Well, the Massachusetts Genealogical Council's 2012 Annual Meeting and Seminar is over and we are very, very happy with the day! Over two hundred enthusiastic genealogists turned out on a gorgeous summer day to attend this event, held July 21st at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Our Program Co-Directors, Mary Tedesco and Phil Hermann did an absolutely fantastic job of selecting talented speakers who brought us a wide variety of presentations and discussions. We covered a broad swath of ethnicities––everything from Armenian to Chinese to Irish. Methodology lectures provided a challenge to all researchers, from beginner to advanced. Ancestry.com Vice President of Community Relations (and dear lady) Lou Szucs wowed us with her knowledge and touching personal stories. And clinical psychologist Dr. Rebecca Hanson Richardson gave us some insight into how our own minds can both create AND  break down those pesky brick walls we encounter in our research. MGC presented a panel on the latest developments in legislation that threatens our access to public records, and made recommendations on how YOU can become more active in the cause of keeping public records open and accessible.

Several lucky attendees won prizes, including a one year Deluxe World Membership to Ancestry.com, free courses at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, books, educational DVDs, software, and more!

Eleven vendors enlivened the seminar experience by giving us the chance to buy books (Jonathan Sheppard Books and Chief Paul Bunnell), learn about the DAR, join MSOG, NEAPG & TIARA, get answers about the BU certificate courses, and find much delightful stuff upon which to spend our genealogical dollars!

Finally, we extend our sincere gratitude to sponsors Ancestry.com, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston University Genealogical Research Programs, the New England Chapter of APG, The Irish Ancestral Research Association, Mt. Vernon Group Architects, Fold3, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston, and the Family and Friends of Ruth Barber. Thanks to their generosity we were able to reduce the cost of the seminar and bring in top-notch speakers from all over the country!

We're already thinking of ways in which we can improve the seminar experience for next year. We will be distributing a survey within the week to all attendees asking for your feedback. Once again, thank you all for coming, and if you didn't make it this time, we look forward to seeing you next year!