The Highs of my 2nd Day at Jamboree

Only for Thomas MacEntee would I get up so early. I was dressed and down in line with bells on, as my Gran used to say, for Thomas' presentation, "21st Century Marketing for Genealogy Societies" at 7:30 this morning. And you know what? I 'm so glad I did. Thomas just has a gift for taking the technological stuff [Yes. That's technical jargon.], breaking it down, and delivering it in bite-sized pieces even my Pug, Millie, could understand. [Seriously.] Plus? The scrambled eggs were divine, which probably had to do with all that nice butter they were cooked in. Yum.

And I like what Thomas had to say at the beginning. He mentioned that the social media tools that are available for societies to use to promote themselves are absolutely perfect for professional genealogists to use as well to promote themselves. [He always has such great ideas.]

And I think you can take it one step further. These same social media tools are perfect for any genealogist or family historian to use to promote themselves. Why would a genealogist or family historian want to promote themselves, you ask?

Why not? Don't you want to connect with other people that are like-minded? How 'bout those cousins? If you don't set up what I like to call a Social Media Beacon on the Shores of the Internet, how will your "lost-at-sea" cousins find you? A message in a bottle?

After Thomas presentation, I mosied on over to Blogger Summits 1 & 2, and it's always exciting to see the uninitiated get inspired to start a genealogy blog. They get a certain glimmer in their eyes. Perhaps it's the idea of the potential of connecting with cousins. Or perhaps it's the idea of writing for an audience that actually wants to know all about your crazy Great Aunt Bernice and why she ran off with that carny.  Whatever it is, though, it's awesome, and I can't wait to read their stories. [I never get tired of stories.]

Then after a lovely Greek lunch with Amy from the blog, We Tree Genealogy Blog, and Tonia from the blog, Tonia's Roots, I listened to a wonderful presentation from Dave Obee, "Destination Canada." With his wonderful Canadian accent, Dave provided wonderful insight into the availability of naturalization and immigrant records, which I hope will help me with my [Gasp!] Loyalist line as well as one of my husband's lines that moved to the frosty north.

And tonight? The banquet with Curt Witcher's presentation, "The High Tech and High Touch of 21st Century Genealogy." By the end of it, I expect to be on a genealogy high. Even more than I am now.

~Caroline

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