Tuesday, February 27, 2007

ANCESTORS ROAD SHOW CORRECTION

The Ancestors Road Show will take place until 5 P.M. on both Friday and Saturday during the conference, not until 6 P.M. as previously reported.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY!

Right about now is the ideal time for newspapers and other media to start giving the Conference some publicity -- through feature articles, interviews with the Conference speakers and publicity pieces throughout our area, particularly in the "hometowns" of the Participating Societies. We have an informative Press Kit to give editors the background they need to give the Conference some "ink" in their publications. Can you help us by contacting editors and other media people in your area? The Press Kit is available in hard copy from KSB832@verizon.netKSB832@verizon.net and is coming to the Conference website (http://www.nergc.org/) soon.

GOT WINDSOR CONNECTions?

OPEN HOUSE AT WINDSOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY APRIL 29
The Windsor Historical Society will hold a special Open House on Sunday April 29, 2007 from 1 until 4 pm. The Society is particularly inviting the attendees of the NERGC Conference to visit and become acquainted with the resources in the research library. The collections include books, manuscript collections, cemetery records, regional and state histories, town reports, local newspapers, school yearbooks, city directories, and maps which relate to the town of Windsor and its people. Visit Connecticut’s oldest English settlement, tour two historic homes, and explore the exhibition gallery. The Windsor Historical Society, located at 96 Palisado Ave., Windsor, CT, preserves and interprets over 370 years of Windsor’s history. For more information and directions please visit the WHS website at http://windsorhistoricalsociety.org/ or stop by their table at the Society Fair between 5:00 and 7:00 on Thursday, April 26.

A CELEBRATION AT THE OLIVER ELLSWORTH HOMESTEAD APRIL 29
The Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter, NSDAR invites you to visit the home of one of Windsor’s notable 18th century sons, Oliver Ellsworth and his wife Abigail Wolcott. Elmwood, built for Ellsworth by Samuel Denslow and later expanded by Thomas Hayden, has furnishings from the Ellsworth and Wolcott families as well as wonderful antiques period to Oliver’s life there. Located at 778 Palisado Avenue in Windsor, Connecticut, it will be open on Sunday, April 29, 2007 to celebrate the 262nd anniversary of Oliver Ellsworth’s birth. Tours, special exhibits, and refreshments will be available from 10:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. All are welcome to celebrate the life of this remarkable American. For additional information and directions, stop by the CT DAR booth, Booth 6, in the Exhibit Hall.

THE DESCENDANTS OF THE FOUNDERS OF ANCIENT WINDSOR will be among the many other exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall. Open Thursday, April 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. and on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 from 8:20 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., the Exhibit Hall will be filled with exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada offering genealogical products and services. The Exhibit Hall, like the Society Fair, is open to the general public without charge.

EXTENDED HOURS AT CT STATE LIBRARY ON APRIL 25

To accommodate those coming to town early for the conference – as well as others wanting to spend some extra time in conducting family history research -- the Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, with light refreshments served from 5:30-6:30 in the Library’s Museum of Connecticut History.

The Library will be open regular hours Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27 from 9:00 until 5:00 and on Saturday, April 28 from 9:00 until 2:00.

CT STATE LIBRARY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CONFERENCE

Members of the Connecticut State Library staff are playing key roles in organizing the conference, with Richard Roberts, Unit Head of the History and Genealogy Unit serving as Conference Co-Chair.

Speakers representing the State Library are: Nancy Peluso of the State Library’s Government Information Services Unit, and Carol Ganz, Kevin Johnson, and Richard Roberts of the History and Genealogy Unit.

On Thursday morning, Nancy Peluso will present “Government Secrets: Discovering Genealogical Resources in Federal, State, and Town Documents,” providing tips on how to find information about ancestors.

On Thursday afternoon, Richard Roberts presents “Connecticut Connections: Genealogical Research in the Constitution State,” providing an overview of state and local records, printed and electronic resources, and repositories.

