WANTED: Hive Minders for SLIG 2024 and SLIG Spring Virtual 2024

Hive Minders make our virtual classrooms function smoothly, addressing challenges that arise. If you are comfortable with technology, consider applying to serve during one of the courses offered during SLIG 2024 or SLIG Spring Virtual 2024.

Hive Minder job responsibilities include:

• starting Zoom for each weekly session;
• managing closed captioning, breakout rooms, polls, and recordings;
• assisting faculty and students with light tech and announcements;
• taking attendance with the provided Airtable attendance tracker;
• keeping SLIG staff aware of classroom and student issues or concerns.

Hive Minders receive:

• a tuition waiver for the course for which they serve as Hive Minder;
• training to be a Hive Minder;
• a Hive Minder reference packet;
• assistance and support from SLIG's Virtual Coordinator, Tech Assistant, and Director for emergencies and questions.

Courses offered during SLIG 2024 may be viewed here. Courses offered during SLIG Spring Virtual 2024 may be viewed here.

To apply to be a Hive Minder during SLIG 2024 or SLIG Spring Virtual 2024, please complete the application at this Airtable link. The deadline for applying to be a Hive Minder for either event is June 30, 2023. All applicants will receive notification whether they have been selected before registration in July. Persons may apply to be a Hive Minder at either or both events.

Did we mention that Hive Minders receive a tuition waiver?

WANTED: Hive Minders for SLIG 2023 and SLIG Academy for Professionals 2023

Hive Minders make our virtual classrooms function smoothly, addressing challenges that arise. If you are comfortable with technology, consider applying to serve during one of the courses offered during SLIG 2023 and SLIG Academy for Professionals 2023.

Hive Minder job responsibilities include:

• starting Zoom for each weekly class session;
• managing closed captioning, breakout rooms, polls, and recordings;
• assisting faculty and students with light tech and announcements;
• taking attendance with the provided Airtable attendance tracker;
• keeping SLIG staff aware of classroom and student issues or concerns.

Hive Minders receive:

• a tuition waiver for the course for which they serve as Hive Minder;
• training to be a Hive Minder;
• a Hive Minder reference packet;
• assistance and support from SLIG's Virtual Coordinator, Tech Assistant, and Director for emergencies and questions.

Courses offered during SLIG 2023 may be viewed here. Courses offered during SLIG Academy for Professionals 2023 may be viewed here.

To apply to be a Hive Minder during SLIG 2023 or for SLIG Academy for Professionals, please complete the application at this Airtable link. The deadline for applying to be a Hive Minder for either event is June 30, 2022. All applicants will receive notification whether they have been selected via email by July 15, 2022. Persons may apply to be a Hive Minder at either or both events.

Did we mention that Hive Minders receive a tuition waiver?

SLIG 2023: Behind the Scenes at FamilySearch: Technology and Features

You already likely know about FamilySearch as the go-to website for anyone wanting to research their ancestors. Did you know that FamilySearch is also an organization with a proud 128-year history and that constantly grows and keeps current with new opportunities? This new course will provide you with unique insights and resources to enhance your genealogical efforts.

Behind the Scenes at FamilySearch: Technology and Features, coordinated by David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, will guide you in exploring the many features and products FamilySearch has to offer. At FamilySearch, it is all about the individual and the experience you will have either in person or online.

Faculty includes:

• John Alexander, MA, MLIS
• Daniel Atwell, MLIS
• Brandon Baird AG
• Daniele Batson AG
• Rebekah Grow
• Debbie Gurtler, AG
• Sandy Joseph
• Robert Kehrer, MBA
• Savannah Larson
• Rachel Crump Matheus
• Whitney Peterson
• Robert Raymond, MS
• Lynn Turner, AG
• Janell Vasquez
• Lauren Vasylyev

FamilySearch: Technology and Features is scheduled to meeet online January 23–27, 2023. All SLIG 2023 courses will be offered virtually this year. (See you in person in Salt Lake City in 2024!)

See the SLIG 2023 Courses web page for more information, including updates.

SLIG 2023 registration opens Saturday, July 16, at 10:00 am MDT.

Workshop Highlight: Using Google MyMaps

Using Google's MyMaps as a Research and Analysis Tool

Cari A. Taplin, CG

Learn to use Google's "My Maps" as a research and analysis tool including how to create custom maps, tips for genealogical applications, and real-life examples. This workshop includes interactive in-class exercises to walk students through the creation of custom maps, drawing shapes, dropping and labeling pins, measurement tools, adding photos, and more.

Pre-requisites: Please create a Google account and/or know your login information prior to class. We will not have time to go over how to set up an account in class. This is the page to sign up for a new account: https://accounts.google.com.  The process is simple; you can read more about it here: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en.

Days/times: Two sessions will be available from which to choose on Tuesday, January 19, 2021; from 8:30 to 12:00 noon and from 1:30 to 5:00 pm, Mountain Standard Time.

Registration is open to anyone currently registered for SLIG 2021 or the SLIG Academy for Professionals 2021. See additional details about SLIG Extended events at slig.ugagenealogy.org. 

Cari A. Taplin, CG

Cari is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that's what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since the year 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for state, local, and national societies. 

