UGAGenealogy - Utah Genealogical Association

06/23/2026

Professional genealogy involves more than research. From handling taxes and client contracts to editing reports, marketing services, and responding to calls for presentations, genealogists face a wide range of administrative tasks that consume valuable time. AI tools can lighten this load. In this webinar, we will explore practical, real-world applications of AI for professional genealogists, from classifying expenses for Schedule C deductions, to reviewing contracts, to tailoring proposals to fit conference submission requirements. We will also discuss privacy and other concerns. Attendees will leave with specific ideas for using AI effectively, freeing time for the more satisfying research tasks.

This free webinar will be live on July 7th at 6:00 pm MDT (8:00 EDT, 5:00 PDT). Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mMJuQWFzT1SedV_kAE5iGA #/registration

Robert Cameron Weir is a genealogical researcher, educator, and author who lives in Dover, New Hampshire. He specializes in hard problems related to New England genealogy, from 1620 to the present. He is a member of the Association for Professional Genealogy and is Vice President and Publications Director for the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.

06/04/2026

As Director of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (gen-fed.org), our presenter has unique insights to the records preserved by our National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This lecture will introduce a little of the history and explain how records are organized. Where major genealogically-rich collections are located and a peek into the NARA Catalog will round out this presentation.

This free webinar will be presented live on June 18th at 7:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time (9:00 EDT, 6:00 PDT). Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GDgSg6NwQaqtoJOPk-InOg #/registration

Rebecca Whitman Koford holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and as a Certified Genealogical Lecturer®. She focuses on research in Maryland, Upstate New York, Virginia, the District of Columbia, colonial records, military records from the Revolution through the Civil War, federal records at the National Archives (D.C.), and land records of all types. She has published articles in the NGS Magazine, APG Magazine, SAR Magazine, and the Maryland Genealogical Society Journal and is co-author of the NGS Research in the States series book on Maryland.

Rebecca is a graduate and former mentor of the ProGen Study Group and served as its Administrator from 2015–2020. She speaks at national conferences and regularly teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy ( ), International Institute of Genealogical Studies. She served as Executive Director of the Board for Certification of Genealogists from 2018–2024. In 2021, she was named as Director of Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) in Washington, D.C. Rebecca was elected as the vice-president of National Genealogical Society in October 2024. She takes clients and runs her business under the name Rebecca Whitman Koford Genealogical Research, LLC.

06/03/2026

Find connections to distant ancestral lines by utilizing the entirety of your DNA match list and the matches of your known relations. This free webinar will be live on June 10th at 6:00 PM MDT (8:00 PM Eastern, 5:00 PM Pacific). Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SIX930Z9T--qxdGnEv3rpA #/registration

Arun Konanur is a professional genealogist based in London, Ontario, Canada. For the past five years his research has focused on Genealogical Bioinformatics. To date he has developed and filed patents for four genealogically oriented bioinformatic processes.

06/02/2026

Don't forget about tonight's free Pro Talk by Natalie Webb at 6:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time! This webinar shows professional genealogists how to use AI as a practical business partner. Learn how well-crafted prompts can generate SEO-friendly website copy, develop branding ideas, and draft newsletters & social media posts. We’ll also explore how AI can streamline report writing, create citations, and repurpose research into client-ready narratives and images. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for saving time, boosting visibility, and strengthening their professional brand. Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nLmg_BTWQa6U51zhg2MwAw #/registration

Natalie Webb isn’t your average genealogist. With a 25-year career as a project manager, technical trainer, and all-around computer wizard, she’s got the skills to tackle even the trickiest of technical problems. But she noticed that while genealogy is all about connecting the dots, many fellow researchers were struggling with the digital tools and online resources that are essential today. That’s when Family Tree Technology was born. They're all about making genealogy tools fun, accessible, and a little less daunting. Whether you’re just starting your family tree or you’re deep into the branches, Natalie’s here to guide you through the tech world with a smile and a few mouse clicks.

05/29/2026

https://mailchi.mp/ugagenealogy/utah-genealogical-association-june-newsletter-fm304h6u4a?e=c874d7dc12

                      Laura Prescott Scholarship: Laurianne Schell from Calgary, Alberta                    Bring ‘Em Back Again! Advanced Workshop for Writing Our Ancestors’ Stories, Spring 2027

05/22/2026

Running a genealogy business requires more than excellent research skills. Professional genealogists are also content creators, website designers, marketing experts and report writers, to name a few examples. This webinar shows professional genealogists how to use AI as a practical business partner.

Learn how well-crafted prompts can generate SEO-friendly website copy, develop branding ideas, and draft newsletters & social media posts. We’ll also explore how AI can streamline report writing, create citations, and repurpose research into client-ready narratives and images. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for saving time, boosting visibility, and strengthening their professional brand.

Participate in this free webinar on June 2nd at 6:00 pm MDT (8:00 EDT, 5:00 PDT). Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nLmg_BTWQa6U51zhg2MwAw #/registration

Natalie Webb isn’t your average genealogist. With a 25-year career as a project manager, technical trainer, and all-around computer wizard, she’s got the skills to tackle even the trickiest of technical problems. But she noticed that while genealogy is all about connecting the dots, many fellow researchers were struggling with the digital tools and online resources that are essential today. That’s when Family Tree Technology was born. We're all about making genealogy tools fun, accessible, and a little less daunting. Whether you’re just starting your family tree or you’re deep into the branches, Natalie’s here to guide you through the tech world with a smile and a few mouse clicks.

05/14/2026

RootsTech 2027 Call for Presentations is officially OPEN!

We're looking for speakers - people with specialized skills, experiences, insights, and genealogy know-how that can help others discover their family story.

Apply to be a RootsTech 2027 presenter - in person or online - and be part of the world's premier family history event.

Link - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/call-for-presentations/instructions

05/14/2026

In addition to our own conferences like the Summit of Excellence, we're looking forward to Preservation Engaged! Utah State Historic Preservation Office, in partnership with Preservation Utah, will be hosting the 2026 Preservation Engaged Conference at historic Ogden High School. There is still time to register at https://ushpo.utah.gov/conference/ This conference is a great opportunity to network, learn about community revival, and to honor local history. Registration will close on June 5th. We hope to see you there!

05/13/2026

Behind every family story lies a kernel of truth waiting to be uncovered. This webinar explores how to apply the Genealogical Proof Standard to evaluate and investigate family lore. Through two case studies, you’ll see how to corroborate or correct ancestral stories using documentary and contextual evidence. Learn how this process not only reveals the facts but also adds richness, accuracy, and depth to your family’s history.

Participate for free on May 27th at 10:00 MDT (Noon Eastern, 9:00 Pacific). Register at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6nysHN2lQhuXKq8rHSjwkg #/registration

Amy Rose Ward completed her Masters in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde in 2022. She has worked in the FamilySearch library in Salt Lake City as a research specialist and currently works as an instructor for BYU Pathway in the Family History department.

Amy presents webinars on a variety of topics, and has written for Crossroads Magazine. She enjoys doing client research and is especially passionate about writing family narratives. She serves on the Utah Genealogical Association board. Amy is the president and founder of her community's orchestra in Morgan, Utah where she plays violin and viola.

05/07/2026

The UGA is proud to present "Ich glaube, ich spinne: Where to Start on Unspinning Your German Genealogy" by Kristina Kaufman! Starting your German genealogical research can seem like a daunting task. You may face challenges like language & script barriers or centuries of changing borders & governance. This class is your starting guide, designed to help you successfully trace your ancestors to the Germanic regions of Europe. We'll cover how to read the Old German Scripts, strategies for moving from U.S. records back to the European origin, & where to look for records once you get there. Knowing where to start is the first step to successfully unraveling your German family history!

Participate for free on May 21st at 7:00 pm MDT (9:00 EDT, 6:00 PDT) by registering at https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lN4tiEuETESbiWQ63c5WNQ #/registration

Kristina Kaufman is a student in the Family History-Genealogy program at Brigham Young University. Originally from a small town in Wisconsin, her emphases are in German and Midwestern research, which she believes she can use to support research in her home state. She finds polemology fascinating and hopes to be able to incorporate military research into her professional work as a genealogist. She will graduate from BYU in April 2027. In 2024, Kristina had the privilege to intern at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oœwiêcim, Poland. She worked specifically with prisoner transfer records in the Archives and a variety of artifacts in the Collections Department. She returned to Poland in July 2025 to receive an award (“If not for those ten...”) for the work she completed. She has worked at the BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy for the last three years, helping supervise three projects. This work provides meaningful learning experiences, and a highlight has been being able to conduct military research as the project supervisor of the Mormon Battalion Project.