make this trip.

I signed up for Librarians' Day and I'm really looking forward to it. I really want to stay current on collection development, especially for genealogy resources. 

I did not sign up for any ticketed lunches. I realize that's the figurative bread and butter for many genealogy groups, but I think I'll use lunch time to explore the city. I also didn't sign up for the big ticketed events. I know, I'm sorry. It's just that I'm not a big fan of....people. There, now you know.

There are many conference sessions that look so good to me:

"Have You Really Done the Dawes?" by Linda Woodward Geiger

Well, I thought so....but maybe not? My Chickasaw ancestors are all up in those records, but maybe I don't know what I don't know.

"Davy Crockett: Following the Trail From Limestone to Texas" by J. Mark Lowe

This session discusses Southern families who migrated to the Republic of Texas. I have those. I love hearing Mark speak. Win/win.

"Finding Your Ancestors in the Republic of Texas" by Teri E. Flack

I have a few documents for my Bourlands in the Republic of Texas. I want more. Hopefully this session shows me how to get more.

Ugh, there are so many good sessions. Some at the same time of others. This will be a difficult choice.

Since I am attending Librarians' Day, I'll arrive in San Antonio Monday afternoon. Anyone else getting there that early?

San Antonio is a wonderful setting for a conference. Walking distance to the Alamo (it's small!), Riverwalk and numerous restaurants. The convention center is nice, too. You'll like it.

Will I see you there?

Hotel Reservations Now Open for FGS2015 and RootsTech

Below is a press release regarding the availability of hotel rooms for FGS 2015 and RootsTech 2015.

In case you haven't heard, both of these conferences are being held concurrently in Salt Lake City in February 2015.

I have no idea how this 2-conference thing is going to go. Do we need to register for both conferences? Will they be in different parts of the convention center? So many questions...

If you're planning on attending FGS2015 and/or RootsTech, you probably shouldn't wait for answers before reserving your hotel room. These will be well-attended conferences and the hotel rooms will be reserved quickly.

Are you planning to attend? Will I see you there? I can't answer questions about either conference, but I may be able to answer questions about the hotels. All are within walking distance to the convention center and Family History Library.

Anyway, here's the press release:

HOTEL RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR 2015 FGS and RootsTech Conferences

Book Your Room Today

Four Salt Lake City hotels are now taking reservations for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and RootsTech conferences, which will be held February 11–14, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

The Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, and Hilton Salt Lake City Center will offer reduced rates to attendees of both conferences. Each hotel is conveniently located near the Salt Palace Convention Center.Conference rates will be honored for reservation dates February 7 – 19, 2015. Reservations must be made by January 13, 2015 to receive the conference rates.

Rooms will be in high demand. Reserve yours now through the FGS conference website at http://www.fgsconference.org/2015/lodging.

Registration for both conferences will open in late August 2014. For additional information about the FGS conference visit www.FGSconference.org/2015.

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 Forummagazine (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.

Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FGSgenealogy), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/FGSgenealogy) and on our blog at (http://voice.fgs.org).

RootsTech 2015 Content Committee Issues a Call for Presentations

The RootsTech Content Committee is calling for dynamic presentations for RootsTech 2015 that inform and educate both those seeking to begin and those continuing to discover their family story through technology.  

Presentation submissions will be accepted June 2 to June 27, 2014, through the Call for Presentations portal on RootsTech.org.

Presentations will be accepted for both RootsTech and Innovator Summit.  

• RootsTech is a three day family history conference offering over two hundred classes for beginners, avid hobbyists and experienced researchers.
• Innovator Summit starts with a pre-RootsTech event onWednesday, February 11, and is a unique opportunity for software developers, entrepreneurs and technology business leaders to explore and influence technology solutions in the family history industry.  Classes will continue throughout the RootsTech conference.

In 2015, RootsTech and The Federation of Genealogical Societies are teaming up to offer two great conferences in one venue. Speakers interested in presenting at FGS can visit their website for more information about the FGS National Conference and their call for presentations. 

