'Bridging the Centuries' to focus on Web, genealogy

By MYRA VANDERPOOL GORMLEY

Los Angeles Times Syndicate

Focusing on its theme of "Bridging the Centuries: Bringing Genealogy and Technology Together," the GENTECH 2000 conference takes place in San Diego on Jan. 28 and 29.

This is one of the major conferences for genealogists, and the biggest one for computer users and Internet enthusiasts in the hobby. It offers presentations for beginners as well as experienced computer users, with courses for the beginning family historian as well as the professional. Five tracks --- Beginner, Publishing/Technology, Internet, Intermediate/Advance and Methodology --- will run each hour, along with computer software demonstrations and a hands-on computer lounge.

Topics will cover several sessions on using the Internet to locate ancestors, a look at editing family images, comparing genealogy software programs, digitizing microfilms, getting the most out of the Family History Library's popular FamilySearch Web site and publishing (print and on the Web).

At the Friday night banquet, Curt Witcher, manager of the Historical Genealogy Department of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Ind., will speak on "Dancing in the Mine Fields: Genealogists, Technologists, and Information Providers in Search of Common Ground." Luncheon speakers include author-teacher Barbara Renick on Friday, and award-winning author-actor Henry Z. "Hank" Jones, on Saturday.

Among leading-edge topics on the program are:

- Electronic research assistance for genealogists.

- Electronically generated migration patterns.

- Emerging technologies and the genealogist.

- Overcoming e-mail overload.

- Learning the original source of electronic family trees.

- Scanners and gadgets on the road.

- Privacy in genealogy: "Is the Fox Already in the Henhouse?"

- Who Owns Genealogy: Legal Implications.

- Anywhere/Anytime Learning: Education on the Net.

GENTECH 2000 promises the largest genealogy computer exhibit vendor area. National and local computer and genealogy companies and vendors will be represented, as will RootsWeb.com Inc. and several genealogical societies. Some of the nationally known speakers include Rhonda McClure, Tony Burroughs, Brad Steuart, Cyndi Howells, Alan Mann, Barbara Renick, Richard Wilson, Karen Clifford, Gary Hoffman, Liz Kelly Kerstens and Kory Meyerink.

Hosted by the San Diego Genealogical Society, the conference will be held in the downtown San Diego Concourse Convention Center, just minutes from San Diego International Airport. The conference hotel is the Westgate Hotel (800-221-3802) and the conference travel agent is Conventions in America (800-929-4242, group #679).

Registration for both days is $85 until Dec. 31; after that it goes up to $110. Luncheons and the banquet are extra. The conference Web page has complete information and a printable conference schedule at: www.gentech.org/2000home.htm.

Registration brochures and more information also are available from San Diego Genealogical Society (e-mail: sdgs@genealogy.org) 1050 Pioneer Way, Suite E, El Cajon, CA 92020-1943 (fax: 619-588-0056).

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