So, I REALLY need to work on getting these entries typed up in a timely fashion. When I started this one, I was sitting at home trying to figure out what to bring to the National Genealogical Society conference in Salt Lake City. Now I’m here.

What to pack? This is my first genealogy conference and I’m a little nervous. I’ve been to other conferences and each field has its own quirks that you don’t really know about until you are in the middle of it. For the PTA conference it was the groups who would all dress alike (freaky). For publishing, well, lots of electronic devices (they were generally ebook-focused events). Comicon*…well, let’s just say that I don’t expect to be seeing any Stormtroopers or ninjas at this conference (though that would be cool; genealogy ninja…hum, I’m trade marking that now…genealogy ninja™.) Anyway, this entry by the Genealogy Insider covers the basics nicely: comfy shoes, layers, water (sounds like you’re going on a hike, doesn’t it?), and other good tidbits.

But this trip is about more than just the conference itself. I’m here in SLC, home of the most massive genealogy library and they’re open extended hours this week. So, what to bring for researching? Elyse Doerflinger has a post on Preparing for a Genealogy Research Trip (hum, layers of clothes and snacks again…). The big thing I would add to her list is: a Plan.

So, quick inventory since I’m already here.

• So far so good on: layers, snacks, water, Excedrin, business cards, session listings and maps (PDFs on my iPhone via GoodReader), plan of what to attend, and lotsa flash drives
• Doh! on: labels for entry forms, updated family tree easily accessible (on the laptop, but not via phone), and the biggie, my research plan.

What are your thoughts? What have I completely missed accounting for and what am I dragging along that I really don’t need? If you’ve been to a genealogy conference before, what do you think their ‘quirks’ are?

*Comic book convention