Ever considered attending a conference but thought .....

Ever considered attending a conference but thought
1) I can not afford it?
2) There will be nothing for me?
3) I would not know how to get the benefits of the conference?
4) It is too expensive, even if I could afford it?

The Ancestry Insider has been posting ideas to cut cost and/or get the most out of a Salt Lake City Conference visit.

THESE EXACT SAME OPTIONS ARE OFFERED AT THE BURBANK CONFERENCE

There are several posts about freebies, including Ancestry Insider suggestions outlined below:

Ancestry.com is offering free document scanning. Sign ups for each day are held first thing in the morning. Inquire at the Ancestry.com booth to learn where to sign up.

SWAG. That’s the official, programmers’ term for free promotional items given out at trade shows: pens, high lighters, post-it notes, stickers, rulers, pocket flashlights, and miniature magnifying glasses—all labeled with someone’s logo—are SWAG I’ve seen at recent genealogy shows.

Exhibit Hall may be the largest assemblage of genealogy vendors ever assembled. Look for these extras: Show specials on many of your favorite genealogy programs and products. Sit-down demonstrations, not unlike conference sessions, are offered by several vendors of genealogy programs. Ancestry.com typically has several computers available for free access to their website. Consultants are on hand to give personalized research help. I don’t know if Legacy will be holding their usual drawing for a free Netbook computer, but if they aren’t, you are likely to run into other prize drawings.

____Thank you The Ancestry Insider for those great tips_____

What did I gain from last year's jamboree:

Last year I won an hour of German genealogy study; I am going to use it on my Messersmith line. (Family, Elizabeth Messersmith was David Reed's wife, mother of Monroe Parson Reed (the sheriff of Howell County, Missouri)

An entire Syllabus of the entire Conference!!! Worth it's weight in GOLD

I was introduced and fell in LOVE with ROOTSMAGIC and also met the developer and all around good guy Bruce Buzee who actually made me feel I could contact him any time for assistance, and a San Diego Genealogy Teacher giving monthly FREE ROOTSMAGIC sessions. Yes, I wanted, needed a new program (I had been on Legacy since it's first edition) but I wanted it inexpensive, fulfill many of my wants and needs, and lots of help learning a new program.

I met and learnt alot about GOOGLE, WIDGETS, and STUFF from Lisa Louise Cook. And guess what we have become friends over the year!!! I was actually on one of her podcast!!

I became a BLOGGER. A very jolly guy decorated like a Christmas Tree lured me with his baubles and trinkets and next thing I knew he helped me form the name of this blog and when I returned home a year ago, he actually stepped me through learning to blog.

And I met the neatest people I would list them but would be afraid of missing someone ----- errrrrrr!

and from blogging and google, facebook, this entire year --- I have met more genealogy friends, COUSINS!!!, and increased my research efforts in unmeasurable ways.


Now I will add a few Ruthisms:
Last year was my first year at the Jamboree. I have a couple of concerns when I travel. Last Year my husband was seriously ill and I was home nursing him. Also because of my own health issues, 3 days is a long time for me to be out of my routine. And I had concerns about the cost so.......

1.) I carpooled (BIG ADVANTAGE: because I also met a new friend.) (Cutting gas cost, parking cost and wear and tear on my body). She has a smooth nice newer car. Her lumbar section of her seats even warm up so your back gets a little physical therapy as you sink into her plush wide seats. ahhhhhhh

2.) We went on Saturday and paid for only one night lodging and one day of conference.

3.)For breakfast and lunch that day we had packed waters, apples, yogurt, crackers, cheese and protein bars.

Saturday Night was the bloggers dinner so I had one very full day.

Rather or not we paid for Sunday sessions I knew I wanted a good night sleep after waking early for the ride up to Burbank, a full day of conference and attending a late blogger dinner.

Going late and being a little unsure of your plans it is a gamble somewhat:
True, the Sunday Breakfast was sold out, that I later decided to attend. I continued to visit the information booth to see if tickets came available. Finally Saturday night, the lady working the information booth found out she was scheduled for more volunteer work during the breakfast time and sold me her ticket.

That was a great presentation and the breakfast was plentiful and nicely served, I am so glad I was able to attend. Thank you volunteer for selling your ticket to me. It was a presentation done by women in costume sharing the Traditions and Rules of Etiquette for Mourning in the 1800s. They had many artifacts with them and were most gracious.

If you ever see them scheduled somewhere I suggest you make time to see/hear this presentation and allow yourself time to look over their treasures. 1800s were a difficult time because of poor prenatal care, wars, and diseases. Life expectancy was a lot shorter time measured in years. Hard to think about losing people at the age of mid-40s.

There was one last activity my car companion and I wanted to see after Sunday's lunch so we decided to stay for lunch. My friend was experiencing pain in her leg, so I asked her what helped it and she said exercise in a swimming pool. Yes, we were already fast friends by then.

Whenever we meet people She likes to say that she and I spent the night together in a hotel the very first day we met each other. She even had the opportunity to share this fact with the minister at the church I attend with my husband. lol

So we put bathing suits under our clothing with hopes to get a quick bite, have time for water exercises and still make it to our desired activity scheduled for after lunch. I called the front desk requesting for a late departure time. By the time we got downstairs, the snack line, dining room lines were tremendously long.

Here it comes! The big RUTHISM,

So I suggested we go ahead to the pool. No other people were at the pool. There was a phone at poolside which I picked up and ordered lunch. So while waiting for lunch, a sandwich to share, hummus, and juice. We slipped in the pool, stretched and did a few light aqua exercises. How taking-care-of-ourselves luxurious is that!!! When our food arrived we got out, sat in the shade poolside and had a delightful lunch. Then we went to our room, showered, packed the car, attended our session, got in the car and left.

All in all a very complete satisfying experience. We cut cost by at least half, ate sensibly, and started our ride home rested, fed, and fresh.

So if you ever consider attending a conference I suggest you:

1. hand-tailor it to your wants and needs
2. pick one close to home
3. know what you want (I wanted a new software program)
4. be prepared to meet and enjoy many many new friends!!
5. allow yourself a chance to try at least one new thing.
If it does not work out---that is ok.
6. Do not make purchases until the last day, everything looks like the answer to your research on the first day. I looked over all software packages, and web site resource sites before I made my final choices for purchase.
EXCEPTION TO 6: unless it is the book you have been looking for and could never find----then nab it immediately.

What is my want list this year:

1. Attending advance ROOTSMAGIC classes with Bruce. and hoping to ask him about the future of the software program.

2. Meet up with old friends!!

3. Meet new friends. A couple of "expert" genealogists and I have already made plans to meet!!!

4. Spend an enjoyable time and sleep in the same hotel room again with my new found friend. Maybe I will get a cupcake for us to share with a candle to celebrate our first anniversary as friends. LOL

5. Review and renew purchases of services and web site accesses. Many of my subscriptions expire (one year) I need to renew and/or find the correct purchases for me. (Repeat suggestion #6 after me Ruth, do not make purchases the first day.) Unless it is the MOORING BOOK or HAYLEY BOOK--- which I give you permission to claw, crawl, reach over people, anything you need to do to claim that book for your family (ancestors and future generations). Do not worry -----I just ran that last sentence through my WTF!! filter and I will not make a spectacle of myself. I will make my ancestors proud of my controlled restraint!!

6. Visit the SCGS Library ---- with research papers in hand having done my homework ahead of time to be as efficient and effective as possible on my search.

7. and oh yeah have fun but being mindful to take good care of myself in the process.