The Utah Genealogical Association announces a Call for Presentations for the 2023 UGA Summit of Excellence Conference, Finding Your Focus. This event is scheduled for September 21-23, 2023 and will be held live, virtually over Zoom. Selected presentations will be included in a three-day event with live speaker Q&A. All presentations will be recorded and available to view by paid participants until December 31, 2023.

The deadline for proposals is 11:59 PM on Saturday, April 15, 2023. We are looking for passionate, enthusiastic presenters. If you would like to share your expertise and inspire other genealogists, please submit your proposal. Presentations for beginners to high-intermediate genealogists about any genealogy subject are welcome. Presenters may submit up to three (3) proposals for consideration.

Submission Ideas

Getting started (basic genealogical topics)
Evidence evaluation
Methodology and problem-solving
Skill-building
Organizing your research
Specific record types
DNA research
Technology
Ethnic Research
Migration and immigration
Writing, storytelling, and publishing
Online research

Submission Requirements

Presentations should be 50 minutes in length with an additional 10 minutes for Q&A.

Each submission requires the following:

Speaker’s full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
Presentation title, not to exceed 15 words.
Presentation category
- Getting started
- Evidence evaluation
- Methodology and problem-solving
- Skill-building
- Organizing your research
- Specific record types
- DNA research
- Technology
- Ethnic Research
- Migration and immigration
- Writing, storytelling, and publishing
- Online research
Presentation summary, not to exceed 25 words.
Level of Presentation
- Getting started
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Presenter biography, not to exceed 40 words.
Presenter experience
- Recent lecture experience, including a listing of national or regional conferences where the speaker has presented in the last 18 months
Agreement to have presentation recorded and available for attendees to view after the conference until 31 December 2023.

Presenters may submit proposals for up to three (3) lectures.

Proposal and Syllabus Timeline

15 April 2023: Presentation proposal deadline
24 April 2023: Contracts emailed to speakers
8 May 2023: Signed speaker contracts, W-9 forms, bios, and photos due
20 May 2023: Conference registration opens
1 August 2023: Syllabus materials due
21-23 September 2023: Conference
1 October 2023: Recordings available; checks mailed to speakers
31 December 2023: Recording availability ends

Additional Requirements for Selected Presenters

Selected presenters will also be required to provide the following information and materials for marketing purposes and the syllabus:

Photograph
Brief biography
Handout for each lecture (3 pages, minimum)

Compensation Package

Conference speakers will receive an honorarium of $200 for each one-hour lecture.
Additionally, a $25 bonus per lecture will be awarded for materials received by the syllabus submission deadline (1 August 2023). All required dates will be outlined in the acceptance letter sent to the speakers.
Selected speakers will receive a complimentary registration to the 2023 UGA Summit of Excellence Conference.

Proposals should be submitted via the online submission form: https://forms.gle/N7VZ5jnD922pXfhu7

Deliverables

Selected speakers should submit a handout comprised of at least three (3) pages by 1 August 2023. The handout and speaker biography and photograph will be included in the conference syllabus distributed to conference attendees. Syllabus materials should not contain advertisements of individuals or firms. Speakers should not sell or promote any product or service during the presentation without UGA approval.

Questions?

Address all questions to Julia Anderson, UGA Conference Chair, at conferences@ugagenealogy.org.