Lessons from my six month sabbatical

It was over a year ago that I realized I was tired.

November 2015 found me looking back over the year and counting up the presentations and webinars I had done.  It amounted to 62 total speaking opportunities, and I was tired.  

I talked it over with Mr. Kerry, and told him I felt I should fulfill all of the commitments I had made through June 2016, but wouldn't accept any more throughout the rest of the year.

It was a wise decision.

I finished out at close to 30 by the end of June, and had a couple of more presentations in August and September, but I was officially done for the year.  I took the last half of the year off.

I needed some research time of my own.  

I needed some learning time of my own.

I needed to not wake up in a hotel wondering what city I was in.

And now, I am back!  I am refreshed and raring to go.  I am busy through mid-September, and have even booked presentations into 2018.

Let me tell you what I learned during these past six months:

1.  I learned that I miss gathering with my genealogy colleagues, whether they be attendees or other speakers.

2.  I learned that it is imperative that I continue to do my own research.  This usually involves a southern trip with my sisters, which includes a lot of laughing!

Sisters Betty, Fern, and me!

3.  I learned that it is extremely important that I continue to connect with the living.  I was born into an old family, so there aren't many of the older generation left.  I have moved into that position.  I recently sat and listened to my aunt teaching her great-granddaughter the old mountain gospel songs.  I could have listened to this torch being passed all day long.

Aunt Betty teaching gospel songs to great-granddaughter Skylan

4.  Though I was not actively teaching any classes, it remained important that I stay connected with the genealogy community -- mostly through Facebook and other social media.

5.  Continuing my own education was vital, and I'm an active learner.  Every opportunity I have to listen in on a class or webinar is another opportunity for growth.

6.  Though I have 35 presentations that are ready to go on a moment's notice (I have filled in for people that couldn't present at the last moment, so I'm glad I have them.), plus about 8 more that are in process.  I spent these past six months updating and tweaking these presentations and the accompanying syllabi.

7.  I began to review some of my older presentations that have been video or audio taped, so that I could critique what I sound and look like.  For those of you who know me well, this is a really big deal, for I can't stand to watch or hear myself.  But, I felt I must do it so that people who are paying to hear me will not feel their money has been wasted.

8.  I found some much-needed spare time that I didn't do a darn thing.  This is when I replenished myself.  I read, I studied.  I did some self-reflecting.  I attended two funerals, which I would not have been able to do if I had accepted two speaking invitations.

9.  I worked on my much-neglected personal history.

10.  I began to prepare for 2017..

These are a few of the things I have not been able to while always being on-the-go.  And, it's not that I dislike what I do.  I love what I do!  But, I had reached a point where I needed to scale back.

So, in a few short weeks, I will be headed to Salt Lake City for RootsTech 2017, followed by a quick trip to Orlando, followed by another trip to...

I have taken care of me.

And, sometimes life pulls us up short.  I was mowing this past August when I had a tractor accident.  I got stuck on a root. Actually, it was a root and a rock.  I shut everything down and managed to unloose the tractor, only to have it begin to roll and take me with it.  Part of my leg was bruised pretty badly, my arm was torn up, and I fell really hard -- straight down.

Things began to heal, but one area was becoming increasingly worse.  It resulted in having surgery, followed by some pretty limited recuperation.

It was a relief to not have to worry about rearranging a myriad of engagements while taking care of my own self.

So, lessons learned...

*Sometimes, you might feel prompted to do some scaling back.  Listen to that prompting.

*Continue to read and educate yourself.

*Never stop learning.

Every Opportunity Counts

I consider myself to be one of the most fortunate people alive.

I was recently asked about my background, my education, etc.  I took a deep breath and gave my answer.

Other than high school, I have no formal education.  But, I certainly am educated.  Let me tell you why.

The opportunity to go to college was not there for me.  Being the baby of the family is not easy, for I didn't have a line of people encouraging me in that direction.  All of my sisters are educated, with nursing degrees and x-ray technician backgrounds.

