Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Rhonda R. McClure

Rhonda R. McClure, genealogist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (www.americanancestors.org), is a nationally recognized genealogist and lecturer on New England, immigrant research, and computerized genealogy. She is a past contributing editor for Biography magazine; author of eleven books including Finding Your Famous and Infamous Ancestors, Digitizing Your Family History, and The History of the Brigham Family: Descendants of Thomas Brigham.

FR009 Friday June 5,  1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Mining the Treasures in Newspapers
Examine the valuable information hidden away in newspapers and how to find them, and learn how they will help you in your research.

SA030 Saturday June 6,  2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Institutional Records: More than Prisons
Discuss the myriad resources hidden away in institutional records such as hospitals, retirement homes (such as Soldiers' Homes), fraternal records and more.

SA051 Saturday June 6,  5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
City and Rural Directories: More than Just Names
City directories include a wealth of information beyond the alphabetical listings most researchers use them for. Learn what else is available and how to get the most from directories.

SU014 Sunday June 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
The Golden Door Has Locks: Detaining of Immigrants to the U.S.
Not all immigrants were welcomed to the United States. Learn about the records generated when immigration officials questioned the acceptance of a new arrival.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew, PLCGS

Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew PLCGS is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and various societies in the area where she does research. She is a Board member for the Association of Professional Genealogists, Southern California Chapter, is currently President of the California State Genealogical Alliance, past-President and current Board member of the Genealogical Society of North Orange County California (GSNOCC), and a member of the FamilySearch Wiki Community Council. Her genealogy business is online at www.californiacousins.com.

Jamie is a frequent speaker in Southern California specializing in the subjects of beginning research, land records, homesteading, census records, the various parts of FamilySearch.com, and newspaper research. She was a member of the research team for the first season of the television program Genealogy Roadshow. A native of the Los Angeles area, she holds a BA in Sociology, MA in Educational Technology and a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.

FR024 Friday June 5, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Homesteading California
Federal Land surveys reached California in 1851, shortly after California became a state. How did the Federal Land system and the homesteading laws affect the current residents? Learn about the homesteading of California.

Jamboree - Meet the Speaker: Rev. David McDonald, CG

With nearly 40 years' research experience, Dave McDonald's genealogical work includes service as the forensic genealogist for the city of Chicago as it expanded O'Hare Airport and moved an historic 160-year-old cemetery from a new runway's path. Board-certified since 2004, he is a past president and current trustee of BCG.

Dave served six years on the board of the National Genealogical Society, and has lectured throughout the US and UK. His personal research includes work in England, the Mid-Atlantic, colonial-era New York and Virginia, Kentucky, the Midwest and the Great Plains. He has also done extensive work in the UK and on Germanic lines from the sixteenth century onward.

In addition to his genealogical work, Dr. McDonald is a Protestant minister living and serving near Madison, Wisconsin.  He is married to his college sweetheart and they have three adult children.

SA011 Saturday June 6, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Lutherpalians & Presbygationalists: Where Did Grandma's Church Go?
Did Grandma play cards? Was alcohol banned in the household? We will consider cultural clues for determining a family's religious heritage and strategies for finding records of various churches and denominations, both locally and nationally.

SA029 Saturday June 6, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Church and Religious Records: More Than Hatchings, Matching's & Dispatching
An examination of the different types of records kept by various Christian denominations and Jewish congregations, as well as local churches, preachers and pastors. We'll approach the records for the purpose of their creation, their use of interpretation in genealogical endeavors, and how they can provide more than simply dates and places.

SU025 Sunday June 7, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
The Catholic Church in the Old Southwest
European exploration; Catholic hierarchy, religious orders, missions and diocesan structures; rites, sacraments and records in the former territories of Spain and Mexico.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: George G. Morgan

George G. Morgan is an internationally recognized genealogy speaker, author of 12 books and hundreds of published articles, and co-host of The Genealogy Guys ^SM Podcast. A member of APG, he has served on the boards of FGS, ISFHWE, and the Florida State Genealogical Society.

SA015 Saturday June 6, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Dissect Obituaries for New Clues
Obituaries are miniature biographies for the deceased. This seminar presents a methodology for dissecting an obituary, determining what information is provided or inferred, identifying record types that may be available, where those records are located, and how to access them.

SA036 Saturday June 6, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
The Genealogist as CSI
This seminar analogizes genealogists with CSIs and describes the genealogical research and evaluation process. It provides a methodological framework for all types of research.

