Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Kathryn Doyle (5/6/2008)

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree
Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel
and Convention Center
Burbank, California
June 27-28-29, 2008

CGS President Jane Lindsey is attending this year’s 39th Annual SCGS Jamboree with a small contingent from the Bay Area. The society has reserved a table in the Exhibit Hall next to the California State Genealogical Alliance.

This year’s theme is “Solve Your Family History Puzzle.” CGS member, past-president of the Southern California Genealogical Society and Co-Chair of this year’s Jamboree, Paula Hinkel, is the author of the Jamboree blog which features everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know about the schedule, events and speakers.

CGS will host a Membership Coffee at the Jamboree on Friday morning, June 27, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Members who live in the Los Angeles area are invited to join CGS President Jane Lindsey for an update on society events. Guests are welcome. CGS members, please let us know if you will be attending.

Acknowledging Our Volunteers

by Kathryn Doyle (5/2/2008)

A message from our president, Jane Lindsey:

During this National Volunteer Week, I would like to celebrate the many volunteers we have at the California Genealogical Society and Library.

Being an all-volunteer organization, our members run the library, organize a variety of indexing projects, troubleshoot computer issues and handle mail, book orders, research requests and membership renewals. Volunteers also work from home: writing, editing, proofing and formatting our many publications; coordinating member programs and events; managing our Web sites and so much more.
Our volunteers come from many walks of life and their experience brings an added dimension to our society. Members with the financial know-how keep our books and safeguard our investments. An engineer who solved a problem with our new shelving saved us hundreds of dollars!

I would also like to thank many of our guest speakers who come and speak without charge to our society, and to acknowledge society members who generously share their expertise through lectures and workshops.
In this age of “pajama research” when many new genealogists think “everything is online,” the genealogy society is sometimes regarded as passé. But it is the personal connections we make as volunteers that is the most rewarding part of belonging to a society.
The California Genealogical Society and Library has no paid staff. Our volunteers ARE our society. I so appreciate the willingness of members who not only DO the necessary jobs needed to effectively run CGS but who also freely share their genealogical expertise. Thanks to all of the members of the California Genealogical Society – we wouldn’t be as strong as we are without you!
–Jane Lindsey

National Volunteer Week

by Kathryn Doyle (5/2/2008)

I couldn’t let this week go by without acknowledging the fantastic work of the many volunteers at the California Genealogical Society and Library.

That said, please be assured that this is one place where recognition is not a once-a-year occurrence.

There were many reasons why I started this blog for the society, and many goals I hope to achieve with it. I never doubted that there was plenty of content to share – beyond recording history or announcing society meetings and events – because of the richness and depth of the members themselves.

I hope you have enjoyed hearing about the people who are the California Genealogical Society. As I write about them you will find their names under “Labels” on the side bar to the right. Thanks, member-volunteers, for letting me share your contributions with the world. There are many more stories to tell.