Back in the saddle

All set for a whitewater rafting expedition in Mexico

After a wonderful eight weeks travelling around Bermuda, The Bahamas, North and Central America with a transit of the Panama Canal thrown in I have come down to earth (there are a few reports of this on the jillballau blog). The bags are unpacked, the clothes have been washed and put away and I have settled back into my domestic routine.
Bahamas

Although it was mostly a holiday I had a few family history moments. Firstly there was the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City where we had a ball meeting up with many of my online pals. Being able to use the Familysearch facilities to record a series of interviews with people at the conference was a great learning experience. I am sad that I won't be at Rootstech next year because I had made a commitment to speak on the 4th Unlock the Past Genealogy Cruise.

In Chicago we were treated royally by genealogist Paul Milner and his wife Carol. I was in seventh heaven when Paul invited me to his basement - it is a real treasure trove that contains Paul's comprehensive genealogy library; I could have spent days there. In Boston Heather Rojo and her husband Vincent took us out and about. Being in the company of Heather, a Mayflower and Civil War descendant, as we toured around historic sites north of Boston made our excursion more meaningful. Heather wrote a delightful report, Familiar sights through foreign eyes, of our visit.

Our next stop was New York City where we got on the trail of Mr Geniaus' 3x Great Uncle, John Gowans. We were able to find his house in NYC and final resting place (together with several family members) in Green-wood Cemetery and the probate papers for Anna Regina Bouton, John's widow. These gave us names of more family members and further clues to follow up.

Being written up on the Familysearch blog was a lovely surprise that preceded a nasty one came in the form of a blog post by a blogger not chosen to be an Official Blogger at Rootstech. This blogger criticised myself and the other bloggers chosen by Rootstech to act as their Official Bloggers, this attack was unwarranted and hurt not just me but others maligned in the post. Dear Myrtle's response to this person sums up my feelings. I am bouyed by Maria from Australia's comment on Amy Coffins blog post "If someone treats you like s*!t, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Normal people don't go around destroying other human beings". Thanks, Maria.

Karaoke Queen

After our New York excursion we indulged ourselves in holiday activities but these did include a Terry Bishop in which our scant knowledge of history was expanded in an entertaining and informative way.
series of lectures on board Seven Seas Navigator.

So what's on the agenda for Geniaus? I have a couple of talks to give this month and a few planned for the future. I need to indulge in a bit more CGD by enrolling for a few webinars and attending some talks; I have a book to write before the end of the year and a journal article due in tomorrow; I am working on two projects at my local historical society that should keep me busy for eons; and,  when I have time, I might even do some personal research and tidy my study.

I do realise that life must have balance so I will be having a short holiday in Europe at the end of next month where I will watch my granddaughter perform and create future family history in The New Prague Dance Festival.

For Liz, Jenny and other Geneabloggers at Rootstech

How did I miss this?

GeneaBloggers Members at RootsTech 2013 – Are You In?

It's a list of Geneabloggers who will be in attendance at Rootstech. I notice my Aussie friends Liz and Jenny are missing from the list. Girls, if you want to be adorned with the beads being supplied by DearMyrtle, you had better hop over to this link and register your details.

Thanks to the vigilance of my friend Amy Coffin, who noticed that my name was missing and let me know via a message on Facebook,  I am now registered.

I would be distraught if I had to go beadless at Rootstech.

[New App] ShoeBox Turns Your Android Device Into A Sophisticated Photo Scanning, Organization, And Sharing Machine

Heard about this on Googleplus. Thanks, Kathy Nemaric for the tip

[New App] ShoeBox Turns Your Android Device Into A Sophisticated Photo Scanning, Organization, And Sharing Machine:

'via Blog this'

I notice on her post today that my Genimate, Amy Coffin, has this to say:

"[Last November I had lunch with the kind folks at 1000memories. They asked for my input on their new ShoeBox app for the iPhone. I pulled my Android phone out of my pocket and set it on the table. They got the message.

