SLIG Registration Series: Special Events

Registered for SLIG? or the SLIG Academy? Your next step should be to sign up for special events related to that program. This includes RSVP for the plenary, selecting your meal for the banquet, purchasing guest tickets, signing up for SLIG Night at the Family History Library, even registration for SLIG Extended. All nicely organized into one events form - per program.

Here are the steps (instructions and screenshots update 11/29/18):

Step 1: Return to the SLIG Registration page by navigating to SLIG.ugagenealogy.org > Registration > Register or go directly to: sligregistration.ugagenealogy.org and log in with the email or username and password you created when you set up your account.
Note: If the screen doesn't look like this one, you are in the wrong place:

Step 2: Click on the bright blue "Special Events" box next to the SLIG or Academy registration box.

Step 3: Navigate through each page. Even though you see this pretty menu at the left, you need to go through the pages in order one by one. The menu will only help you get back to something to make changes once you have completed the page; it won't help you jump forward.

Step 3a,  Meal Events: On this page, you will RSVP for meal-related events. Tickets are included with tuition. You may also purchase a guest tickets.

Dietary information: Note that when a meal event is selected, the menu options appear. Unless you need a special meal, just click on the first item "Menu as Published." If you have dietary concerns beyond those available, or a combination of those listed, please select "Dietary Services: Other" – a text box will open for you to provide the details. The reception items will be labeled, no selection required here.

Other Meals: there are no pre-paid meal options for SLIG this year, but ther are plenty of discounted options available on-site. Don't forget to read about them under "Dining at SLIG" on the website.

Step 3b,  SLIG Night at the FHL: On this page, you will RSVP for SLIG Night (required answer - attending or not), and sign up for tours or classes/labs. Make sure you check "tour not needed" to bypass that middle section if you don't wish to take a tour, and "None selected" under courses/labs if you only wish to come to research and eat refreshments. 

Step 3c,  Special Events: On this page, you will RSVP for the plenary session and the orientation session (everyone is requested to attend this year). 

SLIG Extended: This page also includes registration for the new "SLIG Extended" program - where you can stay and research with guided assistance, or obtain a DNA consultation.  These are held during the week after SLIG, but are part of your SLIG registration.

 Step 3d,   Disability Services and Service Opportunities:
If you plan to bring a wheelchair or scooter, we need to know in order to assure adequate access in your classroom and handicapped access to the shuttle. So, PLEASE check the box if this applies.
If you have other needs, a text box will appear to provide details.

Also on this page: optional volunteer opportunities.

Step 4: Review the Summary and Finish.
The darker colored "Summary" box at the left indicates you have navigated all of the pages and are ready to review. At this point you can click on another page to go back, or use the "back" button to make changes. If everything is accurate, click on "Finish".

You must click "Finish" to save!

You will then see a final summary with this message: "Your selections have been recorded ..." At that point you can click on the PayPal link to pay any amount due, or exit and pay with a check.

Where did that information go? It has been blended together wtih your original course order, so you can see it all in one place.  And you can review your order or invoice at any time.

Review any order or invoice anytime you want: 

a. Return to your registration dashboard by clicking on the SLIG home icon (the mountains) in the top left corner of the browser.

b. Select "Enrollments" from your menu to see your complete registration summary by program - course, prior options, and new special event options - all combined into one.

c. Select "Invoices" to view your invoice. Select your invoice from the list at the top, and it will open a full invoice with a PayPal link and mailing address at the bottom.

This process is similar for the Academy: Just log in and look for the bright blue button by the Academy registration form.

Note: To receive invitations to hosted events from organizations like AncestryProGen or LegacyTree Genealogists you should have already checked the box on your original registration form. It looked like this:

Tech Day and Tours?  Look for a separate form on the Registration Dashboard and follow the same steps. This will not blend together with your SLIG or Academy registration - it will show as a separate registration and invoice.

More questions? 

Email the registrar: registrar@slig.ugagenealogy.org

We look forward to seeing you at SLIG!

SLIG Tech Day on Saturday, January 19, 2019

The SLIG Tech Day will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019. It is the Saturday between SLIG 2019 and SLIG Academy.
Schedule

Back by Popular Demand, SLIG Tech Day will feature hands-on workshops and classes on technologies that enhance the research experience. Details will be announced in July, and this event may be added to registration beginning in August.

