NERGC 2023: MISSING BRANCHES ARE NOT THE END OF THE LINE

Presentation proposals are welcome from now until 12:00 noon on 1 March 2016 for the 14th New England Regional Genealogical Conference, “Using the Tools of Today & Tomorrow to Understand the Past,” to be held 26-29 April 2017 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Links to the Call for Papers and to the portal to submit proposals are on the NERGC Web page, www.NERGC.org.

The twelfth 2015 New England Regional Genealogical Conference E-zine is now available at http://www.nergc.org/E-zine_12_2015.pdf. It includes a "wrap-up" of the 2015 conference and a look ahead to the 2017 conference, which will be held April 26-29, 2017 at the MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Members of the Association of Professional Genealogists, New England Chapter, will be at each table at today's luncheon to guide a focused discussion. You must be registered for the luncheon in order to attend, but there is no registration for or guaranteed seating at specific tables. Seating at each table is first-come, first-served. As you enter Ballroom D/E for lunch, locate a table with a topic that appeals to you. If that table is already full, please pick a different table.

Session F-233 (Friday at 4:45) will be presented by Cheryll Toney Holley. The title of her talk is "Counting Quows & Sifting Storms: African-Americans in Vermont." Session S-333 (Saturday at 4:30) will be presented by Janet Horvoka. The title of the talk remains "Engaging Children, Tweens and Teens in Family History."

Saturday afternoon sessions S-334 through S-341 run from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., NOT 4:30 to 5:30 as shown on the turquoise Saturday "one sheet" daily schedule.

Our informal "Special Interest Groups" take place Thursday, April 16 from 7:45-9:00 p.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center. They provide a great opportunity to meet conference participants and speakers with similar interests. Here are the room assignments: Becoming a Professional Genealogist, Room 553B; DNA Research, Ballroom A; French Canadian Research, Ballroom B; Genealogy Blogging, Room 555A/B; Irish American Research, Room 552A; Italian Research, Room 550A/B; Jewish Genealogy, Room 552B; Rhode Island Research, Room 551A/B; Scandinavian Research, Ballroom A.

Rick Spenser will present a program of songs in the American folk music tradition for on Thursday, April 16, 2015 from 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm. The presentation will take place on the second floor of the Rhode Island Convention Center, outside Exhibit Hall C. Presented in conjunction with the 13th New England Regional Genealogical Conference, the program is free and open to the public. The music presented will be selected with consideration of the theme "Songs Our Ancestors Knew and Loved." Rick will give a little background information on the songs and will encourage those who attend to sing along if they wish. Rick has been in the historical performance industry for over 25 years. He worked for 20 years as a researcher, historian and presenter of traditional maritime songs and sea chanteys at Mystic Seaport and has performed widely in the US, in Canada and Europe. The Conference Exhibit Hall and Society Fair open immediately following Rick Spencer's program and are also...

Judy G. Russell (The Legal Genealogist) interviewed by Lori Lynn Price of  Bridging the Past Lisa Louise Cooke by Cynthia Shenette of  Heritage Zen D. Joshua Taylor by Pam Carter of My Maine Ancestry Michael J. Hall by Linda Hall Little of Passage to the Past's Blog Marian Pierre Louis by Sara Campbell of Remembering Those Who Came Before Us Dr. Blaine Bettinger by Jennifer Shoer of The Scrappy Genealogist Harold Henderson by Elizabeth Pyle Handler of From Maine to Kentucky Catherine "Casey" Zahn by Pam Carter of My Maine Ancestry Dave Robison by Beverly Fieg of Knit Genealogist Michael Tougais by Bill West of West in New England Lisa Alzo by Melissa Berry of anceSTORY archives Michael Brophy by Bill West of West in New England Dear Myrtle by Jennifer Shoer of The Scrappy Genealogist Nathaniel Lane Taylor and Cherry Fletcher Bamberg by Diane Boumenot of One Rhode Island Family David Allen Lambert by Melissa Berry of anceSTORY archives ...

Don't miss the opportunity to explore Providence with Barbara Barnes, Tourism Services Director of the Rhode Island Historical Society. This five hour tour leaves the Rhode Island Convention Center at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, returning to the Center 4:00 p.m. Cost for the tour is $49; lunch is on your own. You don't need to register for the full conference to take part, but pre-registration by March 16 is required and space is limited. www.NERGC.org

Beginning last Thursday, February 26 some folks trying to make hotel reservations found that the NERGC room blocks at both of the conference hotels were full. Since that time there have been a few cancellations at the Courtyard by Marriott, and we've been able to add some rooms at the Biltmore. If you register at the hotel of your choice right away, you should be able to get a room.

There are only five slots left for the Mechanics of Writing workshop (F-201) with Michael Leclerc. If you're interested in getting hands-on experience turning your research into a family history, don't delay in signing up! Register today at www.NERGC.org.

Both Tech Day tracks -- Research with Technology and Advanced Tools being held on Wednesday, 15 April 2015 at the Rhode Island Convention Center -- are approaching a sellout. The cost is $50 per person for four seminars, a lunch presentation, and a luncheon sponsored by FindMyPast.com. If you've been thinking about registering for one of the Tech Day tracks, don't delay. Register today at www.NERGC.org.

