On the Road Again

If you have been reading this newsletter for a while, you probably know that I travel quite a bit. This week I am leaving on the longest trip I have taken in years. I'll start with a "quick trip" to Salt Lake City. A few days later, I will go on to New Zealand, where I will attend the five-day Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations conference to be held at Kings College, Auckland.

You can read my earlier article about the AFFHO conference at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/12/affho-congress.html. The conference web site is available at http://www.affhocongress2009.org.

I will also attend a meeting of the Genealogical Computing Group in Auckland on January 24. If you are in or near Auckland, you might enjoy that event as well. Details are available at http://www.gencom.org.nz/Auckland.html.

After that I  will take a few days' vacation in a rental car to see some of the beautiful countryside in New Zealand, visiting both the North Island and the South Island. I'll return home on January 29.

I do expect to be traveling with an assortment of laptop computers, a wireless "air card" and wi-fi equipment, modem, and other gadgets. With all that hardware, I may raise a few eyebrows at Customs!

I expect to post articles to this newsletter more or less daily during my travels. However, don't be surprised if I miss a day or two because of hardware malfunctions or travel constraints. (How long is that flight from Boston to Auckland???)

I will also be joining the Roots Television crew in Auckland, and we expect to produce some videos of this year's AFFHO conference. Look for them to appear online starting in late January.

As the Maoris in New Zealand say, "Hei konei ra!"

Comments

[Elaine]

Be sure to come to Utah TODAY! We are between snow storms (14 inches Mon-Tue!) But TODAY will be in the 50s.

[Anne R W]

Have a great trip, but keep a close eye on the diabetes. Time changes, especially that dramatic, can throw your body clock way off.

It sounds like an exciting trip and I look forward to your newsletters from those summer shores.

[Dick Eastman]

I am in Utah right now. It is raining and snowing, all intermixed. (smile)

- Dick Eastman

[Paul Larsen]

Hey Dick
Would you consider reviewing the just-finished manuscript of my new genealogy book (actually rewritten, updated 3rd edition of my book) while on your long air flight? It's easy reading and I think you will enjoy it. I can email it today. thanks.
Paul Larsen
Crash Course in Family History
801-358-6692

[theKiwi]

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm

Cheers

Roger <---- from there.

[Robert Smith]

And it's the New England Historic Genealogical Society that pays for your travel? To NEW ZEALAND ????

Nice bennies from a non-profit agency eh?

[theKiwi]

--> Nice bennies from a non-profit agency eh?

Well there's some pretty amazing assumptions, and a gross inaccuracy.

Firstly Dick hasn't worked for NEHGS for more than 3 years

http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/10/dick_eastman_le.html

And how do you know that the conference organiser's aren't paying Dick's way?

Or that Dick is so excited to be going to New Zealand that he's paying his own way?

One can only hope your genealogy is better sourced than you post above I suspect.

plink plink

Roger

[Dick Eastman]

The New England Historic Genealogical Society hasn't paid any of my travel expenses in more than three years. I used to be an employee there a long time ago but we separated in 2005. Even when I did work there, the society only paid for a few trips: those in which I represented the Society. If I went to a conference to write for my newsletter, I always paid for that trip myself.

This trip is partially funded by the conference organizers in New Zealand but most of the expenses are being paid by my checkbook.

- Dick Eastman

[Dick Eastman]

---> Would you consider reviewing the just-finished manuscript of my new genealogy book (actually rewritten, updated 3rd edition of my book) while on your long air flight?

I'd love to, but you need to hurry. My next flight takes off in about 45 minutes. (smile)

- Dick Eastman
(waiting at the gate in Boston)

[Kathy Kult]

Wow Dick, I'm so jealous! You're so lucky to be going to such a beautiful country -- I wish I was going too!!

Take lots of photos for us, and most of all, relax, enjoy, and HAVE FUN!!! :-)

[Martha Reamy]

Dick,

Sorry we can't make it to New Zealand. Have a great time.
If you want to see something tropical all year round (for all) go to www.scenichawaii.com.
Aloha,
Martha