28 February 2013

Spencer Wells, PhD and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., PhD to Speak at Conference in Burbank, CA


It’s rare that a new type of event is introduced to the genealogical community. The Southern California Genealogical Society and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy are proud to announce such an event.

Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013” is a one-day conference designed to fully explore the application of genetic genealogy in researching family history. It will be held Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport, Burbank, California. Registrations are open now and an early-bird registration discount is in place through April 30.

“We are so excited that this new conference will break new ground in genetic genealogy gatherings,” said SCGS president Alice Fairhurst, who helped to found the society’s DNA interest group and has been actively applying DNA in her own genealogy research. “Family History and DNA” differs from other DNA events in several ways.

First, speakers are among the most highly respected and knowledgeable professionals in the DNA and genetic genealogy universe.

The opening session will be conducted by Spencer Wells, PhD, an Explorer-in-Residence with the National Geographic Society. He leads The Genographic Project, which is collecting and analyzing hundreds of thousands of DNA samples from people around the world. Dr. Wells’ presentation is “The Genographic Project and the Rise of Citizen Science.”

Genetics has revolutionized our understanding of human history. Advances in genetic technology have allowed ever deeper insights into the human story. Now whole-genome sequences and large-scale arrays of genetic markers are providing a richer view of our shared past, revealing details that remained hidden using other genetic tools. Since 2005, the Genographic Project has used the latest genetic technology to expand our knowledge of the human story, and its pioneering use of DNA testing to engage and involve the public in the research effort has helped to create a new breed of "citizen scientist." Geno 2.0 expands the scope for citizen science, harnessing the power of the crowd to discover new details of human population history.
 
The luncheon speaker will be Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., PhD, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Dr. Gates is an American literary critic, educator, scholar, writer and film maker. His programs for PBS, including Finding Your Roots, African American Lives, Faces of America and Oprah’s Roots, explored family histories of a number of individuals through the use of DNA. (Please note that the luncheon requires an additional fee of $20 for paid registrants of the Thursday DNA conference, and $60 for spouses or guests of those registrants.)

Other speakers include Judy G. Russell, JD, CG; Richard Hill; Emily D. Aulicino; Katherine Hope Borges; CeCe Moore; Tim Janzen, MD; Blaine Bettinger, JD; and Debbie Parker Wayne, CG. We are grateful for the enthusiastic support show by all our speakers, especially Dr. Well and Dr. Gates, through their participation in this conference.

Second, “Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013” is produced by independent groups, not for-profit DNA organizations. The Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) have joined forces to offer this inaugural DNA event. While it is independent of financial support by any of the commercial DNA companies, the event will provide equal access to Family Tree DNA, 23andMe, and AncestryDNA. 

CeCe Moore, speaker, conference co-chair and Southern California Regional Coordinator for ISOGG explained, “I've dreamed of a genetic genealogy conference sponsored by ISOGG for a long time, and I am thrilled to be working in cooperation with SCGS on this inaugural event. Holding the conference in conjunction with the Genealogy Jamboree helps us reach many family historians who would otherwise not be able to attend.”

Finally, the event’s three session tracks are organized by the level of experience using genetic genealogy, and not based on the attendee’s knowledge of family history. Sessions include beginner basics, use of DNA in finding adoptee families, famous DNA, autosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, analyzing results and other topics. The final hour of the day will be a resource hour, with small-group discussions and supplier assistance.

Complete information about “Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013” and the Southern California Genealogical Society’s 44th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree can be found on the Jamboree website, http://www.genealogyjamboree.com.

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The Southern California Genealogical Society is located in Burbank, California. It sponsors the annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, which will be held June 7 through 9, 2013, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank, Burbank, California. The pre-event is the inaugural “Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013” conference.




27 February 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Webinar on March 2 with Lisa Louise Cooke

Time Travel with Google Earth

Join us for this FREE webinar on March 2 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/408817753

Date:    Saturday, March 2, 2013
Time:    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
See old maps, genealogical records, images, and videos come together to create stunning time travel experiences in Google Earth. Explore ancestor neighborhoods across decades. Tell time travel stories that excite non-genealogist relatives!

Lisa Louise Cooke is the Producer and Host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, an online genealogy show at www.GenealogyGems.com and in iTunes. She is the author of the books How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers and The Genealogist's Google Toolbox, producer of the DVD series Google Earth for Genealogy, an international lecturer, and frequent magazine contributor.

ABOUT THE JAMBOREE WEBINAR SERIES
A goal of the Southern California Genealogical Society is to provide educational opportunities to genealogists and family history enthusiasts everywhere. The Jamboree Extension Webinar Series helps provide those opportunities.

