Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GenFriends: The Daughters of the American Revolution with Special Guest: Mary Tedesco



On this episode of GenFriends, Melissa Barker, Shelley Murphy, Mary Kircher Roddy and I welcome special guest Mary Tedesco!
You may know Mary from her co-hosting role on  Genealogy Road Show on PBS but you may not know she is a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and National Chair, Service to America Committee, NSDAR.
Mary along with our own Shelley Murphy explain the process of joining, the sisterhood and how it honors our Patriot Ancestors.
Did you know women served? Women supported and sometimes fought for the cause of independence.  
Service is a big element of membership in the DAR. Thousands of hours of community service are performed each year.

Listen as we talked to Mary and feel her excitement about this organization. 
We even made a commitment to get our applications in! Won't you join us?









Links mentioned in this episode:

About DAR
Becoming a Member
DAR Genealogical Research System (online database)
DAR Service to America Committee's Facebook Page
American Spirit Magazine
Stripped and Script: Loyalist Women Writers of the American Revolution
My Father was a Soldier Real Daughters of the American Revolution

Contact our panelists:
Melissa Barker -A Genealogists in the Archives
Shelley Murphy-Family Tree Girl
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Cheri Hudson Passey-Carolina Girl Genealogy


Are you a member of the DAR?
Share your tips and experiences!
Taking on the goal with us to join by the end of the year?
Let us know!



                                                                                                        Spread the word!

                                                                                      Click on the button below to tweet!





Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow this blog!
Thanks so much for stopping by!



Helping you climb your family tree,



Sunday, February 16, 2020

This Week On My Family History Calendar

February 16-February 22






Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson
(1866-1918)

  February 17~
   Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918), my paternal great-grandmother would be celebrating her 134th birthday on this day. Blanche was born in Clarendon County, South Carolina to Benjamin Thomas Thames (1854-1930) and Margaret Francis (Gibson) Thames (1854-1929).

February 20~

My Paternal 3rd great grandmother, Mary Alice (Dargan) Bradford (1825-1875), died 145 years ago in Sumter County, SC.

Who are you remembering this week?


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,





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: 

My RootsTech Badge came in the mail!! 
As an Ambassador and Speaker, I am so excited to be attending the special conference again this year! Are you going? Did you receive your badge? If yours hasn't come yet, no worries, you can still pick it up at one of the help desks in the convention center. 
Let me know if you will be attending! Let's get together for a photo!


What had you doing the Happy Dance 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,


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

GenFriends: Talking RootsTech 2020 with Special Guest- Tyler Stahle


Marketing and Communications Manager for RootsTech, Tyler Stahle joins Cheri and the panel Melissa Barker and Shelley Murphy to talk about what to expect from 2020! Tyler is asked about how everything comes together to create the largest genealogy conference in the world! And? We get a scoop on the exciting opening of the conference on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020. Can't attend? No problem! Follow #NotatRootstech along with Melissa and join in the fun during the Livestream.

Watch as we welcome Tyler!






Still need to register? Click here.


More about Tyler Stahle:




Did you see my post ?: Top 5 Reasons to Attend RootsTech 2020


Contact our panelists:
Melissa Barker -A Genealogists in the Archives
Shelley Murphy-Family Tree Girl
Cheri Hudson Passey-Carolina Girl Genealogy





Will we see you in Salt Lake City for RootsTech 2020?

We'd love to meet you!




                                                                                                        Spread the word!

                                                                                      Click on the button below to tweet!





Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow this blog!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,



Sunday, February 9, 2020

This Week On My Family History Calendar

9 February-15 February




February 9 ~

 Catherine Ann (Singleton) Dargan (1729-1808), my paternal 6th great grandmother, was born in Virginia 291 years ago. 




Headstone of Benjamin Allen Hudson
Sumter City Cemetery
©CheriHdusonPassey

Feb. 14~
 My paternal grandfather, Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976) died 44 years ago in Lake City, Florence, South Carolina. He was 57 years old when he suffered a heart attack. 


Who are you remembering this week?

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




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: 

It had been a hard case. It seemed it would be my first one without being able to locate any type of DNA donor to help I.D. my Soldier. Then, just hour before I began writing the report to send in detailing the hours of research with no results, a breakthrough!  His daughter was indeed still alive and was found! She had done a great job of going off the grid but miracles happen and contact was made. Still amazed at the timing. 
Happy Dance and Happy Tears!!



What had you doing the Happy Dance 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,


Wednesday, February 5, 2020

GenFriends: Attending SLIG and the Academy for Professionals and More!



In this episode of GenFriends, Cheri and Mary Kircher Roddy talk about their recent experiences attending the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and The Academy for Professionals. Joining in the panel are Melissa Barker and Shelley Murphy.
We also talk about other genealogy institutes held around the country and how they differ from conferences.


Watch our discussion!







