Ambassador Perk

One thing I love about being a Rootstech Ambassador (or Official Blogger) is the opportunity I am given to conduct interviews in the video studio in the media hub. At the very first Rootstech back in 2011 I was too shy to take up the offer but once I was blooded at the second Rootstech in 2012 I was hooked.

In earlier years when there were fewer Ambassadors/Bloggers there were many opportunities to avail oneself of this perk but these days it is harder to gain access. I am delighted that, this year, I have four slots in the video studio. I will be interviewing Ron Tanner from Familysearch, Myko Clelland from FindMyPast,  Steve Rockwood CEO of Familysearch and Canadian Genealogist and software developer Louis Kessler who is an Innovator Summit Semi-finalist. I will upload the videos here and to my Youtube Channel as soon as I can. 

In the meantime you can view my video interviews from earlier years via this link.

Here is my interview with keynote, David Pogue in 2013.

A Minority Group at Rootstech

Salt Lake City, 6 February 2017

This evening we held the Annual Commonwealth Dinner for members of the British Commonwealth attending Rootstech. We had over 30 people representing Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand and Scotland gather at The Blue Lemon for a meal and a chat. A few more Genies from the Commonwealth will be arriving in Salt Lake City in the next few days but we Commonwealth People are still a minority group at Rootstech.

I ran around like a mad thing taking photos of those at the event and realise I missed one or two.

I think everyone came away having made some new genimates, meeting online friends in person for the first time or catching up with distant friends. It was pleasing to see The Society of Australian Genealogists and The Surname Society so well represented. Thanks to everyone who made the party such a success.

Following are some of the happy snaps I took of the attendees.

Record your story at Rootstech

INVITATION FROM MORMON CHANNEL:

Share a family story in an audio interview that will play on a new Mormon Channel podcast. This is f available to anyone to participate.

"Everyone has a story to tell, and we want to hear yours. You can share it with us at RootsTech, February 9-11. Stop by our booth, near the East entrance on Level 2, and tell us your inspirational or entertaining story. From conquering a challenge to your most memorable family meal, we want to hear it all. Reserve a time here. We look forward to meeting you."

Here is the link to reserve a time: https://calendly.com/mormonchannel/storymic

A Day off from Family History?

Salt Lake City, 5 February

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City is closed on a Sunday so the Aussies who are in town for Rootstech had to find alternative means of entertainment.

I had received an invitation from Kiwi Genie, Roger Moffat, to join he and his wife Lisa for a trip  out into a local tourist spot. I was joined in the backseat by fellow Aussie blogger, Lilian Magill.

Our destination was the Snowbird Resort. As we headed up and up into the mountains I was concerned that I might have trouble breathing in the clear mountain air. Somehow Roger managed to get a parking spot right at the door of the Snowbird Reception Building so we didn't have to walk too far. We had an unremarkable lunch in the cafeteria before buying tickets for a return trip on the Aerial Tram which was a gondola/cablecar type vehicle. My Senior's return ticket was only $17!

Sardine Can

As foot passengers we were given priority boarding over the hordes of skiers who were waiting for a ride to the top. These chaps were packed in after us like a school of sardines. It was a long, spectacular ride that took me higher than any similar rides I have done although it reminded me of the scenery from the smaller gondolas in Banff.

The air at 11,000 feet was rather fresh and the temperature just above freezing but the sun was shining and the breeze light. We only spent about half an hour wandering around, taking photos and talking to some friendly skiers.

In contrast to our ride up the mountain the car for our descent was nearly empty, most of the passengers were tourists like us who gone up on for a joy ride. On our way down I enjoyed watching the skiers make their way down the very steep slopes on the mountain whereas on the way up I was mesmerised by the views.

On our return to Salt Lake City Lilian and I decided to have a rest and go for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory as we thought it might not be crowded on this night of the Superbowl. I sent out a private Facebook message to all the Aussies I knew who had arrived for Rootstech and rustled up a group for dinner. as downunder people Roger and Lisa also joined us. 

We had a beaut impromptu dinner for 10 (including three Aussie Rootstech Ambassadors) , the food was a vast improvement on our lunch and the company was ConGenieal (a new word for the Geneadictionary!). Although some of us knew each other we all made new friends or met online friends in the flesh for the first time.

Jennie Fairs volunteered to be photographer

That's Jennie on the right.

It wasn't a day off from family history after all. When genies gather family history is always on the menu as it was today.