August 1st Saturday Workshop: "RootsMagic Genealogy software"

The Saturday, August 1st Workshop at Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) is in the Community Room from 1 p.m. To 4 p.m.  

The workshop will be on “RootsMagic Genealogy Software,” led by Randy Seaver.  

RootsMagic is currently in Version 7.0.6.0, and can be used to build a family tree to include names, dates, places, relationships, notes, sources, media, and more.   RootsMagic can be used on both Windows and Mac computers.  See www.rootsmagic.com for more information about the program.  Please bring your laptop computer with RootsMagic installed if possible. 

RootsMagic can also interact with the FamilySearch Family Tree to add content to the Family Tree from RootsMagic or to add content to RootsMagic from Family Tree.  As of 31 July, users must have the latest version 7.0.6.0 in order to interact with the FamilySearch Family Tree.

This is a FREE program sponsored by the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (see www.cvgenealogy.org).  All are welcome.  

CVGS Program on Wednesday, 29 July 2015: "The History of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition"

  WEDNESDAY, July 29th GENERAL MEETING

from 12:30 p.m. To 2:30 p.m.

At Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) in Community Room

Gabe Selak on 

“The History of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition”

     Gabe Selak is the Public Programs Manager for the San Diego History Center.  Hailing from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Gabe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education-Social Sciences with a concentration in History from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  

     Gabe has nearly 20 years of museum education experience.  Previous to moving to San Diego, Gabe worked at two world renown historical museums: Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the English colonists known familiarly as the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indigenous Peoples whose land they settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts; and Historic New England, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities or SPNEA, headquartered in Boston.  

     Upon arriving in San Diego, Gabe was initially a monorail driver at the San Diego Zoo’s (then Wild Animal Park ) today’s Safari Park, before moving on to the Coronado Historical Association’s Coronado Museum of History and Art.  Today, Gabe continues his love of history and passion for teaching at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, where he produces a number of public programs.  In addition, he manages the interpretation program at the Center’s  historic museums including the Junipero Serra Museum and San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.

This is a FREE local history program of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society.  There will be a short business meeting before the speaker program.  All are welcome.  There will be snacks and drinks provided by the Society before and after the program. 

Research Group Review - 8 July 2015

The CVGS Research Group met on Wednesday, 8 July 2015 in the Chula Vista City Hall Building A Executive Board Room 103A.  There were 13 in attendance.

In the first hour, Randy discussed:

*  Uploading a family tree to MyHeritage, searching databases there, and receiving Record Matches for family tree profiles.

*  The BLM General Land Office website at https://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.  In addition to the Federal Land patents, they now have a map showing the Section, Township and Range location of the land.

*  Ancestry.com has a new LifeStory feature that adds Historical Insights to your Ancestry Member Tree profiles.

*  The BYU/FamilySearch Relative Finder website (www.RelativeFinder.org) uses the FamilySearch Family Tree to find famous cousins for you, such as Signers of the Declaration of Independence, or Famous Writers.

In the second hour, the attendees reviewed their recent genealogy research and questions:

*  Karen Y found a list of Martyland wills that included an entry for "Henry Hooper QS."  She wondered what "QS" was.  We Googled it and think it means "Queen's Service" or similar.  Karen also was searching for her LeCompte family in Maryland and found a web page that described Ghost Walks in Cambridge, Maryland that included her ancestor's house.

*  Karen S. found a 40 page list of house owners in her grandfathers intestate estate papers.  

*  Hazel's great-grandfather was a fine violinist, and she found records of his purchases of violins.

*  Diane G. has been corresponding with and helping find information for two people in Australia.  One of them is looking for her father who was a sailor from Puerto Rico.  The other person shares an English ancestor with Diane; Diane's relative went to Canada, while the other's relative went to Australia.  Diane found her grandfather in the 1921 census for Saskatchewan, and she is working on obtaining a death certificate.

*  Arlene read Linda Stufflebean's blog post about finding photograph images on the website of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, on DeadFred, TinEye and the Library of Congress.  

*  Sam's Harden family lived in virginia, Kentucky and Texas.  He found a Confederate general named Harden had a wife with the maiden name of Todd, and was related to Mary (Todd) Lincoln.  The general died in the Civil War.

*  Jane joined Ancestry.com using the AARP discount.  Through her Ancestry tree, she received a message from her cousin Jack, whose grandmother's sister was also Jane's grandfather's sister.  She will meet Jack in Troy, N.Y. in August, and he will be her tour guide.  Jack sent a connection to her father's cousin, Albert DelVecchio, and talked to him on the phone.  Albert said that Jane's grandfather was like "Sergeant Bilko" on TV. Jane has found lots of helpful information on the Troy Irish Genealogical Society (TIGS) website.

