The National Genealogy Society Conference

I am very motivated! I have registered to attend the 

National Genealogy Society Conference

 in Richmond, VA in May! 

Can’t wait to learn more about genealogy from experts in the field! Is there a better reason to get motivated to improve & extend my genealogy skills & knowledge?

And that’s not all! Fellow blogger & genealogy friend, Wendy from Jollett Etc. will also be attending! We are making plans to meet in person. We have been in contact for some time now & it will be wonderful to share a cup of tea or lunch & talk about our conference experiences. We'll meet on Friday morning at the session about the Virginia Militia, saving seats like high school days. Wendy says it will be cool to blog about the conference & connecting up! She’s right! Ha! You'll have to watch both our blogs for our posts. Cheri from Carolina Girl Genealogy & I are also comparing schedules to see if we can meet up. Anyone else want to join us?

Meanwhile, I have been looking over the long list of sessions. Categories of lectures include: Methodology, Migration, Records, State Research, Virginia, Irish, Tricks & Tips, Online Resources, Libraries, & BCG Skill building. It was hard to choose. I read through the list three times before starting my selection. I feel like a child selecting treats in a candy shop.

Virginia Research. Because I have ancestors from Virginia I plan to attend several Virginia research sessions including:

·         The Virginia Historical Society

·         Are Those My Early Virginia Ancestors?

·         The Virginia Militia

·         Researching a Civil War Soldier in Virginia

Other Southern Research. I also want to attend these to research other southern ancestors:

·         Records of the Southern Historical Society

·         North Carolina Research

·         South Carolina Research

·         Hidden in Plain Sight: Tracking Pioneers on the Old SW Frontier before Statehood

·         Carolinians Settle the South

Research & Skills selections. I hope to attend these to improve my skills:

·         An Inside Look at How Ancestry DNA Can Take Your Search even Further

·         Oh, the Things You Can Map: Mapping Data, Memory & Historical Context

·         The Next Generation of NGS Learning

·         Where Would You Go if You Had Five Days in Washington, D.C.?

·         Writing to Engage Your Reader

·         Researching an Ancestor’s Career

·         Sharing Family Stories

·         Organizing Your Research without Losing Your Mind

There are also social events. I plan to attend the First Timers Breakfast & a luncheon on the topic, How to Assemble a Weighty Genealogical Tome and Survive the Experience. I also want to visit the Exhibit Hall where there will be nearly 100 vendors, heritage societies, professional and educational organizations.

Be sure to download the NGS 2014 App to track your sessions, see a map & a list of vendors & find friends there. Thanks to Cheri for letting me know about that.

Motivated? Yes, I am!

Manassas Battlefield National Park VA