30 May 2013

Jamboree Streamed Video: International Audience

To our friends outside of North America:

It seems that Constant Contact has not yet caught up with the fact that we have an audience for live-streamed sessions that span the globe, not just a few time zones. Their registration system asks for "state" (including provinces) and then "country." And it doesn't give an option for "other" in the "state" response. Duh.

Just know that you do not need to enter a response to the "state" question. You can skip that if it prevents you from registering. We want you to join us!

And here's a personal note. I can't wait to see where our viewers live.

29 May 2013

Reminder: Webinar on June 1 - Sneak Peek at Jamboree

Jamboree Special - 
Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Jamboree

Join us for this FREE webinar on June 1 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/166945240

Date:    Saturday, June 1, 2013
Time:    2:00 PM - 3:30 PM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.


ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
What better way to prepare for the 44th Annual Southern California Jamboree than to get a preview from the Conference's organizers? Learn about parking, classes, special events, JamboFREE on Friday morning, speakers, exhibitors, the app ... Everything you need for the very best Jamboree experience possible.  Join Chairman Leo Myers, Co-Chair Paula Hinkel, Program Chair Vicki Hilb, and other Jamboree planners who drop by

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 to Offer FREE Live Streaming Sessions June 7-9

"SCGS is there for you, no matter where you are." That statement is never as true as it will be the coming 10 days , during the Society's annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree.

The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its schedule of live-streamed sessions of the 2013 Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. The "JamboSTREAM" webcast is free to viewers and is made available through the gracious support of Ancestry.com.

"We are very excited to be able to offer these outstanding classes to genealogists around the world. Our course list includes a good mix of topics from some of the best speakers around. We are confident that this event will be very popular and well-attended," said Paula Hinkel, co-chair of the annual event.

"Our partnership with Ancestry.com provides a particularly valuable service to the genealogical community in 2013. This year, Ancestry.com will be running pre-recorded webinars and instructional programs during Jamboree's break times and lunch hours. Our viewers will have an opportunity to sharpen skills in so many areas," Hinkel continued.

To sign up for a session, just click on the link for each class. You will receive a confirmation notice with the security credentials (username and password) for each session. You must be registered in order to be able to view a session, and you must register for each individual session that you wish to attend.

Sessions to be live streamed include:

Friday, June 7


1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
FR001: Basic Military Research
Craig Roberts Scott MA, CG

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FR016: The Ethical Genealogist
Judy G. Russell JD, CG
Handout

4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
FR022: DNA Panel Discussion - Hear it from the Experts.
CeCe Moore; Alice Fairhurst; Ken Chanine PhD; Joanna Mountain PhD; Bennett Greenspan
Co-Sponsored by International Society of Genetic Genealogy

Saturday, June 8


8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
SA004: Researching Your War of 1812 Ancestor
Craig Roberts Scott MA,CG

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
SA018: Genealogical Periodicals: Where the Answers Are
Kory L. Meyerink MLS, AG, FUGA

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
SA020: Master Using Google for Common Surname Searches
Lisa Louise Cooke

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
SA032: Turning Genealogy into Family History: Creating Stories from Stats
Jean Wilcox Hibben PhD, MA, CG

3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
SA041: Finding Your Family in the French and Indian Wars
Leland Meitzler

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
SA048: Staying Safe Online
Thomas MacEntee

Sunday, June 9


8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
SU003: A Guided Tour of Cyndi's List 2.0
Cyndi Ingle Howells

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
SU017: Scanning and Photo Retouching for Beginners: Foundations and Fundamentals
Tom Underhill

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
SU020: Strange and Unusual Sources for Irish Family History
James Ryan, PhD

2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
SU029: Lessons from the Archive
Denise Levenick

In addition to the live-streamed sessions, the Jamboree management team of Leo Myers and Paula Hinkel will conduct a special webinar to give Jamboree attendees a peek behind the conference curtain. Newcomers to Jamboree are encouraged to log on Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 PM PDT to learn all the ins and outs of navigating through one of the genealogical community's most popular events. What's the deal with the app? Where to park? Where to eat? What to bring? What to wear? And why must the chairs stay hooked together? You'll learn it all.

Click here to register for the webinar
2:00 p.m. PDT
Saturday, June 2, 2013
Leo Myers and Paula Hinkel

The Southern California Genealogical Society hosts semi-monthly webinar sessions that are offered free to the public. SCGS members are able to access nearly 60 recorded webinars at their convenience in the members' archive. The streamed sessions will be added to the archive at a later date, speaker authorization permitting.

28 May 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Webinar on June 1 with Jane Neff Rollins

Is There a Baby Catcher 
in your Bloodline?

Join us for this FREE webinar on June 1 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/295193985

Date:    Saturday, June 1, 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
Was one of your ancestors a midwife? Resources to be covered (which vary depending on time and place) include: registries of midwife licenses, court documents, listings of deliveries performed, etc.


Our speaker, Jane Neff Rollins, is a medical writer and professional genealogist who specializes in Jewish genealogy, 19th century Russian documents, and ancestors who worked in health professions.  Jane’s writing has appeared in RootsKey, the JGSLA newsletter. Her other writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the LA Jewish Journal, Reed magazine, and in medical trade magazines.

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

23 May 2013

Jamboree: Ancestry Will Scan Your Documents FREE! #SCGS2013


Our good friends at Ancestry.com are again bringing their huge machines and staff to provide free scanning services for Jamboree attendees. Scanning will be available Friday through Sunday. You can sign up to scan up to 50 documents.

Jamboree attendees can sign up for 15-minute scanning sessions on Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9 during the exhibit hall hours.

Scanning will be done in PARLOR A and B, which is located at the end of the High Tech Hallway on the right side of the hallway. Signs will point the way, but feel free to ask for directions.

According to conference organizer Elizabeth Little, "Ancestry.com is excited to provide Jamboree attendees the opportunity to have their family photos and documents scanned at the conference, for free, on our professional scanning equipment. It’s a unique opportunity to have your family history records digitized!"

Please register in advance 

Please help Ancestry plan by registering in advance and letting them know how much and what you’ll be bringing. (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6496606525). This is just a preliminary sign-up and you are not locked in to the schedule or number of documents you provide here.

You will also register on site to confirm your appointment.

Scanning Details You’ll Want to Know

Document types accepted

•    We can scan any document type, but the maximum size supported is 22" by 15". Any type of photograph, including tintypes, is accepted. Unfortunately we can not scan slides.
•    More recent photographs or stable documents can be scanned at a much quicker rate on our high-speed scanner – meaning that you can have more documents scanned during your scanning session. Fragile or historical documents, photographs, bound books or albums and similar will be photographed.
•    Copyright and re-publishing rights for the material are strictly the responsibility of patrons, but we reserve the right to reject any document for any reason.
•    There is always a possibility that damage to older, more fragile documents may occur during the scanning process. Ancestry.com urges patrons to use their best judgment when choosing documents to be scanned.

Document preparation

•    Before your scanning session, please remove all staples, pins, and fasteners as well as any tape or sticky material from your photos and documents. These items can harm the scanning equipment.
•    Please sort all of your documents and pictures by size, largest to smallest, before entering your session. This will enable our scanners to more effectively finish your documents in the time allotted.
•    Photos mounted in an album will be digitized as a single image. Bound books do not need to be unassembled, but can be quite slow to digitize.
•    Material stored in sleeves should be removed prior to the scanning session; materials remaining in sleeves will be digitized with the sleeves in place.

Scheduling

•    You will be able to sign up for a 15-minute time slot, on a first come, first served basis. This time slot will include any document preparation not completed prior to the scanning session, so proper document preparation is crucial (see above).
•    Generally we can scan about 50 documents per person in a 15-minute slot, more if documents and photos are newer and/or not fragile.
•    Due to demand, we can accommodate only one scanning session per person during the conference.
•    The scanned files will be saved to a thumb drive (provided by Ancestry.com) and given to attendees for their own use.

#SCGS2013 Genealogy Jamboree App Now Available!

Want the app? Just click.
It is with great pride that we announce that the Mobile App for the 2013 Jamboree is now available for download. We are exceedingly grateful to Ancestry.com for again sponsoring what we think is the Best. App. Ever. for a genealogy conference.

The 2013 App has lots more content, more graphics, more of everything.

If you used either the RootsTech or NGS apps earlier this year, the Jamboree app will be very familiar. Ever since Jamboree launched the first conference app in 2011, our developer, Core-Apps, has become the provider for genealogy conference apps. They understand what genealogists are looking for, and they have helped us create a product that is sure to enrich your experience at Jamboree.

You can find the App by looking for SCGS 2013 (with the space). But here's an even easier method. Click the app graphic above to be taken to the Core-Apps website for Jamboree. No matter which platform you use --  iPad, iTouch, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows ... even if you don't have a device on which to use an app -- you can go to the Core-Apps page, clink the link and request a text that you can use to download the app.

Features of this year's app:

Create your own personal schedule with the sessions, meetings, social engagements you want to add. You can even link it to your main device calendar.

The Class section includes, for each session:  the date, time, location, description, and speaker name. Options are provided to record class notes and provide feedback by rating the session directly from the app. Syllabus article, when they are provided, are also linked to the class page. While articles are not present for all sessions due to some speakers' requests, you will find a wealth of information that will help you at Jamboree and for years thereafter.

Plot your tour of the exhibit hall. Exhibitors are listed with their booth numbers, contact information, and description. Watch for this section to bloom as the exhibitors add their logos and upload PDFs of their membership forms, special offers or other information they want to share. The Jamboree App is different from others because we including virtual exhibitors, ones not physically at Jamboree, who want to connect with attendees.

In the Speaker section, you'll find photos, bios, and links to all of each speaker's presentations. Find your favorites and get those sessions scheduled first.

You are able to create a profile, make friends with other attendees, upload photos of the conference, and follow and post on Twitter directly from the App. Turn on your settings to receive alerts and keep up to the very minute with all the news.

We still have a couple of surprises up our sleeve so watch for updates.

Please let us know what you think. And share the information with your friends. We can't wait for the world to see it!

P.S. - Exhibitors, watch your inbox for a message from Nina Mancuso of Core-Apps. She will help you get your listing upgraded with graphics and PDF uploads.

P.P.S. - Genealogy Author? Professional Genealogist? Genealogical Society? Member of the genealogical community? If you're interested in becoming a virtual exhibitor, please email phinkel@pacbell.net and put VIRTUAL EXHIBITOR in the subject line. You can read more about your options here.

19 May 2013

Free Webinar on June 1 - Sneak Peek at Jamboree

Jamboree Special - 
Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Jamboree

Join us for this FREE webinar on June 1 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/166945240

Date:    Saturday, June 1, 2013
Time:    2:00 PM - 3:30 PM PDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.


ABOUT TODAY'S WEBINAR
What better way to prepare for the 44th Annual Southern California Jamboree than to get a preview from the Conference's organizers? Learn about parking, classes, special events, JamboFREE on Friday morning, speakers, exhibitors, the app ... Everything you need for the very best Jamboree experience possible.  Join Chairman Leo Myers, Co-Chair Paula Hinkel, Program Chair Vicki Hilb, and other Jamboree planners who drop by



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

Jamboree: Class Selection Survey Now Available

Jamboree attendees - the session selection survey is now available for you. You should have received an invitation about midnight Pacific time last night. If you did not receive it, please check your spam folder. The subject of the email is "IMPORTANT - Jamboree Class Selection Survey - Act Today!" If you did not receive your email, please take the survey here: http://2013JamboreeSeating.surveyconsole.com

Your participation in this survey will help us determine the appropriate room sizes for the various classes. It's our way of trying to manage overflow rooms.

Here's what we have done to address the issue:

We have intentionally left a couple of spots open on Sunday, to be used for repeated sessions. If the speaker is available and willing, we will try to reschedule it on Sunday.

Many times, we find that the too-full room is being used for live-stream videos. We have set up a video overflow room (Sunset A/B in the Convention Center) where you can watch.

The SCGS Board of Directors adopted a new seating policy that will be implemented this year.


What you can do to help:

In addition to completing the survey, here are other steps you can take to make sure you can see the classes that are most important to you.

Filling out the Class Selection Survey is the single most important thing you can do to help us

You can volunteer to serve as a room monitor for the session(s) that are on your don't-miss list. You'll be guaranteed the seat of your choice.

You can purchase a recording if you miss a session. In fact, if you are torn between two sessions, you might choose one live performance and one recording.

You can plot a plan of attack if you are attending with friends or family. Divide and conquer and share the details while you sit and chat after the session.

Finally, we suggest that you identify a Plan B session in case your first-choice class is full.

17 May 2013

Free Genealogy Webinar on June 1 with Jane Neff Rollins

Is There a Baby Catcher 
in your Bloodline?

Join us for this FREE webinar on June 1 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/295193985

Date:    Saturday, June 1, 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
Was one of your ancestors a midwife? Resources to be covered (which vary depending on time and place) include: registries of midwife licenses, court documents, listings of deliveries performed, etc.


