2021 Call for Presentations

Submission Deadline Extended to March 14, 2021

The Texas State Genealogical Society announces a Call for Presentations for their 2021 TxSGS Family History Conference “Connecting Generations.” This event, slated for October 1-2, will be held virtually. Selected presentations will be included in a TxSGS Live! two-day event with live Q&A; other presentations will be recorded for an On-Demand program available for replay for 90 days after TxSGS Live! The deadline for proposals is extended to March 14, 2021.

We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic presenters! If you feel passionate about your area of expertise and would like to teach and inspire other genealogists, this is the venue for you. The TxSGS conference draws over 300 attendees from beginner to expert. As well as topics geared toward beginners, submissions offering intermediate and advanced level lectures that delve deep into record sources and include unique and experienced use of record sources are encouraged for consideration. Seasoned speakers and speakers new to the genealogical lecturing arena are encouraged to submit.

Submission Ideas

The areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Methodology and Problem-Solving Techniques
• Record Analysis and Skill Building
• Records & Repositories (land, probate, tax, court, and other records)
• Research in Texas and surrounding states
• DNA Research and Technology
• Ethnic Research topics (African American, Hispanic, and others)
• Writing, Storytelling, and Publishing
• Engaging Youth in Genealogy
• Basic genealogical topics (how to or getting started)
• Genealogical Society Leadership and Management

Submission Requirements

Presentations should be one hour in length including about 5 to 10 minutes for Q&A.

Speakers who wish to submit lecture or workshop proposals may submit proposals electronically. Each submitted proposal requires the following information:

• Speaker’s full name, mailing address, telephone, and email address
• Presentation title, not to exceed fourteen words
• Lecture summary for program brochure, not to exceed twenty-five words
• Brief but comprehensive lecture outline, not to exceed one page
• Speaker’s biography, not to exceed twenty-five words
• Speaker’s recent lecture experience, including a listing of national or regional conferences where the speaker has presented in the last two  years
• Identification of the appropriate audience level: beginner, intermediate, advanced or all. If more than one level is supported, enter in other as “beginner-intermediate,” etc.

Presenters may submit proposals for up to (5) five lectures.

Proposals should include the following information:

• Speaker’s full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address
• Lecture title, not to exceed 14 words
• Lecture summary for conference brochure, not to exceed 25 words
• Outline of lecture, not to exceed one page
• Brief speaker biography, not to exceed 25 words
• Resume of recent lecture experience (last 3 years)

Please do not submit lecture proposals presented at or to be presented at Texas conferences and societies between November 15, 2020, and October 31, 2021, or lectures freely available online.

Submission Process

Proposals should be submitted via an online SUBMISSION FORM.  This is our preferred method of proposal submission.

Submissions may also be emailed to conference@txsgs.org using “2021 Call for Presentations” as the subject line. If emailed, speakers should submit proposals in PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word format. File names should begin with your last name, then your first name, and then the lecture title. (For example, Davis-Sandra-HidingInPlainSight.pdf.) If you submit a proposal using the online submission form, please do not also email your submission.

Deliverables

Selected speakers should submit a 2- to 4-page handout by August 31, 2021. The handout and speaker biography will be included in the conference syllabus distributed to conference attendees. Syllabus materials should not contain advertisements of other individuals or firms other than Texas State Genealogical Society without approval from TxSGS. Speakers should not sell or promote any product or service during the presentation without TxSGS approval.

Lecture Sponsorships

Genealogy organizations or businesses wishing to sponsor a speaker may do so by submitting their contact information in addition to the lecture information outlined above. Sponsored speakers receive complimentary conference registration and a syllabus. The sponsoring organization will compensate its speaker for presenting the lecture and for other costs.

Proposal & Syllabus Timeline

• February 28, 2021: Proposal DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 14, 2021.
• April 2021: Notifications of acceptance sent out to speakers.
• August 31, 2021: Syllabus materials due.

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. All required dates will be outlined in the acceptance letter sent to the speakers.
• No other expenses will be provided or reimbursed.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact the TxSGS 2021 Conference Chair at conference@txsgs.org.