Headed South

The first weekend of August will bring another first for me in the world of genealogy: I will be presenting at the Colorado Springs Family History Expo. Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs, the roughly two and half hour drive south of my current location should bring me some exciting moments.

First, and most obviously, I am excited to be presenting my session on "Blogging: Telling the Stories Behind Your Research." The piece I love about this prezy is that it really serves as an eye opener to many attendees; they link of a blog as a confusing, somewhat overwhelming thing to do. When you really break it down, however, and define it in personal terms, it becomes a much more approachable idea. I hope that somebody comes to hear about it. This is the first time I will be presenting in a setting where attendees have options of which session to go to; and I'm a little concerned no one will want to listen to me! It does fit in nicely however with this year's theme, "Top 10 Techniques for Fishing for Ancestors & Other Persons of Interest."

Secondly, I will finally be able to meet some of my "local" Colorado friends that I know well from Facebook and Twitter, but have never actually met in person. There are a few people on that list, and some of us have tried - and failed - to meet at other events. Somehow, it just has not worked out. This time, however, will be different, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity.

Lastly, the chance to attend a more regionally focused event like this one will be good for me. I've seen small workshops (up to maybe 50 people or so), and I've seen large events such as the National Genealogical Society Annual Conference, held this past May in Las Vegas. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens "in the middle."

If you happen to be in the area, please join us! And if you join us, please say hi if you see me! And if you say hi, please do so after you've attended my session! (Just kidding; you can say hi anytime...)

You can get all the information you need by visiting the Family History Expos website.

Breckenridge Memorial Day Commemoration

NEW event at Valley Brook Cemetery on May 27

Breckenridge, CO -- The Town of Breckenridge in collaboration with the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance invite the public to the inaugural Breckenridge Memorial Day Commemoration at Valley Brook Cemetery on Monday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m. to commemorate, acknowledge and memorialize the service and sacrifice of our deceased veterans. The Commemoration will include a keynote speech from Colonel Loren Johnson, the Commander of the 140th Mission Support Group, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley AFB, an interdenominational service and a wreath-laying.

Headstone of Alonzo Phillips.
© Ancestral Journeys, 2012-2013

The ceremony will be followed by light refreshments. The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance will have an interpretive guide present to answer questions regarding the history of Valley Brook Cemetery. Parking will be available at the Carriage House Learning Center across from the entrance into Valley Brook Cemetery and at the Breckenridge Recreation Center.

Over sixty (60) veterans’ graves have been identified through Valley Brook Cemetery records. Please contact Vanessa Agee at 970-453-3187 x2 to provide further information regarding any veterans who are buried at Valley Brook Cemetery, but whose military service may not be reflected in the cemetery records. Also, volunteers are needed to place flags at each veteran’s grave and to remove flags one month later.

For more information or to volunteer, please call Vanessa Agee at (970) 453-3187 ext 2 or vanessaa@townofbreckenridge.com.

One Worth Watching

Copyright Ancestral
Journeys, 2012-2013

My continuing education is incredibly important to me. I value the gift I am giving to myself to further my knowledge base and allowing my imagination to expand within the confines of real world research challenges. I believe it to be one of the best activities to engage in that will truly add depth and meaning to the idea of professional genealogist.


In 2013, I have committed to a goal of two genealogy webinars, four FamilySearch lessons and at least one business related webinar each month. That averages to five hours a month. That is obtainable, and I was able to meet that goal in January. I chose the FamilySearch platform for the year because they have so many options, varying in depth, scope and length. Generally speaking, I have enjoyed them.

This was different.

On the 28th of January, I watched “Thinking Creatively About Research Problems”, while doing the dishes. Multi-tasking at its best, right? I’ll be honest. I was floored. The 39 minute lesson is presented by  Apryl Cox, AG; and was first put online 4 May 2010. It is essentially a case study, and Mrs. Cox describes how she gets around some very difficult obstacles to find a member of her own family. The lesson is listed as intermediate level.