I am pleased to share this press release with you today. I have downloaded the app and started playing with it. It is very easy to use. I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time, read up on the latest developments with the 1000memories Shoebox app. ---A]

Genealogy 2.0 Session at Rootstech

On with the show

In full flight

Audrey Collins

Amy Coffin

Jill Ball

Listening is thirsty work

Abundant Genealogy - Week 2 - Paid Online Genealogy Tools

Week 2 – Paid Genealogy Tools: Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?


Horses for courses!


Having just read my mate Sharon Brennan's response to this question I could just copy and paste her response here because, on first thoughts the content in my post was going to echo hers. So I have thought for a few minutes and have decided on a different tack.


My paid subscriptions are: 
Ancestry.co.uk - I've had an annual subscription for years and cannot kick the habit as each time I think about letting it go they add new record sets that are pertinent to some part of my research.  It is the top level sub that gives me access to all Ancestry Records and has been useful for Australia, UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US.


FindMyPast.co.uk - I am also a longtime subscriber. As most of my ancestors came from the British Isles it is relevant to my research. I find it helpful that it duplicates some of the records on Ancestry and have found information on FMP transcriptions that Ancestry have missed.


I let my Genes Reunited sub lapse last year as I found that I was not making any new valuable connections through it. Around seven years ago when I joined up I made many useful connections but it has outlived its usefulness for me.


I regularly take out short-term subs to Scotland's People and The Sydney Morning Herald Archives when I have a good list of questions, some time on my hands and the ready cash.


My genealogy societies and local libraries give me access to other paid resources that I use on an as needs basis.


So Which paid genealogy tool do I appreciate the most?


It may be one of the resources listed above or it may be some other. The tool I appreciate the most is the one that gives me the answer I am presently seeking. 


Just like I wouldn't choose a sprinter for a two-mile race, a Shetland Pony to drag a heavy load, or a Shire horse for dressage I wouldn't choose the Sydney Morning Herald to find a Scottish birth Certificate or FindMyPast.co.uk to find my Canadian soldier.


The horse I appreciate the most is the one that will get the best job done for me.

Rootstech News - International Panel: Genealogy 2.0

My friend, Joan Miller of the Luxegen Blog, has indicated that she is taking a healing hiatus from genealogy to concentrate on recovering from an illness. I am saddened to hear of her illness and wish her well as she travels the road to recovery.

Since meeting Joan at Rootstech last year I have kept in constant contact with her via email and social media and was looking forward to co-presenting with her at Rootstech 2012. Unfortunately Joan, who coined the term Genealogy 2.0 for our presentation, will not be able to join Amy Coffin, Audrey Collins and me for the presentation. I thank you,  Joan, for all of your assistance with preparation for the gig, we are most indebted to you.

It was an easy task for us to decide on another foreigner to invite to take Joan's place on our panel. We four agreed that another Canadian and an Official Rootstech Blogger, Lorine McGinnis-Schulze, would be the perfect candidate.

We were thrilled and relieved when Lorine graciously accepted our invitation. We welcome Lorine to our panel and look forward to getting together at the Salt Palace for our presentation in Room 225B at 11:00 am on Friday February 3rd.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 1 – Blogs

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invites genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.


Week 1 – Blogs: Blogging is a great way for genealogists to share information with family members, potential cousins and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? Is it one of the earliest blogs you read, or a current one? What is special about the blog and why should others read it?
----------------------------------


I am thankful for all the blogs I read because they all assist my CGD. The blogs I read via RSS are classified in a number of categories: Books and Reading, Genealogy, ICT, Library, Teaching and Learning and Others. I read most of these posts or their summaries each morning in bed and maybe later in the day if I am a passenger in a bus, train or car or sitting around in a doctor's office.


I enjoy reading the posts of Geneabloggers especially those from the small but enthusiastic Geneablogging community here in Australia. I appreciate all you do for us.


I love to share with others what I learn from other disciplines that can be applied to my genealogical activities. For this reason I am nominating educator, Richard Byrne's blogs as those for which I am most thankful. From his Free Technology for Teachers I have gathered many resources to share with genealogists. Richard's new Android 4 Schools Blog gave me the idea for my new baby, Android Genealogy. 


The synthesis of ideas from one subject area to another makes for a richer experience in our world of genealogy. Don't confine yourself to reading genealogy blogs, read from other subject areas and share what you find via your blog.

