Anyone who reads my blog or social media posts enough knows I'm all about learning. It's a major reason why genealogy appeals to me; you cannot become complacent in what you know because there's always something else to learn.
As you may recall, I am a 2020 AncestryProGenealogists Scholarship award winner. I was all set to head to the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia, this summer to take Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis with Judy Russell. Due to COVID-19, the institute will no longer be held on-site ( so long, southern deliciousness), but I still get to participate in a highly regarded course that will enhance my skills and put me one step closer toward becoming a credentialed genealogist.
The good news, however, is if you couldn't attend, now you can! Institutes have something for ALL genealogy levels and interests, so now is the time to take advantage. You can learn more about IGHR and course offerings here: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/.
The Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) also just announced they will be moving their institute virtual with a modified list of course offerings. I had no intention of attending GRIP this summer, and although a course I really wanted to do has been moved to Summer 2021, I put myself on the waitlist for Blaine Bettinger's Advanced DNA course (also on the bucket list, although I would prefer to take it with Blaine in person!). If you've been interested in learning about Practical Genetic Genealogy, there still appears to be seats in Blaine's other course, so definitely take advantage! Check it out here: https://www.gripitt.org/courses/.
Finally, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference has also decided to move virtually. They are currently figuring out the online logistics, but this is certainly one I would not want to miss! Information can be found here: https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/.
Besides all the institutes and conferences (and I will update as more are announced), I have been taking advantage of free and heavily discounted webinars. Since we've been stuck at home, I believe I'm up to 10 webinars and counting. These included the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and the Vilna Shul. I also purchased a Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscription that was half off and have been enjoying some great content (they are also offering a free webinar daily for the rest of April)!
I encourage all of you to use this time to take advantage of genealogy offerings. You should also check out my post on ways to engage in genealogy and maintain your sanity for additional ideas. Happy learning!