March 26th Program Meeting - Carol Baird on "Postcard Collections and Genealogy"

WEDNESDAY, March 26th

 PROGRAM MEETING

from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

At Chula Vista Civic Center Library Auditorium (365 F Street)

Carol Baird: “Postcards Collections and Genealogy”

 Why study postcard collections for genealogical research? It is one of the most popular collecting hobbies since it started in the 1870s. Your ancestors may have sent postcards to their relatives showing their home, town, vacation, or passenger ship. In this talk, Carol will talk about the history of postcards, what you can learn from postcards, and how you can use postcards in your genealogical research.

 Carol Davidson Baird is the only child of German survivors of the Holocaust and has researched her family for 42 years. She is past president of San Diego JGS and North San Diego County Genealogical Society as well as past editor for both society newsletters and has served on the Board of Directors of NSDCGS since 1999. She is past co-editor of Stammbaum and wrote the IAJGS manual on how to start a JGS in your hometown. She writes for journals and newsletters and lectures on German Jewish and Holocaust genealogy throughout California. Carol's many travels to Europe with her family included visits to archives, town halls and concentration camps. Carol has an archive room in her home.

This meeting is open to all persons, and is free of charge to attend.  There will be a short society business meeting before the program speaker.  Snacks are provided by CVGS volunteers before and after the meeting. 

CVGS Newsletter for March 2014

The February 2014 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published last week.  You can read it online, in a PDF format - use the Newsletter link at www.CVGenealogy.org.

The Table of Contents lists:

page 1 - March 26th Program Meeting 
page 2 - President’s Message
page 2 - April 5th Workshop
page 3 - Spring Seminar News
page 4 - Scholarship Fund Basket 

page 5 - Research Group Review
page 6 - Next Computer Group Meeting
page 6 - April 23rd Genealogy Research Trip
page 6 - Hospitality Committee Needs You!
page 6 - Escondido Family History Fair Review

page 7 - February 26th Program Review
page 7 - Watch RootsTech Recorded Sessions
page 8 - Lemon Grove Research Group News
page 8 - More Research Tips for Beginning Genealogists
page 9 - CVGS Society Information 

page 9 - San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 - Genealogy Days in Chula Vista

CVGS Saturday Workshop on Saturday, 8 March is on Kentucky Research

The March Saturday Workshop is on 8 March at 12:30 p.m. at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library in Bonita, California (4375 Bonita Road, turn left at Billy Casper Way).  

Susi Pentico will lead a discussion about Kentucky Research.  Bring your Kentucky research problems and questions, and share what you know about researching in this state.

February Program Review - Ceasar Castro's "California in the Mexican-American War"

The 26 February program presentation for the Chula Vista Genealogical Society was "California and the Mexican War (1846-1850) from a Genealogical Point of View" by CVGS member Ceasar Castro.

Ceasar noted that historians want to highlight leaders and events, but genealogists want to find information about individuals - not only the leaders, but the soldiers and residents also.

In this talk, Ceasar provided a detailed history timeline of the events that led up to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), not only in California but also in the United States and in Mexico.  

California was explored in the 16th century by Cortez, Cabrillo and others, but it wasn't until 1697 when Spain granted permission to the Jesuits to settle Baja California in Loreto, and built a series of missions.  Alta California was not settled until Jose de Galvez and Father Junipero Serra arrived in and built a mission in San Diego in 1769.  More missions and presidios were built up and down the coast until the 1820s, when Mexico declared independence from Spain.  The Spanish and Mexican governments conferred large land grants, called ranchos, on retired soldiers and their friends after independence. 

The first U.S. citizen to settle in California was Thomas Larkin in Monterey in 1832 as a consul.  Others followed in small groups, especially in northern California around the San Francisco Bay and along the California Trail through Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada.  

