Note: Writing this on Saturday morning
Sometimes the best conference days are the ones that unfold organically, without a packed schedule or rigid plans. Yesterday was exactly that kind of day at my first in-person National Genealogical Society conference here in Louisville.
A Working Friday Morning
Since I still had to tackle my paying job responsibilities (the bills don’t pay themselves, even during genealogy conferences!), I skipped the pre-conference workshops and walking tours. To be honest, the extra costs weren’t really in the budget anyway, so it worked out perfectly to have a more relaxed start to the conference experience.
I set up a little workspace in my Galt House room and spent the morning juggling work tasks while simultaneously trying to get ChatGPT to help transcribe some family letters I’d scanned before leaving Cincinnati. Let me tell you—he was being particularly uncooperative yesterday! I’d feed him clear images of handwritten letters, and he’d come back with transcriptions that looked like they’d been run through a blender. He wasn’t following instructions at all later in the day, even though he had followed the prompt perfectly earlier in the day. Note to self: even AI must get tired after reading 100 letters.
Exploring the Conference Setup
During a work break, I took a leisurely stroll through the conference areas to watch the exhibitors setting up their booths. There’s something energizing about seeing all those genealogy vendors preparing their displays—books being arranged, technology being tested, and that sense of anticipation building. The Galt House’s East Tower setup is really convenient; everything is contained in one area, making it easy to pop downstairs and back up to my room.
Unexpected Reunions and New Connections
The afternoon brought one of my favorite parts of any conference: meeting fellow genealogists! I had planned to connect with Connie Knox from GenealogyTV, and she was absolutely delightful—exactly as warm and approachable as she appears in her videos. I’ll admit I need to watch more of her content (time has a way of getting away from me), but I always make sure to read her handouts, which are consistently amazing resources. I also met a couple of other conference attendees – one of the best parts of going to a conference!
But here’s where the day took a wonderful turn: right in the middle of our conversation, I looked up and spotted Linda, a friend from my church youth group days! What are the odds? She wasn’t even here for the conference—she and her husband were just in Louisville for the weekend—but there she was! It’s one of those amazing small-world moments that make you shake your head in wonder. Here we are, randomly crossing paths in a hotel lobby in Louisville of all places.
The Exhibition Hall Opens
At 5:30, the Exhibition Hall officially opened, and I dove right in. The energy was fantastic as attendees browsed vendor booths, reconnected with familiar faces, and discovered new research tools. I was thrilled to spot several people I’d met at the Ohio Genealogical Society conference last month—it’s wonderful how the genealogy community overlaps and how these conferences create lasting connections.
I managed to grab a snack from the reception area (conference food is always a welcome bonus) and even caught a quick moment with Crista Cowan at the Ancestry booth. She was busy doing her thing as Ancestry’s corporate genealogist, but it was great to say hi after we’d spent two hours chatting at her Pajamas & Pedigrees Story Circle on Thursday night. The woman is a genealogy rock star, and rightfully so!
Evening Letter Work and Another Surprise
Back in my room for more letter transcription attempts (ChatGPT and I were still having our disagreements), I eventually gave up on technology and ordered dinner from Thelma’s right here in the Galt House. While waiting for my takeout order, I had another fun encounter—I ran into someone from the OGS conference! I knew she’d be at NGS, but bumping into her in a random spot at the hotel rather than in the official conference areas was a delightful surprise.
It’s one of those things about conferences—you expect to see familiar faces in the session rooms and exhibit halls, but there’s something especially nice about those casual encounters in elevators, restaurants, and hotel lobbies.
Reflecting on an Unexpectedly Full Day
Even though I spent most of the day “just sitting around” working and transcribing letters, it felt surprisingly full and energizing. Sometimes the best conference experiences aren’t found in formal sessions but in these organic moments—catching up with old friends, making new connections, and soaking in the atmosphere of being surrounded by fellow family history enthusiasts.
As I settled in for the night, with files of partially transcribed letters scattered across my laptop screen, I felt that familiar conference excitement building. Tomorrow brings the official start of the main conference sessions, and I’m ready to dive into a full day of learning, networking, and hopefully solving a few family history mysteries.
Looking Ahead to Saturday
As I wrapped up Friday evening, I was already excited for Saturday morning to arrive! My schedule is packed with sessions on research methodology that I hoped might finally help me crack those stubborn brick walls I’d been working on. There’s nothing quite like the energy of a conference full of people who understand your excitement about census records and old documents.
I’m looking forward to the sessions today, and hoping for more of those wonderful unexpected encounters that make conferences truly memorable.
Stay tuned for updates from the main conference sessions!
Have you ever had unexpected reunions at genealogy conferences? Or discovered that ChatGPT can be as stubborn as some of our brick wall ancestors? I’d love to hear your conference stories in the comments!
Leave a Reply