Description: Over a decade ago, I set out on my first road trip to collect information about my ancestors and visit the places they lived. I jokingly refer to these as my "Dead Ancestor Tours" but I also visit living relatives. I wasn't completely unprepared for this three–week trip, but knowing what I do now, after many such trips, I could have accomplished more. The most successful trips come about because of preparation time, well spent. I will not be covering the National Archives or Library of Congress in this talk.

BIO: Eilene Lyon has spent decades researching families (hers and others) to piece together narrative stories about the past. She writes regularly on her blog, Myricopia (Meer–uh–COPE–ee–uh), and has published articles in local and regional genealogy and history magazines. A lover of the great outdoors, Eilene lives in Durango, Colorado, where she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, bird and plant identification, and hiking with her two enthusiastic mutts. She has a BS in Environmental Biology with additional qualifications in Geographic Information Systems, Chemistry, and Accounting. She also spent ten years as a licensed real estate broker. She shares her passion for family history by giving presentations on research, writing, and genealogy to local, regional, and national audiences, helping others to know their ancestors with greater compassion and historical context.

Description: Land records account for one–fourth of most family histories. Welcome to the Bureau of Land Management at glorecords.blm.gov. There are documents dealing with Cash Sales of land across the U.S. plus Military Bounty Land assignments and, after 1862, Homestead patents "to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain." Let's find your ancestors there.

BIO: Carol Darrow has been a professional genealogist for the past 25 years. She currently teaches free Beginning Genealogy classes on Zoom and facilitates a WriteNOW family writing group also on Zoom. Check cogensoc.us to register.

Description: This session will provide an overview of individual and organization membership with NGS, and explain the different purposes for each type and the benefits offered. There will be information on where to find various resources on the NGS website and opportunities to ask questions. If time allows, there may be highlights of the NGS 2025 Family History Conference and other NGS updates.

BIO: Kate Smith is the Organizations and Communities Manager at the National Genealogical Society (NGS). At NGS, she supports and champions organization members, primarily through work with the Delegate Council and Organization Administrators. Kate also helps with NGS's FORUM online communities platform, communications and marketing efforts, and events including FOCUS, the SLAM! Idea Showcase, and the NGS Family History Conference. Kate is in Kansas City, Missouri, and is involved with several professional and community organizations.