Save on Shipping: Pickup at SLIG

ORDER BY END OF DAY JANUARY 1, 2020

Click on the "Pick up at SLIG" Button

Save on Shipping Costs for the next 6 days! All orders placed by the end of the day January 1, 2020, may be picked up at SLIG (or the Academy). The supplier will process them, box or bag them individually with your name, and have them ready for our truck to pick them up prior to SLIG.

Shop at: slig.axomo.com

New Items and Categories 

Besides a few very popular items, the SLIG store has been revamped to include many new items in several categories from apparel to electronics. There are chargers, bags, portfolios, apparel, accessories, travel items, drinkware, things for the home, and even items for the "Future" SLIG student in the family.

Most are available in multiple colors so don't forget to click the image to view options.

Discounted Items

Please note that the following items - from prior year's inventory - have been placed on clearance; the prices shown online are the "sale" prices: the Cara Mug, credit-card size USB drive, mousepad, and the ceramic camper mug.

There is also some limited stock available on previously popular sweatshirts. While not reduced in price, they won't be restocked when sold out.

Sizing

Please review the apparel sizing chart and order carefully. Aside from a handful of sweatshirts already in stock, each item is processed as purchased and exchanges are not possible.

Checking out

If you shopped at the store last year, you should be able to log in using the account you set up at that time. Otherwise, you may set up a new one. Obviously, there are advantages to having an account, like being able to track your order or view past orders. However, you may also check out as a guest.

Where to pick up your order

Your items will be waiting for you in SLIG Central on Monday morning, or Academy Central at Monday lunchtime. All items need to be picked up no later than 5:00 pm Thursday of the week you are attending.

Shopping at SLIG? 

There will be a limited number of items at SLIG for you to purchase. But, the greatest variety will be available online. We will have a computer on-site for you to review choices and submit an order should you decide to have something to be delivered to your home. 

Happy Holidays from SLIG!

UGA Statement on USCIS Proposed Fee Increase

The Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) strongly opposes the proposed fee increase for the Genealogy Program under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as reported in the Federal Register on November 14, 2019. The current proposal is to increase the search fee from $65 to $240 and then the cost of a paper file from $65 to $385. This means the overall charge for genealogists to obtain A-Files, Visa Files, Registry Files, and some C-Files would be $625 per record provided the file number is unknown ($240 file index search plus $385 for the record itself). This is unaffordable to many genealogists, which means the records would be inaccessible to them. The Genealogy Program is essential for family historians seeking citizenship and alien records of deceased immigrants who arrived in the United States between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.

UGA is proud of our state’s interest in heritage, family history research, and records access. From our earliest pioneer settlers to our modern residents, Utah and its people have always cared about preserving historical records and making them accessible and affordable. We applaud Senator Mitt Romney for speaking out on this subject and asking USCIS to reconsider its proposal. (https://www.romney.senate.gov/romney-expresses-concern-about-500-fee-increase-obtain-genealogy-records)

We recognize that there are costs involved with preserving and retrieving genealogical records, and we do not oppose organizations charging modest fees to cover these costs. However, we stand by our belief that records should be accessible and available to researchers, and we feel that exorbitant fees to access genealogical records hurt those who are trying to use and preserve them. We encourage record repositories to promote, not prohibit, access to their genealogical records. 

UGA’s mission includes providing genealogical information on state, national, and international family history topics. As such, we feel it is our duty to speak out on this urgent matter and call our members to immediate action. We call on USCIS to carefully consider any proposed fee increases, making sure they would not unduly burden those who need access to their records. We respectfully request USCIS to reduce the proposed fee to one that is comparable to the fees of other repositories, such as the National Archives. We also request USCIS to transfer all files eligible for transfer to the National Archives, where they would be more accessible to those who need them. 

We invite our members and residents of our state to make your voices heard on this topic. Please visit Records Not Revenue (https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com) and submit public comments on the proposed rule in the hopes that USCIS will reconsider. Please also send a letter to your congressman, asking for his or her support. We invite you to also thank Senator Mitt Romney for leading the discussion on this important issue.

