Technique Tip - Institutes and Other Learning

With my new genealogy blog, I hope to tell Stories on Sundays and share Techniques on Tuesdays.  I think, for now, that’s a reasonable goal.  I’ve shared my first story, and now that it’s Tuesday it’s time to share a technique.

I’ve been a genealogist for almost sixteen years.  In that time I’ve attended many presentations in my local area, a conference or two, and even had the chance to take a year-long class in the Genealogy and Family History Program at the University of Washington.  And last week I got to add a new experience – attending an institute, namely the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG).  What these things have in common is the chance to meet and network with other genealogists.  There is nothing like working on a project with other genealogists or being in a class and hearing a classmate’s question to sharpen your own understanding of the lesson.  At a conference or an institute you get a chance to network with other genealogists and see what kind of projects or activities their local societies do and bring something back to enrich your own society.

SLIG was particularly nice for me to get to meet genealogists from all over the world and see their passion for what they do, from the plenary speaker David MacDonald to my project teammates Gideon, Sandy and MarGay, to my roommate, Kate – I learned something from each of them and treasure that experience.  

If you belong to a society, go to a meeting.  If you don’t belong, join one.   And If you’re thinking about attending an institute, maybe it’s time to do it. 


To that end, SLIG has asked its most recent graduates to come up with a couple of taglines that might sum up the experience.  Here’s my tries…


​
SLIG – Where everybody knows your grandma’s name









SLIG – Where nobody makes fun of your hobby

---