Wait. What is the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge?
The 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge is a forum of researchers from, at times, around the world who gather online together to find the story, or stories, behind a piece of ephemera within 48 hours using their experience, expertise, problem-solving skills, and online resources. Each weekend the forum is challenged to place the people mentioned in the ephemera back into history where they belong in hopes of returning the ephemera back to the family where it belongs. 

Therefore, as Ephemera Whisperers, we are very honored and excited to be invited to the National Genealogical Society's 2013 Conference, Building New Bridges, as that is exactly what we try to do -- help families build a bridge to their own personal history with ephemera. 

There will be three 48 Hour Ephemera Challenges the week of the conference, and they will be hosted in the Internet Cafe which is being graciously provided by the National Genealogical Society, FamilySearch, and findmypast.com for all conference-goers to use throughout the conference. All those attending the conference as well as people at home are welcome to join the challenge as we collaborate online to solve each challenge. 

All three challenges will either be Las Vegas-related or Nevada-related with the first one beginning Tuesday evening, the second one beginning Wednesday evening, and the third one beginning Thursday evening. Each challenge will last for 48 hours with the last one ending on Saturday. 

With your help, can the Ephemera Whisperers put these people back into history where they belong -- in 48 hours? There is only one way to find out, and you have just been challenged!

For more information, please visit the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum or Contact Me.

~Caroline

What did I like best about Jamboree?

Could it have been the minute I checked in and spotted my good friend Lisa Alzo talking to Megan Smolenyak [whom I just love & who was on my must-meet list]?

Could it have been seeing, talking in person with, breaking bread with, laughing with, tweeting next to each other during a session with my many blogger friends who I "talk" to almost every day?

Could it have been having the privilege of listening to and learning from genealogy and family history rock stars like Megan Smolenyak [Yes. She pops up a lot in this post. I promise I'm not stalking her. Much. Just kidding. No, really I am. Kidding, that is.], Curt Witcher, and D. Joshua Taylor?

Could it have been having the privilege to see up-and-coming genealogy and family history rock stars like Elyse Doerflinger and Denise Levenick?

Could it have been having the privilege of listening to Lisa Alzo show how she shares her family history with her family? [And she even managed to make me tear up AND inspired me so much that I wrote half a blog post while listening to her. That is, until I teared up. And my iPhone battery died.]

Could it have been when I had the privilege of sharing my experiences with blogging [alongside my colleagues] with eager folks? You know the kind. The ones who have that sparkle in their eyes and that smile on their face when they realize they actually have a convenient way to share their family stories, their photos, and their research.

Could it have been when I was giving a tech lesson to my good friend Kim Von-Aspern Parker after the Gala Friday night. [Yes, I kept my tiara on. Cuz, why not?]

Could it have been when I was sitting next to Tonia Kendrick after Jamboree & we were quietly just sitting there reading, tweeting, and relaxing?

Could it have been when Susan Kitchens brought some wine and cheese and we were all just laughing, talking, and being silly about "stuff" after Jamboree?

Could it have been when Susan Kitchens shared her aunt's very precious scrapbook and I marveled over the coloring by hand her aunt did of so many of her pics?

Could it have been all the new people I met and the friends I made?

I don't know which experience was my favorite at Jamboree. The wifi and cell service was spotty and expensive in the rooms. My blogging plans were thwarted. My Storify plans had to be scrapped. I managed to tweet however. [Cuz where there is a will, there's a way.] There wasn't a convenient place to "set-up shop" where the wifi worked. [And, no, we don't all have iPads. And, no, I'm not buying one just for conferences.]

So I guess I'll have to say I can't pick. It was THAT fabulous. That awe-inspiring. [Can't tell you how many notes I entered into my iPhone for blog posts ideas and freebies for y'all. That's right freebies.]

Quite simply, it rocked.

~Caroline

I downloaded the #SCGS12 Jamboree app today for my iPhone. Below are screenshots from the app. So far, it has syllabi in PDF format loaded for Thursday [pre-conference] through Sunday.

It also has Pre-conference events loaded & I imagine the rest will be loaded soon.

The app has videos from last year's Jamboree & I'm sure during Jamboree it will be added to just as photos will be.

Through the app, I've already connected my Twitter, Facebook, & LinkedIn accounts. I also filled out my profile including my profile pic.

And as soon as the rest of the events are loaded, I'll start adding events I plan to attend into my schedule in the app.

I couldn't be happier. I love apps.

The app is available for the iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, & other smartphones with browsers.

~Caroline

[Note: This post was written using the Weebly app on my iPhone. I plan to do a lot of blogging from Jamboree using it if my cell service works, that is.]

Do you know where you'll be Jun 8th thru Jun 10th? I know where I'll be. In SoCal catching up with my genealogy blogger buddies and attending presentations at the Southern California Genealogical Society's 2012 Jamboree in Burbank, California. From Blogger Summits to genealogy to great food to good times, there really isn't any other place I'd rather be.