John Fremont was tasked by the U.S. government to come overland in June 1845 to survey western North America, and he arrived at Sutter's Fort in the Valley and in Monterey and met Larkin.  The U.S. Navy sailed along the coast and occasionally had conflicts in the ports.  The catalyst for the Mexican-American War was probably statehood granted Texas in 1845, and increasing conflicts with Mexico.  War was declared by Congress and President Polk in May 1846.  Orders were given to capture California and small battles occurred in Los Angeles, Monterey, Sonoma, Vallejo and other settlements between U.S. settlers, soldiers and sailors and the Mexican soldiers and settlers.  

U.S. soldiers under General Stephen Kearny, the 500-strong Mormon Battalion, and a group of New York Volunteers, headed to California overland and by ship around the Horn.  Sonoma, Monterey and Yerba Buena (San Francisco) were captured by U.S. forces already in California, and Los Angeles was contested for months.  The Bear Flag Republic was declared in Sonoma in June 1846.  Los Angeles was recaptured by the Mexicans and Californios in September 1846. 

Kearny's troops arrived in early December 1846 in eastern San Diego county, and found the Mexican and Californio defenders who had been alerted by residents on a nearby rancho.  The Battle of San Pasqual ensued and Ceasar described it in significant detail.  Both sides eventually claimed victory, but the U.S. side had more casualties.  

Throughout the discussion, Ceasar presented lists of the known U.S. participants in the different movements and skirmishes.  His handout provided a bibliography of historical books that discussed the military, political and social history of California in the 1840s.

Ceasar will finish the history and have more information about California as it approached statehood in 1850 in a subsequent presentation in September.

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - March 2014

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for March 2014 include:

**  Saturday, 8 March, 12 noon to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Saturday Workshop:  Susi Pentico will lead a discussion on "Kentucky Research."

** Wednesday 12 March, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group WILL NOT MEET this month due to library closure during the week of March 10 to 16.

** Wednesday, 19 March, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Gary Brock and Shirley Becker. Bring your laptops to sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.

** Wednesday, 26 March, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Program Meeting in the Auditorium.  Carol Baird will present "Postcards for Genealogy"  Refreshments before and after the meeting.

**  Wednesdays, 5, 19 and 26 March, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street)-- Research Assistance in the Family Research area.  John Finch will help you with your research problems.  Bring your laptop if you want to do online research.

The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).

The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - turn north on Billy Casper Way, just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.

We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.  All CVGS events are FREE to attend, except for some seminars and picnics.

CVGS Program Meeting - 26 February 2014 Features Ceasar Castro

 WEDNESDAY, February 26th

 PROGRAM MEETING

from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

At Chula Vista Civic Center Library Auditorium (365 F Street)

Ceasar Castro: “California and the Mexican-American War 

From a Genealogical Point of View”

 Ceasar Castro is a local boy. He graduated from Hilltop High School and San Diego State with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  He worked at the Navy R&D Laboratory on Point Loma for 36 years before retiring. 

 Ceasar started working on his genealogy in 2008 when his sister, who had started earlier, asked him for help. However, slowly he took over the research. He joined the San Diego Genealogy Society and the Chula Vista Genealogy Society to learn more about genealogy. All of his ancestors come from Baja California. In researching his Castro ancestors, he discovered that two of his great-grandaunts married Irishmen in Baja. This puzzled him - how did the Irishmen end up in Baja around 1850? This started him delving into the history of Baja and resulted in his research on the Mexican-American War.

 When historians write about history, they are interested in who made decisions and the result of those decisions. If an army is involved, they may give the names of some of the officers but not of the common soldiers. They usually only give the number of soldiers. But we are genealogist; we seek the names of all the soldiers. That is because we are usually looking for a particular person(s). This presentation on the Mexican-American War is from that perspective; what were the names of all the people involved in the Mexican-American War in California.

This meeting is open to all persons, and is free of charge to attend.  There will be a short society business meeting before the program speaker.  Snacks are provided by CVGS volunteers before and after the meeting.

CVGS Research Group Review - February 2014

The February meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Research Group on 12 February was a lively affair with 22 in attendance, including two new members.

After introductions, there were announcements about the Escondido Family History Fair on 1 March 2014 - it's free but you need to register - and the CVGS Spring Seminar on 29 March 2014 with Jean Wilcox Hibben as the featured speaker.

