Sunday, February 23, 2020

RootsTech 2020 Salt Lake City is This Week; Live Stream Sessions begin Feb. 26

This week, from February 26 to February 29, 2020, is the 10th Anniversary of the annual genealogy and technology conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, RootsTech 2020 Salt Lake City.

This annual conference has just about something for everyone (see schedule) including those who can not attend. Select sessions will be live streamed so anyone around the world can participate for free from the comfort of wherever one is located. In addition, another select 30 sessions will be recorded (but not live-streamed) and available for viewing as a Virtual-Pass package for a fee of $129 for those not attending the conference in-person and $79 for those who are attending the conference in-person. A list of the sessions included in the Virtual-Pass are listed on the Virtual-Pass page.

Conference attendees -- those able to attend in person and those attending via LiveStream -- can access the 2020 class session syllabus handouts using the conference app or the app's browser page or from the RootsTech website schedule page. If a session does not have a syllabus check back later to see if one has been added but note that not all sessions will have a handout.

RootsTech App
Like in previous years you can use the 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 2017 when the app was just finicky on a tablet, one of our members found the App unusable the last couple years 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 prior years. 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 2020 conference information. Some users on other blogs have said it overwrites the prior year's 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.

RootsTech 2020 App Browser Page
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 for where you access the RootsTech 2020 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.

RootsTech Website Schedule Page
New this year for the 2020 conference, class session syllabus can also be found on the RootsTech website's schedule page for the 2020 Salt Lake City conference. Just select the session title to view not only a summary and speaker bio but also to access a link to that class session's syllabus if one is available. Selecting the syllabus will open a PDF file in your internet browser. Simply select download and save the PDF file. Most syllabus PDFs appear to be named by session number and title. This is a refreshingly simple way to locate the PDF of the class session one desires. 

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 2020 LiveStream Schedule Post listing sessions in Eastern Time with the session codes.

See You Soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

The RootsTech 2020 Live Stream Schedule in Eastern Standard Time Zone Times

RootsTech is a genealogy and technology conference held each year in Salt Lake City, Utah. This year the conference runs February 26 to February 29. 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 2020 will be LiveSteamed each day so that those who cannot attend in person can take part in the learning.

Class session handouts are available through the RootsTech 2020 conference app or the app's browser page or on the conference schedule page of the RootsTech website.

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 26th 
10:00 am to 11:00 am  
Photos Capture the Story [Making a Masterpiece: How to Capture the Best Family Portraits]
presented by Jens Nielsen

PH2579
 

11:30 am  to 12:30 pm  
What's New at Ancestry
presented by Crista Cowan
RT5011

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm  
The Story of You on FamilySearch
presented by Michelle Barber
FS3120

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm  
Adding Branches to Your Family Tree Using DNA
presented by Angie Bush
RT2314

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm  
Finding Your Elusive Female Ancestors
presented by Julie Stoddard
RT7845

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm  
Wednesday General Session 10 Year Celebration and Keynote
presented by Stephen Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International
RT1000

Thursday, February 27th
10:00 am to 11:00 am 
Unlocking the Power of the FamilySearch Wiki
Danielle Batson, Jenny Hansen, Jeff Svare

PH4668
 

11:30 am to 12:30 pm 
German Research for the Everyday American
presented by Karynne Moses
RT8400

1 pm to 2:00 pm  
Thursday General Session
featuring Leigh Anne Tuohy
RT2000

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
DNA, Genealogy, and Law Enforcement: All the Facts
presented by Blaine Bettinger
RT2309

5 pm to 6:00 pm
Tackling Difficult Chapters of our Family History
presented by Cheri Daniels
RT8331

Friday, February 28th
10:00 am to 11:00 am 
Discover Your Family with Interviews and Sources
presented by Mat and Rachel Trotter

PH1092
 
11:30 am to 12:30 pm 
2019: Year of the Copyright
presented by Judy Russell
RT1876

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm 
Friday General Session
featuring David Kennedy
RT3000

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm
City Directories and Other New Collections on MyHeritage
presented by Mike Mansfield
RT1789

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Preserving the Fabric of our Families
presented by Jennifer Hadley
RT9329

