Friday, May 26, 2017

Finding, Saving the Handouts with SCGS Jamboree 2017 App

So the 2017 SCGS Jamboree is just around the corner. Whether you are attending live in California or by live stream at home you will probably want to see the session handouts. And many will probably want to save and print them so any notes can be written directly on the handout. So how do you accomplish that?

You will need the SCGS Jamboree 2017 App to access the session handouts. As of today, many of the handouts are now available. 

The SCGS Jamboree 2017 app is made for smart phones just go to Google Play or the Apple Store (iOS), look for SCGS Jamboree 2017 and then download the app. The app can be downloaded to tablets too; under the app's settings (the cog) there is a tablet mode you can activate if you desire. There is a browser version (found here) accessible via browser on any computer for those without smart phones and tablets but you need to create a log-in to use anything more than the basic (download PDF files individually) features such as sending handouts to your email.

How do you find a session's handout? Search the conference schedule or search by speaker. To email a handout to yourself, you have to find the session you want, view the session, click on the PDF and you will be asked do you want to "open it, email it or take notes on the handout." (Note: in the browser version you can simply download the PDF at this point.) By this route, you must do this individually for each session you desire a handout. The PDF file name emailed to you will be a series of numbers and letters not the title of the session so you will likely want to rename it.

To download multiple session handouts at one time using the app on your smartphone/tablet, click on the star next to the session in the conference schedule for which you want a handout. Then go back to the App Home and then select the App's download and click the download icon. The files will que to be downloaded. They may not automatically download to your device right away so you might have to click the download icon again or on each pdf and tell it to download. Depending on your device, you might need to do this in batches such as Friday, Saturday, etc. sessions attending/watching -- just remember to un-star/bookmark the previous batch before selecting the next batch of session handouts to download.

Please note that like the RootsTech app from earlier this year, we have found this App to be troublesome on a tablet and in the browser format so exercise some patience while using it. (Apparently everyone is supposed to have a SmartPhone but in reality not everyone does.) When you are done with the App you may want to remove it from your tablet. But if you initially downloaded the handout PDFs rather than email them, before you remove the RootsTech App be sure to email those PDFs to yourself. The downloaded PDFs are stored in the Jamboree 2017 App data not in your tablet's download folder and if you delete the App you delete the PDFs.

Here's an example of where to find your downloaded session PDFs on an Android tablet: Prepare an email to yourself; click on attach files; go to My Files; go to the internal memory card (i.e. sdcard0) where apps store their data or that place on your device; go to Android folder; go to data folder; go to "com.coreapps. ...me.scgs2017" folder (it will be named something like that); go to files folder; then check the select boxes the PDF files you want to attach and then click done to attach your downloaded PDFs to the email; then send the email. (Tip: sort the files by date so you see the files newest to oldest downloaded.) Open the received email and save the attached files to your computer or another folder on your device. Now you will not lose the downloaded PDF files when you delete the Jamboree App.

Remember class times are listed in Pacific Time at the SCGS Jamboree website and in the Jamboree App. We are Eastern Time which is 3 hours ahead. So 8:30 am Pacific is 11:30 am Eastern. For your convenience we have listed the Live Stream Schedule on our Jamboree post using Eastern Time and have included the session numbers.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Monday, May 22, 2017

Registration for Live Streaming of SCGS's 2017 Genealogy Jamboree is Now Open

Today Monday, May 22, the Southern California Genealogy Society (SCGS) opened up registration for the FREE live streamed sessions of the 48th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. 

The 2017 Genealogy Jamboree begins Thursday, June 8, with DNA Day and continues Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11. There will be hours of free genealogy education Friday through Sunday with handouts available. Sponsorship by Ancestry.com is making this possible. Registration gets you a user login and password sent by email to join the live stream event. 

The live streamed DNA sessions on Thursday are pay-to-view and must be registered for separately. If you have already payed/registered for the Thursday DNA sessions just log into your account and check the box at the bottom to add access to the free sessions. You will be sent a separate login for the Friday to Sunday free sessions. 

