Also..

Scottish Research will be hosted by Diane Rapaport (speaker for the Friday afternoon lecture, “Scots for Sale: The Fate of the Scottish War Prisoners in Seventeenth-Century New England”).  Meet other researchers tracing Scots ancestors, talk about your favorite genealogical resources, pick up complimentary copies of The Highlander magazine, and enjoy some Scottish music.

Court Records Research is another group that Diane Rapaport is organizing (although she is seeking a volunteer to host the gathering on Thursday night). As many family historians know, court records offer valuable genealogical details that may appear nowhere else. Fascinating stories about the lives of our ancestors are still hidden away in the old court records, waiting to be discovered. Share tips with other researchers on finding and using court records.

The Eastern Woodland Indian Research group will be hosted by Jennifer Lee,

who is a Native singer and does reenactments.  Jennifer was very involved with the anniversary celebrations at Deerfield MA this past year. She and Sherry Gould will be dressed in 18th century regalia and will sing some Eastern Woodland traditional songs.

An English Records group is being formed.  We'll have more to tell you about this -- and other groups -- in the next E-zine and on the NERGC website: www.nergc.org.  To help us plan for meeting space  please contact the organizer of the group you’d like to attend.

And continue to check the website for new groups and let us know of any special interests you’d like to be sure are covered -- and if you’d like to help organize or participate in leading a special interest group.  please contact Sherry Gould: sherrygould@direcway.com  or Donna Walcovy: kona@konadesigns.com.

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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 nationally known speakers (described in Issue #1 of this E-zine) you will not want to miss the lecture by Walter V. Hickey: "Getting the MOST from Census Records" right at the beginning of the Conference -- on Thursday afternoon 31 March from 2:45 to 3:45.

As many of you know, Walter is an archives specialist in the National Archives and Records Administration–Northeast Region (Boston) and has previously worked in the Pittsfield branch of the Northeast Region. He is a frequent lecturer to genealogical organizations on the many types of records and finding aids that are available at the National Archives.

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Articles by our Speakers:

In addition to the article by Walter Hickey, articles by several of our NERGC speakers have recently appeared in important magazines:

· An interview with Elizabeth Shown Mills, “Genealogy as Historical Fiction”, about her new book, Isle of Canes, appears in the September/October 2004 issue of the NGS News Magazine.

· Laura Prescott, who will be speaking on  “Making Your Point with PowerPoint”  (and is the NERGC Program Chair), has an article “The Ladies in Your Lineage – Digging Deeper” in the November/December 2004 issue of Ancestry Magazine.

· In the same issue of Ancestry appears Beau Sharbrough’s article, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Genealogists”.  At the Conference, Beau will be speaking on “Gadgets for Genealogists on the Go” and “Fixing Family Photos:  You Can Do It.”

· Joyce Pendery has an article, “Fraternal Organizations of Our Ancestors” in the Fall 2004 issue of New England Ancestors and will be speaking on  that subject at the Conference.

· Diane Rapaport has an article “Tales from the Courthouse:  The Case of the Naked Quaker” in the same issue of  New England Ancestors.  Part II of her article appears in the Holiday 2004 issue of the Magazine.  Diane will be speaking on “Scots for Sale: The Fate of the Scottish War Prisoners in Seventeenth-Century New England” at the Conference.

· John Konvalinka’s article, “Keeping Up with the Neighbors – Learning about your Ancestors from the People The Associated with” appears in the September/October 2004 issue of the NGS News Magazine.

As we become aware of other published articles by our Conference speakers, we will list them in future issues of the E-zine.  To be sure we don’t miss any, please tell us about any recent articles you know about. [Back to Top] 

5. More About the Portland Area:

In addition to the research and other suggestions in earlier issues of the E-zine, be sure to add the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine.  See www.usm.maine.edu/~maps.  In addition to a thorough description of the collection, there are what appear to be helpful links to other map sites.  (Thanks for this tip to Janet Alexander who writes: “I'm looking forward to my first NERGC!”)

And this from Melinde, our indefatigable Conference Co-Chair:

What true blue genealogist can resist a used bookstore??  Portland sports a great collection of six members of the Maine Antiquarian Booksellers Association, several are located just a short distance from our hotel.  Get out and stretch your legs (or take your car if you are going to buy a lot!).

BOOK TRADERS -- Curtis Kise

561 Congress Street, Portland 04101  (Downtown Portland, on Congress Street, between Forest and Oak Streets) (207)773-1840

Year-round: 11-5 (at least); hours expand in summer

Book Traders is a general used bookstore that has a major strength in literature/fiction, including mysteries, science fiction, romance, etc. The store does not specialize in any one subject matter. Approximately 30,000 volumes in stock.

CARLSON TURNER BOOKS AND BINDERY -- Scott & Glenda Wilson

241 Congress Street, Portland 04101 (207)773-4200, (800)540-7323

swilson@maine.rr.com;  www.carlsonturnerbooks.com

Year-round: Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5; also by chance or appointment.

An organized collection of 70,000 quality used books, including paperbacks, on all subjects. Also maps, prints, and ephemera. Specialties include: scholarly, antiquarian, Maine, travel, Civil War, nautical, railroad, the unusual and eccentric. Computerized search service. Also: Bookbinding, restoration, and repairs. Ample street parking.