On Saturday afternoon, Carol Ganz presents “Genealogical Revelations in Church and Related Records at the Connecticut State Library,” providing information on how to locate and interpret information in church membership and vital records and techniques and resources to track clergy and their congregations through church, ecclesiastical society, and related records.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Kevin Johnson performs “William Webb, An African-American Civil War Soldier, presenting the struggle for freedom through the eyes of a soldier in the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry.

In addition, members of the Library staff will be staffing Booths 4 and 5 in the Exhibit Hall. Be sure to stop by to find out more about the Library’s resources and services.

SOCIETY FAIR UPDATE


Society Fair Chair Nancy Pexa reports that the list of organizations booked for the Society Fair (Thursday, April 26, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.) continues to grow!

The Coventry (Connecticut) Historical Society, Lebanon (Connecticut) Historical Society, Middlesex (Connecticut) Genealogical Society, Indian & Colonial Research Center (Old Mystic, Connecticut), and the Genealogical Society of Rockland, County, New York will all be represented. Also, look for tables hosted by the Avery Family Association, the Harriman Family Association, the Welles Family Association, and the Roberts Reunion Association [Descendants of William Watson and Nancy Hoyt (Bean) Roberts].

Remember, the Society Fair is open to the general public at no cost so that anyone can “CONNECT” with society representatives, pick up brochures and registration material, or perhaps even make a more permanent connection by joining the group.

WEIIIFM? ("WHAT ELSE IS IN IT FOR ME?”)


Lots more is happening during the conference. The full program is available online at the Conference website (http://www.nergc.org/). In addition to the lectures and workshops, the luncheons and banquets; Exhibit Hall; Special Interest Group meetings; and Society Fair offer great opportunities for learning and “CONNECTing” with other genealogists with similar interests.

WORKSHOP SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE BUT GOING FAST


There are still openings in all our specialized workshops, but don’t delay – space is going fast. In the last E-zine, we mentioned Emery Roth’s Photoshop Elements workshops. Here are two more to consider.

Family History 101
On Thursday, April 26, Marcia Melnyk will present Family History 101, a beginner’s primer to genealogy. After outlining ways to get started, she’ll provide information on recording data, separating fact from fiction, and accessing places to locate records. Cost of the workshop is $35 and includes a copy of Marcia’s book, Family History 101.

Marcia is no stranger to the genealogical community – in New England and around the country. In recognition of her many accomplishments, in 2004 she was awarded NERGC’s Donna Holt Siemiatkoski Genealogy Volunteer of the Year Award, and the citation read in part, “Marcia Melnyk lucidly and enthusiastically shares her tremendous genealogical knowledge and expertise with beginners and experts alike. She has presented her extraordinary lectures to many organizations” and “Marcia Melnyk has made outstanding contributions to the field of genealogy through lectures, writing, and participation in and devotion to the organizations in which she has been involved.”

Locating Digitized Images Online
On Saturday, April 28 Laura G. Prescott will present Locating Digitized Images Online, an exploration of how and where to find digitized images and hidden treasures on websites across the Internet. Cost of the workshop is $30. Participants are required to bring their own laptop computer (either Windows or Macintosh) with a wireless internet card.

Laura will also be presenting “Timelines: Placing Your Heritage in Historical Perspective on Thursday, April 26 (Session T-113)

Laura is a professional researcher, writer, and speaker who speaks to national audiences on the use of manuscripts in genealogical research, genealogy on the Internet, and computerized genealogy for Mac users. She writes for Ancestry and New England Ancestors magazines and is NERGC’s Webmaster and chair of the conference’s Librarians Day.

DON’T MISS SUNDAY’S SESSION ON JONATHAN EDWARDS


In addition to the outstanding sessions that will be presented by our nationally known speakers, there are many others you won’t want to miss, including Special Session, S-401 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 sponsored by the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor.

