Bloggers a plenty at Congress_2018

In a comment on my recent post my Canadian genimate Louis Kessler remarked "I think you're showing the highest ratio of bloggers to attendees of any genealogy conference, anywhere, and that includes RootsTech. Lot's of bloggers Down Under!"

And I think Louis is right. Pre-Congress I asked bloggers attending to register on a Google sheet so we could organise distribution of Blogger beads. Fifty-five bloggers attending Congress put their name on the list while several bloggers that I know were at Congress including Judy G Russell, Lisa Louise Cooke, Paul Milner, Lee-Anne Hamilton, Martyn Killion, and Carole Riley weren't on the list, there may have been others. While at Congress three new bloggers penned their first posts. That brings the total of geneabloggers at Congress to at least  61. There were 620 genies registered for Congress so nearly 10% of the attendees were genealogy bloggers. 

One of the benefits of creating that bloggers list was that I found a few new Aussie bloggers to add to my RSS feed.

 I organised a photo call for the bloggers at 1:00pm on the last day of Congress. Unfortunately I had taken ill so missed the photo. Those who gathered for the photo were a little keen so they took the pictures a few minutes early which meant that some bloggers including my mate Pauleen Cass missed the shoot. 

I was going to neatly paste photos of Pauleen and me into the group photo shared with me by Lilian Magill but when I saw the empty foreground that was in the picture I had second thoughts and plonked an old pic of Pauleen (my co-admin on the Genimates at Congress FB Group)  and me up front and centre. Cheeky!

Geneablogging is certainly thriving downunder.

I just ran out of puff

I had a ball at #Congress_2018.

Up front and eager to learn

By the time Day 3 - Sunday and my second presentation rolled around at 4:45pm I was breathless from exhaustion and excitement. I thought no-one would turn up to hear me on the graveyard shift but I was delighted to have a nearly full room.

I was out of puff by the time Jennie Fairs (L) introduced me on Sunday

I had a wonderful five days in Sydney catching up with genimates at the two day pre-Congress registration and at the first three days of the event.

Three happy young genies at Congress

On Day 4 - Monday I gave in to my asthma, called my doctor, attended the first morning sessions and left for home. I was sentenced to bedrest for a few days. This is quite frustrating as I have so much to share but I need to recuperate for our next travel adventure which is just around the corner.

I want to shower accolades on the Congress organisers for having the courage to select a world class venue to showcase our event. The marvellous volunteers, the exhibitors, the speakers and most of all my genimates came together in friendship to make the experience so memorable for all involved.

Tempatations

The standouts for me were Kerry Farmer with her DNA stats, Paul Milner on 17th and 18th Century Research, Liz Rushen on Mr Marshall's Immigrants and Judy G Russell on Copyrights and Copywrongs. For energy and enthusiasm Thom Reed from Familysearch took the cake. I was disappointed that while some of the speakers had valuable information to convey their fumbling with notes distracted from their talks. I was disappointed to miss Lisa Louise Cooke's final keynote as I know this would have been a knockout.

Paul Milner - a confident engaging speaker

I have gained much new learning to apply - when I finally get around to putting it into practice I will blog about it here.

For those who missed the show

Only 620 genies were able to attend the main event on the Australasian geneacalendar last weekend in Sydney. Those of use who attended #Congress_2018 (or the15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry) were treated to an educational extravaganza by a bevy of the best local and overseas speakers.

Quite a number of genies have blogged or shared videos about their experiences at Congress. In this post I will share links to those public posts I have found so that you can learn about what happened at Congress.

Genies at the Opening Ceremony HIgh Tea

I made a few little videos and posted them on my Youtube Channel here.

Queensland Family History Society posted a video here: https://spark.adobe.com/video/VoEWV8DezZ9cm?w=_6542

Lisa Louise Cooke shared her Animoto video https://animoto.com/play/lAxCxS7gd3t15ul5PfsGsQ

Cheney Brew has shared her Traversing Trove presentation
 http://help.nla.gov.au/sites/default/files/Traversing_Trove.pdf

These bloggers have already written reports and, as the dust settles, I expect more to write. I will continue to add to this list.

