Rethinking the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree

After 50 years the Southern California Genealogical Society and Jamboree is taking a year off to review and reinvent in anticipation of a return in June 2021.

In its 3 June announcement SCGS cites the factors causing reevaluation;

• online webinars and virtual conferences;
• competition for resources, speakers and genealogy dollars.

I hope SCGS also consider the climate change cost of running the conference. Just one return trip from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (ORD), which is only part of the way if you travel from YOW (Ottawa) emits 1 ton of CO2 (depending on how you calculate it). You can do the calculation yourself here.

As there is no expectation that commercial aviation will use non-fossil-fuel aircraft for another couple of decades climate change impact is a factor SCGS should consider. As their announcement states, Jamboree has never shied away from change.

When it returns SCGS aims to offer;

• an outstanding educational conference in the form you want and at a reasonable price;
• a fun and friendly learning environment for serious genealogists.

Could those aims be achieved without bringing everyone together at one location, perhaps at a network of local centres?