SCGS to Participate in Blue Star Museums this Summer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Heidi Ziegler
SCGS President
417 Irving Drive
Burbank, CA 91504
scgs@scgsgenealogy.com

SCGS TO PARTICIPATE IN BLUE STAR MUSEUMS

SCGS, one of more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

BURBANK, CA – May 23, 2011 – Today the Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Center (SCGS) announced its participation in Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America offering free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

Both active-duty and retired/veteran military personnel and their families have FREE access to the SCGS Library's 30,000+ item research collection and a number of genealogical on-line databases including Ancestry.com Library Edition.

SCGS will officially launch the program as part of the 42nd Annual SCGS Jamboree - a genealogy conference - starting June 9, 2011 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport. Upon pre-registering, military personnel and their families can participate in a number of the JamboFREE events to be held on Thursday and Friday such as a Kid's Genealogy Camp, beginning and advanced genealogy courses, and the Genealogy World Roundtables. The main conference sessions are available on a per fee basis.

“Blue Star Museums may be the program at the NEA of which I am proudest,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Blue Star Museums recognizes and thanks our military families for all they are doing for our country, and simultaneously begins young people on a path to becoming life-long museum goers.”

About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums runs from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 through to Labor Day, September 5, 2011. The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their immediate family members (military ID holder and five immediate family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index2011.php. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

Bargain Alert: Family Tree Magazine Webinar for California Records

We are passing this along on behalf of our friends at Family Tree Magazine. This is not one of the SCGS webinars but if you have California roots, it should be a really great session.

Family Tree Magazine is hosting a California Genealogy Crash Course webinar, led by Kenyatta Berry, this Saturday, May 21. We'd like to offer your organization's members a discount on this event!

Your members can sign up for just $35 -- a savings of 30% -- when they use the coupon code CALGEN11. Here is the link for registration:
http://www.shopfamilytree.com/product/california-genealogy-crash-course-find-your-golden-state-ancestors-live-webinar-w5977

The live session will be this Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. Pacific time, but registrants are able to access a recording of the session and all the supplemental materials if they can't attend live. I hope you will share this special discount with your members!

Sincerely,

Grace Dobush
Online Community Editor
Family Tree Magazine
4700 E. Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-531-2690 x11274

http://familytreemagazine.com

RootsMagic Interest Group: Publishing Your Family History

Family reunion time is coming soon. Our May Roots Magic program featured a short presentation by our own SCGS Sam Ward and Jay Holladay on Publishing Your Family History.

The duo covered the RootsMagic capability to combine multiple reports into a single document or family history book which you can share at your next family gathering. See page 207 of Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4 for more information.

RootsMagic Webinars - Seventeen RoorsMagic webinars are now available for download; see the RM webinar page at http://www.rootsmagic.com/Webinars/ for a complete list. The first of the series, "Getting Started with RootsMagic" (January 8) is an excellent introduction to the program. It is suggested that you download the webinar of interest and then you can view it, pause, go back, etc. at your leisure. Please let us know if you have any questions about accessing or using the webinars.

Next Month's Meeting - June 19, 2011

Future Meetings in 2011 - July 17, August 21, September 18

Latest Version of RM4 - Version 4.1.1.1 (17 Mar 2011). For more information see the RootsMagic blog (http://blog.rootsmagic.com/)

For further information about the meeting or the user group, contact Jay Holladay: jholladay at ca.rr.com

As always, your questions or suggestions for future meetings are welcome. At each meeting we try to cover topics of interest to both beginners and more experienced users.

SCGS Writers' Group: Voice and Point of View - May 22

We’re delighted that two of our members, Joyce Roberson and Barbara Randall were prize winners in the 2010 GENEii Contest. Congratulations to both!

We’ve been analyzing our tales, thinking about voice and point of view, i.e., who tells this tale? Whether you’re writing a short tale, a memoir, or a longer family history, a strong "pull-the-reader-in" beginning, a suspenseful middle and a powerful and satisfying ending are needed. A story needs a point. Find out what your point is.

Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (You Can Write Your Family History) writes: "Who thought a family history had to end when everyone in the story died? Or that it has to have a happy ending? You can conclude with a tragic event– tragedies stick with us longer, have more of an impact. Do you have a document you can quote from as an ending? Make documents work for the story, so they become powerful openings, middles, or endings... To write a compelling family history, craft your facts into a nonfiction narrative, using fiction techniques."

The SCGS Writers Group meets twice monthly. The next meeting is Sunday May 22 from 1-3 p.m. If you’d like to join us, the only requirement is membership in SCGS. Please e-mail me, jcs2007 at snowstarjean.com, to let me know you plan to attend.

(submitted on behalf of Jean Snow, SCGS Writer's Group)

There is still time to register for the 1-day SCGS Family History Writers Conference, June 9, 2011. For more information, please follow this link.

Area Event: Finding Your Roots in Mexico, 20 May

We post this on behalf of our friends at the San Fernando Valley Genealogical Society:

"Finding Your Roots in Mexico" will be the topic of speaker, John Schmal, at the San Fernando Valley Genealogical Society May 20, 2011 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Meeting Room at the Chatsworth Train Station,10038 Old Depot Road, Chatsworth CA 91311.

John Schmal is a genealogist and historian who specializes in tracing lineages in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Southwestern U.S.A. He is the coauthor of Mexican-American Genealogical Research: Following the Paper Trail to Mexico (Heritage Books, 2002) and has also coauthored several other books on Mexican-American themes.

Come and learn how to do genealogical research in Mexico. Join us for this interesting, exciting, and informative presentation. Visitors are welcome. Our programs are free, but donations are appreciated.

You can also find us at the following web site.

For more information call John Lindsay at (818)349-0878.

CA AB1053 Slated to Raise Cost of Certified Copies of Vital Records

From: Legislative Watch Chair, CSGA

Assemblyman Gordon has introduced AB1053 and the bill has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Hearing will held on May 18, Wednesday. See links below to contact information for author and members of the Committee on Appropriations.

This bill would raise the basic fee for certified copies of vital records by $9 from the current $3. In other words, $9 will be added to the current fee for vital records. Example: If a county currently charges $19 for a birth record, the new fee would be $28. This is an enormous increase!

For questions regarding various fee elements being charged for vital record copies, please reference the pie chart in the 2011 Jan-Feb CSGA newsletter. The basic fee is being increased and added to other surcharges and program fees. This increase would affect all vital records regardless of when the records were created.

It is unfortunate that the increase would also apply to records created prior to 1906. Today and tomorrow, you may wish to contact your Assemblyman, or Assemblyman Gordon, or members of the Committee to object to this proposed fee increase as 'unreasonable' before it goes to committee on Wednesday.

Assemblyman Gordon:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0021
Tel: (916) 319-2021
Fax: (916) 319-2121

Assemblyman Gordon:
District Office
5050 El Camino Real Suite 117
Los Altos, CA 94022
Tel: (650) 691-2121
Fax: (650) 691-2120

Full Text of AB1053: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1051-1100/ab_1053_bill_20110426_amended_asm_v98.html

Committee on Appropriation Members: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=43

Assembly Roster: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/MEMBERINFORMATION/memberdir_1.asp

Area Event: Pioneer Cemetery Memorial Day Observance

The historic San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Sylmar will host a free Memorial Day Observance for the public at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30, 2011.

Sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society for the 9th consecutive year, the event will include a U.S. flag-raising and 21-volley rifle salute and “Taps” performed by the All Veteran’s Burial Squad. Five Civil War veterans buried at the cemetery will be honored in a presentation about the Civil War, coinciding with the national 150th anniversary observance of the Civil War.

Visitors will also be given an update on the results of the recent ground penetrating radar survey conducted to find unmarked grave sites at the cemetery.