Saturday, February 29th
10:00 am to 11:00 am 
Ancestry On the Go: Ancestry App Suite
presented by Peter Drinkwater, Kenric Russell, Victoria Smith

PH5028
 
11:30 am to 12:30 pm 
FamilySearch App for Intermediate/Advanced Users
presented by Todd Powell
FS3121

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm 
Saturday General Session
featuring Emmitt Smith
RT4000

3:30 pm  to 4:30 pm
Healing and Family History - The Emotional Side of DNA
presented by Robin Wirthlin
RT5488

5:00 pm  to 6:00 pm
Introduction to What Are the Odds? (WATO at DNApainter.com)
presented by Leah Larkin
RT8345

If it is like prior years, the Live Stream access will be right on the RootsTech homepage starting on that Wednesday. 

See You Soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

MyHeritage Winter Sales until March 2, Ancestry Only Now $39, Health is 50% off

Coinciding with the RootsTech conference this week in Salt Lake City, Utah, MyHeritage is having a winter sale on its autosomal DNA tests until Monday, March 2, 2020. Taxes and shipping are extra but if you order two or more tests at the same time you receive free shipping.

For the MyHeritage DNA Winter Sale, the MyHeritageDNA Ancestry Only tests regularly $79 each are on sale for just $39. This price is generally the lowest seen for this test. And though the year is young, it is the lowest price so far this year.

MyHeritageDNA's customer base seems to be more international. The test includes free internal member messaging feature, an ethnicity/admixture report, and of course, a list of DNA matches. No data subscription is needed to use/see all the DNA matching features. Additional features include a chromosome browser and the automatic DNA AutoClusters tool. And with test results linked to a family tree on MyHeritage the Theory of Family Relativity feature can scan the linked trees and create theories of the tested individuals are related using both DNA and linked trees.


For the MyHeritage Health Winter Sale, the MyHeritage DNA Health+Ancestry test regularly priced $199 that is now on sale for $99 which is 50 percent off.

The MyHeritage DNA Health+Ancestry tests includes what you get with the MyHeritageDNA Ancestry only test. It also includes 18  Genetic Risk Reports, and 18 Carrier Status Reports. The test includes independent physician oversight. A questionnaire about your health history is required before taking the test. Your answers will be confidentially reviewed by a physician. After your results are generated, your reports will be reviewed by the clinical team from PWNHealth, who will determine whether genetic counseling is advised. If genetic counseling is recommended, it is included as part of the PWNHealth services.

MyHeritage is one of the few genealogy/DNA testing companies that accepts DNA data uploads/transfers from other genealogy/DNA testing companies. The initial upload is free and you get unlimited access to see and contact your DNA matches at MyHeritage. Unlocking additional DNA features (chromosome browser, ethnicity estimate, shared ancestral places, trees/Theory of Relativity, and Auto Clusters, etc.) costs an extra fee which was $29 for each kit that last we saw. So the sale price of $39 mentioned above for direct test/provide spit Ancestry Only test is a great price.

As a reminder, MyHeritageDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. However, at the time of this post the prices at Amazon do not match the sale prices at the MyHeritage website.

Remember, whenever you do see a sale price on Amazon, do make sure the seller shown is MyHeritage fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller.) Non-Amazon Prime 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.
Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Friday, February 14, 2020

Last Chance (until Feb. 17) for Discounted Upgrade to Family Tree Maker 2019

Software MacKiev announced earlier today on its Facebook page that it is now the last four days to upgrade from Family Tree Maker 2017 to Family Tree Maker 2019 at the discount price of $49.95, a savings of $30 off the regular price of $79.95. This means the discounted upgrade price ends on Monday, February 17, 2020.

Learn more about Family Tree Maker 2019 here and here and here. For questions about FTM version compatibility with the new Mac OS see here. For questions about updating either windows version plug-in see here for Charting Companion and here for Family Book Creator.

If you own any earlier version of Family Tree Maker (FTM 2014 or earlier), make sure you are registered and signed up for the Family Tree Maker email list from Software MacKiev's website so you get an offered tailored to your version. Or use the LiveChat on the Family Tree Maker support page to request a link to the correct upgrade page for your version. (You still have to register the version you own.)

