Lisa Alzo’s September 8 Seminar Topics Following is a brief description of the topics Lisa will be presenting at our September 8 Seminar at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley. Cost is $40 which includes the four-lecture seminar, box lunch with drink, and door prizes. Any of you who have heard Liza speak, will agree when we say she is entertaining, energetic, knowledgeable and lots of fun. The Registration form is attached or go to our web site at http://casdgs.org. Click on Meetings and Events, Calendar of Events, September 8 and Download: Seminar Registration Form. The deadline is 30 August, so sign up now! Demystifying Eastern European Research  Anyone who has attempted to trace their ancestors back to Eastern Europe understands the special challenges and frustrations involved. Border changes, language differences, political considerations, and exotic-sounding surnames often complicate the research process. This session covers the most common myths and misconceptions and how to work around them. Show, Don’t Tell: Using Nonfiction Writing Techniques to Write Better Family History Do your family members start yawning and rolling their eyes when you mention Family History? This presentation will show you how to create interactive family histories using free, or low-cost online tools for adding photos, video, maps & more to bring your ancestor’s stories to life. You have the power to change family indifference or boredom into excitement about family history. Books, e-books, blogs, newsletters, family websites, online scrapbooks, memory or memorial pages, slide shows or presentations, video tours and social media will all be discussed as tools for making family history more interesting. Immigrant Cluster Communities: Past, Present and Future There are a handful of “cluster” immigrant communities throughout the United States that blossomed during the immigration influx of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Exploring “cluster genealogy”—the process of researching those relatives, friends, and neighbors who lived near an ancestor—can often break down brick walls in the search for individual family lines and help to place our ancestors’ lives in historical context. For those descendants who’ve moved away from such traditional immigrant enclaves, 21st-century technology can be used to rebuild “cluster communities” in the virtual world. This lecture will cover: How to identify chain migrations or cluster communities using key records; ways to share and collaborate with other researchers, and the benefits, pitfalls, and obstacles associate with a shift to “virtual” cluster communities; and how to use tools such as social networking sites, Wikis, etc., build online genealogical communities. 365 Ways to Discover Your Family History Serious genealogists recognize that they are never truly “done” when it comes to their research. However, while researching our roots, we often find that the process can become tedious and even frustrating, especially when you stumble across the inevitable “roadblock(s).” This session will discuss some of the ways to make the research process fun and challenging throughout the year, using your calendar as a genealogical research guide, and even how to utilize holidays to enhance your family history quest. Presentation will offer innovative approaches to common research tasks to assist both the novice and more experienced researcher.