Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County

Celebrating Over 50 Years of Family History

General Meeting & Lecture – Janet Bringham Rands, Ph.D. – Life in the Trees

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 The Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County

Lecture Series: 2013-2014

Santa Cruz Library: Downtown Branch

224 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

General meeting room: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free lecture! (Donations are welcome!)

 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Guest Speaker: Janet Brigham Rands, Ph.D.

Life in the Trees

This presentation will cover how to create an ancestral family tree using various resources such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org and other popular and traditional genealogical programs.  Important questions will be answered such as how to interpret other’s information in family trees, internet research, and tree research accuracy.

Janet is vice-president of the Silicon Valley Genealogy Computer Group, and is a family history consultant. A former journalist and an editor, she contributed to and edited Better Than Sliced Bread: Genealogy and Technology, a book published by SVCGG. She compiles and writes for the SVCGG monthly newsletter, PastFinder. PastFinder newsletter has been named best in the U.S. two years in a row, 2012 (best regional and society newsletter) and 2013 (best major genealogical society newsletter), by the National Genealogical Society.

Janet earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brigham Young University, and following a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, conducted postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Addiction Research Center of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She applies decades of research skills to genealogy research, with an emphasis on Internet research, technology, and, research accuracy.

General Meeting & Lecture – Sean Conley – Using Ancestry.com

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The Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County

Lecture Series: 2013-2014

Santa Cruz Library: Downtown Branch

224 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

General meeting room: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free lecture! (Donations are welcome!)

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Guest Speaker: Sean Conley, M.B.A., B.S., Member N.S.G.W.        

Using Ancestry.com Presentation

Ancestry.com Library Edition is available at all computers at the Santa Cruz Public and all of its branches. This powerful genealogical software program is fully paid for the Santa Public Library System for which the GSSCC is very grateful. The library edition does not have each and every feature that the home subscription does; however, it is extremely advantageous with thousands of databases to choose from.

This presentation will cover the several techniques and methods to refine your search and get superior results using both Ancestry.com Library Edition and Ancestry.com home subscription. Sean will demonstrate live for us on the big screen numerous shortcuts and searches you likely have not seen before! 

Sean Conley has been a member of the GSSCC for over seven years now. He is a member of the Santa Cruz Old Timers, N.S.G.W., and has an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University and a B.S. in Economics from SCU. He has used online database technology for genealogical research for close to three decades. Sean has worked on a variety of research projects over the years and specializes in California and Ireland research. He lives is Santa Cruz County.

This presentation appeals to genealogist of all levels. It will be held from 1-3 in the meeting room upstairs at the Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA.

For more information, please call the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County

(831) 427-7707 extension 5794. Thank you!

General Meeting and Lecture: June 6, 2013

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June Lecture

Thursday, June 6, 2013

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz Public Library, Central Location
(2nd floor meeting room)
224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

For more information, please call (831) 427-7707, ext. 5794; Email: IVCLB@comcast.net

Speaker:

Pamela Erickson

Lecture Topic:

Planning a Successful Research Trip

 

 

When you discover that your family moved to a location you have never seen, do you want to visit the area and learn what resources are available? Or, have you wanted to go to Salt Lake City and use the vast collection available at the Family History Library? Remember, too, that the tips we cover also apply to visiting your local library.

With the cost of airline tickets or gas for our vehicles, we need to make sure we’re prepared before setting off. We’ll spend time together to determine what you should do before you leave, what you should pack, and what arrangements you should make. Each visit will require slightly different preparation, so we will go over what’s necessary and what’s optional according to where you go, how long you will be gone, and what places you plan to visit.

Carolyn Barkely said in an article last February,
“First, remember that research is a cycle of work with several important steps: planning, collection, organization, analysis, reporting, and then planning once again. Each research trip builds upon the work accomplished in previous trips and sets the stage for work to be accomplished in future ones.” Bring your ideas to share, too. Let’s work together to plan a successful research trip.