Alona Tester at Lonetester HQ
Congress 2018 – It Begins

Chez at Links in a Chain
15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry

Chris W and Martyn Killion - The Killion, Quinn and Hand Families of Port Macquarie and Kempsey
The Killions go to Congress 2018

Emily Peace at Diary of a Young Genealogist
Preparing for Congress
Congress 2018 from a Newbie's Perspective

Fiona Coyte at Story2bfound
Sydney Congress

Gayle at GY Genealogy
https://gvgenealogy.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/reflections-on-congress2018/

Jill Ball at GeniAus
A Sense of Community
A True Introvert
I just ran out of puff
Bloggers a plenty at Congress_2018

John at OZ John's Genealogy (New blog started at Congress)
The 15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry

Lilian Magill at Lilian's Tree
My Congress 2018, Days 3 and 4
My Congress 2018. Dinner
My Congress 2018, Days 1 and 2.
My Congress 2018. Pre-Congress.

Lilian Magill at Research by Lily
Congress 2018.

Maggie at IwiKiwi
Congress 2018 is here!
Congress 2018 ~ the good, the not so good, and the even better

Mel - Just do it Blog (New blog started at Congress)

Three W's - who, what and why

Pauleen Cass at Family History across the Seas
Congress 2018 Learning
Having fun at Congress 2018

Sharon Brennan at The Tree of Me
Bridging the Past and Future - Congress 2018

Ruth Standring at Family Fractals
#Congress_2018 – Bridging Past and Future

Shauna Hicks at Diary of an Australian Genealogist

Blogs, Books, Congress 2018 & Other News - Genealogy Notes 1-14 Mar 2018

Shauna Hicks at Shauna Hicks History EnterprisesSydney Genealogy Congress 2018 Day One report
Sydney Genealogy Congress 2018 Day Two Report
Sydney Genealogy Congress 2018 Day Three Report
Sydney Genealogy Congress 2018 Day 4 Report
Sydney Genealogy Congress 2018 Exhibitors & Summary

Shelley Crawford at Twigs of Yore

Congress 2018 wrap-up

Sue Wyatt at O'er the seas we go
Congress Day 1
Congress Day 2

If you know of any other Congress reports please let me know and I will add them to this list.

A True Introvert

Those people who saw me leaping around the podium at #Congress_2018 would say "there goes an extrovert".

In Extrovert Mode at Congress

They are wrong. If I have a role to play like welcoming people to an event or addressing a crowd I am in my element but when I am "Just Jill" I am a rather shy old girl, I don't like big parties and  occasions where I am thrown into groups of strangers. I love my own company and can happily spend days by myself.

I recently read this excerpt from a blog post that describes me - I am a true introvert.

  "A true introvert is not a "shy person".  No.  Introverts often have very vibrant personalities, and can appear to be the life of the party.  The difference is that we need plenty of "alone time" to recharge.  Once our energy is spent there needs to be some solitude in which to build our social energy back up.  Also, we like to get to the point.  This means that we love conversation- as long as it isn't "small talk".  If we aren't interested in the weather or some sporting event, we check out."

Source http://myelusivehistory.blogspot.com.au/2015_02_16_archive.html

A Sense of Community

My past two days have been so busy and so rewarding.

I spent my days connecting with genimates at they took advantage of the #Congress_2018 pre-registration offered by The Society of  Australian Genealogists. The registration event took place right next door to to the home of the Society, Richmond Villa in the historic Glover Cottages.  Society President, Martyn Killion, had organised beautiful weather and Executive Officer, Heather Garnsey, organised some catering. While fellow volunteers from the Society dispensed conference badges and bags my role was a social one. I was on hand to offer a cuppa and cake and to chat with those who had tramped along Kent Street to the Cottages.

Several folk who had other things on their agendas popped in, grabbed their registration paraphernalia and took off but most lingered for the chat, cuppa and cake. Some even stayed for a few hours because the atmosphere in the courtyard was so convivial. The sense of community was evident as people who came along as strangers made new friends. I could see my aim of this Congress being a friendly affair being fulfilled. It made this old genie's heart sing.

I loved being on hand to reconnect with genimates some of whom I hadn't seen for a few months or years and to meet in person so many of my online mates from our Congress Facebook Group. A personal highlight was meeting for the first time a 3rd cousin I had connected with via DNA.

