Ten years ago - I got a Guernsey for Congress

Reposted from ten years ago - as I plan for Connections2025 I remember my delight at being included on the program in 2015. 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

I got a Guernsey!

When the call for papers for AFFHO Congress 2015 closed I was on a river cruise somewhere between Budapest and Bucharest and, although I had prepared some submissions I was distracted from submitting them on time.

I was disappointed that I forgot to put the proposals in but I decided that I would just rock up to Congress and feast on the banquet of opportunities available there. I was thrilled when, some time between my holidays last year, I was approached to be an Official Conference Blogger with Pauleen Cass and Shauna Hicks as it gave me an opportunity to be involved with the event.... because I like being involved. We have endeavoured to drum up some enthusiasm and interest in the event.

It took me about 5 seconds to respond to an invitation I received from Conference Convenor, Kerrie Gray, a couple of weeks ago. After saying YES I realised what a privilege it is to be moderating the very last session at Congress, A Panel : Family history research- why leave home to do it? I got quite a buzz when I saw that my name had been added to the Conference Program. Thank you to whomever put my name forward, I am both humbled and honoured.

I warned Kerrie that I am a bit rough around the edges. However, I know that with the cast of panelists: Josh Taylor from the US, Carole Riley from Australia and David Holman from the UK we will provide you with some lighthearted banter and serious food for thought at the end of four exciting and educative days.

Mr GeniAus who always brings me down to earth reminded  me that many people hit the road before the last session of a conference. It would be fantastic if you could hang around for what I hope will be a fitting finale to the event.

I'll be wearing my Guernsey with pride.

Reflections Hangout

Although I have hung up my Official Congress Blogger hat I couldn't resist asking some of my genimates to share their thoughts on Congress 2015 in a Google Hangout on Air last night.

As well as hearing about their favourite speakers and what inspired them the panelists last night shared some ideas to make Congress 2018 even better than 2015 and then put forward some compelling reasons as to why a genie shoould attend a Congress.

During the Hangout Fran talked about connecting with young people. At the moment I have a 14 year old granddaughter staying with me. She saw me preparing for the hangout and asked what it was, I tried to explain. This morning as we were having breakfast in bed she asked how the hangout went. As I had my phone beside me I connected to Youtube and played some of the hangout for her. Her reaction "That's cool". Made me think about the way we share family stories, perhaps geneavlogging is the way to go.

Those who joined me and shared their opinions made this Hangout rather beaut. Thanks for your generosity. Please watch the Hangout right here.

Congress - So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

Before I resign from my position as an Official Blogger for AFFHO Congress 2015 I must write my last post. It seems apt to use the title of the song that the organising committee farewelled us with on the final day of Congress as the title of this post.

Farewell from the Organising Team

As has been my practice after some events I attend I will use Edward De Bono's PMI scaffold to sort out the random thoughts I have about the event.

My thoughts follow in no particular order (and I may come back and add more as I think of them)

PLUS

• Kerrie Gray
• The organisation was superb - what an energetic and friendly team.
• Registration went smoothly.
• The venue was convenient to a range of accommodation.
• The food was tasty and plentiful (except at the War Memorial)
• Lunchtime sessions were a great idea.
• The tiered theatres ensured that all had an opportunity to see the presenters.
• Having Official Bloggers was a good idea - thanks for the invitation
• Having a Congress App. (Even better would be a hybrid combining best features of the Rootstech and Congress Apps.)
• Speakers' Corner.
• Papers available in soft copy.
• The Purple Patch People and the Greenshirts.
• Technology support.
• Being able to attend sessions for which I didn't register.
• Having a forum to meet and mingle with fellow enthusiasts.
• The coffee stand in the foyer.
• Wifi availability.
• Your @AFFHO2015 tweeter.
• Feedback from many that the pre-Congress Hangout on Air was helpful.

MINUS

• Sessions on Society Management were absent from the program. As this is a conference for a Federation of Societies this should be a stream in the program.
• Societies were generally absent from the exhibition space. It would have been nice to have a spot where smaller societies could leave promotional material for interested parties.
• The notice board was not announced - I found it in a corner on the last day.
• Two overseas speakers repeated talks from Congress 2015, I was caught.
• Too many speakers read their papers. (They should have attended Paul Milner's lunchtime session on presentations).
• Sessions weren't recorded.
• Several speakers didn't submit papers or offer links where their presentations/papers could be downloaded.
• Recycled overseas speakers. There are plenty of fish in the ocean, it would be nice to see fresh faces visiting our shores.
• Too many 'chalk and talk" lecture style session.

