A New Hampshire Yankee at RootsTech 2013

Yes, I will be attending RootsTech 2013 next week!  I’ve never been to Salt Lake City, which is the absolute Mecca for genealogists.  The Family History Library there is the largest genealogy library in the world.   Hubby and I will be setting aside at least one whole day to explore the library, and maybe two. 

I carefully followed the directions of the genealogists and bloggers I know who attended RootsTech in 2011 and 2012.  We booked the Plaza Hotel, which is the closest to the library, but not the closest to the Salt Palace convention center.  I followed all the tweets and Facebook comments from last year about using the library, and I think I’m prepared.  I've made up lists of things to look up while we are there, and downloaded the latest information to family trees accessible to our mobile devices.   Since we only have one real day to do research, I want to make sure I’m prepared to make the most of it.

One big problem seems to be the lack of WiFi access in the Salt Palace Center, so I just ordered a new iPad mini with 3G phone internet service.  My iPhone runs on 3G, too, so I have backup.  I’m hoping to live blog from the keynotes and other scheduled events, just like I did at the 2011 SCGS Jamboree.  I don’t get to many conferences, but I’m prepared to keep my readers informed on the latest and greatest technology for genealogists while I’m at RootsTech 2013!  The RootsTech app is installed, and I've gone over the schedule a zillion times to try to pick events (it’s a good thing the two of us will be there, so we can use the “divide and conquer” technique if needed!)

We are also setting aside one day to explore Utah.  From what I’ve been researching we are four hours from Bryce Canyon and five hours from Yellowstone National Park.  These are very tempting to me, but I think I’ll save them for a time when I don’t have to rush and see them in just a few hours.  There are other interesting historical and natural parks closer to Salt Lake City, so we will probably pick one of them to visit before the RootsTech events get underway.  Stay tuned…

Several other New England genealogists and bloggers will be in attendance.  I hope to meet up withLaura Prescott, Dick Eastman, David Lambert and other staff from NEHGS, and others with Boston connections like D. Joshua Taylor and Michael J.Leclerc.   Sonia Meza, who I just missed seeing the last time we were in Madrid, will be here from Spain as a presenter.  There will also be lots of other bloggers I met at Jamboree, and of course, the Genealogy Ninja, Thomas MacEntee.  Seeing all these folks will be a highlight of the trip.

The RootsTech 2013 website http://rootstech.org/

Family Search Library, Salt Lake City   https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library

Historic Temple Square, Salt Lake City   http://www.visittemplesquare.com/

Visit Utah  www.visitUtah.com

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Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo