Interview with the Big Boss at Rootstech

I was blown away when an invitation to interview Jen Allen, Director of Events for Familysearch appeared in my email box last week. I hear that just five Rootstech supporters from around the world were offered such an opportunity.

I was incredibly nervous when I logged onto zoom and chatted with Andrew Parker from Rootstech prior to Jen's arrival. The good news was that I had a good connection from Narrabri in country, New South Wales to Jen in Salt Lake City, Utah. That the technology was cooperating was a good omen.

Immediately she came online Jen made me feel comfortable before Andrew hit the Record button for us. We had what I hope sounded like a conversation rather than a formal interview. Jen with her bright and bubbly personality certainly made my job so easy. She graciously answered all the points I raised and I went away extremely satisfied and more knowledgeable about Rootstech 2022 and future Familysearch events.

Andrew promptly sent me the interview recording via WeTransfer (what a nifty free tool). On reviewing the video I realise that I forgot to formally introduce Jen, oops. I also spent a bit of time looking down at my list of dot points to cover (I don't prepare formal questions). On the whole I am quite pleased with the result and send my sincere thanks to Jen and the folk at Familysearch for the invitation. 

If you'd like to see what we had to say you can watch the video below.

Frugal Genealogy

Way back in March I was interviewed at  Rootstech  by Andy from Family History Fanatics. Andy Lee and his wife Devon had done their homework prior to interviewing me as they had discovered that the week after Rootstech I would be back in Australia presenting at Congress, The  15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry. They knew that one of my topics would be "Managing Frugally:Free Tools for Genies and Family History Groups" so when they interviewed me they focussed on frugality.

Andy conducted quite a few interviews at Rootstech which Family History Fanatics are posting on their Youtube Channel progressively throughout the year. This week it was my turn. Thanks Andy and team for giving me a chance to chat with you.

Perhaps my fellow genies may gather a few tips from our chat.

In Good Company at Rootstech

While at Rootstech earlier this year I was interviewed by The Family History Fanatics. They asked me a series of questions about my genealogy practices.

They must have asked similar questions of some of the other genealogists they interviewed. Four of us have been featured in this video posted on Youtube by The Family History Fanatics last week. I was chuffed to be included on the same video as these three prominent genies.

How would you answer the question "What genea-tech can you not live without?

Too busy to blog!

I just haven't had time to sit down and blog while at Rootstech. It happens every year.

It has dawned on me that the easiest way to communicate with the greatest number of people at the event and share what they have to say with you while I am there is to get out and about and record some interviews on my phone. So that is what I have been doing.

I have cut off a few heads, had some dodgy sound bites and lost my train of thought in some of the clips. By and large I think that sharing rather than regurgitating in a blog post, the words of my interviewees, gives you a more authentic experience....and it saves me having to type!!!

Some of my interviews have been shared on various social media channels but I am likely to have forgotten to share some. If you head over to my GeniAus at Rootstech playlist on Youtube you can see all the conversations I had with an amazing array of geneafolk.

Thankyou to the team at Familysearch and Rootstech who keep inviting me to return as an Ambassador to Rootstech, the greatest geneashow on earth.

Thwarted by a Dodgy Connection

Update: (Thanks to my genimate Shelley from TwigsofYore)
Why I am able to access these extra search functions is because I have the AncestryDNA Helper extension installed on my Chrome Browser. I didn't realise that this was giving me the extra search functions - Worth having.

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Yesterday in response to a question put to me in a Facebook Group I decided to provide a response by video.

The Question

Firstly I spent an hour or so trying to get my Logitech webcam to work to no avail so I had to resort to the webcam on my laptop that provides a mediocre image. As my webcam is 5 years old I hopped online, read a slew of reviews and purchased a new model. I was wanting to broadcast screenshots so I wasn't so worried about my blurry image that appeared at either end of the broadcast.

I got set up made a first attempt at recording my response. On replaying this effort I discovered that the images of my screensharing were not displaying. The ADSL connection at our new home is dodgy. I moved my gear into the living room to be closer to the modem in case that helped. Attempt two wasn't any better.

I then went back into my geneacave and tried again. This effort was slightly better but there were still patches of the video where I am prattling on unsupported by my screenshared images. I think anyone who watches this video right through should be able to grasp what I am on about. I mulled over whether I should delete this recording or make it public. I opted for making it public in the hope that it may be of use to someone even though it is mediocre.

View it here:

Meet Dirk

Many of you may not have previously heard of Dirk Weissleder, the German Genealogist who is featuring in  Researching Abroad: Finding British Isles and European Ancestors, a series of Unlock the Past events in Sydney in August.

I have had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Dirk at several Rootstech conferences. This year I was fortunate to snag an interview in the video studio with Dirk. Dirk's enthusiasm and passion are evident in the interview. If you attend a Roadshow event you will have a chance to hear Dirk present several sessions.

Ambassador Perk

One thing I love about being a Rootstech Ambassador (or Official Blogger) is the opportunity I am given to conduct interviews in the video studio in the media hub. At the very first Rootstech back in 2011 I was too shy to take up the offer but once I was blooded at the second Rootstech in 2012 I was hooked.

In earlier years when there were fewer Ambassadors/Bloggers there were many opportunities to avail oneself of this perk but these days it is harder to gain access. I am delighted that, this year, I have four slots in the video studio. I will be interviewing Ron Tanner from Familysearch, Myko Clelland from FindMyPast,  Steve Rockwood CEO of Familysearch and Canadian Genealogist and software developer Louis Kessler who is an Innovator Summit Semi-finalist. I will upload the videos here and to my Youtube Channel as soon as I can. 

In the meantime you can view my video interviews from earlier years via this link.

Here is my interview with keynote, David Pogue in 2013.

Inoreader

I would never manage to read all the blog posts I follow if I didn't have a way of seeing all those posts aggregated in one spot. My RSS Feed Read of choice is Inoreader.

While rabbiting on in a Facebook group today I confused one of the group members so, instead of typing out some instructions I used Google Hangouts to recordVthis little video. It may be of interest to you or your genimates.

Young Aussie at Rootstech

I was thrilled to see young Australian, Tas, who travelled to Rootstech last year in this promotional video for Rootstech 2016.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Tas at Rootstech 2015 and was so impressed by this confident Sydney school student. You can see what he had to say (a little more) than on the Rootstech clip here:

Find out more about Rootstech 2016 here.

GeniAus at Rootstech

With the help of Youtube I've been tripping down memory lane.

As an Official Blogger at previous Rootstech Conferences I have been privileged to have access to interview some of the leading lights in the genealogy world. The kind folk at Rootstech gave me copies of the videos to load on my Youtube channel and I am pleased to say that some of the videos have been viewed many times over. With my recent foray into Google Hangouts my Youtube channel was getting a trifle untidy so I have sone some decrapifying by setting up playlists there.

One of the playlists GeniAus at Rootstech  provides a nice, neat list of my Rootstech interviews all on one page. If you'd like to see who I have interviewed you can see the playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9XX5l5V0MzxjylD-Kk3OWWSTvQaRFTsZ.

I've enjoyed rewatching the conversations I had in Salt Lake City. Perhaps you will too.

Back to Learning

You may or may not know that I keep in a page on this blog a record of my  genealogy related learning activities. I previously explained in a post from 2011 why I keep this CGD Learning Log.

I have recently taken a ten week break from more formal learning while travelling around the globe and visiting with Mr Geniaus many of the places on our bucket list. During this time I tried to keep up with happenings in the genealogy world and to conjure up a blog post now and then. I have not, however, save for a few visits to repositories in the UK been a diligent old researcher or learner.

For my first learning activity after my return I watched a Hangout on Air by two of my fave genealogists, Pat Richley-Erickson (aka DearMyrtle) and Russ Worthington. In this video which is now available here on Youtube Pat and Russ explain the importance of having a profile on Google+ that will allow others to recognise you as a person with shared interests.

If you are a Google+ user and wish to tweak your Google+ profile I recommend that you watch this video. If you are not a Google+ member it is time you joined up.

AFK

My mate DearMYRTLE posted today that she was going AFK. Curious soul that I am I wondered what AFK was so I asked mt friend Google.

Urban Dictionary gave me an answer "Away From Keyboard." 

I  have been mostly AFK while indulging in Christmas activities: sleeping, shopping and most importantly spending time with the living. Now that the pots, pans and plates have been cleared away and sheets, towels and tablecloths washed I am once again ready to resume genealogical activities.

I had a short break from family last Friday evening when I hosted another GeniAUS Hangout on Air in which I was joined by several of my online friends.

Thanks to Chris Wright, Brenda Wheeler, Les Tobin, Fiona Tellesson, Linda Ottery, Lilian Magill, Karen Hughes and Pauleen Cass for coming online and sharing stories of your geneatriumphs from 2013. Thanaks also to those loyal supporters who watched the Hangout live online.Congratulations to first timers Linda and Karen on their Hangout debuts. I hope that I didn't frighten you away and that you will join me again.

The topic for this hangout was Happy Dances in which genealogists were asked to share stories of brickwalls knocked down, cousins found, events attended, places visited, resources discovered and your CGD (Continuing Genealogical Development) during the year.

With my happy hat on I also reissued the Accentuate the Positive Geneameme in which I asked genealogists to reflect on the good things that happened during the year. To date three of my geneablogging mates have responded and I hope that more (including me) will participate in the coming days. I will collate a list of responses to the geneameme shortly for your reading pleasure.

Society Spotlight

Thanks to contributions from the team of panelists who joined me online last night we had a super GeniAUS Hangout on Air.

I will be posting a list of links to the Societies they nominated. In the interim you may wish to view the Youtube video of the event.

The panelists were: Chris Wright, Brenda Wheeler, Michelle Watson, Les Tobin,  Lilian Magill, Marg Doherty, Pauleen Cass. This group of switched on Australian genealogists are worthy of following on Google+.

Book of Me, Hangout on Air

 A month ago I wrote that I was ready to Hang Out, that is to take part in Google Hangouts and Hangouts on Air. Since that time I have dabbled. I am particularly indebted to Julie Goucher of the Angler's Rest blog for being a playmate.

Brave soul that she is Julie, who is the instigator and author of The Book of Me, Written by You activity, decided to take the plunge and host her first Hangout on Air in which she would lead a discussion on the project. Together with Tessa Keough and Thomas MacEntee I joined Julie in her first Google Hangout on Air.

Thanks to Julie for including me and to Tessa for her encouragement and advice before, during anda fter the session. Unfortunately we lost Thomas part way through the session. A couple of potential panelists commented that they couldn't find or join the Hangout; Julie has already advertised another hangout and distributed instructions for joining so these issues should be addressed. I was nervous and found myself tongue-tied a couple of times during the session, I am impressed at how well Julie performed in her first Hngout on Air.

If you want to hear what we said about The Book of Me, Written by You activity take a look at the video of the Hangout.

New Format for a Geneameme Response

Young Australian Genealogist, Caitie G, was among the many bloggers who responded to The Bloggers' Geneameme.

A few days late she asked me on Twitter "Hey @geniaus, has anyone done a video response to one of your geneameme's?"

Tweet from Caitie

I responded in the negative but issued a veiled challenge to Caitie "No but I can feel one coming on @caitieamanda: Hey @geniaus, has anyone done a video response to one of your geneameme's?

On the weekend  I noted that Caitie had posted a video response to The Ancestors' Geneameme on Youtube. What a unique way to respond!



I'll add Caitie's link to the list of responses for The Ancestors' Geneameme. If you would like to take part in that Geneameme here are the 40 questions. Just let me know if you do so I can add you to the list of links.

The Final Rootstech Interview - in which the tables are turned

With the Sistas in Zion at Rootstech

It seems like eons ago that I was in Salt Lake City for the Rootstech Conference. While I was there I had an opportunity to interview, in a proper television studio, people from the world of genealogy. I posted most of these videos on my Youtube Channel as I was travelling. Then I boarded a cruise ship where the connection was not good enough to allow  me to post the last interview. Now I am home after an eight week holiday I am posting that last interview.


This  is quite different from the rest  of my Rootstech interviews as in it I take on the role of interviewee and am questioned by the delightful and lively Sistas in Zion, Sista Beehive and Sista Laurel.

Good things come to those who wait...

From time to time since February I have tried to accomplish a task but have failed dismally.  I finally managed it today.

Back in February I conducted two video interviews at Rootstech. One I uploaded from the conference hotel to Youtube with no issues . The other slightly larger file just would not upload for me. When I got home I tried again - Failure. I tried a few video converters I found on the web - Failure. Every few weeks I would have another try - Failure.

Yesterday Thomas MacEntee on Facebook mentioned a video conversion program,  Prism Video Converter http://www.nchsoftware.com/prism/index.html. I downloaded the software and thought I would have a go. My first effort produced a file that was going to take over 300 minutes to upload to Youtube - Failure. So I played around a bit and found a setting to compress the file; I didn't quite know what I was doing but I did it anyway. Hey Presto - I ended up with a .avi file that was 1/10th the size of my original. Thank you, Thomas.

The video quality is not as crisp as on the original but it's way better than many files on Youtube. As with the video with Darrin Lythgoe I am embarrassed by my facial expressions and hand waving. Perhaps I need some Botox to stabilise my face!

Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, I announce the delayed release of my video with Diane and Walt from Flip-Pal.

Youtube tribute

I reported the death of my mother-in-law's cousin, Ron Woodhead, couple of weeks ago.

In that post I remarked on the voluntary work Professor Ron did in the engineering faculty of a University in Peru. This morning I came across this tribute posted on Youtube by someone with links to the University.

21st Century Christmas Greetings

One of my old workmates posted this video on Facebook. Those of my readers who use Social Media should enjoy it.

Attending a Family History Conference

Congratulations to The Botany Bay Family History Society for embracing Social Media as they prepare to host the 28th Annual Conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies in September 2012.  The Conference has a Facebook page that provides regular updates on conference planning and activities.

On the homepage of the conference website is a welcome the video from the conference convenor, Allan Murrin.  The organisers have also harnessed YouTube where they have posted their promotional video "Attending a Family History Conference" pasted below. Coincidentally the first interviewee, Angela Lind, is a member of two of the societies to which I belong : The Society of Australian Genealogists and The Ku-ring-Gai Historical Society. Angela and others in the video were in attendance at the 2011 conference in Inverell.

Will I see you in Gymea in September next year?