NGS Conference Approaching Quickly - #NGS2016GEN

This year’s National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, 4-7 May 2016, is bearing down quickly upon us. It will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. And it’s not too late to come. You can pre-register up through this Friday, 22 April 2016. Or you can just show up and register onsite starting Tuesday, 3 May 2016 at noon. Hotel rooms are still available (as I write this) at the conference hotel, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, or at the nearby Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale. Rooms start at $143 a night through http://www.sunny.org/ngs/.

You don’t need to pre-register for regular sessions, so don’t worry about deciding at the last minute to attend. You’ll get to choose from around 190 absolutely amazing classes on all aspects of genealogy. See the session list in the registration brochure or the program page of the conference website. Instructors include famous genealogists like Elizabeth Shown Mills, Tom Jones, Judy Russell, Josh Taylor, Mary Tedesco, Barbara Vines Little, David Rencher, and dozens more.

Live Streaming

If you can’t attend in person, you can still watch up to ten sessions, live or recorded. Living streaming registration deadline is 22 April 2016, so don’t delay. Read the session offerings and schedule on the NGS Conference website.

Mobile App

A mobile app is available. Use it to access the conference schedule, class syllabi, and conference center maps. Watch Twitter, take notes, and more. For more information, visit http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/mobile-app/. Download it from the Apple or Google app stores, or use it through any browser online at http://m.core-apps.com/ngsgen. If you already have it installed from last year, you need to switch out of last year’s program and into this year’s. Go to the home screen, select the gear icon, and select “Exit to Show List.”

Student Rate

NGS is offering an extremely low rate for current students. You can attend all four days of the conference for $50 if you are an NGS member, or $60 if you are not.

To qualify, students must submit a letter on college or university letterhead signed by the dean or department chair confirming the student’s current admittance, good standing, and full-time status in an undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking program at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Students who are enrolled in diploma or certificate programs, continuing education programs, lifetime learning programs, or at institutions not regionally accredited do not qualify.

For more information, visit http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/student-rate/.

NGS Annual Meeting and Election

Immediately after the last session of the conference, NGS will convene their annual meeting, most of which will be the election of new officers and some board positions. The election tends to be more of a ratification of candidates nominated by the nomination committee. Nominations can be made by any member of the society, but must be made in advance, according to society bylaws. Get your nomination and petition to NGS before this Saturday, 23 April 2016. For more information, visit http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/2016_elections.