Ozarks Genealogical Society

OGS presented its 29th annual conference at University Plaza Hotel on September 25-26, 2009. Our featured speaker was Dr. Thomas W. Jones, who received rave reviews from those in attendance. His years of genealogical research and teaching were evident throughout his presentations on methodology.
The conference kicked off on Friday with a presentation by Dr Jones on “How to Avoid Being Duped by the Internet.”  He showed us that while there is increasingly bountiful information available, much is erroneous or of unknown accuracy. He also explained how online genealogical information, even if its accuracy is unknown, can lead to valid conclusions about our ancestors. His Saturday sessions continued to show how family historians can dig into records and combine what we find from several sources to yield usable and accurate information. Four interesting “mini-sessions” were also conducted covering beginning genealogy, photographs, and using FamilySearch and GenSmarts. Additional sourcebooks containing information about the presentations and registrants are available for sale.
This year, we introduced two online innovations. Participants could register online using PayPal. Additionally, all registrants could download the sourcebook early to give them a better idea of the topics being presented.  Registration for the conference was recorded at 168.
A successful conference is not possible without help from all the dedicated volunteers, and this year over forty people stepped forward to offer their time and talents. A big Thank You to our volunteers, and to all who attended our conference. We appreciate your participation and hope to see you next year.