I have been given the honor to keynote the 6th annual St. George UT Family History Expo on February 26-27. This will be a very different talk then the others I have given throughout the United States in 2009. For two years I have been lecturing and blogging about technology, techniques, methodologies, and case studies around the conflation of physical geography, culture, historical maps, and genealogy as a strategy to crash through brick walls and create deep insight into our past. I have been happy to share what I have learned in 11 years of field based research.
But what has been deeply moving for me - since my first lecture at a local genealogy club 6 years ago to my last talk in Northern California is the emotional connection - with real people looking for real answers. I cannot tell you how many times in the last year I have been approached for help by people looking to reconnect with distant relatives, or having discovered that their parentage was in question, or that they were adopted, or that their family had a horrible congenital condition and needed to warn unknown relatives, or just wanted to know where they come from - to have some sense of rootedness in this very uncertain age. One woman in Redding California grabbed both my hands and with tears in her eyes said she was attending my DNA course because I was her last hope to find out who she was because her “life was a lie…”
I had blogged earlier about research that delved into the motivations of why people are interested in genealogy:
I think these are all very accurate - but the terms “desire”, “creative outlet”, “fulfilling a need”, “activity”, “coming to terms,” or “self discovery” obscure the underlying raw emotional motivation of millions of people researching their family tree. Whether from religious conviction, a need to place themselves in context, reconnecting with family, discovering roots in an unrooted age, or finding the truth about their lives and their past - many people are looking for help, guidance, information, and support - especially the newbies. And from those requests for assistance to the many tearful hugs and grateful notes of appreciation once help is provided - you know you can make a difference in peoples lives.
In these days of Web 2.o, global connectivity, user generated content, social networking, and collaboration - all of us have an opportunity to “let our light shine” and make a difference. Come to St. George and hear my unconventional and hopefully motivational keynote “Let Your Light Shine. Let Their Light Shine.” It will be addressed to vendors as well as genealogists, and family historians. You won’t want to miss it!
Good hunting,
Bernie


