Day 2 of the Ohio Genealogical Society 2026 Conference packed in six full sessions, one pedigree chart victory, a long-overdue lunch with friends, and just enough exhibit hall stamina to finish a scavenger hunt. If Day 1 set the tone, Day 2 proved the rest of the week would not slow down.
Here is how it unfolded.
Session 1: NotebookLM for Genealogists
Speaker: Robert Cameron Weir
Robert opened the day with a solid overview of NotebookLM and how it differs from ChatGPT and other AI tools. He walked through use cases, strengths, and where the tool fits into a research workflow.
The information was good, but most of it felt familiar. I have already read about NotebookLM in other genealogy blogs, watched presentations, and figured out a fair amount on my own through trial and error. For someone newer to AI tools, this session would be a strong starting point. For me, it was a refresher.
Takeaway: Confirmation that I am already using NotebookLM the way it was designed to be used. Sometimes that is the most useful thing a session can give you.
Session 2: Build Your Genealogy Research Plan Like a Pro
Speaker: Lisa Hollon
This one delivered. Lisa framed a research plan as a roadmap, not a contract. It is a tool for clarity and direction, a way to document what you know and what you still need, and a living document that evolves as research progresses.
Her delivery was clear, organized, and engaging. The framing of the research plan as living and flexible cuts through the perfectionism that can stall a project before it starts.
Takeaway: A research plan should serve the research, not the other way around. Update it. Revise it. Let it grow.
Session 3: Exhibit Hall Detour
I planned to attend Session 3, then changed my mind and headed to the exhibit hall instead. Best decision of the day.
While there, I tackled Dr. David McDonald’s 10-Minute Challenge: complete a five-generation pedigree chart with names, dates, AND locations. Apparently I was the only one to finish all five generations.
I credit the Your Sixteens StoryTeller Tuesday Challenge for the win. Working through every 2x great-grandparent couple in March meant I knew the people, the dates, and the places. The information was already in my head because I had recently put it there on purpose.
I also talked with Michael Neill about his upcoming trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Public Library. We discussed the importance of knowing what you are looking for before you arrive at any repository, and verifying that the records you need are actually held at that location. Travel time and on-site hours are too valuable to spend chasing records that are not there.
I completed Michael’s crossword puzzle (still waiting to see if I won anything), and somehow missed the scavenger hunt item sitting on his table. I had been there five times over the past few days. Five.
Lunch with Tina and a group of fellow genealogists was the human break I needed. Hearing other people’s family stories, brick walls, and breakthroughs is its own form of continuing education.
Session 4: Capturing Stories: Conducting Successful Family Interviews
Speaker: Lisa Hollon
After Lisa’s morning session, I changed my afternoon plan and signed up for this one. It did not disappoint.
She covered preparation, question structure, recording logistics, and how to keep an interview moving when emotions or memory gaps surface. By the end, I had a complete plan for interviewing family members.
The most important word from this session: SOON. Family interviews are not a project to schedule for a quieter season. They need to happen while the people are still here to talk.
Takeaway: Build the interview list this week. Start scheduling.
Session 5: Telling the 3-Minute Version of Your Favorite Family History Stories
Speaker: Sunny Jane Morton
Excellent presentation. Sunny’s premise is simple and honest: when your family is tired of hearing your stories, condense them. Three minutes. Tight, vivid, and structured.
If you do it well, they stop tuning out and start asking for more.
Takeaway: Length is not the same as impact. A three-minute story told well beats a thirty-minute story told completely.
Session 6: Revealing the Past – Photo Restoration for Genealogists
Speaker: Kari Shick
I have not mentioned it on the blog yet, but a few months ago my uncle handed me a huge box of family photos. Some date to at least the 1930s, and a few likely earlier than that. Several need significant care before they can be safely scanned, displayed, or shared.
Kari’s session arrived at exactly the right moment. She covered restoration tips, software options, and the order of operations for handling damaged photos. I left with a starting plan.
More on the photos in a future post. I am still working through what they show, who is in them, and where they came from.
Takeaway: Photo restoration is a skill, not magic. Start with the basics, work carefully, and document every step.
End of Day 2: One More Lap
After the last session, Tina and I dragged ourselves back to the exhibit hall for a final pass. We finished the scavenger hunt, turned in our cards, and called it a day.
Tomorrow wraps the conference. The schedule is loaded:
- 8:15 a.m. – The Most Curious Case of a Con-Man, Kate Penney Howard
- 9:30 a.m. – Analyzing Your Research, Maureen Brady
- 10:45 a.m. – Effective Search Strategies on FamilySearch, Dana Palmer (the session I have been waiting for since RootsTech)
- 1:30 p.m. – Beyond Ohio: Researching Your Ancestors Across the United States, Andrew Koch
- 2:45 p.m. – Organize a Family Group with Timelines and Spreadsheets, Kelli Jo Bergheimer
Five sessions, one final exhibit hall sweep, and the long ride home. Well. Not so long this year. In previous years, the drive home from OGS took 3.5 hours. This year it will take 15 minutes.
That alone is worth a celebration.
A fantastic and tiring day. Day 3 is coming, and I have a feeling at least one of those sessions is going to crack something open.
YOUR TURN!
Did you attend OGS 2026? Which session surprised you the most, and which one are you still thinking about days later? I would love to hear what stuck with you. Share your takeaways in the comments or find me on Facebook to keep the conversation going.
Leave a Reply