As much as I don't want it to
end, RootsTech 2017 is over and
has been for a week. Here's my summary of highlights, links to all the posts
here on The Turning of Generations, and some action
items for each of you.
Starting with the Media Dinner, it was
apparent there were two awesome themes running through the conference: food and
storytelling.
From favorite family recipes handed
down through the generations to stories shared around the dinner table, food is
part of every family's story. The week was capped by Buddy Valastro, star of
the TV show Cake Boss. Where he told
us his story. Buddy's talk is available on the RootsTech website for a limited time. What dinnertime stories does your family have? What
favorite family recipes do you like to share in your family? Get them recorded!
In our family, Grandma Goodrum's
Chicken 'N Dumplings were the favorite. In the grandparent's generation of the Goodrum family, every meal was an event. If there was a family gathering, once
one meal was over, discussions and preparations for the next were begun.
Stories were always exchanged.
The RootsTech folks brought us two
very different kinds of storytellers: the Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew
Scott (homes have stories to tell too), and LeVar Burton (Roots, Star Trek: The
Next Generation, Reading Rainbow).
Jonathan and Drew's session is available online for now.
LeVar's talk was as eloquent as it was
moving. The best moment was seeing the impact discovering one's own family
history can have on a person. When presented with some of his own family's
history, that included ancestors born into slavery who lived to see emancipation,
LeVar tearfully exclaimed, "These are my people!" I'm not seeing a
recording of his talk available but you can read a fabulous summary over at Jennyalogy, "LeVarBurton's session brings us all to tears."
Another way RootsTech showed us how to
open the door to our family stories is with the use of DNA in our research.
CeCe Moore spoke about genetic memory and some of her fascinating cases on Saturday.
CeCe Moore's talk is available
online for a limited time.
Along those lines, my favorite session
was Diahan Southard's, DNA: The Glue that Holds Families Together. It was a moving account of her mother's story loaded with teachable moments.
Watch it! Seriously!
One of my favorite moments was my interview with CeCe Moore of DNA Detectives.
You can view it on YouTube or at the blog post listed below.
Other RootsTech 2017 posts:
Last but not least, it's always great to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Jill Ball of GeniAus blog is one of my favorites because way back when, I won her contest for a free pass to RootsTech and have been attending ever since.
The In-Depth Genealogist writers are a great group. Somehow we managed to get most of us in the same place long enough for a photo opp.-->
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Disclaimer: I (Michelle Goodrum) am a RootsTech 2017 Ambassador and received complimentary registration to RootsTech along with other perks.
Any opinions expressed are my own.
© 2017, copyright Michelle Goodrum
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