In 1733, a religious revival began in Northampton, Massachusetts and was followed in 1739-1740 by the Great Awakening. During this time, Jonathan Edwards, a Connecticut native – father of twelve, preacher, scholar, missionary, and President of Princeton University -- preached his most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Rev. Söderberg will begin the session with a short introduction to Jonathan Edwards and this very famous sermon and then deliver the sermon in period costume.

Reverend Söderberg is a native New Englander, born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated Triton Regional High School in Byfield, Massachusetts in 1980 and was a drummer/songwriter for the next sixteen years. During this time, he was also employed by the United States Postal Service, ending up as a postmaster in Salisbury, Massachusetts. In 1997, he answered the call to pastoral ministry and entered seminary. He graduated from the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies; American Christian College and Seminary with a bachelor's degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Religious Studies; and Bangor Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. He served the Congregational Christian Council of Maine on the State Youth Ministries Committee 1998-2000; as a Summer Youth Camp Co-Director 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006; and as Vice Moderator 2004-2005. He has also served on the Nominating Committee of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 2001-2003. After a nine year pastorate in Maine, on December 4, 2005 he was installed as the 17th Senior Minister of South Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut.

PROGRAM SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS



Henry Z “Hank” Jones, Jr., FASG, one of our three featured speakers, was a film actor for 25 years, and his credits include eight Disney movies and many television shows. His background as an entertainer makes him a captivating lecturer. But beyond that, he has been a professional genealogist since 1965 and is a respected Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists. He specializes in tracing 18th century German emigrants and is the author of The Palatine Families of Ireland, The Palatine Families of New York, More Palatine Families, Weesterwald to America, and Even More Palatine Families and his popular books, Psychic Roots and More Psychic Roots.

Hank’s lecture topics are “Tracing the Origins of Early 18th Century Palatine and Other Emigrants” (Session F-215) and “When The Sources Are Wrong!” (Session S-302). At Saturday evening’s banquet, sponsored by the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, he’ll share his adventures behind the NBC-TV dramatization of his ground-breaking bestseller Psychic Roots and even more amazing serendipitous experiences contributed by genealogists worldwide for his sequel More Psychic Roots. You won’t want to miss this entertaining presentation!

Read more about Hank Jones on our featured speakers Web page, http://www.nergc.org/2007/featuredspeakers2007.htm. And check out Hank’s own Web page at http://www.hankjones.com/

Horace Waters, one of the speakers on the NARA track, will be presenting “Beyond the Census” (Session T-114) and “19th and Early 20th Century Crew Lists” (Session F-216). He has worked for the National Archives and Records Administration, Northeast Region, Waltham, MA, for four years. He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. degree in Life Sciences, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A ninth-generation New Englander, he has 15 years experience with New England genealogical and historical records. He is a member of the NEHGS, NGS, and the Society of American Archivists. Our deep apologies to Horace for previous misspellings of his name.

A WARM WELCOME (AND AN INVITATION) FROM THE VOLUNTEER CO-CHAIRS


Welcome to CT.
Welcome to Hartford.
Welcome to NERGC’s Hartford Conference, “New England CONNECTions

Want to help folks feel connected, welcomed, appreciated?

A good place to start is by helping at the volunteer table.

Volunteers are critical to the success of our conferences and we need flexible, “can do” individuals to staff the Volunteer Table. The conference Information/Hospitality table will not be manned until Thursday, so on Wednesday, in addition to welcoming and orienting volunteers, the Volunteer Table will be the general everything table.

Janet Wallace, the Hospitality Chair, will provide some materials to assist with Wednesday’s hospitality/information component of the task, and the volunteer co-chairs will provide volunteer information and materials, but it is the PERSON, the PEOPLE, who will make this work. During less busy times the volunteer table host will be assisting with registration or other nearby tasks. Are you flexible? Are you a “can do” person? Do you have some time to volunteer for this critical opportunity?

