Okay, I'm In!

Every year, without question, I've made sure to leave room on my June calendar to make the drive down to the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree. Of course, make that Jamboree Plus One—the DNA Day leading the entire event is a must-see, in my book.

This year, however, I faltered. First, there was SLIG—a pricey proposition in its own right (although technically a very generous Christmas gift from my husband). Then, there's the pressing matter of wanting to squeeze in some travel back east to visit elderly relatives across the northern corner of the country. It was beginning to look like I was running out of calendar space with all these plans.

Thus began that volley of inner negotiations. Should I? Shouldn't I? The time. The cost. The missed opportunities. The great speakers.

Wait! The speakers. I had waited all year, ever since the Ontario Genealogical Society had scheduled their powerhouse conference on the very same weekend—and spirited away some of my favorite regulars among the speakers always at Jamboree. Would the SoCal event be the same without those mainstays?

So I watched the schedule evolve with successive blog posts and announcements. And with last week's post about the schedule of sessions, I admit I'm smitten again. Not only that, it seems like a certain student of anthropology is considering joining me for the DNA Day sessions, thanks to the lure of keynote speaker, geneticist Michael Hammer of University of Arizona. It will be interesting, comparing notes with someone coming at all this genealogical application from an entirely different discipline.

With DNA Day zeroing in on "The Future of the Past: Genetic Genealogy 2016," and the remainder of the Jamboree weekend "Giving to the Future by Preserving the Past," despite missing some of my favorite speakers, it still promises to be an excellent lineup of learning opportunities.

And networking. Can't forget those important one-on-one connections. There will be plenty of those, as well.

Anyone else care to join me?