Family History Expos 10th Anniversary in Colorado Springs

Scenes from the Aug. 2-3 Family History Expo in Colorado Springs, CO
10th Anniversary Edition

After spending the month of July in the hospital recovering from major surgery, my husband Larry was happy to accompany me to the 10th Anniversary Edition of Holly Hansen's Family History Expo in Colorado Springs, CO last Friday and Saturday. And I was thrilled that he could join me in this our 5th FHExpo in as many years.

We were welcomed with hugs as we greeted dear friends that we've made from previous Expos. And we were delighted to attend classes by experts in the Family History world. Larry was limited in the time he could spend in classes and rested throughout most of the two days we were at the Hotel Elegante.

James Tanner opened the Expo with an enlightening Keynote Address in which he shared his Top Ten Techniques for research:
1. Use the tools available (tablets, smartphones, computers, etc)
2. Search for every ancestor, not just the ones we like
3. Move beyond user submitted trees and copying pedigrees
4. Do the math...do the dates and ages add up?
5. Look at the bigger picture; where and when did your ancestors live?
6. Look in newspapers and other sources.
7. Keep a record of all the places you look.
8. Cite your sources
9. Acquire new skills; attend conference, engage in socializing
10. Organize and share your results

I attended a class on the Flip-Pal scanner. I've used mine to scan thousands of photos, but always learn something new from the experts. I learned that I need to download the newer version of the software when I finish writing this blog post!

The third class I attended was given by Bradley Monson on effective Google searches. I was happy to know of a link he shared at www.googleguide.com.

Bradley Monson's wife Sharon presented a good class on the Top Ten Online Catches in which she exposed us to sites such as the National Archives, State Archives, County Record Inventories, College Libraries and others that are often overlooked by the casual researcher. Sharon is developing a new business that will offer ways for us to do smarter research. A book is forthcoming and this site will be "live" in October: http://gensearchandmore.com/

My favorite class session was given by James Tanner and was called "How to Ask for Help". Here are some of his tips:
1. Don't get overwhelmed
2. Prepare before you arrive
3. Once you arrive, be sure to ask for help. If the person you ask doesn't know, ask to be guided to someone who might know the answer. In a Library, not everyone knows everything!
4. Don't expect volunteers or staff to do your research for you. But it helps if you have a cheerful countenance.
5. Follow the advice of the person you ask.
6. If you ask for help, be ready to tell the whole story. Tell them where you've already looked. Know when and where: what time period and in what county or part of the county.
7. Don't give up!

James added a second part to his class in which he shared information with us about using local history books in our research, using online books, visiting libraries. My favorite quote from this session was "Libraries are like vacuum cleaners. They pick up a lot of stuff!"

James Tanner also presented to a packed audience a class on the Family Search Research Wiki. Following that class I attended another class given by Sharon Monson which informed us of the effectiveness of using the Family Search Catalog. And again I took in a class taught by James Tanner (if he was teaching a class, I was there!) on the FamilySearch Family Tree. I was happy to learn more about the structure of the Family Tree and how it is set up to eliminate duplicates as we "go on down the road".

It was great fun to meet Jen Baldwin, a fellow Colorado Genea-Blogger, who is a professional in the field. Even though I maintain about 6 or 7 blogs, I can always use a good dose of motivation and I got that from Jen's presentation!

The time we spent at the Family History Expo was so rewarding this year. We were ready for a weekend "get-away", a change of scenery from hospitals and nursing homes, time to visit with cousin Sharon Landers Koleber, fellow Canon City residents Becky Booher, Phyllis Pollard, Mickey Wells, and the Directors of our local FamilySearch Center Ken and Lureen Orchard and Expo friends Ruby Coleman, James Tanner, Holly Hansen and a Colorado Springs Vendor friend. Yes, we have to get out of town to have time to visit with the locals!

With an Early-Bird Registration fee of $59/person, this was the bargain of the year for us and anyone else interested in learning more about family history research or anyone just looking for a chance to talk to others about their family history. We're anxious for next year's conference and are grateful to Holly Hansen for giving us this wonderful opportunity to hone our skills and fellowship with like-minded family historians.

Coming Soon! 10th Anniversary Family History Expo in Colorado

Those of us who are interested in family history and live within driving distance of Colorado Springs, Colorado are so fortunate that we have the opportunity to attend the 10th Anniversary session of the Family History Expo next weekend, August 2-3 at the Hotel Elegante.

