Family History Expos!

At the Mesa Family History Expo right now. Great classes. Great music (yup). Great people. Great fun. It has met expectations. But already we are counting down to the St. George, Utah Expo the end of February - 5 weeks from this weekend. Are you planning to attend? As with all the Expos, there are lots of exciting events, exhibits, and speakers planned. In the coming weeks, I'll give more details on what is scheduled, other things to do in the St. George area, a set of classes for beginning genealogists, and a run-down on the presentations I'll be doing. Meanwhile, if you are nearby or able to travel, it's well worth the time and money to attend!

California Family History Expo Countdown - 4 weeks and counting

FREE STUFF:

In four weeks, we'll be up in Alameda County, reconnecting with a number of "old" friends and making new ones. For those who are interested in blogging in the field of genealogy, this is a great place to get tips, instruction, and information on why a blog may be something you should consider. (See booth #66 in the Exhibit Hall.)

Another special opportunity at this event is to get some special one-on-one help in breaking through one of your brick walls. (See booth #39 in the Exhibit Hall - email your request in advance to CaliforniaConsultation@fhexpos.com.)

My husband, Butch, & I will also be doing some musical entertainment in the Exhibit Hall during the lunch periods on both Friday and Saturday.

While I encourage folks to come and support the Expo (it's only with the financial support that these events are able to continue and spread throughout the country - the next after California will be in Atlanta in November), I have to add that the Exhibit Hall does not require Expo registration to enter; all the events, displays, access to vendors, etc. are FREE.

Also FREE is the keynote address, which will be given by Beau Sharbrough (title: "Let Your Light Shine"). Check out the rest of the schedule, registration information, and the many exhibitors by clicking the logo below.


In the upcoming posts I'll discuss some of the presenters and some of the exhibitors. Hope to see some of my blog readers up in Pleasanton next month!

California Family History Expo Countdown - 5 weeks and counting

I cannot believe I have not attended a Family History Expo in over 6 months . . . no wonder I feel withdrawal symptoms! I missed the summer events because of other obligations and distance, but I'm ready for this next one - and here, in our own state! California will have its own Family History Expo on October 8-9. For those of us in Southern California, the drive to Pleasanton (don't you love that name?) in Alameda County may seem like a bit of a trek, but the summer heat will be gone by then (at least I'm counting on it!) and the heavy traffic of the holidays will not yet have begun. From our house it's just over 400 miles (hey, we drove more than that in a day coming home from back east), and there are a lot of diversions that can break up the drive (enough to make it a 2-day trip, for those who want to venture off the I-5 and maybe go into the Gold Rush Country to check out that gorgeous part of the state . . . lots of really cool cemeteries to visit there . . . better add a third travel day if you plan to do that).

The actual location of the expo is 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, CA and it is located just north of San Jose (ah - the Winchester Mystery House - another favorite of mine) and across the bay from San Francisco (the wharf, cable cars, and so much more). The expo is being held at the fairgrounds, which I think is a wonderful idea since fairgrounds have their own RV parks with full hookups (yay!) so you know where we will be staying!

So here is my first hype for the upcoming Family History Expo in Alameda County, California, just over a month away. If you have not yet registered, do so ASAP (unfortunately, it is too late to still get in on "early registration" - that ended on Aug 31, I am sorry to say). Check out the schedule, the exhibitor information, etc. at the link below. Hope to see you there!

Check back each week and I'll be filling you in on things to do in the area as well as what to expect at this amazing event.

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.

Countdown to Mesa, AZ Family History Expo - Thomas MacEntee bringing warmth to Mesa

When I agreed to be a Blogger of Honor (and I am honored to have been invited to be part of this), it never occurred to me that, to properly address all about the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo that makes me excited about it, I really needed to begin in, well, January of 2009. But I didn't and so now I am sitting here with just a few days remaining until the EVENT and I am not done with telling you about all the people I am looking forward to seeing (some again, some for the first time). Good thing, though, I will be continuing next week with the Countdown to St. George Family History Expo. Even though there will be some different speakers, topics, and exhibits, many will be the folks I love seeing at these events.

But the Mesa Expo will have a newcomer to the Expo participants, but hardly new to the genealogy world: Super blogger, and fellow Blogger of Honor, Thomas MacEntee. You may already know Thomas from his fame as the GeneaBlogger. Now, you simply must click on his name link to see his photo. Thomas, a fellow Chicagoan (though he still lives in that cold & snow while I escaped over 35 years ago) personifies that photo: the man has an amazing sense of humor and is always getting people to interact. His people skills are simply fabulous! He is the man who convinced me that I really wanted to be a blogger (before we connected, I had a blog, but didn't post more than one or two things a month . . . Thomas inspired me to make my blog something that I would be proud of, but also something that would have a positive effect on the genealogy community).

The subjects of his Expo presentations will be blogging and tweeting (no surprise there), but I am sure he will be at the blogger banquet, sharing his jokes and making sure no one feels like a stranger. I met Thomas at the SCGS Jamboree in Burbank, CA last June and he organized the blogger banquet there and before long the room full of blogging strangers became more like a family reunion. People couldn't stay in their seats . . . everyone was connecting with the folks we'd seen only on the blogging "pages" . . . and all because of Thomas (who, by the way, was also handing out strands of beads . . . I passed on that as I really hate things around my neck . . . but it was fun to be able to recognize the beaded bloggers).

To read more about the GeneaBloggers, click the icon on this blog (over on the left) or the link here:
Now, I need to tell you that, when you visit the GeneaBloggers website, you will find huge amounts of information that I know will warrant further exploration (GeneaBloggers is the originator of Madness Monday, Tombstone Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, Treasure Chest Thursday, and some others), but please first read the "Terms of Service" on the right hand side (scroll down a bit and you'll see the terms there). I find that to be one of the most brilliant pieces of writing on the Internet . . . and I don't think I have laughed so hard since, well, the GeneaBlogger dinner in Burbank last June.

I know Thomas is coming west to escape the snow & cold of the windy city, but even though Mesa is already warm in comparison, I am certain the thermometer will go up a few more degrees when Thomas arrives with his own personal warmth. So come to Mesa, visit me at the Circlemending Booth (#11), and laugh some with Thomas MacEntee . . . I promise you won't regret it!

Countdown to Mesa, AZ Expo, 22-23 Jan 2010, RootsMagic

Anyone who knows my love of genealogy knows I also love RootsMagic. There are a number of reasons for this; let me give you some of them:
1) Intensely user friendly (esp. good for a non-techy like me)
2) Ease in putting into a format where I can manipulate it (for me: Word)
3) Ease in making a copy for a family member or to use for another purpose (drag and drop!)
4) Easily editable "place" names (so cool!)
5) Compatibility with New FamilySearch (oh, double cool!!)
6) Amazing support from its CEO, Bruce Buzbee (that's triple cool!!!)

While RM does many things other genealogy software does, it is those things above, and more, that make it my software of choice. Perhaps it is just what you have been looking for ... to check that out, Bruce will make it easy for everyone attending the Family History Expo in Mesa, AZ on the 22nd & 23rd of January. He will be at booths #44-47 (where he also will have available other software from the RootsMagic developers) and will also be conducting some presentations on using this amazing software. Click the icon below to see the RM website:

Countdown to Mesa, AZ Expo, 22-23 Jan 2010, Lisa Louise Cooke

It's hard to believe, but the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo is just over a month away. And there are so many exciting things going on at that event that I know I am not doing them justice with my weekly blog, but hopefully something I write will inspire my readers who plan to attend to enjoy some part of the experience they might have otherwise missed.

Lisa Louise Cooke will be there with her Genealogy Gems Podcast booth. If you have never listened to one of her podcasts, you have missed out on a treat. Not only does she educate her listeners, but she does so in an entertaining way. I was able to attend a seminar in October where Lisa was one of the featured speakers. She spoke about the many ways of using Google and making it one's personal genealogy assistant. I took tons of notes and implemented many of her ideas (and was so proud of myself that I actually already knew about some of the things she suggested). At the Mesa Expo, Lisa will be speaking on this topic and also about Google Earth. Lisa's tips and instructions are easy to follow for the most computer-illiterate, so this is a perfect series of presentations for anyone who has not yet tapped Google for the full resource it is (not only for genealogy, but for all areas of interest).

Lisa's podcast she did with me at an Expo earlier this year (episode 32) is still up on her website (until Dec. 23), if you are interested in hearing us talk about music, rving, and genealogy and how I manage to meld them all together. To hear it takes a subscription to her premium service, but that gives the listener a chance to hear the most valuable of her genealogy gems.

Lisa also has a book of "Genealogy Gems" - tips to help make your genealogy research more effective - available on her website. Plus, she sells a specialty item - an actual genealogy gem: a beautiful pin that declares the wearer to be a "genealogy gem." These and related items can be found in her on-line store.

So, when you come to the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo, be sure to stop by Lisa's booth and check out her items, attend one of her three lectures, and/or attend the blogger banquet on Friday evening to be part of her LIVE broadcast of the event (a first-time experience for all of us)! Tell her I sent you.

Family History Expo Countdown, Mesa, AZ - Speaker, Alice Volkert

I am excited about the Family History Expo in Mesa, Arizona, for a number of reasons. One of these is that a dear friend of mine will be one of the presenters and I am looking forward to hearing her talk about naming children during Colonial Times. Alice Volkert, who will also be discussing the use of digital photography in genealogy, serves with me on the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and keeps track of our members and money as the treasurer. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Alice as a fellow genealogist who has a high level of professionalism in her work as a researcher and a presenter. Check out the two presentations she will be doing at the Expo by clicking here. Alice, a DAR member, also runs Volkert Services, helping people research and chart their family trees.

If you are still trying to decide whether or not to attend the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo, maybe this will help you make that decision. I'll talk about some of the other presenters in my weekly blogs, counting down to this event on the 22nd & 23rd of January 2010. It's just around the corner!

Family History Expo Countdown, Mesa, AZ

I've been added to the list of the

My dear friend Gena Philibert Ortega is also one of the bloggers of honor for the Mesa, AZ Family History Expo on 22-23 January 2010. Check her regular blogs by clicking on her name here and check out the other bloggers of honor by clicking on the image above.

