RootsTech 2017 Live Stream Schedule and Session Syllabus Handouts are Released

RootsTech 2017

It is that time of year again. ... The RootsTech 2017 Live Stream Schedule and the 2017 class syllabus handouts have been released. Below is a list of the sessions that make up the Live Stream Schedule.

Unlike previous years, this year you must use a RootsTech App to download or email yourself the session syllabus handouts from either the Apple App Store or GooglePlay. The RootsTech App is made for SmartPhones but can be downloaded to tablets. Under the App's settings there is a tablet mode to switch on. There is also a browser page where you access the App but you need to create a log-in to use it.

How do you find a session's handout? Search the conference schedule or search by speaker. To email a handout to yourself, you have to find the session you want, view the session, click on the PDF and you will be asked do you want to "open it, email it or take notes on the handout". By this route, you must do this individually for each session you desire a handout. The PDF file name will be a series of numbers and letters not the title of the session. To download multiple session handouts at one time, click on the star next to the session in the conference schedule. Then go back to the App Home and then select the App's download and click the download icon. The files will que and be downloaded.

Please note that some users have found the RootsTech App to be troublesome on a tablet and in the browser format so exercise some patience while using it. (Apparently everyone is supposed to have a SmartPhone but in reality not everyone does.) When you are done with the App you may want to remove it from your tablet. But if you initially downloaded the handout PDFs rather than email them, before you remove the RootsTech App be sure to email those PDFs to yourself. The downloaded PDFs are stored in the RootsTech App data not in your tablet's download folder and if you delete the App you delete the PDFs.

Here's an example of where to find your downloaded session PDFs on an Android tablet: Prepare an email to yourself; click on attach files; go to My Files; go to the internal memory card (i.e. sdcard0) where apps store their data or that place on your device; go to Android folder; go to data folder; go to "com.coreapps. ...me.rootstech" folder (it will be named something like that); go to files folder; then check the select boxes and then done to attach your downloaded PDFs to the email; then send the email. Open the received email and save the attached files to your computer or another folder on your device. Now you will not lose the downloaded PDF files when you delete the RootsTech App.

Remember class times are listed in Mountain Time at the RootsTech website and in the RootsTech App. We are Eastern Time which is 2 hours ahead. So 8:30 am Mountain is 10:30 am Eastern. For your convenience we have listed the Live Stream Schedule here using Eastern Time and have included the session numbers.

Here's the Live Stream list according to Eastern Time. 

Wednesday, February 8th 
11 am to 12 pm Innovator Summit General Session
Steve Rockwood, Liz Wiseman
IS7000
12:15 pm  to 1:15 pm Industry Trends and Outlook presented by Craig Bott and Guest Panel
IS7100
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm Innovation -- Best Practices and Applications presented by Cydni Tetro
IS7303 

Thursday, February 9th 
10:30 am to 12 pm RootsTech General Session
Steve Rockwood, Jonathan and Drew Scott
RT5100
1 pm to 2 pm Getting Started in Genealogy presented by Kelli Bergheimer
GS0780
2:15 pm  to 3:15 pm DNA: The Glue That Holds Families Together presented by Diahan Southard
(For handout see RT1425 from session on Wed., 3 pm (MT)) 
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm DNA Matching on MyHeritage presented by Dana Drutman
RT1353
5 pm to 6 pm Jewish Genealogy: Where to Look and What's Available presented by Lara Diamond
RT9285
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Family History is Anything but Boring presented by Crystal Farish and Rhonna Farrer
RT0764

Friday, February 10th 
10:30 am to 12 pm RootsTech General Session Levar Burton, Special Guest Panel
RT1200
12:30 pm  to 1:30 pm RootsTech Innovator Showdown Finals
RT2543
2:15 pm to 3:15 pm Mothers, Daughters, Wives: Tracing Female Lines presented by Judy Russel (The Legal Genealogist)
(For handout see RT3017 from session on Wed., 4:30 pm (MT))
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Censational Census Strategies presented by Mary Kircher Roddy
RT9733
5 pm to 6 pm Big 4: Comparing Ancestry, FindMyPast, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage presented by Sunny Morton
RT2000
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Cross the Atlantic with Religious Records presented by Jen Baldwin
RT4765

Saturday, February 11th 
10:30 am to 12 pm RootsTech General Session Cece Moore, Buddy Valastro
RT1300
1 pm  to 2 pm Journaling Principles That Work presented by Steve Reed
RT0565
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Don't Just Be a Searcher, Be a Researcher presented by Crista Cowan
RT1989
5 pm to 6 pm Creating Google Alerts for Your Genealogy presented by Katherine R. Wilson
RT1430

If it is like prior years, the Live Stream will be right on the homepage starting on Thursday. 

See You Soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Next MCGG Friday Meeting is February 10

On Friday, February 10, at 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Mount Clemens Public Library, MCGG member Lisa Eschenburg will present Understanding the Words Seen in German Church Books.

If you have research to do on German ancestors and do not know German, this presentation just might help you.

If you are in the Mt. Clemens area, PLEASE JOIN US. 

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Next Let's Talk...Genealogy Meeting is February 8 at Mt Clemens Public Library

On Wednesday, February 8, at 7 p.m. in the Genealogy/Local History Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library is MCGG's Let's Talk...Genealogy meeting. Our topic for the night is ... Have You Tried ...? Have You Seen ... ? 

We'll share our favorite sites or new things we have seen that have helped us with our research. 

New attendees are always welcome.

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Second Armenian Genealogy Conference to be held March 17-19, 2017 in Dearborn

Got Armenian Ancestors?

The second annual Armenian Genealogy Conference will be held March 17-19, 2017, in Dearborn, Michigan, at the University Michigan-Dearborn, Fairlane Center North.

The conference is described as three days of workshops, presentations, community and discovering your Armenian roots.

See the conference website for details and costs.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Vote Today Only for Favorite Drawn Postcards, Continue Voting #DigUtica

We're Tweeting, Are You?

Are you on Twitter? If so we hope you are tweet-voting for the 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program winning newspaper. And we hope you are supporting The Utica Sentinel with the #DigUtica hashtag. Macomb County currently has no digitized historical newspaper online.

Today only, January 26, you can also tweet-vote for your favorite "Refrigerator Art Postcard" and "Most Artistic Postcard" which were hand-drawn postcards by children and adults sent into support one of the five finalist newspapers.

Each postcard has its own hashtag. While you're voting for these don't forget to include the hashtag for the newspaper you are supporting, like #DigUtica. (Might as well put each tweet to good use.)

First place towns will receive an extra 500 votes and second place towns will receive an extra 250 votes.

How do you vote? Compose a tweet message and be sure to include #DigUtica to make your vote/tweet count for The Utica Sentinel to win. Don't have Twitter? Vote using Michigan-theme postcards; each postcard sent counts as 10 votes.
Free pre-printed postcards are available at Mount Clemens Public Library and Sterling Heights Public Library. Pick up some postcards, go to the post office, buy some postcard stamps which are 34 cents each, affix stamps and mail. Do it really soon so the postcards make it by the contest deadline.

Postcard for #DigUtica

You can vote for your favorite newspaper as many times as you would like using either Twitter or Michigan-themed postcard and both voting periods end on January 28, 2017. For more details on the grant program and how to vote using postcards or even Twitter, see our original post for digitizing The Utica Sentinel which is one of the five finalists.

And remember, MCGG is now on Twitter under the @MCGGmichigan handle so follow us.


#DigUtica


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

PGSM Hamtramck Project Looking for Volunteers to Transcribe Records

PGSM website

The Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan is looking for about forty volunteers to help transcribe 100,000 birth and death reports from the Hamtramck City Hall.

The group has set up the PGSM Transcription Center in donated office space located on Garfield Road between Canal and 19 Mile Roads in Clinton Township, Michigan. According to Fred Kuplicki, director of projects for PGSM, scheduling of day-to-day and hours of operation will be based upon demand of the volunteers' willingness to work on the project on specific days.

Work began on January 9, 2017, with a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule. Training and orientation of PGSM's transcription process is also provided to all volunteers.

To volunteer or for more information please contact, Fred Kuplicki, Director of Projects for PGSM by at the publicity@pgsm.org email.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Got Twitter? Tweet #DigUtica until Jan 28

The Utica Sentinel on microfilm.

Are you tweeting? We hope you are with #DigUtica so your tweet counts as a vote to digitize The Utica Sentinel.

Voting for the 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program winning newspaper using Twitter continues until January 28. 

Compose a message and be sure to include #DigUtica to make your vote/tweet count for The Utica Sentinel to win. Voting using Michigan-theme postcards also continues. Each postcard counts as 10 votes.

Free postcards, already written out, are available at Mount Clemens Public Library and Sterling Heights Public Library. Pick up some postcards, go to the post office, buy some postcard stamps which are 34 cents each, affix stamps and mail. Do it really soon so the postcards make it by the contest deadline.

Postcard for #DigUtica

You can vote for your favorite newspaper as many times as you would like using either Twitter or Michigan-themed postcard and both end on January 28, 2017. For more details on the grant program and how to vote using postcards or even Twitter, see our original post for digitizing The Utica Sentinel which is one of the five finalists.

And remember, MCGG is now on Twitter under the @MCGGmichigan handle so follow us.


#DigUtica


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Tweet, Tweet: MCGG is Now on Twitter

Have you found us?

As of January 18th, the Macomb County Genealogy Group (MCGG) is now on Twitter. Use @MCGGmichigan to find us.

We plan to use our new Twitter handle like this blog but in 140 characters or less. Expect to see meeting announcements; notices of local genealogy/history events; some genealogy news regarding sales and new resources; and genealogy items of interest.

So if you are on Twitter follow us if you want to keep up with us.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Voting By Twitter Opened Today for 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program Five Newspapers Compete to Win

The Utica Sentinel on microfilm.

This is just to remind everyone that voting for the 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program winning newspaper using Twitter opened today.

Compose a message and be sure to include #DigUtica to make your vote/tweet count for The Utica Sentinel to win. 

Voting using Michigan-theme postcards also continues. Each postcard counts as 10 votes. You can vote as many times as you would like using either Twitter or Michigan-themed postcard.

Postcard for #DigUtica

Voting for your favorite newspaper using Twitter and postcards both end on January 28, 2017. For more details on the grant program and how to vote using postcards or even Twitter, see our original post for digitizing The Utica Sentinel which is one of the five finalists.


#DigUtica


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Voting By Postcard Opened Today for 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program Five Newspapers Compete to Win

Upton House theme postcard
by Sterling Heights Public Library

This is just to remind everyone that voting for the 2017 Michigan Newspaper Grant Program winning newspaper using Michigan-themed postcards opened as of today, January 16, 2017.

Voting using postcards runs from January 16 to 28. Each postcard counts as 10 votes and you can vote as many times as you would like.


For more details on the grant program and how to vote using postcards or even Twitter, see our original post for digitizing The Utica Sentinel which is one of the five finalists.

Postcard for #DigUtica

#DigUtica


See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Thank You One and All for Attending MCGG Open House at MCPL on Jan. 13

Note: Spelling correction has been made. This post was originally posted, Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 10:57 a.m.

Just WOW.

2017 MCGG Open House:
Bill Krul talks about Polish Research

The turnout for our MCGG Open House on Friday, January 13, was amazing.

Thank You to the volunteers and Macomb County Genealogy Group members who helped our new attendees and fellow MCGG members with their genealogical and sometimes technical questions.

