Sunday, March 30, 2008

Exhibitor Spotlight: New England Historic Genealogical Society

The New England Historic Genealogical Society, founded in 1845, is the country's oldest and largest non-profit genealogical organization. With more than 20,000 members nationally, NEHGS collects, preserves, and interprets materials to help make accessible the histories of families in America. Located in Boston, the NEHGS research library houses more than 12 million books, journals, photographs, documents, records, and microfilms, and boasts one of the largest manuscript collections in the country, covering more than four centuries of local and family history.

Speaker Spotlight: Craig H. Miller

Craig H. Miller currently serves as Director of Product Management for FamilySearch. He is responsible for the research, development, introduction, and maintenance of family history products and services worldwide. Prior to working for FamilySearch, Craig was the Vice President and General Manager of the Net Management Division for Novell, Inc. In this position he was responsible for all aspects of the business interests of this division, including strategy, research and development, product positioning, pricing, and product marketing for twelve product lines that shipped in twenty-three different languages.

During his tenure at Novell, Craig also served as Vice President of Engineering, Director of Engineering, program manager, engineering manager, and senior software engineer.

Mr. Miller graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in electrical engineering.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Exhibitor Spotlight: ACCLAIM Press

Acclaim Press was established in 2005 when long-time history publishers Doug Sikes and Keith Steele joined forces to become a leading publisher of collectors quality county and city histories, American history, and military history in addition to specialty titles ranging from sports to travel.

Acclaim Press has published history books for numerous counties throughout Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. The books are usually published in cooperation with the local county historical or genealogical society. They contain the county, community, business, church, school, club/organization, and especially family histories, each section accompanied by many historical pictures to document the foundation, growth and change of the community. These history books record the lineage of families along with treasured family photos. They are large, luxurious, coffee-table books, and many have already become collector’s items upon publication.

Military history and biography titles covering the Civil War, WWII, and the Vietnam War include titles such as Lloyd Tilghman, As You Were, and Mobile Riverine Operations. With the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial beginning in 2008, Acclaim Press is releasing Through the Eyes of Lincoln and Lincoln and the Speeds. Upcoming specialty histories include that of the Baltimore County Maryland Police, Sons of the American Revolution, and Louisville Police Department.

Some biographies are A Beautiful Journey by Lucille Carloftis, The Butcher Burbridge by Bryan S. Bush, Born Amish by Ruth Irene Garrett, Gene Bess, by N.H. Roberts and C.A. Richardson. Nature is at its best in glorious color in Red River Gorge and Kentucky Unbridled Spirit and Beauty. The best-selling Eating Your Way Across Kentucky- 101 Must Places to Eat with its sequel Eating Your Way Across Kentucky-THE RECIPES have led hungry travelers to culinary delight.

A new history about the lost silver mines of Kentucky and their uncanny similarities to the famous pirate Long John Silver from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is creating a remarkable stir in historians and treasure hunters across the country.
Acclaim Press is actively looking at many more subjects and communities of which to create its Next Great Book. Yours could be next. Inquiries are welcome, 1-877-4 AP Book.

Speaker Spotlight: Roberta "Bobbi" King

Roberta "Bobbi" King is the descendant of three Nebraska homesteaders. Her homestead research, articles, and lectures reflect her avid interest in the settlers who took advantage of the federal government's idea of providing yeoman farmers a permanent home within the great American landscape.
She lectures locally and nationally on federal land records, and is the author of the NGS Nebraska Researching in the States research guide. She is a regular contributor to the quarterly of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Bobbi is a member of the board of directors for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, where she serves as FGS parliamentarian and editor of the Society Strategies Series papers. She has served as a volunteer and officer for numerous local Colorado genealogical organizations.
Bobbi is a career medical technologist working for Kaiser Permanente in Denver. She lives in Lakewood where she shares a home with her Better Half, Will. She is a mother and grandmother, dividing her time among grandchildren, genealogy, and career.

Roberta "Bobbi" King
3161 S. Indiana St.
Lakewood CO 80228
720.839.4952

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Transportation to Hotels

Taxis:

Taxis are available from the airport. If no taxis are lined up when you arrive at the airport, there is a telephone just outside the airport that you can place a call through to order a taxi. The wait is usually very short. Taxi fares are around $35 - $40.

Cars/Ride Services:

Quicksilver Airport Service913-262-0905 or 1-800-888-8294reservations@kcquicksilver.comwww.kcquicksilver.comTo make reservations online go to: http://kcquicksilver.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=4044@LOGON=GO (ID number is 4044)From Kansas City International Airport to the Hyatt Regency Crown Center the fare is $26.50 for one passenger. Another passenger (from the same flight only), is an additional $7.50.Van rental for 6 passengers arriving together is also available.


Shuttle Bus Service:

KCI SHUTTLE (Hours 5:50am-11:25pm)$16.00 per person - $27.00 round trip per person. Leaves from Baggage Claim area at 5 minutes to the hour and 25 minutes after the hour. Reservations are not required. For additional info, please call KCI Shuttle service at 800-243-6383. SHUTTLE SERVICE IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WITH CHAIR LIFTS* (Maroon vans and buses with yellow lettering that says KCI Shuttle.)


Train Travel:

AMTRAK SPECIAL RATES FOR NGS ATTENDEES:Amtrak is offering a 10% discount off the lowest available rail fare to Kansas City, between 8 May to 21 May 2008. To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1 800 872-7245 or contact Nancy Mettes, NGS conference official travel agent, at nancy.mettes@damartravel.com. Please refer to Conventino Fare Code XO7S-933. See Information for Passenger and Convention Fare Request Form for further information.

Taxis from Union Station to othe hotel are approximately $2.00 fare.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Update from Mid-Continent Public Library - Genealogy Branch

The Genealogy Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library will be staying open in its current location through the NGS conference. We had hoped to be moved before then, but the construction is taking longer than anticipated.
Hours during the conference week are as follows:

9a-11pm Monday May 12, Tuesday May 13, and Wednesday May 14
9am-9pm Thursday May 15
9a-6pm Friday May 16
9a-5pm Saturday May 17

Shuttle buses will be available free of charge on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from the Hyatt Crown Center to MCPL. We hope to have a reception at our new building the evening of May 14, if we have possession of it by that time. Watch the conference blog for further updates.

For more information please contact:


Janice Schultz
Genealogy Librarian

jschultz@mcpl.lib.mo.us

Mid-Continent Public Library, Genealogy Branch http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/
317 W. 24 Highway
Independence MO 64050


Phone: (816) 252-7228; Fax: (816) 254-7114

Genealogy Branch closing for move in Spring 2008 - Call before scheduling a visit.