CUNNINGHAM BOOKS -- Nancy S. Grayson

Longfellow Square, 188 State Street, Portland 04101, (207)775-2246

Year-round: Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

A diverse, well-organized selection of about 50,000 titles, fiction and non-fiction, for the reader and the collector.

DURGERIAN BOOKS AND BOOKBINDING -- Charles L. Durgerian

36 Deering Run Drive, Portland 04103,  (207)797-6616

Year-round: By appointment only

Book restoration, repairs, and boxes. New bindings in leather, cloth, and paper. Also, a choice selection of scarce, rare, and out-of-print books relating to the Middle and Near East.

EMERSON BOOKS, ANTIQUE MAPS & PRINTS -- Thomas & Mary Emerson

In the Old Port, 18 Exchange Street, P.O. Box 366, Portland 04112  (207)874-2665

fax: (207)828-9999 emersonbooks@msn.com

Year-round: Extended summer hours, shorter winter hours -- please call

Extensive collection of antique maps, nautical charts, and prints. Diverse selection of old and new books including art, fiction, children's history, psychology, nautical, spiritual, metaphysical, and much more.

YES BOOKS -- Pat Murphy

589 Congress Street, Portland 04101, (Congress Square, across from Portland Museum of Art) (207)775-3233 Year-round: Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-4

Art, photography, history, New Age, Eastern religion, prints and maps, Maine. Approximately 23,000 books in stock.

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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   

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6. Transportation: Getting to Portland:

As the large number of NERGC Officers, Committee Chairs and Participating Society Delegates discovered last weekend at our meeting, Portland is easily accessible by car (mostly on I-95 and I-295 into Portland), and there is ample free parking at our Conference hotel, the Holiday Inn by the Bay.

AMTRAK also has good service into Portland from Boston and points south.

Here is the website link for fares and schedules of the AMTRAK Downeaster:  www.thedowneaster.com.

This link shows all of the places that the Downeaster stops: www.thedowneaster.com/station_information.php.  This makes it an ideal transportation method for those traveling to NERGC from the Boston area or some parts of New Hampshire.

Also, our Holiday Inn is near the Portland Airport and Bus Terminal and offers courtesy vans for transportation to and from Portland International Jetport, Amtrak Train Station and Bus Terminals.  Look at www.innbythebay.com/amenities.html. It is under the section marked "Hotel Features".

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7. Want to Volunteer?

NERGC, like all large conferences, depends heavily on volunteer help for the many things that need to be done before and during the conference.  Here are a few of the areas where some good volunteer help would make a difference:

Publicizing the Conference:

With little more than 100 days until the conference begins we have an immediate need for volunteers help to help distribute publicity material to your local libraries, archives and Family History Centers – and to check back at these facilities periodically to re-stock them if necessary.   Please send an email to john@konvalinka.com if you can help in your area and we will send you a supply of Conference brochures and flyers.    We can also supply Press Kits to anyone who has a contact at a local media (newspaper, magazine or broadcast station) who can arrange to do a feature piece on the Conference.

Ancestors Road Show:

The NERGC 2005 needs skilled genealogists to help staff the Ancestors Road Show on Friday and Saturday,1 and 2 April.  NERGC attendees will have the opportunity to sign up to spend 15 minutes with a skilled genealogist to review and ask for direction on one family history roadblock that they are struggling with.   If you are able to commit an hour or more to volunteer to help with this exciting and rewarding event please e-mail Allison L. Ryall, Ancestors Road Show Chair, at allison@allisonryall.com.  Be sure to include your area of expertise and the time(s) that you are available to help with the Ancestors Road Show.

Special Interest Groups:

Please contact Cheryl Patten at: cpatten@tdstelme.net if you can help with any of the Special Interest Groups that have formed thus far, or if you would like to organize an additional group.  Diane Rapaport needs a volunteer to chair the Court Records group.  She can be reached at rapaports@aol.com.

Conference Newsletter:

Deb Esposito looking for a volunteer to work with her on the newsletter which is published each day of the Conference to inform the participants of any changes or additions to the schedule.  Ideally, this volunteer would become the newsletter chair for the next Conference.  Some MS Word experience is necessary.  Please contact Deb at   978-345-2459 or Deb.esposito@shackleton.org or espositodeb@comcast.net.

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And at the Conference itself we will need people to assist the exhibitors, and to help with registration, signage, hospitality, and more.

CAN YOU HELP?  Please contact Ruth Wellner, our Volunteer Chair at rqw@wellner.org  

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8. Committee Reports:

Exhibit  Hall:

Vicky Ryan and Jim Holmes report: “We’re on our way to a sell out!  The latest addition to the list of exhibitors includes Walrus Publishers and the Connecticut Professional Genealogist Council.”  

Some booth space (8 x 10 feet) is still available, but the cost will go up after 31 Dec 2004. To see a floor plan of the Exhibit Hall, go to: www.nergc.org/floor.htm.   For more information or to reserve remaining booth space contact Jim Holmes:  jimholms@cs.com  or Vicky Ryan: vrya@prodigy.net .   

Remember, the Exhibit Hall will open to conference registrants and other shoppers (the general public) at 6:00 Thursday evening and there will be "unopposed exhibitor times" throughout the conference between lectures and meals for everyone to browse.