The New England Regional Genealogical Consortium‘s (NERGC) next conference will take place in Springfield, Massachusetts, from May 3 to 6, 2023, and they’ve decided it will be in person. There’s no mention that any part of the conference will be available virtually for those unable or unwilling to travel to it.
NERGC wrote in an email, “After careful evaluation of the pros and cons of all conference formats, our Board has decided to prioritize the opportunities for social interaction offered by the in-person experience. We look forward to connecting with you — our fellow genealogists and family historians — live and in-person … where we can share our stories, triumphs, challenges, methods, and resources.”
The conference theme, “Missing Branches Are Not the End of the Line,” will feature the following topics:
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- DNA methodologies and case studies
- New England records and repositories
- Problem solving, methodology, and new approaches to traditional research
- Sharing and preserving your family history through writing, photography, and digital media
- Research planning and project implementation
- Technology: Providing solutions to improve genealogical research
- Understanding historical context related to genealogy
- Interesting uses of records including religious, civil, land, probate, military, maritime, and newspapers
- New England records and repositories
- Problem solving, methodology, and new approaches to traditional research
- Sharing and preserving your family history through writing, photography, and digital media
- Research planning and project implementation
- Technology: Providing solutions to improve genealogical research
- Understanding historical context related to genealogy
- Interesting uses of records including religious, civil, land, probate, military, maritime, and newspapers
The conference committee plans to hold special tracks and other events on Wednesday, regular conference presentations on Thursday through Saturday, as well as the Exhibit Hall, Ancestors Road Show, Society Fair, and other events.
While there’s probably no surprise that this big conference, held every couple of years, will be an in-person event, many will be disappointed there is no mention of a virtual component.
Many of us were hopeful the pandemic had demonstrated the benefits of a hybrid event to attract local attendees to the in-person event and people from afar to the online portion of the conference.
Yes, there is a cost to recording all or some of the presentations, but wouldn’t the cost of doing so be covered by the registration fees from online attendees?
Or is the issue one of lack of volunteers and/or willpower? Will other genealogy organizations face the same problem?
Here’s hoping NERGC 2023 being solely an in-person event will be a rarity and that the hybrid model of both in-person and virtual will become the standard.
Registration for NERGC will open in the fall.
