RootsTech event stresses importance of documenting family stories that matter NOW, before it’s too late

Mar27 by Houstory Publishing

Mike and I were thrilled to attend RootsTech in Salt Lake City. By the end of the weekend, we were both exhausted and energized. You can see why by reading this account by Dick Eastman, who writes the popular, “Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter:”

“Sponsored by Family Search, the RootsTech Conference was held for three days at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. More than 6,700 people from 49 U.S. States (why was no one there from Delaware?) and 17 countries were in the Salt Palace Convention Center for the opening day of the RootsTech Conference on March 21. I never heard the final attendance numbers, but I saw a long line of people on the opening day waiting to purchase tickets at the door. Obviously, the final number was higher than 6,700.”

To say it was big is an understatement. And apparently, it’s only going to get bigger. Much bigger.

We saw and met lots of new friends at the conference; took in sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (an event sponsored by RootsTech), mingled with genealogy’s bigwigs and heard an interesting presentation about the growing interest in genealogy of youth at the invitation-only VIP Breakfast sponsored by FamilySearch, and simply enjoyed hearing tons of great stories behind family heirlooms and houses that attendees shared with us.

The concept of preserving stories NOW before it’s too late was also a prevalent theme at the conference — and obviously something that resonated deeply with us. Below is a snapshot of some of the highlights. For more photos and info on the event, check out our Facebook page.

: The Houstory Booth at RootsTech

: Dick Eastman and friends

: Mike and Dan Hiestand, The Houstory Brothers

: Janet Hovorka (Utah Genealogical Association President); Mike; Maureen Taylor (The Photo Detective) and David Adelman of Reel Genie at Thomas MacEntee B-day party

Grand Prize winner announced for Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt!

Mar13 by Houstory Publishing

After a week-long event that included three hunts, 12 blogs and more than $500 in prizes, the winner of the Heirloom Registry Grand Prize Package is Deb Andersland of Gainesville, Mo.

Deb won a very impressive collection of products, including a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner and books from genealogist Janet Hovorka and Antique Trader. Mike and I want to thank everyone who participated during the week, including our sponsor blogs. We hope to put together a hunt again in the near future. We also hope that you continue to follow all of these blogs that add such important voices to the family history and antique worlds.

If the concept of saving the stories behind your family heirlooms resonated with you, don’t miss out on your chance to follow The Heirloom Registry on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest. We’ll keep you up-to-date on the family heirloom/antique/family history universe, keep you aware of fun contests such as the scavenger hunt and provide exclusive discounts on our product line.

And remember: It’s not an heirloom without a story.

-Dan Hiestand, Houstory

Third Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt winner announced

Mar11 by Houstory Publishing

The winner of the third and final leg of The Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt Week is Brenda Ciesla of Conklin, N.Y. Congrats to Brenda!

She will be awarded a prize package valued at approximately $70 that includes products from Marian Pierre-Louis, The Heirloom Registry, Antique Trader magazine, and Denise Levenick (“The Family Curator”).

The grand prize winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 13, so make sure to check back then. Everyone who entered the hunt will be eligible to win.

Last day of The Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt; grand prize announced!

Mar10 by Houstory Publishing

You’re cutting it mighty close, but you still have just enough time to enter the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win two pretty darn impressive prize packages — including our grand prize!

In fact, more than $300 in great products are still up for grabs — including a Flip-Pal® mobile scanner.

As you may have heard, we’ve already given away a lot of good stuff this past week for Leg 1 and Leg 2 of the hunt. These final two remaining prize packages include a collection of items fans of family history, genealogy and antiques will truly appreciate. Your chance to win ends tonight when the Scavenger Hunt concludes at 11:59 PST, so don’t miss out.

Unless you don’t like cool, free stuff.

For more information and to play, visit the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt page. Good luck!

Another day, another Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt winner!

Mar9 by Houstory Publishing

Houstory is happy to announce the second winner of the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt Week: Caroline Shultz of Sherwood, Ark.! Caroline was randomly selected as the victor of the second leg of the scavenger hunt, which took place this past Wednesday and Thursday.

