RootsTech Family History Fairs (Global)

Alert! The RootsTech 2014 Conference lives on through global Family History Fairs coming to a corner of the planet near you! Read on for more information about the global RootsTech Family History Fairs, and a note about one coming to Kentucky THIS Weekend!

First: This Saturday, March 8th, a RootsTech Family History Fair will be happening in central Kentucky, at the Kentucky Historical Society. For more information, check out the event link on kentuckyancestors.org.

Second: So how many of you KNOW what the RootsTech Family History Fairs are all about?
Let me fill you in...

During FGS 2013, the RootsTech folks announced an open invitation for societies to sign up their venues to host a RootsTech Family History Fair in 2014. As soon as I heard the announcement, I jumped over to the booth and signed us up....without knowing many of the details.

Since then, I have learned a bit more - some that might surprise you - and some that might not.....

The RootsTech organizers were shooting for a global number of Family History Fairs in the neighborhood of 600. Did they make that goal? (apparently, they conducted a small satellite program in 2013 to gear up for 2014) Pretty close from what I've heard, but here's why you haven't heard much about this....

After the FGS announcement, the publicity, or solicitation for societies to sign up, faded among the mainstream channels. As a result, apparently, only 10 general societies, or non-LDS organizations signed up. Why? Because the remaining solicitation push retreated to LDS organizations. As a result, you still might not hear too much about the Family History Fairs outside of the LDS groups.

As a non-LDS society that signed up, we were kept informed as information was made available. Prior to the RootsTech conference, we didn't get a lot of information....but that was not intentional. They did not have a large number of staff members planning this program. We were told that there would 43 sessions recorded and made available to the Family History Fair (FHF) societies as soon as the conference was finished. Most of the 43 sessions recorded were not going to be the same sessions used for live streaming and then later available online for indefinite viewing. The purpose of the 43 sessions was to provide a set group of sessions that would be available exclusively for the use of FHF hosting societies.

By late fall, I was already asking for more information as I began planning the KHS programming schedule for 2014. After talking with the Kentucky Genealogical Society, we decided this would make a great Second Saturday program (Free joint genealogy program offered every Second Saturday of the month at KHS) - with some alterations to expand the day for greater impact. That expanded schedule and joint program is what you see on the event entry.

Still, we really didn't get a lot of information. I was notified that my RootsTech session was one such session selected to be recorded and offered to the FHF hosting societies, which then placed me in a circle of information that was not common knowledge. Speakers who were chosen for recording were given a sneak peek at the list of sessions that would later become available, which helped us pre-plan, session-wise, a tiny bit.

I asked for help in planing the event, such as media/PR packets, or guides for the event, but those never came, even after the main conference was over. Then we got a look at the full list as offered to FHF societies: only about 15 were general sessions. The rest of the recorded sessions were LDS track. SO...we dropped back and planned our event accordingly. I will have to say that the planners did get back to me very quickly regarding the video download links and creating a non-LDS space for this use. They have been very nice and accommodating - so heads up, non-LDS groups thinking about this for next year if it is offered again!

Our event this Saturday in Frankfort on the 8th will contain 10 sessions. Three of which are from the live streamed, current online offerings that anyone can watch. Why are we using some of those when we have other exclusive videos available to show? Because, after a brief, informal survey, most of our attendees are not hugely familiar with RootsTech, and are not watching the available online videos. Plus, some of the videos available online are very popular subjects given by great speakers = wider appeal.

As we expanded the day's schedule, 6 of the sessions will be recorded offerings that are NOT available on the main RootsTech site, and will only be available if you attend a FHF.

Here's the thing about the rest of the global offerings.....there are others slowly coming to the calendar throughout the country. I have noticed that one was offered this weekend on March 1st in Texas, and another is happening on March 8th in Virginia....although, they are both LDS History Centers. I've not heard of any general societies hosting a FHF in the near future.

Are we the only ones? Not sure. Will the local Kentucky LDS Centers host a FHF later? Have no idea. I do know that if you search RootsTech Family History Fair, you generally run into announcements and promotional instructions for the LDS "Stakes". We are no such "Stake", but we are taking full advantage of what they offered.....and we are excited about the event!

If you are even remotely near Frankfort Kentucky, and you have never been to RootsTech, or were just unable to get out there this year, you should take advantage of this FREE event! The full session list is available on the event page which I linked to above.

At the end of the day, I suspect this is practice for the future. I really think the 600 location goal will increase, and they will offer more and more recorded sessions each year. I'm sure this will grow to wondrous proportions someday as technology evolves and expands.....and more than likely, the number of non-LDS venues will increase accordingly....to more closely reflect the RootsTech conference attendance. The only big improvement I hope they make in the future: making the promotional material available to non-LDS events. Otherwise, I'm going homespun on this one....green balloons and color printer, here I come!

