Genealogy eSIG
The Genealogy SIG is DVPC's first eSIG. This may be the first eSIG sponsored by any user group anywhere.
The Genealogy eSIG will become more active in 2009. If you are interested in participating in this electronic SIG, please contact Peggy Johnson at pegszone@aol.com. In your email please advise the locations you are researching, and websites you have found helpful and would like to share. Electronic books, databases and research centers are coming online, and it is just a matter of locating and sharing them with others.
What is an eSIG? It is like the various genealogy sites on the web with "list groups". If one of us finds a useful site, database, or software, we will pass that information on to the other members of the SIG. Also, if one of us has questions or would like assistance or fresh ideas, we can broadcast our request to the other members.
The DVPC Genealogy SIG is now like the genealogy sites on the web with "list groups". All DVPC members who sign up will become a part of this "list group". Useful web sites, databases, procedural information or questions can be directed to the group as a whole. Members can respond and share their experiences, insights, answers or ask questions, and hopefully, share their success stories. There is a tremendous amount of information for the genealogist on the web, and we need to share this information.
If you want to be included in the new Genealogy eSIG, please send your email address to Peggy Johnson. Peggy will provide each member with an updated list of members' email addresses. In your sign-up email, state the surnames, locations and time periods you are searching. This information will also be sent to all in the group, and each of us can then keep an eye out for information of interest to each other.SIG Leader: Peggy Johnson, pegszone(at)aol.com

Adobe Elements SIG
The Adobe Elements SIG meeting will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the home of Peggy Johnson in Concord, CA.
We cover and discuss the Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements software programs, along with other photo and video manipulation programs. As usual, check out the Elements SIG pages at www.bkbrown.net for all the latest news, information and tutorials.
The Adobe Elements SIG meets on the third or fourth Thursday of each month; be sure to check Peggy's email notice for the topic and meeting date!

Video SIG
Greetings from your SIG Coordinator, Nicholas Chase! The new DVPC Video SIG is starting, and here’s what Charlie and I are thinking that the SIG might concentrate on these three initial areas of interest.
Area One — Basic camcorder usage. Basic Editing tools and techniques. How to get better, shorter, more meaningful home movies with watchable content. Telling your story. Setting up your digital camcorder menus, for properly exposed video. In-camera editing tips, adding music and voice overs to enhance and personalize perspective and feature family and friends. Proper use of a tripod to prevent whiplash or seasickness effect on your viewer(s), and obtain rock steady scenes. Using better quality external add-on microphones, to capture focused, specific individual sounds from far away, (Shotgun-style mics), or Omni-directional mics to capture all sounds in the immediate area. Using headphones while taping to improve recording of sound. Basic video editing.
Area Two — Advanced camcorder usage. Unusual camera angles. Alternative camera support options. Unique camera settings. How to select an appropriate camcorder based on your subject matter and budget. Don't buy more or less than you need by making educated purchase decisions. Higher quality sound and picture. Selecting appropriate capture and editing software based on your goals for the content. Distribution and duplication options for providing your edited videos to family and friends. Stream edited video footage (Windows Media or QuickTime), to the internet, or using links to your videos stored on your service providers server.
Area Three — Cutting Edge Video Editing and Compositing using advanced tools and software. Tasteful special effects for dramatic enhancement.
Avoiding using video effects for effects sake, and cluttering up your message. Advanced Green-Screen techniques. Advanced audio capture for live events. Using music to enhance your scene. Record the crystal-clean sound you want without other sounds detracting from your story.
Creating compelling content and “tell-a-story”.
Insuring your video and audio quality remain pristine from production through post production.
Public access venues for your program ideas. Local Cable TV franchises must provide facilities to the general public to produce and air programming. Great way to see your name in the credits. With screen credit you can obtain a Press Pass, giving you access to numerous media events.
This SIG could become whatever the members want it to become. Please considering joining this SIG. No formal meeting location has been proposed, although a field trip to some of our local Bay Area television stations could possibly be arranged. More details will be provided at the next general meeting after further discussion to clearly define the goals of this SIG.

Windows SIG
The next Windows SIG meeting will be held on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Walt will demonstrate Corel's WordPerfect X5, the latest version. He'll talk about some of the new features and improvement, including better compatibility with Microsoft Office 2007 document formats and flexible and powerful pdf file editing.
If you're not receiving the monthly announcement, email Walt and ask to be added to the list.
The Windows SIG meetings are usually held on the first Monday of each month in the Community Room at the Concord Police Department Headquarters. It's located at 1350 Galindo Street in Concord. See the map below.
SIG Co-Leaders: 
Ron Ogg (rogg(at)xemaps.com) and
Walt Parsons (waltparsons(at)gmail.com).


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