Checking off the Checklist

I'm a fly by the seat of my pants type of girl but in the case of Rootstech I have a checklist that I consult prior to taking off. If I forget something I won't be making the 12,816 km journey home to collect it.

My 2017 post  has provided the basis for this 2018 list.

• Hotel at Sydney airport for night prior to flight - Booked
• Longterm Parking at Sydney Airport - Booked
• International return flight Australia to SLC - Booked 
• Airport transfer in SLC - Staying first night at SLC airport hotel - it has a free shuttle 
• Hotel Accommodation - Booked at the Marriott Downtown City Creek - most convenient hotel to Salt Palace and City Creek shops. Had to book first night elsewhere as Marriott was full 
• Passport - Already in handbag 

• ESTA (Visa) - Still valid
• Travel insurance - Renewed
• Make copies of all docs and save on phone and laptop - Another job for this afternoon.
• Pills and potions - packed an emergency 'just in case' kit of favourites.  
• Get US dollars from bank - especially $1 notes - Done

• Conference Registration - Done 

• Respond to invitations - Done 
• Download the Rootstech App - Done, classes selected and friends made. If more people made their profiles public I would be able to make even more friends 
• Download Rootstech syllabus papers of interest - May have to do this in SLC. 
• Compile list of research tasks for Family History Library - In progress in my Family Historian Database.
• Make list of shopping to be done while in the US.

• Find out names of Aussies who are travelling to Rootstech - only a small group this year - wonder if I have missed anyone? 
• Set a date for a casual pre-conference dinner for members of the British Commonwealth attending Rootstech - Done. Details here.

• Aussie pins/stickers/badges to hand out -  Done
•  GeniAus Business Cards to hand out - New ones have arrived
• GeniAus ribbons - Awaiting pickup on Salt Lake City. Thanks DearMyrtle
• Purchase breakfast bars and healthy snacks for quick meals - already packed.
• Start gathering up my Geneabling to wear at the event - can't find it since moving house. Will have to start up a new collection. 
• A light day bag for conference - no-one else will have a bag like mine.

• Organise my technology for the trip - A mammoth task for this afternoon.
• Pack my Bags - Halfway there - need to take stuff out rather then put stuff in.

With only two more sleeps to go I had better stop blogging and attend to packing.

Calling Members of the Commonwealth at Rootstech

For the past few years I have coordinated a casual dinner for people from the former British Commonwealth (now the Commonwealth of Nations) attending Rootstech. This gathering gives us a chance to make a few friends prior to the big event, Rootstech and to catch up with old friends. This year, we will meet on the Monday evening prior to Rootstech.

In previous years we have had attendees from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. (Pics of 2017 gathering on the right) 

It would be beaut to meet reps from Antigua or Zimbabwe or any Commonwealth country in between.

As the restaurant closes at 9:00pm please arrive in plenty of time to dine and chat. We will gather at the rear of the restaurant so we won't cause too much disturbance to other patrons. After closing time new found friends may wish to adjourn to a neighbourhood bar to continue their conversations.

If you have other pressing engagements please drop in for a while and say G'day.

Commonwealth folk please accept this post as your invitation. 

You are invited to a casual "People from the Commonwealth" get together
at the 
Blue Lemon, 55 West South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111
from
6:00pm - 8:00pm on Monday 26th February 2018. 
RSVP By email to jillballau@gmail.com or via a comment to me on social media.

Blue Lemon Location

Just a haircut away

Rootstech has crept up on me this year. 

I find that it is now only 35 days (or one haircut away) until I board the Flying Kangaroo for my journey to the Geneamecca of Salt Lake City. Am I ready?

As a regular Rootstechie I have become a bit complacent about preparing for my journey. 

In January 2011 I wrote "I've dived into the bowels of my dressing shed (aka wardrobe) and retrieved the overseas winter clothes that are too warm to wear in Australia. I've a thick padded jacket,a pair of comfy warm walking boots, hats, gloves, scarves and some thermal underwear. Hopefully I will be able to keep warm in Salt Lake City. 

Thanks to advice from some of my fellow Rootstech Bloggers I know what I need to pack for my research days at The Family History Library and the Rootstech Conference. My passport is in date and I have my ESTA US Visa Waiver organised. My travel documents are in hard and soft copy."