RootsTech 2014: Sneak Peek

While RootsTech may be a little less than 2 months away, the speakers and organizers are hard at work getting all of their logistical ducks in a row! Seriously, new updates and meetings are practically a weekly occurrence - and the Christmas season is no exception! Which is why you have seen so many posts and announcements from the 2014 participants. As the energy and buzz increase over the coming weeks, here are a few brief updates:

New RootsTech Flipboard Magazine, put together by Lisa Louise Cooke:

I have loved Flipboard for over a year now, but this new, curated issue, full of RootsTech scrumpciousness is a fantastic way to get into the RootsTech energy. 'Tis the season to sit by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate while the snow piles up outside - what better reading material than a collection of RootsTech commentary from your favorite writers/bloggers!? Flipboard is great for tablet reading, but is available across many platforms and via your PC.

RootsTech Session RT1452 (on-site & recorded):

One of the things speakers have been encouraged to do is introduce their session a little before the conference. As a sneak peek, I will expound a little beyond the general session description which reads:

"Piecing Together History: Crowdsourcing Events to Glean the Most Out of the Current Generation. As a technology driven society we have focused most crowdsourcing initiatives on social media venues and electronic metadata collecting methods. However, a balance of tech and nontech approaches is necessary to reach a generation in transition."

This session was birthed as a result of several crowdsourcing or "knowledge sharing" events that took place at the Kentucky Historical Society over the past few years. As a state historical society library, our collection runs the gamut from genealogy/history related books, to original photographic and manuscript collections. Many collections are small and family or community focused with little to no contextual information. In an attempt to provide additional information, we hosted a series of events called "Piecing Together History" to foster community engagement. Through this process, we had to assess the individual collections that would be used for the events, as well as determine what information was sought. This session will follow the steps we took in preparing the collections for community interaction, followed by the information gathering strategies utilized to ensure the information was permanently attached to the collection components. Over the past few years we have incorporated many strategies, including technologically driven gathering methods. Only after trial and error did we find a mutli-method approach that allowed for maximum involvement and knowledge sharing. This final method can be employed with any type of collection and with any type of group. From family reunions to academic settings, this session will demonstrate best practices for engaging audiences of all types and technological levels. (This session has been selected as a recorded session to be broadcast at the RootsTech Family History Fairs - see below)

RootsTech Livestreaming and Family History Fairs:

As a special treat, for those of you who cannot make the trek to Salt Lake City in February, you can still enjoy RootsTech sessions from your area via two options:

1. This year's conference will be livestreaming several sessions for free throughout the conference! Get a cup of tea and enjoy some sessions from home!

2. Many other sessions will be recorded for later viewing at local Family History Fairs in various national and international venues. As a goal for 2014, RootsTech is attempting to arrange 600 satellite locations around the world which will receive and broadcast recorded sessions from RootsTech 2014, in several languages. Information about the locations should be coming soon, so stay tuned to see if your area will be hosting a local fair to showcase some of the 2014 sessions! For those in Kentucky, the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort will be one of the venues showing the recorded sessions. We anticipate hosting our Family History Fair in March as part of our regularly scheduled Second Saturday programming. More info TBA.

Can't wait! See you all soon!
C

RootsTech Rowdies in Google+

Ever since notifications went out for RootsTech proposal acceptance last weekend, I've been trying to maintain a semblance of calm....which has been almost impossible to do since one of my proposals was accepted and I'm over the moon! I have been a big RootsTech fan since the first one a few years ago....and after missing my first one in 2013, I am super excited about participating in 2014 as they are promising some new and dynamic features!

Anyway, after "attending" virtually this year, and trying to stay hooked up with all of the technology talk that was emanating from this energized conference, I looked for a RootsTech Community in Google+ with no success. Even though the genealogy community was still talking about their experiences, there was no place to corral these great posts - nor any place to keep the discussions going. Sooo, as I was also in the middle of experimenting with Google+, I created a Community called RootsTech Rowdies, and started gathering some posts. Granted, talk did seriously wane after several weeks, but with registration coming up this month, and the conference itself being about 6 months away - I think it might be time to take the Community public.

Feel free to join and give it a whirl! Oh, and about the name: RootsTech attendees are usually a very energetic and boisterous group. They love technology and the wonderful ways it is influencing genealogy....in other words, not your old school genealogy. RootsTech Rowdies understand the vital importance of technology to our field and are not afraid to shake things up! This is just a fan Community, not affiliated with RootsTech or FamilySearch in any way....but if they wanted to start an official Community - I would be one of the first to join! Either way, I think we should have a place to celebrate this great conference and keep the resulting genea-tech discussions going, or even bring up suggestions for upcoming years....you get the idea!

P.S. If anyone wants to help moderate this Community, just give me a yell.