Saturday, March 31, 2007

Extended Hours at Godfrey Library!

The Godfrey Memorial Library will be open from 9 AM to 8 PM on Wednesday, April 25, Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27; and on Saturday, April 28, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

More things to do in Hartford

Guided tours of the Ancient Burying Ground will be offered for those attending the Conference. Meet inside the Main Gate: Thursday at 10AM, Sunday per RSVP. Wednesday hours to be announced.

Contact Ruth Shapleigh-Brown: shapbrown@cox.net

The Ancient Burying Ground, Gold Street and Main Street, Hartford.
Hartford's oldest historic site, and final resting place of many Founders. View gravestone art and history from the mid-1600's to the early 1800's. For more information see:
http://www.theancientburyingground.org

Friday, March 23, 2007

DOING GENEALOGICAL WORK IN CONNECTICUT: FACTS AND REALITIES

In conjunction with your trip to Hartford for the Conference, you may find opportunities to visit repositories where a great many family records are located.

To get to vital records for the 19th century, think of the Connecticut State Library first. (http://www.cslib.org ) They have probate, land, church and vital records and much more for all of the towns in Connecticut. The Library is only a mile away from the hotel.

The Vital Records Office at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Ave., ( http://www.dph.state.ct.us/PB/HISR/Vital_Records.htm ) maintains a statewide registry of all births, marriages, civil unions, deaths and fetal deaths which have occurred in Connecticut since July 1, 1897.

The Hartford Bureau of Vital Statistics , in City Hall, is within walking distance of the hotel and Convention Center. (http://www.hartford.gov/health/vitalrecords/vitalrecs.htm )They do not do searches but will provide documents.

If you plan to go to cities or towns for 20th century vital records, only birth records access is restricted by law to members of one of the incorporated genealogical organizations listed on the Connecticut State Library website ( http://www.cslib.org/list.htm ). Several of these groups will be exhibitors at the Conference. However, note that even though the law does not require it, some Town Clerks expect a membership card from one of these organizations for ALL vital records access.

HARTFORD EATERIES AND NIGHTSPOTS FOR YOUR OFF-CONFERENCE HOURS PLEASURE

There are Starbucks cafes in both the Convention Center and the Marriott. The Starbucks in the Marriott Lobby is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers gourmet coffees, a full pantry with retail shop, and wi-fi.

The Marriott is also home to Vivo, also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offering meals with an Italian & Mediterranean theme featuring fresh foods, open kitchen & Italian wine bar.

The Arch Street Tavern, 85 Arch Street, is open Monday - Thursday from 11:30 AM to 1 AM, Friday from noon to 2 AM, and Saturday from noon to 2 AM. Close to the Convention Center, it offers soups, salads, and sandwiches as well as a selected dinner menu.

There are a number of fast food restaurants, including Burger King, near the Old State House and a Museum Cafe at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street.

For a more detailed list of just about every restaurant in downtown Hartford and its wider area, please go to the NERGC web site , www.NERGC.org, where we will have posted the GHCVB’s “Hartford Dining and Entertainment Guide”.

We’ll also have copies at the Hospitality Area of the Conference, along with sample menus from several of the restaurants. Once you get to the Conference, your NERGC registration packet will contain many of the pamphlets and lists offered on the Bureau’s web site, one of which will be the full "Visitors Guide”.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

MORE ON WHAT TO DO AND WHERE

For a “what to do, and where” during your non-conference hours, please visit the web site of GREATER HARTFORD CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU (GHCVB).
(http://www.enjoyhartford.com ).

Here you will also find opportunities for exploration by those who are in Hartford with you, yet not attending the conference. Their web site has a myriad of things to consider. Please note that Hartford has a Convention Center - where NERGC is located - plus a Civic Center, which is across town. Just to the north of town is an Expo Center. Please be mindful of these various site names when reading maps and/or descriptions and coordinating your plans. Do pay particular attention to the “Star Shuttle ”, a free bus that connects several points within the city, and runs every 12 minutes, from 7am to 11pm. This provides ready access from NERGC conference area to nearly all of the highlights in town, without moving your car or trying to hail a cab.

