Best of RootsTech LIVE from the Privacy of Your Own Home

Can't attend RootsTech in person? Well, yes you can! Every keynote speaker and class being held in the main room at the RootsTech Conference will be broadcast live to the world. So be sure to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity by going to RootsTech.org.

List of streaming events: Remember this is Mountain Daylight Time, so on the East Coast the streaming begins at 10:30 a.m.

Prepare Before Attending a FH Conference

It's time again to resurrect my blog post about being prepared to attend conferences... RootsTech is almost here!

It’s that time of year – genealogy conferences are springing up all over. I remember the very first time I attended a conference and felt like I was the only person in the world who did not know what was going on! I had not done a very good job of preparing myself for the experience. What I have learned over time is that there are some simple steps you can take to make your experience a great one.  It doesn’t matter whether this is your first conference or 20^th conference, whether it’s a big conference or a little one, whether it’s about genealogy or any other subject, planning ahead will make a difference in how much value you get and how enjoyable the experience is for you.

First, decide what conference is best suited to your particular needs and skill levels.

There are many different genealogy conferences throughout the year that you can choose to attend, but pick according to you current skills level and interests.  In other words, don’t pick a conference or a track that teaches how to become an accredited genealogist before you’ve learned how to get started.  Most all conferences have classes that are fairly generic, others geared towards beginners, intermediates or advanced genealogists and family historians. There are very small local half day workshops all the way to week-long national conferences and each of them can be a wise choice.

Review flyers or other media prepared for a conference. Look online for reviews of prior year’s workshops. Check out the presenters and audit reviews from other presentations they have given.  Some presenters are easier to learn from than others and, as your experience grows you will identify with certain ones and find yourself a follower of their classes.

Finally, pick your conference and register as early as possible and when you arrive, check in at registration as early as possible to minimize your time in line.

Select which sessions or classes you want to attend.

Once you are registered for your conference of choice, download the schedule and review the workshop requirements. Many classes are geared to all level of skills and a few will require a prerequisite level of knowledge.  A few will require a separate registration for the class because it has room only for a limited number of people.  Try to stick to classes that fit your level of comfort and skill.

Make notes on the schedule and on the presenters. Determine which classes you most want to attend but, always choose a backup or two for any given time slot. Sometimes classes fill up quickly and there is no room left for you, requiring you to find another class to slip into. Or, maybe you attend a class for the first 3 minutes and determine that this just isn’t the class for you. With a backup class you can quickly slip into the room.

Don’t overlook a subject just because it’s something you know nothing about or it covers a locale that you have no interest in – you will learn new methodologies and tips in every class you attend.

Larger conferences now provide registered attendees access to syllabus material weeks before the conference begins. Take the time to review the presenter’s handouts. You can usually read through them and determine whether you will be overwhelmed with the class or find it too boring. Unless you are paying extra for a paper syllabus, plan on printing out the syllabus pages for the classes you plan to attend. You can then make notes during class using these handouts. You will usually have a CD copy of the syllabus provided to you at registration.

Prepare yourself before attending the conference.

Get yourself ready to go starting with planning your trip. If this is a local conference, determine what you need to take with you each day and how you are going to get there. Are you driving? If so, you need to plan your parking in advance. On-site parking may be much more expensive than a smaller lot a block away. Taking public transportation may be less of a hassle than parking. Plan your strategy. Review the time of day you would need to be on the roads, the part of town where the conference is held and be prepared for the unexpected.

If you are flying to the conference then create a travel list of things to pack. Plan and prepare your flight plan, transportation to and from the airport, and don’t forget your list of meds, insurance cards, cell phones and any other items you may need. Don’t forget that extra carry on bag to get your conference materials home. If you have gathered too many, check with the hotel and have your extra’s shipped home. It may be cheaper than paying for that extra baggage on the plane.