INTERESTING

• There was no function in the Exhbition area to force encourage attendees to linger longer. Perhaps the lunchtime sessions drew people away from exhibitors.
• Wonder if the Interests Register was a success and worth the effort. I had no contacts.
• Do we really need a conference bag?
• I disposed of all the advertising material in my Conference Bag. Is there some other way to distribute sponsor bumph?
• Technology in Royal Theatre wasn't set up to deal with presentations containing hyperlinks.
• The opening function was at dinner time. As it's a reception with minimal food perhaps it should be scheduled at the cocktail hour.
• There were no hands-on computer lab sessions.

Thanks to everyone who read my Congress blog posts and to my co-bloggers Shauna and Pauleen. 

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 10 April 2015

I feel like I've been on an express train ride since last Friday with Easter celebrations, school holidays and house renovations but I have managed to keep up with blog reading!

Among the deluge of blog posts I have read are reports from AFFHO Congress 2015. I enjoy reading these reports especially those that tell of sessions I did not attend. Several hundred folk have visited the list of links I am compiling in my Reflections of Congress post and new ones trickle in each day. Several geneabloggers who were at Congress have not yet written reports on their activities so please keep returning to the post to read the latest reports.

My GAGs for this week are:

1. The Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Challenge is running again this year. Please consider contributing a post.
http://kintalkfamilyhistory.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/thankful-thursday-2015-trans-tasman.html

2.  Fran suggests another free tool to try
http://travelgenee.com/free-ocr-family-history-images/

3. There were many diabetics in my family who benefitted from insulin, thanks Anne for this piece of history.
http://ayfamilyhistory.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/i-is-for-insulin.html

4.  I wish there was one of these at a library near me.
http://flsblog.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/recycle-specialty-items-at-library.html

5. The first in a series of A-Z posts from The Society for One-Place Studies (Read the whole series)
http://one-place-studies.org/a-is-for-2015/

6. Hear, hear Susie
http://justlovehistory.com/2015/04/05/if-you-dont-learn-something-new-every-day/

7.  A touch of luxury for Original Kin's Dad.
https://originalkin.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/ss-orcades/

8.  I like Janet Few's work so am adding this to my reading list.
http://kintalkfamilyhistory.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/tombstone-tuesday-ways-we-died.html

9. Al, an octogenarian geneablogger from my district, has been travelling around.
http://almewett.com/2015/04/08/photos-meadowbank-farm-bonnie-doon/

10. Who remembers Sunday School picnics?
http://northqueenslandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/annual-sunday-school-picnics.html

11. Jess writes of a Prince who passed by.
https://ancestrysearch.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/the-royal-snub/

12.  A guest blogger contributes to the John Oxley blog.
http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol/2015/04/09/bankfoot-house/

Congress - Temptation

FIBIS Research Officer, Beverly Hallam, asked me on Google+ to say hello to the FIBIS people at Congress which I duly did.  I also took a photo of the FIBIS stand to share with Beverly.

While I was at it I thought that I'd take snaps of some of the exhibitors' stands just to show you what temptation there is to be had at such an event. In case Mr GeniAus reads this post I must say that I was restrained and that my spending would not have put a dent in the family finances.

BTW I'm not labelling all of these images - it's obvious who they are.

Exhibition area from on high

The Friendly Help Desk

Thanks to all the generous genies who kindly agreed to be photographed for this post.

Geneabloggers at Congress - Reflections

The dust has settled and Congress attendees have mostly made their ways home. I got home yesterday but, as the internet was down due to our renovations here I have not been able to blog. Mr GeniAus has just moved our modem back into the kitchen and reconnected us so I am taking a break from packing the cupboards to start a new compilation of posts. This list is comprised of posts our geneabloggers have written since Congress. I expect that this new list will grow as the geneabloggers recover from the whirlwind that was Congress.

You can see the pre Congress posts here and the posts from Congress here.  As the GeniAus blog is one that has been selected for permanent preservation in The National Library of Australia's Pandora Archive, the conversation around Congress 2015 should be accessible for quite some time.

And here are the latest posts.  Please let me know if I have omitted any.

Campaspe Genealogy - Victoria

Congress Post 1  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-1.html

Congress Post 2  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-2.html

Congress Post 3  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-3.html

Congress Post 4  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-4.html

Congress Post 5  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-5.html

Congress Post 6  http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-post-6.html

Diary of an Australian Genealogist - Shauna

2/4/2015  AFFHO Congress wrap up - Genealogy Notes 28 Mar - 3 Apr 2015 http://diaryofanaustraliangenealogist.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-wrap-up-genealogy-notes.html

9/4/2015  Blogs, Awards and Progress - Genealogy Notes 4-10 April 2015 http://diaryofanaustraliangenealogist.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/blogs-awards-and-progress-genealogy.html

Family History Across the Seas _ Pauleen

31/3/2015  Congress 2015: The Carnival Is Over https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/congress-2015-the-carnival-is-over/

6/4/2015 Congress 2015: Inspirational Keynotes https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/congress-2015-inspirational-keynotes/

7/4/2015  Congress 2015: Cherry-picking papers https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/congress-2015-cherry-picking-papers/

8/4/2015  Congress 2015: Navel-gazing  https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/congress-2015-navel-gazing/

8/4/2015  Congress 2015: Panel Session re Societies https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/congress-2015-panel-session-re-societies/

Family History at the Library - SLNSW

4/4/2015  The 14th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry  http://statelibrarynsw-familyhistory.tumblr.com/post/115435080622/from-top-grace-karskens-associate-professor

6/4/2015  https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/congress-2015-inspirational-keynotes/

Family Stories Photographs and Memories - Diane

31/3/2015 Meetings Across Time - Australian War Memorial - A fitting start to Congress 2015

 http://familystoriesphotographsandmemories.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/meetings-across-time-australian-war.html

Family Tree Frog - Alex
3/4/2015 14th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry - Reflections and Wrap Up  http://familytreefrog.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/14th-australasian-congress-on-genealogy.html

Geneadictionary - Jill
2/4/2015  Congressitis  https://geneadictionary.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/congressitis/

The Genealogy Bug - Sherie
6/4/2015  #AFFHO Congress 2015 - Part 1 http://genealogybugsherie.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-2015-part-1.html
8/4/2015  #AFFHO Congress 2015 - Part 2 http://genealogybugsherie.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-2015-part-2.html
9/4/2015  #AFFHO Congress 2015 - Part 3 http://genealogybugsherie.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-2015-part-3.html
12/4/2015  #AFFHO Congress 2015 - Part 4 http://genealogybugsherie.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-2015-part-4.html
14/4/2015
#AFFHO Congress 2015 - Part 5  http://genealogybugsherie.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-congress-2015-part-5.html

GeniAus - Jill
4/4/2015  Congress - Temptation  http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/congress-temptation.html
10/4/2015  Congress - So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/congress-so-long-farewell-auf.html

GeniAus Hangouts on Air- Jill and Friends
16/4/2015  What a swell Party it was  https://youtu.be/tyb8gmWbgkI

Gould Genealogy and HIstory News - Alona
15/4/2015  Congress 2015: Some New Faces  http://www.gouldgenealogy.com/2015/04/congress-2015-some-new-faces/

In the Footsteps of My Ancestors - Tanya
16/4/2015  Days 3 and 4 of Congress 2015  https://tstclairhoney.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/days-3-and-4-of-congress-2015/

Janelle's Family Tree Addiction - Janelle
4/4/2015  What a week I've had!  http://janellestree.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/what-week-ive-had.html

Jennyalogy - Jenny
5/4/2015  AFFHO Day 2 Keynotes  http://jennyalogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-day-2-keynotes.html
7/4/2015 AFFHO Keynotes Days 3 and 4  http://jennyalogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/affho-keynotes-days-3-and-4.html

Library Currants - Carmel

2/4/2015  Sharing the Goods  http://librarycurrants.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/sharing-goods.html
4/4/2015  Congress on Slate  http://librarycurrants.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/congress-on-slate.html

Lilian's Tree - Lilian

29 March 2015  Congress Photos  http://researchbylily.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-photos.html

Lonetester HQ - Alona

16/6/2015  Congress 2015: Catch Ups, Meet Ups, Great Talks and Sore Feet  

http://www.lonetester.com/2015/04/congress-2015-catch-ups-meet-ups-great-talks-and-sore-feet/

mccollierheritage - Lynda

30/3/2015  Canberra Congress 2015 Days 2 to 4  https://mccollierheritage.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/canberra-congress-2015-days-2-to-4/