COST
The initial webcast of each session is offered to the public free of charge. We are grateful for the genealogical community's support of our program, either by purchasing a membership or by making a donation. Donations can be made online or through PayPal.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinars are held twice a month -- on the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month. Review list of upcoming webinars on the SCGS website.

WEBINAR ARCHIVE AND OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS

Webinars are archived and available only to SCGS members as a benefit of membership in the society.  The webinar archive can be found on the SCGS website. Webinars are available about a week after the session closes. In addition to 24/7 access to the webinar archive, SCGS members enjoy a number of other benefits. Learn about all these benefits here.




Thank you for your interest in our webinar series. We hope you'll enjoy the session.

Paula Hinkel
SCGS Director and Jamboree Co-Chair

21 February 2013

Free Genealogy Webinar on March 2 with Lisa Louise Cooke

Time Travel with Google Earth

Join us for this FREE webinar on March 2 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/408817753

Date:    Saturday, March 2, 2013
Time:    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
See old maps, genealogical records, images, and videos come together to create stunning time travel experiences in Google Earth. Explore ancestor neighborhoods across decades. Tell time travel stories that excite non-genealogist relatives!

Lisa Louise Cooke is the Producer and Host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, an online genealogy show at www.GenealogyGems.com and in iTunes. She is the author of the books How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers and The Genealogist's Google Toolbox, producer of the DVD series Google Earth for Genealogy, an international lecturer, and frequent magazine contributor.


ABOUT THE JAMBOREE WEBINAR SERIES
A goal of the Southern California Genealogical Society is to provide educational opportunities to genealogists and family history enthusiasts everywhere. The Jamboree Extension Webinar Series helps provide those opportunities.

COST
The initial webcast of each session is offered to the public free of charge. We are grateful for the genealogical community's support of our program, either by purchasing a membership or by making a donation. Donations can be made online or through PayPal.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinars are held twice a month -- on the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month. Review list of upcoming webinars on the SCGS website.

WEBINAR ARCHIVE AND OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS

Webinars are archived and available only to SCGS members as a benefit of membership in the society.  The webinar archive can be found on the SCGS website. Webinars are available about a week after the session closes. In addition to 24/7 access to the webinar archive, SCGS members enjoy a number of other benefits. Learn about all these benefits here.




Thank you for your interest in our webinar series. We hope you'll enjoy the session.

Paula Hinkel
SCGS Director and Jamboree Co-Chair

17 February 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Seminar February 20 with Michael John Neill

No Will, No Problem

Join us for this FREE webinar on February 20 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/470294777

Date:    Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Time:    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
This session will discuss intestate probate cases, how heirs-at-law are determined, what records are generated and how to learn about and interpret state statute in light of your ancestor's records. 

Our speaker, Michael John Neill, has actively researched his own genealogy for nearly thirty years, writes 'Genealogy Tip of the Day' and 'Casefile Clues.' He has lectured nationally on a wide variety of genealogy-related topics.



ABOUT THE JAMBOREE WEBINAR SERIES
A goal of the Southern California Genealogical Society is to provide educational opportunities to genealogists and family history enthusiasts everywhere. The Jamboree Extension Webinar Series helps provide those opportunities.

COST
The initial webcast of each session is offered to the public free of charge. We are grateful for the genealogical community's support of our program, either by purchasing a membership or by making a donation. Donations can be made online or through PayPal.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinars are held twice a month -- on the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month. Review list of upcoming webinars on the SCGS website.

WEBINAR ARCHIVE AND OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS

Webinars are archived and available only to SCGS members as a benefit of membership in the society.  The webinar archive can be found on the SCGS website. Webinars are available about a week after the session closes. In addition to 24/7 access to the webinar archive, SCGS members enjoy a number of other benefits. Learn about all these benefits here.




Thank you for your interest in our webinar series. We hope you'll enjoy the session.

Paula Hinkel
SCGS Director and Jamboree Co-Chair

08 February 2013

Jamboree Update - Friday Night Banquet with WDYTYA?

Join us at the Friday evening banquet with "Behind the Scenes with WDYTYA - Who Do You Think You Are?"

The popular family history television program is back in production and Season 4 will be appearing on a new cable channel (to be announced). The program has been lauded as the current upswing in interest in family history.

Get a peek behind the scenes with a key member of the production team, Alexandra Orton, Producer and Research Manager for "Who Do You Think You Are?"