Fast forward to 2018 - I'm leaving the thermal underwear behind as I am not planning to spend much time outdoors, the padded coat is a must but the warm indoor clothes aren't needed as most places including the Family History Library and the Salt Palace ar well heated. I have the travel documents, travel insurance, passport and the ESTA so I'm set.

Later in 2011 I blogged "As a newbie (and a foreigner) at Rootstech last year I was not aware of the need to have a swag of geneabloggers' accessories. I was rather proud of the snazzy new business cards I had along with me but these paled into insignificance when I saw the array of accessories that other geneabloggers had brought along."

I now know to take Australian mini koala badges, stickers and other souvenir type stuff. I need to order contact cards with my new mobile number and to order some more conference ribbons to hand out to my genimates. I may even get some ribbons for members of the Commonwealth to wear. 

As has been my practice I am arriving in Salt Lake six days prior to Rootstech proper so that I can get over the jet lag, indulge in some retail therapy and socialise with my genimates before the main event.

When the first Rootstech app was introduced it was next to useless but as the years have gone by the app has been replaced and improved. I have it downloaded and am using it to map out my days and connect with genimates.

Unfortunately I didn't make a list of the technology I took to Rootstech last year but I will once again set up my office (where I can blog and write away from the action) in my room at the Marriott. I had better start thinking of what I need to take.

Rather than taking one huge suitcase I am going to take two smaller suitcases this year (I am allowed three bags on Qantas) as I think that they will be easier for an old girl to handle.

I think I'm set. 

Enhance your Rootstech Experience

Sorry there aren't any pretty pictures on this post. Blogger won't let me upload any!

In the recent contest I held to give away a Rootstech 2018 Free Pass I asked entrants to "please tell me three things a Rootstech attendee needs to take to Rootstech to enhance his/her experience."

I had promised to collate the advice I received from entrants into a blog post and here it is. I hope these suggestions help you in your Rootstech preparation. Some of the suggestions were made multiple times.

The most popular suggestions related to footwear

• Good, comfortable walking shoes to get around the big convention center.
• Tennis shoes will be my best friend when walking from class to class or through the exhibit hall. 
• Comfortable flat shoes. Not joggers as I like to look more professional than joggers make you look. (I have to agree about the joggers)

A full four day pass.  Who wants to miss any of this! 

Many were concerned with comfort

• Comfy clothes, (maybe ever a blanket so I use all my focus)
• Layering clothes is also a good idea.
• A warm coat so you can go out at night with all my genie friends for lunch, dinner or to go up to the Family History Library when it is old outside.
• Food (and water), so I can concentrate.
• A water bottle and snacks.
• A body that is rested,refreshed  and ready for Rootstech.
• Friends 

Technology was mentioned a lot

• Your favorite tech tool to take notes.
• My laptop! For taking notes and looking up my tree quickly! and everything else I would need.
• Portable battery for cell phone/laptops so you can take pictures, notes, etc. 
• A camera or phone camera - one must take lots of photos (and selfies)
• Your smartphone, because you'll want the Rootstech app
• Connect on social media.

Some people preferred traditional tools

• Lots of colored pens to write notes.
• Lots of note paper - with so much to learn, one will need to take so many notes to remember all of the inspiration received!!
•  A good notebook and pen.

Attitude is all important

•  A great ATTITUDE
• Desire - one needs a passion and desire to do familyhistory. Then it is easy to get addicted.... 
• Open mind and heart - to listen and learn ways to research families, preserve families now and to feel our family love.
• Eagerness to learn and absorb all of the information available from various presentations.

There will be lots of shopping opportunities at Rootstech

• Largest enough suitcase to bring back all the goodies you'll find in the exhibit hall.
• Credit Card that give the best airline miles for purchasing deeply discounted DNA Test Kits and other deeply discounted genealogy tech items and cool things available at the expo.

Some people are more organised than me

• Map of conference center.
• Make a list of vendors you wish to visit.
• Create a personalized class schedule ahead of time.
• Plan to spend time at the Family History Library.
• Upload any documents/software you may need while in Salt Lake City.