Follow the SLC Tour on Facebook

Interest in Facebook continues to grow at incredible rates, including an increasing number of genealogists. Here's my favorite statistic: "More than 3 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)." Imagine if we could get people to spend that many minutes working on their genealogy! Every so often, I go back and check to see if anyone that I know has joined, and last night I reconnected with dozens of high school and college friends, along with several SLC Tour attendees (who weren't on Facebook when I checked in January).

Tour attendees that have joined Facebook, can follow the tour updates by becoming a fan of the Salt Lake Christmas Tour page and access this blog information from within Facebook. The SLC tour page has a review feature, so I encourage previous tour attendees to share their thoughts and passions about the tour, so other (non-attendee) Facebook members might consider joining us in 2009. Also, if you have some genealogy friends already on Facebook, you can "Share" the SLC tour page using a link on the right hand side of the page. See you on Facebook!

Navigate Genealogy Resources Geographically

For the 2008 tour attendees who attended the Live Roots demonstration: the geographic feature that I mentioned as "coming soon" is now available. While the geocoding of resources in the Live Roots catalog is ongoing, about 85% are completed and you can browse through this new area of the site and see what is available at the country, state, county AND even city level. As new resources are cataloged, they will be geocoded and appear in this new area automatically. To get to this new area from any page on LiveRoots.com, click on the Navigate menu option at the top of the page.

I am currently working with a mapping expert to begin capturing the longitudes and latitudes of the resources being cataloged to better track cemeteries that have no street address. And (yes, there's more), I am building a related database that will capture place name changes, which will also be integrated into the geographic area of LiveRoots.com!

President Obama addresses genealogy???

In his Inaugural Address on January 19, 2009, President Obama made these remarks: "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus...and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture....." (Emphasis mine.) This sounded like a genealogy kind of statement to me. He went on to say that "our common humanity" will reveal itself and make America great. Hey, we folks have known that for a long time, right? Donna

Christmas Tour Photos

I got home and found out I have over 800 SLC Christmas Tour Photos! I also brought a severe cold with me.

Had a great time on the tour and enjoyed seeing the old friends and making new ones.

I am in the process of weeding out the duplicate photos as well as the poor ones. I hope to be done by the first of the year. I will keep you posted regarding my progress.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at: wbalter1@tampabay.rr.com

Here's wishing you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season and may all your wishes come true.

Bill Balter

Spokane, Washington: The lane to my house.

Had a wonderful non-snowy time on the Salt Lake Christmas Tour in early December and came home to the "Storm of the Century" (at least that's what the weather-guessers termed it). There were 24 inches of the white stuff clogging my lane... our only access in and out. But wasn't it beautiful!

What conditions did YOU, dear tour "family member," come home to??

Donna

2008 Christmas Tour is Underway!

The attendees have arrived and the tour kicked off with Joy Price providing an overview of the Family History Library Catalog -- the most essential tool for tapping into the enormous collection of books and microfilm.

Many attendees arrived early this year, and Sunday is always a wonderful time of tour reunions (previous years attendees reconnecting), and welcoming the newbies. Our Mother Hen spent the entire day on her feet, making everyone feel at home as they picked up their tour materials. An array of refreshments awaited the weary travellers who arrive by planes, trains and automobiles.

And while the Library isn't open on Sunday, many attendees make there way to the family history bookstore setup right in the hotel for the benefit of the tour. The aptly named Genealogy Bookshelf offers a wide array of materials to supplement the research attendees eagerly await to commence on Monday.

The tour offers a complimentary breakfast during the week that begins before the sun rises at 6:30am. Why so early? Well, the Library opens at 8:00am and that's where you'll find most attendees at 8:01am. The breakfast is coordinated by Dee and Dick Cattaneo, a wonderful couple who have travelled all the way from Montana!

The Cattaneos also brought along an array of delightful genealogy shirts and gifts that the attendees can purchase. This is a nice additional benefit of attending the tour.

Throughout the day, the attendees enjoyed holiday music accompanied by a slideshow of pictures from previous tours, prepared by our very own Photographer Extraodinaire. When you see some of the older photos, and the slightly younger versions of many current attendees, you really begin to see how this tour is so much more than just a bunch of genealogists converging upon Salt Lake City for a little research. It's a very special family reunion!

Stay tuned for additional highlights throughout the week, mark your calendar for December 2009 and consider joining the Salt Lake Christmas Tour! You won't be disappointed.

Upcoming Tour - December 6 to 12, 2009

Do You Want to Make Gigantic Leaps in Locating Your Ancestors?

Do you have brick-wall problems in your genealogy research?

If so - plan on joining with us at the 25th annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour to the Family History Library this December.

Why December? Early December is an ideal time to come to the Family History Library. The library isn't crowded, as it is at other times of the year. The festivities in Salt Lake City are underway and the Christmas Tour Family is waiting with open arms for you to join them.

By joining us in Salt Lake City on a Salt Lake Christmas Tour, you will be in the right place - at the right time - to locate more ancestors than you may have ever found before.

Details and Registration Form (PDF)

If you're not sure about joining us, check out the benefits of the Salt Lake Christmas Tour!

Bring-a-Friend

This option is for those who want to bring a spouse or friend that will not be participating in the Tour. You and your guest will share a hotel room, your guest will be able to participate in the breakfasts and other social activities.