Are You Attending #NGS2021 LIVE?

Today, May 17, 2021, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) is kicking off their #NGS2021LIVE seminar. It is being held virtually due to COVID19 restrictions. 

I registered for the seminar and my participation will start on Tuesday. Monday is for the NGS delegate council.  Delegates are appointed by NGS member societies and they are the only ones attending on Monday. The Michigan Genealogical Council's delegate is Thomas Koselka, a past President of MGC.

Tuesday is the SLAM Idea Showcase. SLAM stands for societies, libraries, archives, and museums. It is a place for SLAM's to be creative and innovative and show seminar attendees what they offer. Also, it includes presentations from those who provide services to librarians and genealogists.  SLAM Showcase will be held from 3-6 pm, Tuesday.

Wednesday is the day for live learning opportunities streamed right to your device of choice. Wednesday's program offers a full day of sessions from some of the top names in the genealogical community: Elizabeth Shown Mills, Thomas Jones, and Craig Scott. Special Guest Dani Shapiro, author of Inheritance, will speak on Family Secrets. The Keynote Speaker is Barbara Vines Little, who will be presenting Beyond the Blue Mountains. 

Thursday is another full day of sessions, including three breakout sessions with your choice of four lectures per session. I looked at the sessions and am thankful I will be able to watch the other choices on demand because they are all great sessions. If this isn't enough for attendees the NGS awards will be presented, expo hall opened, door prizes given, and bonus lectures from sponsoring organizations. It is sure to be a full two days of learning.

Friday closes out the seminar with a Focus on Societies sessions. It is day of lectures centering on strengthening societies. Sessions include ones on sharing ideas, building leadership, attracting new members, keeping volunteers, planning meetings and events, creating newsletters and more. 

Beginning June 15 there will be additional sessions on demand. That list is amazing, and I can see my summer being taken up with viewing these great presentations from great speakers.

Everything I have written about will be held virtually. The NGS 2021 conference was going to be held in Richmond, Virginia but was converted to virtual. I was looking forward to visiting Richmond because of its proximity to Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, VA. Oh well, it has been a year of change and I am appreciative of NGS holding it.

I will be busy this week, but I hope to be able to live tweet about my experiences. Check out these hashtags to read about the seminar  #NGS2021LIVE #NGS2021OnDemand #NGSDelegateCouncil #NGSFocusOnSocieties #NGSSLAM! 

Even though I will miss in person events such as meet ups with bloggers, luncheons with geneamates, browsing the exhibit hall, buying books and gadgets, and more I will be wearing my geneabeads and enjoying all the virtual activities.