Plan your attire. Workshops are not a formal affair so dress accordingly. Usually these conferences are quite casual and require very comfy clothing and good walking shoes. You will cover a lot of ground during each day. The last thing you want to do is end the day with blisters on both feet and still need to walk to your car or your room. Conference center rooms are often drafty or way too warm. Don’t dress for the outside, dress for a variety of temps inside. Bring a jacket or sweater and dress in layers.  If you have a problem with sweaty feet, bring an extra pair of socks to change midday. You want to be very comfortable.

Take a bag with you. If you don’t like to carry things or you get a headache from carrying a bag then get one on rollers.  The more things you pick up during the day the heavier that bag becomes.  (Larger conferences give you a carry bag at registration with a conference program, papers, and miscellaneous “stuff”.  I stuff the whole thing in my roller bag. Besides, roller bags make a great footrest!) Here is a list of items that you may find beneficial to carry with you. 

• ·      Address labels or business cards. You can label items you pick up (even your conference booklet) or purchase and, exchange info with other attendees and vendors.  You will make friends throughout the conference that you meet in classes or over lunch that you want to contact with later.

• ·       Pens, pencils, highlighters, paper, a clipboard or folder.

• ·      Take a digital camera. You can take pictures of some presentation pages if allowed by the presenter. You might want to remember something specific about a vendor. Or, you might want to take pictures of friends or presenters you meet.

• ·      You may be one of those people who love to take notes on your PC or you want your genealogy files with you. You can take your PC, handheld, or smartphone, but don’t expect to plug it in to an electrical socket from every room. It may not be available. Consider others when you bring these tools. Turn off the sound and beeps.

• ·      Take snacks and a water bottle with you in your bag. There are food vendors at most large conferences but nothing may be available at others.  If you are in classes for several hours before a lunch break you will appreciate a snack and you may not be able to find a drinking fountain between each class.

•         Take tissues and any meds you may need throughout the day.

•         Remember, you can even roll up the jacket or sweater and stuff it in your bag when you don’t need it.

The workshops finally begin!

Be prompt. Don’t show up one minute before or ten minutes after a class starts and expect to get the best seat in the room. Don’t come in late and walk in front of a projector or stumble over everyone’s feet trying to get to the center of a room. Be early for the class whenever possible. Classes will start on time because they are on a tight schedule.

Take notes. Use your paper syllabus, your printed handouts, or a notepad. At the end of a class or while you are waiting for the next class to begin, summarize your key points and reread them.

Make the most of lectures and workshops. If you take the time before hand to prepare any questions you may have you will get better answers from those questions you ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question, so don’t be afraid to ask. However, classes need to be geared to generalizations, not your specific ancestor. So don’t waste other attendees time by asking the presenter a question geared to a specific circumstance or person. Most presenters will give an email address, or are available in the vendor area to ask specific questions later.

Make connections everywhere you go. Network, talk to people, introduce yourself. Establish research interests.  Exchange those address stickers or business cards.

Prepare for the VENDOR experience! Find the vendor map in your conference packet or locate it online before you go. Then plan your attack! Mark on your map the vendors you are most interesting in visiting. Make those your first priority. That way you can spend quality time with those vendors and visit the others as time permits.

Maintain a conference log. List friends, contacts, vendors, speakers to suggest to a group you belong to, and important points from lectures. Chart your progress and new skills you have acquired.  Make notes for your future research.  At the end of conference make sure your notes are understandable.

Participate in special events whenever you can. These provide extra opportunities to ask questions, network, and learn more.

The conference is over!

  If you can spend an extra day before or after a conference make sure to familiarize yourself with local research facilities, local points of interest and good places to eat. Enjoy the opportunity of visiting a new area of the country.

When you get home remember to review your notes, file important materials away and contact those new genealogy friends! Take a rest and then you’ll be ready to start planning your next conference!  

Enjoy!

Genealogical research gets more family friendly with Family Tree online resource

Here is a great article published in the Deseret News concerning FamilySearch Family Tree. Give it a read!

