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Conferences come in all varieties and cover a wide range of interests.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s your favorite hobby or a professional interest, there\u2019s probably a conference (and maybe even an app!!) for that.\u00a0 No matter the conference, they are designed to provide its attendees with learning experiences and networking opportunities.\u00a0 So when asked \u201cWhy genealogy conferences?\u201d my short answer is learning and networking.<\/p>\n
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Truth be told, I am still fairly new to the genealogy world.\u00a0 I have only been working on my genealogy for about six years, but a few of those years genealogy was a daily occurrence.\u00a0 I am by no means an expert and I still have things to learn.\u00a0 While I take advantage of books, journals\/magazines, webinars, and local programs to continue my genealogy education, I find that conferences offer so much more.<\/p>\n
First, they are usually multi-day events, and it gives me an opportunity to immerse myself completely in genealogy for those few days\u2026an escape from real life, and hey, we all need that every once in awhile.\u00a0 I can attend sessions to learn about records and methodology and I can visit with vendors in the exhibit hall to explore various products.\u00a0 Most importantly, I\u2019m surrounded by people with the same interests and passions, which always makes for great conversation and networking.<\/p>\n
Of course I can read a book or attend a webinar on a topic, explore a software provider\u2019s website, and even hang out with genealogy buddies on Facebook, but it\u2019s not the same as the face-to-face interaction I experience at a conference.\u00a0 This is why, for me at least, I look forward to attending genealogy conferences.\u00a0 Where else can you talk about great-aunt Frieda for three or four days straight without anyone running away shouting \u201csave me\u201d or falling asleep from boredom?<\/p>\n
I am really looking forward to attending the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2013 Conference<\/a> this August (it\u2019s been on my calendar since 2011!!).\u00a0 Honestly, location has a lot to do with why I am attending this particular conference to fulfill my one-conference-a-year quota.\u00a0 It\u2019s being held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is within driving distance for me, and I have never been to Fort Wayne, which is home to one of the largest genealogy collections around\u2014Allen County Public Library<\/a> (ACPL).<\/p>\n Beyond location, I attended the FGS 2011 Conference in Springfield, Illinois, and had a spectacular time (it was also my first national genealogy conference).\u00a0 The speakers were great, the atmosphere was wonderful, and I met a lot of fantastic people.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been to other national conferences since then, and so far, FGS takes the cake!<\/p>\n Of course I\u2019m looking forward to the learning and networking opportunities as well.\u00a0 In fact, the day the session schedule<\/a> was released, I added all of the sessions I want to attend to my calendar (I know, obsess much?).\u00a0 I am particularly thrilled that Elizabeth Shown Mills will be presenting at FGS 2013, as I have never attended one of her lectures and am looking forward to that experience\u2026maybe she\u2019ll sign my copy of Evidence Explained<\/em>\u2026.<\/p>\n I am also looking forward to meeting \u201cin person\u201d genealogy friends I have come to know over the years through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.\u00a0 I also can\u2019t wait to see the many friends I have met at genealogy events in the past and play catch-up.<\/p>\n I really am bubbling over with excitement as I write this post, but disappointed that the conference is still three months away!\u00a0 Oh well, I guess that means more time to develop my research plans for the ACPL while I\u2019m in town a few days before the conference!<\/p>\n Will you be at the FGS 2013 Conference?\u00a0 Maybe we could meet up!\u00a0 Drop me a line in the comments or via email if you prefer.<\/p>\n This post was written for the April\/May Ambassador Blogging Prompt<\/a> as part of the FGS 2013 Conference Ambassador Program.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n
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