FGS Pathways to the Heartland

I'm at the Federation of Genealogical Societies' 2011 conference in Springfield, Illinois, "Pathways to the Heartland".  PGSA President Eileen Carter is also here.  The PGSA booth is being tended by the dynamic duo Richard and Terri Lach.  If you're at the conference, please stop by booth 409 and say hello!

The schedule is full of terrific sessions; it's going to be hard to choose which to attend!  This first day was dedicated to sessions about genealogical societies.  There were a lot of good ideas on how to increase membership benefits, how to organize and run projects, what makes a good website, and much more.  We know that what we've learned today will be really useful for the PGSA.

After today's sessions, the Illinois State Genealogical Society and Family Search sponsored an ice cream social.  There were games - geneajeopardy was a favorite, ice cream, cakes, and popcorn.  Abraham and Mary Lincoln paid a visit.  There was also a fellow playing an accordian and he played a polka for me and Eileen!

Eileen and I spent a few minutes talking with Pat Oxley, President of FGS.  We heard of a lot of wonderful new things that the FGS will be providing to the member genealogy societies, and she said there was a lot more coming.  We also had a chance to meet D. Joshua Taylor, who was featured on Who Do You Think You Are.

We're looking forward to tomorrow's sessions.  And the exhibit hall opens tomorrow at 10!  I'll post about that tomorrow night!