The National Genealogical Society held its annual Family History Conference in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Titled, "Exploring the Centuries: Footprints in time", their media team came up with a great logo that just made coming to Florida so tempting.
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| Awesome logo! |
Besides the beautiful location, the real reason for attending the conference is its array of genealogical classes with an emphasis on researching old Florida and some of the adjacent States – My personal focus – Not to mention the extraordinary talented mass of presenters. I don't like the term "presenter" as much as I like the term "teacher" because they truly "teach" you and help you.
Monday, 2 May 2016: Traveling by air from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale, with a stop in Houston to change planes and have an early lunch. While at the gate in Houston, my friend Jane Van Tour spotted me and we talked a bit. Then while boarding the plane I was spotted also by Eric & Karen Stoschein!
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| California friend, Jane Van Tour, in Houston |
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| Arrived in Fort Lauderdale! Jane Van Tour with Eric & Karen Stroschein |
I was picked up at the airport by long-time conference compadre, Marcy Elliott, aka Ghyxion. After a quick check in at the conference hotel, we headed out to dinner at one of South Florida's finest waterfront eateries, 15th. Street Fisheries.
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| View from my 10th. floor towards the inland Intracoastal Waterway |
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| Dinner with Marcy at 15th. Street Fisheries |
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| View from our table at the restaurant |
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| My room had a direct shot at the conference center |
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| Early evening at the Hilton |
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| Night view from room 1010 |
Tuesday, 3 May 2016: Today I spent the day wondering around the hotel area, spotting my first mega yacht, the "Avanti", parked alongside the hotel! Then a quick taxi tour of the inland waterways gasping at the 40 million dollar mansions, before wandering over to the conference center to take a few pictures and pick up my conference materials.
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| Spotted Drew Smith, Curt Witcher, and George Morgan, in the Hilton lobby before Librarians Day kicked off. |
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| 200' Mega-yacht "Avanti" parked at the Hilton |
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| The 151' "Sycara IV" at the Hilton dockside |
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| At the conference center with Sailfish |
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| Sailfish and Crow |
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| Nice house... I mean mansion! |
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| Another one |
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| One of the first houses with original rock |
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| Excuse me while I park my car, I mean boat, at my house... LOL |
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| Awesome sportfisher |
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| We let everyone off so they could board a smaller boat. I decided to come back with the captain |
Later, I went back over to the conference center to help SLIG Director, Peg Ivanyo and Stephanie Saylor, set up the SLIG booth. This was the first time that I was allowed behind the scenes at an event, it was fun!
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| Inside the conference center |
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| Behind the scenes for the first time! |
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| Behind the scenes |
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| Credentials! |
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| Setting up the SLIG booth with Stephanie Saylor & Peg Ivanyo |
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| Ready... |
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| Set... |
*** Tomorrow the REAL fun begins! ***
Looks like a fabulous conference. Thanks for letting us tag along via pictures and posts!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! Wish I could have joined you.
ReplyDelete