CGS Member Speakers at the California Family History Expo

The California Family History Expo is just a week away and the event is shaping up to be the largest gathering of genealogists in Northern California in the last several years.

The California Genealogical Society is a local sponsor of the event and we will be present in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #57. In addition, several members of the society will be speaking at the two day conference at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, California.

CGS members Ron Arons, Amy Coffin, Tim Cox, Ellen Fernandez‐Sacco, Thomas MacEntee, and Craig Manson are presenting a variety of lectures and mini-sessions on Friday and Saturday, October 8-9, 2010.

Ron Arons
Researching Your Criminal Ancestors 10/8, 11:30 a.m. Ag Building 101 (Bldg. P)
Putting the Flesh on the Bones - 10/9, 11:00 a.m. Special Exhibits 106 (Bldg. D)

Amy Coffin - Four social media mini sessions, Beacon of Bloggers Exhibit Hall (Bldg. C)
Social Networking Open House - 10/8, 9:30 a.m.
Facebook: What is it and how do I use it? - 10/8, 4:00 p.m.
Blogging Open House - 10/9, 10:30 a.m.
Twitter Open House - 10/9, 3:30 p.m.

Tim Cox
Hard Drive Organization – How to Easily File Your Genealogy Documents and Images - 10/8, 3:00 p.m., Special Exhibits 106 (Bldg. D)

Ellen Fernandez‐Sacco
Latino Roots: Beginning Research in Spanish Language Records - 10/9, 1:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Classroom (Bldg. C)

Thomas MacEntee
Build a Genealogy Blog Workshop - 10/8, 10:00 a.m., Exhibit Hall Classroom (Bldg. C)
Twitter: It’s Not Just “What I Had For Breakfast” Anymore - 10/8, 4:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall Classroom (Bldg. C)
Facebook for Genealogists  - 10/9, 11:00 a.m., Exhibit Hall Classroom (Bldg. C) 
Social Networking: New Horizons for Genealogists - 10/9, 2:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall Classroom (Bldg. C)

Craig Manson
Breaking Through Brick Walls in African American Research - 10/8, 4:30 p.m., Special Exhibits 105 (Bldg. D).

In addition, several members of CGS are Bloggers of Honor for the event: Leah Allen, Amy Coffin, Sheri Fenley, Craig Manson, Elizabeth O'Neal and Kathryn Doyle.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!


Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Using Microsoft Excel 2007 for Tracking Your Genealogy Research

Saturday, November 6, 2010
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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

Excel 2007 is a powerful tool for creating spreadsheets, analyzing data already collected, and sharing information with others.

In this workshop, Tim Cox will show you how to:

• Create a worksheet
• Use workbooks
• Format cells
• Create charts and graphs
• Use tables
• Sort columns

and more!

You will get hands-on practice by working on some instructor created exercises. If you don't bring your laptop to class you can partner with someone and then try the exercises at home.

Skill level - beginner to intermediate.

This workshop is limited to fifteen participants and one of the free benefits for CGS members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards a CGS membership the day of the workshop.

Preregistration is required.

Walk-ins will not be admitted.

Register online.

Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: October 2010 Published

October 2010 events have been published on the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – a collection of local genealogical society classes, workshops and meetings within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

October is traditionally celebrated as Family History Month so Bay Area genealogical societies are offering more than fifty classes, workshops and seminars to help you further your family history research.

In addition, there are two conference events in October:

California Family History Expo, Pleasanton - October 8, 9

Family History Day at the California State Archives, Sacramento - October 9

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 20th of each month for publication on the 25th. (Please put "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)


Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

October is Family History Month!

The California Genealogical Society opens its doors to the public every year during the month of October in celebration of Family History Month. We waive the library usage fee for non-members and host a number of free workshops and classes. Our experienced volunteers will be on hand to assist you with your research interests. Space is limited, so please RSVP to let us know you are coming.

Class offerings include sessions on using some of the major genealogy subscription sites such as FamilySearch.org, VitalSearch.com, NewEnglandAncestors.org, Footnote.com, NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Other classes include Introduction to Photoshop; The Census: We don't spell our name that way! and Creating and Using Timelines for Genealogy.

October member consultations have been a popular offering so we are pleased to feature them again. Members have the opportunity to receive assistance from volunteers with general research questions or with a variety of topics including the library’s online subscription databases.

Download the 2010 Family History Month flier for the full schedule of classes and consultations.


Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Win Two Free Tickets to the California Family History Expo!

CGS member Thomas MacEntee sent word that GeneaBloggers, the genealogy community’s resource for genealogy bloggers, is sponsoring the California Family History Expo Contest running from September 21, 2010 through September 24, 2010.

Win two free admission tickets to the upcoming California Family History Expo in Pleasanton, California on October 8 and 9, 2010. To enter, visit GeneaBloggers and leave a comment on the contest blog post describing how attending a Family History Expo event would help your genealogy research. Be sure to leave a valid e-mail address and check back on Saturday, September 25, 2010 to see if you are a winner!

Thomas is one of several CGS members who will be presenting at the Expo. Those of you who missed his blogging workshop last October and his virtual presentation in April will want to be sure to attend one of Thomas' four talks at California Expo. I'll list the complete schedule of CGS members and their presentations later this week.

Family History Expos, Inc. is a Utah-based company headquartered in Croydon, Utah. FHE has been holding successful expos throughout the Western United States for seven years, teaching thousands to learn the art of and experience the spirit of family history research.

Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library