Fees

Half-Day Workshops: $60; Classes/Demonstrations: $25

Students who register for a full day of sessions will receive $10 in Hilton Bucks to spend during the day, or during their stay.
Schedule

Half-Day Workshops

Students should bring their own laptops, with any pre-requisite software or online tools installed. Electrical outlets will be available for each student unless specified otherwise in workshop description. Please review specific pre-requisites, if any, listed with the workshop. Each workshop will run 3.5 hours including a short break.

Classes and Demonstrations
These classes are intended to be instructive, but do not include a hands-on experience. Students with laptops may follow along as they see fit, as time permits. Classroom set will not include electrical outlets at each desk; however, there will be charging stations in a central location to utilize during the breaks if needed. Each class will run 1.5 hours; there will be a 30 minute break between class sessions.

Registration

Keep checking back here for more information. The registration page can be reached here.

SLIG Calls for Proposals

The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) continues to reach out to advanced, experienced teaching professionals in the genealogical community for new course content, presentation, and publication proposals.

The following Calls for Proposals are now open:

SLIG 2020 Course Proposals: SLIG offers courses on local, state, regional, and international topics taught at an intermediate level or above; specific record types, skills, methodology, and related technologies or strategies are preferred at a high-intermediate to advanced level. Courses with hands-on learning opportunities are encouraged as well as those that fill educational needs not addressed elsewhere. 

The deadline for course proposals is August 1, 2018; inquiries are accepted at any time.

SLIG Tech Day: SLIG will hold its second annual Tech Day on January 19, 2019 – the Saturday that follows SLIG and runs prior to the new SLIG Academy. Proposals are being accepted for half-day workshops and 1.5 hour classes on technology-related topics that enhance genealogical research and documentation. 

Deadline: June 1, 2018.

5th Annual SLIG Colloquium: This invitational event brings together thought leaders of the industry to present and discuss key genealogical topics in an effort to create a greater understanding of the tenets of genealogy. Selected papers will be presented, discussed, and subsequently published in Crossroads magazine. Interested parties may submit an abstract for consideration. 

Deadline: August 1, 2018.

Complete details and submittal forms for each of these opportunities are available at SLIG.ugagenealogy.org.

SLIG Tech Day 2018 - A Success!

   The inaugural SLIG Tech Day was a success! With fifteen classes and workshops to choose from, ranging from productivity tools to methodology, the students had a broad range of choices. The all-day event took place at our home base in the Hilton on Saturday, 20 January 2018. We are so happy that the students learned so much! Now, get ready for a great week at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy… On with the show!

Kimberly Powell's class

Gena Philibert-Ortega's class.

Cyndi Ingle's class.

Pat Roberts' class.

Elissa Scalise Powell's class.

Cari Taplin's class.

Ron Arons in the Mind Maps class.

Ron Arons did a little juggling for us! 

  

Tech Day Spotlight: Writing As You Go! with Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL

Writing as You Go! -- Efficiently Organize Your Research

In the "Baker's Dozen Steps to Writing As You Go" class we will discuss the process of how to efficiently record research information so that no matter where you stop, you can pick up the research with minimal loss of time. This method is popular with those who adopt it because of its time-saving and logical steps. Tips and tricks will be shared. Whether you have never heard of the process, have never tried it, or have some experience with it, this class will help you to gain confidence in the method and adopt it to your own style and way of working.

Too many times a class like this comes along and is widely acclaimed through social media afterward by the attendees, sparking interest in those who missed it. Enroll now so that your interest will be satisfied.

For more information and to sign up, please visit: www.slig.ugagenealogy.org and click on SLIG Tech Day (Sat 1/20).

Tech Day Spotlight: Creating a Family Archive without Going Crazy with Mona Lambrecht, MA

 Join us on Saturday, 20 January 2018, for the first-ever SLIG Tech Day. A full day of classes, hands-on workshops and mini-labs being held at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center before SLIG week begins.

 Mona Lambrecht, MA will be giving a class entitled, "Creating a Family Archive without Going Crazy" at 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Creating a Family Archive without Going Crazy
Mona Lambrecht, MA

As a family historian, you probably have those seemingly hopeless piles or boxes of family papers, photos, and heirlooms. You dream that someday you will have the time to sit down and figure out how to organize and store everything properly. Unfortunately, reality sets in and those overwhelming questions start creeping in: How do I organize those letters so I can find them again? How should I safely store my photographs? What should I do with all of grandma’s handkerchiefs? Where do I even start?!?