Also, remember if you are only interested in purchasing any of the Gift Collection items you can get to just that from the Family Tree Maker page. Scroll down to the bottom of the Family Tree Maker page and click on the Gift Collection image. Choose the store for your country and then click just the "Next" button until you get to the item(s) you want. For the item click on the corresponding check box or radial button for the version of the item you want and then continue on. There are two plug-ins for the Windows version of Family Tree Maker. Charting Companion 7 (download only version regularly $40) is currently 20 percent off at $29.95. Family Book Creator (download only version regularly $54.95) is $5 off at $49.95. If you already have either of these plug-ins check to see if you need to purchase an upgrade of that plug-in or if you qualify for a free update where applicable.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

'Love for Genealogy' and President's Day Means Savings and Free Offers

On top of it being Black History Month, it is Valentine's Day today and soon to be President's Day and that means there are savings to be had for genealogists. Some have been active for a while, some end today and some continue on through the weekend to President's Day on Monday.

So if you have been waiting for a sale or free access go and check out that site and see if it is participating in these holiday sales. Below are some that we have noticed.

DNA
A few of the genealogy DNA testing companies have had some sales going on and some of those end today, February 14. 23andMe is giving free shipping on its regular price tests. FamilyTreeDNA's autosomal DNA test called FamilyFinder is on sale for $59, its regular price $79. MyHeritage's MyHeritageDNA Ancestry Only (autosomal) test regularly $79 is on sale for $59. If you buy two then shipping is free. All of these sales end today.

As a reminder, the next genealogy DNA testing sales are often seen around RootsTech conference time (end of February this year), March Madness time followed by Easter and DNA Day (April 25) and then Mother's Day and Father's Day. But it's a Leap Year year so maybe someone will throw in a Leap Day Sale on February 29th?

Fold3
The website Fold3 is once again giving free access to its Black History Collection during February. To participate you simply need to create a or log into your free basic membership account which does not require a credit card.

MyHeritage
In honor of Valentine's Day MyHeritage.com is giving free access to its marriage records from February 14 - 18, 2020. The link here takes you to the MyHeritage blog site that has the link to the offer.

Subscriptions
For those of you out there that are currently Ancestry.com All Access subscribers (the subscription package level to Ancestry World, Fold3.com basic and Newspapers.com basic), check your email for an email from Ancestry with an offer to free access this weekend to the Newspapers.com Publisher Extra newspapers. That email is how you will gain access to the Extra papers not part of the basic package. 

If you are a new subscriber (meaning you do not already have a subscription), there are various genealogy websites (FindMyPast.com, Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, MyHeritagec.om) offering sale prices on some of their subscription packages through various affiliates like the GenealogyBargains.com website. Using these special codes provided by these affiliates gets you the mentioned savings.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And, remember our favorite library, Mount Clemens Public Library, will be closed this Monday, February 17, 2020, in observance of President's Day.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The MCGG February Friday Group Meeting is this Friday, February 7; Our Meeting Topic is Use Your Resources! at MCPL

Our MCGG February Friday Meeting is this Friday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Mount Clemens Public Library. Genealogist and MCGG member Lisa Eschenburg will present Use Your Resources! at Mount Clemens Public Library reviewing the library's new website, some resources in the Local History and Genealogy Room, and using the library's recent FamilySearch Affiliate status.

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

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

Let's Talk...Genealogy meets on Wed., Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. with Two Topics: Beginning Italian Research Q&A and Use Your Resources! at MCPL

The MCGG Let's Talk...Genealogy discussion group meets, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at 7 p.m. in the Local History and Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. We will have two topics for the night ... Beginning Italian Research Q&A and Use Your Resources! at MCPL.  

For Part 1 Guest Moderator Mary Hojnacki, president of the Michigan Italian Genealogy Society, does an Italian Research Q&A. She was our MCGG Friday Group speaker in January so this is your opportunity to get your questions answered if you could not attend in January or to ask additional questions. For Part 2 we discuss our favorite library's new website, some genealogy room resources and retouch on it's recent FamilySearch Affiliate Status.

New attendees are always welcome.
 

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