And? This year's theme is Lights, Camera, Ancestors! When Paula Hinkel told me at FGS last year what their theme was, my first thought was, "Brilliant!" And my second thought was, "I could wear my tiara to the Hollywood Gala on Friday night!"

Indeed. Brilliant.

While early bird registration is over, you can still register online through May 28th 2012. For up-to-the-minute news read & follow the SCGS Jamboree blog. It has links for registration and just about everything else for Jamboree.

Also? Jamboree was the first genealogy conference to debut their own smartphone app last year, and they're doing it again this year. As soon as it's ready, I'll let you know.

So. SoCal, Hollywood, tiaras, genealogy, apps, tiaras, good times, Blogger Summit, tiaras!!!

You in?

Cuz I'm going back to Cali.

SCGS Jamboree Website
SCGS Jamboree Blog
SCGS Jamboree on Twitter @SCGSgenealogy
SCGS Jamboree Event on Facebook
SCGS Jamboree Official Twitter Hashtag: #SCGS12

~Caroline

I'm SO excited and honored to be a Blogger of Honor for the Houston Family History Expo! I finally have a conference that's in my backyard. No airline tickets to buy. No hotel reservations to worry about it.

The Houston Family History Expo will be next month, April 6th-7th, and will be held at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport
9100 Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas.

Of course, I'll be interviewing some folks ~ both vendors and speakers ~ on the fly with my iPhone. But? Which sessions should I attend? I dunno. I need to mull things over and make a tentative list of must-sees to see what I can fit into my scheduled duties as a Blogger of Honor.

So, are y'all coming on down here for some Texas-sized genealogy? Will I see you there?

And my local non-genealogy folks who I've connected with online, this Expo is a great chance to learn how to research your family's history.

To see what you can find.

To find some family stories.

To start preserving them for the future.

What will be the legacy you leave behind for those who come after you?

Come to the Houston Family History Expo April 6-7th and find out.

For more information, please visit the Family History Expo website for more information and to register.

~Caroline

Disclosure Note: I am a Blogger of Honor for the Houston Family History Expo. In this official capacity my duties include:

• Announcing the Expo and sponsors
• Promoting Expo speakers, exhibitors, and activities
• Sharing press release information
• Highlighting websites, tools, and discoveries made
• Sharing blogging tips with attendees
• Reporting daily on presentations and exhibits

In exchange for the above duties, I am receiving full registration to the Houston Family History Expo, reciprocal promotion of me and my blog, and a gift bag provided by the Expo sponsors and exhibitors.

Sometimes the Best Stuff is the Stuff You Don't Plan

I had a FAN-tabulous time at RootsTech this year. As I mentioned before, what I did do wasn't what I'd thought I'd be doing.

It was WAY better! Thanks to FamilySearch, I was able to interview a whole slew of genie people. It was an incredible opportunity for me and many, many thanks go to FamilySearch and Paul Nauta for allowing me access to such fascinating people.

Like I mentioned previously, I only attended 1 full session and I attempted 2 others. When I was planning out the sessions to attend prior to RootsTech, I noticed that there weren't many sessions on the User side that interested me due to their level of content. I had picked out some Developer classes to attend, but was lured away from my schedule with interviews, and I gladly went. Hello!?! Interviewed Chris van der Kuyl, the CEO of brightsolid AND Nick Barratt from the Family History Show. Trust me, it was no sacrifice. [And don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same. ;) ]

So, I can't tell you my experiences from sessions because I only went to one, which happened to be about Gamification and Family History ~ a developer session presented by, um, Chris van der Kuyl. I promise I wasn't stalking him. I've a legitimate interest in gamification. Can't you see the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum gamified? I can, but I digress...

Several of my fellow geneabloggers [Linda & Jenna] expressed that they wished that there had been more technology in the exhibit hall. I agree. Jenna mentioned that there was a bunch of software but no gadgets to play with. Totally agree with her on that one. Personally, I can look and play with software and databases online. A majority of them offer free trials online where I can try them out in the comfort of my home, not in a loud exhibit hall with a busy exhibitor. It would have been nice to play with some tech gadgets. Take them on a test run. FlipPal was there and people were playing [and buying] FlipPals.

What I Think Would Be Cool For Next Year

I have a confession to make. I used to teach Children's Church at our old church. And I found it tough to teach my own kids, especially my son. You see, my son is a "doer learner". He doesn't learn well if he's just sitting there doing nothing. His hands need to be busy. He prefers to move around. And he doesn't usually make eye contact. All sure signs that he's not paying attention, right?

It was exasperating as a mother and a teacher. I felt like a failure because I couldn't even control my own kid. Finally, one Sunday he'd been extra busy in the room. So, I decided to ask him a question or two just to make my point that he needed to sit down, be still, and just listen. And when I asked him the first question, he answered my question beautifully, and, in fact, verbatim. Then I asked the second question. This time something that required his opinion. And what came out of his mouth was remarkably insightful for an elementary kid.

