27 April 2013

Bargain Alert: DNA Testing. Have You Been Tested?

NOTE: This is not an endorsement of any DNA testing company. We encourage you to do your own research and choose the one(s) that best fit your needs.

All three of the following will be present at the Family History and DNA conference that is being held on June 6, 2013, in Burbank, California, in conjunction with the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree (June 7-9, 2013).

The DNA conference is limited to 350 attendees, and we are approaching 75 percent full. Register today - the Early Bird Registration deadline is April 30! And remember that SCGS members enjoy an even greater discount.

If you are interested in being tested, we wanted to let you know : 

Family Tree DNA has a sale that ends April 30. Sale prices start at:
$119.00    Y-DNA testing (paternal line)
$169.00    Family Finder testing – across all lines, both male and female
$189.00    Full mtDNA testing (maternal line)
For full information, see www.familytreedna.com

23andMe recently announced that their standard price is $99.00. Their information is available at www.23andme.com. Click on the “Ancestry” tab to see the specifics about their genealogy services.

AncestryDNA information can be found at www.dna.ancestry.com. Their standard pricing is also $99.00 for a full test.

26 April 2013

Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant

The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant Committee is pleased to announce that Michael Savoca, a college junior from Toms River, New Jersey will receive a $500 grant from the Freeman Memorial Grant program and full registration to the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California from SCGS.

Michael Savoca will attend the SCGS Jamboree June 7-9, 2013 and use the grant funds toward genealogy research and education. This is the third year that the Freeman Student Genealogy Grant Program and SCGS have partnered to offer a student genealogy award.

“We are delighted to recognize young genealogists with the grant program and encourage their future in family history,” notes Denise Levenick, Grant Chair. “It is exciting to see that “The Next Generation of Genealogists” is already here!”

“We are so pleased to be able to partner with the Freeman Student Genealogy Grant Program to support this outstanding future genealogist,” said Paula Hinkel, Jamboree co-chair and SCGS vice president. “Michael will be recognized at the Jamboree Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, June 9.”

Michael has assisted with records for the Gente di Mare Italian website, is an active member of several online genealogy forums, and is a volunteer at the local Family History Center. He has researched his Croatian family history onsite in original records in the village of Zablaće, and assisted others researching Croatian and Italian ancestry. Michael also has roots in Ireland, Germany and Hungary. SCGS Jamboree will be his first national conference.

About the Grant Program: The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant Program was established in 2011 to help young family historians pursue their genealogy research and educational goals. In recognition of her enthusiasm for the nationally recognized Jamboree, the award is directed toward a student attending the SCGS Jamboree. Suzanne Freeman was the mother of genealogy blogger Denise Levenick, www.theFamilyCurator.com. Funding for the 2013 Memorial Student Grant was provided by proceeds from the sale of Denise Levenick’s new book How to Archive Family Keepsakes during the Blog Book Tour in January 2013. For information about donating to the grant fund, please see SWF Grant.

About SCGS: The Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree has partnered with the grant program each year to offer complimentary conference registration to the award recipient. The annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree is a premiere regional genealogy conference offering national speakers, workshops, and demonstrations. Jamboree early-bird registration deadline is April 30.

Genealogy Programs Sprouting on Television

Woohoo! Genealogy is becoming popular in the world of television programming. Here's a rundown:

Who Do You Think You Are?

We know that "Who Do You Think You Are?" is back in production, to resume on cable channel TLC. We will be welcoming Alexandra Orton and other members of the production team to the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, as they join us for the Friday evening banquet.


Family Tree - Premiers on Sunday, May 2

Next, there's Family Tree, a new program with genealogy as the basic plot line. However, it's not your typical study-a-family's-history format. This is a comedy that is described as:

Down on his luck in love and life, having recently lost his job and girlfriend, 30-year-old Tom Chadwick has an unsure sense of his own identity. But when he inherits a mysterious box, Tom starts investigating his lineage and uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters, acquiring a growing sense of who he and his entire family are. [We can certainly relate to unusual stories and characters, right?]