6/4/2015  JOHN JOSEPH JOHNSTONE – BRICK WALL SMASHED!!! https://mccollierheritage.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/john-joseph-johnstone-brick-wall-smashed/

SHHE Genie Rambles - Shauna

AFFHO Congress 2015 Days One and Two Report  http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/affho-congress-2015-days-one-and-two-report/

AFFHO Congress 2015 Days Three and Four Report  http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/affho-congress-2015-days-three-and-four-report/
AFFHO Congress 2015 Social Events & Sponsors/Exhibitors Report http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/affho-congress-2015-social-events-sponsorsexhibitors-report/

State Records of South Australia - Kelly and Tamara

You can't just Trove it  http://ht.ly/LIRXL

Tapping Your Roots at GSQ

30/3/2015  Congress 2015  http://gsqld.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/congress-2015_30.html

31/3/2015  Guest post - Pauleen Cass - perspectives on Congress 2015  http://gsqld.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/guest-post-pauleen-cass-perspectives-on.html
20/4/2015  Leaving home to do it?  http://gsqld.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/leaving-home-to-do-it.html

Test Patterns - Robbie
3/4/2015  AFFHO Congress 2015…. still!  https://robbiesspot.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/affho-congress-2015-still/

Tropical Territory & Travel - Pauleen

Friday Flowers in the Nation’s Capital, Canberra  https://troppont.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/friday-flowers-in-the-nations-capital-canberra/

Twigs of Yore - Shelley
20/4/2015  Plugging away at a plugin  http://twigsofyore.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/plugging-away-at-plugin.html

Worldwide Genealogy Blog - Posts by Jill and Pauleen
3/4/2015  Better Late than Never  http://worldwidegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/cheeky.html
21/4/2015  To conference or not to conference http://worldwidegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/to-conference-or-not-to-conference.html

Yarra Plenty Genealogy - Liz
16/4/2015  Congress 2015 - Librarians Day  http://ypgenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/congress-2015-librarians-day.html

Congress -Speakers Corner

Thanks to my genimate, Michelle Nichols, for taking these photos of my gig on geneablogging in the Ancestry Speakers' corner at AFFHO Congress yesterday. Thanks also to Ben Mercer from Ancestry  for inviting me to speak.

Jackie shares a "Cousin Bait" story

Beading up fellow geneablogger Alex 

Geneabloggers at Congress

A large contingent of the thirty+ Australian Geneabloggers who were at #AFFHO Congress gathered for a Group photo today.

Thanks to Mr GeniAus who had quite a job getting us all to pay attention and smile for the birdie.

Will I manage three more days?

It was a huge day at #AFFHO Congress today so I wasn't too upset when one of the people I had planned to have dinner with suggested we shelve our plans.  I was rather exhausted after a big day of learning and socialising so was pleased to share a nice dinner for two with Mr GeniAus who I have bee ignoring all day (and will be for the next three).

It's 9:00pm and I still need to modify a presentation for Speakers' Corner tomorrow morning.

As is my custom at these events my blog posts consist of lots of photos and little text because I just don't have time or the energy to write long essays.

Seated bright and early

A welcome from HAGSOC President Rosemary

FGS President Josh Taylor adds his welcome

Matt Trinca and Fans after his Opening Address

A Purple Patch Person

Thanks Trove for my New I Love Trove Badge

New mates at mormo

Perry and Pauleen were probably discssing their Irish ancestors

Freshly beaded geneabloggers

Ready for David Holman's Luncheon talk

David's Luncheon talk was great fun

I was privileged to chair David Rencher's Familysearch Session

I retired my camera after David's session. The last talk I attended was a humorous "Dead Horse" talk by Colleen Fitzpatrick. While it was a great talk I was kicking myself as I realise I had heard Colleen present this same talk at another time and I should have read the description more closely and chosen something else.

I must commend Kerry Farmer's excellent talk on DNA. I was the third time I have heard Kerrie present on this topic and  I could listen again and again. Kerrie is a profession, polished and knowledgeable speaker.

Because I am an inquisitive old bird I went to The Menzies Theatre to observe the Annual General Meeting of #AFFHO. There were no surprises there.

I do, however, want to congratulate retiring #AFFHO President and Conference Convenor, Kerrie Gray on a very successful term. She has done a superb job.