CAGGNI GeneaQuest Conference 2026 |
CAGGNI‘s 7th biennial GeneaQuest Conference will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Wojcik Conference Center at Harper College in Palatine, IL.
The conference will be a one-day, in-person event, featuring regional presenters covering a wide range of genealogy topics of interest to all skills and interest levels.
Countdown to GeneaQuest 2026
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More Information Coming Soon ... Check back in late February
Registration
Registration Opens: Sunday, March 1, 2026
GeneaQuest registrants receive admission to the one-day conference, session handouts, access for one month to session recordings of all presentations*, entries for door prize drawings, beverages, and lunch.
- Conference Attendee Admission
- Members, $75 Early Bird Discount Registration (Regular Registration Members $80)
- Non-members, $85 Early Bird Discount Registration (Regular Registration Non-Members $90)
- Registration Deadline
- Early Bird Registration Deadline: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Regular Registration Deadline: Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Advanced registration is required. Admission will not be sold at the door as we are unable to accommodate walk-ins.
- Non-registered guests are not permitted within the conference facilities.
- Session Selection
- We ask that attendees select their session schedule during the online registration process so that we can gather the approximate attendee count and plan the appropriate room sizes.
- Lunch Selection
- Lunch is included in admission.
- Box lunch included with a sandwich (choice of turkey, ham, or veggie) served with a cookie and a bag of chips.
- Sandwich selection and special dietary restrictions will be collected during online registration.
- Beverages
- Beverage station is included in admission.
- Coffee and Hot Tea will be available in the morning.
- Iced Tea, Lemonade, and Ice Water will be available from morning to mid-afternoon and served during lunch.
- Session Recordings
- Recordings will allow attendees to view other sessions they missed while attending another session that occurred at the same time or to rewatch their favorite presentations.
- Recordings will be posted on a secure website within a few days of the conference and be available via login for 30 days.
Session ScheduleAll presentations will be 100% live, with speakers presenting in person and available for questions.
Note: All times listed in local format (US CDT) Schedule To Be Announced
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Syllabus & Session Handouts
- Syllabus will be distributed in PDF format via email on Friday, July 17.
- Additional handout file(s) may be distributed in PDF format via links in the syllabus email to a secure website for download. These separate file(s) may require downloading to avoid email size restrictions and allow for more attendee flexibility to better suit their individual printing and storage preferences.
- Printed paper copies of the syllabus and session handouts will NOT be available for distribution the day of the conference.
Conference Theme & Session TopicsCAGGNI GeneaQuest 2026 – Pursuit of Ancestry: Life, Liberty & Heritage will be an America 250 tribute event celebrating the 250th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The conference will focus on topics related to researching our ancestors’ American experience and uncovering their path to “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The following core themes of the conference are inspired by the commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial.
Legacy of Liberty: Honoring Those Who Built, Defended, and Improved a Nation
Journeys to America: Stories of Hope and Heritage
Tech Meets Tradition: Genealogy at America’s 250th
Legacy of LibertyEach struggle tells a story of strength – our ancestors' gift lives in us. Sessions To Be Announced Journeys to AmericaYour ancestors crossed oceans – now cross time. Sessions To Be Announced Tech Meets TraditionInnovate the way you research, remember, and reconnect. Artificial Intelligence (AI) presentation by Eric Vavra
Additional Sessions To Be Announced Pursuit of Ancestry
Genealogy Vignettes in a Lightning Talk Style presentations by Larry Olson, Marty Acks, and Additional Speakers To Be Announced
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SpeakersThe conference includes a wonderful lineup of regionally well known and new speakers. Speaker Bios
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Door & Raffle PrizesDoor PrizesTwo (2) door prize drawing entry tickets are included with each paid conference admission.
Note: Door prize tickets will be provided at check-in. Each ticket(s) should be placed in the "bucket" for the specific prize drawing(s) you wish to enter. The drawing will be conducted in-person and announced in the dining room during lunch (approximately 12:30 PM). You must be present to win. Prize winners must pick up their prizes by the end of the conference (4:00 PM). Additional information will be provided in the syllabus and at the entry table. Raffle PrizesRaffle entry tickets may be purchased Two (2) tickets for $5.00 or Five (5) tickets for $10.00 (CASH ONLY - There is NOT an ATM in the building).
Note: Ticket sales will be limited to only the day of the conference between doors opening (approximately 7:30 AM) and the beginning of the lunch announcements (approximately 12:30 PM). Each ticket(s) should be placed in the "bucket" for the specific raffle prize drawing(s) you wish to enter. The raffle drawing will be conducted in-person and announced in the dining room during lunch (approximately 12:30 PM). You must be present to win. Prize winners must pick up their prizes by the end of the conference (4:00 PM). Additional information will be provided in the syllabus and at the entry table. Only persons aged 18 years or older may participate in the raffle (Village of Palatine Code of Ordinances Chapter 11 Article VII Raffles). |
For More Information
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Notices
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