Presentations submissions are requested for all family history and technology skill levels in the following categories:

RootsTech

• Finding and Organizing: search tactics, resources, specialized tools, methodologies, solutions, metadata, apps and software 
• Preserving Your Work And Legacy: family trees, digital migration, audio and video solutions 
• Sharing: social media, tools for collaboration, wikis, crowd sourcing, community building, blogs
• Stories and Photos: storytelling and interviewing, capturing stories, preserving stories, enhancing stories with photos, photo restoration, movies and presentations, photo editing, oral histories
• Tools: technology introductions, gadgets, genetic research, DNA, breaking down barriers, 
• General:  family history topics in general including geographic research, time-period research, inspirations, market trends, research trends, adjacent industries, record types. (Please note, there is still an expectation in this category that technology is a part of the presented topic.)
• Family Traditions And Lifestyle: cultural arts, handicrafts, food, influential historical events, everyday living standards, social customs, pastimes, artifacts. (Please note there is still an expectation in this category that this knowledge assists the learner in family history and that technology is a part of the presented topic.) 

RootsTech Innovator Summit

• Developer: standards and API's, mobile app development, social applications, record imaging and visualizations, apps for youth, software and tools that enable the work of family history.
• Business: funding and investment, startups- success stories and tips, opportunities and market trends, networking and partnerships, insights and entertainment 

For more information, download the complete Call for Presentations document. It includes presentation and evaluation criteria, the submission timeline, and process details.

Questions regarding the RootsTech 2015 call for presentations can be emailed to the Content Committee at info@rootstech.org.

Do you know someone who would be a great presenter for RootsTech 2015? Please share this with them. 

Dispatches from the Ancestry.com Breakfast (FGS2013 Update 5)

While I was at the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in Fort Wayne, I had the pleasure of attending a breakfast sponsored by Ancestry.com.

As with all vendor-sponsored meal invites, there's always a presentation.

The Ancestry.com show emphasized five points of their approach to family history using Who Do You Think You Are? as an example.

The general idea was the use of records to tell a story which in turn draws people to family history. We need to know our audience and use different approaches to draw them in. Involve them in the process, make sure they can see the story you are trying to tell and make it visually compelling.

The points above are all used in the tv show. We can use them to draw our own families in as well. While each WDYTYA is a finite episode with an end, our own stories keep unfolding. I get the feeling Ancestry is crafting the "typical" user experience to assist subscribers in unfolding their own stories. Less about proper citations, more about the family history experience (which is how the vast majority of their customer base approaches genealogy).

We also got a peek at some new developments at Ancestry.com. Ancestor profile pages will have a Story View button which allows users to see an ancestor's timeline in a different format.

There was also discussion of "smart filters" which are used when searching directly from ancestor profiles. I did see an option on the presentation screen for turning smart filters on and off. Ancestry says 1% of people have this option as a test, but eventually all subscribers will get it. You can read more about smart filters at this Ancestry.com blog post.

More updates: Family Tree Maker 2014 is coming, mobile apps are being updated, further improvements are being made to search and DNA components of Ancestry.com.

After the presentation, there was a Q&A session. Someone resurrected the dead horse that is "Old Search." The answer given was that they're trying to add the most-loved features of Old into the New. Old was expensive apparently. I'm not emotionally invested in the debate so pardon my lack of outrage.

Other questions were more of an individual nature because genealogists can't help but talk about themselves and their own issues. I wanted to hear more about what's coming up at Ancestry, but I didn't have any good general questions myself.

Guess that's it from the Ancestry.com breakfast. I had a good time and I appreciate being kept "in the loop" about upcoming developments. Hopefully my wonderful friends and readers do, too.

Cyndi's List Plenary Session (FGS2013 Update 4)

Society Day at the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies kicked off with a plenary session led by Cyndi Howells. You might know her better as the Cyndi in Cyndi's List.

Is your society web site all it's cracked up to be? That was the title of her talk and the question she asked of all the attendees.

Cyndi has seen a lot of web sites. There are over 7,000 society web sites alone on her own site, so she's more than qualified to advise others.

First, Cyndi said that society web sites should be updated--at the very least--quarterly or monthly. However, she recommends updating your web site with fresh content each week. Not everything needs to be "new" but upcoming events should be current.

Does your website accurately represent your society? If it is updated or stagnant, what does that say about your society?

Cyndi talked about ease of use and design. Simple is in. Cutesy graphics and sound are huge outs.

One of the most simple and important points Cyndi made is that your full society's name should be on each page of your web site. For example, you shouldn't be a "genealogical society" on one page and a "genealogy society" on another. Also, if you're a county society, PLEASE include your state somewhere in the title.