Sincerely,

UGA Executive Committee

Kelly Summers, AG, UGA President

Elizabeth Miller, UGA First Vice President

Tristan Tolman, AG, UGA Second Vice President

BCG Releases 2020 Webinar Schedule

Board for Certification of Genealogists® to Sponsor Free Webinars

The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) is proud to announce sponsorship of twelve monthly webinars in 2020 at our partner website Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com).

Date	Speaker	Topic
January 21	Jan M. Joyce, DBA, CG, CGL	Creative Hypothesis Development for Complex Genealogy Problems
February 18	Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS	A Convincing Argument or a Convoluted Mess?
March 17	Karen Stanbary, CG	Techniques for Integrating Documentary and Genetic Information in a Research Report
April 21	Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL	Maryland State Archives Decoded
May 19	Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG	Discover the Holdings of German Archives
June 16	David Ouimette, CG, CGL	Genealogical Treasures in Irish Archives
July 21	Warren Bittner, CG	Elusive Immigrant: The Search for Dora Lühr
August 18	Thomas W. Jones, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA	The Advance of Research Habits Over Recent Decades—And the Downside
September 15	Melissa A. Johnson, CG	Reconstructing the Murphy Family Using DNA & Documentary Evidence
October 20	Angela Packer McGhie, CG	Using DNA Test Results to Confirm a Pedigree
November 17	Shannon Green, CG	Separating and Merging Identities of Same-Named Men
December 15	Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL	From the 18th to the 21st: The Records of Prohibition

“The Board for Certification of Genealogists is pleased to present these high-quality educational webinars,” said President LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL. “BCG provides educational offerings to family historians of all levels of experience, and promotes public confidence in genealogy by supporting uniform standards of competence.” 

BCG’s webinars are normally held on the third Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m. Eastern time. In order to accommodate those who might have schedule conflicts, webinars may be accessed by the public at no charge for a week after each live broadcast. BCG webinars are always free to BCG-certified associates.

BCG receives a commission if you register by clicking and buying via our affiliate link at http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=2619. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar. For more information contact: office@BCGcertification.org.

To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2020, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard at https://bcgcertification.org/bcg-2020-free-webinars/. For access to all BCG webinars, see the BCG Library at Legacy Family Tree Webinars at our affiliate link: http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=2619. To register for more than one webinar at the same time, use our affiliate link: http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?tid=3049.

For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit: https://bcgcertification.org/learning/education/.

Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt, CG

BCG News Release Coordinator

The words Certified Genealogist and the designation CG are registered certification marks, and the designation CGL and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.

SLIG Trofi Lunch and Dietary Accommodations

Some have been asking about dietary accommodations on the Trofi lunch offered during SLIG week.

This is what we have received back from the hotel:

Gluten-free: 
Daily: both the soup and the salad are gluten-free.
Monday: gluten-free bread will be available upon request.
Tuesday: the full menu is gluten-free with the corn tortilla option.
Wednesday: gluten-free bread will be available upon request.
Thursday: the full menu is gluten-free.
Friday: gluten-free bread will be available upon request.

Lactose-free: 
Monday: mixed green salad with vinaigrette dressing
Tuesday: eliminate the cheese and sour cream
Wednesday: you may request a sandwich/wrap to accommodate
Thursday: again, eliminate the cheese and sour cream
Friday: you may request a sandwich/wrap to accommodate

Vegan: 
You may request a special plate.

Diabetic:
The full menu should work for you with any personal accommodations you may select, except the dessert. A fruit cup may be requested if desired.

REMEMBER - pre-paid means you can skip the lines; just give your name and walk on in. Five days (Monday-Friday) may be purchased with special events registration. If you already completed special events registration and wish to add it, just email the registrar.

Or, you can purchase one day at a time as desired.
The full menu for each day is posted here.

We'll see you there!

Downtown Salt Lake City Eateries

Downtown Salt Lake City has so many cool little eateries. We have compiled a list of the many great restaurants to choose from within walking distance of the Hilton or a short drive.

Here are some of our favorites!

Blue Lemon - 55 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, 801-328-2583. Hours Monday - Thursday 7:00 am- 9:00 pm, Friday-Saturday 7:00 am – 10:00 pm. Closed Sunday.