Are you willing to be a host at the volunteer table? Help is needed Wednesday 8:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.; Thursday 11:00 A.M. - 2:15 P.M. and 3:45 - 9:00 P.M.; Friday 7:30 A.M. - 11:30 P.M. and 1:30 - 7:30 P.M.; and Saturday 7:00 A.M. - 7:30 P.M. These hours have been tentatively broken down into two hours or less per time slot, but we’re flexible. Just tell us when you would like to volunteer and we’ll take it from there.

Contact the volunteer co-chairs:

Cheryl Willis Patten: cwpatten@localnet.com Tel. (207) 634-2156 1161 East Pond Road, Smithfield, ME 04978

Pam Roberts: pamela.roberts@uconn.edu Tel. (860) 429-8751 596 Gurleyville Rd., Storrs, CT 06268-1408

AN UPDATE FROM THE REGISTRATION CHAIR


With two months still to go, we're up to over 450 registrations for the Conference! Also, we've received 23 Librarian's Day registrations to date. Still, there’s plenty of room for more!

Although the early registration deadline has passed, at $125 New England CONNECTions remains a bargain when compared to the registration fees for other conferences. Review the Registration Brochure and other information about the conference at http://www.nergc.org/ and send off your registration today!

Already registered for the conference but thinking about joining in on another luncheon, banquet or workshop? It’s not too late! Just send in a registration form with the words "ALREADY REGISTERED" at the top. Check off the meals, meal choices, and workshops you would like to add and send it to me, Mary Choppa, with your check or money order to the address indicated on the form. You'll receive an additional confirmation of added items.

The registration form is available online at: http://www.nergc.org/2007/program/page12.htm

-- Mary Choppa

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

PUBLICIZING THE CONFERENCE

We have a continuing need for volunteers to help distribute publicity material to local libraries, archives and Family History Centers – and to check back at these facilities periodically to re-stock them if necessary.

Please send an e-mail to ksb832@verizon.net or harold.odiorne@the-spa.com and include “NERGC Publicity” in the subject line.

AND: Can you help us gain a wider circulation for the Conference e-zines by forwarding each issue to friends, family, members of your Society, and to any others who you think will be interested in attending the Conference?

NERGC 2007 STILL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

With many thanks to those of you who have let us know you ability to help out, here are some high priority areas for which we still have high needs.

Registration Booth Volunteers: We badly need to get assignments for the 6-8 volunteers needed to "man" the Registration area to assure that no long lines occur and all of our registrants efficiently receive the information they need. Wed 3 - 7 pm, Thursday 10-1:30 and 5-6:30 as well as starting at 7 on both Friday and Saturday are PRIME TIMES when we will need volunteers to efficiently manage those arriving. Mary Choppa, Chairperson of Registration will have all well organized for you to help out comfortably.

Ancestry Road Show: Triage Volunteers are needed 8 - 12 and 1:30 - 6 on Friday and 7:30 to 11:30 on Friday. Ancestry Road Show Timers/Hosts are needed 9-12 and 2-5 in hourly slots on both Friday and Saturday. Don't forget if you wish to volunteer as an expert, the Ancestry Road Show chairpersons Fred Hart mailto:hartfc@aol.com?subject=NERGC%202007 and Christine Sweet-Hart mailto:massroots@comcast.net?subject=NERGC%202007 would love to hear directly from you.

Special Interest Group Session Hosts: Are you going to one of the Thursday Special Interest Groups? Would you be willing to assist with some logistics at the group session? We'd like to identify one volunteer for each of the approximately 10 sessions.

Many other volunteer opportunities exist. Contact the Volunteer Committee Co-Chairs with your preferences for assignments in the above high need areas as well as in helping with AV/Signage, Hospitality, meal ticket takers, and many other tasks. Session Hosts introduce speakers and wrap up the session on time letting you volunteer without sacrificing your program priorities. Get your requests for assignments in now. You will receive confirmation ahead of time and packets with all the specific instructions and resources you need to carry out your tasks when you arrive at the conference.

