Jamboree 2012 and Progress on My List

I can't believe that it's almost over - another outstanding conference - The 43rd annual Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree.

From the minute I arrived, it has been non-stop activity.  The unofficial welcoming committee of Kathryn Doyle, Amy Coffin, George Morgan & Drew Smith were camped out by the entrance to the hotel ready to pounce, er I mean welcome each unsuspecting arrival with hugs and squeals of delight.  Each new arrival then became part of the welcome committee and soon the lobby was full of genealogists from all over the country.  It was there I was able to meet one of the victims on my list of people I was stalking for the weekend - Laura Prescott.  Have to tell you, she is one of the nicest people ever and actually knew my name.  I think she was secretly relieved to have met me at the start so that she could be removed from the list.

Friday morning I hosted a roundtable discussion on lineage societies.  One of the people who sat down has an ancestor who was a servant in the household of George Washington and wanted to know if that would qualify her for membership into DAR.  While I wanted to tell her yes, I am not entirely certain and will have to check with DAR genealogists in Washington, DC to get a definite answer for her. But wow, what a great family history story she has!  The rest of the day was spent catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Friday evening was the Hollywood Gala.  I took full advantage of the opportunity to don a very sparkly dress and my best gold tiara.  My roommate - Elizabeth O'Neal was tres elegant in her velvet and best fur cape.  Best soiree ever - Thanks Paula Hinkle and the entire So Cal Gen Society for such a fun and creative event!

Saturday I hit the jackpot and was able to cross almost everyone off my list of victims I was stalking.  Thanks to Stefani Evans, I was introduced to Jana Broglin.  Ever since her talk on prostitution in the West, I have idolized her.  Josh Taylor came off the list when I attended his talk on compiled genealogies this afternoon.  It was live streamed so I hope everyone took the opportunity to watch it. I met Warren Bittner - again thanks to Stefani Evans.  I think Warren  was pleased to have met me.  He had never been stalked before - told me I was his first stalker. I think he was equally as pleased to know that he was no longer on my list.  Jay Fonkert was the real surprise.  He joined a group of us for dinner and it turns out that his wife and I are related.  More on that story later.

So here it is - the last night of Jamboree and Curt Witcher still remains on my list.  Sigh.  I still have tomorrow but need to come up with a much better approach or go home with yet another fail in my quest to meet Mr. Witcher.



Disclaimer - My stalking is always done in a totally non-restraining order kind of way and with the best of intentions, and only for my personal delight and entertainment.