Member Activities
Visit the Library: We hope you will visit the CGS library soon to attend a class, access the library resources, or attend a membership meeting. Directions and Parking provide a map of downtown Oakland to help you plan your trip either by car or BART. You can also bring the parking permit that is provided in the New Member Packet. Th pass is good for free parking on Saturdays at the lot adjacent to the library building.
Volunteer at CGS: CGS is a totally volunteer-run organization. Besides keeping the organization running, our volunteers help each other meet their genealogical goals. Volunteer Opportunities will help you learn more about volunteering at CGS.
Membership Meetings: The Society holds membership meetings in January, April, July and October. In general, the meetings include a short update about the Society activities and then a guest speaker. The meeting is free for members and registration is not required. Non-members are welcome to attend, but they need to pay the $5 fee patron fee for access to the library. These meetings are announced in the eNews and are listed on the Calendar of Events.
Get to Know the CGS Board: The CGS officers and board members are all volunteers that share your interest in genealogy. At the annual meeting in January, the board provides information to the members on the success of the prior year.
Discounts: Members enjoy discounted prices for Society publications and events.
Classes
Introduction to Genealogy Classes: CGS offers an Introduction to Genealogy Class on the 1st Saturday of each month to help members and visitors get started with their genealogy. The library is free to all on this Saturday so it is a good day to bring a friend, attend a class, and do a little research. Check the Calendar of Events to verify the schedule before making your plans.
Beginning & Intermediate Genealogy Classes: CGS partners with the Oakland Regional Family History Center to teach multi-week genealogy classes. If you are just getting started with your genealogy research or want to enhance your genealogy skills, attending these classes is a great way to learn genealogy basics. Check the Calendar of Events to see what is scheduled. Class sizes are limited so registration is required. Online registration is available from our Eventbrite page; links to individual classes are often on the Home page, on the Calendar of Events, on the blog, and in the monthly eNews newsletter.
Classes: CGS offers classes on several Saturdays a month. The classes are often free to members (typically $20-40 for non-members). The class topics range from ethnic research to getting the most from subscription web sites, to writing your family history. Visit the Calendar of Events to see what is scheduled for the next few months. Online registration is can be accessed from the Calendar of Events.
Special Events
Special Events: Each year CGS holds several all-day events with guest speakers. These have included such topics as Irish genealogy, New England research, and using Google for genealogical research. Members generally have the opportunity to attend these events at discounted prices. These events are announced in the eNews and on the website home page (What’s Happening).
Research Trips
See Research section for information on our Genealogical Research Trips.