Who Do You Think You Are 2010 in London

07 March 2010

Who Do You Think You Are 2010 in London

WDYTYA 2010

Who Do You Think You Are (WDYTYA) 2010, the world’s largest genealogy conference, was a wonderful success. Like last year, the line at the door started early and stretched for several blocks. But the crowds were definitely larger every day, and the traffic was much heavier on Sunday than in the previous year. Most of the same booths appeared with a few noticeably missing, however.

Early Friday Morning at WDYTYA

The Society of Genealogists (SoG) has posted the handouts from the various lectures at: http://www.sog.org.uk /events/2010show.shtml

Family Tree DNA

Family Tree DNA has attended WDYTYA for the last two years due to the foresight of Geoff Swinfield, a geneticist, well-known at SoG (Society of Genealogists) and Brian Swann, ISOGG's European Coordinator for England and Wales. In a pub conversation two years ago, Geoff suggested the idea of bringing Family Tree DNA to London’s Who Do You Think You Are conference. Brian put this idea into action and last year was Family Tree DNA’s debut in London. Their success was met with an offer to attend The Gathering in Scotland in July 2009 and a desire to return to WDYTYA this year. This year, Family Tree DNA doubled
the size of its stall as well as its presentation area.

I had no time to explore as I helped at the Family Tree DNA booth all three days, and I was only able to attend two presentations, one by Bennett Greenspan on Family Finder and one by Geoff Swinfield entitled DNA for Family Historians, regarding his discovery of not being a Swinfield. I was busy explaining the various DNA tests and swabbing what seemed a continuous stream of customers. The hall was so busy and noisy that I felt as if we were shouting to hear each other. By Saturday afternoon I was beginning to lose my voice!

F-B: Kenny, Bennett, Emily, Katherine, Chris

(Photo courtesy of Kenny Hedgepath)

FTDNA Announces New Family Finder Test

This year FTDNA President Bennett Greenspan introduced the company’s new Family Finder test for the first

time to the public. This tests the autosomal sections of all the chromosomes to determine matches by cousins on any line of the pedigree chart. FTDNA will not be releasing this test to the US public for another three weeks, and several Brits with whom I spoke were pleased to see they were first.

Learn more about this test at: http://www.fam ilytreedna.com/landing/family-finder.aspx
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) provides more details: http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers/17.aspx

The various types of DNA tests (Y-chromosome, mitochondria, and Family Finder tests) proved to be very helpful to WDYTYA participants. Each potential customer explained their goals for testing while the FTDNA volunteers help them determine which test best solves their problem. People who were adopted, those wishing to learn if their cousin was really their cousin, those wishing to break through their genealogical brick walls, and even those who were just curious received all the answers to their questions and a recommendation as to which test would help them.

ISOGG Debut

For the first time at this convention, the International Society of Genetic Genealogists (ISOGG) acquired a booth, thanks to Brian Swann. Members from both the UK and USA manned the booth, signing up new ISOGG members as well as giving away free DNA tests to those who qualified. ISOGG members who wished to gain testers for their particular Surname projects offered free tests for males who would qualify with the proper surname. The first test given away was on Friday for Cynthia Wells’ Wells Y-DNA Project. That was followed by someone qualifying for the Doug Miller’s Land Project. He has a second possibility as well. Then others were found for Cynthia’s for Lay Project and for Katherine Borges’McCallum-Macolm Project. A test was taken by a Graves for Kenneth Graves’ Ydna Project. People picked up flyers for Robert Sterry’s Sterry Project and Nancy Kiser’s Phillips Project as they who knew people with that surname.

Katherine is pleased that two Fullers who are do not carry the Fullers’ surname are being tested with Family Finder. Much to Katherine’s pleasure, one also has a Lyon connection. The odds of finding attendees with the correct names visiting the booth are remarkable. The offer was deemed a success and will continue next year so be sure to stop by the ISOGG booth and see if your surname is among those the project managers need for their groups.

Debbie, Katherine, and Jill

(photo courtesy of Kenny Hedgepath)

Fun in the Pub

And there there was sight-seeing and great times in the pubs visiting with all the helpers and genetic genealogy speakers. We sure missed our local pub, however. The Crown and Sceptre, Kensington (now closed) was in the next block from the B & B and had wonderful food! But, this is London and we found a few others!

Kenny, Katherine, Bennett, Debbie

Ann, Emily, Katherine, Johanna (standing), Linda and John

The Players

Last year, four ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy) members attended from the US, but this year nine went. For the British, last year four attended that all of us knew, but this year there were eight. Doubling these numbers was wonderful and helped greatly with assisting both the FTDNA booth and the ISOGG booth. It was wonderful seeing all the friends from England again.

