Meet Our
SCGS Officers 2024
SCGS officers and board members bring diverse career and educational backgrounds to the organization, which is what makes everything work. We plan activities, events, educational opportunities, the Genetic Genealogy Jamboree, Jambo-Free, and, of course, the internationally recognized Jamboree, which has been held since 1969.
Louise Ratliff
President
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Southern California native Louise was a librarian at CSUN and UCLA for over 40 years, She was active in library automation and cataloging, and was a map cataloger for 12 years until she retired in 2019. Louise was inspired by her parents, who began family research in the 1980s. Both traced their lines back to the 1100s in England and Germany. Through her own genealogical research, Louise discovered she's related to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody! At the SCGS Library, she provides full cataloging for the maps and serves on the Library Ops Committee. When not busy with SCGS activities, Louise also hikes and gardens with native plants, and is the webmaster for the LA/Santa Monica California Native Plant Society. Louise rescued a German Shepherd during the pandemic, and she and her husband have been dedicated and patient pet parents.
Debbie Davenport
First Vice President
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Born in Los Angeles, Debbie is an Registered Nurse and worked in emergency medicine and public health for over 40 years, She earned a BSN and a Masters in Public Administration. In 1976 she began researching her family at the West LA Family History Library, where she discovered the SCGS Jamboree on a flyer at the library. Now retired, her focus is on improving her genealogy research skills while also helping others discover their ancestors and volunteering at the library. She is a member of the SCCAPG, APG, NGS, DAR, DUVCW, National Society U.S. Daughters of 1812, Colonial Dames 17th Century, UGA, and NYG&B. Research interests: 17th and 18th Century Americas and the Caribbean, Ulster Scots Irish, Colonial Dutch ancestry, and anywhere there is a family story to discover!
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Kathy Holland
Recording Secretary
A San Fernando Valley native, Kathy traced her ancestors all the way back to the mid-1600’s. She received a Certificate in Genealogical Studies-American Records from the National Institute of Genealogy, is in the German certificate program, is a ProGen grad and completed the DAR genealogy courses. She has attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy every year since 2013, working on German studies and methodology. Kathy is a member of NGS, SCGS, APG, and the Southern California chapter of APG, the DAR, and the DUVCW. Kathy has BA and MA degrees in Political Science. She is a college professor of Political Science and Women in Politics. She also presents DAR application workshops at the SCGS Library on the third Saturday of most months.
Diane Adamson
Treasurer
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Los Angeles native Diane joined SCGS in 2009 and most recently served as the organization's President and Jamboree Co-Chair. She is a graduate of Cal State University, Northridge, with a degree in Business Administration/ Accounting Information Systems. Diane was a programmer and manager for the IT department of ARCO for 22 years. She also worked in the IT department at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center. Diane earned an MBA with an emphasis on information systems from USC, and a second BS in psychology and an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cal State Northridge. Previously, Diane was SCGS's Volunteer Coordinator and a member of the IT Department.