The Host Hotel: Sheraton Birmingham

I just decided I am really looking forward to staying at the Sheraton Hotel for this conference. What caused this? One picture, just one picture:

I am imagining sitting at a table on this patio, sipping a cool Southern beverage, and chatting with fellow genealogists. Throw in a librarian, editor, bookseller, archivist, or software developer or two and it will be a perfect setting.

A few more reasons why this is the perfect hotel for the FGS/AGS 2012 Conference:

• It's attached to the convention center by an air-conditioned skywalk
• FGS has arranged for FREE internet access in hotel rooms
• FREE hotel shuttle service to and from the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
• The hotel website lists area attractions and distances 
• Fitness center, indoor heated pool, and whirlpool
• It's a big convention hotel so we won't have to spread out at a bunch of different hotels
• Self-parking adjacent to the hotel for just $12.00 with in/out privileges (much less than many convention cities)
• An Internet coffee bar (Sheraton Link) featuring Starbucks® Coffee

Staying at the Sheraton is such an advantage. Park that car, enter the beautiful facilities there, walk the skyway to the Exhibit Hall, and then to the meeting rooms. What more can you really want? It's basically park, stay, go to sessions, and enjoy exhibits all under one roof. It will be cool as well. No matter the “warm Southern hospitality” outside, you can enjoy the cool inviting areas.

We have really good big city rates of $138.00 for single or double occupancy, $148.00 for triple, and $158.00 for quad occupancy. As usual, these are the prices without taxes added. These prices are good for  arrivals as early as Wednesday, August 22 and departures as late as Wednesday, September 5th. That gives you time for research and sightseeing.

• To reserve your Sheraton hotel room visit http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/fgs2012. This is a page dedicated to the FGS Conference.
  

• If you prefer to call to make your reservation, use (205) 324-5000 and tell the operator you wish to make reservations for the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference. Code: 15680.

FGS Luncheon on Wednesday

During the Wednesday August 29th Focus on Societies Day be sure to attend the FGS Luncheon. David E. Rencher will present "Records Access in a Post-9/11 World." The movement to close records has been steadily increasing on all fronts, local, state and federal since 9/11. Records used by genealogists are at risk of being closed or having valuable data elements removed from public view. Learn what your society can do to combat this threat.

This is a timely vital topic for all genealogists and genealogical and historical organizations. The luncheon time will include a short FGS Business Meeting and the annual Society Shout Out where societies are invited to share a brief announcement about the organization, volunteers, special projects, events, or other news.

On Wednesday, the FGS Luncheon is the only luncheon. The menu is a fresh garden salad with a selection of dressings accompanied by an oversized baked potato served with a choice of toppings which include whipped butter, sour cream, chives, and a blend of white & yellow cheddar cheese. Served with a selection of rolls, a deep chocolate-fudge brownie, and beverages.

Reserve your lunch ticket today and you won't have to figure out where or when to eat lunch! Click here to sign up for the conference and this luncheon. In a future blog post we will tell you more about all the wonderful luncheons and speakers that this conference offers on the other three days.

African American Lectures at FGS Birmingham

Education and February Black History Month is important. FGS 2012 carries that forward with a great lineup of lectures directed specifically at those involved in African American research. To learn more about the speakers and topics below click here. 

Friday, 31 August
2:00-4:00pm, Skill-building for African American Genealogical Research presented by Jim Ison (2 hour workshop); Sponsored by FamilySearch


Saturday, 1 September
8:00-9:00am, Tracing Your African American Ancestry: Where to Start presented by Frazine K. Taylor; Sponsored by findmypast.com

9:30-10:30am, Researching African Americans in the Wake of the Civil War: A Case Study presented by Wevonneda Minis

11:00am-12:00pm, Manifests of Slave Shipments along the Waterway 1808-1864 presented by Emma Davis-Hamilton

2:00-3:00pm, Using Genealogical Periodicals for Researching African-American Family History presented by Frazine K. Taylor

3:30-4:30pm, Freeman's Bureau Labor Contracts: A Closer Look presented by Wevonneda Minis

5:00-6:00pm,  The African American Homestead Experience, South and North presented by Roberta "Bobbie" King

More things to do in Birmingham and Alabama

This is the third installment of Local Host Co-Chair Liz Wells' 101 Reasons to Visit Birmingham (and Alabama)! Learn more about many of these via www.birminghamal.org/index.aspx 

• According to American Garden Guidebook Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore is one of America's top five.
• Highland Avenue with its historic early suburban architecture and Highland Avenue Golf Course, public golfing with fantastic skyline views.
• Kelly Ingram Park, starting point of many of the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s
• The spooky sight of kudzu covering trees, abandoned shacks, slow-moving vehicles, etc.!
• Kirklin Clinic, Birmingham’s own I. M. Pei designed healthcare facility at UAB
• Linn-Henley Building’s restored 1920s murals at the Birmingham Public Library
• Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville is the world's largest Space Museum!
• Visit Ivy Green, birthplace of Helen Keller, in Tuscumbia.
• McWane Center and IMAX Theater, a hands-on science and discovery center
• Oak Hill Cemetery, the city’s first, is on the National Register of Historical Places 

Local host co-chair Liz Wells wins award

Elizabeth "Liz" Wells, is one of the Local Host Co-Chairs from the Alabama Genealogical Society for the 2012 conference. She recently received a special award from Birmingham's Samford University. Way to go, Liz! She is the special collections librarian and university archivist and received the Jennings Marshall Service Award for "significant and sustained service contributions to the university." She was also noted for her service to the greater community.

We'll all get to congratulate her in person this August. 

Click here to read the full announcement. Thank you to David Rencher, National Conference Chair for the 2012 FGS/AGS Birmingham Conference, for sharing this news. 

Librarian's Day at FGS 2012

• A day designed for Librarians, Archivists, and other Information Professionals serving family history researchers.
• Takes place on Wednesday, 29 August 2012, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
• At the Sheraton Birmingham hotel, 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
• Sponsored by ProQuest
• Registration for Librarian's Day is only $10 and includes lunch provided by ProQuest
• To register, visit http://www.fgs.org/2012conference. Click on “Registration" and register for Librarian's Day.”
• E-mail any questions about Librarian's Day to librarians2012@fgs.org.
• Librarians are invited to register for the entire FGS conference.

Librarian's Day for FGS 2012 features an exciting lineup:

• Dr. Edwin C. Bridges, Director of Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama is the keynote speaker. (http://www.archives.state.al.us/)

• Amy Johnson Crow, CG, MLS, Reynoldsburg, Ohio (http://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) – Importance of Your Genealogy Collection’s Website

• Curt Witcher, MLS, Director of the Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (http://www.genealogycenter.org/Home.aspx) – Sources and Resources: Mining the Gold from Genealogical & Historical Serials 

Followed by a panel discussion featuring local area archivists:

•  Laura Caldwell Anderson, Archivist for Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (http://www.bcri.org/) – The Institute’s archives collects first-hand accounts of those involved in the Civil Rights Movement and of those involved in the struggle for human rights. Laura coordinates the Institute’s efforts to shed light on connections between the Civil Rights Movement and struggles for justice around the world.

• Jim Baggett, Head of the Department of Archives and Manuscripts for Birmingham Public Library (http://www.birminghamarchives.org/) – The department collects materials on Jefferson County and its surrounding area, the Episcopal Church in Alabama, the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, and Jewish history and life in Alabama. It houses more than 30,000,000 documents and 500,000 photographs. Jim has authored or edited five books on Birmingham and Alabama history and written several articles on archival preservation and Alabama history.

• Elizabeth Crabtree Wells, Special Collections Librarian and Archivist at Samford University (http://library.samford.edu/about/special.html) – The Special Collection Department documents the history and heritage of the University though its University Archives collection, the State of Alabama and its people, and Alabama’s religious institutions, particularly those affiliated with Baptist churches through its Baptist Historical Collection. Elizabeth instructs on the preservation and utilization of historical records, particularly those of Alabama and the church, at the local, state, and national levels. She has authored or edited several publications.