 Genealogical Research Gets More Family Friendly with Family Tree Online

Riverton FamilySearch Library to Host Free Seminar

The Riverton FamilySearch Library will host a free seminar on

March 16th from 9:00 a.m. to noon,

offering help to genealogists of all skill levels.

Riverton, Utah¾ In every genealogist’s life, there are moments and experiences that change our course, give us the inspiration to solve the brick wall, or even cause us to laugh out loud. Popular keynote speaker Barry Ewell will share ten “aha!” moments that will give you cause to say, “I’m a genealogist and lovin' it!”

Barry J. Ewell is the founder of MyGenShare.com, an online knowledgebase website for individuals interested in learning, sharing, contemplating, and discovering family history. Throughout his professional career as executive officer and senior manager of advertising and public relations strategy for technology companies, he has worked for companies like IBM, 3M, and Rational Software. He has a BA in Communications from BYU. Since first being introduced to family history in 1998, he has extensively researched his family roots in the United States, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Germany, and Russia. His focus has been to preserve the record of his family through oral, written, and documented histories, and researching family lines. 

Following the keynote presentation from 9:00–10:00 a.m., there will be two blocks of four classes each that will cover topics of interest for beginning, intermediate, and advanced family history enthusiasts.

The classes available from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. are:

 ·       Digging Up Death Records Online"¾Lorraine Bourne

 ·        “Searching Ancestry.com”¾Echo King

 ·        “Utilizing Online Resources of the Midwest”¾Luana Darby

 ·        “Church of England Parish Registers”¾Apryl Cox

  

The classes available from 11:00 a.m. to noon are:

·       “The ‘Shady’ Side of the Family Tree: Prison, Criminal, and Asylum Records and More”¾Bret Petersen

·         “Ancestry.com Online Family Trees”¾Echo King

·         “Using Danish Military Levying Rolls”¾Linda Baker

·         “Census Techniques and Strategies”¾Jason Harrison

Registration is not required for this free seminar. The Riverton FamilySearch Library is located in the LDS Riverton Office Building at 3740 Market Center Drive. The facility is near the intersection of Bangerter Highway and 13400 South, just east of The Home Depot.

Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group Meeting and Classes

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group - UVTAGG (Formerly the Utah Valley PAF Users Group - UVPAFUG) will be on Saturday, 09 Mar 2013, from 9 am to noon in the LDS "Red Chapel", 4050 North Timpview Drive (650 East), Provo.  Information about the Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on their website http://uvtagg.org and the press releases are at http://blog.uvtagg.org . 

The main presentation this month will be by  David Ouimette on SOLVING DIFFICULT FAMILY HISTORY PROBLEMS.  Proving family relationships, the essence of  genealogical research, may seem daunting when the evidence is sparse.  This presentation will show how to solve difficult family history problems by applying sound research principles and practices.  David Ouimette, CG, is Manager of Content Strategy at FamilySearch.  His responsibilities include identifying the most valuable records for genealogical research worldwide and prioritizing records to preserve digitally and make available online.  He has conducted onsite family history research and participated in record negotiations in Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and much of the United States.  He previously worked in software development and product management at Ancestry.com and has lectured at many national and local genealogy conferences.  His research specialties include Ireland, Quebec, and New England.  He has contributed articles to Ancestry Magazine, APG Quarterly, Crossroads, The Septs, and BYU Family Historian and is the author of Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide (Provo: Ancestry, 2005).  He currently serves as Vice President of the Utah Genealogical Association and is responsible for publishing Crossroads magazine.

After the main presentation the following classes are presently scheduled:   

(1)  Family History in Bulk: More Bang for Your Buck, by Linda Snow Westover;  

(2)  Marching Forward in a Major Way: U.S. Military Records, by Laurie Castillo;  

(3)  Q&A: Solving Difficult Family History Problems, by David Ouimette;  

(4)  Ask an Expert (Personal Help), by Don Engstrom and Finn Hansen;  

(5)  MAC:  Using Reunion 10 and Previous Versions, by Ron Snowden;  

(6)  Video of last month's main presentation: Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons, by Margaret Young;  

(7)  Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay;  

(8)  Legacy, by Jim Kendall; and  

(9)  RootsMagic, by Sue Maxwell.  

