My Family History Calling

The following is from FamilySearch.

My Family History Calling Newsletter  January 2015 News you need to succeed-for priesthood leaders, consultants, and center directors. A New Year's Resolution Worthy of All Acceptation Something interesting happens at FamilySearch every January-the number of users on our website skyrockets! I guess it's New Year's resolution time-though we don't mind all the website traffic, we'd love it even more if users stayed! Then everyone would be eligible all year long for the blessings that family history brings. I can tell you from recent experience just what are those blessings are.

Share Temple Opportunities with Family and Friends Now a FamilySearch Feature

I Believe! One Person's Testimony of Elder Andersen's Youth Challenge

Blessing the Lives of New Converts and Returning Members

RootsTech Is Almost Here: Why Attend? RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, is the largest family history event in the world! The fifth annual conference-celebrating families across generations-is the perfect place to discover and share your family's stories and connections through technology. See why you should attend (onsite or remotely)! The FamilySearch App Gallery Connects You with the Latest Family History Apps Whether you are searching for ancestors, sharing family photos, or recording stories for future generations, there's now a family history app for that. What's New on FamilySearch-January 2015 FamilySearch has recently released several new features. Here is a recap some of the important changes that have taken place. Read the full article. How to Submit Names to the Temple through Ancestry.com If you have a free LDS account in the Ancestry.com website, people in your Ancestry.com family tree can be associated with those found in your FamilySearch tree and their names can be submitted to the temple for ordinance work. Here's how.

Genealogy Gems "Outside the Box Session" at RootsTech 2015

The following is from the Genealogy Gems Newsletter.

RootsTech / FGS 2015:  

Free Sessions at Our Booth and PRIZES!

Back by popular demand! After fabulous response last year, Genealogy Gems will once again be sponsoring "Outside the Box Sessions," a series of FREE mini-presentations at RootsTech 2015.

Our popular sessions help you think outside the box (and have fun and get free swag while you're at it). NEW FREE EBOOK: Attend any session and receive our free ebook of handouts for all sessions!  

Click here for the full schedule and the Grand Prize entry form. Drop this entry by Booth #1242 and say hello! Lisa will also be signing copies of her brand new book The Genealogist's Google Toolbox Second Edition!

 

Please forward this newsletter to your friends who are 

heading to RootsTech / FGS. 

NEHGS February Webinar

The following is from the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

New at the Online Learning Center

Sign up for the FREE Webinar Using Manuscripts in Your Genealogical Research Thursday, February 19, 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST; 12 p.m. MST; 11 a.m. PST) Presented by Timothy G. X. Salls, Manager of Manuscript Collections NEHGS has one of the largest collections of genealogical papers in the United States. Learn how these unique items can benefit your genealogical research. Join Manager of Manuscript Collections Timothy G. X. Salls as he provides research case studies and highlights from our special collections. Register today! Can't attend the live broadcast? A recording will be posted to our website the following day. Additional Resources Visit the Online Learning Center for subject guides on a variety of genealogical topics, informative videos, webinars, online courses, and more. If you have questions or feedback, contact Ginevra Morse, Director of Education and Online Programs, at gmorse@nehgs.org.

ISGS February 2015 Webinar – Basic Scandinavian Research

The following is from the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

February 2015 Webinar – Basic Scandinavian Research

 




Looking for ancestors in Denmark, Norway and Sweden? Then join us on February 3, when Diana Smith will share her secrets in her presentation Basic Scandinavian Research.

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2014, 8:00 pm Central

Description: Researching the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Denmark, and Sweden) is very different from researching in the US. Learn about the patronymics, language, and more.

• Overview of the influence of history and geography
• Patronymics
• Alphabets of each language - extra letters and search techniques
• Use of dates and calendar basics
• Hints for keeping track and searching efficiently
• Resources for each country

Presenter: Diana Smith

Diana Crisman Smith is Treasurer of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE), Treasurer, Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), Treasurer, Florida State Genealogical Society, and Past District Director of APG. She served more than 20 years as a lay librarian at Westlake (OH) Family History Center, and has written for numerous genealogical publications. She also author of “Chapter 4: Scandinavia” in The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe (2013). She has enjoyed speaking at conferences around the country (and at sea) more than twenty years and looks forward to expanding her genealogical
endeavors after concluding a career in software consulting.

Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6829079176792483329

Recording and Handout Available to ISGS Members:  For ISGS members who cannot attend the live webinar on February 3, a recording of the webinar, along with the handout, will be made available in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://ilgensoc.org/members.php.  If you're not already a member of ISGS, visit Join ISGS! at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=8 for more information.

Make a Contribution:  Support the ISGS Webinar program by making a financial contribution, which will help ISGS expand its educational offerings in a virtual manner.  To learn why we need your help, or to make a contribution, please visit http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=345.

