May Issue of GeniGram + Calendar

Sandra Gardner Benward, Editor of GeniGram, the Root Cellar newsletter, has posted the May issue on the website under the Members Only link. It's loaded with news and the calendar of events.

Sandra also reminds us of a few events/activities coming up this weekend:

Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Event: Webinar
Topic: “Social Networking for Genealogy Societies”.  Register tonight so you will receive an email  with the link to join the webinar
Sponsor: Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS Voice) (Root Cellar is an FGS member)
Cost: Free

Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Event:  Internet Radio show featuring Kathryn Doyle, Communications Director for the California Genealogical Society and Library in Oakland, CA.
Topic: "Genealogy Society Initiatives that Work"
Sponsor: Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS My Society)
Cost: Free

Date: Saturday, April 30 MIDNIGHT
Event: Deadline for online submission; see blog post dated April 21
Topic: Your family story entry for the Family History Writing Contest. Remember, first prize is a years' subscription to Ancestry.com World Edition.

Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: 828 I Street, Sacramento, 1st floor West Meeting Room
Event:  Genealogy Class
Topic: "Researching with Newspapers Online" presented by Janice Sellars
Sponsor:  Sacramento Downtown Public Library
Cost: Free
Parking: Street parking near the library is free on Sundays

Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: noon - 6:00pm
Location: McKinley Park near Rose Garden
Event: Maifest  and Family Picnic
Sponsor:  German Language School of the Sacramento Turn Verein
Cost: Free

New Hours: Sacramento Regional Family History Center

The Sacramento Regional Family History Center has just announced new hours of operation effective May 2, 2011.  See the new schedule at their website. They are located at 2745 Eastern Ave, Sacramento, CA, phone (916) 487-2090.

Free Access to Canadian, England and Wales Marriage Records

Announcement from Ancestry.com:

To further celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of Kate and Wills – and to offer all of you an Easter treat – we’re making ALL our Canadian marriage records FREE from 22^nd to 30^th April.

Until 30^th April you can access not only all the England and Wales Marriage Indexes but also ALL Canadian marriage records, totally free. Our Canadian marriage collections span over 300 years and contain 20 million records.  The great thing about the Canadian records is that they’re not just indexes – they contain comprehensive details of your ancestors’ special days. You can discover the date and place of the wedding, the full names, ages and addresses of the bride and groom, the groom’s occupation, and the names of each of their parents, You can even see personal signatures of both the bride and groom and their witnesses.

Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world. This makes it a hot bed for finding any intrepid family members who followed their loves abroad.  Perhaps you’ll solve puzzles in your family’s past by uncovering marriages on Canadian shores? Find out more about Canada and all our records for the country.

See announcement at http://blogs.ancestry.com/uk/2011/04/22/another-easter-treat/.

Writing Contest

Author! Author!  It's almost time to press the send button on your computer to submit your family history story. The deadline for the Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Family History Writing Contest is APRIL 30, 2011.

Entries must be submitted via email only by APRIL 30, 2011.

Prize winners will be announced by May 25, 2011. Top prize is a one-year subscription to the world edition of Ancestry.com.  Sweet!

Complete contest rules are at the Root Cellar website. Contact person: Ron Setzer, PreservesEditor@macnexus.org.

The contest is free and open to the public. Membership in Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society is not required. Winning entries may be published in the Root Cellar periodical, The Preserves.

Etc.
Root Cellar would like to express its appreciation to all organizations and individuals who have spread the word about this contest. Thank you very much!

FGS Announces Internet Radio Shows

WOW, does this sound great!! An Internet Radio Show dedicated solely to genealogy societies sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies, of which Root Cellar is a member.  It will be on at 11am on Saturday April 23rd and every Saturday after that. I remember meeting their first guest, Curt Witcher, while I was visiting the fabulous Allen County Public Library in Indiana – their genealogy section is huge and very impressive.  He is the Senior Manager of Special Collections.  If you ever get a opportunity to visit, plan to be there for days.

-- Sandra Benward, President

April Geni-Gram

The April edition of the Root Cellar newsletter is now available on the Root Cellar SGS website under the Members Only link.

Attending Jamboree 2011?

Are you going to the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree in Burbank June 10-12, 2011?

I am, as are Ron Setzer and Sandi Benward. Who else?

Thought about car-pooling?  Sounds like a splendid idea with gas prices over $4/gallon. Sandi Benward is driving down on the 9^th and returning on the 13^th.  She would like to know if anyone is interested in driving down with her.  Drop her an email at  mailto:slbenward@comcast.net

2011 Spring Seminar Epilogue

The Spring Seminar with Geoff Rasmussen was so successful. It was extremely informative. Full house, good lunch, book vendor did very well, members purchased a lot of products from Geoff and from Root Cellar. And of course the raffle baskets went home with some very excited participants. I tried but it was not my blue colored ticket number. Oh well, there is always next year.

Special thanks from all of us to Sammie Hudgens and Billie Helms, the co-chairs of the Spring Seminar 2011. Great Job!!!

Geoff recorded our day and some of us ordered the DVD so that we can relive the day’s information again and again……don’t know if the offer is still available but if it is and someone wants to order it let me know.

April Membership Meeting

Our regular general membership meeting is this coming Wednesday, April 13th at 7pm.  The program is the  “April 1906 Earthquake video with David Kiehn” – sounds pretty exciting to me. See you there.

It's election time. We will be taking nominations from the floor for any of the board positions which include President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Communication Director. If you or someone you know would like to be considered for any of the positions, contact Marilyn Ulbricht, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, or make the nomination at the April meeting. Please keep in mind that the nominee must be present to approve the nomination.

Sandi Benward will be at the Citrus Height Community Clubhouse about 6pm, so if any of you can come down and help set up that would be wonderful.  Thank you in advance.