NGS Conference Summary - The Sessions - Part Two

Continuing on with my impressions from the conference of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference last week . . .

Rock Stars: Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist

Me with Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist

First of all, I have to admit that I'm a lawyer-wannabe. I got hooked on studying communications law when I was in journalism school in the 60s-70s. And I even enjoyed studying contract law. Then I got obsessed with CourtTV in the 90s.

I even went to an orientation session at the University of Nebraska College of Law, Becoming a student at that time wasn't going to happen, so I took several paralegal classes at the College of St. Mary a couple decades ago. I am still hooked on law, especially copyright law. So it should come as no surprise that Judy Russell is one of my genealogy Rock Stars.

I was wandering through the vendor hall at NGS and Judy was standing by the booth sponsored by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), of which I've been a member for a couple years. One of the ladies asked if she could help me and I replied, "I want to meet Judy Russell!" At which point, Judy and I greeted each other and posed for a selfie as we've been Facebook friends for a couple years.

When I attended the state conference of the Missouri Genealogical Society (MoSGA) in 2014, I was thrilled to learn that Judy would be speaking at the 2015 conference. So I wondered if I was going to "overdose" on Judy by attending Judy's sessions at NGS. This is not possible! I ended up attending three of Judy's talks at NGS and she knocked it out of the park on every one!

First, I attended Judy's talk at the luncheon, The Rest of the Story. The one concept I got from this talk is that some of our ancestor stores may not be ours to tell. Respecting the privacy of living persons is important.

The sound bites-tweets-comments from this session include:

• We do a disservice to our history when all we do is repeat facts.
• We must put the story of every member of our family into the context of their life at their time in history.
• We are the gatekeeper of secrets.
• Not every story is ours to tell.
• Sometimes it is our responsibility to leave the stories there.
• There is a distinction between story keepers and story tellers.

Living With Legal Lingo

The next session of Judy's that I attended was Living With Legal Lingo. From my days as a student of paralegal studies, I was already a fan of Black's Law Dictionary. I remember writing out my 3x5 cards of legal definitions in preparation for the tests at College of St. Mary. Even when I downsized my collection of physical books a couple years ago, I HAD to have the e-edition of Black's. It IS ESSENTIAL!

What I learned from Judy in this session that there are many other law dictionaries that are contemporary to their times. Quoting Judy: "To understand the records, we need to understand the law at the time and place the document was created."

Additional Legal Resources:

• Law Dictionary Legal App (IOS)
• Black's Law Dictionary App
• Black's Law Dictionary (Kindle)
• Jacob's Law Dictionary
• John Bouvier Law Dictionary
• Georgetown Law Library

ARG! No, that wasn't enough! I also attended Judy's luncheon session about Pirates in genealogy! And they aren't all Jack Sparrow! This lecture was just pure fun! 

On Saturday night following the conference, about 25 of the genealogy bloggers got together for dinner. It was beyond my wildest imagination that I would actually be seated next to Judy at this dinner! Sometimes, I'm a Chatty Kathy, but in this situation, I was just thrilled to sit there and listen to all that Judy had to share! She is one classy woman, a genealogy rock star, a legal beagle, and I am honored to be in her presence!

Yes, in my book, Judy G. Russell is a Genealogy Rock Star! And I am looking forward to spending two days with her in August at MoSGA!!!

NGS Conference Summary - The Sessions - Part One

I've already commented that meeting up with my online friends was the highlight of the 2015 conference of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) last week. And I did not make an effort to attend a session in every time slot at the conference. I've learned to pace myself, as well as pick and choose the topics in which I'm interested.

Based upon my post a couple weeks ago regarding genealogy societies, I'm no stranger to controversy nor saying what's on my mind. This summary will reflect my opinionated point-of-view. I chose many of my sessions based on the reputations of the nationally recognized speakers. This was an opportunity to hear many of the noted genealogists who have been touted as "rock stars" in the field. In this regard, I was very disappointed in several of the sessions I attended. I won't be naming the names of those who disappointed me, but I will state the reasons why.

Genealogy Rock Stars? Some Yes. Some No

In most cases, their content was good. However, their presentation style (if you can call it that) was to read their entire speech in a monotone voice. If this is what they are going to do, give me an article or handout and I can read it myself. It wasn't just being tired from the road travels that put me to sleep (literally) in some of these sessions. I even went to a second session by one presenter, hoping it would be different. It wasn't. One lady who I'd met during a dinner get-together had even warned me, "whatever you do, don't go his sessions in the afternoon! He'll put you to sleep!" I went in the morning and I knew what she meant.

These folks have the credentials. They are noted and successful authors. But when it comes to public speaking, they just didn't cut it. I shared my opinions with my pals at the conference and they were pretty much divided half and half. Half agreed with me and half didn't. I described my perspective as desiring speakers who have the stage presence and enthusiasm of someone like Tony Robbins. I know they are passionate about genealogy; they just didn't show it. Some of my impressions may have been influenced by my experience at the I Can Do It! (ICDI) seminar sponsored Hay House in Denver in April. That two and a half day seminar featured the best authors and public speakers in the personal development/inspiration genre. Each and every author/speaker at that conference demonstrated passion and enthusiasm. Not one of them put me to sleep. I digress, but the ICDI conferences are the gold standard by which I measure other conferences.

That being said, I WILL applaud the authors and speakers who inspired me and made attendance at the NGS conference worth the price of admission.

What's for Dinner?

