Thursday, July 19, 2018

L is for local/regional doings -- take 2


NB - I saw this post in my working basket, and thought it had not been posted.  A few weeks have passed since the CAGGNI conference, and MUCH in my life has happened.  This post was worth a second look, and I hope you think the same.)

A few weeks ago I spoke at the CAGGNI conference.  Held every two years northwest of Chicago, it is a daylong affair run by CAGGNI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois). The conference has 4 time slots and 4 topics during each time slot.  Speakers are nationally & regionally known; this year the class lineup included a hands on option for DNA learning.  (and yes, they took walk-in registrants).

NGS, FGS, RootsTech & PMC are the big national conferences, and they are wonderful.  I got to NGS in May, and hope to be at more during 2018.  I do hope that you get to one (or more) every so often.
It's carnival time with all the vendors, many who offer info and answer questions.  (Where else can you get help with RootsMagic or Family Tree Maker or ask the Ancestry folk why something is doing what it is doing?)
It's carnival time meeting people you know from other conferences -- often by chance.  I met a friend/fellow genealogist from Alaska.  We last met January of 2017? or was it 2016? 

At the same time, (returning to the topic) let us not neglect the regional conferences.  Societies put an enormous amount of effort into sponsoring a conference, one day or two.   Speakers are good, and in addition to the day of learning, there are the vendors (jewelry, t-shirts & bumperstickers), the society reps (DAR, SAR), the library reps (Newberry, Mid-Cont), and the social time during coffee breaks and over lunch.

Consider attending a regional conference as part of vacation travel.  Societies generally pull from regional speakers, so you will hear people that rarely (or never) get to your part of the country.  If the conference is where your family came from, some of the people attending may be relatives.  (do your homework?)

My take home in this post is "don't discount the 1-2 day conferences."  Yes, national/huge is lots of fun & has lots to offer, but regional/local, while smaller/shorter, also offers much.  Don't write them off.

Till next time,
Liz

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2018 begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding into short comments on matters genealogical.  Published on most Tuesdays and some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving on.  
© 2018, SE Ross