Jamboree Attendance Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2013

Paula Hinkel, Co-Chair of the Southern California Genealogical Society's 44th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, announced that attendance at this year's event was 1178 attendees, volunteers, speakers, and exhibitors. Attendance at the inaugural Family History and DNA conference was 352 attendees and speakers.

"We had expected lower attendance this year, given that the well-attended NGS conference was held last month in nearby Las Vegas," explained Hinkel. "That gave us the motivation to develop another event, the DNA Day, which helped to offset the attendance issue. It was an amazing event, and it was one of the most successful days that I can remember." With fewer cars in the parking lot and less congestion in the rooms during Jamboree, everyone agreed that it was a nice, comfortable, educational, fun weekend.

Planning will start soon for the 2014 Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. Hinkel added, "When we are out of Jamboree detox, that is."

Thank you to all of our wonderful speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for making this a year we won't forget!

Leo Myers, Paula Hinkel, and the rest of the Jamboree Committee.

Jamboree Streamed Video - Log-On Codes

We are opening the portal for the Jamboree streamed videos Beginning with the 3:30 sessions on Saturday. You need not pre-register for the session; just log on at the appropriate time.

Please note: These streamed sessions can be viewed ONLY on a computer, not a phone or table. It also needs to have the most recent update to a Flash Player. Download it at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer

You will not be able to view it without the updated Flash player.

Also please note that it is possible that we could reach capacity in terms of the number of viewers. If you don't connect at first, keep trying.

The primary URL to view the sessions is:

http://streaming.webcastandbeyond.com/scgs/

In case you have problems with that URL, the backup URL is

http://new.livestream.com/wab/scgs

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. PDT
Password: 1530french   
Leland Meitzler      
Finding Your Family in the French and Indian Wars

Saturday, 5:00 p.m. PDT
Password: 1700safety   
Thomas MacEntee   
Staying Safe Online

Sunday 8:30 a.m. PDT
Password: 0830guide   
Cyndi Ingle Howells     
A Guided Tour of Cyndi's List 2.0

Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Password: 1000touch   
Tom Underhill   
Scanning and Photo Retouching for Beginners: Foundation and Fundamentals

Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Password: 1300clover   
Dr. James Ryan   
Strange and Unusual Sources for Irish Family History

Sunday 2:30  p.m.
Password: 1430archive   
Denise Levenick   
Lessons from the Archive

Jamboree / Family History and DNA: Pink Sheets Available for Download

The Pink Sheets are Here! The Pink Sheets are here!  Well, one set is available.

The Pink Sheets for the Family History and DNA conference are now available for download. They can be found on the Jamboree App under "Show Documents" as well as on the Jamboree website.

Those familiar with Jamboree know that the Pink Sheets are the most valuable communication tool at Jamboree. They really are pink, and they are legal-sized pages that list the schedule, important items like the social media, seating and filming policies, and critical items such as food and parking.

The Jamboree Pink Sheets will be online later today. I will post a note when they are ready.

If you haven't downloaded the App yet, we strongly encourage you to do that. We will start sending announcements through the App later today, and you won't want to miss a single one. Everyone -- iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows, all web-enabled phones and those who are using their browser -- can access the App here:  http://app.core-apps.com/scgs2013

Remember these are legal-size sheets, so if you print them out, you'll want to change your paper type or adjust the printer to print on letter size paper.

Jamboree's Family History and DNA: Live Streamed Pay-Per-View Announced

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) and the Southern California Genealogical Society announce that four sessions of the “Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013” conference will be live streamed on a pay-for-view basis and available for viewing by genetic genealogists around the world.

“We are especially excited to be able to share four advanced-level sessions with our remote audience. We believe that these sessions will be of the most interest to those project administrators, DNA consultants and other more experienced users of DNA information,” according to CeCe Moore, genetic genealogist and one of the speakers.

“The cost of $30 per individual presentation includes the session’s syllabus," continued Alice Fairhurst, president of the Southern California Genealogical Society and also a speaker at the event. "We are offering a special discount for those who purchase a Full-Day Pass at the discounted price of $100. Full-Day Pass holders will receive a digital download of the entire conference syllabus of 12 articles at no additional cost.”

The sessions to be pay-per-view streamed include:

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tim Janzen, MD
TH004 - "Mapping Your Chromosomes with Autosomal DNA"
This presentation will describe techniques of doing chromosome mapping and triangulation using autosomal DNA results from 23andMe's test and Family Tree DNA's Family Finder test.

Tim Janzen, MD is a family practice doctor in Portland, Oregon. He has given many presentations about genetic genealogy and Mennonite genealogy in the United States and Canada and also does private genetic genealogy consulting on a case-by-case basis. Tim is one of the 23andMe Ancestry Ambassadors and is a co-administrator of the Mennonite DNA project and the FTDNA haplogroup J project.

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D.
TH008 - "Using Third-Party Tools to Analyze Your Autosomal DNA Results"
Although DNA testing companies provide an analysis of test results, there are many third-party tools that allow test-takers to use those results to learn even more about their genomic heritage.

Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., is an intellectual property attorney at Bond, Schoeneck & King in Syracuse, NY. Dr. Bettinger is the author of The Genetic Genealogist, a blog that examines the intersection of traditional genealogical techniques and modern genetic research since 2007. He has helped numerous clients and readers answer their genealogical questions for years, and is currently writing a book about the use of genetics to explore one’s heritage.

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CeCe Moore
TH010 - "Working with Autosomal DNA: Genealogical Case Studies"
atDNA holds endless potential for learning about your family history and what your ancestors may have passed on to you. Practical methods and examples from the presenter's research will be reviewed.

CeCe Moore is a professional genetic genealogist and writes the popular blog “Your Genetic Genealogist.” She serves as the lead Ancestry Ambassador to 23andMe and on the advisory board of the Mixed Roots Foundation as the Co-Director of the “Global Adoptee Genealogy Project.” CeCe is the Southern California Regional Coordinator for ISOGG as well as the moderator of the DNA Newbie Yahoo Group.

TH014 - 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Alice M. Fairhurst and David F. Reynolds
"The Changing Y-DNA Haplotree and Its Impact"
Learn how and why Y-DNA trees can differ and how the ISOGG team determines the location of SNPs on the tree. Find out how the most cutting edge SNP discoveries are unraveling the mystery of human ancestry.

Alice M. Fairhurst, President of the Southern California Genealogical Society, is a charter member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Alice coordinates the efforts of amateur and professional geneticists to keep the ISOGG Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree up to date. She administers or co-administers 19 DNA projects and has been active in the genealogical world for more than 50 years.

David F. Reynolds is a ten-year veteran of the genetic genealogy community who administers or co-administers two haplogroup and three surname DNA projects. He is a content coordinator with the ISOGG Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree, focusing on updating and maintaining the ISOGG Y-DNA SNP Index. Reynolds is a former president of the Genealogical Forum of Portland, Oregon, and has been researching his family roots for over 30 years.

To register for the $100 Full-Day Pass, use this registration link. Those who select the Full-Day Pass will receive a digital download of the complete syllabus for the "Family History and DNA" conference.

We are grateful that these outstanding genetic genealogists have agreed to shared their presentations via live stream. We hope that you will help us spread the word about this exciting program by tweet, blog post, email or even an old-fashioned phone call.

Just a few notes:

Readers who are familiar with the SCGS Jamboree Extension webinar program will ask whether these sessions will be available in the Members-only website archive. The Bettinger and Janzen presentations will not be available at the speakers’ request. The Moore and Fairhurst/Reynolds sessions will be placed online in Q3 2013.

None of these sessions will be available for purchase from Conference Resource, our conference AV recording provider. Many of the other sessions are available at a $15 discount for orders placed before Thursday, June 6, at the Conference Resource website. Note that this option gives you not only the “Family History and DNA” sessions but also the Jamboree sessions that will be recorded. It’s an outstanding offer for those who can’t be with us in Burbank.

One other note: Jamboree is offering live-streamed video of several of the sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to the sponsorship of Ancestry.com, these sessions are offered FREE of charge. One of the sessions on Friday is the DNA Ask The Experts Panel Discussion with Joanne Mountain, PhD from 23andme; Ken Chahine from AncestryDNA; Bennett Greenspan from Family Tree DNA; CeCe Moore and Alice Fairhurst. The list of free streamed sessions is available here.

Jamboree: Registration Schedule

The registration schedule for the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree is posted below. Please click on the graphic to see a larger, more legible version. Reservation schedules and locations differ based on whether or not you registered in advance.

Buy the SCGS Genealogy Jamboree on a Thumb Drive!

Our conference recording partner, Conference Resource, has made an outstanding offer available to our blog readers.

Click Here To Order!

They are offering the opportunity to preorder a thumb drive with all of the audio recorded sessions for just $186, which includes a $15 pre-conference discount. At Jamboree and thereafter the price will be $199. The thumb drive will have around 115 recorded sessions.

For the best bargain, you can order the entire recorded session set, which includes nearly 35 DVDs of video recordings and about 115 audio presentations for $286. You'll see the speaker, see the visuals, and even see some of the audience. After the conference it will be $299.

Please note that not all of the sessions will be included on the recordings. For example, the sessions that are video streamed will not be included in the Conference Resource set. Some speakers have requested that we not record their sessions, and of course we will respect their wishes. The pink sheets, which will be posted online in the next day or so, will have indications of the sessions that will be available by audio recording, video recording, live streaming, or not recorded. Watch this space for the Pink Sheet announcement.

At some point after Jamboree, recordings will be available on a session-by-session basis.

Session recordings will also be available at Jamboree. In the off chance that you want to attend two or even three sessions at the same time, you'll be able to ~almost~ clone yourself and be in two places at once. Conference Resource will be in the rounded kiosk closest to the Pavilions. They are great guys who do very high quality work.

It's almost like being in the room.

Jamboree PowerPoint Available for Download (corrected link)

Yesterday, Leo Myers and I spent two hours (!) on a webinar going over what to expect at Jamboree. We had a wonderful audience that asked great questions.

The webinar will be online in a day or two, and I'll drop a note when it is available. In the meantime, and if you don't happen to have two hours to spend, you might want to download the PowerPoint presentation that we showed. If you are a first-timer at Jamboree, you will get some insights about our event that will help you make the most of the conference.

You might also want to look at the Jamboree website for some other hints on Getting the Most out of Jamboree.


NOTE: Most of you received this notice yesterday. We apologize for the broken link to the PowerPoint. Please feel free to download it now.

Jamboree: Baker's Dozen of Hints

And following on the heels of the webinar handout, committee member Lynne Parmenter put together this list of suggestions:.

Jamboree hints by the baker’s dozen …

What’s pink and answers almost all your question while attending Jamboree?  The official “pink sheet”!  It includes any last minute changes, lists classes and events, times, rooms and has a map of the facility so you can easily make your way to the nearest restroom.  It also gives information about lunch choices, the raffle, the parking discount, and which lectures will be recorded. 

If you miss a lecture, or want to hear a repeat of your favorite speaker, don’t fret.   You can order it on CD at a modest cost.  Order at the Conference Resource desk in the Conference Center hallway. But... here's an even better idea. You can preorder all of the recorded sessions on a thumb drive! The preorder price saves you $15 and can be ordered here:  Conference Resource Jamboree 2013.

It’s hot.  It’s cold.  It’s a typical conference center.  Dress in layers so you can be comfortable as the room temperatures change.

Image may be everything in LA, but now is the time for comfortable shoes.  Between changing lecture rooms, visiting the Exhibit Hall and meeting friends here and there, you’re going to clock some good distance. Hurting feet inhibit learning. Just be comfortable!

Water, water everywhere …  Dehydration causes fatigue and now is when you want to be at your best.  Water stations are located in the Conference Center classrooms and in the hotel Lobby.  Drink up!

Seats for lectures are first come first serve.  As you leave one session go directly to your next choice and secure a seat.  Leave your sweater or other less valuable item to hold you place and then head to the restroom, if needed.

Be prepared!  Some lectures may fill.  Have a second choice selected so you won’t be disappointed.

Yes, we really do have a fire marshall who roams the conference areas. We can’t exceed maximum seating and allow standing in the back or sitting in the aisles. They will shut the lecture down. Now that would be a bad way to miss a great speaker.

Help us to help the less mobile.  Genealogy is a great hobby for the less than 100% mobile.  If a volunteer asks you to change seats so they can accommodate a wheel chair or motorized chair, please be gracious.  Your fellow attendee will be grateful as will the volunteer trying to accommodate everyone.  Bless you.

The Marriott Center is a public place. Keep an eye on your valuables and don’t leave them unattended. If you do lose something, check the lost and found at the Sales Desk in the Conference Center and the Front Desk in the hotel.

This could be the year you solve that pesky brick wall problem!  Bring your research and your genealogical software questions to Jamboree. You’ll have so many chances to get an answer.  In addition to the classes and speakers, the Southern California Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists will be offering free consultations.  Sign-ups will be available at Jamboree in the Conference Center lobby. On Friday morning, the Genealogy World Round Tables will offer over 20 topic discussions led by area specialists. And, the Exhibit Hall will be loaded with experts in their booths.  Feeling lucky yet?

12. Bring those preprinted name and address labels for the backs of your raffle tickets.  This year there are over 150 really terrific prizes, many worth hundreds of dollars. 

13. All learning and no play makes for a dull genealogist.  Don’t forget the Jamboree tradition of “Shirt Day” on Sunday. Take a trip to your local second hand store and join us as we salute The Red, White and Blue. Whimsy is under rated. Exercise your sense of play. Extra credit for tie-dye.

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.

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.

#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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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