SU031 Sunday June 7, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Use International Google Search Engines to Locate Ancestors
There are more than 150 different Google search engines representing international countries. This session discusses ancestor search strategies using different engines and incorporating translation tools.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Jill Morelli

Jill Morelli is a professional genealogist who has traced the family history of her Nordic and German families for over 30 years. She now lectures, writes and researches on topics of genealogical and historical interest and can be found at her blog  Genealogy Certification: A Personal Journey.

Jill has spoken to large and small groups throughout her professional life and is considered an engaging and knowledgeable speaker on topics related to methodologies, ethnic groups, research strategies, organization and record set research. She is presently the director of publications for the Seattle Genealogical Society and has self-published a number of her own family histories. An architect by vocation, she naturally is interested in the "genealogy of a place" and house histories. She attended SLIG in 2014 and 2015, and graduated from ProGen 19. Jill is "on the clock" by the idea of submitting on time is becoming more of a concept than a reality.

FR002 Friday June 5, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. 

The 'Other' Censuses: Using the Non-Population Schedules

The varied non-population schedules, both state and federal, add richness to our understanding of our ancestors and can provide evidence not found in any other location. Learn what you can find in these little used records.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, the daughter of avid genealogists, was born when her parents were well into their forties. Both sets of grandparents were born in the 1880's, and she enjoyed the stories they would tell of war, the 1918 influenza epidemic, the Depression, and raising a family during frugal times. The love of these ancestors' lives made history a vital part of her life. She is a former Family History Center Director and is a frequent speaker for various groups around the United States.

FR023 Friday June 5, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Ticked Off! Those Pesky Pre-1850 Census Tic Marks
It's exciting when we are able to find our ancestors on every census they appeared on, until we reach 1840 and beyond. Are they throwing us into a dead end, or can they tell us more? This lecture provides a case study following an Eastern Kentucky family back into the area of Germantown, Pennsylvania.

SA018 Saturday June 6, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
School Daze - Finding and Using School Records
Locating school records can be an amazing way of putting our families into place, especially when there may be no vital records available in an area. We may even be somewhat astounded to learn that our ancestors even attended school.

SA041 Saturday June 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Treasure in Township Records
A part of the rectangular survey system, the township had its beginnings in Europe and is still in use today. We will focus on the many types of records of our ancestors that may be found there. Some records may be found there and nowhere else.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Stephen P. Morse, PhD

Stephen Morse is the creator of the One-Step Website, for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, the Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society, the first-ever Excellence Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists, and two awards that he cannot pronounce from Polish genealogical societies.

In his other life, Morse is a computer professional with a doctorate degree in electrical engineering. He has held various research, development, and teaching positions, authored numerous technical papers, written four textbooks, and holds four patents. He is best known as the architect of the Intel 8086 (the granddaddy of today's Pentium processor), which sparked the PC revolution 30 years ago.

SA008 Saturday June 6,  8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
From DNA to Genetic Genealogy: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask
An introduction to genetic genealogy, covering such basic topics as genes, chromosomes and DNA, and showing how these can be used for genealogical purposes.

SA025 Saturday June 6,  11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Case Study: Genealogy of Renee Kaufman
This lecture presents a case study using One-Step Webpages as well as other websites to develop a family history. It illustrates how, with a minimal amount of initial information, an entire genealogy can be obtained. It also shows how to obtain records in spite of name misspellings, and how to avoid accepting wrong information.

SU024 Sunday June 7,  1:00  - 2:00 p.m.
The Julian Calendar and Its Importance to Genealogists
An overview of the Julian calendar, showing its relationship to the Gregorian calendar and some not-so-obvious implications to genealogists of the conversion between the two.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Drew Smith, MLS

Drew Smith is an Assistant Librarian with the Academic Services Unit of the University of South Florida (USF) Tampa Library. He has taught graduate-level courses in genealogical librarianship. He is a past Director of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (2008-2013), past chair of the FGS Technology Committee, and currently the "Rootsmithing with Technology" columnist for the FGS FORUM magazine. He is past Secretary of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Drew is President of the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa and has served on the board of the Florida State Genealogical Society. He administers the GENEALIB electronic mailing list with over 1200 genealogy librarians as subscribers, a list he founded in 1996.

Drew has been the co-host of The Genealogy Guys Podcast since September 2005, and together with George G. Morgan has produced over 270 one-hour episodes. Drew is the author of the book Social Networking for Genealogists, published in 2009 by Genealogical Publishing Company, and with George is co-author of the book Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques, published in 2013 by McGraw-Hill. Drew has written extensively for NGS NewsMagazine (now NGS Magazine), Genealogical Computing, and Digital Genealogist.

Drew holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a Master of Science in Industrial Management from Clemson University, and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from USF.

FRG-03 Friday June 5, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.
Crowdsourcing Your Brick walls
Online genealogy forums (mailing lists, message boards, and Facebook groups) let you ask others about your brick walls. Learn to craft queries that will be noticed among millions of online messages.

SA049 Saturday June 6, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Where Is the Book with My Family in It?
Find out how to do an exhaustive search for family history books, journal articles, and other published or unpublished research material that may save you time in your own research.

SU011 Sunday June 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Using Evernote as Your Primary Tool for Capturing Notes and Ideas
Evernote is a free tool for PCs, Macs, Tablets, and smartphones used to capture, organize, preserve, and synchronize (across devices) information, including ideas, notes, photos, and web pages.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Sara Gredler, MS

Sara Gredler is a genealogist, architectural historian, and historian with over 15 years of genealogical research experience.  She currently works at an architecture and engineering company as an architectural historian, historic bridge surveyor, Microsoft Access database guru, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst.  She is the vice-president of education and programming for the Williamson County (TX) Genealogical Society. Sara holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation and bachelor degrees in History and Classical Studies, as well as a Certificate in Irish Studies.

FR025 Friday June 5,  4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Using Reunion for Mac to Document Beyond the Individual 
Reunion for Mac is a great piece of software.  This presentation goes over some tips and tricks to make the most of it in order to document beyond individuals for advanced research methodology.

SA016 Saturday, June 6  10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Applying the FAN Methodology to a Community: Snowville, VA 
The FAN methodology uncovers clues about individual people in Snowville, Virginia, that challenges accepted history and puts a new spin on how historians and genealogists can work together to solve research problems.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: George L. Findlen, PhD, CG, CGL

George Findlen is a retired academic administrator who has served as a faculty member or administrator for over thirty years. In retirement, he has re-invented himself as a genealogist, becoming certified in 2005 and re-certified in 2009 and 2014.  In 2014, he became a certified genealogical lecturer. He researches Acadian and French-Canadian families in Eastern Québec, the Canadian Maritimes, and New England.

His articles have appeared in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and journals in New England, Louisiana, New Brunswick, and Québec. A recent effort describes the results of a DNA study which documents that the two Acadian Martin immigrants are not related. The article he is proudest of is "The 1917 Code of Canon Law: A Resource for Understanding Catholic Church Registers," published in the June 2005 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. The article is the first ever in any language to explain how Roman Catholic canon law can explain unique parish register entries. He is currently writing a history of his Acadian lineage, a venture covering eight generations and 300 years of history.

He also likes to give talks to genealogists, and has addressed groups in four Upper Midwest states as well as at the New England Regional Genealogical Conference and Le Congrès Mondial Acadian (Acadian World Reunion).

SA024 Saturday June 6, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Finding What Can't be Found: A Case Study in Whole Family Research 
Using the records for brothers, sisters, children, nephews, and nieces can locate the indirect evidence needed to identify the parents of a woman for whom no baptism or marriage record survives.

SA052 Saturday June 6, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Ya Gotta Use All the Resources 
Family histories, parish histories, deeds, plat maps, canon law, and a close reading of parish registers all help identify which of two official documents is the original and thus in which parish church a baptism took place.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Michael Brophy, MBA

Michael Brophy is a nationally known professional genealogical researcher, heir search specialist, and lecturer from the Boston area. He has served as Program Director and Publicity Director for the Massachusetts Genealogical Council and was the first Treasurer of the New England Association of Professional Genealogists.  Mike earned his MBA degree from Suffolk University and a BBA degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Mike was featured on the Irish TV series Dead Money, a genealogy show about heir searchers. In 2010, he was hired to conduct research for the NBC television program Who Do You Think You Are? on an episode dedicated to the family history of actress Gwyneth Paltrow. He specializes in New England and Irish genealogy subjects. His genealogy education includes several certificates from the Institute of Genealogy and Historic Research (IGHR) and certificates in Private Investigation and Advanced Forensic Genealogy from Boston University.

FR008 Friday June 5, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Paddy on the Net: Irish Genealogy Databases
Information about our Irish ancestors is exploding on the Internet. The best websites for Irish research are explored and analyzed. Recent landmark additions of vital records and census information are presented. Finding aids for further Irish research are assessed and critiqued in this exciting lecture on all that has happened with Irish resources in cyberspace.

SA017 Saturday June 6, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Irish Genealogy
The lecture will start with the central event in the history of Irish genealogy, the destruction of the public records office in Dublin on June 30, 1922. Unique challenges and realistic expectations for Irish ancestral research will be discussed. Vital records, immigration documentation, and unique resources will be presented. Examples are used to emphasize key principles and record holdings such as the lineage of notable Irish American Grace Kelly.  The overall goal of the lecture is to give attendees a practical guide to finding the origins of their Irish ancestors.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Charlotte M. Bocage

Charlotte Marie Bocage is a full-time professional genealogist with more than four decades of experience. The 1977 TV series Roots inspired her to put a name to what she had been doing for so long and to formally continue her genealogical search. Charlotte has been sharing her knowledge since 1999. She is the Bloom and Bocage Family genealogist and historian, tracing her paternal family back to 19th Century Louisiana. Charlotte graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies.

Charlotte is a genealogy instructor with Family Tree University and UCLA Osher Life Long Learning Extension. She is on the Board of Directors and is the Education chair with the Southern California Genealogical Society. Charlotte has volunteered with many genealogical and historical societies in Southern California.

SU013 Sunday June 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Let's Get (a Family Reunion) Together

This visual aid class introduces the family reunion chair to the minutiae of planning a family reunion to bring their family together.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Denise May Levenick

In every family, someone inherits "the stuff." Denise May Levenick is a writer, researcher, and speaker with a passion for preserving and sharing family treasures of all kinds. She is the creator of the award-winning family history blog The Family Curator and author of two books, How to Archive Family Photos (Family Tree Books, 2015) and How to Archive Family Keepsakes (Family Tree Books, 2012).

Denise inherited her first family archive from her grandmother - a trunk filled with photos, letters, documents, and lots of "miscellaneous stuff," and she is now the caretaker of several family collections. She has adapted professional archival techniques to the family archive situation and shares her experiences at her website, www.TheFamilyCurator.com, and in numerous books and articles.

Denise is a frequent lecturer and magazine contributor, and Chairman of the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant program assisting young genealogists. She is a former high school English and Journalism teacher, and holds a Master's Degree in English Literature. Denise is a native Angelino now living in Pasadena.

FR007 Friday June 5, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Be Prepared with a Genealogy Disaster Plan
Is your genealogy safe?  Fire, flood or power loss can destroy a lifetime of research and heirlooms. Practical ideas to protect your work and salvage items damaged by water or smoke.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA

Paula Stuart-Warren is an internationally recognized genealogical educator, researcher and consultant focused on unusual resources, manuscripts, methodology, and analyzing records. Since 1997 she has been a Course Coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, lectured at National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies conferences since the early 1990's, and in many states and Canada. 2015 is her fourth year with the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh.

A former officer of the Association of Professional Genealogists, former board member of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, past President of the Northland Chapter of the APG, she is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She co-chaired the FGS 2001, 2011, and 2013 conferences. She is descended from eight ancestral countries and has researched family connections across the U.S. and Canada including the Southern lines of her father-in-law.

She has researched on-site at the U.S. National Archives (multiple locations), Family History Library, Minnesota Historical Library, Wisconsin Historical Society, New England Historic Genealogy Society, California State Archives, and other state and local repositories from coast to coast. Paula has written for FGS FORUM, NGS Magazine, New England Ancestors, Minnesota Genealogist, findmypast.com, and currently publishes her own blog, Paula's Genealogical Eclectica  (http://paulastuartwarren.blogspot.com).

SA014 Saturday June 6, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Tho' They Were Poor, They May Have Been Rich in Records
No land, no probate, or no money? No Problem. Rich records of poor ancestors or those with temporary problems exist. Details include place of origin, date of birth, religion, residence, infirmity, death date, burial, family & adoption details.

SA035 Saturday June 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Midwestern and Plains States Level Census Records
Learn about the indexes, varied extensive personal details included, locating the censuses and alternate sources. Provides an overview for IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD & WI. Some are drool-worthy!

SU007 Sunday June 7, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Research Gems: Southern and Western Historical and Sociological Journals
Social history, local/state history, military, and other serials and footnotes aid in studying culture, ethnicity, military, churches, cemeteries, migration, and other aspects of family history. Many are free online.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Michael Provard

Mike Provard has been involved in the genealogy and family history community for more than 29 years. He began his career as a library attendant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. As an employee of FamilySearch he has worked at the Library in acquisitions and photoduplication, at the Granite Mountain Records Vault, and for 10 years supporting the 2,000 family history centers in North America. In 2012 he joined the Marketing team as an operational and logistical coordinator. He has taught many classes to local groups and at national genealogical conferences. He specializes in beginning research, U.S. Midwest and British research. He has a BFA degree in Photography from the University of Utah and is a semi-professional portrait and architectural photographer. He is in his 18th season singing with the Utah Symphony Chorus. He is married to Peggy Burger, and they are the parents of four children. They reside in West Jordan, Utah.

FR034 Friday June 5, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
FamilySearch Apps: Your Tree on the Go
FamilySearch has developed two mobile apps that allow you to carry your family tree with you. This class will demonstrate how to obtain and use the apps, plus highlight the newest features, including updating tree information, capturing source documents in the field, and recording and uploading audio files.

SA001 Saturday June 6, 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. - FamilySearch Sponsored Breakfast
Using FamilySearch to Connect with Friends, Associates, and Neighbors
By using the collaborative and social media tools build into FamilySearch, you can make contact with relatives and others who are searching for the same ancestors you are. Engage your friends, associates, and neighbors to use FamilySearch to help them find their ancestors and discover photos and stories about those ancestors.

SU023 Sunday June 7, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch
FamilySearch is the world's largest genealogy organization with a vast collection of records from around the world. Users of FamilySearch.org will benefit from this class that will show how to make the most of searching the historical records to find that elusive ancestor.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Ron Arons, MBA

Ron Arons has given 250+ presentations internationally. He has authored three books: The Jews of Sing Sing, Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records, and most recently, Mind Maps for Genealogy.  In 2006 he appeared on the PBS special The Jewish Americans.  In 2005 he won a Hackman Research Grant from the NY State Archives to continue his research on historical Jewish criminals in New York.  Ron earned a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

FR004 Friday June 5, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Understanding Our Families, Understanding Ourselves 
Come learn about Family Systems Theory (FST) and genograms, which help one understand family dynamics through multiple generations. FST very much compliments the FAN principle and the Genealogical Proof Standard.

FR020 Friday June 5, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Evaluating Evidence: Ask a Mini-Minnie Question 
This presentation discusses how to evaluate evidence using the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), the FAN principle, and mind maps to "prove a negative", a result that is usually very difficult to achieve.

SU006 Sunday June 7, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
What's in a name?  Trouble!
This talk shows the Genealogical Proof Standard and FAN principle in action to merge and separate multiple identities of multiple men. Mind map tools are used to facilitate the process.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Matthew Hovorka

Throughout 2011, 2012, and 2013, from ages 13-15, Matthew Hovorka discovered his own genealogy and has collaborated with his mother, Janet Hovorka, on her Zap The Grandma Gap books, workbooks, website, and blog. His insight has helped her teach others how to make family history interesting to teens.

Matthew has team taught lectures on engaging youth with family history at the 2012 BYU Genealogy Conference and at the 2012 Riverton Family History Library entitled "Hatching Eggs: The Chart Chick Engages Her Teenage Children." At the age of 15 he solo taught two session of "Get to Know Your Geezers" at RootsTech 2014 before audiences of 400+. He also presented at the Pahavant and Pleasant Grove Family History Conferences, as well as several other local presentations and at the BYU Family History Conference in 2014.

Working for 10 years with Family ChartMasters, the genealogy company owned by his parents, Matthew has helped with most every kind of genealogy event in the United States.

SU030 Sunday June 7, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Get to Know Your Geezers
Start visiting the top sites used by professionals. Collect your family history using Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and MyHeritage.com and learn the differences between sources and conclusion trees.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Janet Hovorka, MLIS

Janet Hovorka received a B.A. in Ancient Near Eastern History and a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from BYU. She and her husband Kim Hovorka own Family ChartMasters, the official printers for most genealogy software companies as well as MyHeritage and FamilySearch.  Family ChartMasters won Family Tree Magazine's Editor's choice and 101 Best Website awards, as well as FamilySearch software awards.

One of Janet's greatest genealogy accomplishments was the completion and publication of her mother-in-law's oral history just one year prior to her relative's untimely death. Most recently she has found great satisfaction in encouraging her teenage children's genealogical interests. Janet is the author of the Zap the Grandma Gap books and workbooks to help family historians engage the youth in their family with their history.

Janet is passionate about the nutrition family history brings to the souls of all family members and how it creates stronger relationships in modern families. Janet writes the Chart Chick blog and the Zap The Grandma Gap blog, has written for numerous genealogy publications and enjoys speaking about genealogy nationally and internationally. Janet is past President of the Utah Genealogical Association and she teaches library science and genealogy at Salt Lake Community College.

SU005 Sunday June 7,  8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Family History Adhesive: Science and Simple Tech 4 Binding Families
Studies show that family history strengthens your relationships and empowers your current family. Use the technology your family already accesses every day to create a strong narrative together.

SU021 Sunday June 7, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Family Links: Easy Interactive Online Activities
Create stronger relationships with your modern family by exploring your family history. Check out inventive activities and websites that will reach across the distances in your extended family.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: Nicka J. Smith

Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 14 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African-ancestored genealogy, reverse genealogy, and family reunion planning and execution. She is also an expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, sharing genealogy with youth, documenting the ancestral journey, and employing the use of new technology in genealogy and family history research.

Nicka has diverse and varied experience in communications, with a background in publications, editing, graphic design, radio, and video production. She has edited and designed several volumes of family history that include narratives, photos, and genealogical information and has also transferred these things to an online environment.

Nicka is a board member of the California Genealogical Society (CGS) and the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC), and former project manager for the Alameda County, CA Youth Ancestral Project where more than 325 youth have been taught the value of family history. Nicka is also the family historian and lead researcher for the Atlas family of Lake Providence, East Carroll, Louisiana.

FRG-01 Friday June 5, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Panel: Reaching Out and Reaching In
This panel session will focus on developing an inclusive multi-cultural genealogical society. Presented with Bernice Bennett, Shelley Murphy, and Angela Walton-Raji.

FR021 Friday June 5, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Tracing Slave and Slaveowner Ancestors with DNA and Genealogy
The history of slavery in America has made our DNA a complex cultural stew. In this session, learn to combine traditional genealogy and DNA research to confirm or deny slave, slaveholder, and ancestral ties to one of history's most peculiar institutions.

SA037 Saturday June 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Going, Leaving: African American Genealogy and The Great Migration
They were called by better jobs, better opportunities, and really, they wanted to make a better us. Learn why one of the biggest migrations ever is hardly ever talked about and how to successfully document your ancestors who participated in it.

SU016 Sunday June 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Publishing to Leave a Legacy: Inspiring Examples in Genealogy Storytelling
Want to publish your genealogy research as a legacy for future generations? Learn how these writers made it happen. Their stories reveal the challenges, mistakes and lessons learned from writing and publishing their legacy. Panel with Bernice Bennett, Michael N. Henderson, Anita Paul, and Angela Walton-Raji.

Jamboree 2015 - Meet the Speaker: L.A. "Butch" Hibben, CLA

Butch is a Certified Legacy Advisor and the Assistant Director of the Corona (CA) Family History Center. Knowing about his ancestry has been as much a part of his life as knowing the basic life skills. Fortunate enough to speak with his forbears about their experiences as Arizona pioneers, Butch has remembered the stories and the roles his family played in the history of the states of Utah and Arizona.

Butch, like his ancestor pioneers, is a trailblazer: for him, it was in the field of computers. He became involved in technology in the late 1950's while serving in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge, he continued in the field as a computer technician for many years until his retirement in 2008. An audio specialist and former square dance caller, it is no wonder that he was inspired to assist others in preserving their heritage when he was introduced to the Living Legacy Project in 2011. Again, he is carrying on his ancestors' tradition of pioneering, now in the worked of on-line preservation. He lives in Riverside County and can be reached at the Living Legacy Project page on www.circlemending.org.

SA044 Saturday June 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Free Apps for Smart Phones and Smart Genealogists
We all like FREE! Learn about various apps that can help make genealogy research and preservation more efficient. From taking photos to organizing to interviewing, these are the "musts" for you.