I packed alot into the 13+ days, but I wanted to participate as much as possible. So on Saturday I attended the 8 am plenary session and continued on through the day until the after dinner talk. Sessions on Friday didn't start until 9am, but I went early to get registered and get oriented with the lecture rooms and vendor area. And that evening didn't end until after 9pm. Sunday was a short day as nothing started until 9am (got to sleep in!) and ended at 3:30pm. Met numerous people at the various sessions and at the lunch and dinner tables.
Granted there was down time at lunch and pre-dinner, but that just provided one with extra time to browse through the numerous vendor tables. Given the amount of money I spent, that may not have been a good thing. Rationalization: saved on shipping, and in some cases the vendor had a conference special (thank you Lisa!). Finally got a FlipPal (thank you Rick & Sandra Roberts from GlobalGenealogy) and accessories...now no excuse to plow my way through the Legere photo collection.
Apparently the draws for prizes were done differently this year. Included in one's registration package was 30 coupons and was left up to each individual to desposit one part of each double coupon into the tin cans displayed with each prize - either on the vendor's table or on a common table in the hallway. I don't think I was the only attendee who put numerous tickets in the can for Evidence Explain by Elizabeth Shown Mills - but I was the winner! (Thank you again, Rick & Sandra from GlobalGenealogy).
I debated about attending the session on research with Ancestry.com as I've been a subsciber for a number of years. But I know from taking various computer courses, etc over the years there is always something to be learned, or short cuts. I was glad I did as the instructor (from Ancestry) announced their show special: 20% discount off of subscriptions or renewals! As my annual subscription is coming up for renewal this summer, that was one vendor table I needed to be sure to visit. When I first visited the Ancestry table, the person doing renewals wasn't there. When I returned later in the day, the girl I had talked to remembered me and pointed out the person I needed to see. That woman was busy trying to trouble shoot some problems, but eventually turned her over to someone else for more in-depth discussion. Not only was I able to do my renewal with the 20% discount, I was able to switch my world deluxe via Canada instead of the US (which had been the only way at the time I had upgraded to the world deluxe). So with the discount and altering the package, I save at least $80, if not closer to $100 (depending on what the exchange rate would have been)...savings goes towards the cost of the conference and/or FlipPal purchase.
I strongly encourage everyone to attend such a conference if the opportunity arises. Yes, it can be expensive, but unless your local genealogy society, public library or Family History Centre routinely offers workshops, where else do you have the opportunity of getting educated? And as mentioned above, purchases I would probably have been doing, one may save money with a confernce special, or shipping. Besides the fact of actually seeing the item before purchasing the item.