Meeting my third cousin for the first time

Of course I had my phone on hand to take some happy snaps to capture the atmosphere.

President Martyn holding court

Executive Officer, Heather, busy listening

Volunteer Coordinator, Tiphanee

Brenda and Charlie B.

Getting Conference Ready

In just a week I will be jetting off to Rootstech in Salt Lake City. I will return home for one short night to ditch my cold weather clothes and grab some more suited for Sydney's pleasant March weather where I will attend Congress_2018. In 2018 I am once again an Ambassador for Rootstech, Congress_2018 does not have any formal Ambassadors so I am trying to do my bit by hosting the Genimates at #Congress_2018 Facebook Group.

Genies at Congress 2015 in Adelaide

The last time I was subjected to this geneaoverload (thanks for that new word Hilary Gadsby) was in 2015 when I was both an Ambassador for Rootstech and Congress 2015. At that time I wrote a series of posts under the banner Getting Conference Ready.  Some of the info in these may be outdated but there are still quite a few tips and links for those attending.

FYI I am posting the links below.

• Getting Conference Ready - Time to get covered
• Getting Conference Ready - Attend to your blogs
• Getting Conference Ready - Pockets and Purses
• Getting Conference Ready - Pills and Potions
• Getting Conference Ready - Badges, Beads and Bling
• Getting Conference Ready - Tips from Amy Smith
• Getting Conference Ready - Business Cards
• Getting Conference Ready - Directionless

101 Reasons to attend #Congress_2018 - Revisited

I don't know how many of these posts I have written but there are more than 101 reasons to attend #Congress_2018. There are more than 1,001 reasons.

It appears that the Congress registrations have almost reached their ceiling (some magic number over 500) so it is obvious that these registered agree with me that there is a myriad of reasons to attend Congress. If you haven't seen all of the 101 Reasons to attend #Congress_2018 I am posting a compilation below.

Over the next few weeks I will share some tips and thoughts on preparing for and surviving Congress (and maybe just a few more reasons that are lurking in my drafts folder).

• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Seniors Opal Card
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Lonetester
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The Program 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Me time
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - SAG
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Sydney Opera ...
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Meeting DNA ...
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Meet Shelley
• 101 Reasons to attend #Congress_2018 - Find fellow users
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The ICC
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Troveites (A Trove ...
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Blogger Beads
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Avoid FOMO  
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - Paul Milner  
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Hook up with Fellow Members 
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Genealogists for Families
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The Unexpected
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Cockatoo Island 
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The Chinese Garden of Friendship 
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Thom Reed
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Bernhardt
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - NextGen
• 101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The National Maritime Museum
• 101 Reasons to attend #congress_2018 - The Legal Genealogist

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Meeting DNA Matches

Over the past few years I have made several new cousin connections via DNA. I am excited that I will be able to meet at least one of them for the first time at Congress 2018.

Travelling to Sydney just to meet a 4th cousin might not be on a DNA match's priority list but when that can be added to the Congress 2018 experience then it is a goer.

Is anyone else meeting up with new found cousins at Congress?

For my Fellow Geneabloggers

G'day to my Blogging Genimates,

I am presently preparing my Beaut Blogs presentation (goo.gl/6AMJju) for Congress 2018 (www.congress2018.org.au).

I am reaching out to you via the blogging medium as I don't have email addresses for everyone I know and I am also hoping to reach bloggers unknown to me. I am seeking your assistance in two ways. 

While my presentation is well underway I want to ensure that I haven't overlooked anything really important. I'd love to know what elements you think makes a blog beaut (stand out from the crowd). No need for an essay - just a thought or two. If you have any thoughts to share please add a comment to this blog post or drop an email to jillballau@gmail.com.

Secondly I want to use, in my powerpoint presentation, screenshots from your geneablogs to illustrate various elements of beaut blogs. If you are willing for me to use your blog as an example please let me know via a comment on this post or in an email to jillballau@gmail.com. 

Please don't be shy. I want my talk to reflect the thoughts and work of many members of the geneablogging community.

Thanks in anticipation,

Jill aka GeniAus

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Paul Milner

Paul Milner, one of the standout presenters at the 2015 Congress in Canberra, brings a depth of knowledge and polish to his presentations. I particularly enjoyed his 2015 lunchtime presentation in which he proffered tips for genealogy presenters. What a shame it wasn't filmed!

