Blog truancy

by Kathryn Doyle (5/22/2008)

I try to always listen to my superiors so when Jane said that I should explain my absence I decided to put aside my usual practice of keeping my various volunteer activities separate.

Last weekend was the 36th annual Oakland Greek Festival sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension.

We had three glorious sun-filled days of food, music, food, dance, food, shopping, and more food, including delectable pastries baked with love and the BEST lamb sandwich money can buy.

The event was the culmination of months of planning by the Festival Executive Committee (on which I sit) and weeks of hard-work by multitudes of church volunteers. You can read Angela Hill’s report for the Contra Costa Times for a full overview of the event.

In case you missed Steve Morse…

by Kathryn Doyle (5/12/2008)

Jeremy Frankel, Steve Harris, Ron Arons and Steve Morse
Photograph courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, 10 May 2008

If you weren’t able to attend the May membership meeting last Saturday, May 10, 2008, with Steve Morse, read the full report by Steve Danko at his blog: Steve Morse at the California Genealogical Society. Danko gives a detailed synopsis of Morse’s two lectures: The Jewish Calendar Demystified and What Color Ellis Island Search Form Should I Use?

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’re new to the blogosphere, Steve Danko is a CGS member and author of Steve’s Genealogy Blog. Steve will be one of the speakers at the upcoming Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree, June 27-29, 2008.

Workshop: Scandinavian Research – June 14, 2008

by Kathryn Doyle (5/9/2008)

When: Saturday, June 14, 2008, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland

The second in a series of CGS Research Workshops will focus on ancestors from Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Please join our specialists: Laura Spurrier (Danish), Pat Smith (Swedish) and Gloria Hanson (Norwegian) as they examine Scandinavian research. Topics will include: border changes, census, church books and immigration information – where immigrants settled in the U.S. – and more. Handouts will be provided.

The workshop day will include a panel discussion, lunch break and informal work session so attendees can share ideas, do some computer research and consult one-on-one with Gloria, Pat and Laura. Members are encouraged to bring laptop computers; the six CGS computers may not all be available for the program.

Reservations are required; no walk-ins will be permitted. The workshop is free for CGS members but is limited to 15 people. There will be a sign-up fee of $10 for non-members. (The fee can be applied toward membership on the day of the workshop.) There is a sign-up sheet at the CGS Library desk. Please call (510) 663-1358 to reserve a space.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn new strategies and meet other members with similar research interests.