Links from this episode:
SLIG Institute
Academy for Professionals
MAAGI
GENFED
GRIP
IGHR


SLIG Day 5-What's Your Plan?-Mary Kircher Roddy
A Call to Action-Mary Kircher Roddy

Contact our panelists:
Melissa Barker -A Genealogists in the Archives
Shelley Murphy-Family Tree Girl
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Cheri Hudson Passey-Carolina Girl Genealogy





Have you attended a genealogy institute?

We'd love to hear from you!




                                                                                                        Spread the word!

                                                                                      Click on the button below to tweet!





Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow this blog!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,







Monday, February 3, 2020

Top 5 Reasons for Attending RootsTech 2020





Engaging Keynote Speakers

Every RootsTech brings in people from all walks of life to Keynote each of its 4 conference days. The purpose? To motivate and inspire us as we begin another day of learning and connecting. Check out this year's lineup!



Two Types of Recordings
The RootsTech team is aware that you are one person and can't be everywhere and get to all the classes you want to take. Some can not make it in person at all. To solve this problem, there are two types of recordings you can take advantage of.
The first is the free live streaming option. Starting at 8am MST on Wednesday, February 26,  keynotes and several presentations will be streamed live throughout each day of the conference. To learn more click here.  You can stay in touch and join the conversation going on at RootsTech 2020 by using #NotatRootTech.  The Livestream videos will be added to the archives so you can watch them at your leisure. Check out the Video Archive for previous years!

Want even more? The second option is The RootsTech Virtual Pass
30 more classes to view! These are usually placed on the website for viewing several days after the conference is over.
There are two prices. One for those with a RootsTech Pass and one for those who only choose the Virtual Pass option.
So whether you are going or not, there's a choice for you to get the most out of RootsTech 2020!



Classes and Workshops

RootsTech is jam-packed with classes, workshops and panel discussions all to help you build your skills and help you to grow your family tree. The RootsTech 2020 App is the best way to see what is being offered and plan your day. You can even check in with friends and family who are at the conference! To download the app click here.

If you want to look at the speakers and classes via the website, click on the photo below.





 Expo Hall!
More than just a place for vendors selling the latest in family history products, the hall has booths to try out the newest tech, listen to speakers and see demos at the Demo theater plus visit Coaches Corner for some one -on -one help with your research.
For a list of all the exhibitors and fun things you can do throughout the week click here.





Network and Make New Freinds
The genealogy community is one of the best you can find.
Wherever you go during RootsTech 2020 you are sure to strike up a conversation with others interested in the same record types and even the same location of research that you are. Lifelong friends are created and renewed every year.
RootsTech is a family-friendly conference with those of all skill levels and ages coming together to help you tell your story!



Bonus Reasons!





Family Discovery Day
Each year on Saturday, a special free event for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is held in conjunction with RootsTech. This year, Elder and Sister Stevenson will speak and give inspiring messages about the importance of Family History. It will also be broadcast live on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website.
In addition, there will be youth attending sessions and experiencing the expo hall as they are introduced to the joys of learning their family stories. 


Salt Lake City







Home of the Family History Library and Temple Square, Salt Lake City is a beautiful place to visit. Shopping and Dining can be found right across the street from the Salt Palace Convention Center, home of RootsTech 2020 in City Creek Center.

For all these reasons, plus so many more, RootsTech 2020 is THE place to be at the end of February!
Not registered?  Just click here!

See you in Salt Lake City!


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



Sunday, February 2, 2020

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: 
For two weeks I was able to immerse myself in learning at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and The Acadamy for Professionals.



Receiving Certification of Completion from Paul K. Graham


First, I took the Advanced Metholdoly Class from Paul  K.Graham.  This was his first time as class coordinator taking over from Tom Jones. It was a great experience. We dove into records sets and methodologies and were assigned homework to help build skills.
We heard from  Rick and Pam Sayer, Tom Jones,  Judy Russell, and Paul Woodbury.
Each had so much expertise to share. I came away excited to learn and grow in my research skills.
Receiving Certificate of Completion from D.Josh Taylor


For week two, the Academy of Professionals, I took You're Invited: Public Speaking from 
Concept to Delivery with D. Josh Taylor. We learned tips about giving presentations, how to respond to calls for papers and the best part? We had to give two 8 minute presentations to the class. One with a PowerPoint and one without.  We were critiqued by Josh and others from the genealogy community.  Angie Bush, Colleen Greene-subbing for an Angela McGhie-and Judy Russell gave us presentations on formatting to the audience, creating slides and copyright.  I learned so much about myself as a presenter and ways I can improve and share with my audience. 

Of course, with each type of genealogy event, networking is so much fun! Meeting new friends and spending time with the old is an extra plus!

 If you've never been to SLIG or the Academy for Professionals, I highly recommend both!

Two weeks of genealogy friends and learning! Happy Dance for sure!


What had you doing the Happy Dance 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,