Please direct any questions to the ISGS Education Committee at isgseducation@ilgensoc.org.

Heritage Collector Webinar - Create a Family History Valentine

The following is from Heritage Collector.

Create and Share  Personalized Valentines  with a Touch of Family History Monday, February 9th   7:00 PM - 8:00 PM MST By Marlo Schuldt and Kathleen Bitter LifeStory Productions, Inc.

Have some fun learning how to personalize and share your valentines with family, children, and relatives and friends! Webinar Topics . . . How to import a free valentine card template you can use to make a valentine. Learn how to personalize a valentine. New ideas and ways to create fun valentines for all ages. How to add a touch of family history to your cards. Questions and Answers. Please join us this evening for our webinar at 7:00 PM MST Converting and Sharing Old Movies Click the green  'Learn More' button for more information and a signup link for the webinars. Hope to see you at our next webinar!

Did you miss a webinar? You will find a link to the recorded webinars by clicking the "Learn More" button above.

Best Wishes,

Marlo E. Schuldt

President

LifeStory Productions, Inc.

Special Event February 10 (the day before RootsTech Innovator Summit)

The following is from RootsTech and BYU.

This year's Family History Technology Workshop will take place February 10 at the BYU Conference Center and will focus on "The Future of Family History Technology." The workshop will begin with a lightning session (2-3 minute speeches) followed by demos of new software apps. The afternoon will feature a keynote by Curt Witcher from the Allen County Public Library, followed by talks from experts from Google, Ancestry.com, and FamilySearch. The day will conclude with a panel discussion on the future of family history technology. We invite all of you who are participating in the Innovator's Summit on February 11 to register for and participate in the Family History Technology Workshop that will be held the day before at BYU.  For more information and to register, visit: http://fhtw.byu.edu/ We extend a special invitation to all who are submitting their work to the Innovator Challenge to come and participate in the lightning session the morning of February 10 where you will have the opportunity to provide a brief overview of your work followed by a demonstration to attendees. Thanks and best regards!

NERGC 13th Genealogical Conference 15-18 April 2015

The following is from the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium.

Navigating the Past: Sailing into the Future

The New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc. (NERGC) invites you to join us at our thirteenth genealogical conference 15-18 April 2015 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The Convention Center offers outstanding facilities, amenities, and service in an easy-to-reach location. It is conveniently located in the heart of historic Providence -- the only US city to be named "one of the Top Ten Up-and-Coming Travel Destinations in the World" by the Wall Street Journal.

The conference theme, "Navigating the Past: Sailing into the Future", has strong nautical connections, in keeping with the distinctive flavor of Rhode Island, while also focusing on methodology with "navigating the past" and looking towards the changes of the future (technology, passing on information, and getting kids involved in genealogy).

With over 95 lectures to choose from in two and-a-half days, and with levels ranging from beginner to expert NERGC 2015 will help attendees "navigate":

• New research pathways, methodologies, and strategies, including technology and online resources;

• Ethnic genealogy of all types

• Maritime and military topics including privateers, pirates, and other sea-faring folk;

• New approaches for navigating and utilizing record sources (such as religious, civil, cemetery, military, and newspapers);

• New uses of sources (such as religious, civil, cemetery, military, and newspapers);

• Photography and family heirlooms;

• New England's repositories (archives, libraries, historical societies);

• Successful research plannning and project implementation; and

• Ways to engage youth in genealogy.

NERGC 2015 will help bring together genealogists and family historians from a variety of backgrounds. Whether you are just beginning the search for your family, are already an advanced researcher, or perhaps even a professional genealogist, the NERGC 2015 conference will provide you with an ideal opportunity to advance your knowledge and research skills. In addition to the wealth of knowledge shared by expert genealogists, there will be opportunities to explore the Exhibit Hall and to "navigate the past" at the Society Fair, Special Interest Groups, and Ancestors Road Show -- and plenty of opportunities to meet hundreds of other attendees at the Conference who share your love for genealogy.

To register or learn more visit: http://www.nergc.org/Conference-Home-Page.html

Keynote speakers share stories at RootsTech 2015

The following is from RootsTech.