Working as a museum curator, I face those daunting challenges of organizing, cataloging, identifying, protecting, and safely storing historical objects on a daily basis. Not knowing how to begin usually stops people before they can even get the project started. In this class, I will show you ways of processing your family collection no matter how large or small. Because it isn’t possible to tackle the process in a single day, the goal is in knowing how to work in realistic steps, gradually improve your collection’s organization, and how to begin storing your items safely. 

There are many different ways to organize your items, and fortunately (or unfortunately) there is no RIGHT way to organize, and ultimately catalog, your family collection. I will help you get started by showing you basic archival techniques so you can find the best solution for your situation. I will take you through:
•    the pros and cons of simple vs detailed inventories
•    the process of evaluating what you should keep or discard
•    methods of sorting different types of materials 
•    options for arranging your collection 
•    object identification techniques
•    archival safe products and storage options
•    how to properly handle and store objects 

Once you have a good idea of what your collection consists of, you can think about how you want to catalog your collection. The use of technology can make the cataloging process much easier but choosing software can depend on what information you want to track, how big your collection is, how tech-savvy you are, and what kind of a budget you have. I will address various spreadsheet, database, and cataloging software options and show you ways of creating a customized archival system so you can record your family heirlooms with the same detail as your family history research. Learn about tracking important details such as: 
•    who created the object and when
•    the people or subjects in a photograph
•    a description of an object
•    an item’s condition 
•    conservation needs
•    physical dimensions
•    item location
•    an image of the object
•    and much more!

The organizing and cataloging process can take a lot of time, but it is well worth the effort. When you organize and store your collection properly materials will be easier to use for your research and last for many more decades than if you left them alone. The benefits of cataloging are in retaining each object's history, discovering how family members are connected to each item, and knowing where to locate the physical and digital materials easily. By caring for the physical and intellectual content of your collection so you will preserve your treasured family history and heirlooms for generations to come.

You can register here: www.slig.ugagenealogy.org 

Hope to see you there!

Tech Day Spotlight: Publishing a Family History Efficiently with Dina C. Carson, MA

Join us on Saturday, 20 January 2018, for the first-ever SLIG Tech Day. A full day of classes, hands-on workshops and mini-labs being held at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center before SLIG week begins.

 Dina C. Carson, MA will be giving two classes that day. The second one is entitled, "Publishing a Family History Efficiently: The Right Tool for the Right Job", will be held 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

From Dina:

Publishing a family history can be an enormous project so why not employ some tools that make the job easier?

When you are just starting a family history, what's the right organizing tool? How you organize your genealogical research is largely a matter of what works for you. However, some organizing tools are better than others for writing a book.

Is there one take away from the planning stage of a book project that will save you an abundance of time and effort later on in the project? Yes, there is. This one key tip is worth hearing this lecture!

Most family histories include images. If you're like me, gathering and preparing the images can be as time consuming as writing the book. Is there an easy way to organize images while you write? Yes, there is.

Many family histories follow a timeline of events. Following a time may be the simplest way to tell your family's story. Are there timeline tools that make writing easier? Yes, there are.

A family history is only as good as the sources used to compile it. Are there some research tools that make including sources in your family history easier? Yes, there are.

Many family histories are written by collaborations between family members. Are there tools that make collaborating on a family history project easier? Yes, there are.

Are there writing tools that makes the job of writing easier? I don't know of any writing tools that will put the words on the page for you, but there are many tools that make the job of writing and editing simpler.

It would be a shame to work so hard to create an incredible family history and then not make it look its very best. Are there tools that make designing and laying out a book easier? Yes, there are.

Every family history requires an index. Are there tools that make indexing a manuscript easier? Thankfully, yes, there are.

The younger generation is much more likely to want to read a family history in an electronic form, than the older generation. Are there tools that make converting a manuscript set up for print to an eBook format easy? Yes, there are.

Are there tools that will make a book interactive? Yes, there are, and they're easier to use than you might think.

Most family historians have boxes of photographs, documents and memorabilia that should be included in a book. Are there tools that make creating a digital files from those objects easy? Yes, there are.

Many old family photos could use some editing or enhancing to make them look their very best. Are there tools that make fixing old photographs easy? Yes, there are.

There are many, many tools available to help creating a fabulous family easier. Come to the lecture on SLIG's Tech Day to find out what they are!

You can register at www.slig.ugagenealogy.org 

Tech Day Spotlight: Scrapbook to Scanner with Dina C. Carson, MA

  Join us on Saturday, 20 January 2018, for the first-ever SLIG Tech Day. A full day of classes, hands-on workshops and mini-labs being held at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center before SLIG week begins.

