Keep Up with #FGS2016 from Home!

If you are unable to make it to the FGS 2016 National Conference in Springfield, Illinois, there are still a few ways to keep up with what's happening here.

First, we have a Facebook Event Page where not only we are posting pictures and videos, but our attendees, exhibitors, and speakers are too.

Second, we have a dedicated conference hashtag #FGS2016. This allows you to follow the conference hashtag on hashtag-centric social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. 

Third and speaking of social media platforms, here is a list of our social media platforms. Have you connected with us on them?

Facebook Page

Facebook Event Page

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

YouTube

Fourth, for Twitter you only need to venture as far as this blog post. We have embedded our Twitter feed of our conference hashtag #FGS2016 below. Or you can follow our #FGS2016 Twub where we've registered our hashtag.

Fifth, make sure you follow our speakers and exhibitors on your social media platform of choice as they will certainly be posting images and videos of their experiences from #FGS2016 here in Springfield.

Sixth, follow our Conference Platinum Sponsors — Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch on the social media platform of your choice.

Can't follow along live? Come back here to the FGS Voice Blog to experience daily recaps from #FGS2016.

Twitter Feed:
#FGS2016 Tweets

Download the FGS 2016 App to Have Conference Information at Your Fingertips!

To have the FGS 2016 Conference schedule, maps, list of
speakers, and up-to-date information plus a way to connect
with fellow attendees at your fingertips, download the
Guidebook App on your iOS or Android mobile device or you can even access it on your desktop or laptop!

Follow these detailed steps to download the app:


1. Download Guidebook.

• Navigate to guidebook.com/getit on your device's web browser.
• Go to the app store that corresponds with your device and search for "Guidebook"
• For desktop users or users with Windows Phones or non-Blackberry 10+ devices, navigate to guidebook.com/browse in your web browser (at this time, we only offer a native Guidebook app for iOS, Android, Blackberry 10+, and Amazon Kindle).

Follow the prompts on your screen, and the app will download.

2. Now that you've got the Guidebook app, it's time to download the guide for FGS 2016! Open up the Guidebook app on your device to get started. Note: Internet access is required for this step.

• Download and open the Guidebook app on your phone via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
• Use the Search box to type in "FGS 2016" (without the quotes) in the guide bar at the top.
• Tap "Get this Guide" to download the guide.

If you accidentally download the wrong guide, no worries! From the "My Guides" screen, tap the guide you wish to delete until you get a message that says "Unsync [name of guide]?" and press OK.

Note: After you delete the guide, it will appear at the end of the "Guides For You" lineup in case you accidentally deleted it or would like to access it again soon.

Desktop, Windows, non-Blackberry 10 users

On your phone's web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.), type in guidebook.com/browse/

Click on the search bar below "Select a Category". Type in "FGS 2016" (without the quotes), and tap on "Search" or "Return" in the bottom right of your keyboard. View the results, and click on your event to download!

Note: If you are able to download a native app for your phone, a small "Get the Guidebook app" banner will appear at the top of your screen. Click this to download the native app.

3. Explore the FGS 2016 Device Guide!

For more detailed instructions for downloading and navigating the FGS 2016 Guidebook App, visit: https://support.guidebook.com/hc/en-us/articles/202891364-Using-the-Guidebook-App-for-end-users-.

 

NEW! FGS 2016 Exhibit Hall Vendor Bucks

One of the most exciting areas at an FGS conference
is the large Exhibit Hall, featuring the latest software,
books, maps, databases, and gadgets on the market for
genealogists and family historians, as well as information
about genealogical organizations. The Exhibit Hall opens Thursday morning after the keynote session.

New this year are Vendor Bucks! Each attendee will
receive $10 in Vendor Bucks to spend at the vendor
booth of their choice. After a purchase is made, the
vendor will indicate that on the Bucks. For immediate
reimbursement, the attendee will present the Bucks at
the Vendor Bucks Reimbursement booth located at the
rear of the Exhibit Hall.

Exhibit Hall Hours:

Thursday: 9:30am - 5pm

Friday: 9am - 5pm

Saturday: 9am - 3pm

Celebrating 40 Years of FGS!

At this year's conference in Springfield, Illinois, FGS will be celebrating 40 years of community and growth!

We have a long history focused on connecting the world of genealogy, learning new techniques and skills together, and providing the tools to succeed. We cannot wait to share this history with you at the 40th Anniversary Gala on Friday evening.

This year's event will play host to the first ever FGS Family History Quest, and we hope you are ready for an evening of fun and long lasting memories. With J. Mark Lowe as our emcee, you can basically guarantee that we are all in for a very exciting evening. Stroll down memory lane with us as we present the opportunity to test your knowledge - and your creativity! We are thrilled to be giving away over $25,000 in prizes to Gala participants.

Gala prizes have been contributed from:

• Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com and MyHeritage.com
• Midwest Genealogy Center
• YourDNAGuide.com
• RootsTech
• Family ChartMasters
• and more! 

The Gala is not your only chance to celebrate with us, however. Each day of the conference, we will offer a question to both on-site attendees and those watching on social media, and we're inviting everyone to share their favorite memory, favorite moment, favorite element of FGS history with us. Watch our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter, and the hashtag #FGS40th, each day of the conference for our prompts. If you will be in Springfield with us, visit the expo hall to add your memories to our story.

We're on a quest to celebrate forty years - we hope you will celebrate with us!

Upcoming FGS Genealogy Conferences To Be Held in Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO!

Save the dates! 

We are thrilled to announce the FGS 2019 National Conference will be held August 21-24 in Washington, D.C., and the FGS 2020 National Conference will be held September 2-5 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“We are extremely excited for all our upcoming conferences and look forward to visiting Washington, D.C., and Kansas City in future years,” says FGS President D. Joshua Taylor. “From 2016 to 2020, our conference venues are steeped in both history and research resources and make perfect settings for genealogists and family historians.”

This announcement extends the upcoming FGS conferences schedule to the year 2020 and includes:

• FGS 2016 National Conference and 40^th Anniversary in Springfield, Illinois
• FGS 2017 National Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• FGS 2018 National Conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana
• FGS 2019 National Conference in Washington, D.C.
• FGS 2020 National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri

Each conference will be joined and hosted by a local genealogical organization. The Illinois State Genealogical Society will welcome FGS this year in Springfield and the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society in 2017. Local hosts for future conferences will be announced at a later date.

Currently, registration is still open for the FGS 2016 National Conference “Time Travel: Centuries of Memories” to be held August 31-September 3, 2016, in Springfield, Illinois. Register at https://www.fgsconference.org/ and help celebrate our 40^th Anniversary in the Land of Lincoln!

Upcoming FGS Genealogy Conferences To Be Held in Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO!

Save the dates! 

We are thrilled to announce the FGS 2019 National Conference will be held August 21-24 in Washington, D.C., and the FGS 2020 National Conference will be held September 2-5 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“We are extremely excited for all our upcoming conferences and look forward to visiting Washington, D.C., and Kansas City in future years,” says FGS President D. Joshua Taylor. “From 2016 to 2020, our conference venues are steeped in both history and research resources and make perfect settings for genealogists and family historians.”

This announcement extends the upcoming FGS conferences schedule to the year 2020 and includes:

• FGS 2016 National Conference and 40^th Anniversary in Springfield, Illinois
• FGS 2017 National Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• FGS 2018 National Conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana
• FGS 2019 National Conference in Washington, D.C.
• FGS 2020 National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri

Each conference will be joined and hosted by a local genealogical organization. The Illinois State Genealogical Society will welcome FGS this year in Springfield and the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society in 2017. Local hosts for future conferences will be announced at a later date.

Currently, registration is still open for the FGS 2016 National Conference “Time Travel: Centuries of Memories” to be held August 31-September 3, 2016, in Springfield, Illinois. Register at https://www.fgsconference.org/ and help celebrate our 40^th Anniversary in the Land of Lincoln!

Journey Through the FGS 2016 Exhibit Hall with Your Passport!

FGS 2016 Exhibit Hall Passport

Have each exhibitor “stamp” your passport. Return your stamped passport to the FGS booth by 1:30pm on Saturday, September 3rd to be entered into a drawing. You do not need to be present to win.

Drawings will begin at 1:45pm on Saturday, September 3rd at the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall.

GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE 
(must fully “stamp” both sides of this passport):

• 2017 FGS Conference Package*
• 2018 FGS Conference Registration
• AncestryDNA kit

INDIVIDUAL PRIZES
(return a passport with at least 15 “stamps”):

• FGS 2017 Conference Registration
• FGS 2018 Conference Registration
• Family Tree Maker (for Mac or PC)


*includes registration, syllabus, four hotel nights, daily luncheons, and special events

FGS Marshals Volunteers to Help National Historic Park Tell the Stories of Over 130,000 U.S.-Mexican War Soldiers

Federation of Genealogical Societies and National Park Service Partner for New Preservation Project

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Park Service’s Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park announce a partnership to develop a searchable database of more than 130,000 soldiers of the U.S.-Mexican War.

The database will allow descendants of U.S. soldiers to connect to their personal history and help Palo Alto commemorate and tell the stories of these soldiers. After the database is developed, unit histories, digitized documents, and information on U.S.-Mexican War soldiers will be added. Efforts will also be made to include names and information about Mexican soldiers in this war.

"FGS is thrilled to partner with the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park for this important preservation project,” said FGS President D. Joshua Taylor. “We look forward to working with our member societies and volunteers to provide new access to records for those researching the Mexican War."

Palo Alto Battlefield is also pleased with the partnership. “National Parks tell the stories of America,” said Superintendent Mark Spier. “Palo Alto Battlefield is excited to have the opportunity to work with the Federation of Genealogical Societies to tell the stories of the thousands of soldiers who served in the U.S.-Mexican War.”

To help bring these soldiers’ stories to life and to be a part of this momentous preservation project, indexing volunteers should contact Project Coordinator Patricia Rand, The Villages, FL, at projects@fgs.org.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Park Service previously partnered together in 1999 for the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System database project where FGS volunteers completed data entry for more than five million names. The efforts of the CWSS project can now be experienced on the NPS Civil War website. 

FGS 2016 Conference Exhibit Hall Demonstrations

Free exhibitor demonstrations will be offered periodically
in the Exhibit Hall during open hours. This is the place
to take a “test drive” of scanning equipment, view the
special features of different genealogy software packages
as they are highlighted by experts, and learn how to
search efficiently in online subscription databases. Below is the Demo Area schedule. The complete schedule will be posted outside the Exhibit Hall and on page 47 of the On-site Guide.