AFFHO Congress 2009

A major genealogy conference will commence in two and a half weeks. If you can be there, I think you will enjoy it immensely. I will quickly mention that the conference is being held in Auckland, New Zealand. That's very convenient for a few readers of this newsletter although I suspect the majority of subscribers will be unable to attend. However, if you can make, it, I bet you will not regret it!

The Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations is sponsoring a five-day conference to be held at Kings College, Auckland. The local host is the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, Inc. The location at Kings College sounds great. Not only is it well-equipped with lecture halls for all the presentations, but attendees are invited to stay in moderately-priced accommodations on campus, including a choice of single rooms, twin rooms or dormitories. Most of the rooms also have kitchenettes. I wish more genealogy conferences could be held at colleges and universities. I have been to a couple such conferences in Canada and have always been impressed at the first-class results provided at a modest price.

Many of the better-known genealogy lecturers from around the world are slated for presentations. I'd expect a lot of presenters from New Zealand and perhaps a few from Australia, but I am amazed at how many of the lecturers at this conference are from England, Ireland, Canada, the U.S.A., and even one from Poland. This will be a very international conference! Those scheduled to present include:

Alan la Roche - New Zealand
Barbara Mansell – New Zealand
Cathy Pilgrim - Australia
Chris Watts – England
Clark Stiles - New Zealand
Cora Num – Australia
Dan Poffenberger - U.S.A.
David Evans - Australia
David Hey – England
Dick Eastman – U.S.A
Elaine Collins – England
Geraldene O’Reilly – New Zealand
Graham Langton - New Zealand
Herb Farrant - New Zealand
Jennifer Harrison – Australia
John Grenham – Ireland
John Kitzmiller - U.S.A.
Judy Jones - U.S.A.
Judy Webster - Australia
Katarzyna Grycza - Poland
Keith Vautier - New Zealand
Ken Scadden - New Zealand
Lynne Blake – New Zealand
Mark Strange - New Zealand
Megan Hutching – New Zealand
Megan Smolenyak – U.S.A.
Michael Gandy - England
Neville Thomas – New Zealand
Nigel Bayley – England
Pat Parsons – New Zealand
Paul Allen - U.S.A.
Paul Smart – U.S.A.
Peter Lineham - New Zealand
Sherry Irvine – Canada
Stephen Young - U.S.A.
Sylvia Murphy - Australia
Todd Knowles - U.S.A.
Vivienne Parker - New Zealand

Whew! That's quite a list!

The sponsors of the 2009 Congress include FindMyPast.com, Gould Genealogy, Archive CD Books Australia, Archives New Zealand, FamilySearch, WorldVitalRecords.com, Ancestry.com.au, and Selaks, a major vineyard and winery in New Zealand. When was the last time you heard of a genealogy conference being sponsored in part by a wine? It seems so civilized.

The conference kicks off on Friday evening with a cocktail reception and powhiri at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. I am told that a powhiri is a traditional Māori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, dancing, singing, and hongi. I haven't yet figured out what a hongi is, but perhaps I'll write about it after the welcoming ceremony.

The presentations start Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. with an introduction, followed by an opening address by yours truly. That is followed by four days of four tracks, or simultaneous sessions. The topics include genealogy research in New Zealand as well as other topics about England, Ireland, and Scotland, as well as DNA, how to use libraries effectively, digital photography, online resources, and much, much more. You can see the entire schedule at http://www.affhocongress2009.org/AFFHO_Programme%20for%20web1.8.pdf.

All in all, this sounds like a great event. If Auckland, New Zealand, is within your possible travel plans, you might consider joining the festivities. I know I plan to do just that. See you there!

For more information about the AFFHO Congress 2009, look at http://www.affhocongress2009.org.

Comments

[theKiwi]

Hi Dick

Say Hello to Peter Lineham for me - he's a 1st cousin of mine :-)

Roger

[theKiwi]

Of course after I posted that I thought of a better idea I should have posted - if you happen to bump into Peter Lineham while there, ask him if he knows an acquaintance of yours - "Roger Moffat" who is from New Zealand - which will just serve to disprove that "even though New Zealand is a small country, not everyone knows everyone".

Roger

[Sharon Galitz]

Hey Dick,

Have a wonderful trip - make time to see some of Auckland and if there is time go up north to the Bay of Islands. I see my cousin Kasia Grycza will be presenting - say HI for me.

[John Wellborne]

Kia Ora Guys,

Sadly I can't be there, probably because I was home in Aotearoa in Oct/Nov 2008. I Wish that I could attend!
If you are attending, I do indeed urge you to take in the North and South Islands incredible beauty while you are there.
Interesting venue! I was a pupil there in the early 1960's.
No such facilaties in thoes days.Very much styled on the old traditional English public school system,viz fags, wacks with the cane and sandshoe from prefects, and masters.Heaven forbid they have girl students now!
I took the time to drive through my school,Kings College while in NZ.
I wonder if any Old Boys are now 60 year old genealogists??

JW
Bundaberg,Central Queensland, Australia.

[Carole Riley]

I'll be there and I'm looking forward to it immensely. We only get these conferences every three years, so when it finally rolls around we turn out in force!