SLIG 2021 Special Events

SLIG 2021 may be virtual, but there will be plenty of the traditional SLIG Experience throughout. We have already posted about our Wrap-up event and keynote speaker. Here are the other events you won't want to miss! 

All-Participant Orientation

Sunday, January 10th, 5:00 pm

Come help us kick off three fun weeks of SLIG!

This event will include faculty and other introductions, information to help you make the most of your SLIG experience, and door prizes (must be present to win). 

While we can't follow it with our traditional reception, we can wind it up with one of our favorite traditions – entertainment. Bring your own treats and enjoy the fun! 

SLIG Central
Course weeks: 11:30 - 1:00 and 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Picture this - in a virtual setting. Networking, catching up with old friends, making new ones. 

We will have all kinds of break-out rooms for you to join and/or move around in. Each day will have a little different flavor, so watch the evening announcements. 

Course Photos

Days/times to be announced in class

Come prepared to let us capture your individual photo. Photos will be assembled by course "on the stairs." We think you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Sponsored Events
Open to anyone registered for either SLIG or Academy

Tuesday, January 19

• Board for Certification of Genealogists Town Hall
  5:15 pm MST
  This event will include a short introduction to BCG followed by open Q&A with some of the trustees.

• Legacy Tree Live Q&A: How to Get Hired
  6:30 pm MST
  Are you interested in joining Legacy Tree Genealogists as a part-time or full-time genealogist? Find out what it’s like to work from home for the world’s highest-rated genealogy research firm. We’ll be answering questions about remote work, benefits, hours, typical job requirements, and more! Legacy Tree Genealogists team members will be live at virtual SLIG with the inside scoop on working at Legacy Tree! 

Wednesday, January 20

• An Afternoon with Family Tree DNA
  with Göran Runfeldt, Paul Maier, Michael Sager, and Janine Cloud
  FTDNA will answer your burning questions about mitochondrial, autosomal, and Y-DNA, DNA science, test results, website navigation, test analysis, and more in two sessions. SLIG will distribute a link to submit questions prior to the event.
  2:00 pm MST – Open Q&A with FTDNA, Basic to Intermediate
  3:00 pm MST – Open Q&A with FTDNA, Advanced Topics

• Evening with FamilySearch
  with David Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS
  6:30 pm MST – What's New at FamilySearch and What's Happening in the Family History Library?
  Learn the latest initiatives at FamilySearch to serve a global audience and get a sneak peek at what has been happening in the Family History Library while it has been closed – yes, we’ve moved quite a bit of cheese, but we think you’ll love the new experience when we reopen! Q&A at the end of the presentation.

Thursday, January 21

• What is Accreditation and How Can it Benefit Me? with ICAPGen
  5:15 pm MST
  Have you wondered if accreditation is a good fit for you? Would you like to boost your research skills or gain confidence in client work? Learn about the accreditation process and its benefits from a panel of accredited genealogists. Ask your questions about earning this premiere credential and hear from a variety of perspectives. Whether you are in the process of accreditation or simply want to learn more, we invite you to join the discussion.

• Ancestry Corporate Professional Corner
  6:30 pm MST
  A panel conversation with Ancestry professional genealogists and their recruiting staff. The panel of professionals will be there to answer your questions about becoming a professional genealogists in today’s corporate world. They will address what it takes to be noticed by the recruiting team and how to find success as a professional genealogists.

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.

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.

Josh Taylor Shares Why You Should Attend SLIG

With the multitude of educational opportunities available for genealogists it can be difficult to choose which to attend. While webinars, conferences, and seminars each provide essential elements to your genealogical education, an institute, such as the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) offers a rich and unique experience for every genealogist. 

First, the ability to spend an entire week immersed in a particular subject provides untold benefits, as it enables us to focus on our research as we learn techniques and skills from some of the world's leading instructors. Like a college "short-course" week, SLIG provides an in-depth look a variety of subjects, from Technology to Advanced Methodology. With courses for genealogists of all levels, SLIG can be a solid foundation for beginning genealogists or an added skill set for advanced researchers.

Second, the consistency of highly-skilled instructors in your course throughout the week. Not only do you truly get to know your course coordinator, most courses include a set number of instructors that will be with you throughout the week. This provides an opportunity to develop deeper questions, and in some cases can literally tailor the course to your own research needs. Instructors will provide their own personal knowledge to the course, enriching your experience. Hearing one or two approaches to the same topic can provide you with a deeper level of understanding and more ideas. SLIG is truly a place to learn and expand your genealogical knowledge. 

Third, the small course sizes (usually around 30) provide an incredible opportunity to network with your fellow classmates. Take time to learn about their research and experience, as they might even have some advice for you, or you for them. SLIG certainly offers the ability to collaborate and learn from another other, a unique offering in genealogical education. Most meals are unscheduled, offering the chance to spend a few moments alone or join some of your classmates for a quick bite. Ensure you make the most of this networking opportunity; you might meet a few cousins as well as some lifelong friends.  

Fourth, an added benefit of SLIG is its location - only a few blocks from the Family History Library. This means you have an immediate opportunity to practice what you have been learning in the classroom. The ability for this "hands-on" element of your week in Salt Lake City often helps in retaining the information you are learning each day. Within a few moments after each day ends you can easily find yourself wrapped up in the sources and methods you discovered only moments ago in class. 

Finally, SLIG can often solidify your research goals for the New Year. After spending a week engrossed in family history it is difficult to loose the momentum when you return home. SLIG provides the perfect setting to create your genealogical goals for the year. Many participants leave SLIG with their "to-do" lists ready and can quickly jump into their research when they return home. 

While it might seem a bit overwhelming, SLIG is a week not to be missed for any genealogist. With constant learning and innovative new research ideas, opportunities to network with others, and hands-on research in the Family History Library, SLIG might well be considered heaven for genealogists!

~ D. Joshua Taylor