10th Consecutive Year

In the mail today I received an invitation to be a @RootsTechConf Rootstech Ambassador from Australia for the tenth consecutive year. Of course I accepted this immediately - it is such an honour to be able to promote genealogy downunder to the Rootstech Family while learning about our field from the world's best presenters.

I will be attending virtually this year. I will miss seeing my genimates in the flesh in Salt Lake City but I will take advantage of the virtual offerings from Salt Lake City and join in on social media with the many other #notatrootstech genies who attend virtually. 

The theme for Rootstech 2020 is “The Story of You.” This is  fitting and important for those of us who spend so much time concentrating on our ancestors. We must also remember to record our stories for future generations.

This was brought home to me last weekend when my 10 year old granddaughter said "Why do you have a laptop Gummy?" The 12 grandchildren call me Gummy, but that's another story. I pulled out my laptop and proceeded to show her some of the things I had there. We looked at my blogs that recorded some stories of her ancestors, we looked at some of the powerpoints I had prepared for the presentations I give and some of the Facebook pages I manage. 

What really captured her imagination was my family website, GeniAus Family Site. She enjoyed playing around with the interactive tree in public mode. When she asked about the nameless people on her tree we got into a talk about privacy on the internet. Although she could work out which Living female she was she wanted to see her name displayed so I logged in we looked at the Private View where she could see the details for her parents, siblings and cousins.

Public view of tree on GeniAus Family Site

We played around for nearly half an hour but I shut down before boredom set in. Granddaughter sat back and said "Gummy, I didn't know you did all that."

Do your granddchrilden know all about the things you do? 

If you want to be in on the Rootstech action and learn about sharing "The Story of You"you can register for Rootstech 2020 in Salt Lake City here https://rootstech.org.

Scenes from the Salt Palace - Rootstech Day -1

After a morning of rest I crossed the road to the Salt Palace to register for Rootstech. On my way to register I met many genimates and members of the Familysearch team from  previous Rootstech conferences. Loved seeing so many familiar faces in that sea of people.

The conference organisers had sent out a message that the first 4,000 to register for the event would get a special gift - from the size of the lines I think about 5,000 people took this opportunity. I was so grateful that as an Ambassador I got to register via an express line. I hear that it took some people over two hours to make their way through the queue.

While at the Salt Palace I took a few pics to give you a taste of the Rootstech venue.

The main entrance/exit

Play by the rules

A long queue

Nearing the end

Surprise for the first 4,000

What's on

 

This place is HUGE

Not quite ready

Abseilers at Rootstech

Registered at last- Main entrance

A New Badge on the Blog

I've been tweaking the blog layout this morning to accommodate a new badge that indicates my role as an Ambassador for Rootstech 2017. I was honoured to receive an invitation from the Rootstech organisers to once again join the team whose role is to create awareness and promote the event to our followers and community.

RootsTech, held February 8–11, 2017, and hosted by FamilySearch, is the largest global family history event in the world! The sixth annual conference—celebrating families across generations—is the perfect place to discover and share your family's stories and connections through technology.
My travel arrangements have been made and I am looking forward to joining my genimates in Salt Lake City for this celebration of family history. As registrations for the event have now opened my next task is to register. For further details and to complete your registration take a look at the new Rootstech website. 

When I travelled to the first Rootstech in 2011 I was rather nervous but I was warmly welcomed by those I met there. Over the years several Aussies have made the trek to Rootstech and quite a few like me have returned for another dose.

If you have any questions about the event please contact me and I will be happy to answer them.

Rootstech Bound

Although it's less than a week since I returned from an overseas adventure my mind is again turning to geneatravel. When (and if) I get settled I'll blog about some of the adventures I had during my recent geneajaunt in Ireland.

Meanwhile I just booked flights for my annual pilgrimage to the genealogy mecca of Salt Lake City in February where I'll attend Rootstech once more. As I was too busy travelling I didn't submit any presentation proposals for 2017 but I hope that once more I will have a chance to be a Rootstech Ambassador.

