SCGS Jamboree 2012 – Another Great Event

The 43rd annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree is in the history books and all agree it was a fantastic event with something for genealogy enthusiasts of every stripe.

California Genealogical Society members participated at every level: as speakers, exhibitors, and attendees.

Several CGS board members attended Friday's Society Workshop – four lectures on society management sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the California State Genealogical Alliance. The workshop speakers included our member Cath Trindle CG, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, George G. Morgan, and Josh Taylor. What was totally unexpected was Dardashti's use of the California Genealogical Society's website and blog as examples in her talk about publicity. She had only good things to say about our efforts. Thank you, Schelly!

Slide from Schelly Dardashti's talk "Publicity is the Society's Friend."

Another surprise that morning was from my blogger friend, Kim von Aspern-Parker, who joined CGS on her mobile phone while we were waiting for a lecture to begin.

Kim von Aspern-Parker affixing her new CGS member ribbon to her name tag.

It was mostly about fun Friday evening when Jamboree hosted their first Hollywood GALA sponsored by Ancestry.com. President Jeff Vaillant took the podium to announce the winner of our special membership raffle prize — Shelia Farmer. Jeff and SCGS President Alice Fairhurst also announced the new Memorandum of Understanding between our two societies. I'll have lots more to say about that next month.

CGS President Jeff Vaillant and SCGS President Alice Fairhurst at the Gala.

Three of my favorite people (and CGS members) Amy Coffin, Elizabeth O'Neal and Sheri Fenley, in their  Gala attire.

All day Saturday, the California Genealogical Society had a table outside the exhibit hall in the Jamboree "society row." It was the second year that the Southern California Genealogical Society made free tables available to non-profit groups and we were thrilled to take them up on the offer!

A special thank-you to Amy Coffin, Kim Cotton, Sheri Fenley, Laura Lee Karp, Debbie Mascot, Mary Mettler, Jim Sorenson, and Jeff Vaillant for setting up and staffing the table, and for the prep work to obtain the necessary permits and bring our materials down. It was a team effort and everything went smoothly. We sold several copies of Raking the Ashes and lots of our Insider's Guide to California Genealogy.

Members who made it for our group photo: Teresa Fraser, Duncan Tanner, Amy Coffin, Jim Sorenson, Denise Levenick, Sheri Fenley, Elizabeth O'Neal, Cath Trindle, Sandra Benward, Kathryn Doyle and Natalie Levinson.

We tried to get everyone together for a group photo of CGS members but there were too many other things going on. Other members in attendance were: Ron Arons, Patricia Burrow, Kim Cotton, Shelia Farmer, Paul Hawthorn, Laura Lee Karp, Lisa Lee, Sita Levy Likuski, Thomas MacEntee, Debbie Mascot, Mary Metter, Cheryl Palmer, and Kim von Aspern-Parker. If I missed anyone, please leave a comment so I can add your name.

Kathryn and newest member (and raffle winner) Shelia Farmer.

It was great spending time with so many of our members. Hope to see you all at next year's Jamboree June 7—9, 2013.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library