Visit the SCGS blog site or the Jamboree website to see the complete schedule of live streamed sessions for each day.

If you can not watch the sessions live, you will be able to watch at your convenience before July 10, 2017, from the special Jamboree Archive. You will still need to register to view the special archive. Live stream registration will remain available until July 10, 2017. (These sessions from Jamboree will not be added to the regular webinar archive for SCGS members only.) 

You will need the SCGS Jamboree 2017 App to access the session handouts. As of today, the handouts are not yet posted. 

The SCGS Jamboree 2017 app is made for smart phones just go to Google Play or the Apple Store (iOS) to download the app. Look for SCGS Jamboree 2017. The app has a tablet mode so it can be used by those too. There is a browser version (found here) accessible via browser on any computer for those without smart phones and tablets. To access a session's handout you must "browse" to that session's information page. Look for the PDF icon. There is no option to download all handouts for your sessions at one time. If a session handout is not there, check back at a later date to see if it has been added. Please note the Jamboree app is by the same company that provided this year's RootsTech app and it is showing similar issues discussed then. We will do separate post on how to access the session handouts. 

The sessions picked for live streaming are varied and look interesting so if you want to watch it all live plan your days accordingly and enjoy some genealogy education.

The 2017 Genealogy Jamboree Free Live Stream Sessions. 
Please note that for the convenience of our MCGG members, we have listed the session start times in Eastern Time rather than Pacific Time. Remember on the Jamboree pages, times are in Pacific Time.

Friday, June 9 
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
FR009  Facebook: A Tool for Genealogy Research presented by Thomas MacEntee

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
FR018:  Genealogical Proof for the Novice Genealogist presented by Annette Burke Lyttle

7:00 to 8:00 p.m
FR027:  Treasures in Township Records presented by Peggy Clements Lauritzen, AG®

8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
FR035:  From Famine to Plenty - Finding My Immigrant Ancestors' Stories presented by Tessa Keough

Saturday, June 10
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SA009:  Descendancy Research: Another Pathway to Genealogy presented by Michael L. Strauss, AG®

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
SA018:  Wives, Girlfriends, Widows, Exes and Mistresses: Documenting Women presented by Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR

2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
SA027:  Sources of Genealogical Research for Armenians in the Caucasus presented by Camille Andrus

5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
SA036:  Your Ancestor's FAN Club: Using Cluster Research presented by Drew Smith, MLS

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SA045:  Technology Resources for Deciphering Foreign Language Records presented by Randy Whited

8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
SA052:  DNA vs. Irish Annals presented by Brad Larkin, MBS, MCSE

Sunday, June 11
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
SU009:  Researching Your Irish Ancestors Online presented by Donna M. Moughty

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
SU018:  Underused Databases for Scottish Genealogy presented by Christine Woodcock

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
SU027:  What's New in Eastern European Genealogy? presented by Lisa Alzo, MFA

5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
SU036:  Using the Bureau of Land Management Tract Books presented by Michael John Neill

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Friday, May 19, 2017

MCPL Used Book Sale in Need of Office/Paper Case Boxes with Lids

Boxes with Lids are vital to the organization
of the MCPL Used Book Sale.
ATTENTION, ATTENTION:  We are in need of good/decent condition office/paper case boxes with lids so we can store the donated books after we sort them on the shelves. 

It does not matter what brand box ... any office/paper case box with a lid will work. We have less shelf space so these boxes are vital to our organization process. They also come in handy for the book sale itself.

Donated boxes can be dropped off at the Information Desk of the Mount Clemens Public Library with a note that the boxes are for the used book sale. 

We thank you for your support. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Free Access May 16-23 to Pennsylvania Resources on AmericanAncestors.org

AmericanAncestors.org website has announced free access to all Pennsylvania resources on its website from May 16 - May 23, 2017. 