During the observance, the public will be invited to buy a memorial brick ($60) to help support the cemetery. A special brick will be installed in the cemetery entrance honoring Sylmar resident Marine Cpl. Julio Vargas, who perished in Afghanistan last July.

The old cemetery is located at 14451 Bledsoe St., Sylmar, at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Bledsoe. (Directions: From the 210 Freeway, exit at Polk Street and go south to Foothill. Turn right onto Foothill and drive a half mile to the stoplight at Bledsoe. Parking in rear of cemetery.)

For additional information, please call 818-365-5860 or visit www.sfvhs.com.

FREE Genetic Genealogy Webinar Series

These events are endorsed by the SCGS DNA Interest Group:

Relative Roots is pleased to announce our monthly FREE Genetic Genealogy for Beginners webinar (web-based seminar).

WHAT: Genetic Genealogy for Beginners: DNA is the "Gene" in Genealogy
DATE: Tuesday, May 3
TIME: Two live sessions!
1pm Eastern (5pm GMT) and 8pm Eastern (12am GMT)

What is Genetic Genealogy? What tests are available and which one should I order? How much does a Genetic Genealogy test cost? Do I need to be a geneticist to understand my results?

If you're a complete beginner to Genetic Genealogy and want the answers to these questions and more, this webinar is for you! Attendees will learn about the history of genetic genealogy, be introduced to DNA basics and inheritance paths, learn about the different types of DNA tests available for genealogy, and learn about resources that will help you make the most of your Genetic Genealogy experience. Focus will be on the products offered by Family Tree DNA.

SPECIAL OFFER FROM FAMILY TREE DNA!
Attendees of Relative Roots genetic genealogy webinars receive an exclusive discount on select tests offered by Family Tree DNA. Full details about the discount are provided at the end of each live webinar.

REGISTRATION
http://www.relativeroots.net/webinars/

ON-DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
Starting this month, recordings of Relative Roots webinars will now be available for viewing on-demand to accommodate those who can't attend the live sessions. Recordings will be available within 24 hours after each live webinar. There are two ways to access a recording: 1) sign up for the live webinar, then within 24 hours after the webinar ends, you will receive an email containing the link to the recording; or 2) visit the Relative Roots website the day after the live webinar and you'll be able to sign up for the recording there.

LOOKING FOR MORE?
We also have several intermediate-level webinars scheduled:

Tuesday, May 17
Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 1: Y-DNA

Thursday, May 19
Starting and Managing a Family Tree DNA Project

Tuesday, May 24
Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 2: mtDNA

Tuesday, May 31
Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 3: Family Finder

For more details about these webinars and to register, please visit our website at http://www.relativeroots.net/webinars/

FUTURE WEBINAR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Learn about Relative Roots webinars as soon as they're scheduled! Join our email announcements list, follow us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter.

Email List - http://www.relativeroots.net/webinars/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RelativeRoots
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/RelativeRoots

Bargain Alert: Win a Netbook or a Special Legacy Family Tree Software/Webinar Bundle

Legacy Family Tree from Millennia Corporation announces a contest at its new Facebook page where contestants could win one of five special Legacy Family Tree software/webinar bundles and even a new netbook computer!

Contest Rules

Between May 2 and May 6, 2011, simply visit the new Legacy Family Tree page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree and click the Like button. That’s it! And if you’ve already clicked the Like button, you’re already entered in the contest!

By liking the Legacy Family Tree page, you’ll automatically be entered in the contest. Winners will be drawn on May 7, 2011 from all those Facebook visitors who have hit the Like button for the Legacy Family Tree page. Winners will be notified via email or Facebook on Monday, May 9, 2011 and must claim their prize no later than Friday, May 13, 2011. See the Legacy Family Tree blog for complete contest rules.

Legacy Family Tree Expands Its Social Media Presence

You can now get the latest news about Legacy Family Tree software as well as its cutting-edge series of genealogy webinars, by following the Legacy Family Tree Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree. In addition, check out the Legacy Family Tree blog at http://news.legacyfamilytree.com for additional news.