BIFHSGO’s conference offered plenty of great learning opportunities

Perhaps the most powerful moment during last weekend’s British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) conference was on Sunday when dozens of people rose from their seats throughout the auditorium, representing the more than 60 volunteers who had worked on the event. It was very telling about how many people it took to put together a successful conference.

The 2015 BIFHSGO Conference planning committee represents more than 60 volunteers who managed a successful event. Photo: @DenaP.

Despite being in a new location, the BIFHSGO planning committee worked like a well-oiled machine. Each year the volunteers impress me with their professionalism, from the technical team and people at registration to the program committee, and this year was no exception.

This year’s conference had three themes: Scottish family history, photographs in genealogy, and technology for genealogists. The challenge for me was deciding which session to attend during each time slot. I was torn every time.

I often like to joke that I attend conferences for the free pens, but the top reasons I travel to these events are to learn, see old friends, and meet new people.

As for the free pens, like a moth to a light bulb, I spotted them on the Ottawa Public Library table as soon as I arrived Saturday morning.

In addition to learning from others, I had the opportunity to give a talk about social media. I wanted to whet the audience’s appetite for using blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest for family history research. I explained how to search and learn from the five social media, how to increase our success, how to maximize our time, and how to manage privacy.

Boy, did I luck out with my presentation. The audience ended up being standing-room only and they were a friendly, eager group, despite many of them being leery about trying social media.

Social media is like having access 24/7 to genealogists from around the world. Through social media, genealogists at all levels of experience share their knowledge and learn from each other. We ask questions and offer advice. After years of resisting social media, it is this generous community that made me a convert.

Photo: @DenaP.

A few members of the audience spoke to me afterward to say they were convinced to explore what social media has to offer.

Throughout the three-day conference, a number of people stopped me to say how much they enjoy reading my blog each day, which was an added highlight.

Thanks to each of you who made a point to come over to introduce yourself. You put me in a happy place.

Thank you to all the BIFHSGO volunteers who worked hard for many months to ensure we enjoyed excellent learning opportunities and that the conference ran smoothly.

My head is still spinning after all the learning opportunities this weekend… or perhaps it is a result of the chilled Chardonnay I drank each evening during the debriefing with good friends.

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