Steve’s Report on Breaking Down Brick Walls at CGS

by Kathryn Doyle (7/18/2008)

If you missed the “Breaking Down Brick Walls” panel discussion last Saturday, July 12, 2008, be sure to read Steve Danko’s report at Steve’s Genealogy Blog.

Steve posted a great photo of panelists Jane Hufft, Nancy Peterson and Lavinia Schwarz who presented their three techniques for dissolving research barriers: Review, Reach Out, and Reframe.

Be sure to leave a comment and tell Steve how much you appreciate his accounts of the CGS meetings and events he attends – bloggers love feedback.

If you haven’t attended a membership meeting in awhile, plan to attend the next meeting on Saturday, September 13, 2008, when genealogist and author Ron Arons will present Best Bet Web Sites for Genealogical Research.

Gen-Blogging in San Francisco This Sunday

by Kathryn Doyle (7/17/2008)

Bay Area genealogists have been given an incredible last-minute opportunity. Jeremy Frankel, CGS member and president of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society, just announced that Schelly Talalay Dardashti has agreed to present Gen-blogging: How to Do Effective Blogging Focusing on Genealogy this Sunday, July 20, 2008. Their scheduled speaker, Carol Baird, had to cancel due to a family emergency.

I had the opportunity to hear Schelly’s talk at Jamboree and it is a treat to hear one of the pioneers in the field.

Knowledge and resources in the field of genealogy are increasing at such a fast rate that it is difficult to read everything of interest and distill it down to usable information. That’s where the gen-bloggers come in. They are the eccentric ones who spend days and nights searching myriad sources, reading, distilling, writing and supplying information to the genealogy community. Some are generalists, others specialists, but all are colleagues, and do work together on major issues.

Schelly Talaly Dardashti is a renowned genealogist, journalist, blogger, online instructor and international speaker. A native New Yorker based in Tel Aviv, she has tracked her family history through Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Spain, Iran and other countries. Her articles about genealogy have been widely published in the Jewish media. Her blog, Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog, was recently named one of Family Tree Magazine’s top 101 genealogy sites for 2008.

Time and Place:
Jewish Community High School
1835 Ellis Street
San Francisco, California
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Lecture begins promply at 1:00. Admission free.
Free parking: enter parking garage from Pierce Street.

The San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society (SFBAJGS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, preservation and distribution of Jewish genealogical knowledge and material, and the sharing of techniques and tools with others who may be searching their Jewish Roots. The SFBAJGS functions through the voluntary efforts of its members, all of whom are encouraged to participate. The Society is governed by a Board of Directors, according to a set of published bylaws. The SFBAJGS is a member of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS).

The “Person-Coming-the-Longest-Distance” Prize Goes to…

by Kathryn Doyle (7/16/2008)

Last week the California Genealogical Society was honored to host Nora Keohane Hickey who came all the way from Cork, Ireland for A Day of Irish Information.

The event, which attracted members and guests from all over the Bay Area, included one other person who had to board an airplane to participate – member Jackie Carroll of Winter Springs, Florida.

Jackie traveled 2900 miles to hear Nora’s lectures and to meet with her for a private consultation. Jackie was hoping that Nora could help her break down a brick wall – Hugh MILLING of Drumbo, County Down who settled in North Carolina and was a captain in the Revolutionary War.

Keep us posted on your search, Jackie. We love hearing from (and meeting!) our out-of-state members.