But, I am not.  I was generally told college was for smart people.  And, I believed that.

So, I educated myself.

I worked at Bierce Library at the University of Akron for a number of years.  I could have taken classes for college credit for free.  But, I didn't.  I did take one class on how to play the harmonica from a man who used to play with Freddie and the Fendercats.  Now, I don't have the breath to even play the harmonica.

All I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother, and I really didn't think that would ever happen, either.  But, it did.  And, soon I was "stuck at home" with four children under five years old.

This is when I did my greatest amount of learning.  While the kids were napping, I was reading and studying.  I was expanding my musical talent, learning how to go beyond piano and organ and saxophone (from high school).  I acquired six-string and twelve-string guitars, a banjo, autoharp, recorders, and anything else I could get my hands and taught myself.

As the kids grew, we spent hours at the library.  Each were allowed to check out ten books - forty books each week!  Kerry and I would immerse ourselves in the history and reference section.

Our kids began to realize how books could open up the world to them at a very early age.

When my kids were in junior/senior high school, I was asked to be the Family History Director at our local ward.  At this time, I hadn't taken the time to learn to do the things the easy way (microfiche, microfilm).  I had always gone to the actual areas with my parents.

Long story short...that assignment led me to where I am today.  I have traveled the United States and spoken to the world.  

So, when asked about my background, let me give some advice:

1.  Always, always take advantage of every opportunity for learning that comes your way.  There are so many to choose from.  They range from conferences, webinars, and classes to local gatherings at the public libraries, local genealogy societies, and even public television.  Learning about the 1918 influenza epidemic helped me to realize how difficult it was for my grandmother and her sister to lose seven babies between them.  It enhanced the writings in my mother's journal, who happened to live through it and remembered it as a five-year old.

2.  Learn to recognize the opportunity in front of you.  It may come in a casual conversation with someone of advanced age, a class being held, a book at a book sale.  

3.  Make the time to learn.  If you wait for the time to come, you may be waiting a long time.  Set aside the time for your own education.

4.  Some opportunities are free - some may cost money.  We were a single-income family, so I had to be judicial in what I spent money on for myself.  It might mean only one trip per year with my sisters to do research.  It might mean borrowing a book from the library instead of buying it.  One of the best ways is looking through what I already had in my own home.

5.  Conferences and institutes are tremendous, if you can afford them and the travel involved.  I have been fortunate to attend many conferences, but had to sit back on many more.  With modern technology, I can attend some of the streamed sessions.  

The Family History Library is hosting a wonderful United States Research Seminar in August.  I would love to be attending it.  But, I can't.  However, there are at least twenty classes being streamed!  Take a look at it here .  I have registered for as many as I can.

6.  I am an Accredited Genealogist, and have been for the past fifteen years.  I made a choice between becoming Accredited, or going through the Board for Certification of Genealogists.  I chose the first, as it hones you in on a specific area.

I did not need to do this professionally.  But, I wanted to.  Some of my friends and colleagues were proud of my accomplishment, and let me know that.  But, I'm still the same Peggy as before.

My oldest child had left on a mission, and I had three more in various stages of junior/senior high school.  Acquiring this Accreditation was one of the hardest things I had ever done.  I thought I was good, but it polished me.  I am so grateful that I set that as a goal, and that I reached it.

There are many genealogy colleagues who are neither Accredited or Board Certified.  But, they are good.  Very, very good.  Neither of these are needed to do professional research or speaking at different venues.  But, perhaps it helps when the post-nomials are noted, for it shows you have gone a little further.

7.  I learn from my peers.  I have attended classes when I have sat in awe at the tremendous amount of information being shared.  I have learned things I didn't know that I didn't know.

I have also attended classes where the only thing I learned was how not to teach a class.  I am not saying that to insult the presenter.  I have known several whose brains are so full of knowledge that I am coveting them.  But, they didn't quite know how to convey that knowledge to others.  As they spoke, I took note of the attendees around me.  Again, I learned how not to teach.