Gena works for World Vital Records and edits their newsletter. Her website, Your Family History Research, includes information on her project of uniting people with their ancestors' artifacts gone astray, her fascinating book on The Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra, her blog, her list of presentation topics, and her presentation calendar. If you have been fortunate enough to hear Gena speak, you know that her enthusiasm about Family History is contagious. Her knowledge of cemetery research, care of heirlooms, citing sources in your genealogy, finding female ancestors, and so much more makes her a much-requested presenter at genealogy societies and seminars.

I am in good company to be included in the Bloggers of Honor list with Gena and appreciate our friendship and professional association (she is the vice president of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, in which I serve as president, and is also a regional director for the California State Genealogical Alliance).

Gena will be blogging about the Mesa Family History Expo in the coming weeks so check her blog, as well as this one, to learn more about what will be offered at this fabulous event happening just over a month from now.

Family Music at the Family History Expo in Utah

What did your ancestors do with music? Did they play instruments? Did they sing? Did they attend local concerts, such as the local band in the park? Maybe one of your ancestors taught other people how to play an instrument?

My granduncle, C. Harrison Hollander, played the piano-forte (piano) and absolutely loved music. He composed a few pieces and became the manager for an opera singer, Charlotte Peege, whom he later married. They lived in New York and Boston, where Charlotte could continue her career and where Harrison worked as a music critic, among other music-related jobs. Eventually they retired to Winter Park, Florida where they designed their own home, creating a huge living room with, as the focal point, a resident grand piano. They would host music gatherings and friends would fill the home as audience to Harrison on the piano and Charlotte "on" the voice.

I wonder if some of that behavior of having music in the home filtered down to me. Our house parties almost always include a number of musicians - playing guitars, banjos, autoharps, mandolins, fiddles, dulcimers, etc. - taking turns playing solo pieces or leading the whole group in singalongs. We can't imagine any other way of entertaining (and our neighbors frequently come by for a free concert).

If you would like to see a sample of this sort of activity, come to Sandy, Utah the last weekend of August. Butch & I will have a booth in the exhibit hall (#621 - way off in the corner where we can make noise & not disturb others) where we will have short demonstrations of the music of our ancestors. Also, on Sat. at 2:30, we will be doing an hour program on the music of the Mormon Pioneers called "To Zion in Song" (I'll write more about that next week).

But there is a lot of great stuff planned for the Family History Expo in Sandy, Utah ... check it out at:

From the Colorado Family History Expo: What Instrument Did Your Ancestor Play?

We made it to Colorado! And the Expo is great! Holly Hansen and Kimberly Savage have been working nearly round the clock to make this genealogy extravaganza particularly eventful . . . there is even a twitter cafe (whatever that is).

And our booth is set up in a back corner, where we can make music with making as little disturbance as possible. We are doing short, 5-minute "sets" of live music to interest people in the banquet presentation tonight. The question keeps coming up: What does music have to do with genealogy? Well, in my family, they played their own music when they wanted entertainment (this being pre-MP3 player). Besides, if the courting couple was playing music in the parlor, their hands were being properly occupied . . . it was when the music stopped that mother came in to see just what they were up to.

So, what instruments did your ancestor play? Mine played mandolin, violin, banjo, piano (called a piano-forte back in those days; literal meaning: "soft-loud"), and harpeleik. I still have all those instruments in my collection (we did not bring the piano on this trip, however).

If you are here in Colorado, come by booth #316 and say "hello" and answer the question: what instrument(s) did your ancestor(s) play? (If you aren't in Colorado at the Expo, just respond here at this blog and let's see how many instruments we can come up with!)

History Immortalized in Song

I am going to go out a limb here and state that most, if not every, major event in World History has been immortalized in song. Now, some of those songs might not survive much beyond the event, but many are retained in the annals of folklore for centuries. Almost before the dust had settled (will it ever settle?), 9/11 was the subject of a number of ballads, most providing some sort of solace or therapeutic means of dealing with the horrific event. At least 2, that I know of, are still being performed. Singing about an event helps people remember the lessons learned, the feelings felt, and the specifics of the situation. In years past, school teachers used songs to teach the details of history to their pupils. I remember making up songs about historic events to remember the dates and names (then would sing them in my head while taking a test . . . unfortunately, I have always had a bad memory for lyrics and such an action did not guarantee me a good grade in history by any stretch of the imagination).

Next weekend (12-13 June), Family History Expos will have another one of their amazing seminar events (maybe I should write a song about them?); this time in Loveland, Colorado. I am honored to be their banquet presenter and, with my saw-playing husband Butch, we will do a musical "walk through history," highlighting events that formed our country and then were made more memorable as ballads. Not all songs will be traditional (created at the time of the event by people now nameless); some just remind us of the historic account. So, if you are coming to Colorado or are already in Colorado, come to the banquet and hear songs about our country's beginnings, wars, sad times, triumphant times, and more! Check this out at and, even if you aren't able to attend the banquet, stop by booth #316 and say hello!