Check the meetings page at  UVTAGG for last minute changes or additions to the class offerings.

All meetings of UVTAGG are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually about 100 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays.

FamilySearch Family Tree Released to Public

Today, March 5, 2013, FamilySearch Family Tree has been released to the public. This is a big step. We all know that there are problems with the data and hope that it's use by everyone will help to make it the best best family tree in existence.  To read more about it read the following post by FamilySearch.

FamilySearch Family Tree Released to the Public

RootsTech: Classes for Priesthood and Church Leaders

General Authority and other Church leaders provide Family History Training on March 23, 2013, at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City

Priesthood and Church leaders are invited to participate in free family history training on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Registration is required at rootstech.org/Fhcallings Training includes:

Special Family History Devotional

9:45 AM, Elder Allen F. Packer, First Quorum of the Seventy, Salt Palace Hall 2

For all Church Members

The doctrine of family history and the work of salvation.

The Role of Family History in the Work of Salvation

11:00 AM, Elder Bradley D. Foster, Second Quorum of the Seventy, Salt Palace Hall 2

For Anyone with a Family History Related Calling

Learn successful practices for using family history in wards and stakes to:

• Receive the full blessings of the temple
• Focus on the work for YOUR dead
• Strengthen family connections
• Support Priesthood leaders and councils

Priesthood Leaders: Family History as a Resource in the Work of Salvation

12:40 PM, Elder Paul E. Koelliker, First Quorum of the Seventy, Salt Palace Hall 1

For Priesthood Leaders:  Learn how Priesthood leaders play a large role in the success of ward or stake family history activities. Learn how to use family history to strengthen families, reactivate members, and as a missionary too.

Youth Leaders: Using Family History to Bless the Lives of Your Youth

12:40 PM, David L. Beck, Young Men General President, Salt Palace 155 C

Using Family History to Bless the Lives of Your Youth

Learn about the blessings promised to youth who engage in family history work. Come away with ideas on how to plan activities like pioneer treks, youth conferences, scouting, and the Duty to God and Personal Progress.

RootsTech: Youth Events and Speakers

Youth Family History Classes and Devotional on March 23, 2013 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City  

In relation to the First Presidency’s recent invitation for youth to engage in family history and temple work, the Family History Department will hold free family history classes for youth on March 23, 2013 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

These classes are offered in conjunction with RootsTech, a family history and technology conference sponsored by the Church.

In addition, a youth devotional will be held that evening at 6:00 p.m. in the LDS Conference Center Theater with Sister Elaine S. Dalton as the speaker.  This devotional will be broadcast live to youth attending stake family history fairs in North and South America.

Parents and youth leaders are asked to register their youth for classes and the devotional www.rootstech.org/youth.

For The Strength of Youth dress standards apply. No shorts please.

Youth Classes:
The Time Is Now: Now Youth Can Embrace the Invitation to Do Family History

3:00 PM, Ryan Sharp (popular EFY Speaker), Salt Palace Room 155 C

Elder David A. Bednar’s talk on how youth should get involved with their family history created a buzz throughout the Church. Bring your smartphone, tablet, or laptop for a hands-on learning experience.

 

Youth Panel Discussion

4:00 PM, Watch various Youth Panelists from across the nation participate in a Google Hangout, Salt Palace Room 155 C

Family history is more than just pedigree charts and family group sheets. Meet other teens from across the nation (through Google Hangout) that are engaged in family history, and hear how it has blessed their lives. Come prepared with questions to ask your peers about family history and how you can get involved.

 

Youth Devotional

6:00 PM, Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President, Conference Center Theater

On Saturday evening, in the LDS Conference Center Theater, come hear Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President, speak about the blessings youth can receive as the participate in family history and temple work.

 

Youth Activities:

Genealogy Merit Badge and Personal Progress Booth, Salt Palace, RootsTech Expo Hall

RootsTech-Story@Home Contest

Want some help in learning to tell your family stories? Have you been wanting to preserve the oral histories and family memorabilia sitting around your home? Want to know how to publish those stories and traditions?

Here's your chance -- and a great one at that! A new addition to RootsTech this year is Story@Home who will be offering class sessions with award-winning storytellers, performers, and speakers to help us all explore ways to use the power of story to connect with our families.

Our friends at Story@Home are running an Instagram Photo Contest with a chance to win a $79 value registration to attend the Story@Home plus the Getting Started sessions at RootsTech, March 21-23, 2013, in Salt Lake City, Utah!

The contest will run from February 20th to 24th. To participate, snap a picture you think tells a story. Examples include family, friends, places, events, mementos-anything that has meaning for you. Upload the photo to Instagram and share what the photo tells. Include the hashtags #tellyourstory and #storyathome.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on the Story@Home Facebook page Monday, February 25th. "Like" Story@Home on Facebook to find out if you've won at Story@Home on Facebook.

Be sure to spread the word and let your friends and family know! See you at RootsTech!

RootsTech Early Registration Extended One Week

SALT LAKE CITY—The $149 early bird registration for the RootsTech 2013 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been extended until Friday, February 22, 2013. RootsTech, a family history and technology conference, is designed to help attendees discover the latest family history tools and techniques, whether they are an avid genealogist, just getting started, or looking for new solutions to better connect with their family. For more information, go to RootsTech.org.

The registration fee includes three full days of conference attendance with over 250 classes, conference materials, and an exciting exhibitor hall with hands-on labs and demonstrations from 100+ product and service providers. Attendees can also register to attend evening events, such as the opening social hosted by FindMyPast, a mini-concert performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and extended hours at the Family History Library.

The 3^rd annual RootsTech conference has something for everyone. New this year is a Getting Started track designed to help those new to family history learn the basics, start their family tree, and get help with family research. A new Story@Home selection of classes helps attendees discover the art of storytelling and provides new ways to preserve and share their family stories.  And a new, consolidated Developer Day provides a collaborative environment for family history technology developers to impact future technology innovations in the family history industry.

About RootsTech

RootsTech is a unique conference focused on helping individuals learn and use the latest technology to get started or accelerate their efforts to find, organize, preserve and share their family's connections and history. The first annual conference was held in 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by leading genealogical organizations, the conference includes hands-on demonstrations and forums to provide a highly interactive environment and accelerate learning. Content is geared to young and old, beginner to advanced levels.

And the Rootstech Registration Winner Is...

Jackie Bogedahl! Congrats! You win a full-three day registration to RootsTech!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the contest to win the registration to the RootsTech Genealogy Conference being held March 21-23 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I had so many more people participate this year which is exciting to see! Interest is growing and hopefully those of you who didn't win this year will still go ahead and register for the conference -- you won't be sorry! There is still a couple of days left to register at the discounted price. Take advantage before the rates go up.

There are so many options to attend this year -- from as little as $19 for a one-day pass to "Getting Started" classes to the full access three-day package. Jackie will have access to over 250 classes and everything else RootsTech has to offer with her 3-day registration. Register and you can join in the fun! To check out the packages and to register, click here.

Entrants to the contest were asked to tell me which "Getting Started" classes they would most be interested in. I got a variety of answers which covered most of the Getting Started classes.. The ones stirring up the most interest are the class from Don Snow about Organizing and Presenting Your Photos: Picassa and other Freeware, and 50 Google Searches Every Genealogist Needs to Know by Barry Ewell.

If you are a genealogy enthusiast of ANY LEVEL you will find something to suit your interests!

Besides the Getting Started classes this year, RootsTech is introducing an exciting new schedule from Story@Home. You can take a Journey of Self Discovery; learn about Photo Editing, Curating and Preserving Your Family History Memorabilia; all the way to creating your story and publishing your family history.

