There is no better way to start your family history research than by attending an event packed with experts and family history hobbyists with the same goal -- finding your ancestors.

The National Genealogical Society, headquartered in Arlington, Va., announces its 31st Family History Conference to be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, May 13-16.

"Even if you are watching the pennies during these tough economic times, the Family History Conference offers a lot of bang for your buck and has many free sessions and events open to the public," says a spokesman.

On Tuesday, May 12, there will be an African-American Genealogy Forum, which is free and open to the public and conference attendees.

Wednesday, May 13, is Society Night -- with many local genealogical societies displaying their goods and services -- completely free of charge to conference attendees and members of the public.

Society Night will be followed by a host of free and informative lectures -- including lectures from Ancestry.com, Irish History Foundation, North Carolina State Library and Archives, and the Trading Path Association.

A bonus of the conference is the free exhibit hall filled with software, books, and a myriad of genealogy-related products, where attendees can also meet their favorite authors and genealogists.

The Family History Conference features more than 160 exciting educational sessions and workshops by many of the top names in family history research from around the nation and North Carolina.

The variety of topics -- from beginner workshops to understanding and using DNA testing for family history, to finding resources for Native American, African-American, ScotsIrish, and other ethnic groups, to complex problem-solving, and more -- provide tools for everyone from the merely curious to those who aspire to become credentialed or professional genealogists.

To see the entire program, pre-conference events and registration details, visit www.ngs genealogy.org/conferences/ 2009.

The National Genealogical Society, founded in 1903, is the premier national society for everyone from the beginner to the most advanced family historian.

NGS serves its members by providing genealogical skill development through education, information, publications, research assistance, and networking opportunities.