Texas State Genealogical Society 2012 Conference

Texas State Genealogical Society 2012 Annual Conference was a resounding success with over 300 General Confeence registrants and dozens more attending the various free events.

MARK YOU CALENDAR FOR THE 2013 Texas State Conference in Round Rock on October 31st and November 1st and 2nd, 2013.

Riley Conference Center, Southwestern Theological Seminary Fort Worth, Texas

GPS location: 4726 Stanley Ave, Fort Worth TX 76115 1-3 November 2012

Local Host Societies:

Mid-Cities Genealogical Society Arlington (TX) Genealogical Society Grand Prairie (TX) Genealogical Society

About
The Texas State Genealogical Society (TSGS) hosts an Annual Conference in partnership with one or more local societies. Watch this page for frequent updates.

Keynote Speaker
The TSGS 2012 Annual Conference will feature nationally known Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA. IGSF Mr. Witcher is the Genealogy Center Manager of the Allen County Indiana Public Library, the second largest genealogical collection in the US.

Thursday, November 1
Planned Tracks:


 * Librarians' Track: Opening: Best of Times--For Genealogists &amp; Their Librarians by Curt Witcher. Give 'em What They Want: Collection Development and Partnerships by Sue Kaufman, With the Ancestrally Challenged - Providing Service to Family History Researchers by Bill Buckner, and Dallas Public Library Genealogy Collection by Sharon Martin.
 * Genealogical Society Leadership Sessions. Products, Prospects and Publicity: Marketing Your Society for Success by Susan Ball, Put Your Society Publications &amp; Records Online by Tony Hanson, Blogs, Journals and Forums: How to Share Your Research Online by Randy Whited and Becoming the Outstanding Leader Your Society Needs by Curt Witcher
 * FamilySearch Track Free (pre-registration requested): Two identical presentions morning and afternood by Travis and Elizabeth Morris.
 * Public Expo Thursday evening 5 - 9 pm Wait . . . Wait . . . Gee, we can't yet tell you who the celebrity is. Free to all. Stay tuned, you'll love this. Dozens of exhibitors and special learning experiences.

Friday, November 2

 * Methodology Track: Gone To Texas by Teri Flack; Removing Research Stumbling Blocks: Strategies for Success by Karen Matheson; Get the Scoop! Using Newspapers in Family History Research by Matheson, Abstract versus Original, Do I need both? by Kelvin Meyers; and A Lifetime of Genealogy by Lloyd Bockstruck.
 * Resources Track: My Ancestor the Texas Ranger, Proving his Service by Kelvin Meyers; Genealogical Resources in the Texas General Land Office by Jim Harkins; Gone to Texas: Fundamentals of Texas researchRPAC &amp; Probate by Teri Flack;Records: Ensuring Preservation and Access by Teri Flack; Behind Bars: Finding Your Ancestors in Prison Records by Karen Matheson.
 * Ethnic Focus: Finding Frieda and Fritz: Identifying Immigrant Origins Ancestors by Karen Metheson; Who’s in YOUR Genes? A 5 step guide to jump starting your African American (or ANY) Family Research by Anna Burroughs; Hispanic Genealogical Research -The Basics by Janet Khashab; Native American Resources at the SW Branch of NARA by Aaron Holt.
 * Technology Track: Photo Scanning, Saving and Sharing by Randy Whited; Going Nuclear: DNA Discoveries to Trace All Lines of Descent by Debbie Parker Wayne; Journals and Forums: How to Share Your Research OnlineBlogs by Randy Whited; Portal to Texas History by Carlisle and Keep Your Feet On the Ground and Your Data In the Cloud by Randy Whited.
 * Getting Started Experience by the Dallas Genealogical Society Team. Free (pre-registration requested).
 * FamilySearch Track by Travis and Elizabeth Morris. Pre-registration requeted.
 * Friday Night Banquet - Speaker: Lloyd Bockstruck "A Black Chicken Lays White Eggs" Join us for an evening fun and conversation as we hold our traditional Friday night awards banquet, but this year served with a twist!

Saturday, November 3

 * All-day block of four valued talks by Curt Witcher: An Ancestor's Death -- A Time for Reaping; &amp; Using Government Documents for Genealogical Research; &amp; Finding the World with WorldCat; &amp;“Doing the History Eliminates the Mystery!
 * Getting Started Experience (see above) Free but pre-registration required

Exhibitors

 * FamilySearch - Fort Worth Family History Center = Gold Sponsor
 * Dallas Genealogical Society = Silver Sponsor
 * Texas General Land Office = Silver Sponsor
 * Texas Cemetery Restoration, LLC = Bronze Sponsor
 * Cemetery Preservation Supply, LLC = Bronze Sponsor
 * Arlington Genealogical Society
 * Grand Prarire Genealogical Society
 * Mid-Cities Genealogical Society
 * Arphax Publishing
 * Czech Genealogical Society, Texas
 * Denton County Genealogical Society
 * Lloyd Enterprises
 * Mia's Books
 * Missouri Connections
 * Jacobus Books
 * The Wright Collection
 * Hogar de Dallas
 * Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists
 * The Barefoot Reader
 * Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society
 * Friends of Clayton Library
 * Abstracting the Past
 * The Fort Worth Genealogical Society
 * . . . and more coming!

Door Prizes

 * Ancestry
 * FamilyTree DNA
 * Lifemarker
 * A free on-line genealogy class by National Institute of Genealogical Studies in every Welcome Bag!
 * . . . and many more!

News Feeds

 * Twitter Feed for #TSGS2012 Hashtag