From the US:

Back: Kenny, Katherine, Terry, Marilyn, Linda

Front: Emily, Derrell, Cynthia, Johnna

From Britain:

Geoff.......................................Debbie................................Chris

Brian...........................................................Jill

Ann and John Blair

From FTDNA:

Bennett...........................................................Max

Michael

WDYTYA 2011

Everyone is already looking forward to WDYTYA 2011. Plans are already being made for a return and ISOGG members are even more committed to providing free tests to help their projects. Be sure to stop by the booth to see if your name qualities.

In the US we are excited about the American Version of Who Do You Think You Are on NBC each Friday night in hopes it will renew interest in genealogy. Check your local listings for the time in your area.

See you next year London!

Emily
March 2010

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Welcome to My Genetic Genealogy Blog

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...1. Click on the FTDNA icon search button (above).
...2. Enter the _(your surname here)_ surname in the upper right where it says: SEARCH
...3. On the next page, click on the surname you chose in #2.
...4. Follow any instructions. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on JOIN.

NOTE: If you are not certain there is a DNA project for your surname or if you are only testing your mtDNA (female line), put the name of an area such as CAMPANIA in the search field or wait until you receive your results and locate your haplogroup. The Campania area project is not one of my projects, but I will find you an appropriate project when your results arrive.
..........You want to join through a project to get the cheapest rates.

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Presentations

.....Presentations for both the Genetic Genealogy and for the writing sessions are normally two hours, but can be adapted. I prefer an computer projector for with a screen and a table for displaying my DNA book and/or writing booklet.
.....Your group can photocopy the handouts or I will do so for $.05 per side. If speaking within the general area of Portland, Oregon I do not charge for mileage or travel expenses. Outside of the general Portland area, I do require the IRS amount of $.56 per mile. If I need to stay over night, a motel room or staying with a non-smoking female will be necessary.
.....Although, as a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogists (ISOGG), I cannot ask for a speaker's fee for the Genetic Genealogy presentations, but I can accept an honorarium. This is not the case with the writing classes. $75 is the standard.
Email: aulicino@hevanet.com

Recommendations and Compliments

Genetic Genealogy

"Emily Aulicino is one of the most dynamic people I know. Her energy and enthusiasm has helped make Oregon the largest member per capita region in all of ISOGG. Emily’s educator background is apparent and complimentary to her speaking engagements which create a presentation that is easy-to-understand for any novice. Her reputation has made her an immensely popular speaker throughout the Pacific Northwest which has resulted in nationwide requests. Emily is a proven leader who welcomes a challenge. She manages many people and projects with skill and ability that can only be innate. I have the utmost confidence that Emily will excel at any task presented to her and I look forward to many more years working with her."
-------Katherine Borges, Director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)

Unsolicited Comments:

Barbara in Washington wrote:
I just wanted to touch base with you and tell you how impressed I was with your lectures today. They were fun and up, and you were able to explain the DNA process to me in terms that I could understand.

"Memoing" My Memories - Unsolicited Testimony

Rhonda in Oregon writes:
The writing tip you gave us Thursday is great! I went right to my stash of journals (I have trouble journaling, but love the books!), and made a page for every year since my birth year.
I’m very excited to start writing my memories down. Thanks again for a fantastic tip!!

Anne in Michigan writes:
"So many times I have sat down and tried to write out my life's story. I got so bored with myself that I never got more than a few pages done. This method has totally changed my outlook and has renewed my lifelong interest to write about my life so that my children will have something to remember me by.
I am psyched, pumped and ready to go now!”

Beth in Texas writes:
“I am finding the topics very helpful in writing about things I would have never thought about before. These topics give me an opportunity not to dwell on the unhappy times in my life, and remember some of the less important, but memorable topics that I'd like to pass on to my children. I'll still write about unhappy times, but they will be sprinkled in with other memories.”

Jan in Kentucky writes:
“Emily, you do so very much for so many, and it is so appreciated! You also have broken my writing block, and I appreciate that...if not for you, I don't know that I would have had the heart to return to it. You truly are doing a lot of good with that list of yours and the effects will be known for years and generations for so many. I think sometimes we just need to tell you that.”

Bob in Sherwood, Oregon writes:
THANKS to you I started writing my "story" last Friday. If it wasn't for you I probably wouldn't have started it. It's all your fault...You, You, "Inspirator", You! Telling us
to write in "pictures". If I started it prior to your presentation it would have begun... "I was born on October 29, 1944 in Jamestown, New York". Needless to say you had a GREAT impact on my writing.

Bill in New Jersey writes:
Just a short note to says thanks to you, Emily, for the prompts. I especially like the way in which you write the suggestions to go along with the prompts.

Books About Childhood Memories and Family Stories

As most of you know I seldom read fiction, and as a result, I am interested in books that are historical in nature and/or tell the stories of people's lives. The following list is some books that I have read which are by people I know, people who are related to me, people I have met, and people with whom I've corresponded for a time. Proudly, I have each author's autograph, and I'm beginning to think of this as a new collection/hobby of mine! .

Each of these stories have great struggles and challenges. Some are of childhood while others occurred when the author was an adult. I hope that you will find them interesting as I have. They are truly a slice of our American Life!