That's when I learned that I needed to sit down, be still, and just listen.

I needed to let him move around. To keep his hands busy. To learn on his terms. To just do.

And what does this have to with RootsTech? Well, in my experience with technology and computers, I've found the best way to learn it, is to jump right in and do. That is, to learn by doing.

I know the workshops were a hit this year because they sold out so quickly, which signaled something for me.

So much so that I'd like to propose something, if I may. I'd like to see more workshops than lectures at RootsTech. More hands on stuff in the exhibit hall but also in the sessions. I don't learn much when I'm sitting there in a too hot/too cold overcrowded/standing-room-only classroom-like room with a speaker up front with a carefully laid out Power Point presentation.

Further, I'd like to see workshops on all levels ~ beginner, intermediate, and advanced ~ teaching us all something by doing. To have moderators & teachers guiding us, not lecturing or presenting. It's really not what they know about the subject. Nope. It's what they can show me how to do.

After all, people don't fork over gobs of money and time to to be talked to. They go to learn. And in this case, they go to learn how technology can help them research and share their genealogy.

Let me repeat that. They go to learn how technology can help them research and share their genealogy.

What part of that statement says 'sit down, be still, and just listen'?

None of it.

It says 'do'.

~Caroline

Today, I'm guest posting over on the blog for Family Tree Magazine UK with a wrap-up of the RootsTech 2012 Conference.

So what are you waiting for? Go read it. ;)

Also? Connect with Family Tree Magazine UK:

• On their blog
• On Facebook
• On Twitter @familytreemaguk

~Caroline

I totally had an unplan plan for RootsTech.

Then I arrived at Rootstech.

Then I chunked my unplan plan for another unplan.

And I ended up doing interviews and only attended 1 full session. But? I have 7 interviews to share with y'all.

Video Interviews

• David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer FamilySearch
• Chris van der Kuyl, CEO of brightsolid
• Don Anderson, Worldwide Project Manager FamilySearch

Audio Interviews

• Jeff Wells, Founder of Family Village
• Nick Barratt, Family History Show
  

Old-School Interviews

• Jimmy Zimmerman, Grand Prize Winner of the Developer Challenge
• Stan Kivett, Religious Education at BYU - Idaho

So, as I get these interviews ready for sharing, here's some pics I managed to take in between those interviews and that 1 session I attended. And? Keep an eye out for other attendees' photos. I remember smiling for people. A lot. ;)

~Caroline

The Rootstech 2012 App is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android.

What can you do with the app?
I just took a quick look, but here's what I found:

• Create and keep your conference schedule.
• Refer to the Exhibit Hall map and the Salt Palace map.
• Refer to Developer, User Events, or All Events.
• Refer to Speaker Bios.
• Consult Conference PDF documents for additional conference information.
• View conference photo gallery.
• Watch conference-related videos that are already found in the app.
• Access, view, and tweet from the app. [It's like they had me in mind when they added this one. LOL.]
• Make friends / contacts and connect with them through the app.
• Access the RSS feed for official conference news.

Did I get everything? I dunno. I'm going to go play with it.

The app is available for the iPhone, the iPod Touch, and the iPad in the App Store on your device or I found it here: http://www.ifreeware.net/download-rootstech-2012.html

Also the app is available for Android in the Android Market.

~Caroline

Wouldn't it be nice if we could exchange contact info at Rootstech without worrying about business cards?

Wouldn't it be nice if I took this awesome photo at Rootstech & I was able to share it with you quickly and almost effortlessly?

Wouldn't it be nice if I could, like, quickly share with you at Rootstech this great app that could help you find more of your dead people efficiently so you don't have to find it online to download?

Wouldn't it be nice if I could quickly share with you at Rootstech an event from my calendar?

Wouldn't it be nice if we could quickly connect on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn?













Guess what!?! We can With the Bump App. Take a look:

Did you see how happy everyone was when they Bumped? I wanna be that happy at Rootstech. Don't you? I want to Bump at Rootstech. Don't you? I've had it on my iPhone since right after I first bought my iPhone, but I noticed at our conferences nobody Bumps. Why don't we Bump? Don't we want to be happy at Rootstech like they are in the Bump video? [Bump. Smile.]

The Bump app is available for the iPhone, iPhone Touch, iPad, and Android. Now, not all the newest features of the Bump app are on the Android version, but they're working on that. The contact info is definitely on there.

And? An iPhone can Bump with an Android phone too. That's right the Bumping is cross platform.

And? It's free.

They even have a short Bump video for the iPhone:

And a short Bump video for the Android:

For more detailed information, take a look at their Frequently Asked Questions page.

So download it. For iOS, get it from iTunes or App Store, and for Android, get it from the Android Market.

Fill-in your contact info.

Then let's Bump at Rootstech.

So we can be happy. [Bump. Smile.]

~Caroline

[Note: I am not affiliated with Bump Technologies nor was I asked to review their app. I just wanna get happy and bump at Rootstech. For more disclosure information please visit my Disclosure Page.]