National Genealogical Society

We arrived around lunch time on Tuesday and once settled in the hotel we went and registered for the conference. It was nice to have the conference bag filled with very useful information. My favourite has been the syllabus on a flash drive. I had printed off syllabus material at home of the lectures I wanted to attend but once here I considered some different lectures so it was nice to have the syllabus material to help me make that decision.

It was early to bed on Tuesday because of the early start on Wednesday morning. The Opening Session was People, Policy, and Records: The Importance of Historical Background by Marian Smith.

The Marketplace opened at 9:30 am with the help of a wonderful Mariachi band.

The first stop in the Marketplace for me and many others was the NGS booth to purchase the new Thomas W. Jones book called Mastering Genealogical Proof.

Then it was off to Lisa Louise Cooke’s lecture called How the Genealogist Can Remember Everything with Evernote. As usual Lisa did not disappoint and I can’t wait to find a quiet corner and start learning more about Evernote. I already have the program downloaded so that is a start.

After lunch it was Genealogical Writing Made Easier with Scrivener with Kimberly Powell. This is a program I have been considering downloading to see how it will help me with my genealogical writing.

The last lecture of the day was Research Ties: The Power of an Online Research Log with Jill N. Crandell, AG.

In the evening we went to Bennihana for dinner and that was quite an experience. Then it was an early night. Another big day tomorrow.

©2013 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved

Conferences are great fun and I enjoy attending them. I have already set up the NGS App on my IPod and have my schedule in it. I like the fact that I don’t have to be online to use it which is helpful if you can’t get internet access. The maps are great and I have got a rough idea of where things are located. I have even marked the vendors in the marketplace that I want to visit. We also got some tickets to go and see the Donny and Marie show. I am a child of the seventies and they are considered the best show on the strip. The confirmation for the hotel has come through and the flights are booked. Now what to pack?

I am one of the in-between generation. I was not brought up with computers so I use both computers and the old fashioned pen and paper. I am slowly getting away from the paper as I find more time to learn the new programs that are available and hope to learn more about these programs at NGS. There are lectures on Evernote, Rootsmagic and Scrivener so I will be attending those.

There is a lecture entitled “Landlords and Tenants: Land and Estate Records for Irish Family History Research” with Brian Donovan. This lecture is sponsored by Findmypast.com and I am hoping to learn more about Irish land records. This lecture focuses on the tenants but I would also like to learn something about records for the landlords.

Paul Milner is presenting “Finding Ancestors through Their Lawsuits in English Chancery Court” which may help me learn more about a few of my English ancestors.

“Organizing Your Family History Electronically” is one lecture I really need to attend as I am in the process of changing things over to digital and have amassed a collection of digital files that need organizing.

One lecture I am really looking forward to hearing is “Would the Real Molly Brown Please Stand Up?” One of my favourite movies is “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” starring Debbie Reynolds and would like to know more about the real Molly Brown.

I will be attending my first NGS Banquet this year. The speakers at this event are Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Mark Hall-Patton of “Pawn Stars.” Mark is the Museums Administrator for the Clark County museum system.

As an Official Blogger for the NGS Conference I get no remuneration but I do get to meet new people and learn new things while at the same time sharing them with you.

Are you going to the conference in Las Vegas? If you are please come and find me and say hello. One of the best parts of a conference is meeting the people who follow my blog.

This could be one time when what happens in Vegas won’t necessarily stay in Vegas.

©2013 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved

I have received my attendee information from the National Genealogical Society. The conference is getting closer and there is lots of preparation going on.

WiFi Hotspot

NGS wants you to stay connected! In order to offset the expense of in-room Internet fees, the NGS has partnered with Platinum Sponsors Findmypast.com and FamilySearch to provide conference attendees with free WiFi Internet access. A password-protected Internet café (WiFi Hotspot) just for NGS attendees will accommodate up to 300 users at a time, 20 minutes per session, 24 hours per day, Monday through Saturday the week of the conference. The free WiFi Hotspot will be located in Pavilion 5 and in the Pavilion Foyer between the Pavilion and the Paradise Event Center Foyer.

Thank you Findmypast.com and FamilySearch!

Conference App

Our conference app this year includes a daily schedule, personal schedule, speaker and exhibitor information, floor plans, and more. To identify sessions that will not be recorded, the app includes a separate line below the lecture description that states, “No recording available. Take notes.” You can select the sessions you plan to attend, create your own conference schedule, and add personal appointments and meetings. For more information and to download the conference app, please visit the NGS website.

Download the App it is a great tool!

Syllabus

The conference syllabus is now available online for registered attendees. The syllabus highlights the major points of each lecture as submitted by the speaker, and is often referenced during the sessions.

You will receive a digital copy of the syllabus at conference check in. If you purchased a print syllabus prior to the early bird registration deadline, you will also receive the print syllabus at conference check in. You can prepare for the conference before you leave home by viewing and printing syllabi for the sessions you would like to attend. NGS will not provide printing stations at the conference.

The syllabus material for the lectures I want to attend have been printed off.

Clothing

Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will do a lot of walking and sitting, and despite weather conditions outside, some areas of the event center will be cold.

Comfortable shoes are a must!

Registration and Attendee Check-In

Attendees must register or check in at the registration desk in person to retrieve conference materials (bag, program, name tag, and syllabus on flash drive). Materials will be released only to the person named on the registration and upon presentation of a valid ID that is consistent with that name. No exceptions.

Tuesday, 7 May 2013
12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Thursday, 9 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Friday, 10 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Saturday, 11 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–12 noon

Registration times duly noted.

Exhibit Hall Hours

The Exhibit Hall is free and open to the public. See the interactive map online. To see exhibiting company details, select a booth number, and then click to expand profile. Find a listing of all exhibitors by selecting “companies” at the bottom left corner of the page. Exhibitor information and the Exhibit Hall map are also on the conference app.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013
9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Thursday, 9 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Friday, 10 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Saturday, 11 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

I have already marked the exhibitors I want to visit in the Exhibitors section of the App.

Las Vegas here we come!