I was fascinated. Honestly, it was one of the best sessions I have ever listened to. Period.

So much so, that I watched it a second time later that evening, when I could really focus. So good that I looked her up in the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Directory and sent her an email with my compliments. I was happy to receive her reply, in which she indicated that she presents this as a live session, as well.

It wasn't that Mrs. Cox offered me my own brick wall ancestor (Oscar) on a silver platter; it was the way she spoke. Naturally, fluidly, comfortably. And it made all the difference. We've all said it, and I’m sure we will say it again: there is nothing worse than having someone “present” by reading their presentation slides like a script. This lesson was filled with entertaining – and real – stories, of a real person; with real life problems. Her challenges included getting around her ancestor’s own lies, and then having to admit to herself that he lied.

I nearly lost a plate.

Creative Commons

When my "lightbulb" went off, I was up to my elbows in bubbly dish water, with a dinner plate mid-scour. It almost hit the floor. Oh my! What if Oscar didn't want his father to be identified?? I have five theories as to who Oscar's father was. Did he hide the truth, did he give a different name, different story, different identity on every record to distance himself from his actual Dad? 

Every record that I have been able to identify that Oscar would have had some influence on - his marriage license, his political campaign in the local newspaper, the information given to family members used in his obituary - all contain a different name for his father. I have always assumed (there's that nasty word again!) that I was making a mistake in my research; that I was "not seeing" something. Human error on the part of the clerk. The father's first and middle names were used interchangeably. 

I had not once before considered the idea that this could be an intentionally hidden truth.

The questions only continued to expand from there. Was he ashamed of his father, or some other member of his family? Was he, Oscar, in fact the "black sheep?" Was he adopted or illegitimate? I know that one of his sisters, Mary (Brown) Collins, was said to have been "crazy" when she died. Was there more stigma attached to the family that Oscar was running away from? 

The simple truth is that when the research becomes so personal, when the challenge drives you to search through record sets until dawn; admitting that the ancestor you seek may have not shared your own values is difficult at best, if not impossible. That is one of the greatest lessons of Mrs. Cox's lesson: you must distance yourself emotionally and think "creatively" to find the answer. I will leave the rest of the lesson for you to discover from the source; as she says it far better than I ever could. 

If you watch any webinar or session in the near future (excluding perhaps the live stream of RootsTech 2013, which I’ll be glued to); watch this one. You can bet that if I ever have the chance to see Apryl Cox speak live, I'll be first in line. I hope you'll be there with me. 

The In-Depth Genealogist Announces Changes for 2013

Contact: Jen Baldwin, Director of Operations
The In-Depth Genealogist
jen@theindepthgenealogists.com

For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE

The In-Depth Genealogist Announces Changes for 2013

New Leadership Structure and Digital Format Included

January 12, 2013: The team at The In-Depth Genealogist is excited for a year of growth and new ventures in 2013. After an incredible first year of operation, we will begin the New Year in style.

As of 11 Jan 2013, the In-Depth Genealogist website will have a new, updated look. We are also happy to announce a series of new contributors and columns:

·        Andrea Johnson Becker, Twisted Roots
Dr. James Ryan, Irish Research
Shannon Combs Bennett, all things tech! and “The Society Pages”
Gena Philibert Ortega, “Remembering the Ladies: Researching Your Female Ancestors”
Julie Goucher, “Across the Pond” Research in the United Kingdom

Additionally, Jen Baldwin, a regular contributor and blogger, will be stepping into the role of Director of Operations. Terri O’Connell will hold the role of Executive Director and Stephanie Pitcher Fishman will continue as the Creative Director.

Beginning in February, the digital magazine will be launched, providing easier reading formats for all of our user’s, whether on a standard computer, eReader or tablet or smart phone.

For more information or for interviews, please contact Jen Baldwin.

The Family History Writing Challenge

Motivates Members to Write Their Stories

For Immediate Release                                                   

Contact : Lynn Palermo

The Armchair Genealogist

lynn@thearmchairgenealogist.com

The Family History Writing Challenge

The Family History Writing Challenge returns for the third year of motivating family historians dedicating daily time for writing their family history stories.

