Countdown to the St. George Expo

Because I am writing this away from my own computer and my ability to access the images I have stored there, with no capability to re-capture them, this blog post will be sans cute pictures. So sorry. But the important parts are included: information about the St. George Family History Expo, taking place this coming weekend.

February can be a dreary month. We try to give it some humor with Groundhog Day at the onset, then give it some color and emotion with Valentine's Day in the middle of the month, and finally we attempt to restore its dignity about a week later with Presidents' Day (formerly a combination of the birthdays of Lincoln - before Valentine's - and Washington - after Valentine's; but now celebrated - by some - separately from Lincoln, whose birthday was restored to individual status while Washington's day remains combined with an honor to all Presidents . . . go figure). Anyway, by the end of the month, we're confused. The weather is often still oppressive with clouds, snow, and all manor of stuff from the sky - sometimes it seems as if the universe is confused as well.

But there is hope! Yes, Family History Expos has taken on the task of getting the "yuck" out of February and restoring it to it's proper place as Number 2 month (does that mean it tries harder? - allusion to the old Avis Rental Car commercials - it certainly seems to at times). For genealogists, it is time to poke our heads out of our holes (where many of us went to hide, along with the Groundhog, after the month began with the RootsTech conference - overwhelming many both by its size and wealth of information).

In St. George, Utah, genealogists of all levels of expertise will be converging on the Dixie Center where they will be educated in all things genealogy:
Being a Family History Consultant
The 1940 Census
Beginning Research
Intermediate Research
Advance Research
Specialized Research - by geographic areas, record types, etc.
Using Technology

There is bound to be something for everyone! And if you have an hour with nothing being offered that interests you, check out the exhibit hall and the many genealogy-related products, stop by the Blog House to meet the bloggers that are always keeping us updated on the latest information, or check with the "Ask an Expert" table to get some specialized help.

And if you come to the Expo, please be sure to look for me and say "hi!" - it's always nice to know that someone is reading these things.

Friday and Saturday, February 24 & 25 (see the website for all the details on the schedule, presenters, bloggers, exhibitors, and more).

Countdown to St. George Family History Expo - 0 weeks/0 days

We are here! I am spending time at the Blog House with other Bloggers of Honor, sharing the virtues and joys of blogging with those who have questions or are otherwise interested in this peculiar form of networking.

If you are at the St. George Family History Expo, come by and say hi. It's going to be a great weekend!

Countdown to St. George Family History Expo - 4 Weeks

It is hard to believe that only 4 weeks from now I will be rejoining many of my genealogy pals in St. George, Utah for the 5th year (of their 7 years doing this). The new website for the organization can be enjoyed by clicking the logo above.

To learn what is happening throughout the event, click on the logo below, but for those who are accompanying their genealogist family members but are not interested in family history research themselves, see further down for some ideas of what to do in the St. George area.



Inside the Dixie Convention Center is a most amazing museum! The address of the conference center is 1835 Convention Center Dr., St. George, Utah 84790. The Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum gives us all a reminder of the fragile nature of our world. As you walk through the museum it is as though you will be experiencing the different parts of nature first hand. An interactive children's section will be of particular interest to the young people in your family. There is also a wonderful gift shop where books, photos, games, and other educational items can be purchased to allow the experience of the Rosenbruch museum to continue long after the weekend is over.

For those looking for a change of scenery, a hike, or an opportunity to get away from the city, Zion National Park is about 40 miles from St. George. The weather may be a little cold yet there, but the park is a great place to enjoy nature, no matter what the climate.

Check with the St. George Visitors' Website to find more things to keep people busy even if they are not genealogists. So bring the family with you, enjoy the atmosphere and the less harsh winter weather than much of the country will be experiencing, and experience a fabulous genealogical event. More on that last in the weeks to come.

Countdown to Family History Expo, St. George Utah - Plan your Classes in Advance!

Oh, dear . . . there's only 7 days to go! Will I get it all done? Is the RV ready to go? Are the dogs prepared for another trip so soon? Will everything fit? What will I wear? (You know, all the important questions must be addressed as we prepare for a trip and even more are necessary to consider since I will be presenting 2 programs, hosting a booth - #414 - and sponsoring the Friday night banquet.) But we've been preparing for this experience for a number of weeks now.

How about you? Do you know the presentations you will be attending? It's a good idea to go over the options in advance and, for those who have pre-registered, you can do that with the on-line syllabus (click on the image above).

Let me give you some suggestions of programs I have either seen or heard of as being especially helpful for beginning genealogists:

Fri, 10am - Where do I Start? - Paul Larsen
Fri, 11:30am - Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com - Crista Cowan
Fri, 1:30pm - Civil War Research: Learning about Your Union Veteran Ancestor - Jean Hibben
Fri, 3:00 & 4:30pm - Google: A Goldmine of Genealogy Gems (parts I and II) - Lisa Cooke
Sat, 8:00am - Beginning Genealogy and Family History - Michael Brophy
Sat, 9:30am - County Websites: An Overlooked Resource - Jean Hibben
Sat, 11:00am - Journals, Store Ledgers, and Letters to Aunt Mary: Using Manuscript Collections - Gena Ortega
Sat, 1:00pm - Blog Your Way to Genealogical Success - Ancestry Insider
Sat., 2:30pm - Internet Safety for Genealogists and Everyone Else - Andrew Pomeroy
Sat., 4:00pm - Getting Started with Good Record Keeping Methods - Alice Volkert

Now, please don't think I believe the other offerings aren't equally helpful; in fact, if you are an experienced genealogist, these selections may not be as applicable for you. I am considering the many beginners who are coming to their first seminar, who have not got their genealogy research focused yet, or who have become overwhelmed at past seminars due to the overwhelming amount of information they have tried to absorb. This list also provides you with a variety of different types of information and resources. So please read all the data on the presenters and subjects before choosing, but if you don't have time and just want a schedule prepared for you, there it is.

