Conference Keeper

Who has heard about Conference Keeper? For those who haven’t, it is time you got over to this website: https://conferencekeeper.org
It is the place to be! Having said that, I admit that I go there about once a week. Sometime after I get an email from them, I click on the conference link. I find it easier to go directly to the site, rather than reading the updates in the email. However, for some, they go to the site, subscribe to the weekly email then just read that rather than going back.

They state that it is their mission is to help individuals to increase their knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of genealogy. According to their own claims, and I’d easily believe it, they are the most complete calendar of genealogy events- anywhere.

Subscribe? Do I have to subscribe to something? Do I need to pay for this? No and no. It is a free website and the subscription is also free and optional. I find it helps as a reminder in my busy weeks that the site exists.

So, what is this site all about? It’s in the name. They “keep conferences.” That is they keep track of conferences going on in the genealogy world. There is a listing of conferences from all over that are coming up. Many of them are US-based, but there are ones in different countries around the world as well.

Each listing will tell you if the conference is virtual or in-person or both. Also, if there is a fee, a $ sign will appear. There is a title of the conference and a brief blurb telling you a little about that particular conference. Click on the title of the conference and you will be taken to a web page by the organization with even more information and a chance to register for that event (if you need to, of course).

There are links to look at conferences in different ways. You can see just Virtual conferences, for example, or by area.

There is so much more available as well!

Are you a speaker looking for new conferences? They have a call for papers section as well. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, many conferences send out a call for papers when they are planning a conference. Potential speakers then submit their proposal for a talk and a committee selects the ones they feel are the best fit and contribute good variety for their conference. Often the proposal is an outline of the talk with a blurb about it and sometimes as far as the handouts that participants see in the syllabus. Although almost always the syllabus pages are done long after the speaker has been accepted and closer to the time of the event.

Looking for educational opportunities? There is a page where I counted 18 different institutes and other long-term educational opportunities. These are the ones that go more in-depth than a speaker at a conference can do. Of course, they cost money. Want to take advantage of these programs, but can’t afford to? There’s also a page of grants and scholarships that might be able to help you out. Both years that I attended IGHR, I had a scholarship that helped me with the expenses. I forget how much the first one was, the second covered my tuition and allowed me to register ahead of time, thus securing the class I wanted. Classes at institutes fill up fast and it is sometimes hard to get into the one you really want to take.

There are Volunteer opportunities if you have some extra time on your hands. Also, podcasts that you can listen to whenever you have a few minutes. Good at genealogy but need a job? Conference Keeper even has a page of job opportunities in genealogy available.

Yearn to travel with genealogy? There’s a category of Travel, Tours, and Cruises. Although I think I’d hold off on that aspect until COVID is over, it never hurts to dream!

As you can see, there is much to Conference Keeper and a website that you really need to check out. I just skimmed over the various offerings and I’m sure I missed something. In fact, before writing this column, I didn’t realize some of the pages that are available myself!