Pamela Erickson teaches genealogy and creative/memoir writing to adults in San Jose, California and surrounding cities and has done so for over 20 years. She has helped her students research their families in the United States and around the world and leads a group of interested people to Salt Lake City, Utah every spring for a week of genealogy research at the LDS Family History Library.

Her personal family research started as a child and has taken her to the Southern states, Canada, and across the pond to Great Britain, Sweden, France, and the Czech Republic. Pamela has researched and written over 250 articles for newspapers, magazines, and educational books and has been employed as a journalist, technical writer, and editor. She has taught at genealogy conferences around California and at writing conferences in California and Florida.

 

 

 

Best Irish Genealogy Websites: Live Webinar

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Best Irish Genealogy Websites

Live Webinar

Format: Live Webinar Registration

YOU’LL LOVE THIS IF:

  • You have roots in Ireland but don’t know where to start your research
  • You’re looking for new websites to learn about your Irish ancestors
  • You want to know the differences and similarities between websites on Irish heritage

Date: Thursday, March. 28
Starting Time: 7pm EST/6pm CST/5pm MST/4pm PST
Presenter: Donna Moughty
Duration: 1 hour
Price: $49.99 ($39.99 early bird until 3/21)

Call it the luck of the Irish: Whether your ancestor was a farmer during the Potato Famine or immigrant who passed through Ellis Island, there’s a multitude of resources for finding information on your Ireland roots. In fact, so much is available that sometimes it’s difficult to navigate exactly which websites are the best route to the Pot o’ Gold you’re seeking. In this hour-long presentation, if you have family from the Emerald Isle, we’ll reveal the best websites for your research. Webinar attendees receive a free copy of Family Tree Magazine’s article “Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors”.

Plus: Get live advice on your real-life research quandaries! All attendees have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Best websites for tracing your roots back on the Emerald Isle
  • Top sites for finding your Irish family post-emigration to the US
  • Leading resources to further your research into Irish records

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Donna Moughty is a  Professional Genealogist and former Regional Manager for Apple Computer who has been conducting family research for over 20 years.  She teaches classes for beginners and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research and computer topics.  In addition, she provides consultations, research assistance and training.  She attended the National Institute for Genealogical Research at the National Archives, the Third and Fourth Irish Genealogical Congress in Ireland, the Salt Lake Institute – Irish Research and the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University where, in 2011, she was an Instructor for the Irish course.  She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.

REGISTRATION FOR THE LIVE SESSION INCLUDES:

  • Participation in the live presentation and Q&A session
  • Access to the webinar recording to view again as many times as you like
  • 25+ page PDF of the presentation slides for future reference
  • 6 pages of additional downloadable handouts: Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors.
  • Please note: You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation. All registrants receive an email two business days following the live webinar with instructions on how to download the recording and handouts.

 

More information: Click Here!

 

 

Mini-Meeting: March 20th

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Hey everyone!

The Wednesday, March 20th mini-meeting will focus on our recent research successes.
Also, we will try to help others with different ideas to help break down our fellow genealogists’ brick walls!

What is a Mini-Meeting?

A mini meeting a miniature meeting between general meetings. It’s a time for members to gather and talk, share, listen, learn, discuss, vent, and get to know one another better. We can accomplish all of this and get our genealogy fix, too!

Every GSSCC member is welcome.

All levels of experience wanted!

The mini meetings, of course, are not obligatory. Come and go as you please.

There is no single leader of this club. This is a club for everyone.

What do you want to learn about? What can you share? Do you know someone outside the club who is a genealogy aficionado? Do you want to know more about Ancestry.com or another genealogy program? Do you want to learn how to find helpful genealogy websites? These are all possible meeting topics! 

  • Mini meetings are held on the second floor of Bruno’s Barbecue Restaurant in Scotts Valley, next to the movie theater, behind Nob Hill.
  • The address is 230 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley; (831) 438-2227. Bruno’s is about a mile or two from the Mt. Hermon exit off Hwy 17.
  • The Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
  • Time: 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (The time and location may change if we decide to take a field trip.)
  • A fixed-priced lunch menu is offered (Delicious!) The price is $10.00. Your meal also includes water, iced tea, soda, coffee, or hot tea, and tip. (vegetarian options available). You can even open a personal bar tab if a glass of wine sounds like it’d hit the spot!
  • There is an elevator to the upper level, a patio, restroom, and a great view.
  • No idea is a silly one. Please, email me with any ideas you’d like to discuss in a small, informal group. The sky’s the limit! Let’s help each other become better genealogists and researchers. Let’s break down those stubborn brick walls!
Hope to see you there!

~ Jennifer Bovitz Cobas, Vice President and Programs & Publicity Coordinator

Roots Tech 2013: Salt Lake City (March 21-23)

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What is the Roots Tech Genealogy Conference? 

 

What’s Roots Tech Like? Check out this video! (Be sure to scroll down once you click on this link in order to see the video!)

 

RootsTech is an opportunity unlike any other to discover the latest family history tools and techniques, connect with experts to help you in your research, and be inspired in the pursuit of your ancestors. It is a conference with a unique emphasis on helping individuals learn and use the latest technology to get started or accelerate their efforts to find, organize, preserve, and share their family’s connections and history. Attendees will learn key skills from hands-on workshops and interactive presentations at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced level.

Who Should Attend?

The 3rd annual RootsTech conference has something for everyone, whether you are an avid genealogist, just beginning, or simply want to discover the latest technologies and solutions to better connect with your family. You will learn things like how and where to start with your family history and how to use the latest technology to solve real research problems. With world-class content from speakers all over the country, an exciting exhibitor hall, and great keynote speakers, RootsTech is being re-tooled for young and old alike, regardless of expertise. Come join the fun!

 

What You’ll Experience

If You Are New to Family History

Attend a new, full track of over 30 Getting Started classes and labs to:

  • Learn the basics of starting your family history
  • Discover 10 activities you can do to get started
  • Get hands-on experience with family history tools
  • Additional classes will be offered for LDS Church members where they can learn the importance of family history, the basics to build their family tree and all the great resources to begin

 

If You Want To Preserve and Share Family Stories

Discover the power of stories and storytelling with classes presented by Story@Home:

  • Preserve living memories
  • Research family stories and traditions
  • Unite families through shared stories

 

If You Are Experienced in Genealogy

Attend hands-on workshops and interactive classes to:

  • Expand your skills and knowledge to accelerate your research
  • Help influence the future of genealogy
  • Learn and share new ways to adapt technologies to genealogy
  • Help leading-edge technology providers better understand your needs
  • Participate in panels, product demos and many networking opportunities

 

If You Are a Developer

Attend the Developer Day on Friday wth sessions specifically designed to help you:

  • Explore the latest concepts and techniques to influence your app building, including:
    • Crowdsourcing
    • Genealogy Workflow
    • Javascript apps
    • FamilySearch Platform and API’s
  • Discover available resources and software development trends from industry leaders and pioneers
  • Understand and discuss difficult problems in a rapidly-growing market segment
  • Access sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors that provide tools and services to enable innovations

 

RootsTech 2012 by the Numbers

  • Over 4,000 registered attendees from 46 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces and 23 additional countries
  • Over 50,000 views of live streaming sessions
  • More than 90 key bloggers attended from Australia, Canada, Israel, the U.K. and the U.S.
  • 20 official sponsors: Archives.com, Microsoft, Ancestry.com, brightsolid, NGS, Dell, NEHGS, FGS, APG, BYU, Avanade, Lenovo, Lexmark, vmware, IIMI, Savvis, Sprint, HP, and ViaWest
  • 93% of attendees reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with the value of the information received at RootsTech, and 2013 promises to be even better!

 

Click Here to See the Schedule

For more information including classes and pricing: Roots Tech 2013 Homepage: Click Here