08 March 2009

Who Do You Think You Are? Conference 2009: Creating Connections

The Who Do You Think You Are? Conference in London last week provided me with the opportunity to meet some very wonderful people in the field of genealogy and genetic genealogy. So much so that I carted seven books all the way to London to be signed by those I would be meeting. That was nearly a third of my luggage space and unknowingly at the time, I carted back another three books! Yes, genealogists are obsessed! LOL

First in the Q on Day 1
L-R Derrell, Emily, Candy, and Maureen Taylor

Besides building bridges across that rather large pond, the time was also spent creating connections. Business cards were flying everywhere, offers of help with repairing old photos, searching various archives, and, in some cases, further business opportunities regarding magazine articles and consulting opportunities. Connections were being made.

Then there was the connections we created
from just getting to know each other a bit more..
and connecting through laughter.


Friday night of the conference, many of us gathered at the Pizza Express restaurant next to the Olympia Center. That first night produced a massive crowd which included three members of the FamilyTree

.........................Debbie, Megan, and Katherine

DNA staff, Max Blankfeld, vice-president; Doron Behar, mtDNA geneticist; and Michael Hammer, head of the testing lab. Other notables were Megan Smolenyak, Chris Pomery, Dick Eastman, Katherine Borges, and DNA administrators: Brian Swann, David Palmer, Debbie Kennett, Lorna McDougall, Susan Spires, Derrell Oakley Teat, Candy Campise, L.A. Chancey, and myself.













Above:
Waiter, Back L-R: David, Chris, Brian, and Lorna
Front L-R: Max and Doron


Back L-R: Chris, Brian, Megan, and Dick
Front L-R: Katherine, Emily and Susan

* * * Both photos courtesy of Candy Campise * * *


L-R Front: Candy and Derrell
Right Rear: L.A.
Rear, standing: Michael
Debbie in blue on left

Saturday night was a late dinner as everyone was saying good-bye and the booth was being disassembled. Those survivors (Max, Doron, Megan, Katherine, Debbie, and I) returned to the Pizza Express and were entertained by our Italian waiter, Paolo, who thought his name boring and wanted to change it to Marco or Massimo. Quickly he became Marco Paolo!

Marco Paolo and Emily

Although the WDYTYA? Conference focuses mostly on genealogy, the following list of Friday night diners spans three continents (as David lives in Hong Kong) and provides some incite of the depth of genetic genealogy interest that the conference amassed. The evening was spent, for some, an opportunity to meet for the first time and for others a chance to kindle old friendships.

Megan SmolenyakCo-author of Trace Your Roots with DNA

Roots Television: http://www.rootstelevision.com/
Her genealogy site is: http://www.genetealogy.com/

Megan’s blog currently is at: http://megansrootsworld.blogspot.com/, but will be moving to: http://www.rootstelevision.com/blogs/megans-rootsworld.html

Be sure to see the Haley-Baff Reunion on Roots Television
Alec Haley’s book and movie Roots started a genealogical phenomenon in the U.S. regarding. Recently, his nephew Christopher tested his DNA and a Scottish Baff family matched, proving the family’s oral history. Christopher Haley met his Scottish cousin in London this last week. The story can been seen at:
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_dna3.php?bctid=14655160001&bclid=14621417001

Chris Pomery
Author of DNA and Family History and Family History in the Genes
Sign up for his email newsletter at:
http://www.dnaandfamilyhistory.com/

Dick Eastman
Dick Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
http://blog.eogn.com/

Katherine Borges
Director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy
http://www.isogg.org

Brian Swann
ISOGG coordinator for England and Wales. His vision brought Family Tree DNA to the WDYTYA? Conference which lead to many of us in America to travel to London.
Administrator for the Picton DNA Project
See his interview with Dick Eastman at:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/05/video-brian-swa.html

David Palmer
Palmer DNA Project
www.familytreedna.com/public/palmer/

Debbie Kennett
Cruwys DNA Administrator
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/CruwysDNA/default.aspx
http://www.one-name.org/profiles/cruwys.html
http://www.irishtype3dna.org/DebbieKennett.htm


Lorna McDougall
MacDougall DNA Project
http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=MacDougall

Susan Squires
Squires DNA Administrator
http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/squires/

Derrell Oakley TeatHodgens DNA Project
www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/h/hodgens/
Candy CampiseCo-Administrator for the Hodgens DNA Project


L.A. ChanceyChancey-Chauncey DNA Project
www.familytreedna.com/public/Chancey/


Emily Aulicino
My involvement can be seen within this blog.
My Family Tree DNA projects include: Ireland, Campania Region of Italy, Messina Province of Sicily, two genealogical society affiliates (GFO and WVGS), and six surname projects: Conard-Conrad, Derby, Doolin, Lamson, Ogan, and Talley-Tally
Creating connections...just a start, but one never knows where it may lead...

Emily
©Aulicino, 8 Mar 2009


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Friday night of the conference, many of us gathered at the Pizza Express restaurant next to the Olympia Center. That first night produced a massive crowd which included three members of the Family Tree DNA staff, Max Blankfeld, vice-president; Doron Behar, mtDNA geneticist; and Michael Hammer, head of the testing lab. Other notables were Megan Smolenyak, Chris Pomery, Dick Eastman, Katherine Borges, and DNA administrators: Brian Swann, David Palmer, Debbie Kennett, Lorna McDougall, Susan Spires, Derrell Oakley Teat, Candy Campise and L.A. Chancey.





























































































































































































































































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