A reminder that "Early Bird" Registration for the 13th New England Regional Genealogical Conference being held 15-18 April in Providence, RI ends tomorrow, Saturday 28. Judy G. Russell, "The Legal Genealogist," Lisa Louise Cooke of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, D. Joshua Taylor, host of the PBS show Ancestors Roadshow, Michael J. Leclerc, Laura G. Prescott, Maureen A. Taylor are among the great lineup of speakers -- in all over 90 lectures plus the Ancestors Road Show, Special Interest Groups, workshops, luncheons and banquets, the Exhibit Hall, the Society Fair, and more. If you haven't registered yet, why pay full price? Register by tomorrow, Saturday, February 28 and save $30 on the full conference and another $10 on Tech Day. The savings will pay for a workshop or banquet! The 2015 NERGC registration brochure and online registration are available at www.NERGC.org. To register by postal mail, see p. 16 of the brochure. Don’t delay, register today!

Meet Michael J. Hall, Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch  in today's interview  by Linda Hall Little of Passage to the Past's Blog . NERGC Early Bird Registration ($120) ends February 28, 2015. Single day registration increases from $90 to $100 after February 28, 2015. 95+ Genealogy Lectures for you to choose from! 15 - 18 April 2015 New England Regional Genealogical Conference The Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, Rhode Island View the program brochure here and register here . See you in Providence!

The New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) is just around the corner, 15-18 April at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI. The conference will include more than 90 lectures by speakers including Judy G. Russell, "The Legal Genealogist"; Lisa Louise Cooke of the Genealogy Gems Podcast; and Genealogy Roadshow host Joshua Taylor, as well as Librarians and Teachers Day, Tech Day, Ancestors Roadshow, Special Interest Groups, workshops, and a bonus track of presentations in the Exhibit Hall. Why pay full price? Save 20% by registering now! The Early Bird registration deadline is this Saturday, February 28th. To register online or download the Program Brochure, go to www.nergc.org. See you in Providence!

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and National Genealogical Society Magazine, among other publications. On the faculty of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research in Alabama, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist℠ and Certified Genealogical Lec...

Save $30 on the full conference and another $10 on Tech Day. The savings will pay for a workshop or banquet! The 2015 NERGC registration brochure and online registration are available at www.NERGC.org. To register by postal mail, see p. 16 of the brochure. Don’t delay, register today!

Special Interest Groups will be held on Thursday, April 16 th , from 7:45 to 9 p.m. They offer participants an informal opportunity to get together with others with similar interests to discuss ideas for genealogy research on a particular topic. Room locations will be posted at the Conference. The SIGS are: Rhode Island Research: Looking for Rhode Island ancestors? What records can be found, and where will you find them? We'll discuss the standard sources and some which are more obscure. Come with your questions. Hosted by Helen Smith. DNA Research: Genetic genealogy is the use of DNA as it relates to family history. DNA is one of the most powerful tools available to modern genealogists. Join us for a discussion about available tests, testing companies, and how personal genomics can help you advance your family history when your paper trail runs out. Hosted by Jennifer Zinck and Blaine Bettinger. Genealogy Blogging: What is a genealogy blog? Do you read gen...

NERGC’s fifth Librarians’ and Teachers’ Day will be held on Wednesday, 15 April 2015 at the Providence Biltmore in Providence, RI, in conjunction with the 13th New England Regional Genealogical Conference. The day will be devoted to showing attendees how genealogy can enhance curricula, attract new patrons, and highlight collections. Librarians’ and Teachers’ Day provides the opportunity for professionals to learn how genealogy can serve them in their dual roles as curators of their unique collections and as ambassadors of genealogy resources for their schools and libraries. All librarians and teachers who work with family history patrons or genealogy-related research materials will benefit from this special event. The cost is $40.00 per person and includes lunch compliments of ProQuest. For additional information, including a list of speakers, go to http://www.nergc.org/Librarians-and-Teachers-Day.html. To register for Librarians' and Teachers' Day -- or for the full confere...

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Explore Providence, the Renaissance City, on this five hour, customized tour led by Barbara Barnes, Tourism Services Director, of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Learn about the founding and development of the city, its rich historical and cultural heritage, and its original proprietors and prominent families, while winding around the streets of the city for a ninety minute coach tour, with stops at the Roger Williams National Memorial and the First Baptist Church in America. Enjoy a mid-day stop for lunch on Providence’s Federal Hill, Providence’s “Little Italy,” which was home to various immigrant groups from the late nineteenth century to the present, with time for browsing this lively scene of shops, restaurants, bakeries, and galleries. Finally, peruse the artistic treasures of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, a prominent art museum known for its collections across many cultures, time periods and media. Meet at t...

800+ conference attendees will view the popular Query Column in the 2015 syllabus. You do not need to attend the conference to submit a query. Deadline for submission is 15 January 2015. See http://www.nergc.org/E-zine_4_2015.pdf for details.