Tales & Trails: Day 1

Get your introverted butt in gear and put on a smile. Let’s do this…

(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!"

NGS audience

Keynote speaker Dr. Felicia Jamison

Exhibit Hall with Curt Witcher holding in suit

Connie Knox of Genealogy TV on YouTube

Shannon Combs Bennett of Genealogy Genie AI

SAR booth

Brian Rhinehart of Civil War Records on a live broadcast

Speaker Barbara Vines Little

Speaker Jay Fonkert

Speaker Judy Russell

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.