NERGC Hartford 2007: New England CONNECTions: March 2006

HELP US “CONNECT”!

The Publicity Committee is currently developing the Conference press release and preparing information about the Conference for distribution to genealogical and historical societies, libraries, archives and Family History Centers in the Northeast. Ads about the Conference will appear in selected genealogical magazines and journals.

But YOU can help too! Can you arrange for some publicity or news about the Conference in any magazine or newsletter where you might have contacts? Publicity co-chairs Kathryn Smith Black and Pat Odiorne can provide information you think would be helpful.

Can you help us gain a wider awareness of the Conference by letting all members of your Society and others who you think will be interested in the Conference know about this Blog?

In addition to this Blog, we also publish a Conference E-zine. If you’re not already a subscriber and you or someone you know would like to receive future issues:
a) Send a message to: rootsearcher@email.com

b) Put "subscribe" in the body of the message
Your address will NOT be shared and there will be no advertising as a part of the e-zine.

Can you think of ideas and suggestions for additional publicity? If so, please email us at KSB832@cs.com.

“CONNECT” THROUGH SYLLABUS ADVERTISING

Jan Burkhart, Advertising Chair, notes that the Conference Syllabus will be a great way for vendors of genealogical and historical products and services to reach an estimated 800 enthusiastic genealogists.

The NERGC conference offers an inexpensive and consumer friendly way to advertise your genealogically related business. The syllabus, which contains all the advertisements, is put directly into the hands of people who are interested in genealogy. They are the people likely to use your service, purchase your goods, visit your store or library and/or join your association or society. In addition, the syllabus often ends up in a library where hundreds more people view it. A one page ad is $100.00; a half page ad is $50.00; a quarter page ad is $25.00; and a business card size ad is $20.00. If you are interested in purchasing an ad, email misskoko@aol.com and you will receive more information.

Jan also reminds Participating Societies that they are entitled one free page in the Syllabus to provide information about their Societies but that they must also sell one paid page of advertising.

The deadline for ads and all other syllabus material is November 15, 2006.

“CONNECT” IN THE EXHIBIT HALL

The Exhibit Hall will be an exciting place to be during the Conference! It will be open to the public Thursday, April 26 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 from 8:20 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and there are unopposed exhibitor times for everyone to browse between lectures and meals. Booths (most 10 x 10 feet) are now available. For particulars, or to reserve space for your company or Society, contact Jim Holmes - Jimholms@cs.com or Maureen Murphy - Mmaureen39@aol.com.

“CONNECT” THROUGH THE SOCIETY FAIR

One of the more popular features of our recent Conferences has been our Society Fair. There, any non-profit genealogical, historical, hereditary, or patriotic society; library; or similar organization can display brochures, newsletters, publications, information on membership, research facilities and services, plus any informative material that directly relates to their organization or repository.

For New England CONNECTions 2007, the Society Fair will run from 5:00-7:00 on Thursday, April 27, 2007. Space, free of charge, is now being offered. Organizations that apply will be accepted on a space-available basis. They will not be able to sell items (to do that, rent a booth in the Exhibit Hall), but may take orders for such. Past Society Fairs have been a great success, and even at this early date, we have heard from some groups that have not had a presence at prior Conferences. Interested organizations should email Karen Larsen at klarsen@nehgs.org or Nancy Pexa at Whatsmylineage@aol.com.

YOU'LL GET HOOKED TOO!

Whether you're a beginning genealogist, or have pursued family history for years, you'll find something to "hook" you April 26-29, 2007 in Hartford at

New England CONNECTions 2007
featuring outstanding speakers including
Patricia Law Hatcher, Cyndi Howells, and Henry Z 'Hank" Jones
....exciting National and Regional exhibitors...
and the best facilities, the
Hartford Marriott Downtown,
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/BDLDT
and the Connecticut Convention Center,
http://www.ctconventions.com/
to ever hold the Conference.

With an impressive program and with new events being planned, interest is building fast, so start making your plans now! Remember to register early (the $99 'early bird" rate for the entire conference ends January 15, 2007).

“THE NERGC HOOKED ME!"

Following a recent Conference, one first-time participant wrote:

"For years I have halfheartedly assisted my diehard genealogical [spouse] with family history. I've listened attentively, smiled and supported their work, but never felt this passion." But at the NERGC Conference, "Each speaker I encountered shared generously. Every hallway discussion created more questions, each answer opened doors for a lifetime of inquiry of 'sleuthing'. I got hooked.

"Among the participants were young adults who spoke of their grandparents' stories, octogenarians who spoke of their great-grandparents' stories, a melting pot of persons with differing ethnic backgrounds speaking the same language. They spoke not just a language of resources (BMD's, the NEHGS, the NARA, and the FHL's to name a few), but also a language of living. A language filled with relationships and environments, sorrows, challenges and joys. There were stories of family across continents and timelines, and accounts of striking mill workers and willing soldiers, of birth, life, sickness and death. I got hooked.

