March 9, 2024 - DCGS 46th Annual Conference
 | Our conference on March 9, 2024, will have a full day of program sessions onsite at the NIU Conference Center, Naperville, IL. We will offer the program sessions in three tracks, each with four sessions. You choose from 12 topics. There are topics for everyone, beginners to advanced. The Attendee conference fee includes lunch, chances to win door prizes, and purchased raffle tickets. |
Early Bird deadline is February 10, 2024
The Attendee conference fee, $60 for DCGS members, $70 for non-members, includes 12 sessions to choose from, a hot buffet lunch, and chances to win door prizes. There will be great raffle items and genealogists' favorite exhibitors.
You will receive a confirmation when payment is received. Please keep it for your records; if you do not receive a confirmation within 14 days of remitting payment, please contact us ASAP at conference@dcgs.org.
No refunds allowed after February 10, 2024.
Online registration closes on February 24, 2024 or when we reach capacity, whichever comes first.
Advanced online registration is required, we cannot accommodate walk-ins. When you register online, you'll have the option to pay by credit card or print an invoice to remit by mail with your check. Confirmation emails are sent when payment is received. You can expect to receive the syllabus and additional details the week of March 4, 2024.
Only registered conference attendees are invited to visit our exhibitors.
Public Health Policy
Revised 8 January 2023
The DuPage County Genealogical Society has followed and will continue to follow, the requirements of the State of Illinois and the DuPage County Health Department.
Mask-wearing in our events is encouraged but will be optional in the public areas and the lunchroom. Some speakers may require that their attendees wear a mask, or they will not be able to attend their session. Please see the conference day schedule for details.
As we’ve learned, this very well may change in the future. We will continue to follow the state and local guidance and adapt our procedures accordingly. If you have any questions, please contact us at webcoordinator@dcgs.org.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are very important and help the Conference run smoothly. We are looking for volunteers in several areas:
- Planning - Join the Conference Planning Committee to help with planning and coordinating the upcoming conference.
- Facilitators - Introduce a speaker of their choice or of a lecture they intend to attend. Assist the speaker, if necessary, and let the speaker know when their time is almost up to help keep the speaker on schedule.
- Guides - Welcome attendees during morning check-in and guide attendees to meeting rooms, lunch, and the exhibitor’s tables
- Logistics - Help set up on Friday and take down on Saturday.
If you are interested in helping, please indicate your interest when you register or contact Rhea Hunter at webcoordinator@dcgs.org and indicate your preferences.
Program
Speakers
Maureen Brady
Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has almost forty years experience with family history research. She has traced her Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago and the Midwest, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research. Maureen has made numerous presentations to genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops throughout the U. S., as well as presenting for the Brigham Young University Library family history webinar series. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, as well as a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society, the Chicago Genealogical Society, the Ohio Genealogy Society and the McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Society. She is also active in the British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL), the Chicago Scots Genealogical Group, the Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Society, the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society and the Kentucky Genealogical Society.
Deb Dudek
Debra M. Dudek is Head of Adult and Teen Services at the Fountaindale Public Library District in Bolingbrook, IL. She holds a post graduate certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Ms. Dudek is the Book Review Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, a board member of the Illinois State Historical Society, and the author of the World War I Research Guide: Tracing American Military and Non-Combatant Ancestors.
Laura Kovarik
Laura Kovarik has been involved in genealogy for more than thirty years, including leadership, educational, and committee positions at the national, state, and local levels. Laura has enhanced her genealogical education through conferences, institutes, and study groups. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), the Norwegian American Genealogical Center, and other local genealogical and historical societies. Her writing has appeared in Fox Tales and The Quarterly.
Laura has been providing educational opportunities for genealogists for almost twenty years. She began assisting her local genealogical society with the annual conference including co-chairing the event. Laura’s educational efforts as the ISGS education chair saw her craft programming for the state society, such as their webinar series and new small-group opportunities covering an array of topics. Laura has continued to focus on small group education at the local level, creating content and moderating a Family Tree Special Interest group for Fox Valley Genealogical Society.
As a professional genealogist, Laura’s work includes offering in-person and virtual presentations and workshops, and one-to-one coaching. Assisting with organizing and digitizing family archives is also a major focus of her work. Laura’s genealogical areas of concentration include, the 1950 US Census, Norwegian research, newspapers, and incorporating ephemera into genealogical research. Her current project is using ephemera to document the social life and labor union ties of an ancestor in the late 1880s Chicago.
Luncheon
A hot buffet lunch is included in most tickets, and includes:
- Caesar Salad with Black Peppercorns, Pecorino Romano & Garlic Croutons with Creamy Caesar Dressing
- Jumbo Stuffed Shells with Basil Marinara
- Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Vegetable Mélange
- Baby Brioche Rolls & Butter
- Assorted cookies
If you have dietary restrictions that aren't met by this menu, please note them in your registration.
Conference Exhibitors Note: The list will be updated as Exhibitors register.
- ArkivDigital, https://www.arkivdigital.net/
- CAGGNI, https://caggni.org/
- Fountaindale Public Library, https://www.fountaindale.org/
- Fox Valley Genealogical Society, https://ilfvgs.org/
- Fun Stuff for Genealogists, https://www.funstuffforgenealogists.com/
- Illinois State Genealogical Society, https://ilgensoc.org/
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Michiana History Publications, https://www.facebook.com/michianahistorypublications/
The Scottish Genealogy Society, https://chicagoscots.org/get-involved/genealogy/
More TBA as Exhibitors register
The following Exhibitors are unable to join us in person, but have offered coupon codes or free trials to attendees, which will be sent in an email after the conference.
- Heritage Books
- Genealogical.com
Only registered conference attendees are invited to visit our Exhibitors.
If you wish to register as an exhibitor, select one of the Exhibitor ticket options when you register.
If you have questions, email webdcgs60187@gmail.com.
Raffle Prizes check back for updates
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Door Prizes The final list will be available at the door prize tables.
- TBA
Location/Directions
Northern Illinois University, NIU-Naperville is located at 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563
Parking is FREE; no permits are needed.
The NIU Conference Center - Naperville is located on the south side of Diehl Road
just west of Freedom Drive and across from the Hampton Inn - Naperville.
Directions:
From I-88 (East-West Tollway): Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From O’Hare Airport (Approx. 25 miles from O’Hare): Exit on I-190E. Take the I-294 S exit, exit number 1D, towards Indiana. Merge onto I-294 S (portions toll). Take the I-88 W exit towards Aurora. Merge onto East/West Tollway (portions toll). Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From Chicago (East) (Approx. 29 miles from downtown Chicago): From I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, take the I-294 S/I-88 W exit, exit number 15A, on the left towards Indiana/Aurora. Merge onto East/West Tollway (portions toll). Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From I-294 (Tri-State Tollway north/south): Merge onto I-88 west (East/West Tollway) towards Aurora. Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway north/south): Merge onto I-88 west (East/West Tollway) towards Aurora. Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.