together

RootsTech is the largest genealogy conference in the world. The RootsTech team has announced its global emcees and theme. Ten emcees from around the world will host this massive family history conference. I am attending this year in person with hundreds of vendors, thousands of in-person attendees, and millions of others online.

There will be in-person and online speakers. Ronald Rasband will be the concluding speaker Family Discovery Day (Sat)
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My Rootstech 2026 Schedule
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🗓️ Thursday, March 5 — Orientation & Big Picture

Theme: Setting context + technology landscape
Energy level: Gentle start

☀️ Morning (Learning)

Mar 5, 8:00 AM MST
- 251
How to Turn Your Research into a Great Life StoryRachel Trotter
Mat Trotter
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
Those who research often say they can't write and those who write often say they can't research. This class will dispel those rumors by teaching would be writers how to add facts to their ancestor stories and would be researchers how to capture their excellent research and create a beautiful story. We will details how to access help from others and how to make the most of what Familysearch, Ancestry and other research tools can do to find information that will help to create a fact-based and captivating life story.

A mobile device will be helpful for this session.

OR

Mar 5, 8:00 AM MST
- 255 BC
How to Preserve Text Messages, Emails, Photos, Videos, and Journals as Family History - ThursdayMarisa J. W. Humphrey
Jeffrey C. Humphrey
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
Text messages, emails, photos, videos, and journals now tell the most complete story of our lives, yet most of this material is fragile, scattered, and at risk of being lost forever. In this class, you will learn how modern digital content fits into family history and why it deserves to be preserved alongside traditional records. We will explore practical strategies for identifying meaningful digital materials, organizing them with context, and preserving them in ways future generations can understand and access. You will also learn common mistakes families make when trying to save digital content and how to avoid them. This session bridges traditional genealogy and modern life, helping you transform everyday communications and memories into lasting family history. This session is offered multiple times during RootsTech; each offering covers the same material.

Sponsored by LifeWeaver

8:30–9:45 AM
➡️ Advanced session on:
• Digital memory preservation
• Long-term stewardship of family history
• Platform ecosystems (ideal slot for Together-adjacent ideas)

Mar 5, 9:30 AM MST
- 250
From Clutter to Legacy: Organizing Photos to Tell Your Family StoryCathi Nelson
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
Overwhelmed by years of photos scattered across devices, albums, and shoeboxes? You’re not alone. In this practical and inspiring session, Cathi Nelson—founder and CEO of The Photo Managers and author of Photo Organizing Made Easy—will guide you through simple steps to tame your photo chaos.

You’ll learn how to organize both print and digital images, preserve important details like dates and names, and use photos to spark meaningful conversations with loved ones. Discover how organizing your photos is not just about tidying up—it’s about honoring your family’s story and creating a lasting visual legacy for future generations. Whether you're just starting or finally ready to get things in order, this session will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

OR 

Mar 5, 9:30 AM MST
- Ballroom H
The Art of the Family History Interview: From Awkward to AmazingSunny J Morton
Crista Cowan
Curt Witcher
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
This lively panel reveals the art behind successful family history interviews—moving beyond awkward interrogations to meaningful conversations that deepen connections. Watch live demonstrations as three experienced educators show you the difference between pestering relatives for facts and creating comfortable spaces where stories flow naturally. Discover why your well-meaning questions might be falling flat and learn active listening techniques that unlock deeper memories. We'll tackle the real challenges: getting past one-word answers, handling emotional topics gracefully, and transforming reluctant relatives into eager storytellers. You'll gain practical tools for preparation, recording, and follow-up, plus question strategies that work across generations. Whether you're facing the prospect of the reluctant interviewee or the tangent-taking talker, this session will equip you to conduct interviews that leave both you and your relatives feeling great about the experience.