I feel fortunate that I've been able to attend the Expos in Colorado

Holly Hansen

since 2009. I attend a class at every session that is offered and have learned so much that's helped me do effective research. But the thing I really love the most about attending these Expos, under the direction of Holly Hansen, is meeting and visiting with other genealogists. Everyone there is interested in learning and talking about their family history. That's why they're attending. In my 'real life' it's impossible to find anyone who wants to discuss family history. 

From a recent news release we learn:

"Lively discussions and in-depth learning takes place in expo workshops such as Bradley Monson’s, “Top Ten Fishin' Hole - Reel in the Big One with GOOGLE.” Another popular workshop is Ruby Coleman’s, “Genealogy on a Shoe String Budget” for beginners.

At the Colorado Family History Expo Scandinavian research will be the focus of presentations by Ruth Ellen Manness and Kathy Meade. Manness will hold three workshops titled, “Is It –sen or –sson or Lien or Ström? Scandinavian Naming Patterns & Lifestyles,” “Effective Use of Scandinavian Gazetteeres: 10+ Sources to Use,” and “Using Danish Military Records To Find Your Ancestors.”

Meade will also facilitate three workshops including “Swedish Genealogy in a Computer World,” “Research Your Swedish Heritage in Living Color Using ArkivDigital,” and “Learn How to Research the Swedish Estate Inventory Records.”

Researchers of all levels will enjoy Carol Cooke Darrow’s, “Finding People in the 20th Century (1900s) Using Newspapers, City Directories, and Social Media”; or Tom Underhill’s, “10 Techniques to Shoot ‘Picture Perfect’ with Your Cell Phone's Digital Camera.”

Gayle Gresham will offer a workshop to experienced genealogists called, “Fishing for Details? 10 Tips for Using Local History Books in Your Genealogy.” (I’m excited to listen to Gayle Gresham as she plays some old time music on her hammered dulcimer during the meal breaks this year).

For complete information about registering and attending the many classes that are offered, visit www.FamilyHistoryExpos.com."

I will be blogging more about the Expo and reporting on my experiences as I attend next weekend. Be sure to check back for my updates!

Family History Expo Afterglow

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado

I look forward to the Family History Expos for so many months and the two days of the conference go so quickly that it all seems to be a blur. But I can still feel the "Afterglow"! The thing that draws me to the conferences as much as the opportunity to learn is the time I get to spend among others who share my passion and with whom I can discuss GENEALOGY! Nobody's face freezes over, nor do eyes roll when we mention our recent research successes while visiting with other attendees at this conference. It's a little bit of heaven on earth. 
More than 400 people attended this year's Expo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs. We enjoyed a very upbeat opening address by Don Anderson, Senior Vice President of FamilySearch. Don discussed "the steady drumbeat of publishing by Family Search in the last two years". FamilySearch currently has 4 billion names on the site, has published 560.6 million images on the site, and has 1,164 collections online now. 400 million new records are published annually.

James Tanner, teaching the Google class

I attended the class taught by James Tanner titled "Using the Google Gold Mine for Genealogy". I was delightfully impressed by Mr. Tanner's congenial personality and friendliness with the class members. He gave a very thorough tour of the Google site and its many offerings to the students in the packed classroom.
Another of my favorite speakers at this Expo was Tim Cross, Product Manager at FamilySearch. He gave a great tour of all the new features at FamilySearch.org, which are quite abundant. 

Timothy G. Cross, Product Manager, FamilySearch

Other classes I attended and enjoyed were "Using Evernote for Genealogy" by Anna Hopkins-Arnold (all my notes at the Expo were taken using Evernote so I can email them to my friends and other Family History Consultants here in Canon City), "Census Research" by Amy Anderson, which my husband identified as his favorite class at the Expo, another Family Search class for Family History Center Consultants, taught by Steven Brey, "Ancestry.com for Experienced Users" by James Tanner (standing room only!), "The Naturalization Process" by Carol Cooke Darrow, "FamilySearch Tree in 2012" by Tim Cross.
Here are random photos that I captured throughout the Expo.

The view from our hotel room. Pretty inviting, huh? 

The "browsers" and buyers at the Family Roots Publishing area.

Family History Expo President, Holly Hansen at right.

My husband Larry Jamison at left visiting with an Expo attendee. 

FamilySearch staff assisted people with research throughout all the Expo hours.

Time out for a good relaxing massage by the staff of Heuser Chiropractic in Colorado Springs. 

A rare moment of rest for Expo Blogger and Speaker Ruby Coleman. 

Genealogy Wall Charts had a very large display of their chart offerings. 

My friends Judy Buchholz and Lureen Orchard, 2 of the 16 attendees from Canon City. 

Carol Cooke Darrow, visiting with her class prior to the start of her presentation on the Naturalization Process.

