I must say that I am impressed with the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree events. Every year the Jamboree gets bigger and even better. This year's attendance was more than 1,700 genealogists, not counting the exhibitors and presenters. If we add in those last two groups, I'd guess there were 1,850 or perhaps 1,900 genealogists in the building. Not bad for what is considered to be a regional event, all organized by a single genealogy society!
In fact, while technically it is a regional event, the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree now draws a bigger crowd than some of the national conferences. Of course, being held in the middle of a large population area with easy transportation from all over the country helps draw a big crowd. The good weather in June certainly doesn't hurt, either.
I think we can find many reasons for the Jamboree's success, but I would suggest that one major contributing factor is that it is held in the same location every year, organized and managed by more-or-less the same people each time. These folks really know what they are doing! They've done it before time and again; so, when some question arises this year, they generally know how to handle it. They probably have done it before and have experience with what works and what does not.
There were a number of people involved in organizing this year's event but I will single out Paula Hinkel and Leo Myers. I'm not sure of their official titles, but they are, essentially, the two people in charge. Their performance was outstanding. Of course, they had a lot of help from many others as well. There is no way that I could capture the names of each volunteer who worked hard to make the Jamboree a success, but the event could not have succeeded without them. The result was obviously successful.
Of course, the presenters and the exhibitors are the primary attraction and there were many of the country's leading presenters and exhibitors in attendance. Did I write "the country's?" I should point out that Schelly Talalay Dardashti and Daniel Horowitz both flew in from Tel Aviv, Israel to attend the conference. I saw several Canadians in the place as well.
You can find a lot more information about this year's Southern California Genealogy Jamboree at http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/2010jam-home.htm, including a list of presenters and a list of all the vendors. Also check out my photos at http://blog.eogn.com/photos/2010_jamboree
You can watch a video that describes the Jamboree in detail by clicking on the image below or by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHeE9bkG4DA. The video was made at last year's Jamboree but is very similar to this year's event.
So, will they do it again? You bet! The Southern California Genealogy Society has already announced that next year's Jamboree will be held on June 10-12, 2011, and the following year's event will be held on June 8-10, 2012. Both events will again be held at the Marriott Airport Convention Center in Burbank, California.
I expect to be there. Will I see you there as well? I'd suggest that NOW is the time to start making your plans to attend this excellent genealogy conference.
