RootsTech 2023 will take place 2-4 March and will be a hybrid event – both in-person and virtual. Both forms of the conference will take place at the same time.
The theme for the 2023 conference is Uniting. It is bringing people together, bringing people to the vendors and innovators. Bringing communities together. Bringing the technology to the people. Staying connected to the people who went before.
As with the
previous two virtual conferences, the virtual conference this year will be
free, and it will be an opportunity for people all over the world to attend
RootsTech, even if they can’t travel to Salt Lake City. There will be over 200
virtual classes, so there will definitely be something there to interest you.
As for the live
conference in SLC, registration will cost just US$98. This is a lot less than
previous in-person conferences, and this is not because it will be a lesser
experience, but to enable more people to be able to afford to attend. This cost
will give you access to all the classes, all the main stage events and so on.
You will, of course, be able to access the Expo Hall too, but so will people
who have not paid for registration. In other words, the Expo Hall will be free.
I imagine
that some of you are wondering why you should attend the conference in person, since
the virtual conference is free. Well, firstly, not all of the in-person classes
will be live streamed. Some will, but not all. But the main reason is the buzz
and the energy of being there in the Salt Palace. It is a chance to be around
like-minded people who don’t roll their eyes when you talk about your latest
discovery. It’s a chance to talk in person to vendors, not just via chat. And
possibly to talk to the speakers to ask them more about their topic. The energy
and excitement of being there is fantastic to experience. There is also the
fact that for the days before and after the conference you can choose to go to
the Family History Library, which is just a block away from the Salt Palace.
This fantastic library still has so much for the genealogist to see and research,
as well as expert staff who can advise you on your area of interest.
Because
there has been disappointment in previous years when a class that people wanted
to attend in person was full, this time the classrooms will be bigger. The
smallest rooms will hold 500-600 people, because they don’t want people to miss
out. There will also be viewing spaces for small groups to watch some of the
online sessions and discuss them afterwards, or maybe to even have the speaker
there with them to discuss the subject,
Even if you
only plan on attending the virtual conference, it is recommended (but not compulsory)
that you register. This will help the RootsTech organisers to keep you informed
of what is coming up, it will allow you to create a playlist of sessions that
you want to watch and to chat with speakers and other attendees. Registration
will open soon.
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| The Expo Hall in 2018 |
If you are
planning on only attending the virtual event, why not organise a “watch party”
with your friends or your local family history group?
And you will
be pleased to know that Relatives at RootsTech will be back. It will be
available for the virtual conference, but for those who are there in person, it
will highlight the fact that your relative is also there in person.
Follow RootsTech on social media to keep up with all the new announcements.
But the final word goes to Jen Allen, Director of Events for FamilySearch: “We want it to be joyful for everybody.”
Disclaimer: I am a RootsTech Influencer
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