9:45–10:15 AM — Break
• Hot chocolate
• Notes
• Walk the venue (no sessions)

🎤 Midday

11:00–12:00 PM — Keynote / General Session
• Attend live for inspiration and shared experience
Mar 5, 11:00 AM MST
- Hall E
RootsTech 2026 | General Session 1 | Marlee Matlin and Steve RockwoodMarlee Matlin
Steve Rockwood
Join us for General Session 1 at RootsTech 2026 with an inspiring keynote address from award winning actress Marlee Matlin, FamilySearch CEO Steve Rockwood and news and updates from our platinum sponsor Ancestry.

🍽️ Lunch

12:00–1:15 PM — Sit-down lunch
• Away from crowds if possible
• Light reflection: What stood out so far?

🏛️ Afternoon (Expo Hall – Strategic)

1:30–3:00 PM
➡️ Expo Hall:
• Visit Together booth early in the conference
• Ask roadmap & perpetuity questions
• Identify 1–2 complementary vendors

Mar 5, 1:30 PM MST
- 355 BC
Where Do You Keep Your Memories? I’ll Show You Where I Keep Mine – FOREVER!Glen Meakem
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
In this session, Glen Meakem, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FOREVER, will ask a question of critical importance. How and where are you saving and sharing all your family memories (photos, videos, documents, audio files, and stories) today and for generations into the future? He will then demonstrate how he is saving and sharing his family stories, history, beliefs, and culture with his permanent cloud storage and sharing account at FOREVER.COM.
Glen will encourage audience members to participate in this classroom session by asking questions and sharing experiences. Glen will demonstrate the full suite of capabilities within his account, including exciting new AI features, and he will also share a glimpse into the future of FOREVER.
The goal of this session will be for participants to leave with an understanding of the long-term risks to their precious family memories and the long-term solution that is available to them now and for generations to come at FOREVER.

Sponsored by FOREVER

3:00–3:30 PM — Break
• Sit, hydrate, review notes

3:30–4:30 PM
➡️ One optional session or quiet networking

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Evening: Done for the day

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🗓️ Friday, March 6 — Deep Evaluation & Connection

Theme: Tools, longevity, and decision-making
Energy level: Most focused day

☀️ Morning (Learning)

8:30–9:45 AM
➡️ Advanced methodology or technology session
Focus on:
• AI + genealogy ethics
• Digital legacy planning
• Standards & preservation

9:30 AM
User-created AI Tools and Workspaces for Family History: Structured Data from MultimediaSteve Little
This class is not available onlineThis session is in person only
Still typing the same prompt into ChatGPT and hoping for magic? In **Developer Tools and Workspaces**, Steve Little (AI Genealogy Insights) demonstrates how real-world developers extract structured data from photos, recordings, and film reels—then keep every step reproducible and affordable. Walk through three tool tiers—a playground for instant OCR, an IDE for evolving prompts, and a cloud notebook that turns multimedia into a searchable event log. Take home plug-and-play code, a workspace template, cost-control tips, and an ethics checklist to transform your own archives immediately.
9:45–10:15 AM — Break

🎤 Midday

11:00–12:00 PM — KeynoteMar 6, 11:00 AM MST (1 session)

• Mar 6, 11:00 AM MSTMar 6, 11:00 AM MST
  - Hall E- Hall E
  ​RootsTech 2026 | General Session 2 | Tara RobertsTara Roberts
  Renowned explorer and author Tara Roberts and RootsTech platinum sponsors MyHeritage and Life Weaver share powerful messages.

🍽️ Lunch

12:00–1:15 PM
• Preferably with one other attendee for conversation
• Or quiet solo lunch to recharge

🏛️ Afternoon (Expo Hall + Networking)

1:30–2:30 PM
➡️ Industry Highlight Forum (if relevant)
OR
➡️ Targeted Expo Hall visits (round 2)
Getting to Know Your Ancestors & Telling Their Stories: Tips for Connection & SharingJana K Greenhalgh
Natalie Hill
Katie Stull
This session invites you to connect with your ancestors on a personal level, exploring the context of their lives and digging deeper than a basic genealogical collection of vital events. The presenters (a BYU genealogy professor and BYU genealogy students) will share tactics and fun examples.