See you there (and don't forget the Friday night banquet)!

Family History Expo Countdown, St. George, UT - Banquet

We are just 2 weeks away from the Family History Expo in St. George. The Friday night banquet promises to be something completely new and different (I can say this because Circlemending is the sponsor, which means I am creating the program, with the help of Gena Ortega, my husband Butch, and additional panelists A.C. Ivory and Arlene Eakle). We will be presenting a program of hints and helps for using and creating blogs, tweets, and chats. And, since I'm putting this together, you can be sure there will be some music involved! Some live, some "canned," and some singalong! Using the Expo theme of "Let your light shine" combined with the banquet theme of "the Wizard of Blogs," we will create an enjoyable and educational program.

I hope that if you have been wondering whether or not to register for the banquet, that the promise of an entertaining and informative presentation following a delicious meal will be enough to convince you that this is not something to pass up! You don't want to be at the Expo on Sat. and hear all about what you missed! Be one of those who is making others jealous because you were there! Click on the link above (the Expo icon) to register for the banquet (and if you are bringing someone with you who is not attending the Expo classes, that person can still register for just the banquet).

Other enticements: a free canvas tote bag that will tell everyone where you spent the weekend, a coupon worth $5 towards a single CD from the Circlemending booth (#414), a free trial for World Vital Records, and a memento from the Family History Expo folks. So what are you waiting for? Register today before they run out of spaces!!

Countdown to St. George, 5 February 2010

Only 21 more days and the 6th Annual St. George, UT Family History Expo will be upon us. Have you selected the classes you want to attend? I know, there's so much to choose from. To check the classes and who's in the exhibit hall, click on the Expo image above and then select the tab of your choice from the orange boxes on that page.

What makes this conference different from others? Well, here are some of the differences:

1 - The exhibit hall is free for your browsing & buying pleasure (you need not be a registered event attendee to visit the hall)

2 - The presenters are not paid or compensated for their presentations, so they are doing this because they love genealogy and they love sharing their passion (and it shows in their presentations)

3 - There is a half hour between each of the sessions (and one hour at lunch time), giving attendees ample time to visit the vendor hall but also chat with the presenters and network with each other (I know how exhausted I get at some conferences when I spend the time between presentations trying to rush to the next one plus squeeze in a bathroom visit)

4 - There is FREE parking, and lots of it! (Our vehicle will be the cabover camper with "Circlemending" and "Hibbenhere" in the top front window & 2 dogs inside.)

5 - There is an amazing Wildlife museum within the Dixie Center (where the conference is held) and it's a great place to take a little break from family history (if you really need such a thing)

6 - No extra charge for the syllabus (unless you order a printed copy): the syllabus is provided on CD so you can view it on your computer and save a few trees!

7 - If you register in advance, you can check out the syllabus on line (and, if you wish, print out the pages for the classes you are most interested in) - how cool is that??

8 - Affordable registration (while early-bird registration is over as of the 1st, the $75 fee for 2 days of education is considerably less than some of the national conferences; plus, unlike any conference I've ever seen, you can attend just a single class (for a nominal fee of $12, but no syllabus with that option) if all you want is to learn about one particular thing or you only have one hour to attend (also available: a $40/day price if you don't want to - or can't - attend for both days)

9 - The keynote speaker, Bernie Gracy, can be heard for FREE . . . no registration required to hear him speak on "Let Your Light Shine"

10 - The option of receiving free assistance from a professional (must sign up at the booth for that - times are posted) . . . bring your research question(s) and paperwork (pedigree chart, family group sheets, or laptop with the info, etc.) to make this the most beneficial it can be

If I wasn't already going to be there (check out the Circlemending booth - #428 - to learn about music and your ancestors and/or attend one of my presentations) I'd have just sold me on attending! And, to my California friends: this event is relative close (considering NGS in April or FGS in August); to my eastern & midwestern friends, the weather is much milder than what many of you have been experiencing. Come enjoy the warmth - both inside & out - and I'll see you at the St. George, UT Family History Expo!

(Check back in the next weeks to learn about some of my favorite presenters and exhibits that I have not already discussed in my promotion of the Arizona event.)

Countdown to Family History Expo, St. George Utah

It seems as if I just posted a countdown to the Mesa Expo, and now it is time to start counting towards St. George. I love this Expo because it was my first experience with Family History Expos and its creator, Holly Hansen. I have come to truly love this woman, who seems to be able to do almost anything and who is aware of every aspect of these events. She is in touch with the presenters, the bloggers, the exhibitors, her own booth & its inventory, and her efficient staff. She is on top of every aspect of her "baby" and is admired by those who work with and for her.

Holly is one of those rare individuals who has a passion and then makes it her life's work to share it with those that will gain from her knowledge. She does this unceasingly: I swear, during an Expo she can't get more than a couple of hours of sleep, yet she is always smiling, alert, and ready to help in whatever way is necessary. I've watched her carry on two or three conversations at the same time without losing track of any of them. And, I do believe, in Mesa, I actually saw her in two places at the same time.

Holly is married, lives in Utah, and is the mother of five. If you attend the St. George Expo (and you won't be sorry if you do), when you see my friend Holly, tell her "thank you" because, without her, none of us would be there!

Countdown to St. George - Family History Expo

Starting the countdown for St. George Family History Expo: 34 days! We're not done yet in Mesa, but already planning for St. George . . . stay tuned for information on the various things to do at that Family History Expo. Meanwhile, click on the icon above for information on registration, etc.