The Heat is on...

I'm a procrastinator, I don't work well until a deadline is drawing near. I was reminded yesterday in an e-mail from Joan Miller, one of my co-presenters at Rootstech 2012, that I must get cracking with our syllabus document that is due on November 1. Joan was too polite to say "get your act together Jill" rather she just sent me a chatty e-mail asking how things were going. Thanks, Joan, for the reminder I'll get onto the job as soon as my babysitting charges go home tomorrow.

We are using a Google doc to plan our presentation and write the syllabus outline that is required by November 1. I might propose to Audrey Collins, Amy Coffin and Joan Miller, who are presenting with me, that we use the new GoogleDocs Presentation tool to collaborate on preparing our presentation slides. I must admit that I have only had the briefest of looks at this tool, I'll leave it until after we submit the syllabus document to see if it will suit our purposes.

I was also reminded about the conference this morning when I found my registration receipt in my inbox; Mr Geniaus also received his receipt. Although he is not into genealogy he is interested in family history; there is such a variety of talks on offer at Rootstech that I am sure  he will find plenty to pique his interest.

If you have been thinking about registering for Rootstech it would be a good idea to do so now at the earlybird rate which is available until November 30. You can check out the schedule here.

We'd love to see you in our session:
Genealogy 2.0: international panelists discuss their use of social media to connect with cousins, collaborate on projects, discuss issues, market and promote genealogy services and perform acts of genealogical kindness.

He's not a genie yet!

Thanks to information shared by Dear Myrtle and Amy Coffin  I was able to register my husband at the bargain basement price of $US99 for the 2012 Rootstech Conference. This is only available till tomorrow - details are at Amy's blog.

Mr Geniaus is not a genealogist by any stretch of the imagination but he is interested in the results of my research and his family history. He spent five years (and a few pennies) on finding a grandfather clock made by his ancestor, James Gowans, and having it shipped to Australia. He has travelled with me to England and Scotland to visit ancestral towns and villages; he had a tear in his eye as we sailed away from Islay in Scotland, the home of his Gillespie ancestors. He has tramped through cemeteries in fresh English Januarys to find and photograph tombstones.

I won't even touch on Mr Geniaus' technology skills - but he has mastered his Blackberry!

I don't think I will turn Mr Geniaus into a genealogist so why am I taking him to a genealogy conference?

• He will be with me in Salt Lake City (a city we have visited before) and will be at a loose end
• The cost of registration is dirt cheap compared with the hundreds of dollars he has paid to go to corporate conferences (with his Scots' ancestry he loves a bargain)
• He will be able to register for conference lunches (so I don't have to worry about feeding him)
• He will be able to meet the GeniMates with whom I spend so much time virtually
• He will see that genealogists aren't a bunch of old fuddy-duddys
• With such a broad and varied program he will be able to find sessions that pique his interest
• Most importantly he will be able to share in the buzz and excitement of a superbly organised conference and gain an understanding of why I just had to return to Rootstech in 2012

He doesn't know it yet but he will be acting as my roadie/personal assistant/one-man support team. As an Official Blogger and presenter at the conference I will be hopping. Mr Geniaus will be put to work as my messenger, blog post editor (my keyboarding skills are punk), bag carrier and photographer. He will be charged with taking lots of photos of the exhibition area, of the sessions he attends and of yours truly mingling. 

He'll have a Ball.

Wonderful surprise for the returning traveller

Mr and Mr Geniaus have been off globetrotting for the last few weeks.Although it was not a genealogy field trip I managed to visit a few institutions, see some distant cousins and collect a few new resources on our round the world journey.  Over the next few weeks I will blog about some of my experiences and finds.


After our 20 hour journey from New York I was feeling a little flat on my return home yesterday. In between loads of washing I managed to log into my email where I found a great surprise.There were two emails with the subject line "RootsTech Proposal Accepted".  My spirits immediately soared; I will be presenting in two sessions at Rootstech 2012 in Salt Lake City.


