NGS 2022 Sacramento: Day 2

Thursday, 26 May 2022

 

   Day 2! My morning has a routine now… Shower, Starbucks, and social media. Then, check the Whova app for updates and my class schedule, and head to class across the street. No rental cars, no Uber, just walk… Love it!

 

A working breakfast

Ready, set, go...

Today’s Classes

·      Assembling Research Results with LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG

·      Appreciating Conflicting Evidence: Analysis and Resolution Develops Broader Research with Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL

·      Follow the Trail of Records and DNA from Ireland to Oregon (1810-1860) with Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG

·      BCG LUNCHEON -- Exploring Family History Around the Globe with David Ouimette, CG, CGL

·      Finding Sophia’s Family: A Case of Fratricide and Forgotten Identity with Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGL

·      Margaret’s Mother: Using DNA to Solve a Mystery with Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

 

   Why do I always choose the most challenging lectures? Well, you either sink or swim, right? I tend to just tread water, though. I am just thankful for the syllabus to re-read when I get home. Today was the first time to hear Judy Russell in-person since Raleigh in 2017, 5 years ago! She did not disappoint! Yes, I like all the speakers, but Judy takes the cake.   

 

   As you can see, in my blog posts I do not critique the lectures or even recap them. Why? Education is personal for me. Did I get as much out of the session than my friend sitting right next to me? Maybe, maybe more, or maybe less. It’s personal. If you want to know “the secrets”, book your next flight to NGS in Richmond.

 

 

Got Photos? I do…

Let the day begin!

I spy my friend, Ron Arons keeping his lead in check

Speaker Rebecca Koford

Rebecca Koford's advice

Karen Stanbary's title screen

The BCG luncheon I attended

David Ouimette speaking during the BCG luncheon 

Nancy Peters' title screen

Judy Russell's title screen

 

 

 

Selfie Corner

My 5th. cousin, Nathan White

My friend Deborah Sweeney

My friend Ari Wilkins

My friend Daniel Horowitz

My new friend Angela Breidenbach

In the conference hall...

The SLIG booth with Kristy Sexton and Liz Miller

New President & CEO Angela Breidenbach

A meeting of the minds

Daniel Horowitz and MyHeritage

The ICAPGen booth with Connie Knox gathering info

Dinner time...

I love room service and quiet!

Day 3 next...

NGS 2022 Sacramento: Day 1

 Wednesday, 25 May 2022

 

   Day 1! The morning began with the Plenary Session at 8:00 AM. My friend Kathryn Doyle, who is President of the National Genealogical Society, gave the opening remarks and welcomed us to four days of genealogical learning. Following was Dr. Gordon H. Chang from Stanford University and his incredible story about the Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad. A remarkable journey through this important part of California history. My friend Kathryn Doyle, who is President of the National Genealogical Society, gave the opening remarks and welcomed us to four days of genealogical learning.

 

   With more than 160 lectures to choose from in a four-day period is hard! Sometimes, I choose the subject matter, but sometimes I choose just because of the speaker, like Tom Jones and Judy Russell! I picked all my lectures before arriving in Sacramento. I also purchased the syllabus for the whole conference on a flash drive, so I will not miss other lectures completely.

 

Today’s Classes

·      Your Ancestors on “Judge Judy”: Using Chancery Records in Virginia with W Samuel Williams, MDiv.

·      Controlling Chaos: Managing a Genealogical Project with Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL

·      More Questions Than Answers? Consider Conducting a Broad Contextual Study with Jill Morelli, CG

·      It Gets Even Better Offline with Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

 

   Today was the first time I heard Sam Williams speak in person. I have been friends with him on social media for a while and finally met him face to face. An incredibly talented speaker and deeply knowledgeable about Virginia records. I liked how he asked the class what counties they were researching in, and then he would give them tips on where to look. He also would say, “Oh, I lived there.” or “I pass through that county almost every day.”

 

   I had lunch at a local delicatessen with my paternal 5^th. cousin, Nathan White, a retired Judge from McKinney, Texas. A side note: We confirmed our match, not just on paper, but through DNA using GEDmatch! Thank you, Katherine Borges and FamilyTreeDNA!

 

 

Got Photos? I do…

 

I got in early to see how big the hall was!

NGS President Katherine Doyle

 

Dr. Gordon H. Chang lecture

The classroom corridor before the onslaught

Each room had easily readable posters

First class! Sam Williams!

 

Before class converstion with students

Rebecca Koford's title screen

Jill Morelli's title screen

Tom Jones title screen

Selfie Corner

My friend Tracey Provine-Mcmartin

My friend Cheryl Hudson Passey

My friend Katherine Willson

John Ralls is at every conference!

Note: All photos were given permission to take. Peace.

Day 2 next...

NGS 2022 Sacramento: Pre-Conference

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

 

   I’m back! Back in the saddle again after two years of lockdowns and restrictions due to national health concerns. This is the first in-person conference since 2019 for the National Genealogical Society and they chose the great city of Sacramento, California to have it. Yeah for me, no jet lag! Sacramento is a great city with many historical attractions and museums. For me, all I wanted to visit was the inside of the Capitol (which the tours are still suspended) and Evangeline’s Costume Mansion in Old Town (which I didn’t), only because I’ve been to Sacramento so many times while growing up. So, I stuck to my hotel, The Hyatt Regency, and the SAFE Credit Union Conference Center. Boring me, I know.

