Jamboree 2015: Ancestry Scanning Update - Appointments Still Available

We just heard from Lorilee Wagner, the conference coordinator at Ancestry, that they still have some open time slots on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. If you haven't signed up yet, no worries. They will have a sign-up sheet outside the scanning room (Producer A&B in the High-Tech Hallway).

If you have already reserved a slot but have more to scan, you can request a second appointment.

Don't forget about the Burbank Public Library's project to scan photos of Burbank. Bring those with you and let's get this project off to a great start!

....counting down the hours until we open the doors...

Jamboree 2015 - Unraveling the Spaghetti #1: Live Streaming

Oh dear. It seems we have confused some people about the streaming video / mobile app / SCGS website, and we want to take a few minutes to help sort things out. Let's see if we can unravel the spaghetti.

There will be three posts in this series: Streaming Video, Mobile App, and Jamboree Website. This post addresses the Streaming Video.

If you're good with the streaming,

and you don't have any questions about

how it will work, you can stop reading and

go back to watching videos of frolicking cats.

You do not need to be a member of SCGS, nor do you need your SCGS membership number, to view any of the streaming videos. The streaming videos will not be shown on the SCGS website. The app is not involved in the live streaming.

The Jamboree streaming video is FREE and available to the public, but viewers need to register. We encourage you to register in advance so there is no delay when you want to view the sessions.

• Sign up for the FREE Jamboree streaming video here.
• Your registration includes access to ALL of the sessions listed in the broadcast schedule. You do not have to register for individual sessions. 
• All sessions will be shown at their scheduled times in the video window on this page. You will be able to see the schedule once you register. Scroll down past the viewing window and the chat room to view the schedule.
• On any date between Friday, June 5 and Sunday, July 5, go to the streamed video page here.
• Handouts will be available for download once you register.
• Since streaming video is open to the public, there are no concerns about copyright provisions. We hope you will host viewing parties and share the live-streaming with your FANs - Friends, Acquaintances and Neighbors. 
• Live-streamed sessions will not be available for purchase on CD or DVD.
• Please share the streaming video offer with others.

The DNA streaming video is available only on a pay-per-view basis. DNA sessions will not be included in the free streaming at Jamboree.

• Pay-per-view DNA live-streamed sessions will be held on Thursday, June 5.
• Sign up for the DNA streaming video here. 
• The cost is either $20 per session, or $99 for all six sessions. 
• You can pay by credit card or PayPal.
• You will receive an email with your user name and password.
• If you lose that email, go to this page and click on "Contact Support."
• The complete schedule is available here.
• Handouts will be available to download once you register for your session(s).
•  Live-streamed sessions will not be available for purchase on CD or DVD.
• Concurrent log-ins are not allowed; if someone else uses your log-in credentials you will be logged out automatically.
• On any date between Thursday, June 4 and Sunday, July 5, view the streamed sessions here.  Each session has its own viewing page which can be accessed by clicking the appropriate "watch" link below on that page.
• Your log-in will be good for 10 views per session. 
• Access to the live streaming sessions is provided for use by individuals only. Sharing the content with others is not permitted and conflicts with copyright provisions.

If you want to register for *both* DNA and Jamboree sessions, it may get a bit clunky. Thank you for understanding and working with us. There are three ways to register for both DNA and Jamboree live-stream websites:

• The least complicated is to register *first* for the free Jamboree sessions, and *then* register for the pay-per-view DNA sessions. Those who first register for Jamboree can register for DNA day in the normal manner through the PayPal portal. It will be uncomplicated and unclunky if you register for free Jamboree first. 
• If you have two different email accounts, use one for pay-per-view and a different one for free streaming. Just remember to sign in using the correct email address.
• If you already registered for DNA Day and want to sign up for Jamboree too, that's where it gets a little tricky. To make it easy for you, if you are registering for both, click "Contact Support" and request to have our administrator set up the second account. You will use the same log-in and password for both free and pay-per-view.

The fastest way to get help is to post a note in the chat room, and the next best way is to click on "Troubleshooting" and see if you can find the solution. If not, feel free to email for assistance  ghall@webcastandbeyond.com. 

Although we love our social media connections, we suggest that you not post your concerns and comments on Twitter or on the Jamboree Facebook page. With all that goes on during Jamboree, it may be a while before someone responds.
 

Jamboree 2015 - Getting Down to the Wire

Laundry. Packing. Printing out family group sheets or updating online family trees. Repacking. Moving the cat out of the suitcase.

That's what *I* would be doing this weekend, if I were attending a major genealogical conference. Oh wait. I AM attending a major genealogical conference next week, and I hope you are too.

We are coming down to the wire on getting you details about Jamboree, but we're not done yet. We still have a few surprises to pull out of our bag, and you should be learning about those this weekend. Keep your eye on the blog.

We want to make sure everyone has the best time possible. If you're a seasoned conference attendee, you've already set out your comfy shoes, sweaters or light wrap in case the rooms are cool. You've left your perfume at home so you don't trigger allergy sneezes from the people around you.

