It seems like we were attending and talking about RootsTech 2018, and now we can begin planning our participation in RootsTech 2019! RootsTech 2019 is wanting to help us prepare for the upcoming conference. To do that they have produced a video series, The Road to RootsTech, that can help us know what to expect. The video series is hosted by members of the RootsTech planning team. Topics discussed include: the conference schedule, logistics, how to plan your experience, updates and changes to the conference, special events, and more.
To access the bi-monthly videos, go to Road to RootsTech YouTube playlist, the RootsTech Facebook and Twitter pages, and https://www.rootstech.org/blog. You can also view many sessions of RootsTech 2018 on the YouTube channel as well.
Pricing for the conference has also been released. A full 4-day RootsTech pass is $189 if you register before 12 October 2018. If you have a family history calling, you can use a promotional code, 19CALLING, to get the special price of $149 for the full 4 days.
New this year is the Ultimate Experience Pass which includes such luxuries as reserved seating options for general and class sessions, special access to meet-and-greet opportunities, a chance to meet the RootsTech planning team and Steve Rockwood, and more. These passes are limited and will probably sell out. For $499 you can purchase one of these passes!
If you are unable to attend RootsTech 2019 in person, you can still enjoy the spirit of the conference by viewing all keynote sessions with live streaming and a select number of other sessions on rootstech.org. Because the Family History Department hosts Family Discover Day, these sessions on Saturday, March 2, can be viewed live on the LDS.org home page.
If the February/March conference in Salt Lake City doesn’t work for you, you might want to plan a trip to London and attend the RootsTech London Conference in October. It was announced this last August RootsTech would be expanding to London, England. Jen Allen, events director, said, “We are excited to further position RootsTech as a global community for everyone to discover their family and deepen their sense of belonging that we all yearn for.”
RootsTech London will take place October 24-26, 2019, at the ExCel London Convention Centre. Registration for RootsTech London will open in late February 2019. Just like the Salt Lake RootsTech, RootsTech will offer 3 exciting days of discovery, 150 hands-on lectures on various topics, and learning about the latest tech in the exhibition hall, and more.
The featured speaker for London is Nick Barratt, author, broadcaster, and historian best known for his work on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? He is also currently the President of the Federation of Family History Societies.
With all the options available for RootsTech 2019, there is no reason that everyone can’t join in the RootsTech excitement and learn new skills to aid in doing family history.