FAMILY TREE kicks off its eight-episode season SUNDAY, MAY 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes subsequent Sundays at the same time. The producer is Christopher Guest, who is responsible for such comedy gems as "Best in Show and "A Mighty Wind."

If you don't mind spoilers, you can read the episode summaries at http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/family-tree-new-hbo-show-28000/


Genealogy Roadshow

A casting call is out for a new PBS program called Genealogy Roadshow. The casting call reads:

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY?


The groundbreaking Documentary Series “Genealogy Roadshow” will be in AUSTIN, NASHVILLE, SAN FRANCISCO, and DETROIT reuniting families with long lost relatives, and answering questions about their past, their history, and their lineage. Do you have a Family mystery you would like solved? Is there a missing piece or person in your family tree you’ve always wondered about? Do you believe you might be connected in some way to our Nation’s rich history, folk lore, our founding fathers, or a famous person?

If so, we’d love to hear from you! For your chance to be on the show please email us your name, contact info, your story, and someone from the casting department will get back to you!


Please note that the full instructions for registering, including creating an account and signing in, can be found at http://www.realitywanted.com/call/24410-casting-pbss-genealogy-roadshow#.UXrbQMoWdOx



21 April 2013

Early Bird Deadline April 30: Jamboree and Family History and DNA


The deadline for early bird registration discount is April 30, 2013. The last day for advance registration is May 24.

Those planning to attend the Family History and DNA Conference are strongly encouraged to register at the earliest possible opportunity. That event is limited to 350 attendees; and you don't want to miss out on this great event!

Online registration for Family History and DNA - June 6, 2013

Online registration for Jamboree - June 7 through 9, 2013

Los Angeles Burbank Marriott
2500 Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505

Visit the Jamboree Website



20 April 2013

Free Genealogy Webinar on May 4 with Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG

Homespun and Calico
Researching our Foremothers

Join us for this FREE webinar on May 4 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/819888305

Date:    Saturday, May 4, 2013
Time:    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
This lecture will give the genealogist some frequently overlooked sources concerning the women in our ancestry. Some case studies will be used to illustrate the research process.


Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, was involved in genealogy before she was even born. The daughter of avid genealogists, she was spending time in courthouses and cemeteries while other children were playing on swings and going to the beach. The love of her family’s history has never left her. With her experience as a former Family History Director, she is a frequent speaker at genealogy events.

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

16 April 2013

SCGS Jamboree - Research Assistance Call for Volunteers


Jamboree is just around the corner and the Jambo-elves are working like, well, elves. Badges and signs are being printed, schedules are being set (and re-set), and the volunteers are trying to keep from falling down from exhaustion. Volunteers! Without those elves, where would we be? Well, there would be no Jamboree, that’s for certain. Here is where you can help (don’t stop reading . . . keep going . . .

Last year, the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists hosted and ran the Research Assistance room. Lots of knowledgeable family historians donated their time to help folks who had genealogical problems. Some problems were minor and needed nothing more than a fresh pair of eyes and a new perspective to solve; others were more involved and needed the assistance of an expert in a particular area. No one knows everything! Even the most experienced genealogists will admit to having a problem in the family tree at some point. And even the intermediate researchers have knowledge that can help someone.

If you have ever assisted someone in finding a long-lost ancestor, clarified a bit of apparently illegible handwriting on a document, or just assisted a new researcher in getting started, your volunteering is of value to the Research Assistance team. To sign up to assist guests during Jamboree (Friday-Sunday), please go to <http://sccapg.org/jamboree.php>  and sign up for one or more time slots. Be sure to indicate your expertise and, if you are not comfortable with doing anything more than being “able to assist people just getting started,” that will be greatly appreciated! Our assistants come from all levels of genealogy, as do our guests needing help. And there are few greater rewards in the research of ancestors than to help someone break through a brick wall. So, come help crumble some walls!!

Thank you and see you at Jamboree 2013!

Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA, CG
Past-President, SCCAPG

Thank you Jean Hibben for this guest post for Jamboree. In addition to her speaking presentations, Jean is overseeing the Research Assistance program at Jamboree. The Research Assistance program is designed to provide free personal guidance on nagging research questions for paid attendees of the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree.

This is the first of two posts is a call for assistance from the area's many highly knowledgeable, experienced genealogists. Look for Post #2 in May.

14 April 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Webinar on April 17 with Janet Hovorka

Trip the Tree Fantastic: 
Intriguing Family History Trips 
for the Whole Family

Join us for this FREE webinar on April 17 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.  Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/560264696

Date:    Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Time:    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
How do you prepare, organize and execute a family history trip for your family members so that they will enjoy the ride?  These are the people who should care, how do you get them there?

Our speaker, Janet Hovorka, received a B.A. in Ancient History and a MLIS from BYU. She and her husband Kim Hovorka own Family ChartMasters (www.familychartmasters.com), a genealogy chart printing company. Janet writes (www.thechartchick.com) and teaches at SLCC. She is serving as President of UGA. 

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

SCGS Genealogy Jamboree: Genealogy World

Are you looking for ancestors on the Continent or in the Colonies? Trying to find your Jewish or Scandinavian forebears? Need help finding resources to research your ancestors who moved to the Midwest or the Southwest? Discuss your research successes or problem ancestors in an informal roundtable format at Genealogy World.

A JamboFREE activity, Genealogy World is scheduled on Friday morning, June 7, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Table topics featured in the past have included:

Denmark, Norway & Sweden Research
DNA
Chinese Research
English Research
French-Canadian
Genealogists in Second Life
Germanic Research
Virginia Research
Irish Research
Japanese Research
Jewish Research
Lineage Society Research
Midwest Research
New England Research
Portuguese Research
Scottish Research
Southern Research

Sign up NOW to host a table – you don’t need to be an expert – just have an interest in the topic area and a willingness to keep the conversation moving along!

Our thanks to guest blogger Denise Spurlock for this post about one of the JamboFREE activities on Friday, June 7, 2013, that lead up to the formal kick-off of the 2013 Jamboree. Denise, a professional genealogist, is the Jamboree Committee member who is organizing this fun and valuable networking opportunity.

07 April 2013

CORRECTION: Free Genealogy Webinar April 17 with Janet Hovorka

Trip the Tree Fantastic: 
Intriguing Family History Trips 
for the Whole Family

Please note that the earlier post about this webinar indicated that the time ran from 6am to 7:30am PDT. The corrected time is 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  If you have registered for the webinar, your reminder email will reflect the correct time. Apologies for the typo.

Join us for this FREE webinar on April 17 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.  Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/560264696

Date:    Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Time:    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
How do you prepare, organize and execute a family history trip for your family members so that they will enjoy the ride?  These are the people who should care, how do you get them there?

Our speaker, Janet Hovorka, received a B.A. in Ancient History and a MLIS from BYU. She and her husband Kim Hovorka own Family ChartMasters (www.familychartmasters.com), a genealogy chart printing company. Janet writes (www.thechartchick.com) and teaches at SLCC. She is serving as President of UGA. 

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

03 April 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Webinar on April 6 with Denise Levenick

Break Down Brick Walls 
with Home Sources

Join us for this FREE webinar on April 6 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/205696577

Date:    Saturday, April 6, 2013
Time:    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar

ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
Solve genealogical mysteries with clues in family sources. Photos and examples show where to find hidden details on your ancestors’ lives in the things they left behind, including old mail, insurance policies, check registers, trash.

Our speaker, Denise Levenick, also known as The Family Curator, has written about organizing, preserving, and sharing family treasures since 2007 at www.TheFamilyCurator.com, voted one of the 40 Best Genealogy Blogs in 2010 and in 2011. She is the author of Organize Your Family Archives (F+W Media, Fall 2012).

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