Ken and Lureen Orchard, Co-Directors of the Canon City Family History Center, with my husband Larry C. Jamison

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!

Colorado Springs Family History Expo is TOMORROW!

I'm off work in less than an hour and looking forward to preparing for our trip to nearby Colorado Springs, Colorado for the Family History Expo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel tomorrow. I know many women will grab their purse, maybe a jacket, and head out the door tomorrow. Men will just grab their car keys. But I've been preparing for weeks for the Expo and will continue to pack and organize for this trip until we leave Canon City, CO tomorrow in the late morning. 

I've printed the syllabus, chosen my class schedule, and printed new "business" cards with a QR Code on it that directs people to my web site. Last night I turned on my little Toshiba netbook and got all the updates loaded and syncing done. I use my netbook to access Evernote to take notes in the classes I attend. I can easily print or email my notes for other Family History Consultants from our Canon City Family History Center. 

I'm delighted that the glowing recommendations we've given to our local genealogists have resulted in the registration of SIXTEEN people from Canon City. I can't wait to hear Don Anderson's keynote address and to visit with the wonderful genealogists I've met in past years at the FHExpo! I'll get to visit again with cousin Sharon Landers Koleber and compare our research notes of the past year. 

Watch my blog for updated photos and short reviews of the classes throughout Friday and Saturday. 

Colorado Springs Family History Expo Just Around the Corner

I'm so pleased that Holly Hansen, President of Family History Expos, Inc. has asked me to help promote, publicize and disseminate information about the Family History Expo in Colorado Springs June 1 & 2 by serving as a "Blogger of Honor". I'll be in the good company of these other "Bloggers of Honor": Arlene Eakle, Ph. D. who writes 'Genealogy Evidence', James Tanner, author of 'Genealogy's Star',  Schelly Talalay Dardashti, author of  'Tracing the Tribe', Ruby Coleman of 'The You Go Genealogy Girls', and Jolene Aitchison, author of 'Genealogy Your Way'.

Last Fall my husband gifted me with a new netbook, so I can easily take notes during the conference sessions and carry it around with me in the Exhibit Hall with little effort. When I attended RootsTech in Salt Lake City last February, I actually had fun taking notes on my netbook using the Evernote app. When I returned home, I printed my notes and shared them with other Consultants in our local Family History Center. 

Yesterday I printed the handouts that Holly provides for us at FHExpos.com and have prepared my own syllabus that I can preview and study prior to the conference. I know that I'll get a CD of the Expo syllabus at the Expo, but I like to have my classes chosen and my schedule well in mind before I attend the Expo. I like to have a hard copy of the class outline so I can follow the Presenter, then I also know what I don't need to type into my own notes.  

I'd love to meet you at the Crowne Plaza in Colorado Springs in just 3 weeks. You can still register and read all about the Expo here.

Family History Expos Comes to Colorado Springs June 1-2

I'm so excited that Holly Hansen has chosen Colorado Springs, Colorado as a destination for her Family History Expo this year. In past years the Colorado Expo has been held in Loveland, Colorado at the fine facility of the Embassy Suites. However, that venue was not available this year. Those of us in the more southern part of the state are blessed that we're able to travel to the Crowne Plaza to attend this year's Expo in Colorado Springs. Since we reside in Canon City, only 45 minutes south of Colorado Springs, my husband and I could drive back and forth to attend the Expo, as many of our Canon City Genealogy Consultants are doing. However, we've chosen to stay overnight at the Crowne Plaza to give us a more restful experience. 

The Expo will convene on Friday, June 1st at 1:00 pm with the Keynote Address by Don R. Anderson, Senior Vice President of FamilySearch. I can't wait to hear Mr. Anderson's address. I always learn a lot and get more motivated to be a better genealogist. Classes are scheduled until 9:00 pm on Friday. By staying overnight there, I'll have the convenience of going to my room to blog and post photos from the days' activities. 

Classes will resume at 10:00 am Saturday, June 2 and will continue until 4:30 pm, with a wrap-up address given by Holly Hansen. Many prizes are given away at this final address too, so be sure to register in each of your classes and enter to win some very significant prizes!

In addition to learning the latest research techniques and learning about the cutting edge research tools at the abundant classes, taught by the Speakers listed HERE, you'll have the opportunity to meet genealogy vendors in the Exhibit Hall and view and purchase products from companies like Family Roots Publishing and the Genealogical Institute. 

You can find all the details about the Expo here at the Family History Expos website. If you register by May 2, you'll be able to take advantage of the extremely reasonable fee of $49! So think about it, read all about it and register NOW! I'd love to meet you in Colorado Springs June 1st and 2nd!

FHExpo, Loveland, CO Post 4

An exciting product that I was introduced to at the Family History Expo in Loveland CO last week was the Classic Edition of books from ArchivaLife. The book pictured in front in the photo above is the Life Lines book. On each double-sized page, a blank timeline is available for one decade of a person’s life. The individual can write in the main events of their life from many categories. There are enough pages to cover 12 decades of your life. I’m not planning to live long enough to fill quite ALL those pages.

The pages expand into one long timeline as evidenced in this picture:

 

The other book offered in the set is the photo album or scrapbook.  Photographs can be entered that correspond to the events you’ve recorded in each decade of the Timelines book.

These products are offered by ArchivaLife. I encourage you to read all about this beautiful genealogy product at http://www.archivalife.com/. 

If my readers want to purchase one or both of these beautiful books, when you place your order at ArchivaLife.com, enter "shipsfree" in the Promo Code field for free shipping. On the same transaction you may enter "FamFriend" and receive a 10% discount on your order.
Thank you, Bill Burch, for those generous offers!

Family History Expo, Loveland, CO Post 2

Genealogy has made me bold.The fact that I’m pictured here standing beside Lisa Alzo is proof! I’ve read Lisa’s magazine articles for several years and have learned so much from reading about her research methods. Last year was my first experience at attending a genealogy expo/conference. I was so thankful to Holly Hansen and her FHExpo company for bringing that opportunity to Colorado. The first morning at breakfast I spotted Lisa eating alone and I walked right over to her and introduced myself. The Becky Jamison “pre-genealogy” would never have done that. But I’m grateful to genealogy for that and so much more! Lisa is a darling person and very friendly. I was fortunate to have several opportunities at this Expo to visit with her, and I attended one of her classes on “Websites We May Be Missing”.  Lisa introduced her audience to an abundance of websites that were new to most of us. It was a great presentation.
Meet “Charlie and his Angels”. We all got a good laugh when Thomas MacEntee (back row right) asked the Bloggers of Honor Gayle Gresham (back row left), Ruby Coleman (back row center), Speaker Lisa Alzo and me (Becky Jamison, front row right), to join “Charlie” for this picture of him with his angels. Notice we all were gifted with Thomas’s beads, this time in a red and green western motif of cactus and cowboy boots.    I met up with FHExpo President Holly Hansen at the elevator Saturday morning. She looked surprisingly chipper and well-rested, while I was already starting to show signs of “wear”!

The wonderful Gena Philibert Ortega presented an extremely entertaining and informative class on “Using Google for Genealogy”. Gena’s sense of humor kept us entertained and the volume of information she presented on the resources Google offers to enhance our genealogical research was unmatched in valuable content.

My husband, Larry Jamison (at right), is pictured above with Tom Underhill of “Creative Continuum” whom he visited about publishing a book on our family history. It was a pleasure to visit this booth as Tom’s children were assisting him by handing out Hershey kisses. 

 Michael John Neill was present at the Expo on Saturday and stopped by the “Beacon of Bloggers” table long enough to visit with Thomas MacEntee.

When my husband asked Bruce Buzbee, creator or RootsMagic genealogy software to pose for a picture with me, Bruce replied that he knew this would show up on Facebook. I sure can’t disappoint Bruce! Those who attended each of the RootsMagic classes presented by Bruce and his partner Michael Booth were given the opportunity to win wonderful prizes. Larry and I attended the Expo with our friends from our local Family History Center, Ken and Lureen (pictured below with my very patient husband Larry), and were happy when Ken’s name was called to win the RootsMagic software, instruction manual and accompanying jump drive to use with RootsMagic-To-Go! 

We’re fortunate when we attend the expos to learn from the experts and meet many of the popular and well-respected genealogists and speakers from around the nation. But we’re also blessed when we run into cousins! I had not met this cousin previous to the Expo, but have communicated with her over the last few years by email and on Facebook. I’m pictured here with Colorado genealogist Sharon Koleber, who’s married to my dad’s first cousin. That makes her my cousin, doesn’t it?

 

Above, Cullen Brimhall of Family Search, presents a class about all the new resources available at www.familysearch.org.

One of the highlights of the Expo was the Keynote Address “Let Your Light Shine” delivered in great humor and style by Beau Sharbrough. This picture was taken long before the conference room was filled by the 300+ attendees of the Expo.  

Here are random shots of the Exhibit Hall:

In “FHExpo Loveland, CO Post 3” I’ll share with you some of the specific gems I came home with.