Officialdom

Last week I booked some accommodation and earlier this week I registered for Australia's biggest family history event, The 14th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry or Congress2015 Camberra, that is held every three years.

I am so excited to be going again to our Nation's Capital, Canberra, where as well as attending the conference, meeting up with my genimates and hearing from a range of topline presenters I will have access to our National Library, National Archives and War Memorial where I can do a spot or two of research.

This morning I received an email from AFFHO President Kerrie Gray that made my day. Kerrie invited me "to take on the role of "Official Congress2015 Blogger". I was delighted to accept her invitation.  At the last Congress in Adelaide in 2012  I was the sole Official Blogger this time I will be one of a small team that will be sharing news via various social media channels leading up to and during this event. 

I am especially pleased that AFFHO and the Conference Organisers have recognised the role that social media plays in today's world and have made a commitment to incorporate social media into the conference activities.

To hear the latest Congress news via social media you can follow the Official Congress Facebook Page, the Congress Twitter Account (@affho2015) and the Official Bloggers' posts. When you write about Congress please remember to use the hashtag #AFFHO so that search engines can pick up on the posts and we can easily retrieve them.

I hope to see many of you in Canberra but if you are unable to join us in person I will endeavour to be your ears and eyes at Congress.

It's just not the same

Following Rootstech from afar is just not the same as being there in person and experiencing the energy, enthusiasm and excitement of the thousands who come together for this event,

On a day my cruise ship was in port I stayed on board and watched some of the live-streamed Rootstech sessions in solitary confinement in my cabin. Thankfully some  of my Twitter pals were online and I was able to discuss those sessions with them. I just wish that I would have been able to watch more live sessions but once the ship left port there was no hope.

I was able to don my Rootstech tshirt and join with fellow cruisers to watch two recorded sessions that the Rootstech organisers had made available to Unlock the Past. The first session we watched was a very basic talk on organisation by a lady whose name escapes me, while there was nothing wrong with this talk it wasn't the sort of session that would encourage people to think that they should run out and book a flight to Rootstech 2015.  The second video we watched  was Judy Russell's keynote and that was superb. It got everyone who watched it on our genealogy cruise thinking and talking and was a perfect vehicle to showcase the Rootstech Conference.

Having missed this year's Rootstech I am determined that I will return in person in 2015 and to that end I have already booked my airfare to LAX for the first leg of my journey (one has to get in early to get an international fare from Australia on points).

This year I accepted the Rootstech organisers' invitation to be an Official Blogger for the event but, although I managed to fullfil my duties (except for the days I was at sea and internet access was very flaky) I found it difficult to become as enthused about Rootstech as I have been when I knew that I would be attending.

I do hope that I am able to be an Official Blogger in 2015 and have the opportunities that come along with the gig for those who attend in person. I just love being able to conduct video interviews with genealogy personalities in the Media Hub Fishbowl.

Interviewing Simon Orde in the Fishbowl at Rootstech 2013

Rootstech from Afar

With some mates at Rootstech 2013
L-R GeniAus, Audrey Collins, Dear Myrtle and Randy Seaver 

Due to a prior engagement I won't be attending the RootsTech Conference this year. I am disappointed about this but it can't be helped and I am looking forward to returning to Salt Lake City in 2015 for the combined RootsTech and FGS Conference.

I've been in denial about my non-attendance at RootsTech 2014 so I haven't blogged about the event that will be held in four months time from February 6 - 8, 2014. Should you be contemplating attending this amazing event you had better get your skates on if you wish to take advantage of early bird registration, with a Full Access Pass for just $159. A contingent Australians travelled to Salt Lake City for the event last year and combined conference attendance with research time in the Family History Library. Those with whom I have spoken intend to attend a future RootsTech.

Australians, Alona Tester and Helen Smith, at Rootstech 2013

It has been my privilege to be an Official Blogger at the first three RootsTech conferences. Although the work associated with this role has meant that I have not been able to attend all conference sessions I have been given opportunities to meet and interview many stars in the genealogy world. The folk from Familysearch have afforded the Official Bloggers the same privileges that are extended to members of traditional media, we have had briefing meetings, a good seat in the opening keynote session, a dedicated workplace in the exhibit hall and opportunities to meet with speakers and sponsors.

When I woke on Wednesday morning I noted via social media that two fellow Geneabloggers were excited about receiving invitations to become Official Bloggers for the RootsTech 2014 Conference. I took a peek at my mailbox and was thrilled when I saw a message from Paul Nauta, PR guy at Familysearch (and minder extraordinaire to the official bloggers) inviting me to also join the team of Official Bloggers for 2014. Then I worried about whether I should accept the invitation or not. However, when I read the fine print I noted that Official Bloggers were welcome to blog remotely. I perused the conditions and realised that I would have no trouble fulfilling my obligations to the conference from afar. I promptly fired off an acceptance and am waiting for the Official Blogger badge that I will proudly display on this blog. My mugshot and biography will appear on the Rootstech site in due course.

Rootstech is planning to have satellite conference sites in a number of locations around the world. As I will be at sea I hope that I can coordinate a visit to one of these sites on a day that I am in port.

Official Blogger status at this premier event is something that is prized by bloggers in the United States. This little old Australian granny is honoured to be included in the team with the big guns in the geneablogging world.

Thank you RootsTech and FamilySearch.

Official Blogger Dinner

It's late and I need my beauty sleep but before I hit the sack I am posting a random selection of photos from the Rootstech Official Bloggers Dinner tonight.

Thanks to the people at Familysearch for hosting this function and for giving us a sneak preview of new initiatives at Familysearch.

Honey butter for our bread rolls

The Buffet Line - I spy Renee Zamora (left)

My tablemates Official Bloggers Amy Coffin and DearMyrtle

Shipley Munson from Familysearch (He's also Tenor number 13 in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

Nancy Shively and I walked our dessert off going back to the hotel

Ben Bennett who shared  exciting news about Familysearch

Lisa-Louise Cook, Thomas MacEntee and their tablemate were interested in the news from Familysearch

Perhaps the new Familysearch landing page will look like this

The new Familysearch Logo

Rosemary Morgan and Randy Seaver  modelling the blogger beads sponsored by DearMyrtle