Weeks Away from the Start of RootsTech!
We are weeks away from the start of RootsTech 2018! This is an event I look forward to every year. At RootsTech you get the chance to catch up with friends from around the world and to meet people you have been following on Social Media. RootsTech have also switched up a few things for 2018. RootsTech will now start on Wednesday February 28th instead of the Thursday.
The Keynote Speakers this year are varied and interesting. On February 28th Steve Rockwood the CEO of FamilySearch International will be speaking. He gave a great talk last year that even included a recipe for his Mum’s fudge.
On March 1st the Keynote Speaker is Brandon Stanton. He created “Humans of New York “and this concept has been used in other cities around the world. I am looking forward to hearing the stories of his adventures.
March 2nd will see Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Scott Hamilton take the stage as Keynote Speaker. He has faced and overcome many challenges in his life and his stories will be inspirational.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. will be a Keynote Speaker this year! He is the host and storyteller of “Finding Your Roots” on PBS. I am looking forward to hearing about his research adventures.
On March 3rd Natalia Lafourcade will be the Keynote Speaker. She is a Mexican pop-rock singer and songwriter. She sang “Remember Me” in the movie Coco released last year.
The Keynote Speakers this year cover wide and varied life experiences. Their stories are sure to motivate and hit an emotional chord with everyone.
There are many lectures and labs to attend during RootsTech and the main problem is not enough time to see and do all you want to accomplish during the conference. I have signed up for one lab and have quite a few other sessions on my agenda. There are some for geographical areas that I am interested in attending as well as trying to learn more about DNA and of course organization and preservation.
They have a stream for Getting Started for those just beginning the family history journey and they will have Family Discovery Day on Saturday where the entire family can come and learn about family history. It is great to see the children excited to learn more about the joys of family history.
On Friday March 2nd they will be hosting an African Heritage Social in the evening. The Guest Speaker will be Regina Mason who was an Executive Producer on the award winning film documentary “Gina’s Journey: The Search for William Grimes.”
Instead of the Innovator’s Showdown this year they will have the Innovation Showcase where a group of “panelists will discuss the past, present and future of the industry.”
On Wednesday morning there will be an Access and Preservation Track sponsored by ProQuest and FamilySearch.
Another new happening this year is that the Expo Hall will open from 6-8 pm on Wednesday night for a sneak peak of what you can expect.
There is an Opening Event called Celebrating the Greatest Generation on Thursday March 1st. “This event will feature vignettes of 1940s era dance, music, and narration to celebrate the greatest generation.”
On Saturday March 3rd there is the Closing Event at the LDS Conference Center on Temple Square called “My Family, Mi Herencia.” This event celebrates the “cultures and stories from Latin America.”
This RootsTech event is offering so much to attendees. There will also be some live streaming of lectures and some of the Keynotes for those who can’t attend in person. You can still decide to come and join us in person. Registration is still open. You can get a discount on the fees until February 12th at 11:59 MST by using the promotional code 18FLASH.
I look forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new friends in Salt Lake City at RootsTech February 28th to March 3rd. See you all there. Have a safe journey everyone!
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