Siegfried's Delicatessen - 20 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, (385) 355- 1912,

Deli Hours of Operation:

Monday – Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Thursday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Restaurant Hours of Operation:

Monday-Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Closed Sunday.

Caffe Molise - 404 S West Temple Salt Lake City, (801) 364-8833. Hours Monday - Thursday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm, Friday - Saturday 11:30 am – 10:00 pm, Sunday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm.

Eva Small Plates & Drinks - 317 S Main Street, Salt Lake City, (801) 359-8447. Hours Monday - Thursday 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Friday & Saturday 5:00 pm – 12:00 am, Sunday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe - 28 South State Street. #235, Salt Lake City, (801) 428-3051 (City Creek). Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm. Closed Sunday.

Nauvoo Cafe - 15 East South Temple, Main Floor, Salt Lake City, (801) 539-3346. Hours Monday - Friday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sunday Closed.

Blue Iguana – 165 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, (801) 533-8900, Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm, Friday-Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sunday 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

If you have any suggestions for great places to eat during SLIG, please be sure to comment here or on our SLIG Attendee Facebook group.

Please check out the Visit Salt Lake website for a concise directory of restaurants.

Sale at AncestryDNA!

AncestryDNA is now $49--Sale ends Monday. Regularly priced at $99, you are saving 50%!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday with their friends and family!

From all of us at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Breakfast and Lunch Options at SLIG/Academy

Network and Enjoy Friends over breakfast or lunch during SLIG and Academy weeks. 

Specials Include:

Breakfast Special at Trofi Restaurant

Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with omelets made to order for $18.00 (tax and tip included). This price is open to SLIG and Academy participants and their guests by simply showing your name badge. No need to pre-order. Alternately, Trofi will offer regular menu items.

SLIG Lunch Special at Trofi: The Hilton will be serving a lunch buffet for SLIG participants and their guests for $20.00 (tax and tip inclusive) during SLIG week from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Click here for the menu. The five-day lunch package may be pre-purchased with special event registration, or participants and their guests may purchase separately on-site with a SLIG name badge.

Academy Lunch Special through Starbucks: The Hilton will be offering a lunch package during the week of the Academy through Starbucks. The special will include the choice of a Salad or a Sandwich, a Bag of Chips, and a Drink (20oz Coca Cola Beverage or 16oz Icelandic Bottle of water). The price is $12.00 (about 15% off the cost of items purchased separately). Tax and tip are not included. Participants may sit in one of three locations in the Hilton set aside for Academy students.

One-on-One Consultations

Back by Popular Demand!

Ever wanted to sit down with an expert for an hour to discuss your own research one on one? SLIG Extended offers the opportunity to do just that. 

DNA Consultations with Karen Stanbary are available Saturday 18th through Tuesday 21st. And Research Consultations with Craig Scott are available evenings during SLIG week as well as Saturday - Sunday, January 18th and 19th.

A limited number of time slots are available. Registration is open to all participants of both SLIG and Academy. The consultants will reach out after registration is complete to set your consultation time.

Registration will be included with special events registration – on the SLIG Extended form, which includes SLIG Day at the FHL and the professional workshops.

Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA

Craig is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 5,300 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than thirty years, he specializes in the records of the National Archives, especially those that relate to the military. He is the former Coordinator of the Military tracks at IGHR, SLIG and GRIP.

Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG

Karen Stanbary is an author and lecturer focusing on topics related to using genetic evidence correlated with documentary evidence to solve genealogical brick walls. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago and has completed advanced graduate study in Social Anthropology at the Colegio de Michoacan, Mexico. Her genealogical practice specializes in Midwestern U.S., Chicago, and Mexican research as well as complex problem-solving, unknown parentage, and DNA analysis. She is a coordinator and faculty member at GRIP, IGHR, and SLIG. She received the NGSQ Award for Excellence for her complex evidence case study incorporating traditional documentary research and autosomal DNA analysis in the June 2016 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Most recently, she published “Drowning in DNA? The Genealogical Proof Standard Tosses a Lifeline” in Debbie Parker Wayne’s book Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies. She holds the credential Certified Genealogist from the Board for Certification of Genealogists where she serves as a Trustee and is chair of the standing DNA Committee.

