SLIG Theme 2021: Commitment to Excellence

Understatement: this past year has been a difficult one for most. We have faced a combination of challenges that many of us never thought we would see in our lifetime – from fires and earthquakes to civil unrest, financial upheaval, political turmoil, the pandemic, and more.*

And yet, I have seen some really amazing things during that time. Organizations have worked hard to ensure that we, as genealogists, continued to have quality education available. Instructors have pushed through personal challenges, from deaths in the family to long-hauler Covid-19 symptoms, to ensure students can continue to benefit from their expertise. Opportunities to attend conferences and institutes have become available to those normally unable to attend due to the cost of travel or other responsibilities. 

The transition to virtual isn’t an easy or smooth road for any organization. There are contractual obligations to navigate, numerous changes and decisions to make, and in our case, a few technical glitches and missed deadlines to sigh about. Thankfully, our amazing faculty graciously granted us the flexibility needed to manage the process. 

Beyond that, they went the extra mile to make 2021 something special.  Coordinators worked to revamp courses to better fit the technology, utilized the opportunity to bring in experts previously not available, and modified workshops and added instructors to ensure adequate virtual assistance. Coordinators and instructors have tackled the virtual change with eyes toward opportunity, not challenge, and responded with creativity to both technology changes and expansion requests. 

This consistent demonstration of their commitment to excellence—to providing the best possible education to each and every one of their students—is what makes SLIG a success and will likely make SLIG 2021 more memorable than most. To each of them, “Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

And so, in spite of challenging times all around us, we come to SLIG to improve our skills, gain inspiration, and become more exceptional at what we do. In so doing, we benefit from the example of the experts who teach and mentor us, and their daily commitment to excellence. 

I hope we may be inspired to increase our commitment to excellence in our studies, research, community service, and professional work in a way that will strengthen us in spite of challenges that may lie ahead.

Peg Ivanyo, Director

*Disclaimer: these are the personal thoughts of an oft-behind and reflective director. Please do not take offense if I’ve missed an important event that affected your life, or could have used better wording to describe the very sad events of the year.

 

SLIG 2019 Theme: Enjoy the Journey

Enjoy the Journey

As we make our way through records, archives, interviews, road-trips, and educational experiences, we oft-times forget to slow down, soak up the view, and enjoy the journey along the way. 

Sometimes the path is a bit rocky and difficult to navigate, if not downright elusive. It is rarely straight, but the next find often awaits just around the next bend. There is potential in every turn: the thrill of uncovering the smallest piece of evidence, the joy of discovering a new friend, or the surprise of making a major breakthrough. Each path traveled creates memories to be cherished throughout our genealogical pursuits.

We hope this year's SLIG experience will create wonderful memories as well as enhance your ability to "Enjoy the Journey."

SLIG 2018 Theme: Ancestral Tapestries

The Fruit and Vegetable Market
designed by Zeger Jacob van Helmont and Augustin Coppens
woven by Urbanus Leyniers; Wikimedia Commons

Tapestries have been used for centuries to tell stories, warm or decorate walls, and celebrate special occasions. 

They are uniquely woven with solid vertical (warp) yarns that don’t show and horizontal, non-continuous (weft) yarns creating the pattern in a way that allows the final design to show on both sides. One can only begin to imagine the detailed effort required to manage the multiple colors woven into the tapestry that creates each part of the story.  

I somehow imagine my heritage being much like a tapestry -- woven of the bits and pieces, successes and failures, special events and challenges, celebrations and cultural traditions from each of my ancestor’s lives. While my personal tapestry may be unique, just like the market scene shown above it naturally shares common threads with many others.

This theme, Ancestral Tapestries, will be woven throughout SLIG 2018 into keynote addresses, special events, contests, and other activities.  While it is but a backdrop to the academic program we come to attend, it will hopefully provide occasional moments to celebrate, study, and explore the threads we have in common, as well as the unique heritages from which we descend.

I look forward to seeing you at SLIG!

Peg Ivanyo, director

SLIG 2017: "History in the Making"

History in the Making - that is what SLIG 2017 is all about.  More students than ever before,
themed events, and some unique surprises. Over the next two weeks, we will be announcing all the details so you can begin to add special events to your registration beginning on November 9th.

So, that is the first goal:  Mark your Calendars for Wednesday, November 9th, to log in to your registration to add special event selections.

All events, door prize contests, etc. will center around the theme "History in the Making."  So, your second goal is to begin thinking about ways you might want to "make history" at SLIG 2017.  Is there a reunion of old college friends attending together - sounds like a photo op.  Or perhaps you will finally solve a 20-yr-old mystery during your evening FHL research.

In our next post, we will explore the theme a bit more as we announce the banquet keynote and related activities. For now, let's take a look at how the week flows.

Overview of SLIG Week

Sunday, 22 January

• 3:00 - 7:30 pm:  Registration Open
• 3:30 - 4:00 pm:  New Student Orientation
• 4:15 - 5:00 pm:  Course 14 begins
• 6:00 - 7:30 pm:  Welcome Reception

Monday, 23 January

• 7:00 am:  Registration and information booth open
• 8:30 am:  Courses 1 through 13 begin
• 7:00 pm:  Plenary Session, SLIG introductions

Monday through Friday

• SLIG Central open for networking, bookstore, SLIG Swag, educational information, and more
• Mid-morning refreshment break (included)
• Shuttles to FHL for scheduled labs and after class research Tuesday through Friday
• Banquet ticket changes accepted through Tuesday noon

Wednesday, 25 January

• 5:30 - 8:45 pm:  SLIG Night at the Family History Library

Friday, 27 January

• 5:30 pm:  Themed Networking Social and no-host bar
• 7:00 pm:  22nd Annual SLIG Banquet (included, RSVP required)

I look forward to making history with you at SLIG 2017.  See you there!