Upon arrival, I was rather surprised at the number of paid luncheons/banquets I signed up for. I didn't think I had signed up for that many. I don't know whether it was good or bad that my decision to attend a meal session was based on the Menu! I have been wheat and grain free for about ten months, so it was challenging to select meal-based sessions based on my new eating style. The conference planners really seem to like taters, rolls/bread and sweet desserts. There really are a lot of other fruit/vegetable options, folks! But I managed (by smuggling in my own snacks to get me through the day). Certainly, the fresh dinner rolls, brownies and sweets were tempting, but I passed. Not part of my life any more. Cheesecake? Well, that's permitted in moderation as long as I don't eat the crust!

MY Genealogy Rock Stars

John Colletta

I first heard John Colletta when he was the featured speaker at my local society a few years ago. He's got the street cred - he can write, he can speak, he can inspire. He's got the passion for family history, research and telling the stories of our ancestors. A friend and I agreed. We don't just love John Colletta; we want to BE John Colletta. Unfortunately, I missed his seminar in Omaha a few years ago as it was right after my Dad suffered a stroke; I didn't feel I could leave him alone yet. But just this week, I learned that John will be speaking at the Iowa state genealogy conference in October. Count me in!

The first session I attended by John Colletta was "Princples of Good Writing and Good Storytelling"

My "sound bites, tweets and quotable quotes"

• Family history writing can be just as readable as fiction.
• Elements of a good family history story include: the setting, characters, conflict, theme or idea.
• Get an proofreader with obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Write with the five senses: touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell
• You are not rewriting your ancestor's county history - you are writing about your star (ancestor) in the context of that history. Your ancestor is is the star of the story.
• Strong verbs don't need an adverb.
• Use literary techniques such as suspense, surprise, romance, horror and humor.

I also attended the banquet at which John spoke, although I didn't take notes. There are times to just sit back, enjoy and be entertained.

I said it in 2010 and it still applies today: John Colletta Rocked It!

Meeting More Friends at NGS!

The social aspect of attending the conference of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) for me was definitely meeting IRL (in real life) many of the friends who I've know on Facebook and other online forums for several years. Here's a few of the pals I met up with in St. Charles, MO last week!

With Barbara Mathews
http://blog.demandinggenealogist.com/

Judi Cook and Linda Conroy from LLCGS

With Judy Russell, one of my "Rock Stars"
http://legalgenealogist.com/

With Scott Stewart - an amazing photographer!
https://www.facebook.com/scott.stewart.370515

Some of my dearest friends!
Susan Clark http://nolichuckyroots.blogspot.com/
Diana Ritchie: http://randomrelatives.blogspot.com/
Linda McCauley: http://lfmccauley.com/blog/

More Dear Friends!
Jenna Mills: http://www.desperatelyseekingsurnames.com/
Kathleen Brandt: http://a3genealogy.com

Another of my Genealogy Gems!
Lisa Louise Cooke: http://lisalouisecooke.com/

Karen Krugman - http://genealogyframeofmind.blogspot.com/

Janet Hovorka http://thechartchick.blogspot.com/

Allison Stacy and Diane Haddad of Family Tree Magazine
http://familytreemagazine.com/info/staff

James Beidler: http://jamesmbeidler.com/

Kathryn Lake Hogan
http://www.looking4ancestors.com/
Oh, how I love this woman's laugh!

Some of the Nebraska folks:
Me, Mary Campbell, Robbi Ryan, Donna Thomas

Dear Friends from "back home" in Nebraska
Martha Grenzeback and Nancy Archdekin
Nancy: https://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=6330
Martha: https://www.facebook.com/mgrenzeback?

With Martha G and Nancy A! - my Omaha buds!

The AMAZING Crista Cowan
The Barefoot Genealogist from Ancestry.com
http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/author/ccowan/

Terri O'Connell
https://www.facebook.com/FindingOurAncestors
Oh, how we connect with those Chicago bands from the 60s!

Definitely one of my fave selfies of the week!
With my Genealogy BFFs!
Diana Ritchie http://randomrelatives.blogspot.com/
Jenna Mills http://www.desperatelyseekingsurnames.com/

The Lovely Jen Baldwin
http://www.ancestraljourney.net/jen-baldwin.htm

Cari Taplin
Who Wears the Pants in YOUR family?
https://carigenealogy.wordpress.com/

Jamie Mayhew
https://www.apgen.org/directory/search_detail.html?mbr_id=3767

Julie Cahill Tarr
https://www.facebook.com/julietarr1

NGS Conference - Meeting My Friends - Dear Myrtle!

Even though the learning experiences were phenomenal at the conference of the National Genealogical Society last week, what I enjoyed the most was meeting up with my friends - several of whom I had only "met" on Facebook. Now we know one another in real life! (IRL).

Once I started wandering through the vendor exhibits, the first friends I encountered were DearMyrtle and Mr. Myrt - Pat Richley-Erickson and Gordon Erickson. I had originally met them last Spring when they traveling across I-80 in Nebraska and we had dinner together.

Pat was the recipient of the President's Award at NGS this year for all the work she has done for the genealogy community. This recognition was so well deserved - for her Google+ hangouts, webinars, classes. I don't know how she does it all! Pat is an inspiration as well as a mentor.

This selfie was taken by Pat, and used with permission.

#ngs2015gen

Pat and Gordon Erickson

My First National Genealogy Conference

Last week I attended my first national genealogy conference, sponsored by the National Genealogical Society, in St. Charles, Missouri.

I have so much to report on that I will spread this out over several posts. I'll begin by posting the interview I did with Dear Myrtle - Pat Richley-Erickson - on her AmbushCam! It really captures my week at the conference!

Yes, this shows why I struggled with being "on air" talent in broadcasting! Always talking out of the side of my mouth! Haha! I was always more comfortable running the board!

Main slip-up - referring to this as "NGN" rather than "NGS"! I'll admit to my mistakes!