Why I attend the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree

Last week, I attended the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, a genealogy conference in Burbank, California. This conference features nationally known speakers and a Genetic Genealogy Conference on the day prior to the Jamboree. 

My second-cousin-once-removed lives in California. We attend the conference together and combine it with a research trip.  This is was my 6th Southern California Genealogy Jamboree and on the day following the conference, we drove to San Francisco to meet distant cousins who graciously shared their family photos and documents. 

My Genealogy Pinterest Board

For me, the conference is a wonderful educational experience. I always learn something new. There were tips to improve the use of some of my favorite subscription and cloud services. I learned how to take better photos with my iPhone and a session about Fold3 inspired me to create family Pinterest boards. Click on the names to see my Pinterest Boards for Criswell, Quinn, Hairston, Giddens, and Bryan families. I will be adding to these as I research.

I know that I need to increase my analysis of my DNA so went to as many DNA sessions as possible.  

I am very interested in cluster methodology - researching friends, neighbors, and acquaintances of ancestors to find more family information. Karen Mauer Jones' Cluster Methodology: A Case Study in Upstate New York is a perfect example for me to follow as I research my southern Hairston family. 

A Woodmen Circle in Seymour, Texas

Secret Societies: Finding Your Ancestors in Fraternal Organizations was excellent. Michael Strauss of Utah, but formerly of my hometown of Virginia Beach, talked about the Masons, Woodmen of the World, The Grange, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and many more. I find these organizations throughout my family's histories so this was extremely interesting.

I've seen pros and cons of the conference by other bloggers. I have only positive things to say. If I could make a change, it would only be to shorten the trip from Virginia to California.  

Thank you to all of those volunteer organizers who made this such a wonderful learning experience!

BTW - Don't want to make the trip? For just $35 a year, you can join the Southern California Genealogy Society, see many archived conference sessions and other webinars, AND have free 24/7 access to World Vital Records and My Heritage (Library Edition). 

Diana

© 2016

Sources

Draw On Maps and Make Them Easily.. Web. 11 Jun. 2016. <http://www.scribblemaps.com/>.

Sweet Clip Art - Cute Free Clip Art and Coloring Pages. Web. 11 Jun. 2016. <http://sweetclipart.com/>.