Family historians wishing to take up the torch of writing their stories are encouraged to put down the microfilm and pick up the pen for the month of February, and start writing their family history stories.

Upon signing up for The Family History Writing Challenge, participating members are invited to declare a goal in the form of a word count and to commit to completing that word count during the 28 days in February. In exchange for the commitment, Lynn Palermo (The Armchair Genealogist) host of the month long challenge will send out daily newsletters that include motivational messages, writing lessons, along with instructional guest posts by leading genealogists, published authors and editors. 

Lynn Palermo states, “by committing to a daily word count my hope is for all participants to make substantial headway in their family history writing goals and to create long lasting writing habits that will carry them forward throughout 2013.”

Lynn encourages members to sign up early to take advantage of the January newsletters that will help participants organize themselves to begin writing on February 1^st. A forum for the event is available to participants who want to exchange ideas, struggles and successes in a more intimate atmosphere.

Special guest authors include certified genealogist, author and writing instructor Sharon DeBartolo Carmack from www.NonfictionHelp.com  and author, speaker, genealogist and writing instructor Lisa Alzo from The Accidental Genealogist. Guest posts also include  writer, educator, historian Biff Barnes Editor at Stories to Tell Books, author and writing coach Tami Koeing  from Your Story Coach and Mariann S. Regan, author of the family memoir Into The Briar and Patch and blog. Lynn Palermo suggests participants should watch for future developments in coming weeks, as this list was not complete at press time.

Family historians who wish to participate in the challenge can sign up or learn more about the challenge at The Family History Writing Challenge website. The event will run from February 1^st-February 28^th. 

My Three Words for 2013: C x 3

2013: Exploring new, fresh territory.
© Ancestral Journeys, 2012-2013

I follow many people and all sorts of businesses on Twitter, Facebook, etc. One of the best discoveries I made in 2012 on social media was Chris Brogan, and his community, Human Business Works. He is well known, but new to me, and I have learned quite a bit from his blog, etc.

On 1 Jan 2013, he posted “My 3 Words for 2013”. This is a reoccurring post for him,  but it’s my first time. As I have spent a great deal of time in the last week reading about 2013 goals from other geneabloggers, and debating what my take on that would be, I found this concept to be very refreshing, meaningful and most importantly, manageable for me.

So, inspired, here are my three words.

Clarification: In my business plan. In my writing. In establishing myself, and my role, in my field. In my overall goals, not just in business, but as a person.

Collaboration: 2013 has started with the launch of a new project, a genealogy Twitter chat: #genchat,  that I am co-hosting with the amazing Stephanie Pitcher Fishman and Terri O’Connell. I continue to write a monthly series for The In-Depth Genealogist, which is one big collaboration in and of itself. I would like to find ways to continue this trend of working with others. Conference Keeper continues to expand and grow, with contributions from genealogists around the world. I would love to find more of these kinds of projects, perhaps guest blog some, and create new and interesting ways to incorporate my own research with the mission’s of the local societies'.

Courage: To reach out and grab what I want from life; to stand up to other’s that look down upon me; to yell out to the world, “I'm good at this!”. Courage. It goes hand in hand with confidence, and all that is growing inside me, it needs a little more attention to fully blossom. After my first year in the professional world, it's time for me to stop "getting my feet wet" and start making a difference, an impact. 

I am incredibly excited for the opportunities coming to me in 2013. I feel absolutely blessed to be in this field, to be able to turn a passion into a business, to share that passion with others. I am determined to reach out and grab what I want, instead of letting life take me where it will.

If you wish to collaborate on any projects stirring in your imagination, send me an email, huh? I would love to hear from you.

All my best for an amazing 2013,
~Jen

Tanner, my office buddy, an I are ready for an amazing 2013!
All rested and ready to go!
© Ancestral Journeys 2012