The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has put together a lot of informational material on its AmericanAncestors website covering a variety of Pennsylvania research topics in addition to giving free access to its Pennsylvania-related databases. There is also a free webinar, "Resources for Pennsylvania Genealogy" presented by Ann Lawthers on Thursday, May 18, at 3 p.m. Registration is required. Find the registration link via the link to the free access summary page above. 

To access the free databases simply create a free guest user account if you do not already have one. If you are an New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEGHS) member, simply sign into your account.

Registered guest users get access to a limited suite of databases; access to webinars, how-to videos and downloads; and can make purchases from the online store. Did you know that guest users also get free access to other new databases for the first 30 days that database is online? There are lots of great reasons to register as a guest user or become a member of the NEGHS society.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Mother's Day Sale on Family Tree DNA Family Finder (Autosomal) Test: Now $69

Family Tree DNA is having a Mother's Day Sale on its autosomal DNA test called Family Finder. Regularly $79, the FamilyFinder test is on sale for $69 plus taxes and shipping. The sale price is good until May 14, 2017, 11:59 p.m. Central Time which is 12:59 a.m. Eastern Time.

Family Tree DNA is the only DNA testing company that tests Y-DNA and mtDNA in addition to autosomal DNA. At a later date, you can always add/upgrade another test type to the DNA sample already submitted.

Remember, the sale price is not just for "mothers." Any one (male or female) can take an autosomal DNA test. So if there is some elderly cousin or any relation really you hope to test, now is a good time to pick up a test kit or two.

Also, remember that Family Tree DNA also has a DNA Automsomal Transfer option. Autosomal DNA Transfers can be done with 23andMe V3 or V4 tests and AncestryDNA V1 and V2 tests. The initial transfer is free for a look at your matches and is just $19 to unlock the test to see/do more and be able to contact matches. We have two posts here and here that explain DNA Autosomal Transfers.

Some of our other previous posts can explain a little bit about the difference between autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA tests. Click the labels to the left using either DNA, DNA Day, or FamilyTreeDNA.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Wednesday is Our Annual Pot-Luck and Silent Auction -- Bring a Dish to Share, the Event Starts at 5 p.m., Dinner at 6 p.m.

Note: Originally posted May 6, 2017, at 2:37 p.m. Correction to date made.

A reminder to all MCGG Friday Group and MCGG Let's Talk...Genealogy members that this Wednesday, May 10, is our Annual Pot-luck and Silent Auction combined meeting. Bidding starts at 5 p.m. and dinner is at 6 p.m. Bring a dish (homemade or store bought) to share and some money if you plan to place a bid.
 

Remember, to let Ann know if you are attending so we have an idea of how many tables/seats we will need. Reply to her recent email or use the Macomb email on our contact page. Of course, if you find you can attend at the last minute, don't worry we always have a few extra seats.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE

Monday, May 8, 2017

Mother's Day Sale on MyHeritage DNA, Now $69

MyHeritage is having a Mother's Day sale on its MyHeritageDNA autosomal DNA test until May 15.

At 30 percent off of the regular price of $99, that reduces the cost to $69 plus taxes and shipping.

MyHeritage is a newer player in the DNA and genealogy testing niche. You can learn more about it by reading a post by the Your Genetic Genealogy blogger. Because it is a newer service, its database of potential matches is smaller than those of the "Big 3" DNA/genealogy testing companies. So be aware you might not find as much as with testing at one of the "Big 3" but if you are adopted "fishing" in all the DNA matching ponds is the best search strategy.

Take note that if you have already taken an autosomal DNA test at another testing company, you can transfer your results to MyHeritageDNA which at this time transfers are still free. MyHeritageDNA accepts raw DNA data from Family Tree DNA; Ancestry DNA (V1 and V2 chips); and 23andMe (V2, V3 and V4 chips). The company expects to offer an ethnicity report sometime this month.

If you are wondering which DNA/genealogy testing companies accept data transfers, read a post by the DNAeXplained Genetic Genealogy blogger.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE