RootsTech 2018 the annual genealogy and technology conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, is just days away. Conference attendees -- those able to attend in person and those attending via LiveStream -- can access the 2018 class syllabus handouts online. These were released a couple weeks ago so if you have not got the handouts for your sessions yet there is still time to do so.
Like last 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. Unlike last year when the app was just finicky on a tablet, one of our members found the App unusable this year on that same tablet. It simply crashed with each attempt to open/use it. So usability may vary by non-smartphone device.
Please note that this is the same app as last year. So if you made notes in the handouts thru the App and it is still on your device you will likely want to make sure you download the handouts to your computer or email them to yourself before loading the new 2018 conference information. Some users on other blogs have said it overwrites the 2017 information.
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.
If you are able to get the App to run on your tablet, please
note that some users have found the RootsTech App to be troublesome on a
tablet so exercise some patience while using
it. 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 and not in your device's download folder so 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.
For those without smartphones and for those who can't get the app to run on a tablet, don't despair. There is also a browser page where you access the App. If you view each session's handout individually you can download it without having to use a log-in id. Remember to rename the downloaded PDF file so you will know what it is later. 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. See our RootsTech 2018 LiveStream Schedule Post listing sessions in Eastern Time with the session codes.
RootsTech is a genealogy and technology conference held each year in Salt Lake City, Utah. And like in previous years you can take part from the comfort of your favorite seat in your own home or where ever you happen to be with a good internet connection. Several sessions of RootsTech 2018 will be LiveSteamed each day so that those who cannot attend in person can take part in the learning.
Class session handouts are available online, see our separate post on accessing the 2018 class session handouts. 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 class session numbers to make it easier finding the handouts.
Here's the Live Stream list according to Eastern Time.
Wednesday, February 28th 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Family History in 5 Minutes a Day presented by Deborah Gamble RT6417 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm DNA -- One Family, One World presented by David Nicholson RT9921
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Organizing and Preserving Photograph Collections presented by Ari Wilkins RT0290
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Finding the Answers: The Basics of WWII Research presented by Jennifer Holik RT1741
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Wednesday General Session and Innovation Showcase presented by Stephen Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International RT3000
Thursday, March 1st 10:30 am to 11:30 am Thursday General Session Brandon Stanton RT4000 1 pm to 3:00 pm MyHeritage DNA 101: From Test to Results presented by Yaniv Erlich RT9906
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Google Photos: Collect, Organize, Preserve, and Share presented by Michelle Goodrum RT9886
5 pm to 6:00 pm Unlocking Roman Catholic Records presented by Brian Donovan RT5118
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm A Gift of Life: Who's Writing Your Story? presented by Deborah Abbott RT0312
Friday, March 2nd 10:30 am to 11:30 am Friday General Session Scott Hamilton RT5000 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm FindMyPast's British and Irish Hidden Gems presented by Myko Clelland RT4821
3:30 pm to 4:00 pm Finding the Right DNA Test for You presented by Jim Brewster RT0686
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm How Not to Leave Your Genealogy Behind presented by Amy Johnson Crow and Curt Witcher RT5203
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Finding Elusive Records at FamilySearch presented by Robert Kehrer RT4383
Saturday, March 3rd 10:30 am to 11:30 am Saturday General Session Dr. Henry Louis Gates and Natalia Lafourcade RT6000 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Civil Registration Indexes of England and Wales presented by Audry Collins RT4874
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Advancing Your Genealogy Research with DNA presented by Anna Swayne RT9633
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Pain in the Access: More Web for your Genealogy presented by Curt Witcher RT5272
If it is like prior years, the Live Stream access will be right on the RootsTech homepage starting on Wednesday.
Due to events beyond our control, the MCGG Resource Development Session on Friday, February 23,is cancelled this week.
Our favorite library, Mount Clemens Public Library, is having the flooring replaced in the basement so as a result of the work and airing out needed from the chemicals, the library will be closed from Friday, Feb. 23, thru Sunday, Feb. 25.It will reopen on Monday, Feb. 26.
This repair work is needed due to the burst water pipe back in January. See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE
Fingers are crossed in hopes that Mother Nature and other troublesome possibilities allow us to actually hold our meeting this week.
Wednesday, February 14, at 7 p.m. in the Local History & Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library is this month's MCGG Let's Talk...Genealogy meeting. Our topic for the night is ... FamilySearch.org Tips and Tricks.
We will share resources found on the FamilySearch website, tips and tricks for better results, and what to do now that microfilm can not be rented.
New attendees are always welcome.
