After a three-year absence due to the Pandemic, GSMD returned to Utah for RootsTech 2023 in early March. The Utah Society spent three days volunteering at the GSMD booth, where we helped to hand out over 1000 lineage reviews, GSMD flyers, and information to help prospective members research their lineage in preparation for application to the Society.
It was wonderful to visit with so many Mayflower ‘cousins’ and see their excitement about proving their heritage. We were able to answer many questions and explain some of the benefits of membership in GSMD. We talked about connecting with ‘family’ and the importance of knowing your ancestry to pass along to future generations. It was exciting to get to know new ‘cousins’, learn more about the Pilgrims, and talk about the importance of the Pilgrims’ legacy and how it influenced the founding of our Nation.
We encouraged many RootsTech visitors to travel to Plymouth and see the Mayflower Society House. We also talked about scholarship possibilities, the GSMD Library, the Silver Books, and the Members-only section of the website. Plymouth event updates were given to visitors, and we showed them issues of the Mayflower Quarterly. We also talked about the advantages of having local meetings and programs where we can visit with our ‘cousins’ in-person.
As descendants of Mayflower passengers and members of GSMD, we have the satisfaction that our lines are ‘proven’. We have our lineage and documentation on file in Plymouth for future generations. There is also a sense of belonging because we can feel a strong connection to those who lived during that time in history.
It was a memorable weekend at RootsTech. We look forward to volunteering at RootsTech 2024, and we hope to see you there! –Thomas Portlock- Utah Deputy Governor General
