I'm Connected-FGS 2011

I'm here and connected!.  Here, is the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2011 Conference "Pathways to the Heartland", in Springfield, Illinois.

First, I would like to thank all the volunteers who worked so hard to make this available to the many genealogists who are attending.  The organization is superb.  From the moment I stepped in the door of the Prairie Capital Convention Center, I have felt welcomed. 

I left home early yesterday morning and arrived in Springfield in time to attend the afternoon sessions.  I attended three very informative sessions:

1. Effective Editing and Writing by Pamela Boyer Sayre.  Practice, Practice, Practice was the take home lesson I got from this session.  I was pleasantly surprised that I had a couple of the resources she mentioned on my shelf at home:  Chicago Manual of Style and Evidence Explained.
2. Finding and Keeping Volunteers by Amy Johnson Crow.  Amy says "we get so wrapped up in the genealogy we forget the society".  She also provided lots of information on fitting the volunteer to the position and finding the right people for the job.
3. Building a Society Education Program for Genealogists and Family Historians by J. H. Fronkert.  This session went through all the things one should think of when putting on a society program.  Identifying the purpose, audience subject matter, etc. was presented.  A few minutes at the end was given for audience suggestions, lots of good ideas were shared.

Today starts with the keynote speaker, David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States.  After that the exhibit hall opens and more sessions are held.  I plan to attend four sessions today.  The Society Showcase is tonight as well as the much anticipated Geneabloggers meetup.  It will be a full day, one that I am looking forward to.  After all, I'm Connected!