Thursday, November 29, 2018

RootsTech 2019-There's An App for That!



RootsTech 2019 is just around the corner! 
Held annualy in Salt Lake City, Utah, the dates for 2019 are Feb. 27-Mar. 2. 
It's the world's biggest genealogy conference!


Screen Shot of the RootstTech 2019 App Dashboard


Preparing to go includes planning your schedule of classes, events you want to attend, which vendors are a must to visit in the Expo Hall and connecting with friends.

RootsTech has an app to help you do all that and more!

Downloading to your phone or tablet is free and easy. To find the link for either the ios or android app scroll down to the bottom of this page. If you already have the app from a previous year, open it and click on the RootsTech 2019 button to update.


First set, up your personal profile by clicking on the three lines on the top left. Add a photo so you can be recognized, social media accounts and other information to encourage people to find you.

Friend requests can also be sent from your profile page. "Friending" people on the app helps to make connections throughout the conference. You can send messages right from the app. 

Who's speaking? Clicking on the Speaker's link will give you an alphabetical list of all those who are presenting classes and workshops. Look through and see who you may want to hear speak.



Screenshot of My Speaker Profile

Are your friends coming? From the Attendee list, you can see if friends you've already met or friends you've only seen online are coming.  From time to time I discover someone I haven't seen in years is on the list and we make plans to connect. 


Screenshot of RootstTech Schedule for Part of Wednesday


The Conference Schedule is available on the app. Take some time to go through each day's offerings and star the ones you are interested in.

You should choose a second or even a third choice as some classes fill up quickly, and you may not be able to get in.  You will notice several options included with the session information, You can share it with friends attending so they can join you, take notes, star it for your favorites list and adding to your schedule.  An icon resembling a clipboard is also included. You will be encouraged to rate the class afterward.  Remember to be kind! It takes a lot of work to put together a presentation for an event like RootsTech!

As you star your preferences through the Conference Schedule button, your choices are automatically added to "My Calendar."  All through RootsTech, you will receive announcements on the Dashboard letting you know what you had planned to do next. This is invaluable as it keeps you from having to keep looking up your plan for the day!

Having lunch with a friend, or setting aside time for the vendor hall? You can manually add items to your schedule too. These items will also be shown on your dashboard. 
Remember, your choices are not set in stone, making a plan can help you not miss what's really important to you, but be flexible! You may hear of a class you weren't aware would be something you would like to take or decide to take a needed break.

Like taking notes on your device? The My Notes option will allow you to do it from the app. It's another option from the notes icon on the session information. You will be able to send your notes via email if you would like.  A search bar is also available. 


Screenshot from the beginning of the Vendor list for RootsTech 2019

Wondering which vendors will be in the Expo Hall? The Exhibitors link will take you to a list you can either search scroll through. If you see one that's a must visit, click on the star next to it. Doing so will add them to the My Favorites link.  Anything you star whether it be a person, class or vendor will show up in the favorites list. 


Social Media is big at RootsTech. To keep informed of what is going on with the conference or other attendees, make sure you go to the link and sign into your twitter and facebook accounts. Then all you have to do is keep checking in right from the app to see what's happening! 


Show Pulse and What's On Now will also keep you updated on any changes and events happening, so you don't miss a thing.


The dashboard is full of links and settings to explore.

Click around the app to discover how each can be used to make this your best conference ever!

A tip? Make sure you use the refresh button to get the most recent information on the app.

The RootsTech 2019 app is full of helpful tools to keep you organized and in the know during the conference. 

Will you be going? Send me a friend request through the app and let's plan a time to meet! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,




Sunday, November 18, 2018

Celebration Sunday~Genealogy Happy Dance!



You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 
This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.







My Happy Dance Moment for this week:
 I did it! I completed the 5 cases for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) Virtual Practicum!
What a powerful learning experience! Never heard about it? Well, let me tell you, it's a fabulous way to test and broaden your genealogy skills. For 5 weeks, participants receive a new case and have til the end of the week to submit their summary reports It was all done online via Zoom meetings.
We had military, locating family members land, DNA, and same-named people cases. Each took at least 10 hours to solve and sometimes more!
Would I do it again? You bet! Diving into real live cases and then meeting to see how others worked through the cases was so helpful. I could see where my strengths and weaknesses are. 
I will be a better genealogist from the lessons learned.  I did it! I completed the practicum nd I am doing the happy dance!!
What has been the best genealogy learning experience you've had?

What is your happy dance moment for this week?
  


                                                                               

                                                                                              Share your discovery!
                                                                                  
                                                                                         Let the dancing commence!






Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post! 





Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,


Monday, November 12, 2018

And the Winner is:




Each year as an ambassador I get the privilege of giving away a free 4-day pass to RootsTech, the worlds largest genealogy conference. Each year I wish I could give one to everyone who enters.
Unfortunately, there can only be one winner and this year by random drawing of the names of all those who entered the winner is:
     
   Julie Parker Wood!

Congratulations Julie! Let's meet at RootsTech and take a photo of the two of us together!


Thanks to everyone who entered.
There are still some contests running so be sure to go to Conference Keeper to see a list and enter for another chance to win your free pass! 

I hope to see you all at RootsTech 2019!


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,




Sunday, November 11, 2018

Celebration Sunday~Genealogy Happy Dance!



You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone around that you found the document, contacted a cousin who has the family Bible, made a DNA connection or found a whole new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 
This is a weekly series to enable everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling down and adding your story to the comments section or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.



My Happy Dance Moment for this week:
 Speaking to groups about any genealogy subject makes me happy, but recently, I spoke to a group of young people from the local chapter of the Children of the Revolution.
The ages ranged from young elementary aged children to teenagers.
My goal? To help them have a desire to learn about who they are and where they came from. 
We filled out family trees and told stories about our ancestors. Some even came in period costume.
Nothing makes me celebrate more than seeing a connection start to form between generations.
My happy dance? Getting the next generation started on their journey! 


What is your happy dance moment for this week?
  


                                                                               

                                                                                              Share your discovery!
                                                                                  
                                                                                         Let the dancing commence!






Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post! 

https://bit.ly/2NSunWe




Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,



Monday, November 5, 2018

RootsTech 2019 Pass Giveaway!



It's that time again for my RootsTech Pass giveaway!  A $299 Value!
Are you making plans to attend RootsTech 2019? Want to win a free pass?
Already purchased your pass? No problem, you can still enter and receive a full refund!

The Pass includes the following:
 • Over 300 classes 
• Keynote / General sessions 
• Expo Hall • Evening events 
It does NOT include any paid lunches or paid labs.
Travel and lodging not included.

Here's how to enter:

Follow my blog: http://carolinagirlgenealogy.blogspot.com/
Like my Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaGirlGenealogy/
Follow me on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CarolinaGirlGen
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinagirlgenealogy/
And on Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/cheryl_passey/

Each time you do, leave a comment to let me know!
Already follow me on social media? Leave a comment on each platform telling me!
Each comment counts as one entry. 

The winner will be by random drawing on Sunday, November 11.
The announcement will be made on Monday, November 12!
Good luck everyone! So excited to see the lucky winner at RootsTech 2019!


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,