I have revved up my speaking schedule in 2008: please check for locations near you or subjects you would like to hear and register to attend while there is still room. Some venues restrict the number of seats available. I would not do that myself–more attendees, mean more genealogists influenced, more income for the sponsoring society, and more members!
“Arlene, you give us genealogy information rather than a product description…”
“We really need you at our seminar. You don’t talk down to us just because we are beginners.”
“I learned, for the first time, the importance of land ownership in tracing my ancestors. I can’t thank you enough for coming…”
Just a few of the comments I received at the Family History Expo in St. George over the weekend.
There is a correlation between my speaking and my selling of genealogy information–it is impossible to tell or show all I know on the subject at hand in 1 hour. If the listener is hearing the information for the first time, having a chance to buy additional coverage of the subject and take it home to study it, is in my opinion, especially valuable.
Some years ago, I attended a Holocaust Conference sponsored by the University of Washington (Seattle WA). Key speakers were invited to present their topics. A panel offered questions and comments. Speakers, who were also authors, were invited to have their books available for sale in sufficient quantity to meet the demands of the audience. And speakers were available to answer questions from attendees during the day. It was an incredible conference! And what I learned in the sessions could be amplified by the books I bought to take home with me for further study.
Some genealogy conference planners are so afraid that a commercial will be given in the session, that more information on that topic is not made available. The attendees are the losers. How can we justify denying those we teach the right to learn more? We are training a whole new generation of genealogy experts with each seminar and each conference we stage. Isn’t it time to give these newbies access to what we know, and what we know will work?
Throughout 2008, my books and information products will be available for sale in the exhibit hall of every event I agree to speak at–or I won’t attend. You will be able to come from the conference, with an arm-load (or a car-load for that matter) of additional information to study. I have checklists, and genealogy forms, and research short-cuts, and examples of how the pieces fit together, and resources you can search with confidence–and I am willing to share it all with you.
So check my speaking schedule: http://www.arleneeakle.com Decide which events will best serve your genealogy. And register to attend. Your ancestors will thank you!
What is a Yorkshire Compliment?
“It is a gift of something useless to the giver.” John Camden Hotten, Slang Dictionary, 1887. Sometimes called a “North-Country compliment.”
For example, mourning gloves were given as a gift to funeral attendees, until 1788, when Massachusetts became one of the first English Colonies to abolish the custom by law. They were burdensome in expense and were not likely to be worn again. As early as 1741, such funeral attire was discouraged, except for pallbearers who could justify their use as protection against the elements or to prevent injury to their hands as they carried the casket. (Shared by Joe Farrell, Montrose CO)
Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle
PS Remember that I am launching a Virginia Genealogy Blog on Valentine’s Day–14 Feb 2008. Be sure to check it out. And if you don’t have Virginia ancestors, recall that your English research and your Scots-Irish ancestors and your Scottish genealogy and your German searches will all benefit from the research strategies presented in this blog.