Author name: Ruth Blair

Black History Month – FamilySearch

February is celebrated as Black History Month. FamilySearch has created some great new content for Black History Month that might be of interest to you. These include new, free African American Heritage-related record collections and a variety of fun, interesting articles like Facts about Black HistoryBlack History Month ActivitiesInfluential African American WomenBlack History Month Is for Everyone, and a Black History Month Calendar

You can read more about this information at FamilySearch.

#RootsTech – The Countdown is on!

We are just over a month away before the start of RootsTech and the excitement is growing for the 10th Anniversary celebration!

If you haven’t signed up for RootsTech yet there is still time and there is a discount on the registration that ends on Sunday so sign up now. You can meet genealogists from across the globe and the lectures provide something for everyone!

If there is just no way you can make it then there is the live streaming. RootsTech announced its live streaming schedule and you can check it out here.

Another option is the Virtual Pass. You pay extra for this but you get 30 lectures that you can view online at your leisure.

The last two keynotes have been announced. They are Leigh Anne Touhy and Ryan Hamilton. You can read more about them and the other keynotes on the website.

One item that is a must for everyone attending RootsTech is the app. It has been updated and you can download it now. If you have downloaded it in previous years just open it up and it will update itself.

If you are going to be there in person I hope you have started working on your research plan for the Family History Library. They have extended their opening hours for RootsTech attendees.

RootsTech also have a Survival Guide that will help you navigate your way around the conference and city.  You can find it on their website.

If you are from the Commonwealth Countries then there is a meet up at the Blue Lemon restaurant at 55 West South Temple. We will meet on Monday February 24th at 6 pm. We go to the back of the restaurant so as not to disturb the other patrons.

So I am hoping to see many of you at RootsTech. If you see me come up and say hello. This is where we will need to read those name badges very carefully.

What do you give a family historian for Christmas? A #RootsTech Pass!

Family Historians will have a very long list of items on their Christmas list but they would also have to provide directions to get some of them so I have decided to help those who are looking for something special to give their favourite family historian this Christmas.

A RootsTech pass is a great present for anyone interested in family history. Right now the four day pass is $30 US off the regular price and you can get it for $189 US. You can also get a pass for one day if you are in the area of Salt Lake City. This pass costs $99 US.  This year they have a RootsTech Ultimate Experience Pass. This has everything you want from the four day pass plus so much more you would never have thought about.

The Ultimate Experience Pass gives you reserved seating, access to meet-and-greet opportunities as well as meeting conference organizers. On top of all this you get to attend one of the Main Stage Rehearsals, a private Expo Hall tour and one complimentary sponsored lunch.

The RootsTech Ultimate Experience Pass is $799 US. There are only a limited amount of these passes available.

You can compare all the RootsTech passes on their website.

Imagine having access to all those classes and the new techniques and methods they will learn to help them with their research. The Conference is practically next door to the Family History Library so the research opportunites are boundless. The Expo Hall will have all the latest and greatest ideas, programs, technology and companies to help them with their family history

Not to mention the 300+ classes on offer. They will have the opportunity to learn about DNA, Stories, Tools, Organizing, Photos and Discovery. Just check out the classes on offer to see what you will be giving your favourite family historian for Christmas.

Any family historian who gets a RootsTech pass for Christmas will be talking about it for years to come!

The added bonus is that you don’t have to go to the shops to purchase a RootsTech pass as you can do it all online!