Contact:
Cheryl Willis Patten: cwpatten@localnet.com <cwpatten@localnet.com> Tel.
(207) 634-2156 1161 East Pond Road, Smithfield, ME 04978

Pam Roberts: pamela.roberts@uconn.edu <pamela.roberts@uconn.edu> Tel.
(860) 429-8751 596 Gurleyville Rd., Storrs, CT 06268-1408

SOCIETY FAIR TABLES STILL AVAILABLE

Attention genealogical and historical societies, libraries, and other organizations!

Be a part of the Society Fair - Thursday, April 26, 2007. 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Display brochures, publications, membership information, take orders but no on-site sales. We provide signage, table/chair. The deadline for societies to register has been extended on a space available basis until March 1, 2007.

Just download the Society Fair invitation and form from http://www.nergc.org/images/societyfair.pdf or contact Nancy Pexa, nanpexa@sbcglobal.net.

WATCH THIS SPACE! (MORE NEWS FROM YOUR HOSPITALITY CHAIR)

We’ll suggest “Things to Do” around Connecticut for those family members traveling with a genealogist but not attending the conference. Our Trips & Tours Chair is planning something special along these lines.

We’ll also point out some favorite and noted restaurants for your dining pleasure, should you wish to eat off-site. And we’ll have an update on parking options.
It’s almost time to start packing your suitcase – and be preparing for your trip to Hartford!

See you “here”!

Janet Wallace, NERGC Hospitality Chair

CAMPING AND FAMILY RESEARCH GO TOGETHER!


Looking for an alternative place to stay for New England CONNECTions? Make your family camping plans today for the third and fourth weeks in April 2007! There is much to see and do and great repositories in Connecticut in which to research your roots while getting the most out of spring in Connecticut.

Visit the Connecticut Campground Owners Association website at: www.campconn.com/listings.htm to get maps, details on each campground and contact information.

There are no campgrounds in Hartford County and only one nearby in Litchfield County to the west but there are many in the four counties in southern and eastern CT. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has its own Northeastern Campbook, 2006 Edition, with a map and details and contact information as well as a quality rating system. See the Massachusetts section as well.

Another campground website is the www.rv-clubs/connecticut_campgrounds.htm.
Most of the area campgrounds open in April but the actual date may vary with each campground. Massachusetts campgrounds close to I-91 or I-84, easy access routes to and from Hartford, may also prove to a good locations for some.

Check out www.campmass.com/directory.htm in particular for locations in the Pioneer Valley (B) and Sturbridge Regions (C) close to the Connecticut line.

Make NERGC Hartford 2007 a family outing and let your roots grow!

HOTEL UPDATE FOR HARTFORD CONFERENCE


“If your genealogical knowledge and experience are not becoming to you;
you should be coming to Hartford!”

All in all, it is always best to stay at the Conference Hotel – Hartford Marriott Downtown – and partake in all of our festivities offered at the Hotel and the Convention Center. In that vein, please be aware: there still may be some confusion on the part of Marriott Reservations when you are trying to book several nights at the NERGC Group Code Rate (using NGCNGCA).

Wednesday night, the hotel is completely filled (between NERGC and another departing group). Although we had negotiated additions to the NERGC room block for Thursday and Friday nights, latest figures from the hotel indicate there are less than 25 rooms remaining in our latest expanded block for those nights, at $155 per night (rooms outside the NERGC block are available, but significantly higher). If you have not yet booked your room, don’t delay! Make your reservations either on-line or by telephone today!

Cut through the confusion:

HARTFORD MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103-2807
Phone 1-860-249-8181
For RESERVATIONS: Toll free 1-866-373-9806
Group Code NGCNGCA = New England Regional Genealogical Conference

Please be patient, and persevere with the reservations assistant -- they are not situated in Hartford at the hotel. You may have to state the exact nights you wish to stay, then ask them to study one night at a time for availability. Then apply your conference code. You may find you’re actually paying different rates for different nights, according to our block of guaranteed rates – but you won’t have to move to another room!

