Attending Roots Tech for the second time this year was a treat. It was
special because the Federation of Genealogical Societies, FGS, partnered with
Roots Tech to make their partnership and collaboration very magical for all of
us.
I registered with FGS and paid a smaller amount of money for Roots Tech
as an add-on to take advantage of both sides of the conference.
There were general opening sessions each of the four mornings with D. Joshua
Taylor, Mary Tedesco, Kenyatta D. Berry, Laura D. Bush and daughter Jenna Hager,
Donny Osmond, A. J. Jacobs, founder of the Global Family Reunion on June 6,
2015, and others.
I attended all of the presentations I could fit into My Schedule using
the mobile app furnished by the conference choosing from FGS, Roots Tech, and
six Lab courses. Each of the speakers hooked their audiences with wonderful and
useful information, and shared handouts and links to other resources on the web
from their downloadable or printed syllabi.
I appreciate purchasing the FGS Syllabus book so that I can peruse all of
the class offerings during and after the conference. There were 47 FGS speakers
who made 100+ FGS presentations to the interested attendees. There were 200 FGS
and Roots Tech speakers who made 150+ presentations to the interested
attendees. I noticed that many FGS members presented technology type programs
and so were included in the Roots Tech booklet for registered members.
It was great to register on the Tuesday before the conference began. I
had pre-registered online back in September, 2014, and was able to add a lab
class and a luncheon in January, 2015. That way I “beat the crowds” in the
registration lines for Wednesday that was Society Day, and Thursday, the first
day of both sides of the conference. Last year I attended the Innovators
Summit, but decided to forgo that opportunity this year.
I enjoyed a great first day, and will share the presentations I attended
on Society Day in my next entry.
