JGSLA 2010: Planning for July

It's that time of year! So mark your calendars and start making plans. The JGSLA 2010 conference (July 11-16, Los Angeles) is speeding ahead with everything.

The new hotel - the JW Marriott - is ahead of schedule on construction with some 2,500 workers there every day, hanging chandeliers, wallpapering and working very hard. When conference co-chairs did a walk-through recently, they visualized the conference, attendees gathering for lectures, in the resource room, visiting the vendor and exhibit areas.

Everything for the conference will be on one floor, making it very convenient. As co-chair Pam Weisberger said, there's "plenty of public space to meet, greet, network and nosh."

The hotel will open formally in February 2010, with 879 rooms, great amenities and surrounded by the LA Live complex for dining, restaurants and entertainment.

However, as frequent conference-goers know, the real reason to attend is networking with some 1,000 or more colleagues representing those who've attended many annual conferences or those who will be attending their very first event.

It's the only time of the year to meet, - in one place, - so many people you've only known as email addresses, and to meet so many international researchers and experts from around the world.

It's these wonderful moments - some call them magical - that make each annual event so special. You'll never know when a chance encounter with a total stranger will change your genealogical life forever.

Even more exciting, the JGSLA will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010!

For everything about the upcoming conference, click here, and sign up for the conference blog and the newsletter. The Call for Papers opens November 15.