2008 Christmas Tour is Underway!

The attendees have arrived and the tour kicked off with Joy Price providing an overview of the Family History Library Catalog -- the most essential tool for tapping into the enormous collection of books and microfilm.

Many attendees arrived early this year, and Sunday is always a wonderful time of tour reunions (previous years attendees reconnecting), and welcoming the newbies. Our Mother Hen spent the entire day on her feet, making everyone feel at home as they picked up their tour materials. An array of refreshments awaited the weary travellers who arrive by planes, trains and automobiles.

And while the Library isn't open on Sunday, many attendees make there way to the family history bookstore setup right in the hotel for the benefit of the tour. The aptly named Genealogy Bookshelf offers a wide array of materials to supplement the research attendees eagerly await to commence on Monday.

The tour offers a complimentary breakfast during the week that begins before the sun rises at 6:30am. Why so early? Well, the Library opens at 8:00am and that's where you'll find most attendees at 8:01am. The breakfast is coordinated by Dee and Dick Cattaneo, a wonderful couple who have travelled all the way from Montana!

The Cattaneos also brought along an array of delightful genealogy shirts and gifts that the attendees can purchase. This is a nice additional benefit of attending the tour.

Throughout the day, the attendees enjoyed holiday music accompanied by a slideshow of pictures from previous tours, prepared by our very own Photographer Extraodinaire. When you see some of the older photos, and the slightly younger versions of many current attendees, you really begin to see how this tour is so much more than just a bunch of genealogists converging upon Salt Lake City for a little research. It's a very special family reunion!

Stay tuned for additional highlights throughout the week, mark your calendar for December 2009 and consider joining the Salt Lake Christmas Tour! You won't be disappointed.