8.  I am always in research mode.  Always.  When we travel, I am reading.  When we were waiting for children at piano lessons, swim meets, tennis matches, etc., we always had a book.  (We watched our parents do the same thing.)  We never go anywhere without a book to read or a journal to write in.  

9.  I have found that by helping another person, or preparing a new lecture - I learn more than anyone else.  I believe it's called *homework*.  

10.  Belonging to your local or state genealogy society benefits you in so many ways.  I am fortunate to live just a few moments away from the Ohio Genealogical Society.  I have blogged about it several times, and those are tagged in the right column of this blog.

One thing they have begun doing is having a series of summer learning sessions - for free!!!  Please check out what has already been offered, and what is yet to come:  http://www.ogsblog.org/2016/03/2016-summer-learning-sessions.html?spref=tw

If I follow the example of my parents, my in-laws, and Mr. Kerry, my learning will never come to an end.  In today's world, there is no reason to remain uninformed on a subject.  

We choose those things that are the most important to us.  For me, it has been lifelong learning.

So, don't be discouraged if you're not able to go to all of the events you would like to.  Instead, be grateful for the things you may have right in front of you.  Kerry's father counseled his children:

Always keep your mind active and learning.

AND, from one of my previous posts

When you're green, you're still growing.

When you're ripe, you're almost rotten.

STAY GREEN!

How do I come up with a topic?

I thank you all for the many comments I received private

on yesterday's post

A Day in the Life of a Genealogy Speaker

I can't recall a time when so many people 

reached out to me to thank me, and to ask questions.

One of the questions I had several people ask me was,

"How do you come up with all of these topics?"

That is actually a very good questions.

I can't speak for all genealogy speakers, 

but let me tell you how I do it.

First and foremost,

they come from researching my own family.

I have spent years taking up the research where my parents left off.

And, just when I think I have seen everything there is to see,

I find something new!

I have run across:

counterfeiters

moonshiners

illegitemacies

patriots

tories

people who should have received awards

people who should have kept quiet

veterans

grass widows

"idiots" on the 1880 DDD schedule

families that were nearly wiped out in 1918

babies that were previously unknown

courthouse burnings by my own family

cemetery destruction

massacres

school records

migration trails...

Oh, I could go on and on.

And, so could you.

But, if any of you have heard me speak,

or listened to webinars I have given,

you will notice that many of the above topics 

have been the subjects of my presentations.

I figure if they have happened in my family,

perhaps they have happened in someone else's, too!

So, I take what I learn...

and, I teach it to others.

There is another way I come up with topics.

I listen.

I listen very carefully during conversations at

conferences,

at luncheons,

to those passing me in the hall,

while waiting in line,

to those that may ask a question during a presentation,

when I see heads nodding at the answer to that question

(whether in one of my classes or someone else's).

All it takes is for someone to say they are having a problem in a certain area,

and my ears perk up.

Because if they're at a standstill,

then perhaps others are at a standstill, too.

So, I begin to research everything I can get my hands on

to learn about it.

WThese are two ways that I come up with topics.

And, when I say to my friends that I am always in research mode, 

it means

I am always in research mode.

Always.

There are many people who would love to eventually become 

a genealogy speaker,

or perhaps they are just starting out.

With all my heart, I say

welcome!

There is room for all.

Each one brings their expertise to the table,

and can perhaps help someone that has been struggling for a long time.

Here is how I have done it.

1.  Start out by letting local societies know that you have a topic that they may be interested.

They usually plan their programs a year in advance, 

but let them know that if something falls through,

you would like to be considered.

2.  When word gets around, say yes!

Say yes to societies, public libraries, schools, Scout groups, luncheon groups, etc.

These will all give you experience,

and your comfort will grow at standing in front of any crowd.

3.  Keep track of every single presentation you have given!

All of these presentations will show how serious you are at becoming a speaker.

