A Perfect Mother’s Day Gift: NGS Conference

NGS Annual Meeting

In conjunction with the 2021 Virtual Family History Conference, and instead of our traditional in-person gathering (for the second year in a row), the 2021 Annual Meeting will be hosted online. The meeting will be held at 5:15 pm ET on Wednesday, 19 May 2021. Additional details on how to access the meeting will be provided at www.ngsgenealogy.org. You do NOT need to register for the Family History Conference to attend.
Speakers will include NGS President Kathryn Doyle; Treasurer Deborah Lebo Hoskins; Vice President of Society & Organization Management Cheri Hudson Passey; Membership Chair Bernice Bennett; board member Andre Kearns; and Executive Director Matt Menashes, CAE.

If you are unable to join us on 19 May you will be able to view a recording via our YouTube channel at a later date.

The purpose of the Annual Meeting is: to provide updates on the direction of the National Genealogical Society, including information about new programs and activities focused on genealogy organizations following the completion of the merger with the Federation of Genealogical Societies last October to provide a financial update to take questions from attendees. We look forward to seeing you online for the annual meeting next month.

To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s weeklong events, 17-21 May, visit the conference website and download a copy of the program brochure.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society inspires, connects, and leads the family history community by fostering collaboration and best practices in advocacy, education, preservation, and research. We enable people, cultures, and organizations to discover the past and create a lasting legacy. The Falls Church, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian.

Help Your Genealogy Society to Thrive

Apr20 by Charles Hansen

Help Your Genealogy Society to Thrive
Genealogy societies provide an indispensable and invaluable service to aspiring and experienced genealogists alike. Continuous development of volunteer leaders is necessary for every society to not only survive, but also to thrive and grow membership.

Focus on Societies, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) all-day virtual program on 21 May, offers an excellent opportunity for genealogy societies. Current society leaders will learn new management strategies, and attendance may encourage other society members to step up to serve on a committee or the board.

Registration for individuals is $35 for the 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. event, or take advantage of the NGS group rate of $100 to register up to five society members. Societies do not need to be a NGS Member to register and attend this event. Registration closes 12 May. Learn more at https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/focus-on-societies/.

Lecture topics include:
Lessons Learned from the Pandemic
Finding Good Material for Society Newsletters
Incorporating Special Interests and Study Groups in Your Society
Website, Content, and Social Media Strategies
Using Your Email List to Grow Society Membership
Getting and Keeping Your Volunteers
Preparing and Presenting a Cemetery Tour
Introduction to Event Management for Local Societies
Growing Your Society with Quality Events
Moving into the Virtual World of Meetings
Using an Open-Sourced System for Your Society’s Digitization
Digital Marketing for Societies
Register today at https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/focus-on-societies/. # # #

Conference Week Tips for NGS Member Orgs

Apr7 by Charles Hansen

Register for Focus on Societies at NGS

Mar17 by Charles Hansen

Are you on the board of your local genealogical society? Or do you know someone who serves on the board of a genealogical society? If so, be sure to share the news that NGS is hosting an extraordinary day of learning and networking on Friday, 21 May 2021. Focus on Societies is a virtual event exclusively for society leaders and key volunteers. Registration is only $35 per person. For $100, five of your organization’s leaders can attend; that’s just $20 each.

Communications to Members Finding Good Material for Society Newsletters Focused Learning and Collaboration: Special Interest Groups in Your Genealogical Society Website and Social Media Communications and Content Strategies for Societies Using Your Genealogical Society’s Email List to Nurture and Grow Your Society Managing Events Society Management—Volunteer Motivations: Getting and Keeping Your Volunteers A Walk Among the Tombstones: Preparing for and Presenting a Cemetery Tour Event Management Intro for Local Genealogy Societies Grow Your Society with Quality Events Going Virtual! Online Meetings: Helping Your Society Move into a Virtual World Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: Use the TxSGS Preservation Capture System for Your Society’s Digitization Going Virtual with the Next Generation: Involving Younger People in Virtual Meetings Digital Marketing for the Modern Society Society leaders won’t want to miss Society Shout Out, when we’ll share the best ideas from genealogy societies across the country. Be sure to fill out an online form to hear your society mentioned during the event.

To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s weeklong events, 17-21 May, visit the conference website and
download a copy of the program brochure.

NGS 2021 Live!

Mar13 by Charles Hansen

NGS Early-Bird Discount Ends Soon

Mar8 by Charles Hansen

Early-Bird Discount Ends
15 March for NGS 2021
Virtual Family History Conference

Dear ,

Only a few days are left for three representatives from Eastern Washington Genealogical Society to receive a discount on registration for the NGS Virtual Family History Conference, 17−21 May 2021. After 15 March, the price of registration for NGS 2021 Live! and On-Demand! will increase $50 across the various packages. To qualify for the early-bird discount, you must register online by 15 March.

Join us on Wednesday and Thursday, 19‒20 May, for NGS’s premier two-day virtual conference event― NGS 2021 Live!. Speakers include two award-winning authors, Dani Shapiro, author of Inheritance, and Ric Murphy, author of Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia. Other nationally recognized speakers will join them, including Barbara Vines Little, the keynote speaker for the opening session, Eric Grundset, Thomas W. Jones, Janice Lovelace, Elizabeth Shown Mills, Judy Russell, Craig Scott, and more. The two-day event also features the announcement of winners for NGS awards; the newest genealogical products and services from exhibitors in our virtual expo hall; and drawings for exciting genealogy-related prizes.

In addition to NGS 2021 Live!, we offer a choice of either a twenty or forty lecture package on-demand. Those who purchase a package may choose from more than eighty-five on-demand sessions available for viewing starting in June. Program content includes twenty-one bonus lectures provided by conference sponsors and sponsoring organizations.

NGS will host additional events throughout the week for NGS member societies and organizations.

Monday, 17 May: The Delegate Council Kickoff Workshop focuses on helping delegates understand their role within NGS. Be sure to send us the name and contact email of your delegate today! Email the name of your delegate to Susan Yockey on our staff by clicking here.

Tuesday, 18 May: NGS presents the debut of the SLAM! Idea Showcase, included in all NGS 2021 Live! packages, which highlights creative and innovative projects or programs by societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs). The deadline to submit a Video Poster Session is also 15 March.

Friday, 21 May: The week ends with Focus on Societies on Friday, an all-day event devoted to presentations offering expert advice for society leaders on managing and growing their genealogical or historical society. There is a group rate of $100 for up to five society leaders.

Finally, take advantage of the discounted Early-Bird registration fee, plus member discounts, when you sign up for the Virtual Family History Conference by 15 March 2021. You can also have your representatives contact our Conference Registrar at registration@ngsgenealogy.org to have up to three officers or directors register at the member rate.

To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s weeklong events, 17-21 May, visit the conference website and
download a copy of the program brochure.

A discounted Early Bird registration fee is available through 15 March 2021.

Be an NGS Virtual Exhibitor

Mar8 by Charles Hansen

As you know, the National Genealogical Society is going fully virtual for the 2021 NGS Family History Conference. As a member organization of NGS, this is a really fantastic opportunity for your genealogy society, library, or organization to have a virtual exhibit this year. We offer nonprofit exhibitors a $300 package that includes a virtual booth, inbound leads, and more. We’ll even set up your booth for an additional $50 (you provide the content).

While the pandemic makes it difficult to deliver the type of expo experience we are all used to, we are doing everything we can to provide great opportunities to highlight your organization and its programs and services to our attendees.

We will do all we can to connect you and your organization to our attendees. The conference will be packed with engaging events and sessions for experienced genealogists as well as first-timers. We have a suite of sponsorship opportunities and can package various custom options to help you meet your objectives.

Here are some important things we want you to know:

Our primary objective is to showcase your efforts with video and digital documents.
Everything we are doing for this virtual expo is designed to put leads in your hands.
We chose the Grip platform, a sophisticated system designed not only to stream our content but to allow you to connect with attendees, get inbound leads, and highlight your organization.
We will share attendee information as well as insights to the extent we can.

The attached prospectus has information to help you determine your options. You can place your order via web form and we will send you a contract soon thereafter. We are also open to discussing additional ways we can help you meet your objectives.

If you have any questions about exhibiting at the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference, you can email me at any time at mattm@ngsgenealogy.org.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to working with you,

Matt Menashes

——————————————————-
Matt Menashes,

CAEExecutive DirectorNational

Genealogical Society703-525-0050

mattm@ngsgenealogy.org