Organize Your Family History

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Registration open for RootsTech 2022 (entirely virtual!)

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Last summer, RootsTech announced that its 2022 conference, to be held March 3 to 5, 2022, would once again be virtual. The pandemic caused the 2021 conference to go virtual and, according to RootsTech, it was such a success that they envision always having a virtual component to this popular conference. For safety reasons 2022 will be entirely virtual and I look forward to seeing what they do in the future to combine virtual and in-person attendance.

As it was last year, RootsTech will be 100% free of charge. I just signed up and it couldn’t be easier. Just go to the RootsTech website, fill in your name and how you want to be contacted (email, text or both), your email address and/or mobile number then click Sign Up for Free. You’ll be taken to a page that offers you an All Access Pass (also free) that requires a (free) FamilySearch account. One more click and you’re done.

The sessions for RootsTech 2021 sessions are still available for viewing, right from the RootsTech website. This was a great reminder of all the education I have not yet taken advantage of and I think I have until about the first of March to watch the classes from 2021 that I’m interested in. I’m going to try to create a routine of watching at least a class or two each weeek until then. (I also noticed that some keynotes and general sessions from past in-person conferences are available for viewing by clicking on the Previous Events in the footer.)

I did not propose to present a class at RootsTech 2022–I think I was in the middle of some sort of crisis when the proposals were due. I’m confident there will be another terrific slate of speakers and topics!

Here’s the video about RootsTech that you can also see on the RootsTech website when you register.

It’s not too late to sign up for Amy Johnson Crow’s excellent FamilySearch workshop!

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Just a couple of weeks ago I posted about a workshop, Getting Savvy with FamilySearch, being offered by my friend, Amy Johnson Crow. The $99 workshop has four 90-minute sessions, September 14, 16, 21, and 23. All sessions start at 7 pm eastern time.

The first session was last night. It was so good that I wanted to post again to urge you to consider signing up. All four sessions will be recorded, so if you sign up today, you can watch last night’s session, which Amy posted today. The recordings are available for an unlimited amount of time.

Last night’s session was about searching historical records and collections in FamilySearch. I’ve been using the site for a long time but I picked up some tips and tricks about searching that I can’t wait to put into regular use. During the Zoom session, participants are able to practice what they’re learning with their own research. And they can ask questions in the chat that Amy answers in real time.

I’ve been a big fan of Amy’s presenting skills from the first time I heard her speak at a conference years ago. She’s a clear and thorough communicator. I always leave her talks with new, valuable knowledge.

This is a great opportunity if you feel you could be more effective in tapping into FamilySearch’s 5 billion images. Amy told me she’ll be closing registration on Thursday (tomorrow). So now’s the time to sign up, if you’re so inclined!

Amy Johnson Crow offering workshop on using FamilySearch

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I love using FamilySearch. But I almost always use it the same way. (I search the card catalog for documents based on location.)

When I heard that my friend Amy Johnson Crow was offering a four-part interactive workshop called Get Savvy Using FamilySearch, I jumped at the chance to take it. It runs September 14, 16, 21 and 23, 2021 starting at 7 pm eastern. It will be recorded for later access as well.

I’ve heard Amy speak many times at conferences and know what an genealogy expert (and expert communicator) she is. I’m pretty confident I’m missing out by not using FamilySearch more thoroughly so I my interest was piqued when I received her email. I reached out to her to make sure it wouldn’t be too beginner-focused for me and learned that it’s appropriate for all levels of genealogy researchers. (Scroll down on the sales page to the FAQ for more info on that.)

The workshop costs $99, which seems like a bargain. (Full disclosure: Amy comped my fee but I was willing to pay it!)

I’m excited to take the workshop so I wanted to let you all know about it!

Free live keynote to be streamed from NYS Family History Conference on September 1

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The New York State Family History Conference, presented by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is being held virtually this year in September. The conference is being launched on September 1 at 6:30 pm Eastern time with a keynote address from author Russell Shorto called “The Truth about Family History.” According to an NYB&G email, “Mr. Shorto will explore the truth behind family history, including the collision of facts and stories, and the journey of self-discovery.” You do not need to register to attend. Simply go to newyorkfamilyhistory.org at 6:30 pm ET (or the appropriate time in your time zone) to join.

The bulk of the conference will be held September 25 and 26, with 21 sessions being offered. Live sessions presented on September 25 will be broadcast again on September 26 and will be available for on-demand viewing after they air, until October 18.

On the conference website, you can view the schedule, see the list of conference sessions here and register. (Again, no need to register for the keynote.) The registration fee for the conference is $180 for non-members and $135 for NYG&B members.

I always love sharing learning opportunities. This looks like a great line up and I’ve already marked my calendar for Mr. Shorto’s talk!

Note: I got the info on the keynote from an NYG&B email forwarded by my cousin and OYFH reader, Jerry Brown. But I have not been able to find information on this talk on their website.