tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post5069931621575394007..comments2024-03-29T08:11:17.619+11:00Comments on GeniAus: KeynotesGeniAushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09074874999181040071noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-58042733380255395142012-04-10T09:15:19.795+10:002012-04-10T09:15:19.795+10:00I started writing about my concerns about the keyn...I started writing about my concerns about the keynote sessions from Day 1 of my Diary of an Australian Genealogist blog during the Congress. I enjoyed most of the sessions and if it is a sponsored session it should be labelled as such like the conference dinner was. Thanks for summing up what others were also feeling.Bribie Family History Associationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03775519272407873357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-12955075252019845952012-04-09T15:58:16.171+10:002012-04-09T15:58:16.171+10:00Certainly also agree with many comments here. It ...Certainly also agree with many comments here. It would have been nice for the producers of WDYTYA to come along and speak about the local product. That would have been interesting!Infolasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14547417182178605684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-5770669944949468402012-04-08T08:27:52.004+10:002012-04-08T08:27:52.004+10:00Hi Jill
Being a first time Congress attendee I did...Hi Jill<br />Being a first time Congress attendee I didn't know what to expect but was certainly a bit disappointed with the quality of the keynote talks and the lack of professionalism of the speakers.<br /><br />KylieKylie Willisonhttp://www.blog.kyliesgenes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-73439286263713954542012-04-08T02:37:49.666+10:002012-04-08T02:37:49.666+10:00It sounds like these speakers ought to join Toastm...It sounds like these speakers ought to join Toastmasters, an public speaking and leadership organization to improve their public speaking skills. Thanks for speaking up because it will make for better talks in the future.Joan Miller (Luxegen)http://www.luxegen.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-55907306317742520532012-04-07T18:55:49.008+10:002012-04-07T18:55:49.008+10:00I agree that these talks should have been labelled...I agree that these talks should have been labelled as plenary or general sessions rather than keynotes, and I think that has more to do with the inexperience of the organisers. I didn't catch all of them either, and some of those that I attended were nothing more than advertisements. Colleen Fitzpatrick was the only speaker that I thought deserved to be called a keynote speaker.<br /><br />Having said that, I imagine that a conference such as this cannot exist without the sponsorship of large organisations who surely have certain expectations about what is in it for them in return for their money. They would expect to be given general sessions and the organisers may not have much control over the presenters and their presentations.<br /><br />The quality of the sponsored sessions should not stop anyone from considering attending future congresses. This was my third, and I have learned to manage my time more effectively. For example, I missed the first session on Friday morning at 8:30am because I was on the Google+ Adelaide Photowalk.Carole Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01945297805040161267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-16334846960418925182012-04-07T17:02:28.746+10:002012-04-07T17:02:28.746+10:00Jill, thanks for your comments on the keynotes at ...Jill, thanks for your comments on the keynotes at AFFHO 2012 and it's clear you weren't alone in what you thought. One of the reasons I was ambivalent about going to Adelaide was that I felt it wasn't necessarily going to offer me much (other than meeting the geneabloggers). I've been to (only) three other congresses and tend to think I can learn more at other conferences. What do I want from a keynote? Expertise, the capacity to deliver the message clearly, with content that challenges me to think more about a topic. Being entertained is a bonus but if I am rocked off my feet by new knowledge or thinking, I'll settle for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-75112350436140520112012-04-07T11:30:51.035+10:002012-04-07T11:30:51.035+10:00This being my first Congress I have attended, I th...This being my first Congress I have attended, I thought my expectations may of been to high, however, after reading the comments above I can see I am not alone in thinking keynote speakers should be able to deliver the best and keep the audience attention, Colleen Fitzpatrick was the only one that really delivered. I also was surprised that there was no Kiwi speakers or content.Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13382420858347215511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-5057215934711537572012-04-07T09:41:08.483+10:002012-04-07T09:41:08.483+10:00Thanks for your comments, Jill. This helps me beca...Thanks for your comments, Jill. This helps me because I was hoping to get to this event at some stage in the future. I will be looking at the programming a lot more critically now, with the benefits of your hindsight. Like you, I have to say that I expect a lot of keynotes - I really think they are meant to be very special and have that "wow factor". I definitely expect keynote speakers' presentations to be polished, inspiring and very informative. Often they provide an outside-the-box type of perspective on things. Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />-MariaMariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642075483281050695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-85085501617500361262012-04-07T09:37:18.382+10:002012-04-07T09:37:18.382+10:00Hi Jill,
Thank goodness someone has finally said i...Hi Jill,<br />Thank goodness someone has finally said it! One of the international speakers you mention was so ill prepared and self indulgent that it was grossly insulting to his audience and the organisers. Just because you're from overseas doesn't make you interesting or relevant! I agree that most of these sessions were merely plenaries. I missed the first day so don't know if there was a true keynote address. I am wondering if the organisers arranged these sessions so as to bump out the program. Either way the speakers should have stepped up to the mark (as some did).<br />Kind regards,<br />JennyJennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01482064406292780790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776281256905648887.post-63289199356070433222012-04-07T02:46:34.717+10:002012-04-07T02:46:34.717+10:00Jill,
I'm surprised at the number of Keynotes...Jill,<br /><br />I'm surprised at the number of Keynotes your Conference had. Usually there are only two or three (or one each morning) that all attendees are expected to attend.<br /><br />Maybe that's also why you said most of the sessions should have been labelled as general sessions.<br /><br />I agree that keynotes should be "an event" that will be informative, interesting and educational and maybe even exciting. You'll probably agree that the RootsTech keynotes (Jay Verkler and FamilySearch, Josh Coates, and Tim Sullivan and his "fake" Ancestry panel) were very enjoyable and worthwhile to attend.<br /><br />LouisLouis Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11704667321407909489noreply@blogger.com