In the first hour, Randy highlighted his experiences at RootsTech 2014, noting that the syllabus is still online for download at https://rootstech.org/about/syllabus-materials/ and there are 17 online videos from the keynotes and selected classes at https://rootstech.org/about/videos/.

He attempted to show Judy Russell's keynote talk in the meeting, but the video was stalled by the relatively poor cell reception in the conference room.  Instead, Randy showed his Flipboard magazine for "Randy at RootsTech 2014" at https://flipboard.com/section/randy-at-rootstech-2014-bFpVfG.

In the second hour, several attendees shared their recent experiences and research questions:

*  Gary found several photos from his mother's estate that did not have persons identified on them, so he is trying to match faces from those photos to photos that do have names on them.  For one photo, he put other photos of who he thought might be the same person on the same sheet of paper; the group thought that they were not the same person.  For a second photo, he had five other photos of the known person, and the group thought they were the same person.  The group noted that there are several websites that do face matching from photographs.

*  Helen had a photo in her collection and didn't know who it was.  She was checking Ancestry Member Trees for her 3rd great-grandfather, John Henry Winkle, and saw the same photo attached to another person's tree with the name.

*  Felicia has a family story that her ancestor, Mary Gillham who married a Campbell, had been kidnapped by the Kickapoo tribe in the early 1800s, was found and ransomed in Illinois, and an Act of Congress granted land to her in 1815.  She wondered if there are any records for the land grant.  The group said that Acts of Congress should be available to review and to check the Library of Congress and the National Archives.  Land may have been granted through the Bureau of Land Management - check the http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ website.

*  Gerry's mother had German ancestry, and she wondered how to find more information about it. The group recommended finding as many records as possible (marriage, death, immigration, naturalization, obituary, cemetery, childrens births, etc.) that might identify where she was born and her parents, or siblings, names; then search for records for the parents and siblings also.  Then check with the San Diego Genealogical Society German interest group, the San Diego FamilySearch Library in Mission Valley, and the www.GermanRoots.com website for research helps.  Her mother's grandfather's name was Christian Floel, and we found that he had a Civil War Pension File that could be ordered from the National Archives for a fee.

The next meeting of the CVGS Research Group will be on 12 March 2014 at 12 noon in the Conference Room at the Chula Vista Civic Center Library (365 F Street).

CVGS Newsletter for February 2014

The February 2014 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published last week.  You can read it online, in a PDF format - use the Newsletter link at www.CVGenealogy.org.

The Table of Contents lists:

page 1 - February 26th Program Meeting 
page 2 - President’s Message
page 3 - Spring Seminar News
page 4 - Scholarship Fund Basket 
page 5 - Research Group Review

page 6 - March 8th Workshop
page 6 - Next Computer Group Meeting
page 6 - Genealogy Field Trip Review
page 6 - Escondido Family History Fair
page 7 - January 29th Program Review

page 7 - Watch RootsTech Recorded Sessions
page 8 - Lemon Grove Research Group News
page 8 - February 1st Saturday Workshop Review
page 8 - More Research Tips for Beginning Genealogists
page 9 - CVGS Society Information 

page 9 - San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 - Genealogy Days in Chula Vista

FREE Escondido Family History Fair is Saturday, 1 March 2014

The FREE Escondido (CA) Family History Fair "Life in the Past Lane"  will be on Saturday, 1 March 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, at the Escondido Family Discovery Center at 2255 Felicita Road in Escondido (760-745-1662).  

The Escondido FHFair website is at http://www.escondidofhc.com/family-history-fair/.

At the top of the page are links for the Fair Information, Workshops Offered, Presenter Biographies, Fair Registration, and Order Lunch (which costs $9.75 and benefits the Boy Scouts).

There are five presenter session times, and a total of 43 classes, with 12 speakers, including Dan Poffenberger, Jean Wilcox Hibben, Debby Horton, Michaele Burris, Ann Montgomery, Tom Underhill, Del Ritchhart, Joel Weintraub, Cassandra Helzer, Ed Ries, Alice Volkert, and Butch Hibben.