Laura Bush and Donny Osmond to Share Family Stories at RootsTech SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 20 January 2015, RootsTech 2015, already the largest family history conference in the world, is on track to surpass last year’s record of 13,000 attendees—more than 18,000 are expected this year with over 50,000 joining online. The success can be attributed to the growing popularity of family history with people of all ages and a star-studded lineup of speakers and entertainers who will share their personal family stories, including former First Lady Laura Bush, tech visionary Tan Le, and entertainer Donny Osmond. RootsTech is hosted by FamilySearch and held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 12–14. Go to RootsTech.org to register or to see the full schedule of keynotes, performers, and speakers. “This world class conference continues to be a game changer,” said FamilySearch CEO Dennis Brimhall. “Multiple generations of families attending together will discover new ideas and tools to strengthen and connect their families while discovering how people they admire personally celebrate their families and their family histories. That’s what RootsTech is all about.” Fanning the popularity of genealogy worldwide are technologies that connect and strengthen families through discovering and sharing their past. RootsTech also creates an environment for innovators and entrepreneurs developing new applications for family history to showcase their latest innovations. Technologist and entrepreneur Tan Le will help kick off RootsTech on Thursday, February 12, as she shares her personal heroic immigrant story as she fled Vietnam with her mother and sister at a very young age. The Vietnamese refugee was named Young Australian of the Year and recognized by Fast Company as one of the most influential women in technology and by Forbes as one of the 50 names you need to know. “I consider it a privilege any time I can share my experiences with others who have personal trials but desire to rise above them as my mother and grandmother inspired me to do,” Le said of her opportunity to speak at RootsTech 2015. Former First Lady Laura Bush will talk about life in the White House and the importance of family during those eight years. Her daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, will join the former First Lady onstage for a fireside chat to share family stories as a new grandmother and mother. In 2013, Jenna Hager gave birth to daughter Margaret Laura “Mila” Hager, adding a new generation to the Bush family. Laura Bush served with her husband, President George W. Bush, in the White House from 2001-2009, and she currently serves as Chair of the Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. Hager currently works as a contributor for NBC’s The Today Show and as an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. “This is going to be one of the high points of the conference,” Brimhall said. “It will be an unforgettable way to show how this family, with all their amazing life experiences, is still a family that functions like many of our own families.” Singer and entertainer Donny Osmond, an international superstar whose been entertaining millions for almost 50 years, is also a part of the keynote lineup. His fans may not be aware of how engaged he is off stage in his family history. Donny will share some lesser-known insights into his family’s history during his keynote. “It has always been such a big part of who I am,” Osmond is proud to admit. “For as long as I can remember, my family has been involved in family history. My family ties have influenced me on and off the stage. So it’s such an honor to share some of that at RootsTech with some stories and maybe a song or two.” New York Times bestselling author and humorist A.J. Jacobs will share insights into his current project of connecting as many cousins as he can find and to organize what will be the biggest, most inclusive, most entertaining, and most educational family reunion in history. “I’m a relative newcomer to genealogy, but I am thoroughly addicted to it. It’s my favorite way to learn about history—and it’s the ultimate social network,” according to Jacobs. “I’m thrilled to be speaking at RootsTech, which is an extraordinary event and community. I can’t wait to meet more potential cousins.” Each day of the conference will conclude with marquee entertainment. Alex Boye, One Voice Children’s Choir, the cast of BYUtv’s Studio C, and American Idol runner-up David Archuleta are among the acts taking the stage. RootsTech offers more than 200 classes and workshops over the course of the three-day conference. A “Getting Started” track of classes is offered for beginners. Admission to RootsTech 2015 starts at $19 for a one-day pass and $39 for a three-day pass. Visit RootsTech.org for more information.

Family Tree Builder NOW available for Mac users

The following is from MyHeritage. This looks very similar to what RootsMagic did with the MacBridge for RootsMagic.  These are not a native Mac version of the programs, but with help from CrossOver it feels like it is. 

We're happy to announce that Mac users can now download and use MyHeritage Family Tree Builder! Like the Windows version, it's completely free!

There have been frequent requests by our users to run Family Tree Builder 7.0 on the Mac operating system. Many of our users have switched in recent years from Windows to Mac and wanted to continue using Family Tree Builder, their favorite genealogy software.

We are in the advanced stages of developing a native Mac version of the software, with the look and feel that Mac users will appreciate. Meanwhile, until the new native version is ready, we have also created a version of Family Tree Builder for Mac called Family Tree Builder Mac Extension, that looks the same as our Windows version, and does not require Windows or any additional setup or configuration when downloaded.

Download Family Tree Builder Mac Extension for free

Drag the Family Tree Builder icon to save it to your Mac computer.

Once installed, the software will run directly on Mac computers. The minimum OS version supported is OS X. It uses a system for porting Windows software to Mac called CrossOver by CodeWeavers.

Family Tree Builder's main features run the same in Family Tree Builder Mac Extension, including Sync with MyHeritage, Smart Matches™, Record Matches, the consistency checker, charts, etc. However, there are several minor features not compatible with the Mac OS X that will be unavailable for Mac users. These are: maps, formatting in notes (e.g. bold, italics, etc.), book reports (though they can be created online), and display of right-to-left languages. Everything else works the same as on Windows and the file formats are the same so you can transport Family Tree Builder projects between Windows and Mac.

Learn more about the features of Family Tree Builder 7.0 or watch the video below:

Have more questions about Family Tree Builder Mac Extension? Read our detailed FAQ.

Enjoy!