Cyndi provided a ton of good advice, too much to list here. Basically it was a call for societies to look at their websites with fresh eyes from the perspective of new members.

My favorite takeaway from this session was that if your society does not update its website regularly, it's like sending out the same newsletter every month.


Donate to Cyndi's List

Touring Fort Wayne on Foot (FGS2013 Update 3)

While in Fort Wayne, Lisa Alzo, Kathryn Doyle and I did something we've never done at any genealogy conference. We took an afternoon to tour the host town.

We saw the courthouse. 

Supposedly the courthouse has wonderful murals but we couldn't go in the building because we had cell phones. This was a no-cell place.

Then we saw a nifty old building so we wandered that way.

It is the History Center. Here is some detail of the building built in the 1890's.

We paid admission and learned a little bit about Fort Wayne.

And then we went into the basement, which turned in to Lisa and I doing some time.

After the walking tour, we stopped in at the delightful and well-hidden Lincoln Tower Soda Fountain. I had my first phosphate. It was a delightful end to a historic walking tour in a town holding a convention about history.

Federation Of Genealogical Societies Announces 2015 Conference

FGS and RootsTech Events To Be Held In Tandem 

February 12-14, 2015 in Salt Lake City

22 August 2013 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announced today that its 2015 National Conference will be heldFebruary 12-14, 2015, in Salt Lake City, Utah in conjunction with RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch. RootsTech is held each February in Salt Lake City and helps thousands of attendees from around the world discover and share family connections, stories, and history.

With the Salt Palace Convention Center as the common venue, both FamilySearch and FGS are committed to producing a one-of-a-kind genealogy event addressing the educational needs of the family history, technology and genealogical society communities. As the logistics of this sizeable event are still being worked out, both FGS and FamilySearch will work together to share resources and provide cost benefits for all parties, including attendees and exhibitors. Attendees can expect to see familiar elements of previous FGS and RootsTech events including keynote presentations, a Society Showcase and Expo Hall.

Registration for both events will begin in August 2014, six months prior to the February 2015 dates. FGS will also hold a smaller national event for its members in late 2015, with details to be announced at a later date.

FGS President D. Joshua Taylor states, “FamilySearch has been a valued partner and sponsor for FGS during its past conferences. It only makes sense for both organizations to work together and produce what will be the most talked about genealogy events of 2015.” Taylor added that such an event brings the best of RootsTech and FGS conferences together under one roof and will offer genealogists and family historians a wide array of activities and educational opportunities.

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.

FamilySearch Blogger Dinner at FGS (FGS2013 Update 2)

Tuesday night FamilySearch held a dinner for the genealogy bloggers attending the FGS conference in Fort Wayne. They've been graciously doing it so long that it always feels like a family reunion when I attend one of their events.

As usual, FamilySearch has big plans, and they shared them with us.

First, we got the scoop that Diane Loosle was the new director of the Family History Library. This is a great choice on their part. We were lucky enough to hear some of her plans and upcoming changes at the Family History Library.

Loosle said that the FHL will have collaborative research spaces, with staff coming out from behind the counters to assist patrons. These spaces will be divided loosely by research interest and have all the tools one needs to do that research. She gave an example of the Nordic area of the library. Usually we get a film in one area and go to the microfilm readers in another area, or a computer in another. In the collaborative space, many of these things are grouped together. This lets Nordic researchers work among each other. What happens then is that they start talking and helping each other. Add that to the staff that are out and about and that's how collaborative research happens.

Paul Nauta then gave the most recent stats for FamilySearch holdings. They are up to 2.9 billion searchable names, with 1.7 million names being added daily. They are still filming like crazy with 237 camera teams around the world.

Nauta also hinted at a new kind of Family History Discovery Center. These are more interactive and outreaching than the traditional local Family History Centers we all know. They will include oral history recording studios and bells and whistles to help the casually interested folks get their family history down. The Discovery Centers--I think he said 4 or 5 are being planned initially--will be in high traffic/high tourist areas. He was pretty secretive about the locations so stay tuned for that.

FamilySearch Family Tree is coming along. It's technically not being promoted to the public yet, but it's growing fine. I know this because a client is paying me to use this service and I've already added several hundred names and 1050 photos to the big tree. I asked about the ability to add documents. He said that's coming this year, as well as the ability to add videos. Yay!