Be mindful also: we would like to suggest that if you don’t get what you want for rooms, ask Reservations to be put on the waiting list for conference rates. People who are now on the list may cancel because of a personal change in schedule. We want all of our contracted rooms to be reserved for us. It helps your Conference, since $10 of each room rental comes back to NERGC to cover Convention Center costs.

Other hotels in Hartford and environs:

The Hospitality Committee has garnered the following additional listings from the AAA Tour Book. You may wish to use this data for your Wednesday night stay, until you can move into the Marriott Downtown.

Please use this information at your own discretion, after searching their individual web sites as to current prices and amenities, along with location, location, location.

You will discover on your own that there are more hotels/motels in the area than may be mentioned herein, but our selected locations are places where your Hospitality chair might suggest to personal friends.

Some may wish to book their entire conference stay off-site. But, consider also, that to be a little way out of downtown Hartford, while perhaps saving a few dollars on a room, may pose more of a drive-time than you wish to conquer at the morning rush hour in order to arrive in a timely fashion for our first lectures of the day. Add to this, the potential parking time, when your vehicle could already be snuggled in the Convention Center Garage!

To the North of Hartford (in the Bradley Airport area).

Note: many of these chains have multiple hotels in a given area, and you should take note of the exact name of the hotel when referencing its location on a map. On State Route 75, near Rte 20, about 1.5 mi east of the airport, you will find clustered the following (arranged alphabetically, not by style, or price range):

Baymont Inn & Suites Hartford-Airport, 64 Ella Grasso Tpke., Windsor Locks, CT 06096 800-531-5900

Days Inn Bradley International, 185 Ella Grasso Tpke., Windsor Locks, CT 06096, 860-623-9417 or 800-894-1475 Fax 860-623-5268

Doubletree Hotel Bradley International, 16 Ella Grasso Tpke., Windsor Locks, CT, 06096-0020, Tel: 860-627-5171 Fax: 860-627-7029

Fairfield Inn Hartford Airport 2 Loten Drive, Windsor Locks, CT 06096, Phone: 1-860-627-9333 Fax: 1-860-623-1978 Sales: 1-860-623.1978 Sales fax: 1-860-623-1978

Hampton Inn Hartford/Airport, 2168 Poquonock Ave., Windsor, CT 06095 Tel: 860-683-1118 Fax: 860-683-2200
Ramada Inn Bradley International Airport, 5 Ella Grasso Tpke., Windsor Locks, CT 06096 Tel: 860-623-9494, Fax: 860-627 7462

Also, the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International (which is actually inside the airport), 1 Bradley Int'l Airport, Windsor Locks, CT 06096, Tel: 877-422-5311, Fax: 860-623-5284, Reservations: 800-325-3535

In downtown Hartford itself, you may wish to consider:

The Hilton Hartford Hotel, at the Hartford Civic Center (not to be confused with our Hartford Convention Center) is across town a bit, but the city’s free shuttle buses make a stop nearby), 315 Trumbull St., Hartford, CT, 06103 Tel: 860-728-5151 Fax: 860-240-7247

Also in the area, but not downtown: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hartford – located in the South Meadows, a 5 minute drive to the Conference, at 185 Brainard Rd., Hartford, CT 860-525-1000, FAX 860-525-2990, toll free reservations line 877 HOTEL CT.

Please refer also to NERGC E-Zine #11 for other hotels within Hartford, and to the South of the city.

Janet Wallace, NERGC Hospitality Chair

LIBRARIANS’ DAY


New England CONNECTions is pleased to offer a special pre-conference program for librarians on Wednesday, 25 April 2007, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. The program will feature four sessions:

“Building a Core Genealogy Collection for Your Library” by Craig R. Scott, CG. Essential genealogical titles for a strong collection, with additional recommendations for specific regions and areas of interest.

“Posting and Hosting Digital Content Online” by Beau Sharbrough. Options for digitizing and publishing your library’s content on the Internet, including content contributed by your patrons.
“A Sampling of Connecticut Repositories” by Judith Ellen Johnson of the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Richard C. Roberts of the Connecticut State Library. An inside look at two of Connecticut’s renowned genealogical and historical institutions.

Panel Discussion. Comments from the day’s speakers on a timely topic, followed by questions from attendees.

All librarians who work with family history patrons or genealogy-related research materials will benefit from this special event. The cost is $35 per librarian and includes lunch compliments of ProQuest Information and Learning. See the schedule at www.nergc.org/2007/program/page2.htm.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS


Here are more of the Special Interest Groups that will be held on the first night of the Conference—Thursday at 7:30 p.m. These get-togethers will provide a great opportunity to meet conference participants and speakers with similar interests.

Patti Locke will lead a discussion of French Canadian genealogy, including available resources and some tips to help you find your ancestors. And enjoy some French Canadian music during the informal discussion period!

Would you like to learn more about the German members of your family tree? If so, then come join this discussion on German Research with Leslie Albrecht Huber. Here, you can ask questions, provide tips, and enjoy the company of others who share your interest.

Learn about and share your experiences doing Irish Research at the session hosted by Donna Moughty. Learn about various records and sources as well as tips and tricks that can help you find your Irish ancestors.

Find out more about other Special Interest Groups already scheduled at http://www.nergc.org/2007/specialinterestgroups.htm.

And if you can help with any of the Special Interest Groups that have formed thus far, or if you would like to organize an additional group, please contact Allison Ryall at allison@allisonryall.com.

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS WORKSHOPS


On Thursday, Emery Roth will present a workshop Working With Digital Images from Scanning to Storing & Basic Editing in Photoshop Elements and on Friday he presents Enhancing and Repairing Digital Images in Photoshop Elements.

These “hands-on” workshops will teach participants to learn to control size, resolution and format and to work with images, altering them appropriately for different uses, and a wide variety of other Photoshop tools. Note that participants must bring their own USB equipped laptop with CD drive and with a copy of Photoshop Elements installed and working. Though the conference program calls for participants to have Photoshop Elements version 4, Photoshop Elements version 5 will also work. Full conference fee and additional Workshop fees are required.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS


One of the features of New England CONNECTions is a track called "Federal Records at the National Archives". Three National Archives and Records Administration speakers, Walter V. Hickey, Jean F. Nudd, and Horace H. Waters, will present a total of eight sessions:

Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor by Jean Nudd
Revolutionary War Records by Walter V. Hickey
Beyond the Census by Horace Walters
African-American Research by Walter Hickey
Archival Research Strategies and Techniques by Jean Nudd
19th and Early 20th Century Crew Lists by Horace Walters
Dear Mr. Secretary... by Walter Hickey
Where'd They Go? by Jean Nudd

Jean Nudd has worked for the National Archives and Records Administration since 1994, managing the genealogy reading room in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Walter Hickey has been with NARA since 1990. In great demand as a lecturer, he has entertained New England audiences for more than a decade with his often irreverent and always informative presentations.

A ninth-generation New Englander, Horace Waters has 15 years experience with New England genealogical and historical records. He has worked for NARA for four years.

For more information, see the full program at http://www.nergc.org/2007/program2007.htm.

REGISTRATIONS KEEP COMING IN!


Registration Chair Mary Choppa reports that conference registrations to date have passed the 420 mark and new registrations continue to keep coming in at a brisk rate.

If you haven’t registered yet, the Registration Brochure is available for download at the Conference website http://www.nergc.org/. Check out the full conference program and the many lectures and special events to choose from.

If you or someone you know needs a “hard copy” brochure mailed to them, contact Conference Co-Chair Dick Roberts: Rroberts1861@charter.net.