Family Chronicle Name Change

The following is from Family Chronicle. This maybe an ad, but if you've ever wanted to try out this magazine nows the time to do it.

Starting with the March/April 2015 edition, Family Chronicle will continue under the new name of Your Genealogy Today. Our new web domain will be www.YourGenealogyToday.com, and our new website will be operational as of  1 Mar 2015.ch 2015.

Why a name change after more than 18 years? Many of our loyal readers will be asking this question, and the simple answer is that it is time to refresh and renew the look with an eye to making the publication more recognizable within the genealogy community and to the general public as well. We will continue to produce the magazine in print format, as well as PDF, and app editions for the growing range of available mobile devices. Our content will not undergo dramatic changes at this time, but we are launching three new regular columns: “Genealogy Tourism”, “DNA & Your Genealogy”, and “Advice from the Pros”. In each case, the columns will be authored on a rotational basis by contributors who are experts in their respective fields.

Help us celebrate a successful future by subscribing or renewing your existing subscription at a discounted rate.

Take a look at what's featured in our first issue!

We are getting close to finalizing our first issue of Your Genealogy Today. Simply click here to visit our new site and see the link for the table of contents.

To celebrate, we are offering a discounted subscription rate for customers that make their purchase by February 15, 2015.

Special Print Edition Subscription Rates:

$25 - 1 Year (6 issue) Term (Reg. $32.95)
$45 - 2 Year (12 issue) Term
$60 - 3 Year (18 issue) Term - BEST DEAL!

Special PDF Subscription Rates (each issue will be emailed to you):

$14.95 - 1 Year (6 issue) Term (Reg. $24.95)
$24.95 - 2 Year (12 issue) Term
$32.95 - 3 Year (18 issue) Term - BEST DEAL!

To take advantage of this special offer, simply click the following link: Your Genealogy Today and select the appropriate link for your country of residence. We accept VISA, MasterCard. American Express and PayPal.

If you prefer to call your order in, simply have your VISA, MasterCard or American Express handy and call our toll free number at: 1-888-326-2476 ext 111.

Rick Cree
Circulation Director/Your Genealogy Today

And the ROOTSTECH WINNER Is........

There were 32 entries in this year's Renee's Genealogy Blog contest for a FREE 3 DAY Pass ($239 value) to RootsTech 2015.  I recognized a lot of names on the result form spreadsheet.  To ensure absolute fairness I used the "True Random Number Generator" widget to pick a spreadsheet number.

The Winner is #21

      Doris Bateman

I'm excited to see Doris win. She's been a reader of Renee's Genealogy Blog since the early days of "new FamilySearch". She had not previously registered to attend RootsTech this year. Now she needs to rearrange her schedule because she's going to ROOTSTECH 2015!!!  How great is that!!!

There is still plenty of time for you to take advantage of Early Bird Registration ($159) available through January 23, 2015 at RootsTech.org, before the prices increase to $239. Pricing does begin at $19 for a one-day beginners pass. 

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Mapleton Family History Fair

Annual Family History Fair

Join us on Saturday, 7 March 2015 at the LDS churc house located at 475 North Highway 89 in Mapleton, Utah for our annual family history fair. Ron Tanner of FamilySearch will be our keynote speaker, and our best-ever panel of instructors will offer twenty class sessions. The event is completely free, no registration is required, and we even offer a simple free pizza lunch for everyone in attendance.

Any unexpected changes to this schedule will be posted on the 

Mapleton Family History Center - FamilySearch Wiki Page.

FamilySearch Launches New App Gallery

The following is from FamilySearch.

FamilySearch Launches New App Gallery Find the right family history app for the job with the new FamilySearch App Gallery SALT LAKE CITY (January 13, 2015)—FamilySearch.org today launched its online app gallery to help patrons more easily find partner applications or services to enhance their family history efforts. With just a few clicks, patrons can now search more than 50 apps to find those that meet their specific need, platform, operating system, and price. For example, if a patron is looking for a highly-rated app that will help them find specific records in their family tree, the app gallery will allow them to filter and find several relevant partner apps to choose from. The FamilySearch App Gallery can be found at FamilySearch.org/apps . The FamilySearch App Gallery, available online and accessible from a variety of handheld devices, allows patrons to browse, find, and learn about applications developed by FamilySearch partners. The gallery links patrons to partner sites where they can access and download the applications. Partner offerings in the FamilySearch App Gallery interact with and support FamilySearch Family Tree. Patrons are encouraged to try the apps that fit their unique needs and to provide ratings and reviews. “FamilySearch is a great resource, but FamilySearch alone can’t do everything. That’s why we work with partners to provide complementary tools and resources and why the FamilySearch App Gallery is so important,” said Dennis Brimhall, FamilySearch CEO. “We’ve had partners for many years, and now we want to make it easier for our patrons to know about them and to find the apps they need.”

View The Gallery