Several of my Aussie mates are also making the pilgrimage. I can't wait to catch up with them and my genimates from overseas in Salt Lake City plus do a spot of research in the Family History Library.

Are you Rootstech bound in 2017?

Rootstech Pass Giveaway

I am a Rootstech 2016 Ambassador.

This year I am hosting a very simple competition to determine the winner of my "One complimentary RootsTech 2016 3-day pass ($249 value)."

Don't worry if you have already registered for Rootstech. If you are the winner you will receive a refund from the organisers.

To Enter:

1. Follow this link

2. Scroll down to the  Sponsor List

3. Count up the total number of sponsors listed

4. Email that number together with your name, email address (and twitter handle and blog URL if you have them) to jillballau@gmail.com by Midnight (GMT) 12 October 2015. Please write "Rootstech Giveaway" in the subject line of your email.

5. I will notify the successful entrant and pass on details as to how to collect the prize.

The winning entry will be announced on the GeniAus blog, Google+ and Twitter on 14 October 2015.

NB This prize is for a Rootstech Pass only. All other costs associated with attendance at the Conference are the responsibility of the prize recipient.

I'm a winner - You can be too

I am a winner because I am off to Rootstech in 2016.  Although I have attended this event several time its gloss does not lose its sheen. I get to meet old friends, make new ones, hear some world class speakers, interview some interesting folk and, if I can spare the time, do some research in the Family History Library.

Additionally I have been selected as both a Rootstech Speaker and a Rootstech Ambassador - that will make me doubly busy but will bring more than double the fun. I have been given the graveyard shift on the Friday for my panel session "GS2384 - Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas in an Online World" where I will be joined by some fellow Genealogy Rockstars.  It is excitiing to see my Speaker Bio (we had to make them short) online. The Ambassadors' bios are yet to come.

You can be a winner because, as one of my Ambassador perks, I have a Rootstech Registration to give away. In the next few days I'll think up some sort of simple competition for my Rootstech Giveaway.   Watch this blog for further details later in the week.

My first ever Rootstech Interview with the late Joan Miller, and Jay Verkler (Familysearch CEO) in 2011

Six years in a Row

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited to be an Ambassador for Rootstech in 2016. Since the first Rootstech in 2011 I have been the southern hemisphere's only official voice for Rootstech.

Having this role has opened so many doors for me and given me the opportunity to make some lifelong friendships with fellow genies. Thank you to Paul Nauta and his team at Familysearch for once more affording me this opportunity.

I am so excited that my genimate and fellow member of Hornsby Shire Family History Group, Sharn White, has also been appointed as an Ambassador for Rootstech in 2016. Sharn is one of Australia's foremost geneabloggers. Sharn was one of a contingent of Aussies at Rootstech 2015 and like myself was bitten by the Rootstech bug. Having a fellow Australian as an Ambassador will be so much fun.

Rootstech Media Dinner

I recorded yet another geneavlog to share details of the Rootstech Media Dinner I attended this evening.

New Badge on the Blog

As I am travelling to Salt Lake City for Rootstech in 2015 I was hoping that I would receive an invitation to be an Official Blogger once more for quite a few reasons some of which are selfish. Well tonight my spirits were lifted when I saw an email from Paul Nauta, Rootstech Public Affairs, with the Subject line"You're Invited to be a RootsTech 2015 Official Ambassador!"

The Official Bloggers' role has morphed to Ambassador (I guess) to recognise that broad range of social media platforms that are now being embraced by family historians. So for 2015 I will not only be blogging about Rootstech I will be using Facebook, Google+, Google Hangouts Twitter and Youtube to spread the word.

I already have an idea for the competition I will be running for someone to win a free Rootstech registration  If you have already registered then if you are the lucky winner you will get a refund. Please watch this blog for details.

I am burning the midnight oil but I just had to share my news straight away. My blog will proudly wear its new badge on its left sidebar for the next several months

Will I see you at Rootstech?

Rootstech Exhibition Area