A Few Good Volunteers

Dear Friends of CGS,

We have a great line-up of events and classes for 2018, but running a business such as ours takes many volunteers. It’s hard to imagine that a non-profit organization with roughly 1,000 members operates with no paid staff. 

I appreciate all of you who donated to the Annual Appeal and to the Capital Campaign. But we also need volunteers to help keep things running smoothly. All of our committees can use some additional help. Please contact Kathleen Beitiks if you would like to volunteer. 

Happy Holidays, 

Linda Okazaki

The following volunteer positions are vacant:

·  Catalog Librarian: Volunteer needed to enter data into WorldCat and to assist in evaluating our current holdings. Knowledge of Library of Congress cataloging and experience with WorldCat required. Reports to the Library Director.

· Digital Historian: Volunteer needed to organize, digitize, and preserve our records, both current and historical. Reports to the president.

·  Field Trip Coordinator: Volunteer needed to plan fieldtrips to locations relevant to genealogical research such as the David Rumsey Collection at Stanford or the Society of California Pioneers. Reports to the Events Chair.

· Off-site Event Coordinator: Plan and execute large scale events such as Ancestry Day or NEHGS Comes West, or work with big-name speakers such as Cyndi Ingle, Judy Russell, and Blaine Bettinger. Experience running large events needed. Reports to the Events Chair. Works closely with the Technology and Marketing teams.

· Social Media Coordinator: Volunteer needed to plan and execute our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts. Reports to the Publications Chair and/or Marketing Chair. Prior experience not necessary, but familiarity with social media is helpful.

The following committee chair positions are vacant. Please contact Linda Okazaki if you are interested or have a recommendation:

· Marketing Chair: Coordinate and execute activities which promote our organization and events. Overlaps with most other committees. Prior marketing experience a plus. 

·  Outreach Chair: Plan and execute events and activities which benefit both CGS and the community at large, such as classes at Senior Centers or having representation at events like the Aloha Festival or Ancestry day. Develop and maintain relationships with other organizations such as the California Mayflower Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution. Overlaps with Development, Fundraising, and Membership.

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Member Survey: You talked, We listened

Written by Maureen Hanlon

Thanks to your fantastic response rate to our Fall All-Member Survey,  we heard loud and clear that you (our members) value our classes, on-line sites, social media channels, and eNews.  We also learned that even in this digital age, you especially enjoy our bi-annual genealogy journal, The California Nugget.  Thank you.

In terms of education, what we have learned is that you are clear about the topics and level of classes you want to see.  This included more Intermediate and Advanced genealogical learning opportunities, more about DNA and classes focused on specific ethnic groups and localities.  You also want to improve your technical skills.

Question 16 from our All-Member Survey

Based on this feedback, we’re adding the following classes to our 2016 calendar: 

Ethnicity and Geography:  French-Canadian, German, Irish, African-American, Jewish, Nikkei Pilgrimage, Angel Island, Western Pennsylvania, and Locations Basics.

Technical:  Spreadsheets (repeat of Susan Goss Johnston class), Creating a Blog, and Optimizing FamilySearch.

Intermediate and Advanced:  Repeat of Susan Goss Johnston Advanced five class series, National Archives, Forensic Genealogy, Handwriting, and Certification.

DNA:  DNA for Beginners (quarterly) and DNA for adoptees.

The 1st quarter offerings are now on Eventbrite and more will be added soon.  We're currently in the planning stage with other instructors.  The classes listed above do not include the activities of our very popular San Francisco and FamilyTree Maker Special Interest Groups.  We'll report more about their plans as they become available.  

This Fall there will be an All-Day Event with Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi’s List (not yet on Eventbrite). We're so excited to have Cyndi come and speak---mark your calendars for November 5th!

Thank you for your feedback.  We hope that you'll be pleased with this year's class line-up.

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

Advanced Genealogy Series with Susan Goss Johnston

April 18, 2013 – May 16, 2013
Five Thursday Sessions
6:30-8:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Serious about your family history?

Is this you? You’ve searched census records, military records, and every probate and land record you can find, but still can’t seem to solve that frustrating research problem. If so, you’re ready to enter genealogy’s case-building research phase. This series will give you an opportunity to advance your skills in research methodology and practice the Genealogical Proof Standard.

The five-week course includes homework assignments! Each student will be expected to write a research report and a 1½-generation family history in an approved style.

Instructor: Susan Goss Johnston

SCHEDULE:

• April 18: Context – The Key to Thorough Analysis
• Examine all records in context: historical context, inherent context, logical context, and life context.
• April 25: Transcribe, Abstract, Think, and Plan
• Learn transcription techniques, abstract purpose, identify inferences, and plan your research from every document.
• May 2: The Research Report and Proof Summary
• Begin with a plan, document each step, and write the results in an appropriate research report format.
• May 9: Writing an Interesting Family History
• Study different formats and practice writing: a formal research report, a proof summary, and a 1½-generation family history.
• May 16: Genealogy and the Law
• Legal acts may be record sources and they affect your interpretation of the records. Learn more about the importance of law in your research.

Prerequisites: The student must be familiar with the basic record groups: census, military, vital, probate, and land records - and must have used them all.

Fee: Course is $80 for CGS members; $100 for non-members ($20 will be applied to CGS membership fee, if desired).

Class size is limited to fifteen participants. No walk-ins.
No refunds after classes begin on April 18, 2013.
Pre-registration is required.

Download the series flier for full class descriptions.

Register online.

Students may bring dinner to eat in the library before the class begins. Interested students can also attend half-hour pre-class sessions to discuss the previous week’s assignments. These discussion sessions will be held from 6:00-6:30 p.m. beginning the second week, April 25. After each session, participants will walk together to BART or to their car.

Please note: If you would like more information about the course, or if you're uncertain you're ready to take it, you may contact the instructor before registering. Email Susan Goss Johnston with your questions.

Susan Goss Johnston was a member of Yale University's first undergraduate class of women, earning a B.A. in physics. After graduation, she began working in medical research while studying voice at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. The natural outgrowth of this experience, mixed with two children, led to genealogy, research that didn't require grant writing! She is a frequent speaker in the Bay Area and has been involved in teaching and researching for more than thirty years. Sue is a ProGen Study Group alumna, completing the program in 2011, and she is a graduate of the National Institute on Genealogical Research and the "Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis" at Samford University's Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. Her personal research focuses on families in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, and she specializes in military records and federal land records.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library