Hartford 2007 e-zine #6

PROGRAM & REGISTRATION BROCHURE AVAILABLE ON-LINE
CONFERENCE ROOM RESERVATIONS AND GROUP CODE
EXHIBITS – SPACE IS GOING FAST
NEW ENGLAND CONNECTions BLOG
THINGS TO DO AROUND HARTFORD
FGS BOSTON CONFERENCE INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS E-ZINE

PROGRAM & REGISTRATION BROCHURE AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Summer is almost over. Now is the time to reserve your spot at the upcoming NERGC 2007 Hartford Conference. Don’t wait until the last minute to send in your registration and book your room. This promises to be a fantastic genealogical experience!

The 2007 New England Regional Genealogical Conference –- New England CONNECTions -- registration brochure is available in pdf format on the NERGC Web page at www.nergc.org. Be sure to bookmark the site.

Start planning your conference experience today. Half the fun of the conference is choosing the programs that you will attend. Read the biographies of the conference speakers to gain insight into their experience. Ready your questions for the experts - those presenting programs or those available at the Ancestor Roadshow. Early preparation will make this a truly enjoyable experience.

The latest update to the Web page also includes updated Exhibit Hall information, including a floor plan showing the location of booths already sold. See who will have booths in the Exhibit Hall.

CONFERENCE ROOM RESERVATIONS AND GROUP CODE

The Hartford Marriott Downtown is now accepting room reservations relating to the Conference.
Reservations can be made on-line or by telephone.

Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103-2807
Phone: 1-860-249-8000
Fax: 1-860-249-8181
Toll-free reservations: 1-866-373-9806
Hotel Web site: http://www.hartfordmarriott.com

The conference room rate is $125.00 single/double per night.
Check-in time: 4:00 P.M.
Check-out time: 11:00 A.M.
Group code: NGCNGCA

Marriott Downtown, Hartford, CT Registration Guidelines
Some who have tried to register for the Hartford Conference in April 2007 have faced delays on the phone and also some strange uninformed comments by the operator. The reason appears to be because ALL reservations are being handled by Marriott Central Reservation - somewhere in the world - and the operators are not familiar with the Hartford brand new facility. As a result of our questions in response to your e mail concerns the hotel has sent us the following:

"Whenever someone calls in to make a reservation and requests a double bed, they will not be guaranteed through central reservations. What we have done at the hotel is, we have taken all of the double beds out of the hotel inventory of rooms. Basically when any person whether they're in your group or not, calls and requests a double bed, they will not be guaranteed one over the dates of your program. We did this to make sure that your group receives the first 115 double bedded rooms in the hotel. This is the only way that we are able to ensure that your group will receive double bedded rooms. What we will do on the hotel end is go through the room block before arrival and pre-assign the first 115 requests for double bedded rooms. So, there are going to be double bedded rooms, they just won't be guaranteed at the time when the individuals call central reservations. You can definitely let your attendees know that the first 115 doubles requested will be granted. And that the requests are on a first come first serve basis.

"I also wanted to make you aware of Marriott Corporate's new policy as of October 16, 2006. All Marriotts in the United States and Canada will become 100% Smoke Free. So, when your event arrives at the hotel we will have been smoke free for quite a few months. By the time that your group arrives there will be designated smoking areas marked outside the hotel for those who would like to smoke."

The bottom line:
1) Be patient and stay with the Central Reservations Toll free number. 1 866 373 9806. If you use the local number thinking it will be faster they hand you off to Central Reservation anyway. Give them the name of the conference: New England Regional Genealogy Conference and the dates. Our Conference Group Code NGCNGCA is evidently not being asked for now but have it ready just in case. Our Conference rate is $125 per room.
2) Register ASAP - DO IT NOW - and pass the word to others. We want to exceed out guaranteed numbers for each night of the conference Wednesday through Saturday April 25th through April 28th, 2007. The best hotel for the conference is the Marriott Downtown with its 409 rooms. It will handle everyone if all register early. Late registrants may have to use other hotels a half mile or more away.
3) ALL rooms at the Marriott Downtown are NON-SMOKING.