Read down this post to see what Linda had to say about Paul.

Paul and his wife Carol Becker love Australia and are looking forward to visiting our shores once again but not as much as those of us who have heard him present previously are anticipating learning from him.

Carol and Paul made friends with three Australian sisters prior to Congress 2015.

Paul's presentations at the 2018 Congress include:
B.12: English Research: Seventeenth century sources and indexes

C.2: Plenary session – English Research: Eighteenth century sources & indexesC.16: Ireland’s Griffith’s Valuation: Using the tables and maps

D.11: Scotland’s Old Parish Registers: access, use and

Plan to arrive early as these will be very popular.

101 Reasons to attend #Congress_2018 - Find fellow users

There are many genealogy software packages out on the market most of which have their champions. Some of the more commercial packages have user group meetings in larger centres where fellow users can help and suppport each others' use of the program. I have noticed in a few family history groups that one software disciple will convince others to use the program he/she uses because he can help them with their questions.

As I don't know many people who use my program of choice, Family Historian, I rely on printed manuals and online groups to give me guidance when I get stuck. I happen to know that a few Congressites also use this program so I am hoping to snatch a few minutes to discuss my use  and get some tips from them in March.

You too can find fellow users and organise a get together during downtime (is there such a thing?) at Congress. Feel free to set up an event on our Facebook group for users of your fave package.

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Genealogists for Families

Several members of the Kiva "Genealogists for Families Group" will be in attendance at Congress. Our motto is, 'We care about families (past, present and future).'

Our international group which was started in 2011 by Queensland Genealogist, Judy Webster, has  over 350 members. We first met as a Group at Congress in 2012. I wrote about it here: http://geniaus.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/congress-genealogists-for-families.html

We have made over 9,460 $US25 loans to people in third world countries.

• What is Kiva? https://www.kiva.org/about
• What is Genealogists for Families? http://genfamilies.blogspot.com.au/p/about.html
• Meet the team members https://www.kiva.org/team/genealogists/members
• Follow this link to join the Team: https://www.kiva.org/invitedto/genealogists/by/jill4772?

Team members will be wearing blue ribbons (kindly supplied by team Co-captain Pauleen Cass). Please say G'day and ask us about 'Genealogists for Families'.

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The Unexpected

In a comment on my very first 101 Reasons post Fran Kitto said " One "reason to attend" is that you learn something you do not even expect to learn. 

I even wrote about this from the Qld conference last weekend. http://travelgenee.com/history-book/ I was so underwhelmed by the talks when I read about them before the conference yet every one I attended was great and I learnt something from each."

Spot on Fran! The surprise outcomes we take away from events such as Congress add value to our experience.

One of those may be meeting up with Fran!

Fran Kitto (L) with Sharn White and Kerry Farmer (R) at Congress in 2015 (They are all returning in 2018)

Following the Leader

And that leader is Pauleen Cass. 

 Pauleen (R) and GeniAus (L)

Pauleen posted on Facebook yesterday that she was working on her presentation for #Congress_2018 and I replied that I had been thinking about mine. Pauleen is presenting, Parallel Lives - Irish kin down under and abroad. As my ancestry is mostly Irish and as Pauleen knows her stuff I am looking forward to her talk. She may be presenting another session but there is no facility I can find on the Congress Website to look at a speaker's bio and see a list of their talks (Hope this is rectified).

Anyway, because I am following Pauleen's lead, I have now at least started the powerpoints for my presentations: Beaut Blogs: ideas for tarting up your Geneablogs (a 2014 presentation that also needs a lot of tarting up) and  Managing Frugally: Free Tools for Genies and Family History Groups (a completely new talk). I have been gathering ideas in Evernote for several months but now need to move forward. Should you have any ideas/resources I should include in those talks please let me know. I need all the help I can get!

Those who are presenting at Congress recently received this message "Just a reminder before Christmas takes your mind elsewhere that your handouts are due to info@congress2018.org.au by 8 January 2018

. Please note that this is a deadline, not a target date so please take care to meet it."

As I need to finish my presentation before I can write a handout the heat is on. I wonder how other speakers are progressing with this task.

