Conference FAQ

CONFERENCE GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is the proper attire for this conference?
Any attire goes - casual or smart. Most attendees dress casually during the day, but dress up for social events. You are advised to wear good walking shoes, as you will walk between sessions and social events. You may also want to dress in layers. Sometimes lecture rooms are slightly chilly or slightly warm; therefore, layers will help you cope with any temperature changes.

Are conference sessions/lectures being taped this year?
Yes, as permited by the speakers. These will be available on CD to purchase at the conference, and after the conference by mail from JAMB.

I am a complete beginner - what will be at the conference for me?
Complete beginners are very welcome to the NGS Conference in the States and Family History Fair! We have over 150 sessions and workshops on various aspects of genealogical research which are sure to give you suggestions and point you in the right direction. There is a special Beginner's Workshop on Saturday 17 May, which will help you greatly. There is also no need for you to register for the conference if you want to just attend this workshop. There will be a fee for this workshop.  Guidance can also be sought at the Family History Fair - where more than 150 exhibitors will be displaying goods and services to aid you in your research.

I do more than just Missouri research, so will this conference be for me?
All NGS Conferences in the States are geared towards ALL researchers, wherever your research interests lie. Each year the conference is held in a different city and state, and of course we do try to focus certain sessions on genealogical research pertaining to that particular area/part of the country. But all our conference programs will contain sessions on many different research locations and records - including ethnic research around the world.

Can I volunteer to help at an NGS Conference?
Yes certainly! We would love to have you! Please contact the volunteer coordinator, Barbara Dale, at bjpdale@sbcglobal.net

What is the conference hotel?
The Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel at 2345 McGee Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 is the main conference hotel - where all sessions, workshops, social events and the Family History Fair will be held.  Make your reservations by calling 800-233-1234.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

What does my conference registration include?
The full conference registration includes admittance to all sessions/lectures.  One day registrations include admitttance to all sessions/lectures on that particular day.
There are additional charges to attend luncheons, the Banquet on Friday evening, and most workshops.

.Do I need to be a librarian to sign up for the Librarian's Program?
No - this is not a requirement. However, the program is aimed at Librarians.

Do I have to pay to attend the conference if I just want to attend a workshop?
Yes. Even if you only plan on attending one workshop on a particular day, you would have to sign up either for the entire conference, or just for that one day, in addition to the cost of the workshop. Exeptions to this are the Beginner's workshop on Saturday 17 May, and the BCG Education Fund workshop on Tuesday 13 May.

I only want to attend a social event at the conference, can I do that without signing up for the full conference?
Yes - as long as there are tickets available. First priority is given to registered conference attendees.  This includes the Banquet on Friday evening, all luncheons and other social events.

I have registered for the conference, but I now need to change something on my registration - how do I do that?
If it is a luncheon, workshop or other additional paid event that you wish to change, please contact our registrar at Compton@ngsgenealogy.org. If you only wish to change a session/lecture that you designed that you would like to attend there is no need to contact us.  We require this information only for space planning purposes, and you are always free to change your mind on-site after making your selections. Obviously with paid workshops and luncheons this is a different matter and we need to change these for you.

If you do not find the answer to your question here, please email your question to Jeanne Lund at Lund@ngsgenealogy.org