Attendees must register to attend, and early registrants will receive a free Wall Fan Chart (if they have added their family to the FamilySearch Family Tree or upload a GEDCOM file after registering).  The chart looks like this:

This is an excellent opportunity to obtain genealogy education for little or no cost from well-known presenters.  I encourage local San Diego society members to sign up at attend.

CVGS Program Review - "Following the Path" by Susi Pentico

The January 29th Chula Vista Genealogical Society program meeting featured CVGS member Susi Pentico's presentation on "Following the Path."  There were about 40 attendees for this program. 

Susi said that there are Known Paths (documented by records you have), Unknown Paths (there may be records you don't have), and Hidden Paths (clues in records for other families and locations).  She also noted that Indian Trails often lead the way, since many current highways are along those old trails.  Early families followed the trails as they migrated south, and west over the decades.  Learn the trails and study the tribes. 

A researcher needs to make research plans and set goals, including;

*  Be organized by using and keeping updated pedigree charts, family group sheets, research logs, to-do lists, etc.

*  Learn and understand the proper research "ways" - methods, analysis, etc. Use books, websites, tutorials, etc. to learn methodology and available resources.  Read every sentence in a record to make sure that you capture everything the record offers.

*  Go back and study what your parents, grandparents and other relatives told you.  Are there clues there?  Are there unfinished questions left by them?  Find descendants of siblings of ancestors to see if they have family information.

*  Collect evidence to support or refute family stories.  Find records and information about your persons by searching in the available resources, both online and in libraries or archives.

*  Ask the questions: What names did they use? Where did they come from? When did they come? Why did they come?  Where did they go?  What happened to them during their lives?

*  Use a timeline - note the date, names, and location of events that happened in your ancestor's family and lifespan.  Consider associations, local and regional historical events, disasters, etc. 

*  Is what you know correct?  It may look right, it may fit, but is it right?  You need to review your information for a person or family occasionally. 

*  Genealogy research has changed - it's not the same now as it was 10 years ago, or 50 years ago.  Many records are now available in online databases and websites.  However, not everyone has computers, smart phones or tablets.  Don't go too fast or you may lose track of what you have found.

Susi noted many different record types that may help you follow your ancestor's path, including;

*  Family records, such as Bibles, papers, scrapbooks, clippings, vital records, photos, books, etc.

*  The work of other researchers in books, periodicals, websites, and files in repositories and archives.

*  Historical records, such as census, vital, church, military, immigration, newspapers, cemeteries, probate, land, etc. that can be obtained online, in county offices and courthouses, and in local, regional or national archives or libraries.

Susi used her ancestor Henry Huffman as an example of following the path.  He received land in Virginia in 1752 from his brother George, moved to Pennsylvania at some time, had four children in Greene County, Pennsylvania between 1800 and 1810, and died before his will was proved in 1812 there.  

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - February 2014

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for February 2014 include:

**  Saturday, 1 February, 12 noon to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Saturday Workshop:  Susi Pentico on "Region IV (the South) Research."

** Wednesday 12 February, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Conference Room, led by Randy Seaver. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.  

** Wednesday, 19 February, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Gary Brock and Shirley Becker. Bring your laptops to sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.

** Wednesday, 26 February, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Program Meeting in the Auditorium.  Ceasar Castro will present "California and the Mexican War From a Genealogical point of View."  Refreshments before and after the meeting.

**  Wednesdays, 5, 12, 19 and 26 February, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street)-- Research Assistance in the Family Research area.  John Finch will help you with your research problems.  Bring your laptop if you want to do online research.

The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).

The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - turn north on Billy Casper Way, just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.

We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.  All CVGS events are FREE to attend, except for some seminars and picnics.

Saturday Workshop on 1 February - Region IV (South) Research

The next CVGS Saturday Workshop is this Saturday, 1 February 2014, at Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road in Bonita, CA 91902) from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in the Community Room.

Susi Pentico will lead a discussion of Region IV Research (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee).  There will be information for each state.

We may break down into smaller groups if necessary if there are enough attendees for each state.  In this session, Tennessee will be the primary focus, and then Kentucky and the Carolinas.

All members and guests with Region IV ancestry are encouraged to attend.  Bring your ancestral information, describe your brick walls, and contribute your knowledge to other attendees.

January 29th CVGS Program is "Follow the Path" with Susi Pentico

 WEDNESDAY, January 29th PROGRAM MEETING
from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
At Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library Auditorium (365 F Street)

Susi Pentico will present “Follow The Path”

Life is a path that we follow, whether by choice or design. Doing genealogy or historical research on one’s family is also following a path, set by our ancestors for us to find. To follow the path, you need to have a working understanding of what you’re about to do. You’re out to turn the world upside down and inside out to ferret out the answers to the unfinished questions, left by your parents, grandparents and great grandparents back as far as you plan to go.

It is about setting goals, using timelines of communities and their histories. You are going to virtually dissect your ancestor's community and information to gather what you need to learn. Things we just do not think about when we are doing research that really affect the outcome of our research.

Susi Pentico is the Educational/Seminar Chairperson for CVGS, is a former CVGS President, and is a founding member of the society. Susi has taught genealogy at the Lemon Grove library for more than ten years, and makes presentations at Bonita-Sunnyside library also. She was born in Wyoming, started working on genealogy with her mother as a child, and is knowledgeable about research in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, especially in southwestern Pennsylvania and Virginia. Her favorite saying is: "It's the Indian in Me."

Susi hosted on the Golden Gates Forum for 9 years and put out a newsletter called "The Mid Atlantic Messenger." She has worked online with genealogists since early 1990's helping develop programs or present them. Susi has written one book, and has two more in the works, and she enjoys what she does when she can help others and find new links for others or herself.  

Research Group Review - 15 January 2014

The 15 January meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society Research Group had 15 family history enthusiasts, and it was a full tow hours of sharing and helping each other.

In the first hour, Randy shared upcoming CVGS events (especially the Escondido Family History Fair and the FamilySearch library research trip), reviewed the top news stories of 2013, provided a peek at Legacy Family Tree 8 software, and a look at Flipboard.  He also asked "why would you want to do a transcription of a record" and showed his probate and deed transcriptions on his blog.  Lastly, he showed the Dutch Reformed Church records on Ancestry.com, and the Norway parish registers online at Arkivverket.  Randy also noted that he got an iPhone 5s for Christmas, and wondered what genealogy items were received by attendees for Christmas.

In the second hour, we shared around the table.  Highlights included:

*  Delores has been putting up a website using The Next Generation of Genealogy Software (TNG).

*  Hazel visited the FamilySearch Library in Mission Valley recently for research.

*  Virginia's 2nd great-grandmother lived to be 100 years old.  There was a green leaf Hint for her on the Ancestry Member Tree, and she found that it provided information about the grandmother's second marriage.  She also had a 3rd cousin match on her 23andMe DNA test who was adopted, and is asking for help.

*  Helen's second great-grandmother's obituary was found in family papers with the last name spelled differently, and it provided the maiden name of the grandmother as Garmon.  Then she found online a picture of this grandmother, and a number of relatives' family graves in Kentucky.

*  Gerry did all of her research before computers, so she is entering her information into RootsMagic and needs some help.  She went to Michigan to see family for Christmas.

*  Connie's computer crashed before Christmas, and she has it back after repair.  She wants to write a book about her ancestry, similar to the book her husband's daughter wrote over the past ten years and gave to descendants.  

*  Jane and her sister went to Yosemite on a bus trip before Christmas.  She bough a laptop with Windows 8, and needs help dealing with it.

*  Sylvia had a big family visit at Thanksgiving at her house.  She bought a new laptop with Windows 8, and also needs help with it.  The group suggested going to the CVGS Computer Group and have Gary help her.  

*  Shirley gave herself a 6-month US subscription to herself for $49 for Christmas.  She has been checking her green leaf Hints.  She also found some of her Sebert/Siver records in the Dutch Reformed Church records.

*  Sam has been reviewing persons in his tree.  He adds information to his Ancestry Member Tree on his Mac, and the tree syncs to Family Tree Maker on his desktop computer.  

*  Diane is a genealogy docent at the San Diego Central Library, and loves using the free access to Ancestry.com there.  She has connected to a close cousin on a DNA test, and passed around her fan charts from the FamilySearch Family Tree site.

*  Mary Lou noted the DAR record search, the DAR Bible Project, and the DNA offer by the DAR.  She loves the FamilySearch digitized records.

*  John traveled to the Bay area over Christmas to visit family and sightsee.  He's preparing for his next presentation.

*  Karen Y received her daughter's old smart phone, and a DAR American Spirit magazine subscription,  for Christmas, and looked at 426 different apps.  She went to the SDCL with her Colorado cousin to do research.  Her father's nephew recently moved to San Diego, and brought 25 to 30 photo albums and is trying to write family stories.  He's sharing the albums with Karen.

The next CVGS Research Group is at 12 noon on Wednesday, 12 February 2014, in the Auditorium of the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street in Chula Vista). 

CVGS Newsletter for January 2014

The January 2014 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published last week.  You can read it online, in a PDF format - use the Newsletter link at www.CVGenealogy.org.

The Table of Contents lists:

page 1 - January 29th Program Meeting 
page 2 - President’s Message
page 2 - 2014 Membership Renewal 
page 3 - Spring Seminar News
page 3 - Scholarship Fund Basket 

page 3 - Education Committee Report
page 4 - Holiday Luncheon Review, with Pictures
page 5 - Next Research Group Meeting  
page 5 - Next Computer Group Meeting
page 5 - Library Assistance Every Wednesday

page 5 - Genealogy Field Trip
page 6 - 350th Anniversary of “Daughters of the King” 
page 6 - Nametags
page 7 - February 1st Workshop 
page 7 - Lemon Grove Research Group News

page 8 - Top Ten Genealogy News Items for 2013 
page 8 - Research Tips for Beginning Genealogists
page 9 - CVGS Society Information 
page 9 - San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 - Genealogy Days in Chula Vista

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - January 2014

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for January 2014 include:

**  Saturday, 4 January, 12 noon to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Saturday Workshop:  Susi Pentico on "Our Past, Our Present, The Future."

** Wednesday 15 January, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Conference Room, led by Randy Seaver. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.  

** Wednesday, 22 January, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Gary Brock and Shirley Becker. Bring your laptops to sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.

**  Wednesday, 22 January, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., San Diego FamilySearch Library (4175 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego) -- Research Trip arranged by John Finch.  Carpool will leave Chula Vista parking garage at 9:30 a.m. for research at the SDFSL.

** Wednesday, 29 January, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Program Meeting in the Auditorium.  Susi Pentico will present "Follow the Path."  Refreshments before and after the meeting.

**  Wednesdays, 8, 15, and 29 January, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- Research Assistance in the Family Research area.  John Finch will help you with your research problems.  Bring your laptop if you want to do online research.

The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).

The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - turn north on Billy Casper Way, just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.

We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.  All CVGS events are FREE to attend, except for some seminars and picnics.

December 2013 Newsletter is Available Online

The December 2013 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published last week.  You can read it online, in a PDF format - use the Newsletter link at www.CVGenealogy.org.

The Table of Contents lists: 

page 1 - December 11th Holiday Luncheon 
page 2 - President’s Message  
page 2 - 2014 Membership Renewal 
page 3 - November 26th Program Review
page 4 - Research Group News  
page 5 - Library Assistance Every Wednesday
page 5 - Genealogy Field Trips
page 5 - Next Computer Group Meeting
page 5 - Scholarship Fund Basket 
page 6 - Education Chair Notes 

page 6 - Nametags 
page 7 - Spring Seminar News
page 7 - December 7th Computer Help Workshop
page 7 - Lemon Grove Research Group News
page 7 - SDGS Family History Seminar 
page 7 - Genealogy Class at Southwestern 
page 8 - Genealogy News for November 
page 9 - CVGS Society Information 
page 9 - San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 - Genealogy Days in Chula Vista 

CVGS 2013 Holiday Luncheon Review

The 2013 Holiday Luncheon was great - excellent food, good gift exchange, some announcements, and Gary's video extravaganza.

President Virginia Taylor welcomed the 30 or so attendees and opened the festivities by inviting them to go to the food room where drinks, salads, potluck dishes, ham and turkey, and desserts were laid out for our feasting pleasure.  We feasted...and some went back for a second helping.  JoAnn and Dorothy did a wonderful job of organizing the food service.

After we had lunch, Gary had an intriguing and funny presentation.  He's getting good at this!  After asking the question "What is an ancestor?" he showed video clips from FamilySearch (children answering the question), another FamilySearch clip showing a Chinese family tree; and a Ray Stevens video of "I'm My Own Grandpa."

The next question was "What do we do as genealogists?"  Gary showed video clips from Genealogy In Time; from Jimmy Kimmel's show; a Lisa Kudrow interview on Ellen DeGeneres show; a Jay Leno clip; and "The Family Tree" clip from the Beverly Hillbillies.

Coming back to CVGS activities, he did an "Honoring those who got us here" series, showing baby pictures and having the audience guess who they are;  the first two were Dearl Glenn and Phyllis Learned, longtime members who died in 2013.  Then it was baby pictures of a number of longtime members (I recall Dorothy, John, Randy, Bernice, Nancy, Boots, and Helen).

Gary ended the video presentation showing the baby picture of this year's "Honorary Life Member" nominee and having us guess who it is.  It was Susi Pentico, a past President, and currently Education and Seminar Chair on the Board.  Susi was awarded lifetime membership and a certificate by CVGS President Virginia Taylor.

The two drawings were held, first for the door prizes of the Nutcracker, Angel and Santa Claus dolls, and then for the table decorations.  Finally, the bring-one get-one gift exchange was held with about tickets picked one-by-one, until all of the gifts were selected and unwrapped.

CVGS has had a very successful 2013, and this Holiday Luncheon sure was an excellent way to finish it off.  A great time was had by all, and the food was excellent too!

CVGS Holiday Luncheon is Wednesday, 11 December 2013 at Chula Vista South Branch Library

The annual Holiday Luncheon of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society is on Wednesday, 11 December 2013 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chula Vista South Branch Library (389 Orange Avenue) in the Community Room (at the west end of the library).

The luncheon will have turkey, ham, and drinks provided by CVGS.  The pot luck breakdown for the rest of the meal will be coordinated by JoAnn Bonner (phone 619-421-3628, email jabonner13@gmail.com) and Dorothy Alvord (phone 619-469-3483, email dja1224@cox.net) – please contact them before 1 December to coordinate potluck dishes.   

The potluck schedule is:

A to F Surnames:  Snack trays, Condiments, Olives, Pickles, Cranberry Sauce, etc.
G to K Surnames: Potatoes (Irish or Sweet), Veggies, Casseroles
L to P Surnames:  Desserts
Q to Z Surnames: Salads, Rolls, Butter 

There will be a free door prize drawing, and a gift exchange ($10 limit).  Attendees are requested to bring canned food and/or unwrapped toys for donation to the Salvation Army.

This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend.  Please contact JoAnn Bonner or Dorothy Alford to reserve your place at the table, and to coordinate your potluck food item.

No CVGS Research Group or Computer Group Meetings in December

There will be no CVGS Research Group meeting on 11 December (superseded by the Holiday Luncheon) nor a Computer Group Meeting on 18 December (superseded by the Computer Help workshop on 7 December).

The next regularly scheduled meetings of these groups will be:

*  Research Group meeting - January 15, 2014 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library.

*  Computer Group meeting - January 22, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Computer Lab at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library.