Tales & Trails:
Day 1
Get your introverted butt in gear and put on a smile. Let’s
do this…
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| (L-R) Lori Lyn Price, Me, Gena Philibert-Ortega |
Saturday, May 24, 2025
It was wonderful to walk through the conference corridors
and reconnect with so many friends from past events. Unfortunately, my ability
to recall names seemed a bit more elusive this year. Perhaps it was due to
juggling the emotional strain of having both my mom and sister in the hospital
with serious health issues. Or maybe it was the challenge of adjusting to the
3-hour time difference, despite my efforts to acclimate before arriving from
the West Coast. Nonetheless, I persevered.
Using the Whova app, I carefully curated my class schedule
in advance, and it proved to be an incredibly useful tool—though I do wish
there was an option to download my schedule as a PDF. This year’s lineup of
speakers was nothing short of phenomenal, as always. The sessions focused on
the host city and state were particularly valuable for my maternal ancestor
research. While making tough choices about which sessions to attend was
inevitable, the option to revisit recorded sessions later was an invaluable perk.
Agenda:
·
PLENARY: “Recovering Louisville’s African
American History using Genealogical Research” by Dr. Felicia Jamison
·
“Virginia Resources for Research on Early
Kentuckians” by Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS
·
“Bits and Pieces: Merging Identity Fragments to
Reconstruct Lives” by J. H. Fonkert
·
LUNCHEON: “Paths to Freedom: Stories and Sources
for Exploring Patriots, Loyalists, the Diverse Heritage of Soldiers in the
American Revolution” by Ryan Woods
·
“Making Mo(o)re of the Evidence: A Mother for
G.B. Robertson” by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
·
“From Chaos to Clarity: Navigating Paragraph
German Church Records with Ease” by Katherine Schober
·
DINNER: “SAR Taste of Louisville” with David
Allen Lambert's presentation "Adopting the Regiment - A Call to Action!"
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| NGS audience |
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| Keynote speaker Dr. Felicia Jamison |
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| Exhibit Hall with Curt Witcher holding in suit |
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| Connie Knox of Genealogy TV on YouTube |
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| Shannon Combs Bennett of Genealogy Genie AI |
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| SAR booth |
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| Brian Rhinehart of Civil War Records on a live broadcast |
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| Speaker Barbara Vines Little |
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| Speaker Jay Fonkert |
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| Speaker Judy Russell |
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| Speaker Katherine Schober |
Takeaways From Day
1
Overall Experience – Exceptional!
I thoroughly enjoyed and gained so much insight from all the
sessions. It was my first time hearing Dr. Felicia Jamison, whose passion and
dedication to reclaiming African-American history left a profound impression on
me. Barbara Vines Little, ever elegant and poised, dazzled once again with her
unparalleled knowledge of Virginia history—she truly is a treasure.
Jay Fonkert, whom I first encountered at NGS Cincinnati in
2012, challenged me to think creatively and explore diverse perspectives in my
research. Judy Russell, a perennial favorite, returned with her iconic pink
jacket and her inimitable style—I never pass up an opportunity to hear her
speak.
It was also my first time meeting Katherine Schober, a
talented German genealogist and record transcriber, known for her work on PBS's
Finding Your Roots with Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. I even purchased her book
before arriving in Louisville just so I could have her autograph it.
The lineup of speakers was inspiring, and the experience
overall was unforgettable!
DAVID ALLEN LAMBERT delivered one of the most captivating
and inspiring speeches I have ever had the privilege to hear! Titled, "Adopting the Regiment - A Call to Action!" The only other
speech that comes close was David Rencher’s unforgettable “It Don’t Matter,”
delivered at the NGS Banquet in Fort Lauderdale back in 2016.
Mr. Lambert’s enthusiasm for the Revolutionary War was
nothing short of infectious. He spoke with pride and passion about his
ancestor, who played a pivotal role at the very dawn of the Revolution. Have
you ever heard the phrase “the shot heard round the world”? That iconic moment,
marking the start of the American Revolution in April 1775, happened 250 years
ago—and his ancestor was a part of it.
What stood out most was the deeply personal connection he
shared about belonging to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). For him,
it wasn’t about personal recognition but a profound sense of duty to honor his
ancestors. His heartfelt perspective reshaped how I think about SAR and
inspired me to reflect on my own Revolutionary War ancestors. With several
well-documented lines to the Revolution, I now feel a renewed commitment to
honoring their legacy, thanks to Mr. Lambert’s powerful words.
Additional Photos
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| (Part of) GeneaBloggers at the conference |
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| Are we having fun yet? |
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| Craig Scott of Heritage Books was there! |
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| Debbie Smyth of Florida |
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| Morgan Elliott of Arizona |
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| David Horowitz of MyHeritage |
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| Katherine Schober of Germanology Unlocked |
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| Lillian Wingate of Georgia |
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| My signed book! |
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| Getting ready to hear David Allen Lambert |
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| Title of presentation by Mr. Lambert |
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| Mr. David Allen Lambert at the podium |
Day 2 next...