Family Search Indexing is launching an international marketing campaign in 10 languages to raise awareness and attract volunteers on a global level. I tried to find the video online to share but gave up. If anyone who was at the dinner has the link, can you let me know?

Nauta also gave a RootsTech 2014 update. The upcoming conference will expand to 600 satellite locations with an estimated 120,000 remote attendees. Registration opens this week and involves an early discount so sign up now.

That's it on the FamilySearch update front. They gave the bloggers a nice gift or a solar phone charger with flashlight. They always bring the quality swag.

Thank you, FamilySearch for the great evening.

Dinner with Friends at Fort Wayne (FGS2013 Update 1)

Greetings from Fort Wayne, Indiana! I'm in town for the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference. Some might think this is an unusual place for a national conference, but in reality it is a hotbed thanks to the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Department.

As planned, I went to a meet-up with some genealogy pals. We had a pub date:

Left side front to back: Diane Boumenot, Linda McCauley, Tina Lyons, Kathryn Doyle, Me, Lisa Alzo

Right side front to back: Janney Lanctot, Kathy Chastain, Amy Crow, Shelley Bishop, Susan Clark, Diana Ritchie

We had a lot of fun and it was a great way to kick off the week.

FGS Preparation (or Lack Thereof)

As Jill Ball likes to say, only "two sleeps" until I make my way to Fort Wayne for the 2013 FGS Conference.

I've been reading lots of Facebook updates of how people are already packed, their class schedules and research plans laid out and ready to go.

Me? I've done none of these things. The only preparation I've made so far is to ensure that the syllabus is downloaded on my iPad so I can access it offline. That's it.

Don't confuse my lack of preparation for lack of enthusiasm. I'm still working to get The Eternal Client Project done. I've been shuttling my son to and from summer band practices. Every 30 minutes or so I have to stop what I'm doing and go investigate a strange noise from somewhere in the house. The cats have settled in and are exploring new places, often where they aren't supposed to be. Time to prepare for a conference? Take a number and have a seat, I'll be with you when I can.

So today is about laundry and tomorrow is about packing. The overnight lows in Indiana are supposed to be in the mid-60's! To a Houstonian in August, this is simply delightful.

My FGS2013 social schedule is getting full. I have 3 vendor meetings/meals and a couple pub dates (everyone is welcome to those). I have 1 ticketed luncheon on Wednesday (Mark Lowe's delegate one. Anyone going?). I also volunteered to man the Texas State Genealogical Society booth for a block of time.

Class schedule? I haven't even planned that. I never do until I'm at the host city. The only for-sure won't-be-missed session is the one about the Great Lakes ship wrecks for obvious reasons.

Everything else is up in the air. And I like it that way.

Will I see you in Fort Wayne? I always want to meet new people and reconnect with genealogy friends.

Student Rate Set for FGS2013

The Federation of Genealogical Societies introduced a student rate for their 2013 conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It went live yesterday. Here's how you register for the FGS2013 student rate.

The student rate represents a significant savings, and allows young 'uns affordable access to one of the bigger genealogy conferences.

If you know someone who is interested and fits the bill, let them know.

For the rest of us old farts, the early-bird rate expires July 1. Get on it.

Did you hear? I'll be at FGS2013 and I want to meet you.

FGS 2013 Bound!

Today I made my arrangements to go to the 2013 FGS Conference. It's in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 21-24. Are you going? If so, will you be there earlier? I'm going a bit early and would like to meet up with dinner mates and such.

Though I've been to Indiana once (for an incredible Notre Dame football game experience), I've never been to the genealogical Disneyland that is the Allen County Public Library. I'm looking forward to it.

I did something I don't normally do and signed up for a luncheon. I'm going to the delegate one to hear J. Mark Lowe speak...and to learn how to be a good delegate for Chaparral Genealogical Society.

Other than that, my meals and social hours are open. From the looks of this handy downtown Fort Wayne restaurant map, there are some interesting places. It would be cool to do a Tweet-up/pub crawl one night. Any interest?

With the tickets purchased and reservations made, the next step is to scour and browse the Allen County Public Library catalog for genealogy treasures. It will be nice to work on my own family tree again.