Thank You to the new attendees for attending our Open House. We hope you will return to continue your research, talk to our volunteers for help/advice, and attend one of our Friday or Wednesday meetings.

We were so busy that we managed to only take two photos of this year's Open House exactly what happened at last year's Open House. Thanks Robert McGarry for taking them this year.

2017 MCGG Open House:
Brenda Miller talks to a group
of attendees just starting their genealogy.

And, Thank You to the Mount Clemens Public Library for your hospitality allowing us to show off your fabulous Local History and Genealogy collection and for being one of the best libraries.

We hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Open House Follow Up: Options to Keep Track of Your Genealogy Discoveries

One question was heard quite a bit at the recent MCGG Open House. What can I use to keep track of all of this?

For anyone that does not use a computer, the answer is the various genealogy forms in the MCGG Beginner's Packet.

For anyone with computer access, the answer to that is an online genealogy tree and/or a genealogy software/program for your computer. Several options exist and which one to use depends on how you work and think, and how you feel about sharing/privacy.

We suggest investigating your options. If a program looks like a possibility for you and it has a free option then try the free version out. If you decide you like it, then decide if the pay version is worthwhile for you or not. Ask a variety of our MCGG members what they use when you attend one of our meetings. If they have their laptop with them, they might even demonstrate the program they've chosen to use.

So what is out there for keeping track of things?

Online trees come in two forms.

• Personal trees which you control (add/delete/edit) often have privacy settings that can be set to public (anyone can see it) or private (only you or those you invite can see it) depending on how you feel about sharing/privacy. Online trees at websites like Ancestry.com, FindMyPast websites, and RootsWeb.com are examples of this.
• Collaborative trees which are an online shared tree meaning everyone works on the same tree that allows anyone to add/delete/edit any person. Online trees at FamilySearch.org and WikiTree.com are examples of this.

Most websites with online trees have some privacy controls that keep information on living persons private. Generally online trees have fewer charting and reporting options than those in genealogy software. Additionally there are sometimes fewer events/fact fields to chose from and fewer source citing options. The advantage is that you often can access an online tree from a variety of devices not just a specific device. The disadvantage is that you have to have internet access to access an online tree.

Desktop genealogy software is made by a variety of software publishers.

Generally desktop genealogy software has more charting and reporting options than online trees. There is often more event/fact fields to use and more source citing options. By having your tree on your computer you control access, adds, deletes, and changes to the information in it. Another advantage is that you can see and work on your tree without the internet if needed.

Almost all genealogy software has a website devoted to providing information about the program, sales and customer service. Take a look at them to learn of each program's features and how the program's interface looks/works. Some companies have overview, feature and how-to videos on their websites or a YouTube channel and these are good ways to get the feel of how a program works.

Most genealogy software is distributed by online download but some offer the option to purchase the software on a CD or USB drive for an extra fee. Also, printed software manual books are usually an option for a fee though most are e-books/PDF files now. Remember, genealogy software (downloaded or on a physical device) is a one-time purchase not a subscription with annual costs. Only when a major update to a program (i.e. version 7 to version 8) is released by a software company is there an additional update cost. Minor updates (i.e. version 7.2 to version 7.4) to a program are usually free. And always remember to make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements to run the software you are considering purchasing.

Here are some of the current desktop genealogy software that we have talked about in other posts back (1, 2, 3, 4) at the end of 2015 when genealogy software choices were the hot topic of the day due to announced changes to come at the Ancestry.com website. The "loud" voices of genealogists were heard and a popular product was saved. We have updated this information where needed (like new version released since then) and added the starting cost of each program. Generally a download of a program costs less than a program on CD or USB drive which has to be physically delivered.

Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker is not dead in case you had not heard. It is now a product of The Software MacKiev Company. There is a Windows version Family Tree Maker 2014.1 and a Mac version Family Tree Maker 3.1 of the program which costs $69.95 for one computer license. If you want the program on a CD or USB drive there is an extra charge. If you have an earlier version of Family Tree Maker, you can get an upgrade to the new versions for just $39.95 by signing up for the FTM mailing list.

