NGS Announces Move to Virtual Conference for 2020

The National Genealogical Society Announces
2020 Family History Conference Will be Virtual

Due to the continuing spread of COVID-19 across the nation and concern for the health and safety of all those involved in our 2020 Family History Conference, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) has changed its in-person conference to a virtual conference.

Our main priority is to protect the welfare of all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff involved in the conference. Therefore, NGS is developing a virtual conference that is a mixture of live and on-demand programming. A full day of NGS 2020 Live! is planned for Wednesday, 20 May, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (EDT). In addition, streaming access to many more sessions will be available starting in July.

In the coming days, we will post specific information relevant to our registrants, speakers, award recipients, exhibitors, and sponsors. We will also let you know how all prior commitments to social events, meals, workshops, and tour fees, as well as registration, will be handled.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and commitment to NGS as we all make our way through these challenging times.

COVID-19: NGS Conference Update

COVID-19: NGS 2020 Family History Conference Updates

Early Bird Discount Extended; Cancellation Fee Waived

The NGS Board of Directors continues to closely monitor health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19. Last week a national emergency was declared to free up federal resources and improve the country’s response to the pandemic. In addition, on 15 March 2020, the CDC recommended that gatherings larger than 50 people be cancelled for eight weeks.

The 2020 Family History Conference remains more than eight weeks away. Our Conference Committee continues to plan and prepare for a great experience for our conference attendees. While we remain optimistic that the event can be held, we are prudently making contingency plans. The health and safety of our members, attendees, and employees remain our priority and will continue to guide our decisions related to COVID-19.

At this time, the 2020 Family History Conference is still planned as scheduled for 20-23 May 2020 in Salt Lake City. Please visit COVID-19: NGS Conference Updates on our Conference website since conditions on the ground are changing quickly.

The early bird registration deadline is extended until 31 March 2020. We have also waived the $50 cancellation fee, including for those who cancelled previously. If you would like to consider donating your cancellation fee to help NGS weather what may be a challenging period, please email Matt Menashes, NGS Executive Director.

If anything else should change, speakers, exhibitors, and registrants will be notified, and all information will be posted on the conference website. In addition, if there are any changes to event schedules, we will provide information about options that may be available and/or other specific details. Please check the COVID-19: NGS Conference Update page frequently for any changes.

COVID-19: NGS 2020 Family History Conference Updates

NGS has not cancelled its Family History Conference, Echoes of Our Ancestors, 20–23 May 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming conference. We know, however, that many of you, as we do, have concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Please be assured that NGS is monitoring the situation very closely and we have established a webpage at our conference website to keep you updated. The health and safety of our attendees are our priority and will guide our decisions. Below is our first statement and posting. Any time you want to check back go to our conference website and click on the link COVID-19: NGS Conference Updates.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

COVID-19: Conference Updates

10 March 2020

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is closely monitoring health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19. We are following recommendations by local and federal government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health and safety of our members, attendees, and employees are our priority and will guide our decisions.

Absent mandated federal travel restrictions and/or local, state, or regional decisions to close venues, NGS has not canceled the 2020 Family History Conference scheduled for 20-23 May 2020, nor any of our related pre-conference events.

If that should change, speakers, exhibitors, and registrants will be notified, and all information will be posted here on the conference website at https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/. In addition, if there are any changes to event schedules, we will provide information about options that may be available and/or other specific details.  

We will work with our venues to check that they maintain appropriate sanitary, health, and safety measures and we encourage attendees to follow guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. 

Our cancellation policy remains in place for your benefit at this time. Please check back here frequently for any updates on the event, including any cancellation policy changes.