This beginner-level session is sponsored by the BYU Family History Program.

OR

Mar 6, 1:30 PM MST
- Ballroom E
Getting to Know Your Ancestors & Telling Their Stories: Tips for Connection & SharingJana K Greenhalgh
Natalie Hill
Katie Stull
This session invites you to connect with your ancestors on a personal level, exploring the context of their lives and digging deeper than a basic genealogical collection of vital events. The presenters (a BYU genealogy professor and BYU genealogy students) will share tactics and fun examples.

This beginner-level session is sponsored by the BYU Family History Program.

2:30–3:00 PM — Break

3:00–4:30 PM
➡️ Deep-dive vendor conversations
• Follow up with Together
• Ask harder questions about sustainability & export

This session has a skill level of All Levels
Mar 6, 3:00 PM MSTMar 6, 3:00 PM MST
- Ballroom B- Ballroom BAI & Family History: Foundations & First Steps: Mastering AI Basics for GenealogySteve Little
Wondering where to begin with AI in genealogy? Foundations & First Steps provides a clear, actionable introduction to using large-language models effectively. Join Steve Little, founder of AI Genealogy Insights, to learn how AI can streamline your workflow through practical templates for summarizing research, extracting key details, transforming how writing looks and sounds, and generating polished family narratives. You’ll see step-by-step demonstrations and leave with essential resources—ready-to-use prompts, transcription scripts, a model-comparison toolkit, and an ethics checklist—to integrate AI into your genealogical work responsibly and confidently. Come curious; leave empowered!

Attendees would benefit from an understanding of basic genealogical research techniques and general computer proficiency (web browsing, file management). No previous AI experience required.


- Online
Genealogy for your DescendantsJanna Helshtein
What will your descendants truly know about you? Not the dates, not the records, but the person behind them.

In this moving and eye-opening lecture, we explore the stories, memories, and small everyday moments that shape the legacy we leave behind. From ancient cave walls to today’s digital clouds, we trace humanity’s need to say we were here. You’ll discover how to document your life with intention, preserve your voice for future generations, and create a legacy of the heart that will outlast time.

Come hear why every unrecorded day is a piece of history lost forever.




Evening: Optional social event only if it feels energizing

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🗓️ Saturday, March 7 — Family Discovery Day & Meaningful Reflection

Theme: Legacy, memory, and generational connection
Energy level: Light, intentional, and people-centered

Attending this day with Bart.
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☀️ Morning (Light Learning + Space)

8:30–9:30 AM
➡️ Optional session or activity focused on:
• Storytelling
• Family memory sharing
• Intergenerational connection
(Choose something reflective rather than technical.)

9:30–10:15 AM — Break
• Walk the venue
• Visit quiet seating areas
• Light notes or journaling

10:15–10:45 AM
• Transition time
• Arrive early to secure seating for the keynote

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🎤 11:00 AM — Steve Young (Family Discovery Day Keynote)

➡️ Attend live

Why this fits your priorities
• Big-picture thinking about family, values, and legacy
• Shared emotional experience (better in person)
• Sets the tone for memory perpetuity and meaning

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🍽️ Lunch & Decompression

12:00–1:00 PM — Sit-down lunch
• Step away from session rooms
• Reflect on:
• What kind of memories last?
• How technology supports (or undermines) that goal

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🎤 1:30 PM — Ronald A. Rasband

➡️ Attend live

Why this fits
• Focus on family, remembrance, and continuity
• Complements your interest in long-term stewardship of memories
• Strong capstone session for the conference

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🌿 Afternoon (Optional & Light)

2:30–3:00 PM
• Quiet wrap-up
• Final Expo Hall pass only if desired
• Write down:
• 3 insights from RootsTech
• 1–2 concrete next steps (especially related to Together)

3:00 PM — Conference close
• Leave without rushing
• Energy intact