I was absolutely stoked to get this news but now have tummy butterflies. I don't think there will be many other Australian presenters at this international event so I feel a responsibility to do Australia proud. This will not be too difficult for the first session "Genealogy 2.0: international panelists discuss their use of social media to connect with cousins, collaborate on projects, discuss issues, market and promote genealogy services and perform acts of genealogical kindness" in which I will be joined by esteemed genealogists Amy Coffin (USA), Audrey Collins (UK) and Joan Miller (Canada). I was thrilled when these genealogists whom I met at Rootstech 2011 agreed to my proposal to form a panel to discuss Genealogy 2.0. We should have lots of fun collaborating with Web2.0 tools to prepare our presentation.


Although my second gig "The Galaxy Girls –three genealogists and their Android tablets" will be a solo performance I have the support of two Australian genealogists, Shelley from Twigs of Yore and Tanya Honey from My Genealogy Adventure who also purchased Samsung Galaxy Tablets not long after I did. Via email, blog posts and more recently through a Huddle on Google+ Shelley, Tanya and I have been discussing our tablet use. I am indebted to The Galaxy Girls for agreeing to allow me to report on their tablet experiences.


The generosity of the genealogy community is demonstrated by the willingness of these five genealogists to support my proposals for Rootstech 2012, I am most grateful to you.

Report from "The Missed Bus Trip"

All is not lost. Even though I missed the bus for yesterday's tour of the Distribution and Print Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City I have been able to hear and read about it from those who went on the tour.

Amy Coffin from We Tree blog has written an excellent account of the excursion. "Housed in this building are the microfilms that are sent to local Family History Centers when requested. They also store and ship the items..... continued in Amy's post. Please read on at Amy's blog.

Follow Friday - Genealogy Blogs - The We Tree Genealogy Blog

Since becoming a Rootstech Official Blogger I have been paying particular attention to the blogs of my fellow Rootstech Official Bloggers. I had already been following most of them in my RSS feeds and my Google alerts highlight pertinent posts in the remainder.

One of these bloggers is Amy Coffin who has, via my blog, generously offered to hold my hand as I make my first trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for the conference.

So impressed was I by a post on her We Tree Genealogy Blog today and the conversation it prompted in the comments section that I decided to make the blog the subject of a Follow Friday post. Not often does a post make me stop and reflect on my practices but this did. The post is typical of the quality of  the conversations on Amy's blog.

Amy asked bloggers to put themselves in the shoes of a little old lady who is not too au fait with technology but who wants to comment on a blog post. I am not going to paraphrase Amy's post Genealogy Blogs: A Comment on Comment but urge you to read it and reflect on how you can make it easy for your readers to communicate with you via your blog.

I believe that "Blogging is a two-way street". Just this morning I was frustrated when I tried to make a comment on a new Australian Genealogy and History blog, the author has not enabled comments thus ignoring the social nature of blogging. Hopefully, as she becomes more experienced with the blogger platform, she will rectify this.

Enough of the rant - please take a look at The We Tree Genealogy Blog - a worthy addition to any genealogist's daily reading program.
      

My first FamilySearch Bloginar

I had promised, in an earlier post, to tell you about this morning's event (Sydney time) but why reinvent the wheel? On my train journey this morning after the bloginar I read Amy Coffin's wonderful summary of the event so I am directing you to her post for the content of the bloginar/webinar.

As it was my first FamilySearch webinar I got up bright and early to make sure tht my connection worked and it did. Paul Nata from Familysearch, in his email last week, had given instructions on how to test the bloginar site, I downloaded the software that I needed and the site confirmed that I was ready to connect when needed.

When I logged on this morning here were around half a dozen others logged in and during the bloginar the numbers went up to 89. Although I was able to watch the bloginar and join in the chat I could not get the audio to work, a problem shared by other users. The solution was to phone in for audio to a 1800 number but that was in the US. Randy Seaver used the chat module to give me another number to try. Scared of  racking a hefty phone bill (it's expensive from Aus) I decided to try logging in on a second computer but I was unable to get sund on that either.

The content of the slides shown was most interesting especially those about the Rootstech Conference I am attending in three weeks.  I look forward to hearing and rewatching the bloginar that is to be posted shortly on The FamilySearch Wiki.