CONSIDER A SCENIC CONNECTICUT RIVER CRUISE

While at NERGC, you just might want to take a break from lectures and research. Why not enjoy a ride on the Lady Katharine for an all weather scenic cruise of the Connecticut River?

This narrated two hour cruise will take you south to Wethersfield Cove, where one of Connecticut ’s first settlements was established and then north under Hartford’s several historic bridges. The boat is fully enclosed and climate controlled for creature comfort!

The cruise will depart Riverfront Plaza , a short walk from the Convention Center, at 11:30 AM Friday, and will return in time for the 1:45 PM presentations. The cost for the cruise will not exceed $40.00 per person which includes a full buffet luncheon of assorted salads, wraps and desserts. A cash bar will also be available.

Check out the trip at www.ladykatecruises.com.

In order to arrange the charter, we need to know of your interest in the cruise. If you are registered for NERGC and you think you’d like to participate, please email Ralph Wadleigh at whplar@comcast.net by April 6 indicating your interest in this excursion. We need at least 60 people to sail. Once we have enough people to book the charter, we will ask you to reserve your ticket with a check!

THINGS TO DO IN HARTFORD

A visit to Hartford would be incomplete without exploring the historic sites that it has to offer. Many of these sites are within walking distance of the Convention Center and Marriott Hotel. Visit famous people’s homes, government buildings from the Early Republic , ancient burying grounds, and art museums. The following list is a sample of what you can “CONNECT” to in Hartford.

Ancient Burying Ground, Gold Street and Main Street, Hartford
Hartford ’s oldest historic site, and final resting place of many Founders. View gravestone art and history from the mid 1600s to the early 1800s. ( http://www.theancientburyingground.org/ ).

Butler-McCook Home & Garden, Main Street, Hartford
This 1782 home contains a collection of original furnishings from the 18th and 19th centuries. A restored Victorian garden is behind the home. www.hartnet.org/als/alsprop.htm.

Christ Church Cathedral, Main and Church Streets, Hartford
Erected in 1828, one of the oldest Gothic churches in the United States. Beautifully restored.( http://www.ccathedral.org/ ).

HarrietBeecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest Street, Hartford
1871 Victorian cottage, home to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Includes Victorian gardens.( http://www.harrietbeecherstowe.org/ ).

Mark Twain House and Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford
Built in 1873-74, the unusual 19 room Victorian Gothic home was occupied by Twain for 17 years. The mansion features designs by Tiffany, as well as elaborate stencil work and carved woodwork. ( http://www.marktwainhouse.org/ ).

OldState House, 800 Main Street, Hartford
Begin your visit to Hartford with a tour of this 1796 National Historic Landmark, one of the nation's oldest state houses. Tour the magnificently restored historic rooms, experience the interactive audio tour, visit the immersive Education Center , see the exciting new exhibition, shop in the Museum Store, attend a program, and so much more! ( http://www.ctosh.org/ ).

State Capitol, 210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford
Gold-domed High Victorian Gothic building, complete in 1878. National historic landmark. State executive offices and legislative chambers. ( www.cga.ct.gov/capitoltours ).

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford
World renowned collections of Hudson River School and Old Master paintings, rare European porcelains, costumes and textiles. American decorative arts and contemporary art. Special exhibits during the Conference include Picasso to Pop: Aspects of Modern Art; Faith & Fortune: Five Centuries of European Masterworks; and Connecticut Contemporary. ( www.wadsworthatheneum.org ).

COMING INTO HARTFORD AS A DAY-TRIPPER

While cheaper than in cities such as Boston or New York , it can still be expensive to bring your car and park it for a few days, especially if you are not going to use it. You are urged to car pool to save on gas and parking charges. In the next issue of the NERGC 2007 Hartford Conference E-Zine, (http://www.nergc.org )

Hospitality will address the matter of transporting yourself into Hartford as a day-tripper from outlying areas, i.e. the use of commuter parking lots.

CONFERENCE PARKING OPTIONS

The most convenient parking for the Conference is in the parking garage shared by the Convention Center Convention Center and the Marriott Hartford Downtown.

Hotel Parking Rates
Self-park: $ 3.00 hourly or $18.00 daily
Valet parking: $20.00 daily

ConnecticutConvention CenterParking Rates
$3.00 first hour
$2.00 each additional hour
$19.00 Daily Maximum
$10.00 early bird special (in before 8:00 AM, out before 6:00 PM)

Alternative Parking
The hotel/Convention Center garage is owned by the State of Connecticut , not those facilities, so they have limited control over the rates. The City of Hartford owns other parking facilities in the area, including parking garages on Morgan Street or Constitution Plaza to the north that are cheaper but less convenient. The Hartford Parking Authority ( http://www.hartfordparking.com/map.htm ) Web page includes a map showing locations of many parking facilities.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN AND AROUND HARTFORD

Arriving for the conference by air? Bradley International Airport’s Web page includes transportation options between the airport and downtown Hartford ( http://www.bradleyairport.com/transport/transport.php ), including taxis and major bus service.

Hartford’s train and bus station is a mile from the hotel and is on the route of the “Star Shuttle ( http://new.cttransit.com/content/pdfs/starshuttle_FINAL.pdf ) ”, a FREE shuttle bus service to the hotels in the city every 15 minutes.

The Star Shuttle operates from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays. This provides service approximately every 12 minutes along the circular route. The shuttle route has been designed to connect the Convention Center, the Riverfront, the Arts and Entertainment District, various restaurants, and downtown hotels.

UPS SHIPPING AVAILABLE AT CONFERENCE

The UPS Store is located downstairs from the convention center, across from Starbucks coffee shop in the Marriott hotel. Hours: M-F 7:00-6:30 PM and Saturday 8:00-3:00. They offer packing, shipping, receiving, printing and more. Telephone: (203) 589-5571.

SOME REMINDERS FOR EXHIBITORS

NERGC provides ten foot by ten foot exhibition space(s) with each space consisting of an 8’ high back wall, 3’ high rails, one eight foot skirted table, two folding chairs, one wastebasket with liner and one 7” by 44”, and an exhibitor sign with booth number(s).

If you need additional booth accessories, see the information packet sent out by SER Exposition Services in February. Neither the Convention Center nor the Marriott Hartford Downtown accepts conference-bound shipments. If you are not able to handle your own display items, contact our contractor, SER Exposition Services, at 508-757-3397.

If you need electrical connections, complete the form included in the SER packet or download the form online ( http://www.ctconventions.com/images/customer-files/CTCC%20Electrical%20Order%20Form.pdf ) from the Convention Center Web page.

Exhibitors needing Internet connections should also download that ONLINE ORDER FORM ( http://www.ctconventions.com/images/customer-files/CTCC%20Telecommunications%20Order%20Form.pdf ) and fax it to Exhibitor Services at (860) 728-2641, or mail it to the Connecticut Convention Center, Attn: Exhibitor Services, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103.

All exhibitors selling materials much have a valid Connecticut sales tax number before making any sales, regardless of the number of sales that may be made or the amount of tax that will be collected. Connecticut does not issue temporary permits to vendors. The Sales and Use Tax Permit must be prominently displayed at your booth during the show. For further information, see the Department of Revenue Services Web page ( http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1477&Q=269922&drsPNavCtr= ), which describes the tax requirements and provides options for registering, including registering online ( http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1433&q=265880 ) or contact the Department at 800-382-9463.

EXHIBIT HALL UPDATE

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., exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada will offer genealogical products and services in the Exhibit Hall, open to all without charge.

You’ll be able to purchase books and resources from vendors (such as David Brown Book Company, Heritage Books, Jonathan Shepard books); chat with exhibitors with expertise they’re willing to share, and find out more about genealogical and lineage societies ranging from the New England Historic Genealogical society to The Irish Ancestral Research Association, American French Genealogical Society, The Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast and The Puerto Rican Hispanic Genealogical Society, Inc. There are also specialized exhibitors such as Family Tree DNA, Legacy Crafts, and The Photo Detective. To see a floor plan of the Exhibit Hall and a complete list of exhibitors, go to: http://www.nergc.org/2007/exhibithall.htm .

SOCIETY FAIR UPDATE

Nancy Pexa, Society Fair Chair, reminds us that this year's Society Fair on
Thursday evening, April 26 from 5:00 until 7:00 is a great opportunity to pick up the
trail of a lost ancestor or discover a crack in one of those brick walls.

Since this year's conference is in Connecticut , we’ll begin with a listing of the
organizations from the host state. Genealogical societies represented are the
Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. ( http://csginc.org/ ), Genealogy Club
of Newtown
( http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctgcnc/ ), Jewish Genealogical
Society of CT
( http://www.bh.org.il/Genealogy/jewgensocs.aspx#Connecticut ),
Middlesex Genealogical Society ( http://mgs.darien.org/ ), and the Naugatuck Valley Genealogy Club ( http://www.nvgcweb.org/ ).

Historical organizations are the Coventry Historical Society ( http://www.coventrycthistoricalsociety.org/ ), Governor Jonathan Trumbull House ( http://www.geocities.com/govtrumbullmuseum/ ), Indian & Colonial Research Center ( http://www.theicrc.org/index.htm ), Oliver Ellsworth Homestead ( http://www.ctdar.org/OEH/index.html ), Windham Textile & History Museum ( http://www.millmuseum.org/ ), and the Windsor Historical Society ( http://www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org/ ).

Also represented will be the Greater Hartford Association of Historic Houses
and Museums, National Society Daughters Colonial Wars
( http://nsdcw.org/ ),
National Society United States Daughters of 1812 ( http://www.usdaughters1812.org/ ), National Society of New England Women ( http://www.newenglandwomen.org/ ),
Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, and Women Descendants
of the Founders and Patriots of America - Connecticut
.

Organizations from Massachusetts are the Falmouth Genealogical Society ( http://www.falgen.org/ ), Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston ( http://home.comcast.net/~jgsgb/ ), Massachusetts Archives ( http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcidx.htm ), Plymouth Public Library ( http://www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org/ ), and the Southwick Historical Society
http://www.southwickma.org/ )
Representing New York is the Genealogical Society of Rockland County ( http://rocklandgenealogy.org/ ), New City, New York.

In addition, look for the Avery Memorial Association ( http://www.averymemorialassociation.com/ ), The Harriman Family Association ( http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harrimanfamassoc/ ), Roberts Reunion Association ( http://www.robertsreunion.org/ ), and Welles Family Association ( http://www.wellesfamily.com/ ).

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.

THERE’S STILL ROOM IN THE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS

In addition to the Conference lecture sessions, a variety of special workshops are being offered. Each workshop is 2-3 hours in length and requires an additional fee. Please read the descriptions to understand additional requirements. Workshop space is limited. Make your choices on the NERGC registration form ( http://nergc.org/2007/program2007.htm ).

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.

Hands-On Workshops to Take Your Computer Skills to the Next Level
Digital images, whether of photographs or documents, are increasingly useful and important to compiling and preserving any family history. Two workshops planned for this NERGC conference should help a wide range of computer-using genealogists take their skills to the next level.

Capturing images worthy of archiving is the first step in the process. The first of these, Working with Digital Images from Scanning and Storing to Basic Editing by Emery Roth on Thursday afternoon from 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. (Session T-113, $30) is designed to demystify issues related to resolution, file format, and the scanning process so that participants will be certain that the images they capture today will be useful for their needs tomorrow. Participants will work with their own images and scanners so light and portable that they can easily become part of every researcher's travel kit when they visit libraries or relatives' homes. After learning how to get the most from these scanners, participants will take their scanned images into Photoshop Elements for a bit of basic image editing. Finally, they will learn about several software programs designed to help in organizing and cataloging images.

Once captured, there is much one can do to enhance the quality of old (or new) images. The second workshop "Enhancing and Repairing Digital Images in Photoshop Elements," presents Enhancing and Repairing Digital Images in Photoshop Elementson Friday morning from 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. (Session F-201, $35). is designed to get you started in Photoshop Elements or to take basic Photoshop skills to the next level. Do you have old photographs that have become badly faded? Are some of your images disfigured by scratches, tears, folds, or mold? Do you have old metal images or daguerreotypes with tones that look unnatural? Is there an insignia, locket, or other detail in an image that you want to see more clearly? Are those 1950s color photos looking a little too yellow? Photoshop Elements is a powerful tool that can draw more out of an old photo than you knew was there, and it can enable you to make repairs that you might previously paid hundreds of dollars to have a professional do. You will practice using a wide range of Photoshop tools of special value for genealogists. Those who are already using Photoshop but have not yet worked with "levels" will appreciate the flexibility and control offered by this valuable feature of the software. Those who are new to Photoshop may benefit from the two-day experience of taking both workshops.

