SCGS Jamboree 2012 - Saturday

At 8:30 Elyse Doerflinger gave a great presentation on organizing digital Stuff.  If you don't know her, she's dynamic, knowledgeable and young.  I'm sure that the attendees in the almost full room were very glad they found at seat in this 8:30 session.  Thank you Elyse. 

I had some good sessions and one I wish I had skipped, even though the room was full.  I know that sometimes timing of a presentation gets off, but I really feel that all of us deserved more than a 30 minute presentation in an hour time period. 

I feel my mind is overloaded.  I'm having trouble remembering the classes I took today, much less the past two days.  But I have notes and I bought some DVDs and CDs of many presentations that I was unable to attend.  It's going to take me weeks, I'm afraid, to really analyze and organize what I have heard/learned. 

If you haven't been to Jamboree, think about next year.  For all of us who live in the west, this is the premier genealogy conference.  It's close, across from the Burbank (Bob Hope) airport; it's reasonably priced; it's convenient (the hotel is next to the convention center); there are restaurant options with a block walking distance.  AND the SCGS volunteers put on a great, well-planned, well-organized conference that is FUN!!!!!!!

SCGS Jamboree - Friday

While Jamboree sessions requiring registration began at 1:30 today, the exhibit hall opened at noon and the morning choices including a tour, a research trip to the SCGS Library, roundtable discussions, and more.

I chose to attend four sessions all concerning Genealogy Society Development.  Wow!  So much information; SO MANY IDEAS.  Too bad I'm not 10 people (or perhaps I need to be 20).  Cath Madden Trindle's topic was Projects.  Then Schelly Talalay Darshashti spoke about Publicity.  George Morgan provided a long, long list of Affordable Member Benefits.  We finished with Josh Taylor's presentation about Creating a Website.  Most societies have web sites, but Josh gave us great ideas to improve our sites.  I wrote notes and more notes. 

If you are interested in these presentations, you can order video or audio copies of them by contacting Conference Resource at www.myconferenceresource.com or calling 866-813-2451.  No, I am receiving no compensation for this review.  However, if you want some exciting ideas to energize your society, you can get them through these presentations.

SCGS Jamboree Tech Trax

Preconference Day is over.  Five sessions.  I really thought four were great.  The most helpful to me was Barry Ewell's talk on photo editing.  Since I have had my digital camera for less than 2 years, and have never tried to edit anything except for cropping (a little) and pushing the button for auto editing, I was quite hesitant before he started.  I was afraid that it was all going to be over my head.  With his clear explanations and his offer to send even more info to us, I am excited to try some cleaning up of photos.  Thank you, Barry.

Today, this morning I'm going to the society track.  Then, Jamboree sessions begin after lunch.  I still haven't made all of my choices.  Some hours there are just too many great topics and speakers.  My suggestion to others in this position, check out which sessions are video or audio taped.  Yes, it's a little extra expense, but far less than attending another conference. AND, you can listen to these over and over and over.  I started that a year ago and I'm so glad I did. 

In fact, Dawn Thurston was a part of the Writers' conference yesterday and her four session were video taped and are on sale at a discount if you buy all 4.  Her syllabus pages were good, but her sessions were packed.  Some people were turned away because the room was full.  And there was lots of excited talk at lunch and later.  So, I think I'll get hers.  Now for other decisions.

One great day down;  3 more to go

Jamboree - Tech Track/Trax

I'm in Burbank at the Marriott.  Tomorrow morning, Thursday, will be my intro to technology and genealogy; more than a laptop and a digital camera.  (That's the extent of my tech stuff.)

If you are in the session, please let me know.  I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.  Of course, it appears that so many bloggers are really much more advanced than I am.  BUT, if you are a newbie in this area, I'd love to meet you.  Please say Hi. 

For ID purposes, I'll be wearing a long skirt and a little Indian jewelry. 

SCGS Jamboree - In THREE weeks

Three weeks from now I'll be at Jamboree in Burbank, California.  (It's sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society.)  I'm excited.  I know I'll see familiar and new faces.  It's not too late to register.  http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/Jamboree/2012jam-home.htm.  Yes, that's where you'll find all of the information.  Hope to see you!!!

SCGS 2012 Jamboree - Exhibit Hall FREE

SCGS is trying something new.  The FANTASTIC exhibit hall will be open FREE.  That's right!!  You don't have to be a registered attendee to enter.  (Although you'll miss out on some great information if you don't attend.  AND FUN!)  As mentioned in the blog http://genealogyjamboree.blogspot.com/, this way you can visit the exhibit hall if you volunteer and are not a registered attendee. 

Just think.  If you can only take a couple of hours away from family/friends in the Burbank area during that weekend, check out the hall.  OR, if you are flying to the Los Angeles area, or through one of the Los Angeles airports, book through the Burbank Airport.  Airport terminal to exhibit hall is probably less than a half mile. 

See you in Burbank in June.

SCGS Jamboree Plus 10

Ten days ago I attended my second Jamboree in Burbank.  For four days (because I attended the writing seminar on Thursday) I listened to amazing speakers and learned so much.  It’s going to take me weeks to process all of the new ideas and techniques.  There are many new techniques and suggestions to help break down those “brick walls”.  I also bought some DVDs and recordings of some sessions that I was unable to attend (a conflict with another great session), so hearing and watching those are going to take at least 15 hours of time.

I appreciate the time the speakers put in before they arrived in Burbank, with all of the effort getting their presentations ready.  The speakers were also available before and after presentations to answer questions.  However, this event would never have occurred if it wasn’t for Leo Myers and Paula Hinkel for cochairing this event and the army of great volunteers who worked for hundreds of hours to make Jamboree possible.  So, Thank you.    

I was so busy attending sessions that I only spent a few hours in the Vendor Hall.  But, oh, what hours!!! There was SOOO… much energy in there.  There was a huge variety, I believe over 70, different exhibitors.  And there were more genealogy books, new and used, than I could probably read in the next 10 years.  It was great.

Jamboree is usually held in June.  I hope to see you at the 2012 Jamboree.  Of course, hopefully we’ll have met through the blogs and we’ll just be seeing each other for the first time.

Again, thank you SCGS members and friends for all of your efforts in providing this great opportunity for the genealogy community.