Learn to Evaluate Databases and Overcome Errors or learn Different Paradigms for Overcoming Lost Records Using Technology by attending classes from the Main Schedule.

Come join in the fun this year! We'll see you there!

Riverton FH Library Free Seminar

The Riverton FamilySearch Library Hosts Free Seminar on

February 16th from 9:00 A.M. to Noon

Focusing on the Baby Steps to Genealogical Maturity

RIVERTON, UTAH¾As a budding genealogist, have you ever wondered what sources are best to use? Where are they found? How do I cite published sources, online sources, and manuscripts? Come learn baby steps to take as you grow and mature in your use of sources and citations and your ability to make your genealogy verifiably correct. Popular speaker Robert Raymond will help you navigate your way in his keynote presentation, “Baby Steps to Genealogical Maturity.”

Robert Raymond is a deputy to FamilySearch Chief Genealogical Officer, David Rencher, and is a director of the National Genealogical Society. Robert works to increase genealogical soundness of FamilySearch products.  He also helps set the record collection acquisition and publication strategy.  He is a popular speaker and the shadow writer of a top ten genealogical blog. Robert is a genealogy technologist with more than 40 years experience in genealogy and 30 years in technology. He holds over a dozen technology patents and has earned a Master’s degree in Electrical (Computer) Engineering from BYU, where he was honored as a Kimball Scholar.

Following the keynote presentation from 9:00–10:00 a.m., there will be two blocks of four classes each that will cover topics of interest to beginning, intermediate, and advanced family history enthusiasts.

Classes to be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. are:

·         “German Life Events and Their Records"¾Tamra Stansfield

·         “Assembling Complex Evidence”¾Warren Bittner

·         “Researching Your Scottish Ancestors”¾Raymon Naisbitt

·         “Your Ancestors in the Newspapers? Read All About It”¾Ron Ray

  

The classes available from 11:00 a.m. to noon are:

·         “Using Online Storage in Family History”¾Tom Stubben

·         “Preserving Evidence”¾Warren Bittner

·         “Quakers and Their Records”¾Lisa Arnold

·         “Research, Collaborate, and Learn On-The-Go Using Mobile Devices”¾Sue Maxwell

Registration is not required for this free seminar. The Riverton FamilySearch Library is located in the LDS Riverton Office Building at 3740 Market Center Drive. The facility is near the intersection of Bangerter Highway and 13400 South, just east of The Home Depot.

Win a RootsTech Registration!

Here comes RootsTech! And do I have a deal for you!
   I want someone to attend RootsTech next month for FREE!

RootsTech is for EVERYONE! Many of you have taken the leap in the past and enjoyed the experience. This year will provide more speakers, more classes, a 40% bigger Expo Hall where you can visit with all the vendors, and a new Getting Started Track! So there really is something for everyone.

I want to give one of you an opportunity to attend the conference for FREE. All you have to do is go to RootsTech.org, find the Getting Started Schedule, and send me (1) the name of the class and (2) the person teaching the class that you are most interested in, (3) as well as your name. Send the info to me and I will randomly draw the name of the winning person. 

See that CONTACT ME button over on the right column ---------)-  Just click on it and send me your info. I am going to make this a very quick contest so get your entry in quickly. I will draw the winning email on Tuesday, February 12th. 

If you have attended RootsTech in the past or you just cannot attend this year, forward this on to your friends and family. Give someone else the opportunity to attend.
Hope to see you all there!! March 21-23!

RootsTech - Never Attended? Give it a Try!

   "Are you going to RootsTech this year?"
           "No, I don't know enough about genealogy to attend a conference."                      "Well, that's exactly why you should attend!"

RootsTech is almost here and this is the perfect week to register before the early-bird pricing goes away on the 15th of February. That's only one week to take advantage of this great value. 

RootsTech is coming up fast and will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 21-23, 2013. With several thousand attendees each of the first two years, the 2013 conference is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet! 

RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, offers an opportunity unlike any other to discover the latest family history tools and techniques, connect with experts to help  you in your research, and be inspired in the pursuit of your ancestors.  You will learn to use the  latest technology to get started or accelerate your efforts to find, organize, preserve, and share your family's connections and history. 

New in 2013! A full track of Getting Started classes and labs will help those new to family history learn where to start, how to build their family tree, and how to use technology to explore their connections.Now there really is something for everyone:

• Learn the basics of starting your family history

• Discover 10 activities you can do to get started

• Get hands-on experience with family history tools

• Recording and preserving family stories

• Use your smartphone or other devices for family history

• Using Google search to help find your ancestors

Additional classes will be offered for LDS Church members where they can learn the importance of family history, the basics to build their family tree and all the great resources to begin.
RootsTech provides an opportunity unlike any other! The conference offers you the perfect environment for learning the basics with access to world-class classes and content, presented by experts who incorporate all the latest technology and research tools in the industry.

• Register NOW and Save $70 with Early-bird Pricing!
  Registration Options

  Full 3-Day Pass Access to everything RootsTech has to offer (250+ classes).	$219 $149 (Early-bird Pricing)
  One-day Pass Full admission for just one day.	$89
  Student 3-Day Pass Student ID required.	$39
  NEW! Getting Started 3-Day Pass Beginner track with access to over 30 classes.	$49 $39 (Early-bird Pricing)
  Getting Started One-Day Pass A selection of fundamental classes to help get you started.	$19
  Developer Day Pass (March 22) A full-day technology program just for developers.	$89

  Learn more and register at  www.rootstech.org.
  RootsTech has something for everyone, whether you are an avid genealogist, just getting started, or simply want to discover the latest technologies and solutions to better connect with your family. At RootsTech, come prepared to experience world-class content from speakers all over the country, an exciting exhibitor hall, and great keynote speakers.
  
  
  Remember -- the early-bird pricing goes away very soon!
  And don't forget -- if you are a Family History Consultant you qualify for a special deal. Contact me if you have questions.

Come Join Me! UVTAGG Classes

Note: Come join me and learn from presenters who have a great deal to offer. I'm teaching a class on Using Mobile Devices called "Research, Collaborate and Learn On-The-Go".   --Sue

UTAH VALLEY TECHNOLOGY AND GENEALOGY GROUP MEETING (UVTAGG) 

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group - UVTAGG (Formerly the Utah Valley PAF Users Group - UVPAFUG) will be on Saturday, 11 Aug 2012, from 9 am to noon in the LDS "Red Chapel", 4050 North Timpview Drive (650 East), Provo.  Information about the Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on their website and the press releases are at on their blog .

The main presentation this month will be by Kory Meyerink on GENEALOGY JEOPARDY:  THE TECHNOLOGY EDITION.  Plan to have some fun while learning!  The questions, answers really, will be about genealogy and family history technology, so come and learning in a game environment.  As in the TV game show, there will be game-show contestants in front, but the entire audience will also be participating here.  Kory has put on this game show at several large genealogy conferences and we are looking forward to having him host it at our UVTAGG meeting.  Kory Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA, is a Senior researcher at ProGenealogists.  He is a former product manager for Ancestry and was publications coordinator for the Family History Library.  He is a Past President of UGA, founding director of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, editor and author of the book Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records, and adjunct professor of BYU and SJSU.  This promises to be a fun meeting and all are invited.

After the main presentation the following classes are presently scheduled:  
(1)  Evaluating Databases and Overcoming Their Errors, by Kory Meyerink;
(2)  Research, Collaborate and Learn on the Go  (Using Mobile Devices), by Sue Maxwell;
(3)  Personal Help (including information for FH Consultants), by Don Engstrom and Finn Hansen;
(4)  Video of last month's main presentation: New Ways to Share and Get Others Interested in Family History, by Marlo Schuldt;
(5)  Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay;
(6)  Legacy, by Dean Bennett;
(7)  RootsMagic, by  Bruce Buzbee.
The MAC class has been canceled for this meeting.

All meetings of UVTAGG are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually 100-125 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays.