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The program brochure for the 2005 conference in
Portland, Maine, March 31 - April 3, 2005 can be downloaded here.
NERGC 2005 Program Brochure
You will need to have Adobe Reader to view the file. It can be downloaded using the link below.
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Number 1 -- September 1,
2004
In This Issue:
-----------------
-Welcome from the Conference Co-Chairs
-Registration Information
-New York Times Article on
Portland Maine
-Highlights of the Conference
Program
-Participating Societies
and Their Events
-Committee Reports - Advertising and
Publicity
-About this E-zine
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WELCOME!
==========
Welcome to the NERGC 2005 conference e-zine! The purpose of this e-zine is to
keep everyone up to date on what's happening with the Conference, so please feel
free to share this with your friends and associates -- and anyone else you feel
would be interested in attending the Conference.
NERGC 2005 will be the eighth New England Regional Genealogical Conference and
promises to be the best ever. "The 2005 Conference will prove to be even more
successful than the 2003 Falmouth, Mass. Conference, which was the most
successful conference NERGC has run, based on attendance, finances, and
participant evaluations" according to Tom Howard, who incidentally will also
chair the 2007 NERGC Conference, which will be held in Connecticut.
For 2005, we are returning to Portland, Maine, the site of our successful 1998
Conference with an impressive list of speakers and exhibitors. In
addition to the program highlights later in this e-zine, be sure to see the
reference to the very favorable recent New York Times article on Portland.
You can feel the excitement building for our Conference. We have gotten many,
many hits on our new website: www.NERGC.org
and, as you'll see below, registrations are already steadily coming in. Be sure
to get your Conference and hotel registrations in early to assure your place at
the
events of your choice.
NERGC brings exceptional quality at minimal price to new and established
genealogists throughout New England. Among our more than 40 speakers is the
author of the best-selling Isle of Canes, Elizabeth Shown Mills, F.A.S.G. Her
interviews on radio and CNN have helped to propel this compelling
multi-generational historical novel to #9 on the Amazon.com list. A resident of
Alabama, her appearance here is a real treat for New
Englanders."
In future e-zines, we will tell you more about our many other fine speakers.
We thank the many participating societies and organizations which are making
this Conference possible and look forward to seeing all of you in
Portland!
Melinde Sanborn and David Mishkin, Conference Co-Chairs
==========================
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
==========================
Gratia Mahony, Registration Chair, reports:
"The Conference brochures have been printed and are ready to be picked up
and mailed out to NERGC participating society members. An announcement was
sent out to all NERGC delegates on 21 August 2004 informing them that the
brochures are finished. Those societies who requested printed copies can
(or have already) pick up brochures from NARA, 380 Trapelo Road, in
Waltham MA."
The Conference brochure is also available at the Conference website
www.nergc.org. Here you can see the full
conference program and the many
lectures and special events to choose from. (described above in Program
Highlights section)
If anyone would like a brochure and registration form mailed to them,
please contact Melinde Sanborn:
melinde44@comcast.net
Gratia also reports:
"Registrations for the 2005 conference have begun to come in. From these
first registrations I note that the Hosted Luncheons will be very
popular. Since space is limited for these, early registration will be
important. Also limited is the Photo Workshop, and after the first 50
registrations for this have been received, that workshop will be closed."
So, REGISTER EARLY!! To get the early registration discount your
registration must be postmarked before 1 March 2005. But don't wait till
then! As Gratia points out, many of the special events have limited
seating and will be sold out well before the early registration deadline.
=========================================
NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON
PORTLAND, MAINE
=========================================
Boy, can we pick 'em! According to the New York Times, Portland, Maine,
the site of NERGC 2005, is an exciting place to visit.
On page 12 of The Times' Travel Section on Sunday, August 8, 2004 there is
a very positive, practically-full-page article, "What's Doing in Portland,
Maine."
It was highlighted on the first page of the Travel Section under the
heading: "Urban Chic on the Menu in Maine -- New tastes and Old Favorites
give Portland a Cosmopolitan Blend."
The articles tells of the many interesting things to do and see in
Portland -- another benefit and reason to attend NERGC 2005.
The article can be found at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/travel/08wdportland.html
======================================
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONFERENCE
PROGRAM
======================================
The main reason to come to Portland, of course, is the exciting program
planned for NERGC.....
The theme of the Conference is "New England Crossroads 2005". Four of the
country's best known genealogists will be the lead speakers for this
program:
-Tony Burroughs will speak on "The Digital Office" and "The Six Phases of
African American Genealogy"
-Cyndi Howells will discuss "Evaluating Web Sites" and "Planting
Family: Your Family Tree Online"
-Elizabeth Shown Mills' topics are "The Identity Crisis: "Right Name, Wrong
Man? Wrong Name, Right Man?" and "Finding Females: Wives,
Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours"
-Craig Scott will discuss "Settled Accounts: The New England
Experience in Federal Records" and "Putting Ink on Paper: Getting Your Genealogical Material Published"
In addition Burroughs and Mills will be the speakers at the two Conference
banquets: Burroughs on "Becoming A Better Genealogist" and Mills on
"Discovering "Forgotten People: The story behind Isle of Canes".
More than 40 additional speakers at this three day Conference will
discuss a wide range of topics in tracks devoted to New England Research,
Ethnic Genealogy, Federal Records, Libraries and Records, Writing and
Publishing, Skills and Methodology, DNA Research and Computers the Internet
and other technical topics. Complete program details can be found at:
www.NERGC.org
Other features of the Conference:
--Special interest groups will hold mini-gatherings for anyone interested in similar topics.
--At the "Ancestors' Road Show" participants will have the opportunity for complimentary one-on-one consultations with experienced professional
genealogists.
--They will also have the opportunity for small group "power lunches" with the lead speakers and other nationally known genealogists.
--Genealogical Societies from all over New England will be in attendance, offering information about their resources and specialties.
--Exhibitors from all over the U.S. and Canada will offer genealogical products and services.
We will discuss more details about the program in future e-zine issues.
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PARTICIPATING SOCIETIES AND
THEIR EVENTS
=========================================
NERGC 2005 is being made possible by the participation of the organizations
listed here. Many of the participating societies will have special events,
meetings or exhibits planned in conjunction with the NERGConference.
For instance, the American French Genealogical Society (AFGS) will once
again have three booths at the Conference. "If you have a Canadian
marriage that you are searching for, be sure to stop by the booth as we will
have the Drouin fiche at our booth and may be able to help you."
We'll tell you about additional events in future issues.
Participating Societies and Organizations:
1. American Canadian Genealogical Society
www.acgs.org
2. American French Genealogical Society
www.afgs.org
3. Cape Cod Genealogical Society
www.capecodgensoc.org
4. Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society
www.cmgs-inc.org
5. Connecticut Ancestry Society
www.museumsusa.org/data/museums/CT/75609.htm
6. Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council
www.rootsweb.com/~ctpgc
7. Connecticut Society of Genealogists
www.csginc.org
8. The Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor
www.societyct.org/windsor.htm
9. Falmouth Genealogical Society www.falgen.org
10. Genealogical Society of Vermont
www.rootsweb.com/~vtgsv
11. Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston
www.jgsgb.org
12. Maine Genealogical Society
www.rootsweb.com/~megs/MaineGS.htm
13. Maine Historical Society
www.mainehistory.org
14. Massachusetts Society of Genealogists
www.rootsweb.com/~masgi
15. Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants
www.massmayflower.org
16. National Archives & Records Admin., Waltham MA
www.archives.gov
17. New England Historic Genealogical Society
www.NewEnglandAncestors.org
18. New Hampshire Society of Genealogists
www.nhsog.org
19. Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut & the Northeast www.pgsctne.org
20. Rhode Island Genealogical Society
http://users.ids.net/~ricon/rigs.html
21. The South Shore Genealogical Society
http://rootsweb.com/~massgs
22. The Irish Ancestral Research Association
http://tiara.ie
==========================
COMMITTEE CHAIRS' REPORTS
==========================
Advertising:
--------------
Ad packets have been sent to each participating Society. Please look for
them and contact Jan Burkhart (misskoko@aol.com)
if your packet cannot be
located.
Remember that each Society is responsible for selling ads and each Society
will have one free page to advertise something about their Society.
Publicity:
-----------
The Publicity Committee is preparing a number of publicity materials which
can be helpful to you in publicizing the conference to societies,
repositories and media outlets in New England, New York, New Jersey and
Eastern Canada. A press kit will be available soon and copies will be sent
to each participating society. Anyone may request a press kit; send an
email to john@konvalinka.com.
Elsie Gustafson has prepared a handsome advertisement for the Conference
which will be appearing in several genealogical magazines this fall and
winter.
Even without the graphics and attractive type fonts, the "copy" for the ad:
8TH NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL GENEALOGICAL CONFERENCE
"New England Crossroads"
MARCH 31-APRIL 3, 2005
Holiday Inn By the Bay
88 Spring Street, Portland Maine
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Tony Burroughs - Craig Scott
Maureen Taylor - Cyndi Howells
Walter Hickey
Plus Exhibits and Seminars!
For Reservation Form and Hotel Information
http://www.nergc.org
For additional information:
E-mail: troutbrook48@yahoo.com or
508-432-5769
========
makes a very effective announcement which can be included in an email to
interested persons and organizations. A full press release (part of the
press kit) will also be available for this purpose.
Dave Martin reports:
"I wanted to let you know that I've just sent Elsie's NERGC announcement
for inclusion in various journals and family-name newsletters, to a variety
of sources. They include the family-name societies ... Separately, I sent
the announcement also to [many genealogical societies and publications]"
Thanks, Dave! Efforts like these should be a real help in publicizing the
Conference and encouraging people to register.
Also, Frank Harrison will make periodic postings about the Conference to
various email lists, newsgroups and similar venues and Elsie is preparing
a mass mailing to announce the Conference to a large number of
organizations, libraries and repositories. We will also contact a number of
these by email.
-------
If you have ideas and suggestions for additional publicity, please email us
(john@konvalinka.com;
troutbrook48@yahoo.com)
=================
ABOUT THIS E-ZINE
=================
This e-zine is sent to you at your request or because of your involvement
in NERGC 2005.We welcome your thoughts and suggestions for items to appear in future
issues. Please send them to
john@konvalinka.com
Please feel free to share this newsletter with others. Permission to
email, copy, print is granted.
If you received this newsletter from a friend and you'd like to receive
future issues directly:
a) Send a message to: john@konvalinka.com
b) Put "subscribe" in the body of the message
That's it. Your address will NOT be shared and there will be no
advertising as a part of the e-zine.
=========================================
© 2004 New England Regional Genealogical Conference
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Number 2 - - October 3, 2004
In This Issue:
1. Welcome
2. First Time at a Conference?
3. Special Interest Groups
4. Program-Speaker Highlights
5. Research Opportunities in the
Portland Area
6. Other Fun Things to do in Portland
7. Conference Press Kit
8. Committee Reports
9. Registration Information
10. About this E-zine
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1. Welcome from David Mishkin,
Conference Co-Chair:
Practice
makes perfect and after having learned from seven Regional Conferences we have
put together, perhaps this is the most exciting one ever. We have some of the
most experienced conference planners and organizers working on Portland
2005....some of the best National and Regional speakers....some of the best
National and Regional exhibitors....one of the best facilities to hold the
conference and we are working with some of the greatest volunteers.
Portland,
Maine is proud to host the New England Regional Conference for the second time.
The last Portland conference was very successful and this next conference is
proving to exceed that success.
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As you will
read elsewhere, Portland recently was cited as a charming place to visit in a
New York Times article. Visit the museums, the lighthouses, take a ferry ride
to the islands, and don't leave without having a lobster dinner. But don't
forget that Maine Historical Society has some of the best research material you
will find. Be sure to visit the Maine Genealogical Society table at the Society
Fair to see how they can help you doing research in Maine. Learn about
memberships in both organizations.
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The
conference is now only six months away now and a number of registrations have
already come in. There are several programs with limited spaces available
so please be sure to register early. With such an impressive program and with
the new and exciting events planned, you just can't take the chance of missing
this memorable gathering.
2. First Time at a Conference?
Will
NERGC Portland be the first large genealogical conference
you’ve attended?
Don’t be concerned. Tom Howard will hold a “First Timers” session on
Thursday night similar to the one he ran at Falmouth for NERGC 2003. More
than 50 people attended that session and reported it was very helpful for them.
Tom will have many helpful suggestions for getting the most out of the
Conference -- and making sure you want to come back for the next one!
3. Special Interest Groups:
Another
popular feature at previous conferences has been the smaller group, informal
“mini-gatherings” for people interested in a wide range of topics:
ethnic/nationalities (Irish, French-Canadian, Scotch, Polish, etc.) and
activities (cemetery research, etc).
This idea
started small – from just a few groups of people in the mid 1990s who met in the
leaders’ hotel rooms, to an ever expanding range of interests and groups large
enough to require special meeting rooms.
There will
be many special interest group meetings in Portland, starting Thursday night at
7:30. We’ll provide more details in future e-zines and on the NERGC website
www.nergc.org. Stay
tuned and let us know of any special interests you’d like to be sure are
covered. We will have plenty of meeting space available for groups of any size.
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If you’d like to help organize or participate
in leading a special interest group, please contact:
Donna E. Walcovy, Special Interest Group Chair
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4. Program-Speaker Highlights:
In each issue of the e-zine we will describe one or
more aspects of the program we think you will find particularly interesting. In
addition to the outstanding sessions that will be presented by our four featured
speakers (described in Issue #1 of this e-zine) you will not want to miss
the Photography Workshop (T-2, Thursday afternoon from 1:30 to 5) presented by:
David Mishkin
and Maureen Taylor
Maureen Taylor's
other session:
"Telling Your Family Story: Heritage Scrapbooks to
DVDs" (S-62, Saturday 4:45-5:45).
Maureen will also be hosting one of the small group
luncheons on Saturday.
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Both the Photography Workshop and
small luncheons have limited space and require pre-registration --
so don't
delay in getting signed up!
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Maureen is well known to many of us as
a contributing editor to
Family Tree Magazine, and as the author
of
Preserving Your Family Photographs (Betterway
2001) and
Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs
(Betterway 2000) as well as a guide to family history for kids,
Through
the Eyes of Your Ancestors (Houghton Mifflin,
1999). She is also well known for her lectures and workshops, for her columns
which appear in
New England Ancestors,
Ancestry
and Family
Tree Magazine and for her numerous television and
radio appearances including The View, MSNBC and
DIY:Scrapbooking.
More information about Maureen's background and work can be found
on her website:
www.taylorandstrong.com.
5. Research Opportunities in
the Portland Area:
As mentioned
above, one of our Participating Societies, the Maine Historical Society,
located at 489 Congress Street in Portland
(207) 774-1822 has some wonderful research material.
Their website,
www.mainehistory.org, provides a good introduction
to what you will find there and their hours of operation.
Their Research
Library was established in 1822 to promote the discovery, identification,
collection, preservation and interpretation of materials which document the
history of Maine and its people. The collection consists of over 100,000
printed books and pamphlets and two million manuscript pages from the 15th to
the 21st centuries.
While there you can also visit the Wadsworth-Longfellow
house, the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which was also home two
other generations of the family that made significant contributions to the
political, literary, and cultural life of New England and the United States.
Also, the newly renamed Museum of African
Culture,
also in Portland at 122 Spring Street #1 (207) 871-7188 has just
celebrated its sixth Anniversary.
In just these few years the Museum has gained
wide recognition for its outstanding collection of African art and artifacts and
its commitment to sharing the collection and all that it teaches to people in
the State of Maine and throughout New England.
Visit its website
www.tribalartmuseum.com to learn
more and plan to visit while you are in Portland.
They are planning to be open
for extra hours during our Conference.
Finally, at
the Conference, be sure to visit the table of our Participating Society,
the
Maine Genealogical Society
at the Society Fair to see how they
can help you doing research in Maine.
6. Other Fun Things to do in
Portland:
We don't need to tell you about the wonderful
lobster restaurants around Portland. But to find out more about things to see
and do, check out these helpful websites:
·
Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater
Portland: www.visitportland.com
·
Freeport Merchants Association:
www.freeportusa.com
·
The Maine Mall:
www.mainemall.com
·
Port of Portland:
www.portofportlandmaine.org
·
Portland’s Downtown District:
www.portlandmaine.com
In future issues of the
e-zine we'll highlight some of the best Portland has to offer and tell you how
you can get a detailed map and informative brochure of the greater Portland
area.
7.
Conference
Press Kit:
We have prepared a detailed
and attractively packed press kit to inform the important media organizations in
our area about the Conference and why it will be newsworthy for their
newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programs. In addition to a copy of the
Conference brochure, the press kit contains:
·
Contact Information – names and emails of key Conference Personnel
·
The Conference Press Release
·
Highlights of the Program
·
More Details on the Featured Speakers
·
More on NERGC
·
Names and Contact Persons for the 22 Participating Societies
The Press Release and other sections of the press kit are available on the Conference website:
www.nergc.org/press_kit.htm.
Paper copies of the Press Kit were distributed to delegates and others attending
the October 2 meeting in Waltham. If you would like one or more copies of the
printed paper version of the press kit (particularly if you can put them in the
hands of senior media people in your area) please send an email to
john@konvalinka.com
8. Committee Reports
Vendors/Exhibitors:
Vicky Ryan and Jim Holmes report that booth sales have been going briskly and
that many important national and regional vendors have already reserved exhibit
space. This should make the Exhibit Hall an exciting place to be during the
Conference. Remember, the Exhibitor Hall is also open to the public and that
there are unopposed exhibitor times for everyone to browse between lectures and
meals.
Some booth space (8 x 10 feet) is still available, but the
cost will go up after 31 Dec 2004.
For particulars, or to reserve your space contact
Jim Holmes
Jimholms@cs.com>
or
Vicky Ryan
vrya@prodigy.net>
Publicity:
Our first ad for the Conference appeared recently -- in NEHGS' New England
Ancestors Newsletter. Look for Conference ads to appear soon in important
genealogical magazines and Journals, including Family Tree Magazine,
Ancestry, Heritage Quest and FGS Forum.
Also, the Committee will soon be mailing and e-mailing the
Conference press release and other details about the Conference to a large
number of genealogical and historical societies, libraries, archives and Family
History Centers in New England, New York, New Jersey and Eastern Canada.
If you have ideas and suggestions for additional
publicity, please email us
(john@konvalinka.com
or troutbrook48@yahoo.com)
Queries
Janet Wallace, our Query Column Chair, reports:Query entries for the 2005
Conference Syllabus have already started to come in. The first one arrived in
late August, from -- FLORIDA!
For proper entry format, prices and payment procedure, please visit the NERGC web site:
www.nergc.org and click
on Conference Brochure -- OR -- Email:
QueryColumn@aol.com for information.
Your Query entries may find
that elusive answer for you, and will help defray Syllabus expenses.
9.
Registration Information
The Conference brochure and registration form is available
for download at the Conference website
www.nergc.org.
Here you can see the full conference program and the
many lectures and special events to choose from.
If anyone would like a brochure and registration form
mailed to them, please contact Melinde Sanborn:
melinde44@comcast.net
Gratia Mahony, Registration Chair, reports that a steady
flow of registrations is beginning to arrive each day and that, as expected, the
Hosted Luncheons and Photo Workshop will probably be sold out well before the
early registration deadline.
So, REGISTER EARLY!! To get the early registration discount
your registration must be postmarked before 1 March 2005. But don't wait till
then if you plan to attend one of the small group luncheons or Photo Workshop.
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10.
About this E-zine
This e-zine is sent to you at your request or because of
your involvement in NERGC 2005.
This and earlier issues of this e-zine are
available on the NERGC Website:
www.nergc.org/e-zine.htm.
We welcome your thoughts and suggestions for items to appear
in future issues. We also encourage you to email any questions you may have
about the Conference to the Conference planners. We will try to answer them
here and by email. Please
address all questions and comments to
john@konvalinka.com
Please feel free to share this newsletter with others.
Permission to email, copy, print is granted.
If you received this newsletter from a friend and you'd like to receive future
issues directly:
a) Send a message to:
john@konvalinka.com
b) Put "subscribe" in the body of the message
That's it. Your address will NOT be shared and there will be no advertising as
a part of the e-zine.
|
====================================================================
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Conference
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