"Since the Conference, I've read one of those 'how to' books. I've been to the exciting web addresses found in the conference resources. I'm looking forward to the next NERGC Conference. I got hooked!"

WHAT'S A NERGC?

Since its first conference held in Sturbridge, Massachusetts back in September 1992, “NERGC” has been a consortium of genealogical societies operating as a non-profit educational organization to put on a New England Regional Genealogical Conference. Now, it's official. With revised bylaws in place and work toward incorporation well under way, "NERGC" is officially becoming the "New England Regional Genealogical Consortium" as well as the "New England Regional Genealogical Conference" it puts on every two years. Societies interested in joining NERGC or participating in future conferences should contact President Otis Wyatt at OCWyatt@aol.com.

WELCOME TO THE NEW ENGLAND CONNECTIONS BLOG!

Welcome to the New England CONNECTions 2007 Blog! Between now and April 2007, we’ll be updating the genealogical community on what's happening with the ninth New England Regional Genealogical Conference through periodic messages like this one. Please share the the information with your friends and associates – and anyone else you feel may be interested in attending the Conference.

New England CONNECTions, to be held April 26-29 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut, will be the ninth New England Regional Genealogical Conference and promises to build on NERGC’s tradition of excellence in providing genealogical lectures; seminars and workshops; the Ancestors Road Show; a Society Fair; and banquets and luncheons for new and established genealogists alike at minimal cost.

In keeping with the Conference theme, Patricia Law Hatcher, Cyndi Howells, Hank Jones, and over 40 other speakers will help genealogists “connect” to:

* Ancestors who immigrated to and migrated out of New England (including settlement and migration patterns)
* The wealth of information available in New England’s archives, libraries, and historical societies
* Specific types of source materials (church, cemetery, vital, and military records; newspapers; city directories)
* Resources and to one another through technology.

In addition to connecting with expert genealogists, there will be opportunities to connect to vendors in the Exhibit Hall as well as with other attendees who share your love for genealogy. A "Librarians Day" pre-conference is also in the works.

Conference activities will take place in the new Connecticut Convention Center and the Marriott Hartford Downtown, in the heart of the exciting new Adrien's Landing redevelopment. There will be lots of space in the lecture rooms and exhibit areas and plenty of secure parking. Beyond the conference itself, Hartford is a genealogical and historical 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 Connecticut Society of Genealogists library in East Hartford are not far away.

The excitement for New England CONNECTions 2007 is already building, and we thank the Committee Chairs and many Participating Societies that are making this Conference possible. Watch our Website: www.NERGC.org for developing information, and be sure to get your Conference and hotel registrations in early. We look forward to “connecting” with you there!

Thomas F. Howard and Richard C. Roberts, Conference Co-Chairs

NERGC 2007 Speakers

Patricia Law Hatcher, FASG
Patricia Law Hatcher, FASG, is a professional genealogist specializing in problem solving whose articles have appeared in over a dozen publications. She is the author of Finding Your Colonial New England Ancestor (forthcoming), Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records, and Producing a Quality Family History; editor of The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine; and consulting or contributing editor to Newbury Street Press, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and the Maine Genealogist. She is a former trustee of the Association of Professional Genealogists and in 2000 was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists. A popular lecturer and instructor, she has spoken at many national conferences and institutes

Henry Z. ("Hank") Jones, Jr., FASG
Henry Z. ("Hank") Jones, Jr. has been actively climbing family trees since the age of eight, and, since his graduation from Stanford, has specialized in tracing 18th century German emigrants. His books on the subject include The Palatine Families of Ireland, the two-volume The Palatine Families of New York - 1710 (winner of the Donald Lines Jacobus Award as "Best Genealogical Work of the Year"), More Palatine Families, Westerwald To America, and his brand new three-volume set Even More Palatine Families. Hank has written many articles over the years that have appeared in The American Genealogist, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, The New York Genealogical & Biographical Record, and other major publications. He recently received the NGS Award of Merit for "Distinguished Work in Genealogy" and has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, of whom there are only fifty in the world. Hank has served on the national board of the Genealogical Speaker's Guild and as a Trustee of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Cyndi Howells
Cyndi Howells is owner and webmaster of Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, www.CyndisList.com, a categorized index to over 209,500 online resources. It has three times been voted the best genealogy site on the Web and receives more than 3.2 million visits each month. Cyndi, a genealogist for more than 24 years, is a member of the board of directors for the National Genealogical Society. She is the author of three books for genealogical research on the Internet titled, Netting Your Ancestors, Cyndi's List, and Planting Your Family Tree Online: How To Create Your Own Family History Web Site.