Advice #3: Attend a conference

There are several state, regional and national conferences available for researchers of all skill level to attend.

At the national level there are two major conferences: National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies are the sponsors. These conferences are held in different locales each year to give attendees the opportunity to visit area research facilities before or after the conference. Salt Lake City [UT], Fort Wayne [IN], Orlando [FL], Pittsburgh [PA], Nashville [TN], Chicago [IL], San Antonio [TX] and St. Charles [MO] are among the cities that have hosted these conferences.

There are pre-conference activities held on Wednesday [workshops, research at local libraries, etc.] with sessions beginning on Thursday running through Saturday. Nationally known speakers head up the sessions. Special tracks focusing on regional topics are held as well. [Midwest research at Ft. Wayne, for example.] A banquet is held on Friday evening. A wide variety of vendors are available.

Regional and state conferences have a much narrower focus. The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, for example, highlights Ohio Valley topics. Vendors tend to be fewer nd more localized.

The New England Historic and Genealogical Society sponsors week long and weekend conferences in Boston throughout the year. NEHGS also sponsors research trips to Salt Lake, Ireland, England and other places during the year. Occasionally, NEHGS sponsors a one or two day conference in other cities.

The Utah Gen. Society hosts the Salt Lake Institute in January each year offering as many as 12 tracks varying from Beginning Research, to German Research, Advanced Research, Writing Family Histories, etc. It is a 5 day conference with sessions scheduled throughout the day, special classes or research opportunities at the FHL in the evening.

Try attending a national or local conference at least once. Give NEHGS, SLIG or another "institute" format a try as well. All will give you a great learning opportunity and a chance to network with other researchers.