NGS 2026 Fort Wayne: Day 2

 HAPPY FRIDAY!

   The conference is now in full swing, and it feels like the entire genealogy community is here. One of the greatest joys of attending is reconnecting with friends and colleagues—some of whom I haven't seen in more than a decade. It's also been wonderful to finally meet, in person, several people I've only known through social media.

   Beyond the reunions, I've had the opportunity to attend presentations by speakers I've never heard before and to explore fresh, innovative topics that have sparked new ideas for my own research. Conferences like this are a reminder that genealogy is not only about discovering the past, but also about the friendships and shared passion that bring us together.

FRIDAY PICS

FamilySearch breakfast - Thank you, David Rencher!

Julia A. Anderson of FamilySearch

Lori Samuelson

Sue Hawes

Jennifer Zinck and Kimberly Powell

Kelvin Meyers

Penny Walters

Kelvin Meyers signing Forensic Genealogy

Rentate Yarborough-Sanders

Mary Roddy's California quilt

Mary Roddy's book quilt

Mary Roddy's quilt based on MyColorfulAncestry

A little help with Cheri Passey and Laura Hedgecock

Cheri Hudson Passey

Dinner with Connie Knox, Laura Hedgecock, and Aimee Cross

NGS 2026 Fort Wayne: Day 1

    

   The conference was opened by President David E. Rencher, and Sunny Jane Morton's moving talk "How Learning about the Past Can Change the Future: Family Stories and Intergenerational Identity". The attendance was definitely an increase from last year's in Louisville, I suspect because of the ACPL Genealogy Center. 

President David E. Rencher

Sunny Jane Morton

Judy Nimer Muhn and Andre Kerns

Congratulations to my long time friend Randy Seaver!

Congratulations to my DNA Cousin LaBrenda!

The next big campaign push by Judy!

NGS Executive Director Matt Menashes, CAE

They used my quote on the big screen!

   

CLASSES ATTENDED

There were so many classes to choose from that it was extremely hard. So many great speakers and topics! Luckily, NGS recorded a lot of them and I can listen to them online until July 15th. 

Made with ChatGPT

    By far the most surprising, informative, and very comical speaker was Dr. Penny Walters from the U.K. She blew my mind! If you have the chance to listen to her recorded class on the NGS-Whova app, please do!

   NOTE: I do not post my thoughts on every class I attended. I am not good at it, but let me say that every class was exceptional. NGS has a knack for attracting the best of the best in the genealogy world. This is more of a visual documentary of my time.

SOME PICS

David M. McCorkle's class

BCG Lunch

BCG Lunch

I was asked to take the official photographs of the newly “pinned” BCG associates. 

BCG Lunch

Dr. Jones at the BCG Lunch

Alice Childs' class

Carolyn Ladd's class

More Photos

Book signing is popular!

NGS Volunteer and friend Kristi Sexton

Good friend Catherine B.W. Desmarais

Catherin B.W. Desmarais signing "Forensice Genealogy"

Cairenn Binder, Michael S. Ramage and Caterine B.W. Desmarais

Dr. Thomas W. Jones

Got to get a selfie!

Roger Moffat with Lisa at the ftDNA table

Author and Speaker Ric Murphy signing my books!

Renate Yarborough-Sanders and Dr. Shelley Murphy

A nice get together for Roger Moffat (in hat)

Friend and President of the Georgia Genealogical Society, Lillian Wingate

NGS 2026 Fort Wayne: Pre-Conference

 

NGS 2026 Fort Wayne: Pre-Conference

 

  

   I’m attending the 48th Annual National Genealogical Society Family History Conference: America at 250,  this year being held at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This will be my 9th in-person conference since 2012. I love how NGS moves to different parts of the country each year. I have never been to Fort Wayne and I am glad because it has the largest genealogical department for a public library in the US, the Allen County Public Library (ACPL). I added a couple extra days to my trip to research there.

 

      NGS always have city tours, events, and pre-conference workshops, which is a plus for the conference goer. I waited until the last minute this year to join two workshops, which were already closed. I pleaded my case to NGS, and they graciously let me join in. Thank you!

WORKSHOPS

• America’s Story: Opportunity, Diversity, and Belonging Across 250 Years with Katherine R. Willson.

   I am so glad Katherine organized this topic together. We were given a workbook with questions about our own experiences with family history, our family stories, what our ancestors faced with migration, immigration, exclusion, or inclusion, and how they delt with them… and how I fell about them. Katherine led into discussions about these topics and everyone participated in lively discussions. 

Katherine R. Willson

• Hands-On Mapping & Geospatial Analysis with Google Earth Pro for Genealogical Research with Colleen Robledo-Greene, MLIS, FTxSGS.

   I love maps and this class is right up my alley. Truth be told, I have taken classes and watched webinars in the past about overlaying old maps onto present day maps for use in genealogy, but like they say, “use it or loose it”, and of course I needed a refresher. Colleen’s step-by-step process and her expertise in teaching students, her day job is a university tech teacher, and my determination to focus and learn this finally worked! I got it this time! 

Colleen Robledo-Greene, MLS, FTxSGS

   Today was a great start to the conference, despite the 3+ hour time zone change and having a little brain fog, I was in my happy place. 

Registration

Opening reception in the Exhibit Hall

Barbara Tien of Projectkin's "Ride Along Partners Again!"

Kyla Bayang with Projectkin's "Ride Along Partners Again!"

Yours truely