Our speaker, Jane Neff Rollins, is a medical writer and professional genealogist who specializes in Jewish genealogy, 19th century Russian documents, and ancestors who worked in health professions.  Jane’s writing has appeared in RootsKey, the JGSLA newsletter. Her other writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the LA Jewish Journal, Reed magazine, and in medical trade magazines.

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

Jamboree Update: Marriott Hotel is Sold Out

We were just notified by the Marriott that our room block is full and no more rooms are available.

Our friends at the Marriott were good enough to extend the reservation deadline by a week; it was originally scheduled to close last Friday, May 10th. However, reservations for Jamboree are now closed.

If you haven't made a reservation and still need a place to stay, you might try

Courtyard by Marriott
2100 W Empire Ave Burbank, CA 91504
(818) 843-5500
Currently showing availability (as of May 17 @ noon)

Hampton Inn and Suites

7501 North Glenoaks Boulevard,
Burbank, California, 91504,
(818) 768-1106
Currently showing availability (as of May 17 @ noon)

There are a few other choices that you can review here.

Here's one more idea: If you are interesting in our Room Mate Connection, email us at jamboree@scgsgenealogy.com and put ROOMMATE CONNECTION in the subject line.

12 May 2013

Reminder: Free Genealogy Webinar on May 15 with Debbie Mieszala, CG


Options in Post-Adoption Research

Join us for this FREE webinar on May 15 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/719911705

Date:    Wednesday, May 15, 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 

The laws governing the release of adoption information are unique to each jurisdiction. Learn about the various options and how to begin a search.   

Our speaker, Debbie Mieszala, Certified Genealogist(sm), specializes in forensic genealogy, 20th century research, and the Midwest.


 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

09 May 2013

SCGS Jamboree: Do You Need Help? Is That a Wall Straight Ahead?

Let’s be honest, even the most experienced genealogists have those pesky brick walls. Sometimes all that is needed is the perspective of someone not-so-connected (personally) to a pedigree to find the loose brick and get the mortar chipped away. If this describes you, JAMBOREE 2013 has the answer you have been seeking: Research Assistance!

Research Assistance is a free service, offered only to those who are registered for the Jamboree, designed to help you break through the wall or clear away some of the trees in your ancestor forest. To access the help of experienced genealogists, all you need to is go to http://sccapg.org/jamboree.php and sign up under “Guest” next to the consultant whose expertise is most likely to help you through the problem.

It is important to remember that this sign-up procedure is designed for the expert researcher/assistants to first reserve their available time slots and then those needing assistance select whom to see. If you do not see anyone whose expertise is likely to help you, return later. Assistants will be signing up as they find their available times so this schedule will be changing frequently.

Please, before signing up for help, read the information at the top of the webpage, above the schedule. In order for the process to be fair to all, guests who sign up for the same researcher in consecutive time slots will find the subsequent reservations cancelled. We have some top-notch researchers coming to assist and it is not fair for these folks who may be able to help for 60 or 90 minutes at a time to be monopolized by one guest. Thank you for honoring this.

This is the third year for Research Assistance at Jamboree (and the second year for its current sponsor, the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists to be running the program). Last year it was highly successful and all time slots were taken by the time the Jamboree started on Friday. For that reason, we have opened a second research assistant slot for each time period.

It is extremely important for people to be on time for their appointments to avoid any back-up. Thank you for your cooperation.

See you at the Jamboree!

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.

08 May 2013

#NGS2013 Attendees: Elvis Can be Your Ticket to Jamboree #SCGS2013

Viva Las Vegas!

We all know that Vegas is rife with Elvii. They're everywhere: on the Strip, at the slots, jumping from airplanes, and hitching folks who are happily crying in the chapel.

But we have one very specific Elvis in mind. He's the one you'll find at SCGS Booth 528, and he can be your ticket to the 2013 Jamboree.

Go to Booth 528, take your photo with Elvis and tweet it with hashtag #SCGS2013. Not into Twitter? Upload a photo to the Facebook Southern California Genealogy Jamboree page. Or blog and link it on the Jamboree Facebook.

Enter once a day, that's all right.  But don't do more or you ain't nuthin' but a hound dog (and it won't count). Elvis +1 live person in the photo please. We'd hate to have you arm wrestle your genea-buddies to pick the winner.

We'll enter your name in a random drawing for a free registration to Jamboree (value $155). Winner will be announced on Saturday, May 11th at 2:00 p.m.

Double down! Retweet or share this message and if you win, you'll double down and join us for Friday's banquet "Behind the Scenes at Who Do You Think You Are?"

Can't make it June 7-9th, 2013? We'll make it for #SCGS2014 (June 6-8th, 2014).

Hope he'll be your good luck charm! We guarantee you'll be all shook up.




Genealogy Jamboree Update May 8


Marriott Hotel Update

The deadline for booking a hotel room at the Marriott has been extended to May 17. If you have not yet made your room reservation, we encourage you to do that at your first opportunity. Today's report showed 98% full and we will likely sell out. Don't be left out of the official conference hotel or end up paying standard room rates.

As we learned the hard way last year, if you made your reservation with AAA or AARP senior discounts, you are not part of the official Jamboree block. If you reserve your room and do not use the Jamboree code (JAMJAMA or JAMJAMC), it's possible that you could lose your room and be required to move to another hotel. By the way, we will not be sharing the hotel with American Idol or The Voice this year.

Final Schedule Posted on Jamboree Website

If you haven't reviewed the daily schedules, check them out.
Thursday Family History and DNA
Friday morning JamboFREE
Friday afternoon
Saturday
Sunday


05 May 2013

Genealogy Jamboree Ethnic Classes: African American

Once more before the Early-Bird discount closes on May 7, I want to remind everyone of our class schedule for ethnic researchers. I hope that those of you with an interest in this area will hit that Facebook share button and send this information to your genealogy buddies, cousins, and fellow society members. Heck, send it to all your Facebook friends!

This is the first of two posts. This post pertains to the African American track. Tomorrow's post will focus on sessions for Mexican, Irish, German, Scottish and English researchers. Please remember that you can learn something from every session you attend, even if it doesn't exactly "fit" your research plan. Don't cross it off your list just because you think you don't "fit." Everyone "fits."

The Southern California Genealogy Jamboree will be held June 7-9, 2013, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport, Burbank California. Register for Jamboree at www.genealogyjamboree.com.

Timothy N. Pinnick is an accomplished researcher, popular national speaker, and author of the book, Finding and Using African American Newspapers. Pinnick is the author of more than half a dozen articles, including “Using an Extended Research Project to Reconstruct a Community” which appeared in the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) Quarterly.

In October of 2008, Tim delivered his fifth historical paper at the Western Historical Association conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Past papers were delivered at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation, and the Illinois History Conference. For a number of years Pinnick has been part of the prestigious faculty at the summer Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. June of 2012 marked his fourth appearance as part of the teaching cadre in the course “Researching African American Ancestors”.

In November, 2007 Tim was elected to the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists, completing a two year term. Shortly thereafter, he received a two-year appointment to the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies which ended in December 2011.

FR021 Friday 4:30-6:00pm
Finding and Using African American Newspapers
African American newspapers are an underutilized source, yet they hold the key to solving many research problems, along with providing unprecedented insight into the social activities of black communities, both urban and rural.

SA021 Saturday 11:30am-12:30pm
The WWI Draft Card: Don’t Do Research Without It!
World War I draft registration cards should be analyzed closely as they contain valuable imbedded pieces of information that can become leads in solving genealogical roadblocks.

SU028 Sunday 1:00-2:00pm
And the Church Said Amen! African American Religious Research
Locating information on African American congregations can be frustrating due to the lack of effective record keeping. However there are a variety of records that can help you overcome the lack of record preservation at the local level.


Angela Walton-Raji is known nationally for her online genealogy presence; her research and work on Oklahoma Native American records; and her African American genealogy experience. Her book, Black Indian Genealogy Research is the only book of its kind focusing on the unique record set found within the Dawes Records.

As a founding member of AfriGeneas.com, Ms. Walton-Raji is also a genealogist specializing in information for beginners, via daily and weekly online genealogy chats on AfriGeneas. As host of a weekly genealogy podcast, a number of instructional videos and as an expert consultant on video documentaries, she combines her skills as a genealogist with a warm on-camera personality that brings comfort to her viewers through and her instructional videos on YouTube, while providing them with useful information.

Beyond her public appearances, she hosts three blogs, a 10-year ongoing message board, three websites, and the only weekly podcast devoted to African American genealogy. Her comfort with language and her skills in writing make her well known and respected in the genealogy community.

FR008 Friday 1:30-2:30pm
Documenting American Indian Families in 20th Century Records
This workshop features methods of documenting American Indian and blended families in 20th century records. Focus is on Federal and Indian Records.

SA019 Saturday 10:00-11:00am
Finding and Documenting Community History Through Records of the U.S. Colored Troops
From cemeteries to the National Archives, the development of post Civil War communities are reflected in the histories of black soldiers buried throughout the nation. Local history is revealed through the records that remain.

SA040 Saturday 3:30-4:30pm
Documenting the First Days of Freedom
How did “freedom” come to the family? This story is missing in many black family histories. However, Civil War records often hold the key to unlock the first days and, in many cases, the first moments of freedom.

SA049 Saturday 5:00-6:00pm
From AfriGeneas to Social Media:
An Overview to African American Genealogy Online Resources
This session will explore online sites, databases and communities for novices and professionals who research African American family history.


In 1985, Nicka Smith became intrigued with a family tree that was prepared by her first cousin once removed. In 1999, she discovered that her cousin’s work had not been updated and decided to continue his efforts. The result was AtlasFamily.org, and its affiliate websites, which have served as an outlet for family members to discover their lineage and for the family’s research team to share their findings with the family and the world.

In 14 years, Nicka has lead efforts that have traced the lineage of nine generations and over 2,200 people (living and dead) in more than 20 states and four countries. Nicka’s efforts have also lead the family back to their earliest traceable ancestor’s count of origin where they met two chiefs of the ancestral tribe, the Bamileke, of Cameroon.

Nicka lectures and mentors both young and old on genealogical search techniques and has become an expert resource for genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area and for sharing genealogy with youth. She currently serves as the project manager for the Alameda County Ancestral Project in which she leads efforts to teach more than 300 elementary, high school and at-risk youth the value of researching their family history. She is the chair of the Outreach and Education Committee of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California, a board member of the California Genealogical Society. She is also an accomplished communications professional and photographer.

FR013 Friday 3:00-4:00pm
Using Genealogy and DNA to Connect Back to Africa
Through traditional genealogy and DNA, many African Americans have been able to trace their ancestry back to their African country of origin. Learn the tips and tricks needed do the same and what’s needed to visit your ancestral homeland.

SA036 Saturday 2:00-3:00pm
More than 3/5th’s: Myths and Truths About Slavery in the U.S.
This history of the “peculiar institution” of slavery in the United States is complex. Learn about the myths, truths, and in-betweens that existed during a major part of U.S. history.

Free Genealogy Webinar on May 15 with Debbie Mieszala, CG


Options in Post-Adoption Research

Join us for this FREE webinar on May 15 sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.   Space is limited.


Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/719911705

Date:    Wednesday, May 15, 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 

The laws governing the release of adoption information are unique to each jurisdiction. Learn about the various options and how to begin a search.   

Our speaker, Debbie Mieszala, Certified Genealogist(sm), specializes in forensic genealogy, 20th century research, and the Midwest.

 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

04 May 2013

Family History: The Mother's Day Gift that Will *REALLY* Keep On Giving!

One year for Christmas, I gave Mom lessons to learn cake decorating at the local community college. The adult ed term started in January. I bought her all the Wilton stuff she would need, including those small metal tips, and stuck them in a small package along with the gift certificate to the class.  I loved taunting her by shaking the package so she could hear all those metal tips tinkling inside.

When she opened the package, her face took on this "What the ....??" look that we all have seen from our mothers at one time or another. I don't think she thought it was such a great idea at first. If I remember right, she mumbled a benign curse under her breath. Driving to the community college, across town and up, then down, a big, long hill in January in Iowa? Not her idea of fun. Heck, I probably would have had the same reaction!

But she went to the first one class, and then the second. By the third week, she was into it. In a big way. And we ate cake. Pretty, shiny, decorated cake. And she talked about how much fun she had taking the class, and admitted she probably would never had actually done it if I hadn't paid for the class. And with the knowledge she had, she was able to decorate cakes for years afterward ...

...which brings us to the real purpose of this post.

What are you giving as Mother's Day gifts this year? To your mother? or mother-in-law, or grandmother, if you are fortunate enough to still have them with you.  To your sister, or cousin, or daughter who is the mother of your grandchildren?

Let me suggest that you give them a very special gift... an open door to family history.

Pay for them to come to Jamboree in June. Whether it's for one day, two or all three days, present her with information, coaching, support and friends who will help her get started. If Jamboree is "too much" or daunting, accompany her to the free beginner's class on Friday morning.

Give her the knowledge that will last a lifetime. Many lifetimes.



01 May 2013

Reminder: 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