See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE
Since mother nature is insisting we stay home rather than gather for a meeting, here are some autosomal DNA sales that might interest you. Family Tree DNA It is a Valentine's Day sale over at Family Tree DNA until Feburary 14, 2018. Shipping and taxes are extra which vary depending on where the test is shipped. From a while back the shipping cost to Michigan was about $12.95 for one kit which covers the receiving and sending the test. FamilyFinder (autosomal for male or female) regular price $79 ... now $59 FamilyFinder and Y-37 bundle (for one male) regular price $248 ... now $199 FamilyFinder and Y-67 bundle (for one male) regular price $347 ... now $299 FamilyFinder and mtFull Sequence bundle (for one male or female) regular price $278 ... now $229 FamilyFinder with Y-67 and mtFull Sequence bundle (for one male) regular price $546 ... now $473
Family Tree DNA provides an ethnicity (admixture) report, list
of DNA matches, chromosome browser and allows DNA matches to contact a match directly if that match allows it. Once tested, DNA samples are stored so that additional test types (upgrades) can be added if desired. Family Tree DNA is the only genealogy DNA testing company that offers all three DNA test types: autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA. No subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features.
Family Tree DNA also offers autosomal DNA transfers. So if you have already tested at another genealogy DNA testing company you can upload your RAW DNA data to get your test into another "pool" of potential DNA matches. The transfer is initially free which lets you see all your matches and use the FamilyFinder-Matrix to compare up to 10 matches. To access additional FamilyFinder tools the cost is just $19 to unlock them.
Family Tree DNA currently accepts autosomal transfers from:
Ancestry DNA (V1 and V2 chips)
23andME (V3 and V4 chips) but not its V5 chip in use since Aug. 2017
MyHeritageDNA (Transfers from kits tested directly at MyHeritage are completely free with no unlock fee.)
One thing to note is that transfers of tests on the AncestryDNA V2 chip and the 23andMe V4 chip receive all but the most speculative matches (6th cousin to remote cousins) because these chips are not fully compatible. AncestryDNA It is a WinterSale over at Ancestry.com until February 25, 2018. An AncestryDNA (autosomal) test regulary $99 is now $69. Shipping and taxes are extra.
AncestryDNA provides ethnicity/admixture reports, a match list, matches in common, and an internal member messaging system. It does not provide a chromosome browser tool. Also, if you do not have a data/records membership subscription you will not have access to some DNA features/tools such as member trees and the internal messaging system. Ancestry offers an AncestryDNAInsights subscription for about $49/year as of 2016 which would give access to all of the DNA tools but not any data/records.
We are not sure if the FREESHIPDNA code will work with this sale but it does not hurt to try it.
AncestryDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and at sale prices when they are
having a sale. Non-AmazonPrime members get free shipping due to the
total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free. 23andMe It is a 20 percent off sale for Valentine's Day over at 23andMe until February 14, 2018. An Ancestry Service (autosomal) test regularly $99 is now $79 and the Health + Ancestry Service test regularly $199 is now $159. Shipping and taxes are extra.
23andMe provides an ethnicity (admixture) report, list of DNA matches, chromosome browser and an internal member messaging system. No subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features.
23andMe also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and at sale prices when they are having a sale. Non-AmazonPrime members get free shipping due to the
total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free.
MyHeritage It is a Valentine's Day Sale over at MyHeritage until February 14, 2018, and there are two ways to save with this sale. MyHeritageDNA (autosomal) tests regularly $99 each are on sale for $69 each. OR if buy two or more test kits at the same time the price drops to $59 per kit. Shipping and taxes are extra.
MyHeritageDNA is one of the newer players in the DNA and genealogy testing niche. Its customer base is more international. As of earlier this year, the company has added a chromosome browser feature and has made its internal member messaging feature free. It also offers an ethnicity/admixture report and a list of DNA matches. No data subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features.
MyHeritageDNA is still offering free DNA transfers so if you already tested at another DNA testing company you can download your RAW DNA data from that site and upload it to MyHeritage. MyHeritageDNA accepts raw DNA data from Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA (V1 and V2 version chips), and 23andMe (V2, V3 and V4 chips.) Testing in as many "ponds" as possible is the advice genetic genealogists often give because you never know where someone has tested. Sale times and DNA data transfers are ways to make it easier to fish in multiple ponds to find your DNA matches.
Unfortunately, due to the incoming bad weather and a boiler problem at our favorite library, tomorrow's MCGG Friday meeting is cancelled.
We will reschedule our speaker professional genealogist and national speaker Katherine Willsonand her presentation Naturalization Rules, Records & Repositories as soon as her schedule and our schedule will allow.
Stay safe and warm everyone. Hopefully mother nature will be nicer to us starting next week.
See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE
MCGG's next Friday meeting is Friday, February 9, at 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Mount Clemens Public Library. Professional genealogist and national speaker Katherine Willsonwill present Naturalization Rules, Records & Repositories.
If you are in the Mt. Clemens area, PLEASE JOIN US.
See you soon at the Mt. Clemens Public Library! LE
During the month of February the Fold3
website is offering free access to its Black History Collection. This
includes "colored" troop service records, court slave records, Amistad
records, slave registry, and anti-slave records.
February is Black History month.
Just register for a basic Fold3 membership which is free
with no credit card required. If you already have a free Fold3 basic
membership, just sign into the website. (You do not need to sign up for a
7-day free trial which requires a credit card.)