Participants must bring their own USB equipped laptop with CD drive and with a copy of Photoshop Elements installed. Though the conference program calls for participants to have Photoshop Elements version 4, Photoshop Elements version 5 will also work.

Identifying and Preserving Family Photographs
David Mishkinand Maureen Taylor's Photography Workshop Identifying and Preserving Family Photographs(Friday afternoon 27 April from 1:45-3:45 PM) is limited to 30 participants and is filling quickly. Learn to identify family photographs by researching photographers, dating costume clues, and comparing facial characteristics. Cost of the workshop is $30.

Locating Digitized Images Online
On Saturday, April 28 Laura G. Prescott will present Locating Digitized Images Online. From maps to personal documents, you'll explore how and where to find digitized images and hidden treasures on websites across the Internet. You'll have a hands-on opportunity to locate images of headstones, family photographs, newspaper pages, and personal documents relating to some of your ancestors. You will learn not only how to search for and locate these images, but also how to save them on your computer, print them for your family's "archive," and cite them properly with copyright considerations in mind. The workshop is limited to a maximum of 40 people and requires advance registration. Participants are required to bring their own laptop computer with a wireless card. Windows and Macintosh computers are both welcome. Cost of the workshop is $30.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Cyndi Howells, one of our featured speakers, is owner and webmaster of
Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, www.CyndisList.com ( http://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 will be presenting "A Guided Tour of Cyndi’s List"
(F-208) Friday, April 27 from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M., "Planting Your Family Tree Online"
(F-220) Friday afternoon from 3:15 - 4:15 P.M., and "Evaluating Web Sites"
(S-315) Saturday afternoon from 1:45 - 2:45 P.M.

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.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, chief family historian for Ancestry.com, has recently
been in the national news in conjunction with the announcement of the Rev. Al Sharpton
- Strom Thurmond slavery link. Megan will be speaking on "Cases That Made My
Brain Hurt" at Friday’s luncheon, sponsored by the Connecticut Professional
Genealogists Council. On Saturday morning from 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. she’ll
present "Trace Your Roots with DNA," (S-313) explaining how genetic genealogy
can be used to further your genealogical endeavors and Saturday afternoon from
3:15 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. she’ll discuss "Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy
Options (S-326).

Colleen Fitzpatrick is an expert on Forensic Genealogywhose experience as a
rocket scientist developing innovative technologies for NASA, the National Science
Foundation, and the Department of Defense has taught her never to throw away any
scrap of data. In her presentations at our conference, she’ll demonstrate that you don't
have to be a rocket scientist to get the most from your genealogical materials. On
Saturday morning from 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. Colleen will present "Forensic Genealogy
- An Overview" (S-307) explaining how to use photographs, databases, and DNA to solve
your genealogical mysteries. On Saturday afternoon from 4:45 P.M. - 5:45 P.M. she presents "Forensic Genealogy - Photographic Analysis" (S-332), providing innovative approaches to analyzing old photographs.

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE SETS GOAL AT 100%

Can you help the Volunteer Committee reach the 100% GOAL? Let’s fill 100%
of the identified volunteer needs in the next few weeks, assuring that we will be
ready for NERGC 2007. Planning ahead makes sense. We know that smooth,
successful activities at a conference of this size depends on people -- people to
give out name tags and syllabi, people to share resources on where to eat and
what to do, people to give directions, to set things up. We are making progress
toward out goal, but, we need YOU.

There is still room for YOU in the schedule. Plan to "set a spell, assist and chat"
work the registration booth, hospitality or volunteer tables in the busy
gathering place just outside the meeting room hallway and the Exhibit Hall.
Be "in the know" and serve as a hallway guide between sessions, helping crowds
get to their next activity. Join the "bustling, creative crew" to assemble, place,
and pick up the signs that will welcome participants and get them from here to
there efficiently. A "smiling face at the door " for luncheons and banquets might be
just the job for you. Or, "need to stretch"; walk room to room to pick up
evaluations between sessions. Orientation and instructions packets for volunteers
will make the job easy for you.

If you are registered for the conference, you are eligible to serve as a Session Host.
Those opportunities are going fast. There are only 2 out of 15 left to fill on Thursday
and 3 out of 25 to fill on Friday and Saturday. We are at 88% and reaching.
Additionally, we are especially looking for someone already registered for
Workshops T-101 or S-301 to step forward to serve as Workshop Hosts.

For more information, or to step forward and help reach the 100% Goal,
contact Pam Roberts by email at pamela.roberts@uconn.edu or phone evenings
at 860 429-8751.

THERE ARE STILL ROOMS AT THE MARRIOTT!

Our initial block of $125 rooms and a second block of $140 rooms are now sold out.
However, the Marriott has released another block at $155.
(Rooms outside the NERGC block are significantly higher.)
If you have not yet booked your room, don’t delay! Make your reservations
either on-line or by telephone today! AFTER MARCH 26, 2007, the hotel may release unreserved rooms for general sale.

Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103-2807
Phone: 1-860-249-8000
Fax: 1-860-249-8181
Toll-free reservations: 1-866-373-9806
Hotel Web site: http://www.hartfordmarriott.com
Check-in time: 4:00 P.M.
Check-out time: 11:00 A.M.
Group code: NGCNGCA

Please remember that when making reservations on-line to be sure to enter the
Group Code above to get the NERGC rate. When making reservations via phone,
call Marriott Reservations at 1-866-373-9806 and ask to make reservations for the
New England Regional Genealogical Conference.

For other hotel options, see the NERGC 2007 Hartford Conference E-zine 11 (http://www.nergc.org/2007/ezine11.htm ) and E-zine 12 (http://www.nergc.org/2007/ezine12.htm )

REMINDER - PRE-REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 1

Pre-registration for New EnglandCONNECTions ends April 1.
Registrations postmarked after 1 April are considered walk-ins and may encounter
difficulty in registering for meals, workshops, or in receiving a printed syllabus.
Also a reminder that cancellations postmarked before 10 April will be subject to a
$15.00 processing fee. No refunds are available after 10 April 2007.

Tonight! March 22, 2007 8:00 PM

New England Regional Conference (NERGC) April 26-29 Hartford CT Information Session
Join us Thursday March 22 at 8PM ET for an informational teleconference
about the NERGC conference

Register for this free teleconference session
http://ancestralmanor.com/?tabid=140

Learn what to bring, where to stay, what the program and speakers have to offer at the 9th annual New England Regional Conference!

NERGC features include:

Librarian's Day - pre-conference warmup, featuring topics on building a genealogy collection, creating online digital resources, and Connecticut resources.

Society Fair - information about many New England libraries, societies and organization resources in the vendor hall with exhibitors.

Space is limited for workshops on family history, photograph identification and digital image creation Thursday through Saturday!

Special Interest groups for will meeting Thursday evening for BCG certification, DNA, Family Reunion, Memory Book, Newsletter, Federal records, Connecticut, Maine, French Canadian, German, Irish, Scottish, and Mac user topics.

Speakers from all over the country will present topics in 7 different tracks:

Federal Records (immigrant, Revolutionary War, CT history, African American, research techniques, mariners and vessels, correspondence, migrations )

Ethnic research (ancestral homes, French Canadian, Asian, Quebec, English origins, Palatine, Irish, Russian, research in Ireland, African American & American Indian Patriots, British census, Famine immigrants, Eastern Europe)

Records and sources (government, family artifacts, records access, paupers, cemeteries, law libraries, Ellis Island, Civil War)

New England (Roger Williams, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, DAR, CT court records, Vermont Irish, Maine Popham colony CT probate, Maine history, CT State Library, Massachusetts State Archives, African American Civil War soldier)

Skills & Methodology (ancestral homes, timelines, lineage societies, land records, women, large projects, colonial court records, War of 1812, source errors, photographs, combining source analysis, communities) Technology (PDAs, Cyndi's List, Internet genealogy, family trees online,
automated research assistants, websites, handwriting analysis, DNA, photo analysis )

Writing & Documents (register style, family history, narratives, local records, document preservation), Genealogical Techniques (Forensic, DNA) Luncheons, a Friday night banquet and Sunday morning special program are also available.