Attending Genealogy Conference Tips

I am attending a genealogy conference for the first time and wondered if
anyone had any suggestions on what to bring, what to leave at home, what to
pack, etc.

singhals...

Kinda depends on where this conference is, and how long you're going to
be there, and what you'll be doing between/after sessions. (if research
ops are available from 6 to 10 pm, you probably won't use the pool at
the hotel, for instance, so you don't need a swim suit.)

As a bottom line, though, leave home anything irreplacable -- original
documents and photos, anything there's only one copy of.

Bring: spare reading glasses (off-the-shelf); a pack of mechanical
pencil(s); if you use glasses or contacts for seeing, you'll want the
prescription in case of breakage; a pack of highlighters FOR USE IN YOUR
ROOM ONLY; a spiral bound notebook; a thumb-drive. And of course, a
digital or paper copy of everything in your database ...so if you hit a
clue you'll recognize it ... I like family group sheets with indexes for
this.

David J Grimshaw...

Hi Richard,
To cary on from where Cheryl left off add a rubber ( eraser ) to go with
your mechanical pencil.
I personally would recommend for your note taking that you use a Hard
Bound 2B6 7mm Ruled book, this way you will not lose any pages that you
write on instead of the spiral note book.
Record your sources for any notes you take as at some latter date you
will wonder now where did I find that piece of information.
Have a fully charged credit card, failing that some cash as you are
bound to buy something such as, Lunch, Drinks, Photocopying, Books,
Maps, Data CD or DVD's, Software,you may want to purchase a recording of
some of the lectures that you attend as in most cases they do no allow
recording by individuals.
I note that Cheryl has mentioned a thumb-drive this is similar to a
Pen-drive these plug into a computers USB port.
Take a brief case or zip up satchel as you need to carry your copy of
your notes, lunch and drink in this.
You may be provided with a Tote bag by the organizers of the conference
but do not bank on it.
If you have never been to the area I would advise you to take your
camera as you may want to have some photographs of your trip.
If you have a business card with your private e-mail address on it take
some of those you may or may not give them out to new contacts you make
but it is one sure way to make sure that any new contact is able to
contact you, naturally you will get them to write in your 2B6 Book or
note book their contact details including e-mail address if they do not
have a business card.
At the end of the day it is your choice as to what you take as you are
going to be the one that has to carry it around.

Hope this helps stop you packing the Kitchen sink as well.
David.