Will I see you at FGS 2013? Let me know so I can get excited and look forward to our visit in Fort Wayne.

P.S. The early-bird FGS 2013 registration rate expires July 1, 2013. Get it done!

2013 FGS Conference Registration Is Open

“Journey through Generations” – A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists

March 8, 2013 – Austin, TX. Online registration is now open for the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, scheduled for 21-24 August 2013 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Register at http://www.fgsconference.org by 1 July 2013 for an early-bird discount. This year’s conference theme is “Journey through Generations,” and the local hosts are the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) and the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI).

This year’s FGS conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. This conference will offer over 160 educational sessions on records, strategies, and tools for genealogists of all levels. Ten different sponsored luncheons will provide opportunities for networking.

Session sponsors include FamilySearch, findmypast.com, Ancestry.com, Archives.com, Fold3, Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Indiana Historical Society.

Conference Highlights

• Conference Sessions: A wide variety of genealogy-related lectures and workshops for all experience levels. Attendees will be able to learn about Midwest research, African American research, European research, military research, genetics, technology, migration, methodology and more.
• Focus on Societies: On Wednesday, August 21, 2013, sessions are jam-packed with ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, increase membership, and develop sources of revenue.
• Librarians’ Day: On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, ProQuest will sponsor a full pre-conference day of sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serving family history researchers.
• Special Events: Include FGS Opening Social at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory and “Journey Through the Genearations with Our Veterans” at the Allen County Public Library.
• Exhibit Hall: The large exhibit hall will feature the latest software, books, maps, databases and gadgets on the market for genealogists and family historians, as well as information about genealogical organizations. Representatives of FGS member societies will staff their booths in the special Society Showcase area.
• Extended Hours at ACPL: The Genealogy Center at ACPL will open early and stay open late during the FGS 2013 conference week to help genealogist maximize their research time.

There are more activities and research opportunities too numerous to list. However, you can learn all about the 2013 FGS Conference and register for this exciting four-day event at http://www.fgsconference.org. Be sure to also visit or subscribe to the FGS Conference Blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org for more information.

We look forward to seeing you in Fort Wayne in August!

Learn More and Stay Connected

• Like the conference on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FGSconference.
• Follow the conference on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/FGSconference and hashtag #FGS2013.
• Visit Fort Wayne at http://www.visitfortwayne.com/FGS.

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.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies forms the Society of Preservation Patriots

January 16, 2013 – AUSTIN, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the creation of a new society to promote the preservation of records in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): The Society of Preservation Patriots. This new group recognizes donors who have contributed $250 or more to the Stern-NARA Gift Fund or the current Preserve the Pensions initiative, a project to digitally capture the 7.2 million images from the 180,000 pensions of those who served in the War of 1812.

Recognition for members will include a new pin designed especially for the society. The pins will be mailed directly to contributors. The names of members of the society will also be listed on the FGS website.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has posthumously named Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern as the first member of the newly formed Society of Preservation Patriots for his vision and leadership. As chair of the Genealogical Coordinating Committee, he established the NARA Gift Fund, later named the Stern-NARA Gift Fund after his death in his honor. It was Rabbi Stern’s efforts that led to collecting money to then microfilm and distribute copies of high value records for genealogists to the regional National Archives Branches records that were held at NARA in Washington, DC. Long known for his tireless efforts, he challenged member societies of FGS to ask each of their members to contribute $1 per year toward the fund, a request that still stands today.

Over the years, through the generous donations of the genealogical community, numerous records have been microfilmed and made available to genealogists. A few examples are:

•  M1359: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston, Texas, 1896-1948
•  M1878: Records of the Sultana Disaster, April 27, 1865
•  M2019: Records Relating to War of 1812 Prisoners of War
•  M2014: Burial Registers for Posts, Camps and Stations, 1768-1921
•  M2025: Registers of Applications for the Release of Impressed Seaman, 1793-1802
•  M1846: Record Cards of Carriers Separated from the Postal Service, 1863-1899         

FGS invites you to become a member of the Society of Preservation Patriots by contributing your gift of $250 or more to the Stern-NARA Gift Fund or the Preserve the Pensions project. Visit http://www.preservethepensions.org or http://www.fgs.org/cstm_STERN-NARA.php for more information.

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.