by | Jan 20, 2016 | 01 What's New, Book Club, RootsTech
You’re invited to a special event at RootsTech 2016: the Genealogy Gems Book Club Open House!
Do you follow the Genealogy Gems Book Club? It’s a no-commitment, virtual way to experience our must-read list for family history lovers. We feature best-selling novels, riveting memoirs and more and give you time to read them, if you like. Then we bring you exclusive conversations with the authors about themes that resonate with us from the books: family relationships, search for identity, history and more.
If you’re coming to RootsTech 2016, please stop by an extra-special event we’re hosting: the Genealogy Gems Book Club Open House. It’s Thursday morning, February 4, from 10am-11am at the Genealogy Gems booth #1230 in the Exhibitor Hall.
Stop by and talk to us about books, family history and whatever’s on your mind!
During the Open House, stop by and chat with me and Lisa about books or family history or both! Pick up a free Genealogy Gems Book Club bookmark. Thumb through display copies of featured titles. And best yet–win a chance at a great Book Club prize just for suggesting a book title for the Genealogy Gems Book Club. It’s the perfect LIVE version of our book club: fun, chatty, low-key, with great takeaways for YOU.
Click here to learn more about the Genealogy Gems Book Club and explore past titles we’ve recommended.
Click here for the Genealogy Gems RootsTech 2016 schedule, including the Book Club Open House and our free series of Think Tank classes, and a map of how to find us in the Exhibit Hall.
by | Jan 14, 2016 | 01 What's New, Ancestry, Book Club, RootsTech, Trees
Listen to the free Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 187! The Legal Genealogist Judy Russell answers a fabulous listener question and MORE.
Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 187 has just been published! In this episode, Lisa welcomes Judy Russell, AKA “The Legal Genealogist,” who specializes in researching laws that applied to our ancestors. She takes on a Genealogy Gems listener’s fantastic question about the bounty land his War of 1812 ancestor never claimed. Can he still claim it? Find out in this episode.
More highlights from this episode include:
- The latest on life after Family Tree Maker software and a fresh look at why family history software is still relevant today;
- New strategies for using Google to answer your genealogical research questions;
- Our new Genealogy Gems Book Club announcement. (Get ready to read!);
- Why you will definitely want to stop by our booth at RootsTech 2016; and
- New records online and up-to-the-moment emails with questions, tips and inspiring successes.
Click here to access the newest free episode of the Genealogy Gems podcast. (Or click here first to learn how to listen to the Genealogy Gems podcast.) Happy listening!
Get Lisa’s Google Methodology:
For more step-by-step strategies on one of the podcast topics–using Google to answer your genealogical research questions–turn to Lisa Louise Cooke’s book, The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox. It’s your ultimate guide to learning to use Google and its many free tools (Google Books, YouTube, Google Scholar, etc) for genealogy and for everything else! Use it to master Google searching in 2016!
by | Dec 5, 2015 | 01 What's New, Conferences, RootsTech
Are you peeking past the holidays to RootsTech 2016? Early planning could score you extra discounts, dibs on free and limited events and a head start on planning your class schedule.
All attention seems to be on holiday planning this month, but RootsTech 2016 is just around the corner after that—the first weekend in February. Here’s a checklist of the reasons to plan your RootsTech experience NOW instead of waiting until after the holidays.
Discounted registration. If you register before January 18, you’ll save significantly on registration ($169 instead of $249 for the full event).
Online planner. This year, RootsTech has expanded its app to a full-blown online conference organizing tool. Use the RootsTech Connect tool to schedule which of the 200+ classes you’ll be attending—and pencil in some backups in case your first choice class is full. Of course we hope to see you at lectures given by Lisa and the Genealogy Gems team:
Wednesday:
3:00 YDNA Testing for Every Surname in Your Pedigree, Diahan Southard
Thursday:
4:30 Proven Methodology for Using Google for Genealogy, Lisa Louise Cooke
Friday:11:00 Soothe Your Tech Tummy Ache with These 10 Tools, Lisa Louise Cooke
1:30 Proven Methodology for Using Google for Genealogy, Lisa Louise Cooke
Saturday:
11:00 Soothe Your Tech Tummy Ache with These 10 Tools, Lisa Louise Cooke
1:30 What’s Special About US Special Census Schedules? Sunny Morton
You can also use RootsTech Connect to add “Personal Time” events, like research time in the Family History Library and of course Genealogy Gems’ free Genealogy Think Tank sessions at our newly-expanded exhibit hall booth (#1230). More about that coming soon!