You've downloaded the app (from the App store or from Google Play), planned your schedule (a primary and a back-up session for each hour just in case), and plotted out your tour of the Exhibit Hall and special activities.

You've gone through that stack of scanning that has been gathering dust under the desk and registered for free Scanning by Ancestry. You've scoured your photo albums and shoe boxes for photos of Burbank to contribute to the Burbank Public Library project.

You pulled together your poodle skirt or hoop skirt, your pirate shirt or Confederate gray, whatever you've chosen for "Dress Like An Ancestor." Whether you are parading in your finest or helping decide who wins the free registration to Jamboree 2016, plan to be in Pavilion 1 at lunchtime Sunday.

And you've gone through the many articles on "How to get the most from a genealogy conference" that we have gathered and published on Jamboree Website.  Take a little time and watch George G. Morgan's great presentation.

BE SURE TO GET A COPY OF THE PINK SHEETS. The Pink Sheets are the key to everything happening at Jamboree. Watch for an announcement on Monday or Tuesday that the Pink Sheets are available for download.

You're ready!! and the Jamboree team will be ready for you when you check in at registration.

REGISTRATION HOURS

Genetic Genealogy: DNA Day Plus
Thursday - 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Genealogy Jamboree - Registered in Advance
Thursday - 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday - 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday - 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Genealogy Jamboree - Walk in
Friday - 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday - 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Correction: SCGS Takes Up the Preserve the Pensions Challenge

(NOTE: This post was revised on 6/1 to accurately represent the amount of the matched donation. Thanks Sandra for the correction. Math has never been good to me.)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) issued a challenge to all of its member societies to create a matching program for donations to the Preserve the Pensions project.

The Board of Directors has enthusiastically supported this project and has taken FGS up on its challenge. The Board voted to match the first $2500, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, for donations made through SCGS.

Let's take a look at the effect of a $50 donation made through SCGS.
Your donation = $50
SCGS Match = $50 + $50 = $100
FGS will Match the combined amount =  $100 + $100 = $200
Ancestry with Match the combined amount =  $200 + $200 = $400!


I'm sure that we'll have opportunities to "pass the hat" at Jamboree, but in case you'd like to get a head start, you can donate in several different ways:

Through PayPal - Donate the amount you choose. Please indicate that the donation is for Preserve the Pensions - SCGS.

Through the SCGS website - Donations are set to be in $10 increments. You can donate any amount in $10 increments. To donate $100 for example, just order "10" donations at $10 each.

Send your check to SCGS, 417 Irving Drive, Burbank, CA 91504. Indicate "SCGS Preserve the Pensions" in the notes area.

Please download the flyer for full information.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Jamboree 2015 Live Streaming - Help Us Spread the Word!

Jamboree offers an outstanding opportunity to the genealogical community, so we would like everyone everywhere to know that they have access to 15 hours of free genealogical education on June 5, 6 and 7. Will you please help us spread the word?

Please forward this message, post a link to this announcement, or copy and send it to your FAN Club - Friends, Associates and Neighbors (with a tip of the hat to Elizabeth Shown Mills, who coined the phrase that is this year's Jamboree theme.)  In other words, fellow genealogical society members, cousins or other research buddies, your family research societies or newsletters, billboards, skywriting, whatever works for you. Do you have a family website, or family page on Facebook? Post it there.

We thank you, and your FANs will thank you too!

------------------------------------- 

The 46th Annual  Southern California Genealogy Jamboree will be held June 5-7, 2015. The Genetic Genealogy 2015--DNA Day Plus! opens a full weekend of genealogy. If you're in the neighborhood, of course, we hope you will attend in person to take advantage of the full conference experience.

But if you're not a Southern Californian, we have great news for you!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR LIVE STREAMING OF GENETIC GENEALOGY 2015: DNA DAY PLUS!

Registration is now open for live streaming of six DNA Day Plus sessions. The sessions are available on a pay-per-view basis; watch  one or two presentations for $20 each, or purchase the entire day of six sessions for just $99.

Speakers for the live-streamed sessions include the cream of the DNA crop: Angie Bush; Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD; Tim Janzen MD; Kitty Munson Cooper; CeCe Moore; and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL.

Register here or read the details on the Jamboree Blog.

Syllabus handouts will be available for download before the start of the session. Those who purchase the full-day subscription will also receive a digital copy of the entire DNA syllabus.

If you can't watch the DNA conference real time on June 4th, you will be able to watch it at your convenience any time before July 5, 2015.

JAMBOREE LIVE STREAMING TO BE PROVIDED FREE THANKS TO SPONSORSHIP BY ANCESTRY.COM

Details for FREE live streaming of selected sessions from the Southern California Genealogy will be announced within the next week or so. To be sure you receive notice of the Jamboree live-streaming selections, pre-register here.

THE APP IS HERE! THE APP IS HERE!

The Southern California Genealogy Jamboree launched the first app in 2011, when only geeks carried iPhones and tablets were in bottles in the medicine cabinet. Those days are long gone; and our attendees have become accustomed to carrying their schedules, speaker bios, exhibitor profiles, notes, evaluations, social media and Jamboree blog posts in their pockets.

Read all the details in our informative blog post about the app. If you're convinced just can't wait to use it, go here to download it.

A special thank-you goes to Ancestry.com, Diamond Sponsor of the 2015 Jamboree, for their support of the Jamboree App.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE ENDS MAY 23

Register in advance to attend "Genetic Day: DNA Day Plus!" or the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree -- one day or all three -- and save. Discounts are available for SCGS members.

Jamboree website

www.scgsgenealogy.com

Jamboree blog

http://genealogyjamboree.blogspot.com    

Southern California Genealogy Jamboree

Southern California Genealogical Society

417 Irving Drive

Burbank, CA 91504

jamboree@scgsgenealogy.com

Jamboree 2015 - Ancestry Diamond Sponsor

Let's hear it for the Jamboree Diamond Sponsor, Ancestry.com. We are so very grateful for their ongoing support of SCGS and the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. Year after year, they come forward to help us provide high-quality education to family historians around the world.

The year, Ancestry is sponsoring two important aspects of Jamboree. First, Ancestry is underwriting the Jamboree App! The app was announced on Thursday, May 15. If you haven't downloaded it yet, it's there, just waiting for you.

Today, we are announcing that live-streamed sessions from Jamboree will be provided FREE, thanks to Ancestry.com. Ancestry is the sole sponsor of the Jamboree live streaming, which enables us to bring exceptional speakers and presentations to those who can't make it to Burbank to join us in person.

In addition, Ancestry will provide a number of valuable door prizes, including one-year membership for the Ancestry World Explorer edition, DNA kits, and a one-year subscription to the exciting new AncestryAcademy.

Be sure to stop by the Ancestry booth and personally thank Matthew Deighton, Lorilee Wagner, Crista Cowan, and the rest of the Ancestry team for their contribution to education and support of Jamboree.

They're real diamonds to us!

Congratulations to our Big Winners!

You may remember that Alice Fairhurst and her fantastic team of treasure hunters turned up over $17,000 worth of door prizes. Here are the names of the very luckiest of the many winners.

I'm going to talk to Paul Traynor and find out his secret to winning! What a lucky guy.

Our sincere thanks go out to all of the wonderful sponsors and door prize donors for this year. We couldn't have had such a successful event without their support.

Congratulations to all!


Grand Prize - Judy Freund
Ancestry Seekers Research Trip and Six Nights at the Salt Lake City Plaza Hotel

Donna Wilson
Seven Nights at the Salt Lake City Plaza Hotel and $200 for Expenses from SCGS

Madeline Yanov
Nine Course Online Genealogy Study from National Institute for Genealogical Studies
(University of Toronto)

Greg Gazda
Nine Course Online Genealogy Study from National Institute for Genealogical Studies
(University of Toronto)

Robyn Dowd
Nine Course Online Genealogy Study from National Institute for Genealogical Studies
(University of Toronto)

Paul Traynor
Seven Hours Research from Record Click

Carol Satterthwaite
Three Night Stay Crystal Inn, Salt Lake City

Paul Traynor
Two-night stay at Strawberry Creek Inn, Idyllwild, California

Marsha Barnet
Family Portrait Sitting by Harvey Branman, Photography as Art

Carrie L Rogers
Personal Genome Serv.& T-shirt from 23andMe.com

Wendy Fisher
1 Year World Explorer Membership from Ancestry

Laura Higby
1 Year World Explorer Membership from Ancestry

Lynn Rhodes
1 Year World Explorer Membership from Ancestry

Jamboree: Over $16,000 and more than 200

Over $16,000 and over 200 what?  Door Prizes!!

Our Door prize committee, headed by Alice Fairhurst, has done a phenomenal job of rounding up door prizes for Jamboree. And the prizes are simply fantastic.

• A 7-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel and $200 toward expenses
• A 7-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel and a research tour guided by AncestorSeekers
• Annual World Explorer Subscription to Ancestry.com (one each day)
• Gift Certificate for 9 courses for National Institute of Genealogy (University of Toronto) (one each day)
• 7 hours of Research Assistance from Record Click
• Family Portrait Sitting - Photography as an Art by Harvey Branma
• $300 Gift Certificate Home History Book from Home History Book
• 2 Night Stay, Deluxe Room, at Strawberry Creek Inn, Idyllwild
• Civil War Newspaper from JustaJoy.com
  Flip Pal Mobile Scanner from Flip-Pal.com

That's just the beginning. Add to that books, society memberships, DVDs, research consultations, food gift certificates, and entertainment.

Each paid registrant will receive one door prize ticket in their name badge packet. Additional tickets will be available for sale throughout the weekend. Raffle Central is located in a kiosk in the Convention Center. Drawings will be held from demonstration kiosk, and winners' names will be posted nearby.  Watch the monitors for examples of the gifts and be sure to look at the door prize list you'll find in your registration bag.

Additional tickets can be purchased in the following amounts:

$1 each
6 tickets for $5
25 tickets for $20

Tickets can be purchased:
At the SCGS sales table
At the registration desk
At the Raffle Central booth
From strolling ticket sellers