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Cockatoo Island

If you have a few days to spare while in Sydney for Congress you can hop on a ferry at Circular Quay and visit Cockatoo Island, a convict site. You can read all about the island's convict history here: http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/visit/history/convicts.

If you don't have convict blood you'll still find a visit to this historic site, a former shipyard, most interesting.

Just don't feed the birds.

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Hook up with Fellow Members

Many of those attending Congress are members of Family History/Genealogy Groups or Societies.

While you may know many of the members of your grassroots local groups you may not know those from societies you belong to out of your area. Attendance at Congress will provide you with an opportunity to hook up with those fellow members and meet them in person. Perhaps you are wondering what a particular group has to offer you.

I know many of the folk in my local groups but I am looking forward to meeting fellow members of The Surname Society, The Society for One-Place Studies and The Society of Australian Genealogists most of whom live at a distance from me.

Please feel free to use this Facebook Group as a vehicle to hook up with fellow and potential members of your groups. Perhaps you want to organise a group photo, compile a list of members in attendance or meet up for an adult beverage. I encourage you to add documents/events/files/photo albums to our group space.

Use the More Button to add documents/events/files/photo albums to our group space

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Lonetester

Lonetester, a young Australian geneablogger, who is co-sponsoring the ribbons for Geneabloggers with me, has a busy time ahead of her at Congress as she will be attending as an exhibitor.

Although the list of exhibitors has not yet been announced by the organisers Alona Tester aka Lonetester has said that she will be working there. Alona not only works in the genealogy field she is a passionate genie who busily chases ancestors in her free time. You can get to know Alona in this interview, http://hackgenealogy.com/alona-tester-hack-genealogy/, which is an oldie but a goodie.

Alona Tester at work

Meanwhile if you haven't read her blogs it's time you did. Lonetester is her main blog; I also love her Memorabilia House blog which has unique content.

You will have to visit the Unlock the Past/Gould Genealogy stand throughout Congress if you want to say G'day to this friendly Nextgen genie. 

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - The Chinese Garden of Friendship.

Just on the doorstep of The International Convention Centre in Sydney is a quiet oasis, The Chinese Garden of Friendship.

When you feel the need to escape from the excitement of Congress and ponder on all you have learnt  you can escape (for a small entrance fee) to Darling Harbour's Secret Garden.

See what travellers have said on Tripadvisor.

Chinese Garden of Friendship
Image: Public domain https://www.flickr.com/photos/wyncliffe/14076729710/in/photolist-nWVqXN-nVQNTv-nvAdib-p7YWnG-oV92NK-nnfiDo-q4AXe1-nWGuvS-nQJ9iL-nSH6xL-nFveY2-nSc3Mt-nVehTJ-pfiFkX-oAPU9s-nWps5N-nMNzBV-poSqBA-WfF85T-nLPfSk-okqP3e-opxr9h-nix2U3-TCokjC-VwNT7y-nrUVjo-obaPts-WceZe1-obMjAr-W7Xb5g-Wcf12U-RfTMry-ku6Xuc-Wcf1GG-nZXAWp-UUN5Bv-nW587s-qVi2Cj-nN6Vf9-V2cy38-nZLfqq-nE8o8u-nRwTyK-omu3jJ-VVpsCH-V2cKPz-ob77UW-oFX6Yx-W7XbPT-ofgeNL

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Thom Reed

I am one of the lucky ones who has met Thom Reed from Familysearch when I have been in Salt Lake City for Rootstech. I have gotten to know Thom through our Facebook friendship, he has struck me as a fun-loving and happy chap who is committed to his family and Family History. I can't wait to hear Thom present at Congress in March next year.

If you are coming to Congress in 2018 you too will have an opportunity to hear Thom present. Meanwhile you could follow him on Twitter, https://twitter.com/iamthomreed and watch his videos on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqwfeKAMsc7C-zChXaYZxFw/videos.

In the interim take a look at Thom as he makes his Grandma Theora's Sweet Potato Pie.

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - SAG

The Society of Australian Genealogists or SAG is hosting our conference. If you stay an extra couple of days in Sydney around Congress time you should pay a visit to the Society's sites.

In this video the Society Archivist, Ralph Hawkins, talks about manuscripts and images at the Society.