Conference Wrap Up:

A stellar array of speakers delighted the 720 attendees at our Portland 2005 Conference.  The co-Chairs wish to thank each and every one of them for delivering above and beyond.  The evaluations turned in so far have listed the quality of the speakers as the most highly rated feature and the Chairs agree. 

This is a well-deserved acknowledgement for our hardworking and omnipresent Program Chair, Laura Prescott!

Very special thanks go to Bob Velke of Wholly Genes Software, who filled in on just two days' notice for an ailing Cyndi Howells.  His two lectures taught everybody something!  And thanks to Janet Wallace for organizing the nice "card" for Cyndi, which many of the Conference attendees signed.  Cyndi certainly appreciated being remembered in that way.

Another special acknowledgment should be made to Marcel Jussaume, one of the speakers, who flew in from Paris, France, to give the talk, and then few right back the next day!

A selection of photos taken at the Conference is on the NERGC website:  www.nergc.org/photos.htm

Comments from Participants (taken from the evaluation forms):

“I am having the time of my life! I never knew a genealogy conference could by so much fun.” Rhode Island attendee.

“I am like a kid in a candy store walking around the exhibit hall, how thoughtful of you to have UPS so I can send all my goodies home!”

From a vendor. “This is my first time here and I cannot get over how congenial, friendly and helpful the staff has been. And the participants are so enthusiastic. I have already made plans to be in CT.”

---------

In response to the question: What did you like best about NERGC Portland 2005 Conference?, here is a sampling of the many comments.

“We (the organizers) listened to comments from the Sea Crest Conference and provided an excellent range of topics”

“the schedule was more relaxed then some I’ve attended”

“In town location with other research venues within walking distance”

“meeting people & Ancestors Road Show”

“friendliness, togetherness, great staff”

“impressed by congeniality and level of dedication”

“stimulating lectures”

“NERGC volunteers and organizers”

“syllabus was wonderful, spacing of programs gave us time for other things”

“camaraderie and chance to network, great speakers”

“top names in the world of genealogy”

“the volunteers, atmosphere, information and the way problems were handled”

“variety of speakers and topics, syllabus was exceptional: access to great resources and speakers, great chance to see products and schmooze with speakers”

“lots of vendor time allotted and such nice people”

“hearing from others both speakers and guests about practical uses of today’s methods of research”

Registration Statistics:

Gratia Mahony, who did an outstanding job as Registration Chair (and made it look easy!) gave us a breakdown on where our attendees hailed from:

New England:  586 (including 220 from Maine)

Middle Atlantic States: 64

Southern States:  24

Midwest:  15

Far West:  15

Canada:  14

England: 2

Gratia also said:  “I wish to thank all the volunteers who helped at the registration desk during the conference.  They gave of their time freely, and pitched in to stay longer when I needed them.”

How did people learn about the Conference?  Ruth Wellner, our Volunteer Chair reports:

The first morning we ran into a few participants and noticed some were from California, Michigan, Colorado and Indiana. The conversation turned to “how did you hear about us?”   All said they had read about it in the New England Ancestors Magazine and the e-news distributed by NEHGS. How nice to know that our advertising pays off!! All were first time participants in a genealogy conference. One said the reason for coming was the choice of lectures.

Some Conference Highlights:

From Allison Ryall, who chaired the Ancestors’ Road Show, a new feature at this year’s Conference: 

38 Professionals gave a total of 59 hours of volunteer help. (Not counting those who helped with the matching of individuals with professionals)

Approximately 175 separate individuals received help through the Road Show. The questions and “brick walls” spanned many generations and continents, including two ladies who were trying to trace their ancestor who had come from China, and returned there before his death!

From Janet Wallace, Queries Chair:

Before the Conference, we sold space in the Syllabus section called Query Column.  Proceeds went to help offset costs in providing the Syllabus.  We took in 101 Queries, which contributed $375.  We thank the 39 people who submitted and paid for entries. 

The Queries from the Syllabus will also be posted on the NERGC web site for a period of time in the near future, giving a bonus for those monies donated.

The Query Board at the Conference, offering free query space, provided a great meeting and conversation spot for attendees.  Blank forms were supplied, and people wrote and posted a total of 53 queries It is hoped that responses have been/will be forthcoming; there was a lot of note-taking at the Board, by folks who will search and respond from home.

When dismantling the Q-Board, I just could not throw away those questions, and I have them here at home.  At first glance, there are several where I can supply answers, or at least a lead. Some wrote answers right on the Query, but we cannot be certain the submitter knew his question was answered, so I'll follow through via e-mail to those persons.

From Ruth Wellner, Volunteer Coordinator:

Where does one begin to thank all the wonderfully efficient volunteers who were so instrumental in the success of this great conference? Whenever there was a crisis… there was always someone there to help pitch-in at the last minute. Whenever there was an errand, there you were ready and willing to help. This was in addition to your assigned tasks!

Please know that each and every one of you was crucial to us and we are indebted to you for your support. Hundreds of hours were given freely to the many areas of the conference needing volunteer assistance and always with a smile and a “can do” attitude. Participants were amazed at the number of volunteers we had and remarked asking if we knew how fortunate we were; the answer was always a resounding YES, we have the best volunteers, they are truly appreciated.

I hope you went away from the conference well satisfied with your volunteer efforts as we were so happy to work with you and were so pleased with all your help. Again, the success of the conference was ever so dependant on you and you came through for us and we thank all of you so much. See you in Connecticut!  Thank you.

Information about NERGC 2007:

NERGC 2007 will be held from April 26-29, 2007 on the riverfront in Hartford, Connecticut, just off I-91, overlooking the Connecticut River. 

NERGC’s tradition of excellence in providing genealogical lectures, seminars and workshops as well as exhibitors’ booths, the Ancestors Road Show, a Society Fair, and luncheons and banquets continues in April 2007.  A “Librarians’ Day” pre-conference is also in the works.

Plan to attend and enjoy conference activities in the new Connecticut Convention Center and the Marriott Hartford Downtown, both in the heart of the exciting new Adrien’s Landing redevelopment.

Beyond the conference itself, Hartford is a genealogical and historic haven, home of the Connecticut State Library and Connecticut Historical Society Museum and historic sites such as the homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.  The Godfrey Library in Middletown and the Connecticut Society of Genealogists’ library in East Hartford are not far away.

Tom Howard and Dick Roberts will Co-Chair the 2007 Conference and Kathryn Black is working with Dick and Tom on the Site Committee.

If you would like to learn more or volunteer for Committee Service, stop by the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council's booth in the Exhibit area and/or contact Tom at thomas.f.howard@snet.net or Dick at RRoberts@cslib.org.

To learn about developments, visit the NERGC website often:   www.nergc.org.

About this E-zine:

This e-zine is sent to you at your request or because of your involvement
in NERGC 2005.  You will be automatically subscribed to the NERGC 2007 e-zine.  If you would prefer to be “unsubscribed”, please send an email to john@konvalinka.com

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 Co-Chairs. 

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) Include "NERGC" in the subject -- to bypass spam filters
c) 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.

=============================================================
                  © 2005 New England Regional Genealogical Conference