We often don't think about the importance of recording our loved ones' stories until
it's too late. We keep thinking that someday we'll take the time to ask those
important questions of our older relatives and preserve the answers for our children
and grandchildren. But that time will never come unless we make it a priority today.

In a one-hour talk, "Preserving Personal & Family History," I encourage participants to begin the process of recording their personal and family stories while there's still time.

We tell our own stories best. 

I believe that oral-history techniques provide the best and most timely way to share and preserve life stories. The idea of sitting down and writing a memoir is an intimidating prospect for many people. It's
much more enjoyable and rewarding to share those same stories and memories with a caring, empathetic listener.

It takes about 3-4 interview hours to say what it would take months to write. 

Over the past two years, I have spoken at numerous libraries and community centers
throughout northern Vermont about the value of preserving personal and family
stories. I was also a presenter at the Vermont History EXPO 2010 in Tunbridge,
Vermont this summer, as well as at the Vermont Historical Society's Annual Meeting
last year.

Locations of past presentations: 
The Vermont History EXPO, Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, Vermont.

Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vermont.

Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff, New York.

Kellogg-Hubard Library, Montpelier, Vermont. 

The 56th annual League of Local Historical Society's annual meeting in St. Albans, Vermont.

Stowe Free Library, Stowe, Vermont.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vermont.

Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, Vermont.

Pierson Library, Shelburne, Vermont.

Richmond Free Library, Richmond, Vermont.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, Vermont.

Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, Vermont.

I work with Historical Societies to help them get their community oral-history project off the ground. This two-hour Interviewing Workshop provides historical societies with a plan and process to ensure that their oral-history project goes smoothly, while giving volunteer interviewers the basic skills needed to go out into the field and begin interviewing their community members. 
The Oral-History Interview

Agenda

• Introduction
• What is Oral History? What is the job of the oral historian?

•     What is our objective as community historians?

            - Life-review interviews
            - Subject-oriented interviews

• Who are the best candidates for oral histories?
• Responsibilities of the interviewer
• Preparing for the interview
• Arriving for the interview
• Setting up for the interview
• Conducting the interview
• Archiving the interview
• Review — Getting started!