{"id":368,"date":"2013-03-01T11:01:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-01T17:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/genealogy.julietarr.com\/blog\/11-tips-for-attending-rootstech-2013\/"},"modified":"2013-07-02T23:35:45","modified_gmt":"2013-07-03T04:35:45","slug":"11-tips-for-attending-rootstech-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genealogy.julietarr.com\/blog\/11-tips-for-attending-rootstech-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Tips for Attending RootsTech 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

With RootsTech 2013<\/a> only a few short weeks away, I thought I\u2019d share some tips for attending the conference.<\/p>\n

\"MP900400285\"<\/p>\n

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  1. Choose your sessions wisely.<\/strong> Pick topics that will enhance your knowledge or that pique your curiosity. Choosing topics you already know a good deal about isn\u2019t a bad thing (hey, we can all use a refresher), but if you could be the presenter for the topic, use this opportunity to learn something new.<\/li>\n
  2. Arrive early for those sessions!<\/strong> Venues have strict codes they have<\/span> to follow regarding room occupancy. Once it\u2019s full, it\u2019s FULL<\/span>! If the room monitor says it\u2019s full, please listen to them and find another session. Arguing with the room monitor only prevents the session from starting on time or distracts the speaker and audience.<\/li>\n
  3. Bring business or \u201cbusiness\u201d cards.<\/strong> I realize not all genealogists who attend conferences are professionals, hence the reason one instance of the word business is in quotes. In my opinion, all genealogists (professional or not) should have a card that can be handed out when attending conferences (or visiting libraries, archives, etc.). The \u201cbusiness\u201d card would list your name and contact information; mine also includes a listing of my high-priority surnames on the back. See my post Genealogy Business Card<\/a> for more information and an example.<\/li>\n
  4. Collect business or \u201cbusiness\u201d cards.<\/strong> You never know when you might need these contacts. And be sure to write your own notes on the back like \u201ccould be linked to Garrison line,\u201d or \u201cspecializes in colonial Connecticut research,\u201d or \u201cwilling to speak at society meeting.\u201d<\/li>\n
  5. Use your down time to visit the exhibit hall.<\/strong> This is your chance to explore vendor products and services firsthand. And don\u2019t just stop by a table and pick up everything; say hello and engage in small talk\u2026you never know when that contact will come in handy.<\/li>\n
  6. Network!<\/strong> This is probably one of the most important things about attending any type of conference, but for genealogists, it\u2019s also very personal. While you\u2019ll want to network with professional genealogists and vendors, it\u2019s just as important to converse with everyone you run into\u2026one of those people could hold the key you\u2019ve been looking for to unlock that brick wall.<\/li>\n
  7. Attend social events.<\/strong> Although many people view social events (meals, special events, etc.) as networking opportunities, they also allow you to kick back and relax a bit from all the hustle and bustle of the conference. I\u2019m attending the comedy night event, even though I could use that time to go to the library\u2026since I\u2019ll be in SLC all week, this will be a well-deserved mid-week break.<\/li>\n
  8. Dress comfortably.<\/strong> Temperature control always seems to be an issue in large venues, so be prepared by dressing in layers. And don\u2019t forget comfy shoes!<\/li>\n
  9. Sit by people you don\u2019t know.<\/strong> How can you meet new people when you hang out with your comfort group? View this is a learning and networking opportunity.<\/li>\n
  10. Bring your tool kit.<\/strong> Be sure you have pens\/pencils, highlighters, paper\/notepad, laptop\/tablet, and camera.<\/li>\n
  11. Do some research.<\/strong> RootsTech 2013 is held right by the Family History Library<\/a>. Even if you are not arriving before or staying after the conference, you can still find some time to pop over to the FHL for some research. In fact, the library is open until 9pm on Tuesday-Saturday (5pm on Monday), so you\u2019ll be able to grab a bite to eat after your sessions and spend the evening in the library. And, as a bonus, the library will be open until 10pm from the 20th to the 22nd (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) because of the RootsTech Conference.\u00a0 So bring your research toolkit and to-do list.\u00a0 Need some guidance?\u00a0 See Planning a Trip to Salt Lake City for Your Family History Research<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There are plenty of other tips out there, but for me, these are the big ones. Feel free to post your own conference attendance tips in the comments of this post.<\/p>\n

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    Haven\u2019t registered for RootsTech 2013 yet? There\u2019s still time! Head over to the <\/strong><\/em>RootsTech website<\/strong><\/em><\/a> to register today!!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \u00a0\"RTRegNowBan\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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