She will be awarded a family history prize package valued at approximately $185 that includes a pool of products and services from Maureen Taylor (“The Photo Detective”), genealogists Caroline Pointer and Marian Pierre-Louis, and The Heirloom Registry.

By entering, she is also in the running for the grand prize to be announced next week. Congrats to Caroline!

For the rest of you, more than $300 in prizes still remain in the mix — including a Flip-Pal® mobile scanner. The third and final leg of the hunt is currently underway — but will end Sunday at 11:59 PST, so don’t miss out on your chance to enter.

For more information and to play, visit the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt page. Good luck!

Your last chance: Houstory’s Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt week coming to an end

Mar8 by Houstory Publishing

Editor’s note: All of the participating blogs should have their scavenger hunt posts ready by noon on Friday, March 8, so make sure to check back if you don’t see their scavenger hunt post at first.

Well, it’s been a fun week at Houstory. We’ve had a lot of hunters join us along the way, and we’ve given out some great prizes.

Today marks the opening of the third and final hunt of the week. By entering this hunt, you will also automatically be entered into the drawing for the grand prize next Wednesday, March 13.

In other words, what are you waiting for? Get hunting and don’t miss out!

For more information on the four (4) blogs you’ll need to visit during this final hunt — which runs today through Sunday — please make sure to see our official scavenger hunt page.

Hunt No. 3′s prize package includes:

* How to Archive Family Keepsakes (electronic version)

* Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2013

* Plan Your Way to Research Success – Webinar-on-CD

* Heirloom Registry Standard Stickers (5-Pack)

Entries for Hunt No. 3 must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, March 10. Good hunting!

Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt Week: Leg 1 winner announced!

Mar7 by Houstory Publishing

Well folks, we have a winner for the first leg of the Heirloom Registry scavenger hunt, which took place this past Monday and Tuesday: Kimberly Nagy of Downers Grove, Ill.! Kimberly will be awarded a family history prize package valued at approximately $100 that includes products from The Heirloom Registry, Family Tree Magazine, genealogists Janet Hovorka and Marian Pierre-Louis.

By entering, she is also in the running for the grand prize to be announced next week. Congrats to Kimberly!

For the rest of you, more than $300 in prizes still remain in the mix — including a Flip-Pal® mobile scanner. Hunt No. 2 is currently underway — but will end tonight at 11:59 PST, so don’t miss out on your chance to enter!

All participants will be automatically entered into our grand prize drawing next Wednesday, March 13, and you are welcome to enter each race one time — meaning you will have multiple chances to win the grand prize.

The third and final leg of the hunt — which runs from tomorrow until Sunday — will close out the weeklong event.

For more information and to play, visit the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt page.

Houstory’s Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt Week: Leg No. 2 is now underway!

Mar6 by Houstory Publishing

The first of three hunts during the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt week (March 4-10) was completed last night at 11:59 p.m. PST. Congrats to all our participants! From that batch of entrees, we will randomly choose one winner to claim the first prize package. Every entree will also be entered into our our grand prize drawing for next Wednesday, March 13.

Keep in mind you are welcome to enter all three hunts this week, which will give you a chance to compete for each of the three “daily” hunt prize packages. It will also allow you to have three entrees in the grand prize drawing. Why not increase the odds, right?

For more information on the four (4) blogs you’ll need to visit during this second hunt — which runs today and tomorrow — please make sure to see our official Scavenger Hunt page.

Hunt No. 2′s prize package includes:

* Plan Your Way to Research Success – Webinar-on-CD

* 4YourFamilyStory.com Research Plans (U.S. only)

* Preserving Your Family Photographs, by Maureen Taylor

* Heirloom Registry Standard Stickers (5-Pack)

Entries for Hunt No. 2 must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, March 7. Good hunting!

Houstory’s Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt has started; three blogs, three clues

Mar4 by Houstory Publishing

The hunt is officially on. Good luck to all our participants! For more information on the three (3) blogs you’ll need to visit, please make sure to see our official Scavenger Hunt page.

