Discovering Family Treasures

Welcome to the third New England Regional Genealogical Conference 2009 E-zine! Between now and April 2009, we’ll be providing updates on the Tenth New England Regional Genealogical Conference through periodic E-zines like this one. Please share them with your friends and associates – and anyone else you feel may be interested in attending the Conference.

DISCOVERING FAMILY TREASURES

The New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC) invites you to join us at our tenth genealogical conference — Discovering Family Treasures in Manchester, New Hampshire. NERGC 2009 will help attendees “discover”:

• Ancestors who immigrated to and migrated out of New England.

• The wealth of information available in New England’s archives, libraries, and historical societies.

• Specific types of diverse source materials not usually initial places to begin research (school records, church records, newspapers, maps)

• Resources and other researchers through technology and social activities throughout the conference.

NERGC 2009 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 2009 conference will provide you with an ideal opportunity to advance your knowledge and research skills.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Program Co-Chairs Barbara Mathews and Christine Sweet-Hart have an exciting program planned. Some 54 speakers, led by featured speakers James Hansen, FASG; Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG; and Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak will provide 80 lecture sessions devoted to a wide range of topics in tracks devoted to Finding Genealogical Treasure; Recording Your Family History for Future Generations; Migration, Immigration, and Naturalization; New England Research; French Canadian Research; and more. There will also be a First-Timers Session, special interest groups, and optional workshops.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The Conference Registration Brochure is going to print at the end of this week, and online registration options will be announced very soon. Watch for additional registration information, including the full registration brochure, coming soon to the NERGC Web page, www.NERGC.org, and check the conference Blog at http://nergc2009.blogspot.com for developing information.

ABOUT OUR HOST CITY

Manchester is a vibrant city with world class entertainment at the Verizon Center, one block from the host hotel. The mill district along the riverfront offers museums, relaxation at spas, and fine dining at well-known restaurants. Live music and nightlife is featured at Irish, Mexican, Asian, and American establishments an easy walk from the hotel.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES AND HOTEL INFORMATION

The Tenth New England Regional Genealogical Conference is being held at the Radisson Hotel Manchester and adjoining Expo Center of New Hampshire. Parking is available for both the convention center attendees and hotel guests at a discounted rate. The facilities are located approximately six miles from the Manchester Airport and approximately 60 miles from Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts.

Hotel & Convention Center

The Radisson Hotel Manchester and Expo Center are located at 700 Elm Street, Manchester, New Hampshire.

Telephone: 603-206-4109
Toll Free: 1-800-333-3333
Fax: 603-206-4206
Rate: $127+ single/double/triple/quad
Check-in: after 3:00 P.M.
Check-out: by 11:00 A.M.
Hotel website: www.radisson.com/manchesternh
Group Code: NERGC

When making reservations online, be sure to enter the group code above to get the special NERGC rate. For making reservations via telephone, please call Radisson Reservations at the above telephone number and indicate to the representative that you are with the New England Regional Genealogical Conference.

Located in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, close to entertainment and tax-free shopping the Radisson Hotel Manchester offers warm hospitality and an inviting atmosphere. They are a full-service hotel offering room service, business services, and complimentary airport transportation.

LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS DAY

NERGC 2009 is pleased to offer a special program for librarians and teachers. The event will be held on Thursday, 23 April 2009, at the Radisson Hotel Manchester. Attendees will hear several excellent speakers who will help to enhance their knowledge of genealogical resources and applications. All librarians and teachers who work with family history patrons or genealogy-related research materials will benefit from this special event. The cost is $35.00 per person and includes lunch compliments of ProQuest.

HOSPITALITY's "Street Walkers"

The Hospitality Committee has been busy walking the streets around the conference facilities checking out what might be of interest for the many conference attendees (& guests). The conference itself will have much to offer, but so will the city of Manchester, especially if you choose to travel along its main road called ELM STREET. It forms a grid with other interesting streets, such as Hanover, Amherst, & Canal, so it's quite easy to find your way around. Along these streets you will find eateries of all kinds, shopping, entertainment, historical places, etc. To begin with, the Visitor's Center and Veteran's Park are across the street from our host hotel on Elm Street (the Radisson), while a few blocks ways are both the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and City Hall Square.

We hope you'll consider taking advantage of the many opportunities that will be available both at the conference and in this area. By the time you arrive we hope to have you “Nuts About Manchester” or at least for ELM Street, like we are. Watch for future installments in which we will try to inform each “nut” of the numerous possibilities that await you here, whether you're a genealogy nut; a sport's nut; a collector; jogger; a shopaholic, or whatever you're “nuts” about doing. Let us know what you're nuts about and we'll see what we can find for you. We've already located the nearest Dunkin' Donuts for our own “coffee nut” on the hospitality committee, along with several other nice coffee shops on Elm Street.

To discover more about our host city, check out:

www.manchestercvb.com
www.manchester-chamber.org
www.gmdeg.com
www.newhampshire.com
or do a GOOGLE search.

THE PAPER CHASE

Attendees see a smooth-running conference with wonderful options like a superb Exhibit Hall complete with temptation-filled booths of genealogical magic. But I'm here to report that there is serious paperwork involved! Today, day 37 of the Fair licensing effort, I can report that we got it! In New Hampshire, unlike other states, there is no sales tax or income tax. Even the licensing requirements for events like exhibits and fairs are very simple - or so I was told.

