San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: June 2010 Published

June family history offerings have been posted to the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar. The calendar is a collection of local genealogical society events – seminars, classes, workshops and meetings – within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

The monthly list of Bay Area genealogy programs continues to grow as more societies submit their items to the calendar.

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


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

Using Microsoft Word 2007 for Genealogy - June 26, 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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

Word 2007 is a powerful tool for writing family histories, letters, and so much more.

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

• navigate around the ribbon and learn where things are located
• create and save documents
• use bullets
• insert images into a document
• create headers and footers

and more!

Laptops are recommended but not required for this class. Participants will get some hands-on practice using instructor-created exercises. If you don't bring a laptop to class you may partner with someone and try the exercises at home.

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

Are You Heading South for the Jamboree?

It's almost time again! The Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree returns Friday through Sunday, June 11 - 13, 2010, at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

The California Genealogical Society has Table 114 in the Exhibit Hall. Members are needed to help staff the table. Tim Cox has created an online form so members can let us know if they are going.

For detailed information about schedule, speakers, genealogy exhibitors and more, visit the Jamboree blog.

Attention members: Let us know if you are going!


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

Second Edition: Carnival of Genealogical Societies – Collaboration

Welcome to the Second Edition of the Carnival of Genealogical Societies.

Grateful acknowledgment to the footnoteMaven for the carnival badge and elucidation:

The key to all good genealogical research starts with the society of other genealogists and in turn genealogy societies.

The topic for the second edition of the Carnival of Genealogical Societies is: Collaboration.

Does your society collaborate with other societies?
(genealogical, historical, lineage, etc.)
Or groups? (local library, family history center)
Why or why not? What works or needs improvement?

This edition of the carnival received only six submissions but each one offers unique and creative ways for societies to collaborate.

Terri Buster is a board member and vice president of the Little River County Genealogy Society in Arkansas. Their group has been together for seven years and they have used their time wisely to develop collaborative relationships with many groups in their corner of the world. Read Carnival of Genealogical Societies~ 2nd Edition~ Collaboration posted at Southwest Arkie.

Tina Sansone is a past board member of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. Tina shares lots of ideas in How Genealogical Societies Can Collaborate posted at Gtownma's Genealogy. I especially love her suggestions of how to bring local high schools into the fold.

Brenda Joyce Jerome C.G. brings an unexpected angle to the discussion with Collaboration Within a Genealogical Society posted at Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog. Brenda believes that societies must change in order to flourish. How does your group measure up?

Charles Hansen wears several hats for the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. He notes "Collaboration with the Spokane Library has benefited both EWGS and the Spokane Public Library" and tells us more in Carnival of Genealogy Societies Collaboration posted at Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Blog.

Joan Miller is part of the public relations team of the Alberta Family Histories Society. Joan collaborated with executive members of the societies to write Carnival of Genealogical Societies: Collaboration posted at Alberta Family Histories Society Blog.

Kathryn Doyle offers A Collaborative Formula For Success at the California Genealogical Society and Library blog.

This concludes the second edition.

Call for Submissions!
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogical Societies is: Uniquely Us!

How is your society unique? 
Tell us about something one-of-a-kind. Is it a program, project, or publication? A record set or archival holding? A certain procedure or way you handle meetings? This is your opportunity to tell why and how your society is special!

The deadline for submissions is July 7, 2010.

Please do indicate in your article that you are writing for the Third Edition of the Carnival of Genealogical Societies. Submit your blog article using the the carnival submission form provided by Blog Carnival. Please use a descriptive phrase in the title of any article you plan to submit and write a brief introduction to your articles in the "remarks" section of the form.

Past posts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

A Collaborative Formula For Success

The California Genealogical Society has participated in several collaborative projects with groups, such as: SFgenealogy.com, the Peralta Hacienda and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. But the most successful venture has been a partnership with the Oakland Regional Family History Center started in October 2008. Then-president Jane Lindsey and Marge Bell, Assistant Director of the ORFHC, cooked up a scheme to offer a menu of beginning genealogy classes at both facilities. The classes were offered on Tuesday evenings at the Family History Center or Saturday mornings at the CGS Library which enabled free parking at either venue. The classes were a huge hit and the formula was expanded to intermediate sessions as well.

Jane Knowles Lindsey and Margery Howe Bell

In all, a total of 174 students have been through five sessions of classes: three for beginners and two for intermediate level participants. The classes have led to an increase in membership and volunteerism and have been successful by any measure.

Jane and Marge – keep talking – we're ready for your next good idea in collaboration.


Written for the second edition of the Carnival of Genealogical Societies: Collaboration.

Photograph courtesy of Judy Bodycote, Oakland, California, 3/30/2010.


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