Professional Workshops

New this year! 

Half-day workshops on topics for professionals.

Friday, January 24, 2020, 2:00–5:30pm

These workshops will feature hands-on opportunities to build and enhance the skills required to manage a professional's daily work.

Students should bring their own laptops; electricity will be provided at each desk.

Registration will be open to both SLIG and Academy participants through “SLIG Extended” - a special events registration form featuring SLIG Day at the FHL, Consultations, and the workshops.

Digital Presence and Resume Building for the Professional Genealogist 

Janell Esplin, Ancestry ProGenealogists

During this workshop, we will discuss the importance of having a professional digital presence for genealogical researchers. We will look at the differences between LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms and spend time creating and updating existing profiles, giving you the confidence needed to find the right professional space for you. We will also discuss and review best practices around your professional genealogical resume and what should and should not be included on this resume. We will go over formatting and bringing your professional experience together with your genealogical research experience. When you leave this workshop you will have a great LinkedIn profile and a resume to submit to any company looking to hire professional genealogists!

Janell is the recruiter for Content, Emerging Business, DNA Operations and Member Services at Ancestry and has been in her current role for 3 years. She has brought over 40 genealogists to the company and has filled over 150 other openings across the organization. She has a passion for supporting her business partners, ensuring that candidates have a great experience when working with Ancestry, and helping candidates find the right role at this amazing company. Prior to joining the Ancestry family, Janell was a Recreation Director in the human services field. Janell has a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences: Psychology from Utah Valley University. Janell currently serves on the Human Rights Committee for a local residential facility, where she serves as Chairman. She is an avid soccer fan and in her spare time loves to read and spend time with her family.

This workshop is sponsored by Ancestry ProGenealogists.

Get Your Life Back: Organizational Tools for the Professional Genealogist

Jessica Taylor, Legacy Tree Genealogists

This workshop will dive into tools to help you balance your work life AND succeed as a professional genealogist. We’ll discuss scheduling and life balance tools, communication tools, project management, to-do lists, and more. Our focus will be less on the organization of genealogy documents and more on the management of everything else related to your genealogy career.

Jessica Taylor founded Legacy Tree Genealogists in 2004, which has since grown to a company of over 35 employees, with additional contractors spread across the globe. Legacy Tree is the highest client-rated genealogy research company in the world and the recommended research company of MyHeritage, 23andMe, RootsMagic, and more. Helping clients discover their roots, connect with biological family and preserve their legacies, while caring for our team of superstar professionals, is Legacy Tree Genealogists’ joy and passion.

This workshop is sponsored by Legacy Tree Genealogists.

Academy 2020: Roundtable Discussions

Wednesday, 22 January 2020, 7:00–8:30 pm

Join your colleagues to discuss topics relevant to your professional careers. Very light snacks will be served. 

Participants will be able to select one of the following topics to join with special events registration: 

• Business: Managing Time and Work
• Business: Successful Marketing Strategies
• Clients: Compensation and Fees
• Clients: Contracts and Clauses
• Clients: Relations and Expectations
• Copyright and Fair Use
• Credentialing: AG
• Credentialing: CG
• DNA: Ethical Business Practices
• DNA: Research Standards
• Professional Development
• Speaking: Preparing for the Lecture Circuit
• Writing: Getting Published (non-peer-review)

SLIG 2020 Networking Social

One of the best benefits of attending SLIG is the ability to visit with old friends and make new ones. To help facilitate networking among SLIG students, there will be a networking social on Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

Attendees can relax, network, and enjoy a warm pretzel and grab a drink. A cash bar will offer a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase; no purchase required to participate.

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone in January 2020! Please make sure to include attending the social in your plans that week.

Happy Holidays!

The holiday shopping season is just around the corner! Make sure to include the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) on your wish list this year! 

What better gift to give yourself than a fantastic institute course that will elevate your genealogical education!

And there is no better way to start 2020 than to spend a week (or two) with your genealogy friends! For SLIG 2020, go here. For the Academy, go here.

Ancestry ProGenealogists Scholarship Program - Deadline November 30th

Institutes are a great way to increase your professional genealogical knowledge, skills and abilities and now Ancestry helps to make it more affordable!

Ancestry has established a scholarship program to foster and support professional genealogists in their professional growth and development efforts. Once again, AncestryProGenealogists™ is sponsoring scholarships to Institutions. This year, 5 scholarships are being offered - 1 scholarship to each of 5 institutions: GRI, SLIG, MAAGI, Gen-Fed, IGHR .

Full details and applications are available at:

https://www.progenealogists.com/scholarship

Deadline date for submissions is 30 November 2019.

Kory Meyerink to Keynote Academy Luncheon

Academy for Professionals 

Closing Luncheon and Keynote

Friday, 24 January 2020, 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Kory L. Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA, will keynote the closing luncheon for the 2020 SLIG Academy for Professionals. In keeping with the SLIG 2020 theme, Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future, Kory will help us work toward a brighter future:

“The Secret of Your Success: Networking Your Way to a Profitable Career”

Genealogists love what we do. Armed with amazing skills, a lot of persistence, and a heavy dose of self-reliance, we dig into the past with vigilance. Alone. Which could be a recipe for disaster, since our success is often directly tied to our ability to find the right answers, and the right people to work with.

Forty years in genealogy has given Kory Meyerink the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of this important and growing field. He has conducted research for clients and companies, mentored other genealogists, worked at the Family History Library, and written chapters and books.  He was the first acquisitions manager for a fledgling company now known as Ancestry, co-founder of ProGenealogists, and continues with AncestryProGenealogists as a research manager and a Master Genealogist. Somewhere along the way, he found time to serve on the board for the Utah Genealogical Association and launch the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)!

Closing luncheon tickets are included with Academy registration; guest tickets are available for an additional fee; RSVP is required.

Academy: Welcome Breakfast and Commemorative Event

SLIG Academy for Professionals 

Monday, 20 January 2020, 8:30–10:00am

Members of the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir will join us in this commemorative celebration in honor of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his life and legacy. 

The choir is a diverse group of singers who have performed at the Stadium of Fire, the National Convention of the NAACP in San Antonio, Texas, the Eccles Theater, the Temple at Har Shalom Park City, and the Tabernacle on Temple Square, to name just a few places of import. 

The breakfast will formally kick-off the Academy in addition to paying tribute, and will include an introduction of the faculty.

Breakfast will be served. Tickets are included with Academy registration; guest tickets are available for an additional fee; RSVP is required. 

SLIG 2020 Theme Announced

Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future

As genealogists, we dig deeply to better understand our ancestors’ lives in the context of time and place. We seek for any little clue that will provide insight into the way they lived, what they did, and why they did it. We read multiple books and articles in a simple effort to understand their occupation, related hazards, and opportunities. We aren’t satisfied to know that they migrated from Delaware to Oregon with a brief stop in Kansas; we want to know why! And so we learn more about history, wars, bounty land, migration routes, and ethnic groups. We strive to understand those who moved for opportunity, and those who moved to seek refuge, and from what. 

At some point in time, we realize that not only do we carry the DNA of our ancestors, but also that their past is part of what made us who we are today. On-site research becomes so much more than access to records not available elsewhere; it becomes a cultural and emotional connection with that part of us that feels our heritage deeply.

To honor the past is to preserve it, appreciate it, understand it, and respect it. We hope this theme, and the special events related to it throughout SLIG, will foster a greater appreciation for and understanding of our past, the lives of our ancestors, and the heritage we each enjoy. 

We also hope that it will help each of us embrace the future.

Sometimes the future can be scary – so many unknowns.
New technologies, new challenges, new standards to meet when a previously-undeveloped resource like DNA hits the scene. But the excitement of a new find as the result of their application can rival hugging a new grandbaby when she arrives.

Embracing the future replaces fear with excitement, and hesitation with motivation and vision. Embracing the future of genealogy can also help us live more fully in the present, and better honor the past.

As SLIG celebrates its 25^th anniversary, we will take a look at things past, present, and future. We will provide opportunities to learn, network, share, honor the past, and grow toward the future. And hopefully, through this unique educational experience called an institute, each student will each glean new information and skills that will help them to improve their own research future. 

We hope to see you there!