Ruth Blair – Page 16

#RootsTech 2017 – Have you attended RootsTech?

Have you attended a RootsTech conference? The first one I attended was 2015 when it was a joint conference with the Federation of Genealogical Societies. It was a family history experience! I had never been to a conference like RootsTech before. The number of attendees was the first thing you noticed. Then it was the variety in the marketplace and the technology that was being promoted. We had several groups that met up. One that was particularly fun was the Commonwealth dinner where genealogists from around the British Commonwealth got together. I finally got to meet people who wrote blogs that I was following. It was so nice to put a face to a name.

In 2016 I couldn’t attend in person but I did attend virtually. I watched all the live streaming and communicated with others who were attending virtually or in person via Twitter. I wrote about my experience in a blog post entitled “The Experiences of a “NOTatRootsTech Attendee.” Again I got to learn new things and meet new people.

This year I am attending RootsTech again and have the distinct pleasure of being a RootsTech Ambassador for the first time. I have followed Ambassadors from previous years on social media and this year I get to share their experience.

Several announcements have already been made. Keynote speakers include: Levar Burton, Buddy ‘Cake Boss’ Valastro and Jonathan and Drew Scott (HGTV’s Property Brothers) who just happen to be from Canada. CeCe Moore will be one of the keynote speakers on Saturday. I have heard her speak before and she is great.

The Innovation Summit semi-finalists have been announced. There is a wonderful selection and I look forward to learning more about them. You can read more about the semi-finalists and other entries on the Innovator Summit page. There is a Canadian in the semi-finals.

I’ve looked at RootsTech from both sides now. I enjoy attending in person and virtually. There is a social aspect to both ways. I enjoy attending in person because you get to see so many new innovations and learn new ideas. You have the ability to get to know your social media connections in person and meet unlimited new friends from around the world. Hopefully even a cousin or two!

The RootsTech Opening event is “Music, It Runs in the Family.” The event will feature “music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and special guest soloist Dallyn Vail Bayles and memories by Rogers and Hammerstein, with narration by Oscar “Andy” Hammerstein III.” This event sounds like a great experience. There are other events being held during the conference and you can find out more on the Events Page.

Please join us at RootsTech 2017 in February! You can learn more on the website and check out the program schedule. There are some interesting labs and I have signed up for one. This is a chance to learn something new and get new tips on using technology.

I hope to see you all there! Come and look for me in the media hub as I would love to meet you!

Happy New Year!

2016: My Year in Review

2 Comments / By Ruth Blair

2016 was a very busy year for me. Lectures were at the forefront and I was helping clients learn more about their family history.

January is always a month to prepare for the year in advance. I take the time to get caught up as well as layout my future plans.

In February, June and October I presented full day workshops at Heritage Mississauga.

March means St. Patrick’s Day and this year I was presenting an Irish lecture for the Kingston Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. It was one of the largest turnouts for a branch meeting. In April I was presenting to the Etobicoke Genealogy Group.

May is the month I head up to Orillia Public Library to present a lecture to their Genealogy Club.

The Ontario Genealogical Society has their conference in June and this year I presented a lecture. It is always a fun event where we can catch up with other genealogists while learning new things and of course we can’t forget the marketplace!

In September I had the opportunity to present a workshop at the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. This is a great group of people who present a wonderful conference every year. This was the start of a very busy autumn.

October was my busiest month. The only weekend I had off was Thanksgiving. The first weekend of October I presented two lectures at the Oakville Public Library. After Thanksgiving I presented a workshop for Heritage Mississauga.

Then there was the inaugural launch of the Great Canadian Genealogy Summit. This was a wonderful conference put together by three Canadian genealogists. I presented two lectures on Irish research. There were people from around North America in attendance.

The month ended with a full day workshop at Durham Region OGS. I presented three lectures that day and the attendees were full of enthusiasm.

November was my last lecture of 2016 and it was another full day workshop at the Oakville Public Library.

In-between my lectures I did client work and researched several projects I am working on. I enjoy client work as it means I get a variety of research problems to work on. No two families are the same.

My 2017 lecture schedule is booking fast and I’m looking forward to presenting in some new venues.

All the best to everyone for 2017! It will be a big year with Canada’s Sesquicentennial celebrations!

I hope you all break down at least one family history brick wall in 2017!

Author name: Ruth Blair