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To register or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.

Sat., Feb. 24, 11 AM: Our featured presentation this month is an online class by Lisa Gorrell, CG: “How to Leave Your Genealogy: Don’t Let It Get Thrown Away!”  Lisa has put a lot of thought and energy into preserving her more than 30 years’ worth of genealogy research for future generations. In this class, she will discuss organization and other tips to maintain your research and make it easy for your heirs to deal with.

Our free “Tips & Talk” series at the Oakland FamilySearch Center is now available both in person and via Zoom! Please pre-register. We have a great lineup of speakers this month; please visit this link for more details about each talk.

Wed., Feb. 7, 11:00 am: “Beginning French Canadian Research” with Jane Lindsey.

Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 pm: “Finding People of Color in Census Records and Antebellum Records” with Craig Manson.

Tuesday, February 13, 11:00 am: “How-to Series: Ancestry Card Catalog and RecordSeek” with Annie Dearden.

Wednesday, February 14, 11:00 am: “Introduction to A-Files and C-Files” with Linda Okazaki. NOTE: This presentation is in-person only and will not be recorded.

Wednesday, February 14, 6:30 pm: “Hidden Ancestors in the Shadow of One Drop and Jim Crow” with Lavinia Schwarz.

Wednesday, February 21, 11:00 am: “Using Mexican Records on FamilySearch and Ancestry.com” with Robert and Portia NeVille.

Wednesday, February 21, 6:30 pm: “Improbable Family Ties: Connections Recovered from Antebellum Nelson and Fluvanna Counties of Virginia, 1815-1862” with Pat Jenkins and Marty Jessup.

Tuesday, February 27, 11:00 am: “How to Series: The FamilyHistory Guide (thefhguide.com)” with Janet and Cliff Ross.

The following Special Interest Groups meet this month:

• Sat., Feb. 17,10 am: San Francisco SIG
• Sat., Feb. 17, 1 pm: Family Tree Maker SIG
• Sat., Feb. 24, 10 am: Eastern European SIG
• Mon., Feb. 26, 7 pm: DNA Skills SIG
• Wed., Feb. 28, 6:30 pm: Roots Magic SIG

Library hours: Thursday and Friday 10 AM-2 PM and Saturday 10 AM-4 PM

Helpful Links
All events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar: Google calendar

Lisa Gorell and Jeff Vaillant at a pre-COVID Annual Meeting. No genealogists were harmed in the taking of this photo.

To register or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.

Saturday, Jan. 13, 10 AM-noon: Annual Membership Meeting and Library Open House. We hope you will join us, either in person or via Zoom, for this annual get-together! A short business meeting includes presentation of the Annual Report and voting on nominees to the CGS Board. Then we’ll have a potluck (please bring food to share), socializing, and the Open House with tours of the library, demonstrations of the new hi-res scanner, Special Interest Group (SIG) representatives and much more. Please register to let us know you’ll be there, whether in person or virtually!

Roger Prince

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 11 AM: “How-to Series: Scotland’s People (“Tips & Talk” at the Oakland FamilySearch Center). Roger Prince gives an introduction to Scotland’s People, the official government website for all public Scottish people-related records. While the original records can only be accessed for a fee, this site has excellent indexes with a lot of useful information. Roger will cover strategies for getting the most information you can from the indexes and for minimizing the risk that you will pay for the wrong record. Includes a live demo and a handout. Pre-register to attend in person or via Zoom.

The following Special Interest Group meets this week:

Wed., Jan. 10, 6:30 PM: Members’ Roundtable. A forum for asking questions about one another’s genealogical research, to learn from others, share research successes, and enjoy a collegial group of individuals interested in learning together. Particularly for new and remote members, this is an opportunity to meet and feel part of the CGS community. Led by Lisa Gorrell and Jacqueline Henderson.

Library hours: Thursday and Friday 10 AM-2 PM and Saturday 10 AM-4 PM

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar: Google calendar

Here’s wishing all our friends and members a very happy, healthy, and genealogy-filled 2024!

Our calendar is chock-full of educational and social events this month! Take a look:

To register or for more information, click the link for each event. All times are Pacific Time.

Saturday, January 13, 10 AM-noon: Annual Membership Meeting and Library Open House. We hope you will join us, either in person or via Zoom, for this annual get-together. A short business meeting is followed by potluck and socializing. Open House will feature tours of the library, demos, representatives from our special interest groups and much more. Please register to let us know you’re coming!

Also:

Sat., Jan. 6, 10 AM: Intro to Genealogy. A series of 4 rotating classes covering the basics of genealogical research. This month: “Genealogy Basics.” Free. Via Zoom.

Sat., Jan. 20, 10 AM-2 PM: Book Repair Workshop. The incomparable Bill O’Neil teaches the basic techniques for book repair while leading participants in the construction of a pamphlet to take home. Space is limited.

Wed., Jan. 31, 11 AM-2 PM: CGS Members Field Trip to the Oakland FamilySearch Center. Jane Lindsey gives a brief tour of this wonderful genealogical center, and then participants can get down to exploring the many resources available. Free to CGS members.

Weekly (times vary): Tips & Talk series at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. We have a terrific lineup of interesting speakers this year; see more details on the event page. January schedule:

• Wed., Jan. 3, 11:00 AM: “Getting the most from a visit to the Oakland FamilySearch Center” with Jane Lindsey.
• Wed., Jan. 3, 6:30 PM: “Gearing up for 2024: Use Free Subscriptions and Records at OFSC” with Jane Lindsey.
• Tues., Jan. 9, 11 AM: “How-To Series: Scotland’s People” with Roger Prince.
• Wed., Jan. 17, 11 AM: “Adding Historical information to Enhance and Understand Your Family Genealogy” with Esta Weaver.
• Wed., Jan 17, 6:30 PM: “The 10 Million Names Project” with Evan Wilson.
• OFSC is closed the week of January 22.
• Tue., Jan 30, 11 AM: “How-To Series: Searching Images on FamilySearch” with Laurie Wolf.
• Wed., Jan. 31, 11 AM: “Introduction to 20^th Century Immigration.” with Linda Okazaki.

CGS Special Interest Groups meeting in January:

Wed., Jan. 10, 6:30 PM: Members’ Roundtable. Particularly for new and remote members, this is an opportunity to meet and feel part of the CGS community while discussing your interests and research.

Fri., Jan. 19, 10:30 AM: Mayflower Descendants SIG. Focus on Mayflower ancestry and discussion of ongoing research.

Sat., Jan. 20, 10 AM: San Francisco SIG. A group for researching San Francisco ancestors, with discussion of where to look for records both pre and post the 1906 earthquake.

Sat., Jan. 20, 1 PM: Family Tree Maker SIG. Presentation, discussion, and troubleshooting for users of the popular genealogy software.

Mon., Jan. 22, 7 PM: Advanced DNA SIG. Members further their understanding of DNA techniques, review new developments in DNA testing and tools, and discuss members’ research problems and case studies.

Wed., Jan. 24, 6:30 PM: RootsMagic Special Interest Group. Discussion of helpful hints for users of this popular genealogy platform.

Library hours: Thursday and Friday 10 AM-2 PM and Saturday 10 AM-4 PM

Helpful Links:
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar: Google calendar