Call for Proposals: 44th IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy – in Philadelphia, August 18-22. Deadline for Submissions January 28

Organizers state: Please read this entire message before starting your proposal submission.

Conference Themes

While proposals for all areas of Genealogical research, Jewish Genealogy and related historical and cultural topics are encouraged, the Program Committee has identified six themes, characterized below, that will be given the highest priority.

Tools and Technology: Technology is rapidly expanding how genealogists access data, organize research and analyze results both for personal use as well as for indexing projects. This theme invites practical guidance on the use of third party DNA tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging apps and software, including those specifically designed for genealogy or those that can be applied to genealogical research.

Shoah Rescuers and Holocaust Research: There are stories of Holocaust survivors rescued by diplomats and righteous gentiles. We are interested in these stories as well as stories of Jews rescuing Jews. Survivor and rescuer testimonies provide valuable background for genealogical searches. Share stories, sources and techniques to assist in finding survivors and descendants to connect to and for identifying victims.

Disappearing Empires of the 19th and 20th Centuries: Russian, Prussian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, British Mandate, etc.: Many emigrant journeys began in parts of the world that were once part of empires which have ceased to exist. This theme is about understanding the administration of records during this time period and where those records now reside.

The Sephardi, Mizrahi and Persian Experience: Topics may include records, repositories, new technology and techniques for researching Jews from Mediterranean, Middle East and North African countries. Themes could include Sephardic settlement in North America, migration from North Africa, Syria, Persia and other countries in the Middle East as well as exploring family history through stories, migration, heritage and culture.

Building Blocks of Genealogy: Presentations to include sessions for those beginning their genealogical journey, new and innovative methods for finding and documenting sources of information, organizational techniques, presenting family histories and the basics of incorporating DNA results into your genealogy.

Genealogical Research in Philadelphia and Eastern US: This theme recognizes the host city’s central location along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and its historic role as a gateway for Jewish immigration. While sessions will focus on researching Jewish communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, proposals are also encouraged on topics from Maine to Florida, including the port cities of early American Jewish settlement.

Types of Sessions

Regular Sessions will be scheduled for 45 minutes of presentation followed by 15 minutes of Q&A (Questions and Answers), for a total of 60 minutes.

Each submitted session needs a visual component for the audience. Either a PowerPoint or other similar presentation with illustrations or a handout are expected.

Panel Discussions are for a small group of speakers with presentations on a shared topic and will be scheduled for 60 minutes including Q&A. Examples in the past have been panel discussions on cemetery restoration and U.S. immigration documents.

A panel discussion should be submitted by the main presenter or the panel moderator. Only the person submitting the proposal will be compensated for the session (see below). Information about the other presenters can be added during the submittal of the proposal or later.

If the proposer of a panel feels that they might need more than 60 minutes for the session, please contact the Program Chair at [email protected].

Computer Labs will be scheduled for 90 minutes and limited to 25 paying participants.

Film or Video Showing will be scheduled based on its length and whether there is an introduction and/or Q&A period

Regardless of the number of speakers or panelists, only one person should submit the proposal. When the submitter is prompted to “Review the Submission,” there will be an icon to “Add and Additional Presenter,” which allows the additional speakers to be attached to the proposal.

Speaker Compensation

Speakers may submit up to four (4) unique proposals for regular sessions, panel discussions and computer labs. SIG (Special Interest Group), Research Division and BOF (Birds-of-a-Feather) meetings are not included in this limit.

The quality of the proposal and the description of the speaker and their experience will be one of the deciding factors in the selection process. New presentations not given before to IAJGS or Jewish Genealogical Societies will be another factor. And, finally, proposals that are directly applicable to one or more of the Conference Themes will be a factor.

Financial compensation for speakers is based on the number of accepted sessions. Speaker compensation is provided only to the primary speaker of a session.

All primary speakers will receive one free Conference Registration. Only one free registration is allowed per session. Speaking or coordinating a SIG or Research Division meeting or luncheon or a BOF session does not qualify the person for compensation from IAJGS.

Speaker compensation is summarized below:

1 Session: $150 honorarium and $150 travel allowance (No hotel nights)

2 Sessions: $300 honorarium, $200 travel allowance and 1 hotel night

3 Sessions: $450 honorarium, $250 travel allowance and 2 hotel nights

4 Sessions: $600 honorarium, $300 travel allowance and 3 hotel nights

The compensation in this table only applies to the primary speaker. Hotel nights will be provided and paid for by IAJGS at the Conference Hotel. The one exception to this remuneration is the travel allowance for speakers living within 25 miles of the Conference Hotel. For those speakers, no hotel nights will be provided and the travel allowance will be $50 and is not increased if the speaker has more than one session.

How to Submit

To begin the process of submitting your proposal, click here: Call for Proposals . Then, scroll down the page and click on the blue “Start Application” bar. All of the proposals, subsequent processing of proposals and accepted sessions will be handled on the PheedLoop conference software platform.

A submitter must use the same email address for ALL submittals. Your email address is your identity within the PheedLoop platform. This one email address must be used for all Program and Registration activities.

The Program Committee

Mark Halpern, Chair

David Brill

Rosemary Eshel

Ellen Kowitt

Leah Kushner

Joel Spector

[email protected]