Here is an example from my own portfolio:

Lecture Experience:

Ambassador – RootsTech 2016

Ancestry Academy - 2016

BYU Family History Conference - 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015

Crawford County, Ohio Genealogical Society/Bucyrus Public Library – 1996-2016

Darke Co., OH – Full-day Seminar- 2012-2015

Dayton, Ohio Family History Jamboree – 1996-2015

Fairfax, VA Annual Spring Conference – 2014

Galion, Ohio Public Library – 2008, 2009-2012, 2014

ICAPGen Conference, BYU, Provo, UT – 2007

Indianapolis, OH – Full-day Seminar – 2013, 2014

Knox County Career Center - Adult Education, 1997 – 1999

Legacy Family Tree Webinars - 2015-16

Muncie, IN Genealogy Symposium – 2012-2015

National Genealogical Society- 2016

OGS Conference – 1998-2016                                                                           

OGS Summer Workshop - 1999 - 2012
Ohio State University - Adult Education, 1994 – 1997

RootsTech – 2015-2016

Shelby Co., OH – Full-day Seminar – 2014

Southern California Genealogy Jamboree – 2015-2016

Webinar, Illinois Genealogical Society – 2012-2016

Webinar, Southern California Genealogical Society – 2013, 2014

Webinar, Wisconsin Genealogical Society – 2014

I don't show this to scare you off.

It's just example of how I have a visible list for organizers to looks at.

I also keep a spreadsheet that shows what I spoke about

at each of the above venues.

4.  Not only do I have a teaching list like the one you see above,

I have a learning list, too.

Each time I listen to a webinar,

go to a conference,

or a society meeting,

I keep a running track of what I have done to further my own education.

I don't want to get stale.

Nor do I want to get into a rut.

So, this is just a small sampling of what I do.

And, I have way too much fun doing it!!

Peggy speaking to a crowd in Sidney, Ohio.

It doesn't matter if the size is great or small,

they still get the same quality of program.

Getting ready to teach a Beginner's Class at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference.

Or was it a Land Platting Class?

Sisters Cindy and Jodi came up right before one of my RootsTech classes last year.

I grew up with these remarkable women!

All of these experiences led me to be invited to be an instructor for

Ancestry Academy.

I remember starting out with storytelling at my children's school

They would bring me in when they were learning about Ohio history.

The neat thing is that the stories I told about early Ohio history and the 

Northwest Territory

always involved stories about my own family.

My kids became heroes!

Their friends loved it!!!

A Day in the Life of a Genealogy Speaker

RootsTech 2016 is set to begin in just a few days!

It has been so fun to scroll through my Facebook and Twitter feed and be part of the excitement.

People are coming from all over the world.

This year, I am attending alone.

Mr. Kerry and I were fortunate last year that we had such good weather to travel across the country.

But, there's no guarantee that we'll have good traveling weather two years in a row

to travel across this great country.

Genealogy conferences usually begin with a "Call for papers", 

in which an organization is announcing that they are hosting a conference

and looking for speakers.

There have been a few times where I submitted nothing to the "call for papers",

but was personally asked to develop classes for the event.

Which, I gladly did.

I normally have 30-35 class proposals that are 'at the ready'.

That means that if asked to present, these are ready to go.

The syllabus materials are written.

The slides are done.

Just give me the time you want me to be there.

Speakeres have to make sure that my topics are not "canned".

I look to the audience I will be addressing, understanding what level most of them are in their research, and tweak what may be needed.

I can tell a canned lecture, no matter the venue.

In a few weeks, you find out if you're accepted, and preparations for travel begin.

These are the good parts.

Let me tell you some of the bad parts.

Several years ago, I was asked to present an all-day series of classes for a society.

They had their own projector, so I wouldn't need to bring mine.

I loaded up my laptop, my flash drive, and drove to across the state to get things ready.

It meant getting up and out of the house before 6:00 am.

Mr. Kerry was with me.

He is my rock.

When we arrived, I was taken to a room where a projector was waiting for me.

My laptop and the projector were not on speaking terms.

There was no expert I could turn to.

I was the expert.

No amount of tweaking, begging, cajoling, threatening, etc. seemed to work.

A dear woman volunteered her laptop to see if it would communicate with the projector.

It did!

  Both pieces of technology seemed happy!

I pulled out my flash drive that contained a back up of my presentations.

It wouldn't fit into her USB drive.

The ends were crimped.

I have no idea how in the world it happened, but the ends were bent in an awkward position, 

and they couldn't be inserted into her laptop.

I was beginning to sweat bullets.

People have paid good money, and given up part of their day to hear me!

I asked if the room had access to wifi, and it did!!!!

I signed into my Dropbox account from her computer,

pulled up my presentation, and within a few moments we were good go.

There were a few important things I learned from this:

1.  It is probably a good idea to bring your own projector, if possible.

We were driving, so it worked out fine.

2.  It might also be a good idea to have two flash drives with you.

I have no idea what happened between my house and the venue, 

but somewhere along the way, those ends became crimped.

And, all of the information was lost that was on that drive.

3.  Thank goodness for the wifi connection that was strong enough to allow access to files I had backed up in Dropbox.

I honestly don't know what I would have done without having that option.

4.  It's important that your audience doesn't get a sense of how frazzled you are.

Believe me, I was frazzled.

But, not a person in the room knew it.

They knew something may have had a kink in it, but they didn't have to worry.

And, I didn't need 500 voices telling me how to solve the problem.

It got solved.

Now, on the eve of leaving for RootsTech 2016, why would I even be writing about this?

I have things to do!

Because right now, there are literally hundreds of speakers

 that are going over and over their presentations.

They are tweaking slides.

They are taking some out and putting others in.

Some that have been asked to give permission for their presentations to be streamed.

For them, that means changing their entire presentation to a different ratio,

for the screens are much larger for the streaming.

This would be me.

I spent all day Thursday re-sizing every one of my slides.

They will be re-size again when I present in Fort Lauderdale in May for the

National Genealogical Society.

Miss Peggy, doing what she loves!

If you are fortunate enough to be at RootsTech next week,

be sure to take the time and let a speaker know how much you enjoyed their presentation.

I can tell you right now,

a lot of work went into it.

Hours and hours of work went into it.

And, it's never really done, for that speaker will go over it again

before the next presentation is given.

But, it's all worth it when you receive an email that says:

" I want to thank you so much for teaching 

the class on women at the Dayton Jamboree. It really was the best class I took all day.  Indeed, I was having such a good time in that class, I regretted having to leave and go on to the next one!"

That, my friends, is called payday.

Enjoy RootsTech this week, whether in person or at home.

And, if you see me, come and say hello!

#RootsTech16

Big conference...Little conference...And the love of our youth!

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to the Muskingum County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  What a delight!

It was held in Zanesville, which is approximately 1 1/2 hours from my home.  This time, I drove alone and relished in the beautiful pre-autumn countryside that surrounded me.

The first thing that caught my eye was a very old schoolhouse that I have passed many times before.  Or, it might have even been a church house.  I don't know.  I do know that it was once a beautiful structure.

I wonder about the stories of this old building.  How I would love to hear them now!  And, I don't even know anyone who ever set foot in it.

When I arrived at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Zanesville, I was warmly greeted by those setting up for the banquet.  Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw displays.  I had to get over to see them!

Just look at these displays!  I had to pour over every one of them, thinking how I could incorporate the same type of feeling in my own home.  I can just imagine a grandchild wondering what kind of songs I sang, what type of dolls I played with, what tools did we work with, what did I read...

Soon, it was time for the banquet.  I sat up front at the speaker's table, which always makes me feel awkward.  I love being with all of the regular folks.  I just don't feel that special.  But, they made sure to put me there.

Tonight was a special night for this chapter, for there were many inductees into the First Families of Muskingum County.  Some had come all the way from Indiana!  (Zanesville is east of Columbus, which is in the center of the state.)  After my talk, I listened to the awards.