Armed with the NERGC check, and seven completed questionnaire pages, I presented same to the Manchester Town Clerk to secure the single Fair license that allows us to have an Exhibit Hall (this saves all the vendors from having to get individual licenses). The assistance clerk checked a flurry of lines and handed it back to me. I needed to get the police department and the fire department to sign off before she'd issue the license - oh - and they wouldn't sign off without a floorplan of the exhibit hall, a list of the exhibitors, proof of $1M insurance, and one additional line signed off by our President.

All I was trying to do was give them money! So, I visited the police dept., but the officer was not in; I visited the fire dept., and the chief wasn't in. At least at the fire department I met an enthusiastic genealogist who was eager to be added to the NERGC E-zine list! She was so helpful, she read the entire submission and pulled out a pre-printed stamp, used it on page 6 and asked me to initial and date it. The stamp said "No Pyrotechnics or Open Flames." I could just see David Mishkin and Tom Wilber, our Exhibit Hall Co-Chairs, completely dejected at having to abandon the really Grand, Grand Opening they had envisioned. I signed anyway.

The miracle of faxing allowed me to get the signatures yesterday, and despite the fact that they weren't all on the same pages, today the Manchester Clerk took it and issued me an embossed seal Fair Permit.

So come one, come all . . . just don't expect pyrotechnics!

Melinde Lutz Sanborn
Tri-Chair, 2009 NERGC

DISCOVER EXHIBIT HALL TREASURES

NERGC offers unopposed exhibitor times at the Grand Opening as well as on Friday and Saturday, so attendees are able to visit the Exhibit Hall at their leisure without having to miss any lectures. The Exhibit Hall will also be open to the public during the normal exhibiting hours. From booksellers to local genealogical societies, exhibitors will all be there anxious to talk to you and help in any way they can.

Many of the exhibitors will also be participating in a "Treasure Chest" promotion. All attendees will receive a coupon that they can deposit at the exhibitor's booth. They will then be eligible to receive a promotional gift from that exhibitor when the drawings are completed.

The Manchester conference will have a total of 73 booth spaces for exhibitors, but they’re going fast. If you, or your society, would like to have a booth, contact David Mishkin, photos@maine.com, or Tom Wilber, twilber140@msn.com, for an information package..

See you in Manchester,
David and Tom

ANCESTORS ROAD SHOW

If you are confronting a problem in your research that appears to have somethingto do with one of the subjects listed below, consider signing up for a consultation at the 2009 NERGC ANCESTORS ROAD SHOW. Pre-Conference sign ups will be available for Conference attendees beginning in March 2009. Information will be posted in future issues of the E-zine as well as on the NERGC website, www.nergc.org.

If you have experience in one of these areas and would like to volunteer to help at the ROAD SHOW contact Margaret Dube (CommonFolk@Comcast.net ) or Pam Eagleson (peagleson@yahoo.com), co-chairs of this event.

HELP ON THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH PROBLEM AREAS WILL BE AVAILABLE

TRANSLATIONS
IMMIGRATION
DNA
WRITING/EDITING
ETHNIC -- French Canadian, Irish, Native American, Eastern European, African American, Scots-Irish
REGIONAL -- New England + New York, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, Southern
CENSUS
FRONTIER RESEARCH
MEDIEVAL RESEARCH
NEWSPAPER RESEARCH
21st CENTURY RESEARCH
COLONIAL RESEARCH
BCG CERTIFICATION
LINEAGE APPLICATIONS
PROBLEM SOLVING/PROOF SUMMARIES
MILITARY

RESERVE A SPOT AT THE 2009 SOCIETY FAIR

Attention Genealogical, Historical, and Family Societies: Don’t miss a great opportunity to tell your story. Take part in the 2009 Society Fair on Thursday April 23, 2009 from 5 to 7 PM. You will be able to meet and interact with many like-minded participants who have registered for the 2009 NERGC Conference. A table, chairs and signage will be provided for each participating society, and the cost is FREE!! While merchandise sales are not permitted, participants may distribute and display literature and other information. What a great place to gain a few new members! Participation is already off to a good start, so take steps right now to reserve your table by contacting Ralph Wadleigh at whplar@comcast.net.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS are a NERGC Family Treasure. If you can give one or more hours of your time volunteering during the conference, please sign up for one or more hours volunteering during the conference. We will need help in many different areas each day of the conference, from helping at the registration table to assisting with conference evaluations. Assignments will be honored on a first come first serve basis, so sign up now, and once all our needs are known, you'll be e-mailed a list of choices. You don’t have to be attending to volunteer, so if you are bringing a spouse or friend along for the ride, please ask if they will help out as well. Please e-mail Volunteer Chair Christine Bard at bardc@comcast.net with your contact info.

A WORD FROM THE SYLLABUS ADVERTISING CHAIR

We invite individuals, organizations, and companies dealing with products and/or services of interest to genealogists to place an advertisement in our Conference syllabus. A copy of the syllabus will be given to each of the 800 expected attendees and will be carried back to genealogical societies and libraries all over the country and Canada. This is a great way to get your information directly into the hands of people who are most likely to take advantage of it!

The deadline for submitting advertising is January 3, 2009, but don’t delay – space will be selling fast. For a rate schedule, details about payment, and instructions for preparing your camera-ready advertisement, contact Advertising Chair Jan Burkhardt, misskoko@aol.com

ABOUT THIS E-ZINE
This E-zine is sent to you at your request or because of your involvement in NERGC 2007. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions for items to appear in future issues. Please send them to Richard Roberts, at Rroberts1861@Charter.net.

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© 2008 New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc.

Hartford 2007 ~ Portland 2005 ~ Society Information ~ NERGC Volunteer Award ~ Bylaws