PHOTOS + STORY
Since Rootstech this year ran a Photo Plus Story Competition I thought it appropriate to write a blog about Rootstech in a photo essay format.
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I was on the go from the moment my fellow Australian Rootstech Ambassador Jill Ball aka GeniAus and I landed in Salt Lake City, Thursday 22 February...
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| GeniAus tweeting our departure from Sydney, Australia. Image used with permission Jill Ball |
Sensing the excitement grow as people flew in from all over the world, and meeting up with old and new friends, makes the pre- Rootstech week go far too quickly!
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A snowfall the day after I flew into Salt Lake City with fellow Australian Ambassador Jill Ball, was pretty to watch for we who don't experience very cold winters! I was very pleased I had packed my warm boots.
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After planning to spend Friday February 22nd in the Family History Library, I decided instead, to recover from my long flight from Sydney, Australia. I did take a short walk in the snow!
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Saturday, with the snow no longer falling, I walked to the family History Library where I ran into fellow family historian and Australian, Jenny Joyce. I was pleased to meet in person, Jan Brandt who I had previously only known online. One of the wonderful things about Rootstech, is that it brings together like minded people from all around the world. It is such a pleasure to catch up with old friends, to put faces to names and to make wonderful new acquaintances.
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I was thrilled to knock down, a longstanding Lincolnshire, UK brickwall, while scrolling through microfilm in the library! After three visits to Salt Lake City and Rootstech, this was my first time researching on level B2 which houses the British Isles records. Usually you'll find me on the European floor researching my Swiss and German ancestors. This trip I went with a mission and I was more than excited to find what I was looking for in parish records on microfilm. Familysearch are working hard to transcribe and digitise all of their films so if you have some spare time why not consider joining the transcription project.
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It goes without saying that researching in the Family History Library is a highlight of each visit to Salt Lake City.
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On Sunday February 25, Jill Ball and myself took a brisk and chilly stroll to Barnes and Noble for book purchases and some delicious hot soup! I couldn't resist a few photographs of the snow.
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Walking through the old Union Pacific Station, one couldn't help but admire the beautiful heritage building which has been so lovingly preserved.
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The ticket booths, beautifully conserved, echoed the din of a past busy railway station.
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The interior of the Pacific Union Station is an art gallery of colourful images of past times and well worth a visit.
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Back in the chilly air and unused to the over 4000 feet elevation of Salt lake City, Jill and I hopped on the Trax light rail to return to the Marriott City Creek, where the handy Starbucks in the lobby provided much appreciated warm drinks. The Trax system makes getting around in Salt Lake City so much easier. Our excitement when the next train was announced in TWO minutes was short-lived as we realised that we had mis-heard the announcement and the train was arrriving in TEN minutes! Still we managed to snap a selfie while we huddled behind the ticket machine for warmth!
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Monday morning I headed to the Family History Library for a two hour 'Mondays with Myrt' session which was live streamed from the third floor of the library. This part of the library, usually quiet, was abuzz with excitement as Rootstech attendees from around the world gathered to be a part of Pat's broadcast. Above is Laura Wilkinson Hedgecock from the USA, Jill Ball and myself from Australia and Hilary Gadsby from Wales, in the "Green Room".
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With Roger Moffat acting as an able camera man, the live stream was set up. There was a festive atmospher as people arrived who had not seen each other since Rootstech 2017. Above Kirsty Gray and Sylvia Valentine from the UK arrive amidst hugs and happy greetings.
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Above Dave Robison (Old Bones Genealogy, USA) and Liv Birgit Christiansen from Norway, preparing to go live on Mondays with Myrt. All went well with our very organised Dear Myrt at the helm!
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| Image from Mondays with Myrt. |
Live streaming from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The Geneabloggers Tribe Admin. team - from left to right - Cheryl Hudson Passey, Laura Wilkinson Hedgecock, Pat aka Dear Myrtle and Jill Ball. I am not a member of the administration team but Pat kindly invited me to sit in on the discussion.
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One of the things I most love about the Rootstech conference is that it transcends boundaries of nationality and cultural differences. This conference embraces and celebrates diversity! Rootstech gathers people together with a common purpose and provides a place where you can connect and feel you belong. Something poignant I took away from from this year's Rootstech CONNECT BELONG message was that by connecting with others we are able to better understand and respect the divergences in our world, and so gain a more meaningful understanding of belonging in a global sense.