Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A January 2011 Update


Well it certainly is the dead of winter here in Chicago this January 2011 but there is no snow gathering on my tree branches.  I've been busy to say the least.  Here's a little update and an explanation for the lack of posts here at Destination: Austin Family:
  • Recently I was named a Director of the Illinois State Genealogical Society as well as its new Webmaster and chair of the Publicity committee and the Death Indexes and Obituaries committee.
  • Besides being involved with genealogy on a state society level, I'm also heavily involved with the Federation of Genealogical Societies which is a national organization. I've recently been chosen as the FGS Marketing Coordinator (a new position) and I will also be handling advertising for the FGS FORUM which is the quarterly publication.
  • The FGS fun doesn't end there thought.  I also am an editor for the FGS Voice blog and am producing a series of technology and marketing related posts called GenSoc(k) Hop.
  • And don't forget the upcoming FGS 2011 Conference in Springfield, IL September 7-10, 2011. I am the National Publicity Chair and my great team of volunteers is busy preparing to get the word out on one of the largest genealogy events of 2011.
  • I'm not done yet! I had a very successful webinar for Legacy Family Tree Webinars on January 5, 2011 entitled Google for Genealogists. You can see the recording of the webinar here. I'm psyched that I'll be doing three more webinars with Legacy Family Tree during 2011.
  • One project I'm working on is evaluating various virtual presentation platforms for members of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Being able to deliver genealogy education content over the Internet in live webinar format is the wave of the future and I'm determined to make sure that the genealogy community is on top of that wave, not behind it. In fact, with Legacy Family Tree Webinars, I'll be moderating a Virtual Presentations Roundtable on Saturday, February 12, 2011 and you can participate for free using webinar technology.  Click here to register. 
  • And finally, I am getting ready to attend RootsTech in Salt Lake City February 10-12, 2011. This is the premiere genealogy and technology event and I'll be in my element with lots of networking going on with friends, vendors, clients and other genealogists. I'll also be moderating three panel discussions including Genealogy Blogs: Impact and Influence in the Genealogy Community, Self-Publishing for Genealogists and Genealogical Societies, and the above-mentioned Virtual Presentations Roundtable.
Am I busy? Well just slightly busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger.

Photo: Winter Tree, used via Creative Commons License 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

© 2011, copyright Thomas MacEntee

6 comments:

Susan Clark said...

I'm exhausted reading this, but looking forward to benefitting from your efforts in IL.

Michelle Goodrum said...

There's nothing better than doing what you love! We need to start calling you Superman.

Greta Koehl said...

I knew it. There are really five of you.

Janice said...

It's great to hear that you are busy doing what makes you happy!

Diana Ritchie said...

Not only am I exhausted reading this, but it makes me feel like such a slug....I think I'm doing so much working AND going to school that I don't have time for my genealogy. Guess I need to kick it into high gear!!

Oh, and I agree with Greta - there HAS to be more than one of you!

Kathleen Brandt, Professional Genealogist said...

Congrats on wearing all your hats so well - trainer, marketeer, bookkeeper, contract attorney, etc!