She currently serves as the Secretary for the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) and as the President of the Lone Star Chapter of APG. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. Cari's personal research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states. When she's not working on her genealogy, she is a wife and mother of two teenagers. 

Workshop Highlight: Tools for Analyzing and Visualizing

Tools for Analyzing & Visualizing Family History and DNA Networks

Kimberly Powell

Network analysis and visualization–commonly used in areas such as social media analysis, biology/medicine, and business data analytics–offers exciting possibilities for exploring ancestral connections and making sense of DNA matches. Join us as we explore the basics of network analysis, including the ways that software can be utilized to explore and better visualize relationships, connections, and clusters (networks, FAN clubs) in our family history and DNA data. 

Through short demos followed by implementation periods, we'll practice using the free open-source Gephi software to create a cluster network from your own documentary or DNA data.

If you don't want to actually try the software yourself and prefer to watch and follow along you are also welcome! We're also going to discuss how to create and organize a spreadsheet to collect data for future network analysis which will also serve as an alternative activity to use for the implementation periods.

Pre-requisites: Students should have Gephi (free; available for Mac OS, Windows, or Linux) installed and working on their computer prior to the workshop. Instructions will be sent after registration Gephi can be fairly computer resource-intensive, as is Zoom, so while you should be able to run both simultaneously on the same computer, having a second computer or tablet available for Zoom is ideal. 

Days/times: Two sessions are available from which to choose – Tuesday, January 19, 2021, from 1:30 to 5:00 pm and Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, Mountain Standard Time.

Registration is open to anyone currently registered for SLIG 2021 or the SLIG Academy for Professionals 2021. See additional details about SLIG Extended events at slig.ugagenealogy.org. 

Kimberly T. Powell

Kimberly is a professional genealogist, author, educator, and volunteer. She is a past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists, serving seven years as a Director and on APG's Professional Development Committee. She is on the faculty of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and Boston University's Genealogical Research Certificate Program

Workshop Highlight: Organize and Write with Scrivener

Organize Your Research and Your Writing with Scrivener

Kimberly Powell

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to utilize Scrivener to help plan, organize, write, and publish your family research. We're going to walk through setting up your first Scrivener project through demonstrations interspersed with implementation periods and the chance to ask questions. Make 2021 the year you finally get your research organized with everything cross-referenced and available at your fingertips. We'll also get you started on the path of writing as you go!

Pre-requisites: Students should have Scrivener (either Mac OS or Windows) installed and working on their computer prior to the workshop. A free 30-day trial of Scrivener (30 days of actual use) is available; download instructions will be sent after registration.

Days/times: Two sessions are available from which to choose – Tuesday, January 19, 2021, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 1:30 to 5:30 pm, Mountain Standard Time.

Registration is open to anyone currently registered for SLIG 2021 or the SLIG Academy for Professionals 2021. See additional details about SLIG Extended events at slig.ugagenealogy.org. 

Kimberly T. Powell

Kimberly is a professional genealogist, author, educator, and volunteer. She is a past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists, serving seven years as a Director and on APG's Professional Development Committee. She is on the faculty of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and Boston University's Genealogical Research Certificate Program

Workshop Highlight: Organizational Tools

Get Your Life Back: Organizational Tools for the Professional Genealogist

Jessica M. Taylor

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.

Peg adds: it seems this workshop and the tools Jessica plans to cover would help any of us, whether doing client research or trying to manage our own research projects around an otherwise busy schedule!

Pre-requisites: none

Days/times: This workshop is offered on Thursday, January 21, 2021. Two sessions are available from which to choose: 8:30 am to 12:00 noon, and 1:30 to 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time.

Registration is open to anyone currently registered for SLIG 2021 or the SLIG Academy for Professionals 2021. See additional details about SLIG Extended events at slig.ugagenealogy.org. 

Jessica M. Taylor

Jessica M. Taylor, President of Legacy Tree Genealogists since 2004, has helped thousands of clients across the globe discover more about their heritage through professional genealogy research. With a bachelor's degree in Family History – Genealogy, Spanish and Portuguese language proficiency, years of residence in China and Brazil, and a love of history and mystery, Jessica brings an upbeat global view to the genealogy business industry. Jessica currently serves as Vice president of the Genealogy Business Alliance, Treasurer of the Association of Genealogy Educators and Schools, is on the board of directors for the Archival Researchers Association and volunteers as a SCORE small business mentor.

The Millennial Genealogist At South Davis.

Zachary Hamilton is also known as  "The Millennial Genealogist". 

He grew up in southern Missouri and has spent most of his adult life in Idaho. Despite his young age, Zachary has been participating in his own family's research for nearly 20 years. Professionally, Zachary has been a family history researcher and presenter for 3 years. Many of his presentations focus on using new technology and techniques to accomplish and share well done traditional genealogy research. He commonly presents at conferences, fairs, family discovery days and family history centers all over eastern Idaho. He has also presented as a guest speaker in courses at BYU-Idaho and previously served as the assistant director of the Rexburg Family History Center. He attended Boise State University and BYU-Idaho. Zachary likes pie (strawberry rhubarb) and Star wars.

Zachary will be presenting 3 classes at the conference. In Genealogy on the Go, you will have the opportunity to learn how to blend technology with family history research.