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Workshops

The 2009 APH conference will feature twenty-five 90-minute workshops presented in five sessions. Participants may choose to attend one of five workshops during each session. Though a few workshops are noted as Beginner (for those new to the personal history business), or Advanced (for experienced personal historians), the majority of these presentations will be valuable to interested participants at any level of experience. An asterisk (*) following the title denotes that the workshop will not be recorded.

If you are presenting a workshop or seminar, you can view your class list here.

1A:  Library of Congress Veterans Project I *
Preserving Memories of American Veterans

	(Part I of extended 3-hour session; Part II will follow as Workshop 2-A) There are 17 million living wartime veterans, each with his own memories and stories of his experiences. In this workshop, Veterans History Project staff will lecture, lead a discussion, and demonstrate oral history techniques used in their national volunteer effort. Attendees will learn how to archive veterans’ collections in the Library of Congress and how to create a pro-bono program to submit stories within established project guidelines. A live interview will be conducted with a wartime veteran.
	Presenter Robert Patrick is the director of the Veterans History Project at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He will be accompanied by fellow staff member Jeffrey Lofton.

1B:  Interviewing Basics I  
How (and How Not) to Get the Story  (Beginner)

(Part I of extended 3-hour session; Part II will follow as Workshop 2-B, Session 2) A good interview flows like a conversation, even though the narrator does most of the talking. How can you create an environment for a satisfying conversation that draws out the narrator’s stories? This participatory workshop will use demonstrations and role playing to help beginning personal historians conduct effective, comfortable interviews. Topics will include building rapport, asking probing questions, looking for meaning, guiding and letting go, listening deeply, and multi-tasking. Participants will observe good and bad interviews and be able to participate in practice interviews as well.
Presenter Stephanie Kadel Taras, Ph.D. has been a professional personal historian and freelance journalist for 8 years and has been interviewing and writing about people for 20 years. She has done stupid things and smart things in interviews, and she has learned how to capture more information than narrators ever thought they told her. Stephanie is a former vice president of APH and the owner of TimePieces Personal Biographies in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

1C:  The Digital Revolution  
Audio Basics From Recording to CD

	Most of what you always wanted or needed to know about recording good digital audio will be included in this workshop, whether you are preserving interviews for accurate transcriptions or archival quality oral histories. You will learn the following and more: Recommended digital recorders, microphones, hardware, and software for the professional personal historian. What types of microphones work best, and how to use them. Methods for copying audio files from a recorder to a computer. Why you should edit your audio recording and how.
	Presenter Peter Farquhar began his own consulting and production business, Tombo Media, in 1993 in San Francisco. He conducts workshops on recording and digitally archiving family histories and produces finely printed family histories accompanied by a wide range of digitally archived images, documents, and audio/video recordings. Peter is editor of the Thacher School Oral History Project's alumni Interviews and recently completed an award-winning biography.

1D:  Family History Workshops for Kids *
"Is My Pet Frog Part of My Family?"

Grab the attention of kids and keep it with a series of multi-cultural genealogical activities developed for use in the classroom, but useful for kids in any setting. The material in this lecture is based on the presenter’s experience teaching school-age children about family and local history.
Presenter Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on the intersection of history, genealogy, and photography. She will lead this class in addition to her keynote presentation. Maureen is the author of a number of books and magazine articles, as well as a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine and editorial board member of Legacy Magazine.

1E:  Brainstorming Outside the PH Box  
Revolutionizing Video Projects

Several unique video projects will be discussed and demonstrated, including a collection/hobby project created for a family but also used in an insurance claim after the collection was damaged; an instructional DVD packaged with the purchase of a new product; and a personal injury documentary prepared for a jury trial that resulted in a $500,000 settlement. Other project ideas will be shared as well, and attendees will participate in a project brainstorming session to expand their creativity and awareness of unusual video projects.

Presenter Eileen Kent has masters degrees in education and counseling and has worked as a teacher, mediator, private practice counselor, and senior center program director over the last 25 years. She developed her company, Stories of a Lifetime, in October 2005.

2A:  Library of Congress Veterans Project II *
Preserving Memories of American Veterans

(Part II of extended 3-hour session; see Workshop 1-A) In the continuation of this workshop, Veterans History Project staff will lecture, lead a discussion, and demonstrate oral history techniques used in their national volunteer effort. Attendees will learn how to archive veterans’ collections in the Library of Congress and how to create a pro-bono program to submit stories within established project guidelines.
Presenter Robert Patrick (See biographical information for Workshop 1-A)

2B:  Interviewing Basics II  
How (and How Not) to Get the Story  (Beginner)

	(Part II of extended 3-hour session; see Workshop 1-A, Session 1) A good interview flows like a conversation, even though the narrator does most of the talking. How can you create an environment for a satisfying conversation that draws out the narrator’s stories? This participatory workshop will use demonstrations and role playing to help beginning personal historians conduct effective, comfortable interviews. Topics will include building rapport, asking probing questions, looking for meaning, guiding and letting go, listening deeply, and multi-tasking. Participants will observe good and bad interviews and be able to participate in practice interviews as well.
	Presenter Stephanie Kadel Taras, Ph.D. (See biographical information for Workshop 1-B)

2C:  Dealing With Challenging Clients  
The Psychological Side of Being a PH

When working with clients and narrators, we encounter many challenges that may be related to psychological issues. Should these issues become part of the person's story or be tactfully set aside? This session will include discussion of some of the more common problems, such as depression, alcoholism, paranoia, and the challenges they pose in personal history projects. Approaches for effectively handling these issues will be addressed. Attendees will leave better prepared to face "the unpredictable," remain professional and comfortable, develop good client relationships, and elicit meaningful interviews and stories.
Presenter Teri Friedman, Ph.D. is a veteran APH member and a clinical psychologist and lecturer with 20 years experience and expertise to share with personal historians as an aid in their work with clients.

2D:  Weaving Multiple Narrative Voices  
Different Storytelling Perspectives  (Advanced)

	The authors of novels such as "The Family Tree," "Widow of the South," and "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" each used different narrators to tell the same story from his/her perspective. Together, the multiple narrators fleshed out the true story. When we work with families, we often interview more than one subject and need to weave the perspectives of multiple subjects into one story. This class will explore the techniques used in the aforementioned novels and in a personal history written by the instructor that contained three narrative threads woven together to tell a fascinating life story. Attendees are encouraged to bring excerpts of works in progress to share as examples.
	Presenter Libby Atwater is a journalist, teacher, and personal historian who has written for individuals, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, magazines, and community newspapers. Stories from her life have been published in several anthologies, and she has two memoirs in progress. Libby is a past APH Board member.

2E:  Seeing the Difference  
From Pretty Good to Excellent Video

First, we will “tour” the three phases of creating a video--Pre-Production, Production (Shooting), and Post-Production--pointing out key components of each phase that contribute to overall quality. We will then anonymously screen videos provided in advance by participants and/or the instructor, using a guide based on the previously discussed criteria. Attendees will learn to notice, and improve, the little things that make the difference between a pretty good or excellent finished product.

Presenter Rob Cooper is the creative director of Verissima Productions, and has been a video producer, editor, and shooter for over 30 years. He was awarded two local Emmys for his work at WBZ-TV in Boston and a Cine International Golden Eagle for the documentary, “Good Mornin’ Blues" with B.B. King, which aired nationally on PBS.

3A:  The Nuts and Bolts of Video Biographies  
What You Need to Know to Run a Business  (Beginner)

	Most people are drawn to the business of video biographies out of a desire to help families preserve their stories. They see an occupation in which they can combine a passion for storytelling with a love of technology and high-tech equipment. But to run a successful video production company, an individual must perform many roles and have a firm understanding of the technology and techniques involved. Participants also will benefit by attending the instructor's second, follow-up workshop, "Making Your Video Biography Company Profitable."
	Presenter Teri Duff of Oakland, CA, has a B.A. in Communication/Visual Arts from the University of California at San Diego and an M.A. in Radio and Television from San Francisco State University, where she taught for several years. She has produced award-winning documentaries shown at festivals throughout the world. Teri joined APH in 1999 and began Family Archive Films. She is currently the bylaws director on the APH Board.

3B:  A Business Concept From England  
How to Earn $10,000+ Per Project

The UK's leading authority on the writing of private life stories, Michael Oke, will detail an original concept of guiding clients as they write their own life stories, and how to make it pay. This includes tips picked up during his 18 years in the personal history business as well as how to structure a project. Attendees also will learn about a breakdown of pricing designed to protect the client, making the sales process very easy. Time will be provided for questions and to test the migration of these concepts to the North American market.
Presenter Michael Oke is a popular speaker with original ideas who founded Bound Biographies, a British firm based in Oxford, in 1991. He has personally assisted with over 150 private life stories, and his company with over 300. Mike's books, "Write Your Life Story" and "Times of Our Lives," have sold over 30,000 copies, and his team of seventeen includes ten franchisees in the UK and one in Sweden. Last year, his turnover (excluding franchisees) exceeded £250,000.

3C:  Digital Publishing  
Roll Your Own on Blurb, Lulu or...

	Today, a number of Internet publishing sites publish quality books at very attractive prices. This workshop will walk attendees through the steps needed to publish a book using one of these services. The agenda will include the planning and preparation of text, photos, and other graphic components. Participants will look at and discuss the various templates, paper, and printing options offered. They will learn how these digital publishers can work with their customers on pricing, delivery, etc.
	Presenter Bob Breakstone has served as a consultant to small businesses for over 15 years. As director of operations and administration at ABC, he helped develop numerous start-up businesses and spinoffs for the company. Bob holds an MBA from Columbia University.

3D:  7 Proven Steps to Designing Workshops  

Many personal historians are looking to add training classes and workshops to their service offerings. Good workshop design allows students to learn with ease and allows teachers to speak with comfort and centeredness. Attendees will learn a proven approach to creating effective learning experiences, from designing lesson plans and objectives, to creating valuable exercises that cement learning.
Presenter Karyn Greenstreet is an internationally known self-employment expert, speaker, author, and small business coach who has taught over 250,000 people worldwide how to create the business they want. She spent 25 years in the instructional design industry and was the international director of education for a software company. Karyn has studied the structure, process and psychology of good adult educational design and is eager to help others create outstanding classes for their own students.

3E:  Lessons From the Memoir Revolution  
How to Improve Your Product

Memoirs of ordinary people routinely appear on bestseller lists, reflecting a dramatic increase in our collective curiosity about life stories. These authors transform life events into a story that makes a stranger want to read it to the end. This workshop will share lessons learned from a growing repository of published work. By picking apart the methods of published memoirists, workshop leader Jerry Waxler will demonstrate how to deepen the professionalism of your product. Learn also how to sort through the memoir shelves for stories applicable to your work.

Presenter Jerry Waxler, M.S. speaks, teaches, and writes about the memoir revolution. His book, “Learn to Write Your Memoir in Four Weeks,” is a step-by-step guide. He regularly writes essays about reading and writing memoirs on his blog www.memorywritersnetwork.com/blog. Jerry has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Villanova University and serves on the board of directors of the Philadelphia Writers Conference.

4A:  Profitable Video Biography Companies  
Strategies for Financial Success

You have fallen in love with the idea of making video biographies and want to start a business. But not only will you need to make money, you'll need to make enough money to enjoy a profit. This workshop will explain the costs involved in running such a business, look at strategies for pricing, and describe products that can help you achieve your financial goals. Participants also will benefit by attending the instructor's preceding, complementary workshop, "The Nuts and Bolts of Video Biographies." See Workshop 3-A.
Presenter Teri Duff of Oakland, CA, has a B.A. in Communication/Visual Arts from the University of California at San Diego and an M.A. in Radio and Television from San Francisco State University, where she taught for several years. She has produced award-winning documentaries shown at festivals throughout the world. Teri joined APH in 1999 and began Family Archive Films. She is currently the bylaws director on the APH Board.

4B:  Social Media 101  
Why It Might Be a Good Idea for You

	Confused by all the chatter about Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn? Learn about each of these tools as potential marketing tools for entrepreneurs, what they can and cannot accomplish, and how they can be of use in your business as a personal historian. Discover exactly what you will need to get started and how these tools can help you win clients and, hopefully, influence people.
	Presenter Stefani Twyford is president and founder of Legacy Multimedia of Houston, a video biography company. An insightful writer, imaginative visual designer, and skillful film producer, Stefani employs the latest digital technology to capture unique life stories for clientele who appreciate the lasting value of fine craftsmanship.

4C:  Corporate and Organizational Histories  
How to Get the Biz and Do the Work  (Advanced)

Why is payment for organizational histories higher than payment for family histories? What does a client look for in a candidate to handle the job? Which skills, strengths, and credentials should you play up in looking for this kind of gig? How do you find these clients, or do they find you? How much time is spent in research, interview, writing, digging for photos, or dealing with format and design when creating an organizational history? How much handholding and how many meetings? By the end of this session, you'll have a better sense of whether you have what it takes to tackle such a project and how to position yourself to find and do the work.
Presenter Pat McNees, APH Vice-President was an editor in book publishing (Harper & Row; Fawcett) for eight years before launching a decades-long career as a book author-doctor-editor, journalist (freelance, Washington Post), and personal and public historian. Pat has written histories of a lift truck firm, the Young Presidents' Organization, and the NIH Clinical Center. She currently is writing a history of the Psychiatry Department at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

4D:  Creating a Personal Historian Website  

	Websites can be wonderful marketing tools. But what makes a personal historian's website great? In this workshop, we cover the basics of adding polish and professionalism to your personal history website -- everything from the message you deliver to the psychology of the colors you use. You will learn how to design (or re-design) a site that visitors love, write powerful copy, drive traffic to your site, and track results.
	Presenter Karyn Greenstreet is an internationally known self-employment expert, speaker, and author who has helped over 250,000 people worldwide create the business they want. She is a small business coach and website designer with 25 years experience teaching technology. Karyn works with entrepreneurs who are being held hostage by technology, and helps them take control of the Internet to build their business.

4E:  Facilitate Life-Writing Workshops *
While Gaining Credibility and Clients

Whether you are just getting started as a personal historian or already have an established business, teaching others to write their life stories is an activity to consider. By facilitating workshops in your community and beyond, you will become established as an expert in the field, increase public awareness of the personal history concept and your services, and attract new clients. Issues to be addressed in this interactive session: Finding Students; Format Options; Life-Story Writing Workshop Essentials; Organizing Tips; Activity Ideas.

Presenter Gillian Hewitt, APH Membership Director founded Keepsake Memoirs in 2002 after 30 years of teaching and has produced over 20 personal and family histories. She is an author and an award-winning Toastmaster’s International speaker who also teaches workshops for conferences, organizations, or private groups. Gillian is certified in the Epstein technique of oral history interviewing and is a certified instructor for the Soleil Lifestory Network.

5A:  The Listening Revolution  
Hands-On Approaches to Video Interviews

	This interactive workshop for both experienced and beginner personal historians will include theatre games, mock video interviews, and role-playing exercises to model different approaches to interviewing. Learn how to loosen up interviewees. Participants will be required to actively engage in all aspects and will be encouraged to ask questions, have fun, and play.
	Presenter Arielle Nobile founded Family Legacy productions, a personal and family history documentary production company, in 2005. She has been involved with multiple theatre, independent film, and documentary projects. Arielle has conducted interviews on three continents in Spanish and English with people from all walks of life, including hypnotists, Nobel Peace Prize nominees, Mothers of the Disappeared, CEO's, children, couples, and veterans.

5B:  Partnering for Profit  
Collaborations Within APH

A partnership between a graphic designer and the writer of a personal history can create expanded markets and bigger profits for both individuals. With each person doing only what they do best, the result is a better product for the client and, thus, greater customer satisfaction resulting in more and more referrals for both partners. A panel of three pairs of collaborating APH members will discuss how to choose a collaborator, agree on contracts, assign roles and responsibilities, plan workflow, and set expectations about quality control and timelines.
Presenter Linda Coffin, APH Publications Director will moderate this panel of six APH members working in partnership. Linda Coffin (MN), Marion Johnson (AZ), cj Madigan (FL), and Paula Slavens (OR) are graphic designers. Jeanne Archer (TX), Joella Werlin (WA), and Paula Yost (TX) are writers. Although each woman runs her own company and is capable of doing project management, writing, layout, and publishing, she chooses instead to focus on her primary skill and rely on her collaborator for other tasks.

5C:  Brand and Scale in Personal History  
Alternate Business Models

	The traditional personal historian business model of a sole practitioner laboring alone may be adequate for some but may not be effective for attracting more clients and historians. Peter will demonstrate ways to develop business models for addressing the personal history market. One approach involves leveraging technology and the insights of the industrial revolution to centralize certain repetitive tasks (layout, transcription, editing) at a corporation while outsourcing the human-contact steps (selling, interviewing, customer service) to an ever expanding force of field-based consultants. Participants will confront issues of brand and scale.
	Presenter Peter Gudmundsson is the founder of the Priceless Legacy Company. His career has focused on leadership for a broad variety of media companies. Previously, he served as CEO of Beckett Media LP, Design Guide Publishing Ltd., and Jobs.com. Peter also was president of Primedia Workplace Learning and vice president of development for its parent company, Primedia Inc. A former US Marine Field Artillery Officer, he is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Brown University, where he majored in history.

5D:  The Manuscript Is Complete  
A Guide to Quality Book Production

Need to better understand the book production process? Join us for this presentation of the best methods and options to assemble, submit, print, bind, cover, decorate, and present a quality personal history book. Each attendee will receive a production sample/options kit to help demystify the many style and quality options. Among these topics and others will be a discussion of how to create eco-friendly books.
Presenter Fred Perrin is general manager of the History Book Division at the Friesens Corporation, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious book manufacturers of quality books for trade publishers, museums, art galleries, universities, and historical societies. His credentials include a B.Sc. and CPA (Craftsman of Photographic Arts). Fred is also an author and a member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA).

5E:  Breathe Life Into People in Your Story  
Make Them More Than Names On a Page

	A personal history is only as interesting as the people in the story. People don’t have to accomplish great feats to be interesting, as we’ve seen in a number of bestselling memoirs about ordinary folks. They do need to feel real and human, though, not just cardboard figures with names and a series of accomplishments. How do you breathe life into your "characters"? By borrowing a technique from fiction writers: Show, Don’t Tell. This workshop will teach you how to enhance character development by capturing physical appearances and emotions, by writing honestly and sensitively about family skeletons, and by using dialogue to create scenes.
	Presenter Dawn Thurston is the co-author of "Breathe Life into Your Life Story," published by Signature Books in 2007. She teaches life-story writing at the University of Utah and Santiago Canyon College in Southern California and has helped hundreds of students write and publish their personal histories. Santiago Canyon College elected her Teacher of the Year in 2008. She has a BA in English and an MA in communications.