6 June 2014, SCGS Jamboree, day 1

The first free session I went to was "10 Tips for Finding Newsletter Content" by Gena Philibert-Ortega. Gena comes to our local society, Ventura County Genealogical Society each July and does a mini seminar for us (http://venturacogensoc.org) so I know her talk would be worth my time. I'm not our newsletter editor but I picked up some terrific tips from her about writing articles for our newsletter.

The next session I went to was "Making the Case: Change and Technology in Your Society" by Randy Whited. I've heard Randy talk before too. He use to host the Blog Talk Radio podcast, My Society. He explained the changes that the Texas State Genealogical Society made in the way they conducted their society business.  

So many sessions to choose from, oh my! I finally settled on an old favorite of mine, Thomas MacEntee "Genealogy Cloud Computing." He did not let me down. He's always prepared, always has great handouts, he's knowledgeable and even funny. I always try and get at least one of his classes when he's on the roster.

2:30 p.m. session I chose "Evernote for Genealogists," with Jordan Jones. I was sitting about two rows back from one of the projection screens. I sometimes found it hard to hear Mr. Jones.

4:00 p.m. session was with another all-star speaker, Paula Stuart-Warren, "Manuscript Finding Aids: Locating Migrating Family Records." Ms Stuart-Warren doesn't disappoint, she really knows her stuff! I didn't have her handout printed out in advance but I downloaded it onto my tablet so was able to follow along.

I probably shouldn't have gone to my last session at 5:30 p.m. I was tired, kept watching the clock because the session was going to end at 6:30 and the banquet was starting at 7:30 p.m. Wouldn't give me much time to dash back up to my room, change my clothes and then get in line for dinner. But I went anyway because it was Rhonda McClure, "Following the Crumbs: Tracing Family through Land Records." In my mother's paternal line our ancestors were farmers. I want to start researching Wisconsin land records. I liked her talk and handout; I'll probably refer to it often.

Copyright, 2014, Gayle Ficarra Wolcott

2013 NGS Conference - Day 2

Today's conference sessions were really good for me. They kept my interest and even if I knew some of the content, I learned a new tip, trick, or how to search on a particular website. I'm full of hope that when I get home I'll be able to try out and use all the new resources I now have.  Here's a rundown if the classes I took today:

8:00 am
"How to Find What You Are Looking for on Fold3" - Gordon Atkinson
I once won a subscription to Footnote.com (predecessor to Fold3). I didn't like their format and felt it was clunky to use, and I never got any "hits" for my family. I'm now looking forward to searching Fold3.  I plan on uploading my father's WWII information and search some of the non-military records as well.

9:30 am
"Cloud Genealogy" - Shamele Jordon
I'm familiar with the "Cloud." I use Dropbox, Evernote, Box and several other products. This speaker made her presentation not only interesting and enjoyable, she was funny and entertaining too. I learned so many new facets of Apps I already have and use. Enjoyed her talk very much.

11 am
"How to Find Your Relative on the Internet Without Really Searching" - Daniel Horowitz
This class was for the MyHeritage.com program. I have uploaded my GEDCOM file to the site. The speaker explained about the Smart Matching and Smart Research tools to help the genealogist discover information and help relatives to participate and benefit from social networking. Good speaker and I'll definately use his search techniques as I get more familiar with the site.

12:15 pm
Board for Certification of Genealogists Luncheon "Blackguards and Black Sheep: The Lighter Side of the Law"
At lunch, I sat next to a very nice lady from San Angelo, TX.  She gave me a clue to one of my brickwall dilemmas.  I had been pondering about that dilemma for years.  You just never know who you'll be sitting next to at these luncheons.

2:30 pm
"Information Overload? Effective Project Planning, Research, Data Management & Analysis" - Elizabeth Shown Mills
Yes, the title sounds very weighted (especially after a heavy lunch). Ms Mills is an excellent speaker. I was riveted to my seat. I felt like I was looking over her shoulder as she showed us how to make and use a Research Report Template and a Research Notes Template. She made all the steps in the process easy to understand to made me want to start all over with my database.

4:00 pm
"How to Create an Exciting Interactive Family History Tour with Google Earth" - Lisa Louise Cooke
I've taken classes from Lisa many times. Her presentations are informative; she gives you a step-by-step instruction, and she makes you feel, "Yes, I can do this!" Her presentation really pulls you into her story and you get excited along with her as she "flies" you to the next destination. She gives you links to various internet sites and explains just what you'll find there and why you need to check out that website.

This has only been the second day of the conference and I'm jazzed and excited to use all my new resources. Can't wait until tomorrow's sessions.

Mini Road Trip – Days 4, 5, & 6

Day 4 = Thursday, Mesa, AZ

After my sister took care of some business with the Title Company and Bank regarding buying the condo, we were able to go into the condo and do what we came to do...measure, photographic and plan. Her condo is really nice and think she'll fit right in. It's an adult community with lots of extra-curricular activities if she wants them. She now has a clearer picture of what to bring with her, what to sell and what she'll need to buy. We then spent the rest of the day with a friend of her's that lives in the area.

Day 5 = Friday, Family History Expo, Mesa, AZ

The Friday Expo started at 1 pm for registration. 2 pm for the Keynote Address: by Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D. 3 pm the Exhibit Hall opened and 3:30 pm the classes started. My first class was with Lisa Louise Cooke: How the Genealogist Can Remember Everything with Evernote! I've been interested in Evernote for some time but this was the first time it was explained what Evernote is and does and why I need to use it. I'm going to sign up today!

Second class was with James L. Tanner: The FamilySearch Research Wiki: The most valuable genealogical resource on the internet. I've heard of the wiki before but was really impressed because Mr. Tanner explained how the wiki works and helps everyone. I'm going to look and see if my county has a wiki on the FamilySearch website, if not, I'll help with some information.

Third class was with Timothy G. Cross: FamilySearch Global Initiatives. He went through the process of how FamilySearch provides records: image capture, digital conversion, preservation, online indexing and online access.

Fourth class was with Ruth Ellen Maness: What Do I do Now?: Effective Tools for Pedigree Analysis. Two major objectives of family tree analysis: 1) that correct ancestral lines are established, and that all members of ancestral families are identified and placed within their own family unit. 2) identify, define and establish research goals = WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Day 6 = Saturday, heading home to California

We were on the road by 7 am. I drove for the first two hours then we switched. I took a nap and woke up when I could feel my sister fighting the cross winds while driving. They were really strong. We stopped at Chiriaco Summit located 30 miles east of Indio on the I-10 Freeway. We had breakfast then walked next door to the General Patton Memorial Museum. It's a military history museum with exhibits ranging from World War I through the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. During World War II our father was a tank commander under General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge. We both enjoyed every minute. Kind of brought us closer to him.

I decided to continue the drive home. We went about 35-40 miles west on the I-10 watching the dark clouds because my husband had said it rained the night before and we would probably run into it coming home. The cross winds were strong here too. I moved over to the slow lane in case I needed to get off the freeway. We were just entering the Palm Springs area when I noticed we were coming up to an off ramp. Suddenly, the sun was blocked out and a wall of sand and dirt engulfed us. Everyone either slowed way-down or was trying to stop before running into someone in front of them.

OMG! It was the scariest thing I ever encountered while driving. I couldn't see the vehicles in front, behind or beside me. They were all GONE. Just a blanket of sand and dirt swirling around us, like a movie. I decided to inch our way off the the freeway and onto the shoulder of the off ramp. A large truck was already there so we just sat behind it and caught our breath. I still had the air conditioner on and the car was running. We could barely make out cars and trucks inching their way on the freeway or coming off the ramp we were sitting on. Several cars stopped behind us but then moved on. I pulled out my BlackBerry and started using the video camera to capture what we were seeing because no one would believe how bad it was. I also started posting on Facebook where we were and what we were seeing. It's the first time I actually used social media to get the word out about a situation that was happening at that moment.



Plywood stuck between window & seal



I eventually turned off the car and we sat and watched. Do we get back on the freeway (NO)? Do we get off the freeway? Do we just sit there and pray no one plows into us from behind? As I was looking at the traffic I noticed a very large piece of cardboard (wasn't sure what it was) being carried on the wind right toward us. It was spinning and spinning in the air coming closer and closer. It hit the car in front of us then splintered off and a large piece came right toward my car. It hit with such a BANG I first thought either the windshield or my driver door window had shattered. It glanced off the driver's outside mirror holder then slid across my driver window leaving a long scrape mark. That was the big BANG we heard. When I turned to look, there were large pieces of wood wedged between the window and the rubber seal that goes around the window. We were so shook up we couldn't move.



We said we need to get off this ramp so we followed the line of cars off the freeway and made it to a Shell gas station and mini-mart. Getting out of the car and making a run for the building was hard. We were getting pelted by sand, dirt and debris. The wind outside was deafening roar. All we could do was shake our heads in wonder. The woman who was in the car ahead of us finally came in too. We all compared our experiences and stated how lucky we all were, no one was hurt, just badly shaken.

Some of the sand lifted and we could make out a Denny's restaurant nearby. So we ran to the car and carefully made our way over there. We decided not to park under any trees, parked on the other side of the building and ran inside. There were others there who were caught same as we were. We decided to order something to eat the see if the sand cloud was going to continue blowing or to clear. We must have been there about an hour. As we watched from the window I could finally see cars more clearly exiting the freeway and my sister could see traffic moving on the freeway itself. We decided to go for it and continued West.

All the way home we kept talking about what we saw, and felt. We had sand and dirt in our hair, scalp, ears, clothes, shoes and between our toes. We could even “taste” dirt. My windshield looked and felt like it had been sand blasted. Very pitted and a mess. When I got home I unloaded the car in the living room and headed for the shower. It had been a very l-o-n-g day. So glad to sleep in my own bed.

NOTE: The very next day I was driving down the freeway to go shopping with a girlfriend telling her the story when a rock came flying at us and left a bulls-eye hole in the windshield. I think the car is cursed. Allstate, here I come.

2012 Copyright, Gayle Ficarra Wolcott