Currently, Family Tree Maker is still the only genealogy program that syncs with the Ancestry.com online trees, and the only program that lets you merge records by searching Ancestry.com from within the program. It also works with the Ancestry Hints (Shaky Leaves) feature. It has a variety of charts and reports and has an interactive location map. MacKiev has a Frequently Asked Questions page regarding and support pages for Family Tree Maker.

MacKiev has said it is working on updating Family Tree Maker to continue the TreeSync, search/merge and hints features when Ancestry.com makes its planned website update.

A review of Family Tree Maker 2014 can be found at TamuraJones. One FTM user has a whole blog devoted to using and helping others use Family Tree Maker so there are many screen captures to get an idea of how the program looks. Another third-party article talks about the latest MacKiev FTM update and how to get it can be found here.

Legacy Family Tree

Legacy Family Tree 8.0

Legacy Family Tree 8.0 is the product of Millennia company, which also produces the Legacy Family Webinars. Legacy is a currently still a Windows only program that comes in a free Standard version and a pay (starting at $29.95 for a download) Deluxe version. Legacy is working on releasing version 9.0 of its software. And we understand a Mac version might be in the works too.

The Standard version is a full-feature program that has no limitations on how many individuals can be entered. Purchasing the Deluxe version unlocks almost one hundred advanced features, like mapping, a Source Writer, interview reports, and powerful search capabilities for within your tree file.

There is a features overview and both a webpage tour (click on any screen image to enlarge it) and a video tour of the program. Also, at Legacy Family Webinars there are additional free videos on various Legacy features.

Legacy has put together a How to Import from Family Tree Maker page which includes a video. There is also a comparison guide to other programs but it is a little out of date because the comparison is to older versions of its competitors rather than up-to-date versions.

Reviews of the program can be found at Family Tree Magazine, Budding Genealogist, Dick Eastman's blog, The Legal Genealogist, and elsewhere.

Legacy has indicated it is working on updating Legacy Family Tree to add the Ancestry Sync feature when Ancestry.com makes its planned website update.

RootsMagic

RootsMagic 7

RootsMagic has both a free version, RootsMagic Essentials, and a pay ($29.95) version, RootsMagic 7, of its product. The company also has a Mac version of the RootsMagic 7 software.

According to its blog, the company has set up a special website that includes training videos and more.

RootsMagic has also created "Magic Guides" on a variety of topics like importing data from Family Tree Maker 2008 and later, importing data from Family Tree Maker 2006 and older as well as media import from Family Tree Maker.

RootsMagic Essentials is promoted as containing many of the core features of the pay version. The RootsMagic 7 product page gives an overview of the pay versions features and includes a link to new features as well.

Reviews of RootsMagic can be found at Family Tree Magazine, Genealogy Gems,  The Legal Genealogist, as well as other places.

RootsMagic was the first company to announce it is working on updating its software to add the Ancestry Sync, search and download features when Ancestry.com makes its planned website update.

MyHeritage's Family Tree Builder 8.0

Family Tree Builder 7.0

Family Tree Builder (FTB) is the free genealogy database program of the MyHeritage.com website. Its latest version 8 supports up to hundreds of thousands individuals. A few features from version 7 are temporarily disabled while they are being worked on.

The company created a step by step guide to exporting a GEDCOM from Family Tree Maker and importing it into Family Tree Builder.

According to its overview, Family Tree Builder (FTB) supports over 40 languages; has a PC and Mac version; creates charts; has a maps feature; can be linked to a private family site (free and pay site); has SmartMatches Technology, Record Matching Technology and Instant Discoveries (when used with a MyHeritage data subscription); and more.

More details can be learned on version 8's initial announcement page. One thing the company does not mention is the program's sourcing and citation features which are really important if you are serious about your genealogy.

