Plus que quelques jours pour le tarif préferentiel du congrès de Poitiers

Le congrès de Poitiers (2-3-4 Octobre 2015) se prépare peu à peu !
Pour bénéficier d’un tarif préferentiel, vous avez jusqu’au 30 avril 2015.
http://www.poitiersgenealogie2015.fr/

Le prochain congrés de la fédération de généalogie se tiendra les 2,3 et 4 Octobre 2015 prochain !
Le prochain congrés de la fédération de généalogie se tiendra les 2,3 et 4 Octobre 2015 prochain !

Les rencontres du web 14-18

C’est dans le cadre magnifique de la Gaité Lyrique que se sont déroulées les premières « Rencontres du Web 14-18 » . Organisées par la Mission du Centenaire avec le soutien de nombreux partenaires dont Geneanet, ces rencontres avaient pour but de rassembler les différents acteurs investis dans la mise en ligne d’informations en lien avec 14-18 (et au vu du Centenaire, les projets furent nombreux, de la mise en ligne de base de données élaborées de façon collaborative, souvent par des passionnées, aux sites plus généralistes désireux d’être des points nodaux d’échange d’informations pratiques sur les commémoration en passant par les sites officiels comme « Mémoire des Hommes » perpétuant la mémoire des soldats tombés pendant le premier grand conflit mondial.

Autour de spécialistes, le public était invité à réflechir sur l’état de la situation du web numérique ainsi que sur les causes , conséquences pour la recherche ou débats qu’une telle numérisation amène. La question de la présence de la grande guerre dans les réseaux sociaux n’a absolument pas été oubliée en apportant les nuances nécessaires entre les différents réseaux sociaux ( Facebook, par exemple, n’a pas la même temporalité et les mêmes effets que Twitter. Instagram, Whatsapp et LinkedIn n’ont pas non plus les mêmes fonctionnalités….) . L’importance de la participation des différents acteurs ( archives départementales, ministere de la culture, archivistes, historiens, généalogistes et bénévoles…) ainsi que de la transmission aux jeunes générations ont aussi été au centre des débats.

Ces rencontres au caractère inédit furent à tout point intéressantes. Les échanges et les réflexions apportées en améneront sûrement d’autres. Il a également permis de faire connaitre le site mis en place par la RTBF dans le cadre du Centenaire de la Grande Guerre et disponible ici 

Des rencontres passionnantes mais un (tout) petit bémol tout de même concernant le lieu où se déroulait les ateliers et qui aurait gagné à avoir une meilleure acoustique. Dommage, d’autant que les interventions étaient fort interessantes même si cela montre aussi le grand succès de ces Rencontres.

A refaire pour évaluer les effets de la mise en ligne et du partage de certains documents dans la communauté des historiens et généalogistes !

 

 

 

Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2015

It’s on! The biggest family history event in the UK will take place next week in Birmingham! This venue was chosen for several reasons : Immediate Media wanted to make the show travel, to go and meet a public who maybe wouldn’t make travel arrangements to London and taking this decision was helped by the fact that Olympia venue is currently being renewed making the idea of a change a necessity.
For those not familiar with the show (but are you? 😉 ) there will be talks,courses, stands and experts to help with your family history with a special emphasis this year on DNA which could help us think on the status of that very special discipline and its link with family history.

Do come and say hello on table 522! If you have ancestors in Belgium, Northern France and The Netherlands I can perhaps help you bring down THAT brickwall that has been preventing you from finding more ancestors!

I’ll be more than happy to see you there!

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/

wdytya

 

Opening of 5 new museums in Mons!

5. Yes, no less than 5 museums just opened their doors in Mons thanks to the city being one of cultural capitals of 2015! Those openings  have been merged with Mons2015, European Capital of Culture. In a region where unemployment and social problems were more common news than museums opening, this is a very good news for the former fortified city of the County of Hainault.

Mons, fortified City. Map pre 1700 (source : Wikimedia)

 

The museums will be opened in the context of Mons 2015 and the least we could say is that Mons 2015 already has its positive effects on the city for visitors for both belgian and foreigners tourists are gathering to the « City of the Doudou »* to explore and discover.My favorite of all 5 has to be the Mons Memorial Museum focused on History and life of the city and his citizens throughout centuries and especially during both world wars.

From this week end, you’ll be able to discover the many exhibitions, temporary or permanents in the different museums but also discover the various art installations that are to see all over town.* Talking of the « Doudou » , one of the big novelty of this multi-opening is the « Museum of the Doudou » where you’ll learn all about the legend, customs and events around the most famous dragon of Belgium!  The « Artothèque », the Minieres of Spienne that will gives you an insight of what it was like to work in a coalmine while Sile’x will teach you all about prehistoric life in the region. Dragons, Prehistoric life….and Angels! For most of the British, Mons will ring a bell as being the city where angels appeared during the hard days of the battle of Mons in August 14! fiction based on a novel of Arthur Machen or real fact, a visit to the city can help you think about it 😉

If you like panoramas, you’ll also be able to visit the Belfroy and benefit from a great view on the town.  All of the museums are now opened from this Easter week end and there will be special events all over town so do not hesitate to treat yourself to a last minute city trip. Of course, if you wish to have a guided tour of the city, an insight into its history and a link to your ancestors, this is also very possible and you can contact me to proceed (It’s also possible to link it with a visit around Waterloo Battle) . I’m of course more than willing to help you with your Hainault family history and research trips including visits to the State Archives in Mons can be organised!

The pick up of Mons as one of the  European capitals of Culture of this year didn’t come easy and was much discussed about in the medias an political circles but the city proved the critics wrong and it turned out to be one the best ideas of last decade for the development of the region. More, it gives people inspiration and will to do more and have projects done! The city was already known to host the Saint Symphorien cemetery, final rest place for british and german soldiers of WWI. Last August, as the world remembered, HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with HRH Prince Harry paid tribute to the fallen ones in that very same cemetery whose visit is always moving and sad.

Ceremony in Saint Symphorien Cemetery (Mons) last August in presence of many dignitaries including HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Harry. ( source : zimbio.com)

Those museums, and the city, are definitively worth a visit if you have ancestors coming from Mons and/or if you have ancestors who have been fighting in the battle of Mons in August 1914 you’ll find the Mons Memorial Museum a must. If you have little ones, you can also fit in a visit to Pairi Daiza, the best animal park of Wallonia where you’ll have the opportunity to meet Hao Hao and Xing Hui,  the much-loved pandas from China amongst a vast collection of animals in the beautiful surroundings of the Cambron Abbey! The tower dates from 1774 and the monumental staircase (see below) from 1776. And if you wonder what it has to do with family history, this is the right time to reveal that one of my man’s ancestors was a gardener for the  cysterian monks at the Abbey and I guess he must be very proud of what the park is now !

 

 

More informations :

http://www.mons2015.eu

http://www.monsmemorialmuseum.mons.be/

http://www.pairidaiza.be

 

* A map is downloadable on

http://www.mons.be/culture/events/plan-metamorphose-a3-bat.pdf