Hosting a Family History Booth

October 17, 2024

Hosting a Family History Booth

Table of Contents

Principles of Hosting a Family History Booth
Booth Opportunities
Council with Local Priesthood Leadership
Budget
Promote and Advertise Activity
Booth Volunteers
Using FamilySearch Logo
Booth Giveaway Examples
Booth Giveaways with the FamilySearch Logo (USA)
Booth Space
Booth Safety
Guest engagement
After the Activity

Principles of Hosting a Family History Booth

Hosting a Family History Booth builds positive community relationships in unique ways to educate others on FamilySearch Center services as well as create individual inspiring experiences for participants. Below are guidelines and examples to help you build a booth.

Booth Opportunities

  • Community Connections: Connect with your local community through fairs, historical commemorations, and ethnic festivals.
  • Genealogical or Historical Society Events
  • Church Activities (of all faiths)

Council with Local Priesthood Leadership

  • Ensure this effort is done under the direction of local priesthood leaders
  • Keep them informed
  • Set goals for booth participation. For example:
    • Talk to a certain number of people
    • Help create a certain number of new FamilySearch accounts
    • Handout a certain number of flyers
    • Invite a certain number of people to visit the FamilySearch center
  • Coordinate with the Stake Communication Director or local Communication Council
  • Communicate with Temple and Family History Area Advisers

Budget

  • Comes from the center's operating budget
  • Possibly from other Church entities involved, such as branches or wards, stakes or regions, and or area Communication Council

Promote and Advertise Activity

Advertise in the local community and encourage ward members to share with their friends. Church Communications representatives can help advertise in the local media. Other places to share are:

  • Local community calendars (online and print)
  • The local library (share poster)
  • Reach out to local contacts
  • Social Media (follow guidelines in the Center Operations Guide, under Marketing and Outreach, Promoting your center)
  • FamilySearch Center's FamilySearch Wiki page
  • Ward and Stake announcements
  • Create a poster (see BYU Print & Mail or create your own without using the FamilySearch logo).
    • Share at community centers, such as public libraries and churches.

Booth Volunteers

  • Staff booth with friendly, attentive, and engaging individuals familiar with the Family Tree and other offerings (FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch center, FamilySearch Library, etc.).
    Note: They do not need to be experts, as further assistance is available at the center.
  • Ensure they know how to look up individuals in the Tree and see if they are related, as well as being able to explain the relationship, such as 4th cousins once removed.
  • At the event, interact and build relationships with neighboring booths
  • Invite missionaries from the local mission if they have a basic family history and FamilySearch knowledge. No proselytizing.
  • Be aware not to use Church lingo or proselytize.
  • Help with setup and take down of booth.
  • Name Tags
    • Center staff may purchase name tags using center or stake budget funds. You may not use Church or FamilySearch logos on locally made name tags. (FamilySearch Center Operations Guide, 5: Administration of the Center)
    • You may use the FamilySearch Center logo and the FamilySearch brand colors and fonts. (FamilySearch Brand Standards)

  • Should be approved and have gone through correlation
  • FamilySearch will provide the graphic file to ensure the proper logo is used
    • Note: Do not screenshot a copy of the logo online
    • Outside of North America, contact the area manager
  • Pass along cards at the Online Store
  • Family History: Get Started at the Online Store
  • Approved items are available for purchase at BYU Print & Mail
    • Banner
    • Tablecloth
    • Handouts/rack cards
    • Posters
  • Not to be used on additional promotional materials
  • Should not be placed on items that would look bad for the FamilySearch brand
    • For example, Items associated with alcohol or tobacco

Booth Giveaway Examples

  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Post-it Notes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Fans
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Lens cleaner
  • Stress balls
  • Umbrellas
  • Water bottles
  • USB sticks
  • Bowl of treats
    • Look beyond the cheapest ones
    • Local treats to support local businesses
    • No homemade treats

Booth Giveaways with the FamilySearch Logo (USA)

Visit these websites to find approved materials that can be ordered with the FamilySearch logo.

  • Local to SLC:
    • Logoconcepts.us
    • Adcentiveswest.com
  • Online:
    • BYU Print & Mail
    • 4imprint.com
    • Printablepromotions.com

Booth Space

  • FamilySearch Disclaimer notice sign: non-negotiable, available through BYU Print & Mail
  • Simple designs are most inviting
  • Too much text intimidates
  • Open and inviting space. Do not load the table with items.
  • Eliminate barriers that do not invite people to stop
  • Stand out from the crowd in a positive way
  • Large photos capture attention
  • Easels for posters (floor or tabletop)
  • Rack cards/Handouts
  • Know the rules of the venue where the event is being held
  • Know what resources will be provided for free and at a cost, such as:
    • Tables
    • Chairs
    • Canopy
    • Electricity
    • Internet (wired or wireless)
  • Do not transport FamilySearch center computers to a booth event. Center hardware (computers, printers, etc.) is not permitted to leave the center.
  • Laptop and or tablet
    • Note: If using personal FamilySearch accounts to demonstrate, beforehand go to FamilySearch Settings Account and turn off Show Temple Options.
    • No access to FamilySearch center premium websites from the Church building
  • Monitor
  • Printer
    • Paper
  • Electrical cords
  • Power surge protectors
  • Mobile hotspot device or if Internet is provided: router, ethernet switches
  • Electronic connections to connect a phone or computer to a TV screen or monitor
  • Cables to connect printer to computer or network, etc.
    • Note: Each tech device will need a different connection

Booth Safety

  • Before opening the booth, have a prayer and seek inspiration.
  • Basic first aid kit, just for the volunteers, not attendees, due to liability
  • Power cords, if used
    • Secure to avoid tripping, possibly with Gaffer's or painter's tape
    • Do not use frayed cords
  • Minimum of 2 people working the booth at a time
  • Ensure volunteers have water and snacks readily available
  • Hand sanitizer

Guest Engagement

Build relationships with the community and provide quick, fun activities that engage individuals, couples, and families.

  • Consider a booth theme as part of the current FamilySearch campaign, such as the country's Independence Day.
  • Depending on the exhibit and festival/activity, consider period clothing—no Halloween-type masks.
  • Interact with and build relationships with neighboring booths
  • Display a looping video that captures attention and interest
  • Introduction to FamilySearch apps
    • Family Tree
    • Memories
    • Get Involved
      Note: Before using personal FamilySearch accounts to demonstrate, go to FamilySearch Settings Account and turn off Show Temple Options.
  • Community connections. Some examples that would need to be prepared in advance.
    • Build the Family Tree so guests can tap into local historical community members
      • BYU Record Linking Lab develops tools that link families and individuals across records and may have a project or help create one for your community
    • Compare A Face with famous local historical figures and see which guests match various figures
    • Discover whether booth volunteers are related to attendees
  • Assist in creating a FamilySearch account
    • Consider providing a side table and chair for guests, as this may take time
  • Record brief stories
    • Provide a side table and chair for guests, as this may take time
  • Games that capture attention and provide an opportunity to interact with attendees as they stop, participate, and ask questions. Provide a simple prize from playing the game, such as candy or one of the giveaways. Here are some game examples:
    • Spinner or prize wheel with family history-related questions
    • Plinko board
    • Bean bag toss, possibly with a family history design, such as a blank family tree
  • Interactive activities. Examples:
    • Demonstrate FamilySearch Activities
    • Are we related?
      • Ask the attendee if you can see if you can find relatives in the tree. Ask about a deceased grandparent or great-grandparent. Then, check to see if you are related to that person. That will tell you that you are also related to the visitor. It's especially powerful if the relative has a photo or other records on the Tree that you can show the attendee.
    • Use FamilySearch to help them find a deceased family member they knew
      • If a family member is found, ask if they know a story about them, as this will get them talking and feeling excited
    • Activities on paper, printed in advance, such as:
    • Map My Ancestor Activities:
      • Large world map for mapping ancestor activity
      • Use the Map My Ancestors feature on the Family Tree app to locate places where ancestors lived
      • Group Activity: Place stickers (or connect locations with string) on a world map where your ancestors lived.
      • What can attendees learn about ancestral homelands?
  • If they would like to learn more about family research, schedule an appointment to meet at the FamilySearch center.

After the Activity

  • Council together
    • Gather those who planned and volunteered
    • Discuss if goals were reached
    • Discuss your learnings, what went well, and what did not go so well
    • Take notes in preparation for setting goals for and planning the next event
    • Share information with priesthood leaders and FamilySearch center staff
    • Assign follow-up responsibilities
  • Follow up on answering questions when you were given contact information
  • Reach out to old and new contacts
  • Follow through on leads
  • Collaborate with local Church Communications if the following occurred at the event:
    • Meet a local influencer
    • Special interest stories
    • Send thank you notes or emails to those who helped, such as community activity organizers, and those who invited you to participate.
Tags
FamilySearch Centers Temple & Family History Consultant