*  Shirley is the administrator for the Wright surname on Family Tree DNA.  She had a 4th cousin contact with Johnson Wright information.  However, there is no Y match for the contact, he may be adopted.

*  Diane D. found more information on the Michael family in online family trees that goes back to 1686.  Her cousin in New York will send more information.

The August 12th meeting of the CVGS Research Group will meet in the Conference Room of the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library at 12 noon.  

CVGS July 2015 Newsletter is Published

The July 2015 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published this week.  

Society Members can read it online, in a PDF format - use the "Members" link (roll over "Members," and click on "Newsletters") at www.CVGenealogy.org.  

Non-members can read CVGS Newsletters two months after publication, per Board of Directors direction (on www.CVgenealogy.org, roll over "News" and click on "Newsletters").

The Table of Contents lists:

page 1 -- July 29th General Meeting   
page 2 -- President’s Message  
page 2 -- Who's Due to Pay Dues? 
page 3 -- July 11th Saturday Workshop  
page 3 -- August 1st Saturday Workshop
page 3 -- Next Computer Group Meeting

page 3 -- Lemon Grove Research Group News
page 3 -- Save the Date: November 7th for Seminar
page 3 -- Chula Vista Library Auditorium Closed
page 3 -- ATwo CVGS Scholarships Awarded
page 4 - Dave McCracken Passed Away

page 4 -- CVGS at SCGS 2015 Genealogy Jamboree
page 5 -- Who Do You Think You Are? Returns on July 26th
page 5 -- Extreme Genes Podcasts
page 5 -- Family Tree Webinars - Quality Genealogy Presentations
page 6 -- June 10th Research Group Review 

page 7 -- June 27th Annual Picnic Review 
page 8 -- Submit Questions for August 26th Meeting
page 8 -- LDS Family Discovery Day on August 8th
page 9 -- CVGS Society Information 
page 9 -- San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 -- Genealogy Days in Chula Vista 

Family Discovery Day in Chula Vista/Bonita on Saturday 8 August 2015

A FREE Community Family History Fair will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 from, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Chula Vista Stake Center, 1390 East H Street, Chula Vista, California 91913.

Come join us for this FREE Family History Fair and discover who is in your family tree.  Whether you are an experienced genealogist or just wanting to get started, there are classes for you.  These seminars are appropriate for adults and youth ages 12 and up, no child care will be provided, so please make outside arrangements for younger children.  Light refreshments will be provided.  Invite your family and friends!

The Keynote Address will be given by Carlos Yturralde, the President of the Hispanic Heritage Project.

More information:

*  There will be an Open Genealogy Help Lab.

*  Several RootsTech classes will be broadcast in both English and Spanish.

*  There will be live instruction in English and Spanish on a number of topics.

*  There will be free Wireless wi-fi access - bring yhour own laptop or notebook computer.

For additional information, please contact Mark Donnelly at chulavistafamilyhsitory@gmail.com.

Saturday Workshop is 11 July 2015 at Bonita-Sunnyside Library in Bonita

The July Saturday Workshop is on 11 July 2015 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library in Bonita (4375 Bonita Road) in the Community Room.

The discussion will be led by Susi Pentico on "Brick Wall Solutions" with CVGS members helping members and guests in need of assistance.

CVGS Annual Picnic Review and Photos

NOTE:  Text by Karen Yarger, photos by Randy Seaver

In lieu of our monthly General Meeting in June, the Society held its annual picnic on Saturday, 27 June 2015.  There was no call to order nor Officer or Committee reports.

The picnic was held at the Bonita home of Gary and Wanda Brock, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Many thanks to our hosts who provided a large, shady  yard and great hospitality. Thanks also to Hospitality Co-Chairs Jo Ann Bonner and Ana Castro and to Program Chair Jane Strawn and to others who helped – including the Brock grandchildren. 

Guests brought a delicious variety of salads, side dishes and desserts.  Master Griller Gary served up the hot dogs, bratwursts  and hamburgers provided by CVGS. 

Picnic attendance was 37, including 9 guests. Four of the guests were engaging young men, houseguests of the Brocks, who are visiting from Texas as part of an educational/ entrepreneurial program run by Southwestern Advantage (http://www.southwesternadvantage.com/ ).

The theme of the day was “Immigrant Stories – Coming to America”.  Members brought information on their ancestors’ travel to the new world to put on a large posted timeline.  Randy Seaver’s  family’s 1620 arrival in Plymouth, MA was the earliest posted. Many other members shared their ancestors’ immigration stories.

A visit by Tacoma, the friendly carrot-loving horse, completed the day of fun, food and friends.

This was a wonderful time of feasting, sharing and enjoying CVGS members stories and company.