 Dina C. Carson, MA will be giving two classes that day. The first one entitled, "Scrapbook to Scanner: Best Practices for Adding Images to Your Family History", will be held at 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

From Dina:

Most genealogists have piles of items to digitize, so the best place to start is with some scanning basics. There are only two types of items to scan, reflective and transparent. How your scanner handles the different types depends upon the type of scanner you have.

There are an abundance of scanner types including: flatbed, film/slide, microfilm/microfiche, all-in-one, hand scanners, and mobile apps that allow you to use a mobile device such as your phone as a scanner. Each of these scanner types has pros and cons. Some are better for creating a family history than others.

All scanners come with software, but not all scanning software is the same. Taking advantage of the best features of your software or choosing a standalone software may be the best option to achieve the best results for your project.

There are four elements that affect the size and quality of digital images: physical dimensions, resolution, pixel depth and color space. Making the right choices about these qualities can save you countless hours of re-scanning or the frustration of seeing poor quality images in your final project.

Creating an image with the correct resolution for the end use is a must, and it involves math. Sorry … I can hear the collective groan every time this fact is mentioned. Fortunately, a few simple resolution exercises will have you figuring this out in a flash whether you're scanning a photograph, a document, film or a slide.

Choosing the correct file format in which to save your digital images can be confusing because there are so many new choices. I'll help you choose the right one depending upon how you plan to use the image.

There are many simple tricks you can use to save time while scanning. If you have many items to scan, these tips are worth coming to hear the lecture!

Photographs should be scanned differently than documents or maps that were printed before the age of digital printers. Do you know how to get the best scans for each of these?

Do you know the best way to get a digital image of an object or artwork?

Most scanning software comes with optical character recognition. Is this a feature of the software that can help you with your family history project?

Preparing digital images for a family history does not have to be the most difficult part of the project. Come to this lecture to get some useful tips for making this job simpler.

You can register for this class at www.slig.ugagenealogy.org 

Tech Day Spotlight: Using Google's My Maps as a Research and Analysis Tool with Cari A. Taplin, CG

Join us for SLIG's first ever Tech Day which will feature a special workshop by Cari A. Taplin, CG entitled "Using Google's My Maps as a Research and Analysis Tool". This 3 1/2 hour workshop will show you the many ways you can use Google Maps for genealogy. This will be held on 20 January 2018 at the Hilton Hotel from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Did you know you can create your own maps using Google's My Maps? Many of us use Google Maps for travel or locating a place. My Maps allows users to create custom maps which makes it a fantastic and easy-to-use research and analysis tool. Maps can be shared with others making it a great way to present your research to family and friends. This class will give an overview of My Maps, examples for why and how it can be useful for genealogy, and will contain exercises on creating custom maps, including inserting lines, shapes, images, text, and more.

Cari explains further… “In my workshop, I will demonstrate many of the tools you can use to create your maps and demonstrate how to use this to plan research trips, analyze your research, and brainstorm ideas for other applications. You will get to see some of the more in-depth maps I’ve created and get started on some of your own. (Bring a laptop and sign up for a free Google account, if you don’t already have one.)”

Check out Cari's blog post about it here: http://bit.ly/2zA3wI9

Sign up today for this class at www.slig.ugagenealogy.org

Tech Day Spotlight: Mind Maps with Ron Arons

The first ever SLIG Tech Day will feature a special Mini-Lab on Mid Maps by Ron Arons. Why is this so important for your genealogy toolbox? Let me have Ron tell you:

Why mind maps and other data visualization tools?

There is an old saying that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This statement is so true. The brain actually processes pictures much faster than it does reading words. It is also much easier for you to recall items if you recall them from a setting (read: picture) than from a list of words. More than 60% of the general population are considered to be ‘visual learners’. That is to say, that they learn better and more efficiently by using pictures than by words or other means. About another third of the population learns aurally, i.e. through words. A very small percentage of the general population learns kinesthetically, i.e. through touch or movement. Suffice it to say, it behooves the vast majority of us to consider tools that help us learn and think visually. The tools that help with visual thinking are not necessarily replacements for spreadsheets and narratives but, rather, should be seriously considered as complementary tools for providing new insights and perspectives for organizing information, correlating data, and presenting research results to others.

Mind maps are radial outlining tools. They start with a central theme or concept and they radiate outwards, like a sun and its rays or a hub and spoke of an old chariot wheel. They can continue expanding with sub-branches, sub-sub-branches, etc., with increasing levels of details. Mind maps have been around for centuries and have been used for decades in Corporate America for brainstorming new ideas, for writers to lay out their stories, and by teachers with their students. Mind maps were certainly not designed with genealogy in mind, but they offer a compelling way to work with family history research data. Here’s why…Different types of genealogical documents have different types of data. For example, a census record might have a person’s name, their spouse and children’s names, age or year of birth, state or country of birth, occupation, residential address, etc. A vital record will usually have person’s parents’ names listed, whereas a census record would not (unless of course the parents are still living in the same household). A newspaper article would probably not list a person’s parents names, but might list a person’s residential address. In short, various types of genealogical documents together provide ‘unstructured’ data. To put all of the information from three such documents into a spreadsheet, a tool for working with ‘structured’ data, would be wasteful of space; there would be many cells completely empty. The beauty of mind maps is that they excel (no pun intended) with unstructured data. Furthermore, many mind map tools allow you to draw connector line from data in one location of a mind map to data in another location. This is particularly helpful in data correlation (step 3 of the Genealogical Proof Standard), arguably the most important aspect of genealogical research. Not being able to find such connections, similarly, can help with explaining away discrepancies (step 4 of the GPS).

The Mind Map / Data Visualization mini-lab at SLIG Tech Day will review the above theory in more detail as well as provide a hands-on introduction to two data visualization software packages – a mind mapping tool and another tool which is similar to, yet different from a mind map, but also useful in laying out genealogical data. Come to the mini-lab and expand your brain capabilities!

Mind Maps will be held Saturday, 20 January 2018 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Hilton Hotel. Price $30.00. Please visit www.slig.ugagenealogy.org to register. I hope to see you there! 

Behind the Scenes at SLIG: Valerie Hansen

Valerie Byrd Hansen is another dynamic member of the Salt Lake institute of Genealogy (SLIG) 2018 committee. 


Eight years ago Valerie joined the SLIG committee and today still serves as the registrar for all the events that SLIG handles: SLIG itself; the fall Virtual Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum taught and coordinated by the impressive Angela Packer McGhie, CG; and the newest event, Tech Day, on January 20, 2018.

Valerie Byrd Hansen

Living in St. Helens, Oregon--which, by the way, is NOT the St. Helena of volcano renown--does not keep her from doing what she does best: helping other people, fixing issues, and making friendships. Valerie  is quick to praise SLIG, "I've met so many people through SLIG. It is totally amazing and rewarding!'

Her favorite memory of SLIG is attending with her both her mother and her mother-in-law. Atta girl, Valerie, for making genea memories with your family!

Valerie was asked what she would do with six more hours in her day. As supervisor of a medical records department by day, and as wife, mother and grandmother 24 hours a day, Valerie's first thought was that she would get more sleep. Her final thought, however, is that she would spend more time with her family and working on her genealogy...at SLIG, of course!

Until next time, the next committee member, and the next Behind the Scenes SLIG 2018! 

SLIG 2018 Hosts First Tech Day!

The first SLIG Tech Day is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2018.  SLIG's amazing speakers and guest lecturers will present four hands-on workshops, nine classes/demonstrations, and two mini-labs. 

 Check out the schedule of exciting classes!  Tech Day Information

Half-day workshops on Saturday morning feature Gena Philibert-Ortega and Pat Roberts guiding 3 hours of hands-on experience with  Evernote and Ancestry, respectively. 

After lunch, Cari Taplin will share Google's My Maps while Kimberly Powell presents Scrivener during the last two half-day workshops. 

Workshops require personal laptops with any pre-requisite software or online tools installed. (Please review specific pre-requisites, if any, listed with the workshop.) Electrical outlets will be available for each student. 

Not up for 3-hour workshops?  Then consider the nine other 90-minute courses: Cyndi Ingle teaches three tech classes (coordinating programs in the Cloud, foreign language tools and timelines), Dina Carson is presenting 2 courses on best publishing and imaging practices, while Mona Lambrecht will share tips on staying sane while creating a family archive, Elissa Scalise Powell updates our writing skill set and Kimberly Powell creates spreadsheet magic, and instructs us in social network as an analysis tool.

Three mini-labs from 7-8:30 pm are also available: Elissa Scalise Powell will boost our PowerPoint skills and Ron Arons will fascinate with mind mapping.

Don't miss out! Pre-registration is required to assure seat availability; registration for special events will open on Tuesday, 14 November 2017.

Join us at Tech Day 2018!