Don't forget to sign up for the genealogy workshops!

Did you see that in addition to the wonderful general program there are some special workshops offered? The cost is only $15.00 per session and you are guaranteed a seat and the handout material that is available only in the session! Space is limited in these sessions so don't delay your registration. For more details visit http://fgs.org/2012conference/program/program_by_track.php, scroll down to Workshops, and click on each title.

Thursday, 30 August

• 11:00 a.m-12:00 p.m.  Social History and Genealogy: Writing a Family Narrative (part 1)

• 2:00-3:00 p.m.   Social History and Genealogy: Writing a Family Narrative (part 2)   Both parts presented by Diane VanSkiver Gagel

• 2:00-4:00 p.m.  Scots-Irish Workshop presented by David E. Rencher and Sponsored by FamilySearch

• 3:30-5:30 p.m.  Native American Workshop presented by Joan Healey and Mary Lynn Sarpe and Sponsored by FamilySearch

Friday 31 August

• 8:00-10:00 a.m.  Windows on the Past: Dating, Identifying and Caring for Historic Photographs presented by Diane VanSkiver Gagel

• 2:00-4:00 p.m.  Skill-building for African American Genealogical Research presented by Jim Ison and Sponsored by FamilySearch

• 3:30-5:30 p.m.  In The Law Library: A Workshop for Genealogical Researchers presented by Sharon Tate Moody

Saturday, 1 September

• 8:00-10:00 a.m.  Hands On! Transcribing & Abstracting Documents presented by Linda Woodward Geiger

• 2:00-4:00 p.m.  FamilySearch Wiki Workshop presented by Elaine Hasleton and Fran Jensen and Sponsored by FamilySearch

Need a roommate for the Birmingham conference?

It's back by popular demand! It's the FGS  Roommate Matching Service.  Former member of the FGS Board of Directors, Bobbi King, has once again agreed to help with this service.

For the past several years she has successfully matched FGS conference roommates and she's ready to do it again. You may submit information via email including your name, telephone number, email address, and some of your personal characteristics: if you're an early morning riser, like to watch late night TV, allergies you have, smoker/non-smoker, any information that would help Bobbi suggest a possible compatible roommate. Send it to this email address with the subject line of FGS Roommate Matching Service: rking24600@gmail.com

Bobbi will share this personal information via email with like-minded individuals. Then it's up to the matches to correspond and hopefully hook up for a successful hotel roommate relationship that enhances the conference experience while reducing expenses.

Please note: Bobbi does not make reservations, offer hotel recommendations, or make conference arrangements, she just offers a screening service for prospective conference roommates via email. As Bobbi said in a recent email: “People have been very appreciative, often said it makes the difference between going and not going to the conference. I've had no complaints I can think of, but lots of compliments and appreciative stories.”

FGS and the 2012 FGS/AGS conference team appreciate all the time and effort Bobbi volunteers to help conference folks find a roommate.

FGS & RootsTech

Please stop by the FGS booth when you are in the Expo Hall at RootsTech to see a video of scenes from our past conferences. Then talk to the FGS reps there to learn more about what FGS can do for your genealogical society and family organization. Pick up one of our cool giveaways. (Not going to divulge what it is, but ask for a demo of its many uses!).

Then learn more about the FGS 2012 Conference being held in late August. Birmingham, Alabama is a historic city. The convention center and large host hotel are connected by an air conditioned skybridge.

Not at RT 2012? Many of the RootsTech vendors will also be at the FGS 2012 conference and some of the presenters, too. Visit www.fgs.org for more details on the conference, the sessions, special events, and to register for the conference online. No stamp needed, no need to write out a check, and even better it's fast! (Yes, you may still register via regular mail, but it's so much fun to do it online.)