Dibs on free evening entertainment and limited-space labs. RootsTech always lines up crowd-pleasing entertainment in the evenings. When you register early enough for RootsTech, you can snag tickets to these for yourself and guests (until the tickets are gone, that is). So far, all RootsTech has said is that there will be a “high-energy and fun act” on Thursday for an Opening Social and a must-see closing act on Saturday. When you register, you can also pay for spots in computer labs and sponsored lunches. Computer labs usually sell out and they don’t do waiting lists, so get these early!
Watch for more about RootsTech 2016 in the coming days. It’s now the biggest family history event in the world, with over 20,000 attendees expected and satellite sessions that will reach thousands more throughout the world. Genealogy Gems will have an even bigger presence there this year. We look forward to seeing many of you!
by | Sep 28, 2015 | 01 What's New, Conferences, RootsTech
Are you ready for RootsTech 2016? It’s ready for you! Registration is now open. The Genealogy Gems team will be there, and here’s what we’re teaching.
Registration for RootsTech 2016 is now open! RootsTech has staked its territory as the most-attended annual genealogy conference in the world. It caters not just to seasoned researchers but beginners and even entire families. So mark your calendars and make your reservations: RootsTech 2016 will be held February 3–6 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
According to FamilySearch, “Attendees can expect a full lineup of inspirational keynote speakers, over 200 educational classes, exciting hands-on activities in the expo hall, and entertaining evening events, all designed to help celebrate families across generations!”
What’s new for RootsTech 2016?
Here are some highlights for what to expect this time around:
- Classes will now start earlier in the week, on Wednesday February 3, with the first class beginning at 1:30 p.m.
- Attendees can now use a new scheduling tool to build, edit, and print their class schedule at RootsTech.org after they register (shown here). You can keep editing your schedule as you please. The online tool will sync with a mobile app that will be available later this year.
- The Innovator Showdown will be back and even bigger than before. Innovators of all kinds in any industry are invited to compete with their latest hardware and software apps and services. The top six finalists will be invited to demo live onstage for over 23,000 people. The audience and a panel of renowned judges will decide the winners!
Genealogy Gems at RootsTech 2016
Genealogy Gems listeners and readers will see some familiar names on the speaker’s list, including Genealogy Gems owner, producer and podcast host Lisa Louise Cooke, Contributing Editor Sunny Morton and our resident DNA expert, Diahan Southard. Watch for more announcements of the sessions we’ll be teaching, both formal sessions in classrooms and “Outside the Box” sessions at our booth in the Exhibitor hall.
What else to know
Early-bird pricing is available now for full passes starting at just $149 and $169 for the RootsTech plus Innovator Summit pass. Passes for the Getting Started track start at $19 for a limited single day and $39 for a limited 3-day.
Registration for Family Discovery Day is also now open. “The event takes place on Saturday, February 6, 2016, and is designed for families and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the LDS Church are invited to register as families and groups up to 10 at a time. This free one-day event includes devotionals, classes, interactive activities, and entertainment to help families and members discover, preserve, and share their family connections. Event details, including speakers and classes, will be made available soon at RootsTech.org.”
Resources for Your Family History Trip to Salt Lake City
Use Your iPad for Genealogy Research at the Family History Library
New Interactive Family History Exhibit in Downtown SLC
Genealogy Conferences: Live or Virtual? Which is Better for You?
Must-Have Tips for Visiting the Family History Library in SLC
You’re invited to a special event at RootsTech 2016: the Genealogy Gems Book Club Open House!
