Virtual Roots Tech 2021- What a Difference a Decade Makes!

by Tony Hanson

In 2011, I joined 3000 others in Salt Lake City for the first RootsTech conference. The early conferences were intimate events that facilitated spontaneous interaction between participants. An “unconference” session I scheduled in 2012 resulted in the establishment of a Genealogy Society Webmasters Facebook group that today has 350 members. Jay Verkler, the conference chairman and CEO of Family Search, sat in on the meeting!

It has gotten larger: last year they estimate that 32,000 people attended. This year they are going virtual and world-wide. It’s also free. All you need to do to be part of this year’s conference, which will be held 25-27 February 2021 is register at the website.

We can expect a stellar lineup of speakers and topics. They are also reaching out to participants around the world to “share your story” by submitting videos highlighting their personal cultures, food and traditions. It should be an interesting event.