5 Reasons to Attend RootsTech
The end of the year is only days away, and I find myself looking forward to RootsTech. Here are my 5 reasons to attend this conference each year: friends, keynote speakers, education, nightly gatherings and great food.
- My favorite reason is seeing all of my genealogy friends. Though we connect daily on social media, it’s always great to connect in person. I love the time we get to spend together and look forward to the week in Salt Lake City.
- Every year the RootsTech planning team pull together a great set of keynote speakers. In the past there has been, Buddy Valastro, Donny Osmond, Laura Bush, Jenna Bush Hagar, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. (I missed RootsTech that year), the Property Brothers and Lavar Burton. I know that many don’t care about the celebrity stories. But at each keynote session one thing always comes to mind; no matter how big of a celebrity the person is, they are just like us. They have interesting family stories. Stories that can include emigration just like the rest of us. These stories bring them closer to us as we see the real person behind the celebrity.
- Before you jump on the plane and travel the miles, take time to go through the syllabus and see what learning opportunities there are for you. I’ll be going through the syllabus soon and making my educational plan for RootsTech. Remember in your planning to pick multiple sessions for each time period, just in case your first choice fills up quickly. I plan to have a three prong plan that will include our first, second and third choice.
- The nightly gatherings are FUN! for a few years there have been games, Karaoke and so much more. These events are NOT to be missed.
- Salt Lake City has a ton of marvelous restaurants! My favorites are Gracie’s and Squatters. Gracie’s is a casual bar and restaurant. Three years ago I had my first meal there and it consisted of french fries with poutine. I had never had poutine before, and I really enjoyed it. Squatters is another pub I enjoy in SLC. They have the best homemade Mac and Cheese (with chicken) around. I have not been to SLC since 2016, I have been craving Squatters ever since.
These are my 5 reasons for attending RootsTech! I hope you decide to join us in Salt Lake City.
