Day One FHExpo Colorado Springs

James Tanner presents an excellent class on "Using the Google Gold Mine for Genealogy"

We arrived at the Colorado Springs, CO Crowne Plaza hotel early enough today to have to wait for our room to become ready for occupancy. The first person I saw at the Registration desk was my "cousin" Sharon Landers Koleber, who is more accurately the wife of my dad's cousin. I wasn't surprised...it was at a FHExpo in Loveland, CO a few years ago that I first met Sharon.
Holly Hansen, President of Family History Expos, opened the conference about 5 minutes early, explaining that Registrations were processed almost before 1:00pm, the time designated for registrations to OPEN! We must be an eager bunch!  The Keynote Speaker, Don R. Anderson of Family Search, was quite entertaining and offered a lot of information about all that is new at Family Search. I took a lot of notes (into Evernote, using my netbook) and will post a recap of those highlights in another blog post, when I'm not so tired.

The first class I attended was taught by James Tanner, pictured above, on using Google for genealogy. I've used many of the features of Google, but still learned some new tips and was reminded of some underused features that I need to explore more thoroughly. 

My next class was taught by Tim Cross of Family Search, who told us of all the new features at that site. They are numerous. I'll post those details after I get home in a day or two. The most interesting thing he shared with us was that the idea behind BillionGraves.com was initially his. He approached app developers AppTime, who put the app together that has just recently become an affiliate of FamilySearch.org.

Anna Hopkins-Arnold taught a brief overview of Evernote in a class that my husband and I attended prior to the class we enjoyed on Census Research, instructed by Amy Anderson. Her delivery was delightful.

It's late....the classes ended at 8:40pm and the Exhibit Hall closed at 9pm. I'll take pictures with my camera tomorrow instead of my cell phone and when I get home I'll share some of the details from the notes I put into Evernote. We were so happy that 14 other people from our home of Canon City, Colorado were here to learn and share in the interest that is generated at this Expo. More to come!