Family Historian

Family Historian 6

Calico Pie Ltd., the makers of Family Historian 6 hail from the United Kingdom.

Several webpages have been created with Family Tree Maker users in mind. There is a welcome page, user questions page,  as well as a guide to migrating from FTM to FH.

There is also a screenshot tour as well as a video tour of the program. Videos are also available on the software's YouTube channel.

Family Historian does offer a 30-day trail of the program after which a license to the program must be purchased ($46.50 USD) to continue using it. We are not sure if there are customer service issues with the time difference between the United States and United Kingdom.

AncestralQuest

Ancestral Quest 14

Incline Software are the makers of  Ancestral Quest 15 which has a Windows and Mac version of the program. The program has a variety of features and has been described by some as an alternative to the old, discontinued Personal Ancestral File (PAF) software. There are a variety of tutorials on the website also. Some tutorials are for older versions but the basics of them still apply to the current version.

The company has setup a special page for Family Tree Maker users moving to Ancestral Quest. There is also a video of how to bring your FTM file into Ancestral Quest on the software's YouTube channel.

There is also an Ancestral Quest Basics version that is free. It is fully functioning but does not contain all the "bells and whistles" of Ancestral Quest 15 which begins at $29.95 for the download version.

Heredis

Heredis 2015

Heredis is the product of a European company and the program is available for Windows and Mac. We last highlighted Heredis 2015 when exploring alternative genealogy programs but it appears there is a new version Heredis 2017.

However, it appears the website for Heredis 2017 is only in French unlike the website for the 2015 version so the website is of little help to those who do not speak French.


Brother's Keeper

Brother's Keeper 7.

Brother's Keeper 7.2 is a stand alone genealogy program that is actually shareware. According to its website, the program works on a variety of windows operating systems, but there is no Mac version. Brother's Keeper has 18 foreign language versions as well as many features.

The program's reports capabilities have been described as highly customizable and the program easy to use. 

Because Brother's Keeper is shareware you can download a trial version and try it before you buy it for $45.00 with printed manual and CD or USB drive. The trial version is not limited by size or time but purchasing the program unlocks a lot more features.

Reviews of earlier versions can be found at Family Tree Magazine, and elsewhere.

MacFamilyTree

MacFamilyTree 7

Synium, a company in Germany, is the maker of MacFamilyTree 8.1 which is available in 16 languages. The company does not make a Windows version of the software.

For version 8.1, which costs $59.99 in the Mac App Store,  is the largest update the company has released. These features and other have been detailed on its website and a variety of screen shots can seen at the website. On overview and a support tutorial videos are on the company's Youtube channel.

MacFamilyTree has also produced a migration guide to help users migrate from Family Tree Maker. There is also a demo version of the program so you can try the program out but it does not allow you to save or export your entries.

Reunion (for Mac only)

Reunion 11

Leister Pro. is the maker of Reunion 11 software for Mac. The company does not make a windows version of the program.

The program, which costs $99.00,  has many features/capabilities and website has many tutorial videos. Reunion has created a special page to walk users through the transition from Family Tree Maker.

There is a demo version that let's you play around with the program a little bit. You are limited to entering 50 individuals; import/export is locked; charts and slideshows can not be saved; and printed output contains a watermark. Purchasing a license unlocks the full features of the program.

Reviews for Reunion can be found online (some to an earlier version) like at Sassy Jane Genealogy and elsewhere.


At the GenealogyTools.com website, Keith Riggles has written a multi-part series on genealogy software that provides another look at the software we have mentioned as well as some others. Riggles has taken a look at the tech aspect of dealing with GEDCOMs into and out of each program. GEDCOM is a specification that allows different genealogy software to share information, hopefully without loss of data. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see the complete list of all the articles in the series.

Lastly, with any company's genealogy software you investigate, do not be afraid to contact the company and ask your questions about their software and its capabilities.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Free Access to All Birth, Marriage, Death and Census Records on FindMyPast Websites January 12-15, 2017

FindMyPast is giving free access from Jan. 12 to 16 to all of its birth, marriage, death and census records.

During this free access time period, you will need to sign-in to either your subscription account or free account.

If you do not have a free account at FindMyPast already, simply create one. (A free account is not the same as a free trial subscription so do not click on the link to sign up for a free trial subscription.) The simplest way to create a free account is to do a search, click to view a result image and the website will ask you to sign into your account or create a free account.

There are special search pages set up for this free access time period for each of the Find My Past websites -- FindMyPast.com's search, FindMyPast.co.uk's free search, FindMyPast.ie's free search or FindMyPast.com.au's free search. You can access all the birth/marriage/death and census records regardless of country from any of the FindMyPast websites.

Have fun searching.
 
See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

To Arms, To Arms! Get Ready for Action! Send Michigan-theme Postcards &/or Send Tweets ... Vote between Jan. 16-28 for Digitizing The Utica Sentinel #DigUtica

Upton House Postcard for #DigUtica

Okay Everyone, do you want to see a Macomb County newspaper digitized and online??? 

Yes? Then get your Twitter accounts ready and/or get your pen/stamps/Michigan-image postcards ready. The finalists for the 2017 Digital Michigan Newspaper Grant Program have been announced by the Clarke Historical Library on the campus of Central Michigan University.

The final five are:

• The Utica Sentinel (Macomb County)  #DigUtica
• The L'Anse Sentinel (Baraga County)
• Shelby Independent/Shelby Enterprise/The Oceana Herald (Oceana County)
• New Baltimore-New Haven Star/North Macomb News-Press (Macomb County)  #DigNewBaltimore
• Leelanau Enterprise (Leelanau County)

The 2017 Digital Michigan Newspaper Grant Program

And to pick the winning newspaper — there can be only one — to be the next digitized and available online you need to vote by using Twitter or sending postcards with a specific hashtag phrase for the newspaper of your choice.

Postcard for #DigUtica

Though there are two Macomb County newspapers in the final five, The Utica Sentinel as one of the oldest Macomb County newspapers and is extremely worthy to be chosen as the winning newspaper for 2017. The Sentinel covered news from a very large area of the county and neighboring counties -- not just the city of Utica! If awarded the 2017 grant, it would coincide well with the bicentennial of Utica in 2017; and in 2018 the 50th anniversary of the city of Sterling Heights. Just imagine the many, many discoveries that could be found with a few simple keystrokes. So much to learn! To vote for The Utica Sentinel use the hashtag phrase #DigUtica when voting.

So what do you have to do and when?

By Postcard (whether you are a non-tech or a techie)
Mail postcards between January 16 and January 28 (postmarked) for 10 votes per postcard.

• Each postcard must have the hashtag phrase written/printed in the body of the postcard for the newspaper of your choice like   #DigUtica
• Mail your postcards postmarked within the above dates to:
  Clarke Historical Library
  250 E. Preston St.
  Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
• Enter (send a postcard) as many times as you wish. 
• If you use a pre-made postcard it must have a Michigan theme. Free Upton House postcards are available from the Sterling Heights Public Library and Mount Clemens Public Library.
• Hand-drawn postcards (by an adult or child) must contain something depicting Michigan. The Sterling Heights Public Library will be mailing hand-drawn postcards in bulk. Just drop your hand-drawn postcards off at the library during its Postcard Party. (See below.)

By Twitter
Tweet between January 23 and January 28 for 1 vote per tweet.

• To cast your vote tweet the hashtag code for the newspaper of your choice like  #DigUtica
• Enter (Tweet) as many times are you wish.

By Twitter
Tweet on January 26 to vote for your favorite hand-drawn postcards

• Your tweet vote determines 1st Place and 500 votes/2nd Place and 250 votes for the Best Refrigerator Art (youth submission) and Most Artistic (adult submission)
• Check the Clarke Historical Library's website for more details on how voting will actually work. When we learn, we will try to relay the information too.
• Enter (Tweet) as many times are you wish.

The Sterling Heights Public Library is holding a Postcard Party on Saturday, January 14, from 10 a.m. to Noon, for participants to draw postcards, eat snacks and support The Utica Sentinel in the grant competition.

So when you stop by the MCGG Open House tomorrow, pick up some Upton House postcards to mail and vote (during the stated time frame above) for The Utica Sentinel as the 2017 Digital Michigan Newspaper Grant Program.

See other Michigan Digitized Newspapers at the Digital Michigan Newspaper Portal.

#DigUtica

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

This Friday is our MCGG Open House at Mount Clemens Public Library ... Join Us!

This Friday, January 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. the Macomb County Genealogy Group (MCGG) will hold a Genealogy Open House in the Local History and Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. 

Come learn about this great collection. Take a tour upstairs and down. Watch demonstrations on how to use the scanning equipment. Learn tips for using the local database computer. Get help with your research and socialize with other family historians/genealogists too. If you have a laptop feel free to bring it to use the library's in-house resources and pick up some tips and tricks.

Please note the library is closed to the general public that Friday. There will be someone at the door between 12:30 and 1:30 to allow MCGG Open House attendees admittance.

MCGG members and anyone who is curious about researching their family tree are welcome to attend. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE

Wednesday's Let's Talk...Genealogy topic is Where Do I Go From Here?

Just a Reminder:
This Wednesday, January 11, at 7 p.m. in the Genealogy/Local History Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library is MCGG's Let's Talk...Genealogy meeting. We kick off the new year (2017) with the discussion topic of the night ... Where Do I Go From Here? 

Bring your research questions, brick walls, or new finds to share with the group. We'll give everyone a turn. 

New attendees are always welcome.

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Got Illinois Roots? There is a New Hub on the Digital Public Library of America

Illinois Heritage Hub at DPLA

As of January 5, the collections of the Illinois Digital Heritage Hub are live and ready to explore on the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA.)

The newest hub from Illinois represents a collaboration between the Illinois State Library, the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), Chicago Public Library, and, previously a Content Hub partner, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

According to the announcement, "Like each Service Hub, Illinois brings its own essential mix between unique local stories that help DPLA represent the diversity of experiences across the country and collections of national significance that contribute to our common heritage."

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Next Week is the MCGG Open House at Mount Clemens Public Library

Next week on Friday, January 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. the Macomb County Genealogy Group (MCGG) will hold a Genealogy Open House in the Local History and Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. 

Come learn about this great collection. Take a tour upstairs and down. Watch demonstrations on how to use the scanning equipment. Learn tips for using the local database computer. Get help with your research and socialize with other family historians/genealogists too. If you have a laptop feel free to bring it to use the library's in-house resources and pick up some tips and tricks.

Please note the library is closed to the general public that Friday. There will be someone at the door between 12:30 and 1:30 to allow MCGG Open House attendees admittance.

MCGG members and anyone who is curious about researching their family tree are welcome to attend. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE

Heads Up Everyone: Next Week is 2017's First Let's Talk...Genealogy Meeting

We hope everyone had a safe, happy New Year and everyone is ready for some genealogy. Next Wednesday, January 11, at 7 p.m. in the Genealogy/Local History Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library is MCGG's Let's Talk...Genealogy meeting. We kick off the new year (2017) with the discussion topic of the night ... Where Do I Go From Here? 

Bring your research questions, brick walls, or new finds to share with the group. We'll give everyone a turn.

If you were at our December meeting, remember to bring your 2016 Accomplishments/2017 Goals slip so you can tack it on the bulletin board with the slips of other local genealogists. If you were not at the meeting, slips are available on one of the tables in the Local History and Genealogy Room. Simply fill one out and use a push pin from the bottom of the bulletin board to tack it up.

New attendees are always welcome.

See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE