Jamboree 2012 ~ Friday

Back from my fourth year at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree! I didn't take many photos this time, although should have taken some when everyone was tasting chocolate wine Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak shared with a few of us. The looks on the bloggers faces when they tasted it for the first time was priceless! Let's just say, more would be a good thing.


As with last year, it seemed my favorite day was Sunday. I learned from each class I took. I always want and hope to learn something. For the most part I tried to take classes from speakers I had never heard present before, although there were a couple I have heard at past Jamborees or other conferences. 


Here are classes I took on Friday, all were new to me speakers ~


Energize your Society - Cath Madden Trindle
Publicity is Societies Best Friend - Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Family Tree Maker for Mac 2 - AC Ivory
Lost in the Unknown - Steve Luxemberg
Wild Bill and the Three Legged Man and Grandma - Researching Infamous Ancestors - Genea Philibert-Ortega


Because I am on the board for my local society I especially felt I should take a class or two that included information on societies. I met Cath Madden Trindle, finally, although I didn't get to talk with her for very long. I enjoyed the sessions and presentations and was happy to see a couple other board members attended. Between the three of us, hopefully we learned something to help advance our society and/or make it better.


I was excited to take any Mac class that was available. Since I bought my Mac I really haven't played around with it enough and feel I have so much more to learn! I purchased Family Tree Maker program for Mac and had previously entered one full line. It has been a long time since I have had time to work on my own personal genealogy though. Jamboree definitely made me realize how much I miss it. I NEED to make some time somewhere to do a little at least a couple times a week, even if it is only entering in my program. Surprisingly, I had been doing very well with my Mac and Family Tree Maker. There wasn't anything I really learned in this class except what my husband tells me, I do not give myself enough credit. Sometimes this is true. I know AC Ivory is a tech and Mac geek (he even says so), so I tried to pull anything I could from him, hoping to learn something new with my Mac. But more on that later.


Steve Luxemberg, in case you are unaware, is the author of Annie's Ghosts. I have not read the book, but after his class I found it in the vendor hall and bought it. He later signed it for me. I enjoyed Steve's talk, his style and ability to engage me in his presentation. I had heard many people who were very thrilled with this book, and after the presentation, I can only imagine how wonderful the book really is. A couple people have shared some amazing stories with me about what happened with them after they read the book. Soon as I can (I haven't even unpacked yet) I will be hitting up the bathroom again (thanks Randy) to read a few pages here and there and get a start on Annie's Ghosts.


I do not have infamous ancestors, but was intrigued by Genea's title of her class. It was very interesting and she did a great presentation. It never hurts to learn about things you don't have in your genealogy, you never know when that specific occasion may arise!


After dinner a few of us were fortunate to have Steve Luxemberg sit and chat with us. We had a wonderful conversation and I am again impressed. 


I saw a few of the American Idol top ten that evening, but not many. Of course, I saw many bloggers and visited with a few of them. Next thing I knew, it was time to call it a night.


Have you read Annie's Ghosts? Did you Love it? How did it make you feel? I would love to hear your feelings about the book!


Thanks for stopping by! 


Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts! 




 Copyright © 2012 By Cheryl Palmer All Rights Reserved