Hi Arturo!
 
You know you are always in my prayers!  You have been
struggling with your health for some time now and, believe me, we are all
praying for you!
 
The Conference in Salt Lake City is different from ours in
Texas in that it is free!  :-)   (Or it always has been!) 
They have seminars throughout the day and it is all very interesting!  It
is an opportunity to meet a lot of really nice people and make new
contacts.  Since it is held in Utah a lot of the attendees are from that
area and are very helpful.  I met people that "took me under their
wing" and try to help me!  There are a lot of Hispanics who live there and
their roots are from Mexico, especially from the interior of Mexico.  Lunch
is on your own.  It is a very relaxed atmosphere but very
educational.  This year I understand it is all being held within the
Library area so there is less walking to other areas for seminars. 
The area itself is very large and in the past it required walking a bit;
however, I was told it would be in the Library building so that sounds like more
time learning and less time walking!  :-)   I will post the
itinerary as soon as I receive it from my contact, one of the persons in charge
of the conference this year.
 
I am glad you had the DNA testing.  Besides having my
only brother tested last fall for my paternal lineage, I also had my maternal
uncle tested and am waiting to receive those results any day.  On my
paternal lineage I have a lot of ties to Marcos Alonso Garza.  My maternal
lineage, so far, indicates a possibility of an ancestor that was from San
Fernando, Tamaulipas named Maria Dolores Gonzalez (parents were Leonardo
Gonzalez and Dionicia Aguilar) but I have nothing concrete on that yet.  I
know for certain that this ancestor was born in Tamaulipas and that it was
either in San Fernando or Matamoros.......the tombstone says "San Fernando" but
the records I have so far indicate "Matamoros" so that makes this puzzle
interesting!
 
I am posting the hotel and travel information strictly as
an aid to those who might be interested.  I have no connection to the
hotels or the library.  I am not profiting in any way from any of
this.  It is only to make it easy for those who might be interested in
attending and I encourage them to do so.  Anyone who has an interest in
genealogy is invited to Salt Lake City anytime but the Hispanic Conference is an
excellent way to get your feet wet.  You do NOT have to be a member of
the Ranchos Genealogy group to attend  and anyone is welcome.  At the
moment, there are PLENTY of rooms available at the Howard Johnson Express Inn
but at the Best Western Plaza Inn the rooms are limited to only those few that
they have set aside for me for the group for the particular days in October that
we want to attend the Conference. 
 
Arturo, I hope your surgery goes well and that you are
back on your feet really soon!  Please give some thought to attending
in October if you can!  You are in my prayers!
 
Josie in San Antonio 

Josie,
 
From your email note, sounds like you're still doing lots of traveling and
research.  That's good.  I have one more surgery (in April) and after
that, I hope to do some traveling for research, although I don't think I'll do
extensive traveling like you and Mickey.
 
I had a 12-mark DNA test done and the results of the test indicated two
perfect matches.  I contacted them and they mentioned that they are pretty
sure that I am related to them.  If I am related to them, my ancestors
derived from Marcos Alonso Garza de Arcon.  A couple of individuals have
sent me some family leneages for them that trace back to Marco Alonso Garza, but
I find no connection. 
 
My Dad remembers growing up in San Fernando, Tamaulipas.  Once I feel
done with the surgery in Aprl and go through the recovery, I hope to continue my
research for my Dad's ancestors, perhaps taking a trip to San Fernando.
 
It might be difficult to explain, but since you've been to the Hispanic
conferences in Texas and Utah, is there much difference between the two?  I
know the Mormom's library being available during the week is a great plus, but
just comparing the conferences.....what are the differences?
 
 
Arturo Garza