IAJGS 2010: Sunday, July 11 Opening

30th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy co-chairs (from left) Pam Weisberger, Sandy Malek and Lois Rosen officially opened the event Sunday night.

The surprise of the evening was a parody production of "Who Cares Who You Think You Are?" starring Jordan Auslander with supporting roles by other well-known genealogists, with a cameo by Sing Sing Prison. One highlight was Karen Franklin helping Jordan look for information using Steve Morse's site. She types in SteveMorse.com, which, of course, is the rock star of the same name.

Steve and Anita Morse were sitting in the row behind me and he really seemed to enjoy this. Copies of this video are being sold for $25. Well worth it, so look for another announcement on that.

IAJGS president Michael Goldstein (photo left) announced the winner of the International Jewish Genealogy Month poster and displayed it on the large ballroom monitors.

Steve Smith of the Shoah Foundation gave a humorous talk on some of the foibles of registering at such a large conference, attended by more than 1,000. He introduced author Daniel Mendelsohn (see photo right below), who also had a strange experience as he tried to register (the address on his registration was wrong). I believe the entire opening ceremony was taped. If so, do order it.

The dessert reception followed, and included cupcakes with purple frosting (I only saw a few), rice krispie bars, cake, cookies and Entenmann's chocolate-covered, powder and glazed donuts.

Shmoozing went on until the wee hours of the morning, but I was exhausted and turned in before 11.30pm, as Thomas MacEntee, Lisa Louise Cooke and myself were scheduled for an 8.00am breakfast on social networking.