 

   NGS used an app by Whova to act as a communication system between the organizers and attendees. It also has the full agenda with built-in maps to each event and class and provides a personalized agenda, too. It proved to be very popular with conference-goers because it contained a “Win a Prize” category in which both virtual and in-person attendees could win a prize for the most points. Points were awarded for many things like, “Share an article”, “Suggest meet-ups, “Give session feedback”, etc. My friend Ron Arons was no. 1 for most of the week, coming in at no. 3 at the conclusion. I came in at no. 10.

 

Whova video call with Ron Arons

   I decided (again) to attend the pre-conference event “BCG Education Fund Workshop – Putting Skills to Work” with two workshops - 

•  “Tackling the Family Narrative” - Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS, FUGA
• “Walk A Mile in Their Shoes: Writing the Ancestors’ Stories with Social History and Historical Context” - Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL. 

With a pre-reading requirement and a 54-page syllabus, I knew I was in for an intense learning experience… and it was. These workshops, put on by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, are geared for the serious student and/or professional genealogist, of which I may consider myself a serious student, but I always struggle in these advanced classes.

 

Got Photos? I do…

What a view from my 8th. floor room!

Green = Handshakes & Hi-Fives

SAFE Convention Center Completely Renovated in 2021

The inside lobby had plenty of space for distancing

The all-day workshop from BCG

Karen's class was very detailed

Masks were required at all times

My friend from FamilySearch, Jeff Svare

My friend and jokester, Ron Arons

My Southern friend, Lori Thornton

A quick note on masks: Conference policy was to wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking within the conference facility. We even had color-coded stickers on our badges as to our comfort level of interaction with one another...

Red = Physical Distancing - Greet from Six Feet

Yellow= Elbows Only

Green = Handshakes and Hi-fives

... Some of us opted to take photos together without masks upon agreement with each other and only for a very brief moment. I usually held my breath by the way. Each conference attendee was vaccinated and had to show proof each day before entering. I felt very safe. I also tested myself before leaving, during the conference, and after... ALL CLEAR.

i4GG 2022 Institute

 2022 Institute for Genetic Genealogy (i4GG) 

  I attended the 2022 Institute for Genetic Genealogy in San Diego, California last month. This is the third time I have attended and the first one held by the Institute since the pandemic began. The venue was the Sheraton Hotel in Mission Valley, an area of San Diego. I grew up in San Diego and currently live 25 miles north of here, so I felt right at home.

  Two full days of speakers from the Genetic Genealogy field, who are some of the best and brightest out there, were gathered for the event. Several of my friends attended in person, some local and some who drove or flew in. This event was also live-streamed to an international audience by CeCe Moore's husband, Lennart Martinson, and his crew.

   This year as I listened to the speakers and took notes, I noticed that the institute has progressed and really is geared to the "professional", rather than the average student like me. Which is a good thing for the genetic community. I still learn and pick up new ways of exploring my own DNA connections, but I don't think I will be starting a business anytime soon. The format and time allotted for breaks and lunch were very generous and very appreciated. Time enough to socialize and make new friends and see old ones.

  I highly recommend this institute for the intermediate and advanced students alike, and I hope CeCe continues this educational venue for years to come. "Thank you" to Lennart for his generosity to me for the ticket to attend. :) 

Here is the schedule for each day:

SATURDAY, April 9, 2022

SESSIONS

9:00 – 9:15

Welcome, CeCe Moore

9:15 – 10:15

What’s New at GEDmatch, Kitty Cooper

10:20 – 11:20

Identifying John and Jane Does through Investigative Genetic Genealogy, Margaret Press

11:30 – 12:30

Investigative Genetic Genealogy, CeCe Moore

12:30 – 2:00

LUNCH BREAK

2:00 – 3:15

Perspectives on Hispanic DNA – Tips for Overcoming These Most Challenging Cases, Carol Rolnick

3:30 – 4:30

Best Practices in the Field of Investigative Genetic Genealogy, CeCe Moore

4:30 – 5:30

Panel on Investigative Genetic Genealogy, Moderator: CeCe Moore, Margaret Press, Kevin Lord, Carol Rolnick

SUNDAY, April 10, 2022

SESSIONS

9:00 – 10:20

One Man, Multiple Names, an Unexpected DNA Discovery, Dana Leeds

10:25 – 11:25

Complex Autosomal DNA and Y-Chromosome Case Analyses, Tim Janzen

11:30 – 12:00

Case Study, CeCe Moore

12:00 – 2:00

LUNCH BREAK

2:00 – 3:00

Finding Your Roots Season 8: DNA Case Studies, Kimberly N. Morgan

3:05 – 4:05

Solving the 87-Year-Old Mystery of the Hatbox Baby, Bonnie Bossert

4:15 – 5:30

John Doe and an Adoptee, CeCe Moore

kitty munson cooper

my friend from escondido, lisa medina

Paul graham, paul baltzer & paul hawthorne

Watching live and live streaming!

Lennart at his command post

lennart with lisa medina

cece and kitty

Until next time...