CGSI 2013 - Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI)

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) will hold its 14th Genealogical and Cultural Conference at the Westin Lombard Hotel in Lombard, Illinois. The dates are Wednesday October 23 through Saturday October 26, 2013.
Beginning Genealogy and “local resource” sessions will be offered on Thursday October 24. Local research specialist speakers are usually assigned to speak on this day. A total of 32 presentations by international and national speakers will be offered on Friday (16) and Saturday (16), with 4 simultaneous sessions offered over 4 time slots each day.
Topics appropriate to this conference are numerous. Shown below is a list of potential subject matter:
Computers in Genealogy (family tree programs, family web sites, etc.)
Genealogy (ethnic specific, US, European, traditional, on-line)
History of ethnic settlements, religious groups, churches, fraternal organizations
Immigration history, Emigration history (push-pull factors), Military history
Austro-Hungarian Empire history, 20th century history, prehistoric history
Language (conversational, meanings / origins of surnames and place names, transcription)
Folk art, Folk music, Folklore, Folk dance (lecture or hands-on training)
Modes of Transportation (in homeland, passenger ships, trains, steam boats, etc.)
Ethnic press, newspapers, periodicals, newsletters
Research institutions, Collections, museums
Geography
DNA studies
Traditions (holidays, life-cycle, etc.)
Cooking / baking
Other
The information we require from speaker candidates includes: a title and one page summary for each presentation, and a speaker bio of no more than one page. We encourage speaker candidates located outside of the Greater Chicago metropolitan area to submit more than one paper, because of the costs of travel and lodging to bring in speakers.
Speakers selected for the conference will receive a complimentary admission that includes Friday and Saturday lunches, syllabus, and a free vendor table. A travel allowance using a per mile rate equal to the midpoint between the charitable rate and the business rate (currently 34 cents) or reasonable airfare, and lodging at the host hotel will be provided to out of area speakers based on their individual situation. CGSI will ask speakers to share a sleeping room with another speaker or waive the travel allowance.
If you require a speaking honorarium, please clearly state your requirements. The CGSI puts on a very high quality program, while attempting to maintain a reasonable registration rate for the public.
If you have an interest in speaking or know someone who would be an appropriate speaker in Chicago, please forward this information to them or contact Paul Makousky, Conference Chair at: PaulMCzech-AT-comcast.net or by US mail at 8582 Timberwood Road, Woodbury, MN 55125-7620.
Papers are due by May 31, 2012 and shall be mailed or e-mailed to Paul Makousky at the address above.