I nearly had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye as two little girls, through the help of their parents and grandparents, were inducted.  They were sisters, ages 11 and 8, and were so excited!  The older one went happily skipping up to receive her certificate!!

Before the awards, I had made a really big deal about those little girls.  Of all of the places they could have been on a Saturday evening, they were at a genealogy banquet listening to me speak about cemetery experiences.  Everyone applauded for them!

But, when it was all over, they both came up to me to talk about genealogy.  I gave them every bit of my attention, even allowing others to wait a little longer before I gave my attention to them.

Now, why do I even bring this up?  Because I am a conference speaker.

Peggy at OGS Conference, 2015

I have spoken at some really big ones.  And, I have spoken to as few as 3-4 people.  And, I love them both.  But, I have a special affection in my heart for the smaller gatherings where hard-working genealogists that may never get any accolades are quietly working their fingers to the bone on cemetery projects, histories, etc.  God bless them in their efforts.

And now, I'm working on next year's schedule for 2016, and even have booked some into 2017!

I love what I do...

Spring back and forth!

It's pretty, then it's dreary, then it's pretty, then it's dreary, then it's....

You know how it is! We have nothing to complain about, for it has been beautiful with all of the blossoms coming out seemingly all at once. Now, it's a bit chilly. Just a bit...

Mr. Kerry and I have had quite a few adventures over the past few weeks - and they have all been good. Well, mostly.

I have had to have a lot of blood work done, and I guess I'm not done yet. I have extensive bruising on my forearms. They look similar to what an older person who is on coumadin gets - bright and dark red splotches. It is actually quite atrocious, and occurs when Mr. Eddie puts his paw on me (I have a cute little pawprint) and or even just putting on clothes. Two of my doctors are aggressively researching this, and have been in contact with labs and drug representatives concerning it.

I'll be fine.

We have spent a couple of days with Fern, and are planning on spending some more with her. It is quite overwhelming when she has to do some needed things alone. Mr. Kerry is tall and can reach things easily. Me - I just do what I'm told.

The temple is on hiatus right now for deep cleaning and repairs. This past Friday, Kerry and I seemed kind of lost, for we're not usually in town on Friday. We went to lunch with Dave and Waunita Wharton and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Later that evening, we served dinner to the missionaries here at the house. They LOVED all of our church books. We ended up giving them several. They will be put to good use.

I also began teaching genealogy classes in Bucyrus for the 16th year! They had a certain number that signed up, but ended up with twice as many walk-ins! It was standing-room only. I think they enjoyed it. I will finish up tomorrow night.

On one of the Saturdays, I planned on attending a program on the Civil War at OGS (Ohio Genealogical Society). That morning, friend Natalie called me in desperation. The speaker had the flu. Could I possibly...

Of course. Natalie has done so many things for me. How could I say no? I think they enjoyed that program, too.

Yesterday, I spent the day teaching at an all day conference in Piqua, OH. I didn't know too much about Piqua, but it is a charming town that was home of the Mills Brothers (a doo-wop group). The building I was in was breathtaking! It was a hotel that had been built in the 1890's that had fallen into disrepair. When they restored it, it went back to its original beauty. Part of it is now the public library and a conference center.

The beautiful Fort Piqua Public Library and Conference Center

Beautiful stained glass in the ballroom and the stairwells, where there is pure white marble steps.

The orchestra pit above the ballroom

Handpainted china from the 1920's

Kerry had a delightful time in the library while I taught.

In the evening, we turned into giddy grandparents. We drove a short distance to Jordan and Melissa's and spent a WONDERFUL time playing, tickling, laughing, playing hide and seek, getting my hair tousled, looking at their treasures, and eating at a Chinese buffet. We also visited with Jordan and Melissa, so they wouldn't feel left out. Those little people just melt my heart - I mean the grandboys.

Kerry and I meandered home from Fern's last week, taking in some of the beauty on the shores of Lake Erie. This is especially important as I am getting ready for my webinar in June.

Marblehead Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Erie