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Allie began work as a researcher on the first U.S. season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" in 2008. She is currently a producer and research manager for the series, overseeing research development, coordinating communication between Ancestry.com and the research staff, and shepherding the stories to completion. Two of Allie's coworkers will also attend (to be announced soon).

 Lisa Louise Cooke of Genealogy Gems will moderate a question-and-answer segment. Banquet guests will be able to ask question during the presentation. To submit a question in advance, send an email to jamboree@scgsgenealogy.com and put "WDYTYA Question" in the subject line. Regrettably, Allie and the other production team members will not be able to answer questions about a specific family's research.

While it's not likely that executive producers Lisa Kudrow or Dan Bucatinsky will be able to attend due to the production schedule, you will still enjoy a delightful evening with the team from WDYTYA. 

Check out all our special events. You'll find a link to order tickets for this meal as well as others.

The Southern California Genealogy Jamboree will be held June Friday through Sunday, 7-9, 2013, at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. The pre-event, "Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013" will be held on Thursday, June 6.

The special record type emphasis is military records. We will focus on African American research as our ethnic focus.

Learn all about Jamboree at genealogyjamboree.com.

05 February 2013

Jamboree to Support $500 Student Grant

Student Genealogy Grant Announced

February 5, 2013 – Do you know a young genealogist who could use $500 toward their family history education and free registration to the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in June 2013?
The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Grant Committee is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Student Genealogy Grant. In addition, SCGS Jamboree will once again provide the recipient with free three-day registration.

Any genealogist who is between the ages of 18 and 25 and has attended school in the last 12 months is eligible to apply. The recipient must attend the 2013 SCGS Jamboree in Burbank, California to receive the award.

The $500 cash award was established in 2010 in memory of Suzanne Winsor Freeman, family historian and life-long volunteer, and an enthusiastic annual attendee at the SCGS Jamboree.
“The Freeman Student Genealogy Grant pays tribute to these interests by awarding the annual cash grant to a young genealogist attending the SCGS Jamboree, Southern California’s premiere regional genealogy conference,” notes Denise Levenick, committee chair and Freeman’s daughter.

“We are especially grateful to Jamboree for providing a three-day conference registration to the grant recipient,” she adds. “SCGS is truly a leader in conference organizations by encouraging youth involvement in genealogy through the popular Kids Camp program and now through the student grant project.”

Past recipients of the award include Elyse Doerflinger (Lomita, California), A.C. Ivory (Salt Lake City, Utah), and Anthony Ray (Palmdale, California).

Funding for the cash award is provided by the family grant program; Jamboree registration is provided by the conference.

Complete details and application materials are available at The Family Curator, Suzanne Freeman Student Genealogy Grant http://www.thefamilycurator.com/swf-grant. Follow Grant News at www.thefamilycurator.com. Application deadline is 18 March 2013 midnight PST.

For More Information Contact: Denise Levenick, swfgrant@gmail.com.

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM:  Suzanne Winsor Freeman Grant Committee,
Denise May Levenick, Chair
swfgrant@gmail.com
www.theFamilyCurator.com

Suzanne Winsor Freeman Obituary: TheFamilyCurator.com
###

03 February 2013

Free Genealogy Webinar February 20 with Michael John Neill

No Will, No Problem

Join us for this FREE webinar on February 20 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/470294777

Date:    Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Time:    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
This session will discuss intestate probate cases, how heirs-at-law are determined, what records are generated and how to learn about and interpret state statute in light of your ancestor's records. 

Our speaker, Michael John Neill, has actively researched his own genealogy for nearly thirty years, writes 'Genealogy Tip of the Day' and 'Casefile Clues.' He has lectured nationally on a wide variety of genealogy-related topics.



ABOUT THE JAMBOREE WEBINAR SERIES
A goal of the Southern California Genealogical Society is to provide educational opportunities to genealogists and family history enthusiasts everywhere. The Jamboree Extension Webinar Series helps provide those opportunities.

COST
The initial webcast of each session is offered to the public free of charge. We are grateful for the genealogical community's support of our program, either by purchasing a membership or by making a donation. Donations can be made online or through PayPal.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinars are held twice a month -- on the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month. Review list of upcoming webinars on the SCGS website.

WEBINAR ARCHIVE AND OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS

Webinars are archived and available only to SCGS members as a benefit of membership in the society.  The webinar archive can be found on the SCGS website. Webinars are available about a week after the session closes. In addition to 24/7 access to the webinar archive, SCGS members enjoy a number of other benefits. Learn about all these benefits here.




Thank you for your interest in our webinar series. We hope you'll enjoy the session.

Paula Hinkel
SCGS Director and Jamboree Co-Chair