Hunt #1′s prize package includes:

* Plan Your Way to Research Success – Webinar-on-CD

* Family Tree Magazine 2012 Annual CD

* “Zap the Grandma Gap” (Book & Workbook)

* Heirloom Registry Standard Stickers (5-Pack)

Entries are due by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Good luck and have fun!

Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt: ‘A grown-up scavenger hunt focused on celebrating…heirlooms and antiques’

Feb27 by Houstory Publishing

Houstory’s Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt is next week. Are you ready to take advantage of your chance to win more than $500 in great prizes?

For those interested in genealogy, family history, family heirlooms, historic preservation or antiques, it should be a lot of fun. For more on the hunt, including a schedule, visit the official scavenger hunt page.

Make sure to follow Houstory at Facebook and Twitter (#HoustoryHunt) for current scavenger hunt updates. In the meantime, here are few comments from those involved in the hunt. Houstory thanks all the sponsors and participants!

“When Houstory asked me to participate in his Scavenger Hunt, of course I said yes. What genealogist doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? It’s what we do, except I’m doing the hiding this time.” — Caroline Pointer, founder, 4YourFamilyStory.com

“Be it a flour sifter, slide rule, quilt or grandfather clock, preserve the story of your precious heirlooms with HeirloomRegistry.com. It’s easy to order the registry stickers, then snap pics and upload to this innovative site. I won’t always be around to tell the history of our family pieces. My 8-year-old grandson can search by the registry number and read about his second great grandmother’s red ceramic pitcher just like that!” — Pat Richley-Erickson, author of the DearMYRTLE Genealogy Blog

“The Heirloom Registry takes documenting family keepsakes into the 21st century with its simple and inexpensive method for recording heirloom histories. It’s a perfect fit for the mission of The Family Curator blog – ‘Preserving and Sharing Our Family Treasures’ – and I am delighted to help share this great program with readers of my blog through the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt.” – Denise Levenick, The Family Curator

“We are thrilled to be participating in this special event. What’s not to love about a grown-up scavenger hunt focused on celebrating, researching and preserving heirlooms and antiques? It’s an honor for us to be one of the ‘stops’ in this adventure, which includes so many companies we admire for their devotion to helping people learn from and commemorate the history of their own lives.”– Antoinette Rahn, Antique Trader editor

“Isn’t genealogy just one big scavenger hunt? So if you enjoy ‘the hunt’ like I do, take a break from your family history research and try your hand at this fun online activity. Who knows? You could win something that will help take your genealogy to the next level!” – Thomas MacEntee, founder of GeneaBloggers

“We hope being part of the Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt will inspire family historians to preserve information about those treasured objects.” — Diane Haddad, managing editor with Family Tree Magazine

“I’m excited to participate in this fun hunt that will get people excited about their family history, help them learn more about The Heirloom Registry and give them opportunities to win great prizes.” – Janet Hovorka, President Utah Genealogical Association, author of Zap The Grandma Gap

“We at Flip-Pal mobile scanner are enthusiastic about giving people greater opportunities to easily capture and share their memories. Sponsoring The Heirloom Registry Scavenger Hunt is a great pairing—not only to easily capture your memories—but then saving your scans in a safe place for future generations to use.” – Diane Miller, Genealogy Account Manager for Flip-Pal mobile scanner

“I am passionate about helping people explore their personal history and that of their house or local town. The Heirloom Registry is committed to preserving the stories behind those histories. Partnering with Houstory on the scavenger hunt was a fun way to get genealogists and historians involved in recording family and house history in a hands-on way.” – Marian Pierre-Louis, author at Marian’s Roots and Rambles blog

“It’s such a treasure to have family heirlooms in our home. I love this opportunity to celebrate and remember those who came before us.” — Katie Briscoe, a founder of DIY Del Ray blog

“We all have family heirlooms – large or small – that need saving for the next generation.” – Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective