This year’s theme is “Light Up Your Genealogy” in tribute to Thomas Alva Edison, who was born a few minutes down OH-250 in Milan in 1847. Besides inventing the incandescent light bulb, Edison also brought us the phonograph and the motion picture camera, as well as improvements to the telegraph and telephone!
We are excited to have as our Keynote speaker, “The Legal Genealogist” Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL to open the conference. She is both delightful and a fantastic presenter, who I am sure will entertain us as she imparts her unique outlook on all things genealogy. Her Keynote address is titled, "After the Courthouse Burns: Rekindling Family History through DNA." Catastrophic record loss due to fires and disasters at courthouses is a fact of life for genealogists. When a disaster takes out birth, marriage, death, court, land and probate records all in one fell swoop, it may still be possible to light our family’s research fires — to rekindle our interest in our ancestral roots — using DNA evidence.
There will also be a number of tracks, among them a current “hot” topic — DNA, along with Military, searching records, Ethnic groups, and Technology — including the current “hottest” topic — Artificial Intelligence and Genealogy! There will be paid workshops available highlighting Family Tree, Artificial Intelligence and Genealogy, Banyan DNA, Records of Colonial Pennsylvania, and Research in Austria-Hungary.
Once again, we will offer four Society Sessions that are free covering topics to help you run your Chapters more efficiently. Inductees into the OGS Lineage Societies will be recognized and awarded their medals at a Banquet on Friday night. There will be a variety of vendors displaying their wares throughout the conference. As always, the OGS Annual Meeting, as well as the Chapter Awards and Book Awards, will be held at the Saturday luncheon.
Early Bird Registration Ends • March 7, 2025
Last Day for Refunds in Writing • March 7, 2025
Last Day for Mail-in Registration • April 11, 2025
Online Registration Ends • April 18, 2025
Refunds: A refund will be issued up until March 7, 2025 but a $75.00 administrative fee will be charged. No refunds will be issued after March 7, 2025. All refunds must be requested in writing and can be done so via a letter to OGS or via email to ogscord@ogs.org.
Workshops: In order to attend any Wednesday workshops, an attendee MUST be registered for at least a one-day conference registration Thurs-Sat as well as pay for the workshop they wish to register for.
Meals and Banquets: These must be purchased separately. See individual prices and menu options. Special menu requests available with advance notice.
