Highlights for First Time Attendees

  • A track organizes lecture sessions by topic. Tracks are a great way to focus your session selection during the conference. Most common genealogy topics are included in our tracks. In addition, a track reflective of the geographic region and/or specific interests of the research community in the host area is usually added.
  • Sponsored lectures are noted with the company or organization name in the program schedule. These sessions may include information about the company’s products.
  • Most attendees will enjoy lecture sessions that will help improve research and problem-solving skills. Look for sessions on methodology, techniques, types of records, and resources.
  • The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Skillbuilding Track is designed for those who have been researching for some time and want to improve their analytical skills.
  • You are free to move from track to track and choose any lectures throughout the day and conference. However, as a courtesy to the speaker, we ask that you remain in a room once a lecture has begun.
  • The most popular lectures fill quickly. If you plan to attend a particular lecture, we recommend you take your seat at least twenty minutes before the lecture is scheduled to begin.
  • Understanding the numbering system will help you find lectures in the syllabus. We assign each lecture a session number: Wednesday lectures begin with a W, Thursday with a T, Friday with an F, and Saturday with an S. Lectures on Wednesday begin with 101, on Thursday with 201, on Friday with 301, and on Saturday with 401. Online at Home lectures start with OH.
  • Major genealogical societies or organizations sponsor daily luncheons, and each features a speaker. You will find menus, speakers, lecture titles, and sponsors in the program brochure
  • Daily luncheons and the NGS Banquet provide networking opportunities to meet other genealogists. Advance purchase for these meals closes 13 May 2022. Check the program brochure for details.
  • Attendees are encouraged to bring a smart phone or tablet to the conference so they have access to the NGS conference app, Whova. NGS occasionally has a speaker or two cancel shortly before the conference because of illness or family situation. All speaker substitutions, syllabus for the new speaker, and room changes are made in the app. Tap on each session to see the exact time each session starts.
  • To receive updates about the conference, sign-up for the conference blog (conference.ngsgenealogy.org/blog/). The blog will provide detailed information beyond what can be included in the printed program brochure.

Exhibit Hall

  • Come find the National Genealogical Society booth. Please stop by and introduce yourself. We will show you our publications, including the Research in the States series. Ask our staff about NGS education courses.
  • You will find vendors with a variety of products and nonprofit organizations with programs and services in our Expo Hall. Some vendors have large booths with computers and staff available to help you search for your ancestors. Some dealers sell books, maps, and ephemera, while others offer family history software. The Expo Hall offers an excellent opportunity to compare the features and benefits of the different genealogy databases, software programs, and DNA testing options.
  • The exhibit hall also features local and national genealogical, lineage, and heritage societies and professional and educational organizations. Officers and staff of these organizations will gladly welcome you, show you their publications, and answer your questions.
  • Also bring some return-address labels preprinted with your name, email address, and telephone number for drawings in the exhibit hall.

Conference Compendium

All speakers are asked to submit a two- or four-page summary (syllabus) of the highlights of their lectures, which we publish in a compendium distributed electronically before the conference. In addition, most syllabuses are available as downloads in the session information in Whova.

All conference registrants will receive the full conference compendium by email about one week prior to the conference. The email will include instructions to access the syllabus in a PDF format, and you can save this digital file to your computer or handheld device. This early release of the compendium provides the opportunity to print summaries for the lectures you plan to attend. If you pre-ordered the USB version of the compendium during Early Bird registration, it will be distributed with your registration materials at attendee check-in

The syllabus handout for each lecture is also available on the NGS Conference app and can be found by clicking on each session listing.

Networking at the Conference

Bring business cards or a small pad of paper so you may exchange contact information with people you meet at the conference, or just use the Whova app. You may also want to bring your family history database on a flash drive (with recent backup) so you can share your gedcom file with any cousins you meet.

When you arrive at the conference

  • If you pre-registered for the conference, you will pick up the conference materials at a booth in the conference center labeled “Attendee Check-In.” TYou will need to show personal identification to receive your conference materials. Before you leave the booth area, check to ensure all of your purchased meals and/or workshops are included in your materials.
  • Your name tag provides access to all the lectures and the general sessions. Be sure to wear your name tag at all times. You will also be required to wear a wristband identifying that your vaccinations have been checked.
  • You will receive a tote bag with conference materials. Put your name and contact information on your bag in case you lose it.
  • Business casual clothes are proper attire for most of the conference. If you registered for the NGS Banquet, business attire or a cocktail dress is appropriate. You will notice the speakers wear business attire.
  • Conference centers can be cold, so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to wear during the day. Comfortable shoes are a must.

What to Pack

  • Business casual clothes are proper attire for most of the conference. If you registered for the NGS Banquet, business attire or a cocktail dress is appropriate. You will notice the speakers wear business attire.
  • Conference centers can be cold, so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to wear during the day. Comfortable shoes are a must.

Questions? Contact NGS Registrar at [email protected].