Preliminary Schedule - IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

The preliminary schedule for the 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is live! You can now view class titles and descriptions for this week long conference coming in August 2011. There is something for all genealogists and family historians, from beginner to advanced. Many classes are applicable to any area of research and are not limited to Jewish research.

Happy rainy Wednesday!

Scrappy Gen
Let's Remember!

Jewish Genealogy in Washington, DC

Early Bird registration for the 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy ends on May 1st when the fee rises from $275 to $310. This year's location affords attendees the opportunity to research in Washington, DC. This Scrappy Genealogist will be researching at the Holocaust Museum, the Library of Congress and the National Archives in addition to attending the plethora of classes offered at the conference.

Hope to see yout there!

Happy Monday!

Scrappy Gen
Let's Remember!

Itching for Warmer Weather - Travel Plans for The 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

Feeling the itch. It's that time of year, snow is still up to the windowsills and spring is but a distant dream. My thoughts are drawn to the call of warmer climes. This is a good day to plan my trip to the 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, which will be held this summer, August 14-19, 2011 in Washington, D.C. 

First stop was making a reservation at the Grand Hyatt, where the conference will be held. Rooms are still available, but if you plan to attend, don't delay in reserving yours. Last year the conference hotel sold out in advance. There are most likely hotels in D.C. that are cheaper than the conference rate at the Grand Hyatt of $199 per night, but I like being able to easily head back to my room to decompress between classes. Plus, after I added on two extra days pre-conference days at $99 each, the rate average went down and assuaged the pain a bit. 

Second stop was deciding how to travel down to Washington. The conference negotiated a discount with Amtrak. A train trip sounded fun, but the price and time involved couldn't compete with the airfare on U.S. Airways. Round trip fare today with taxes was only $140. 

The last and most important stop was registering for the conference itself. Registrations completed before April 30th are $275 for the week. From May 1st through July 31st, the cost goes up to $310. On site registration will be $340. This amount is very affordable for a six day conference. Last year there were more than one hundred classes. I am still working my way through the audio recordings that I purchased while there. 

This year's IAJGS conference will be their 31st, but only my second. Last year, there was truly something for everyone and I am looking forward to reviewing this year's lineup. Some of my favorite presentations last year would appeal to any genealogically minded attendee, not just those pursuing Jewish genealogy. These included presentations by Lisa Louise Cooke and Steve Morse, among many others. 

Hope to see you in Washington in August! Drop me a note or comment if you are thinking about attending. 

Happy Saturday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!