EXHIBITS – SPACE IS GOING FAST

Our 2007 location boasts the newest convention center in our 15-year history! Located on the Connecticut riverfront with plenty of parking, this will be one special conference. Our exhibit hall has always been a "happening place". Book signings, genealogy deal making, and of course, SALES, SALES, SALES. This is where attendees head to pick up all those books and other items recommended by our speakers. With 8 months to go we only have 18 booths left. With other national genealogical conventions coming soon, we anticipate the opportunity to significantly fill the remaining space. We hope you will join us in Hartford next April. Contact Maureen Murphy at MMaureen39@aol.com or Jim Holms at jimholms@cs.com.

New England CONNECTions Blog

Keep informed about the many special events and conference activities that are planned. Find out more information about the lectures, speakers, exhibitors, hotel, convention center, research facilities, and the City of Hartford. Check out our NERGC 2007 blog at http://nergchartford2007.blogspot.com. The blog will help you to get the most out of the conference and your research trip.

THINGS TO DO IN HARTFORD
 
Things to do and see within walking distance of the Connecticut Convention Center and the Marriott Downtown in Hartford, CT.
* Walk to the Long Tidal River the Connecticut River to the east and take a lunch or a midnight cruise on the Lady Catherine.
* Walk to the west to Ancient Burial Ground on Main St. on a self guided tour or under the able leadership of Ruth Shapleigh-Brown the Director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network.
*Walk to the Wadsworth Atheneum also on Main Street and see one of the finest collections of American artists. The Wadsworth has a remarkable collection of Hudson River School Masterworks. Changing exhibits and permanent collections are within walking distance of the Conference.
* Earlier E-zines told about the Old State House and the Connecticut State Library ... yes both within walking distance.
* Walk to the Hartford Public Library to the west and see its Hartford History Room and its local collection.
* Walk to the Colt Fire Arms Buildings and Colt Family landmarks to the south including the church they financed and attended. There is much much more to see in Hartford that we will show you in the months to come.

INTERNATIONAL TRIBES, SCRIBES, AND VIBES MEET IN BOSTON
 
August 30 through September 2, 2006, the Hynes Convention Center will be hosting the largest genealogy conference ever held, celebrating Boston as "The Birthplace of American Genealogy". The New England Historic Genealogical Society, founded in 1845, will be the local host society for the 2006 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference.

This landmark conference offers more than 500 lectures, exhibits and events across a spectrum of ethnic and country origins, as well as significant historical eras. The Hynes center capacity provides a comfortable multi-block seamless indoor complex with numerous features.

Program Outline
Exhibitors
Hynes Convention Center
Conference Blog

Attendees have the advantage of moderate sized lecture audiences with so many choices spread amongst the attendees, as well as the sprawling vendor exhibits, attached Prudential Center and Sheraton shopping and eating complexes, for convenient forays and respites or protection from inclement weather.

For those having trouble deciding which lecture to attend across 20 simultaneous tracts there is also the option of downloadable digital recordings for the ones they missed - augmented by the four volume syllabus of supporting material.

The program tracks provide choices for both beginners and advanced researchers, including several professional training programs. Opportunities abound for researching numerous tribes and clans of ethnic and country origin along with the latest news in records access advancements and the extraordinary synergy of matching the right researcher or resource for family historians.

Advance registration is available online at http://fgs.org/2006conf/FGS-2006.htm or at the Hynes, beginning on Tuesday August 29, 3PM-7PM and each day through September 2.

Transportation, lodging, touring, special conference events, additional meal reservations and other logistical tips are being updated daily at http://www.fgsconference.blogspot.com

Quick Reference and Planning Sheets http://www.fgs.org/2006conf/gridbrochure.pdf

ABOUT THIS E-ZINE
 
This e-zine is sent to you at your request or because of your involvement in NERGC 2007.We welcome your thoughts and suggestions for items to appear in future issues. Please send them to Michael Spellmon, at rootsearcher@email.com.

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