Our October speaker Dawn Byrd-Beresovoy will be speaking about General Daniel Sickels, his colorful personal life and his Civil War career.  Dawn is originally from Sanford, Florida, however, she spent her formative years in Islamabad Pakistan. She married her high school sweetheart and together they have 3 sons. For 21 years, Dawn was a Civil War re-enactor portraying a Confederate Soldier in 2nd Florida Company I along with her boys.  Over the years Dawn has served as a Private, Corporal, Sergeant, 1st Sargent Ordnance Sergeant, and Company Commander. She also has portrayed a Private in the 4th New Jersey. In 2011, Dawn was the National Civil War Re-enactor of the Year winner. She was the first female to ever be given this award, and in 2012, along with her son, they became the first mother son team to be awarded the same honor. In 2015, she beat out over 300 men as the fastest Civil War musket loader in California. Dawn is a member of DAR, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of Union Veterans, Colonial Dames, 1812, Mayflower and Jamestowne to name a few.

Dr. Dave Schrader has been giving Civil War Roundtable talks to Los Angeles audiences since 2013. He is particularly fascinated by “the rest of the story” – for example, the activities of support organizations such as the Signal Corps, the Quartermaster, and Commissary Corps, who often played major, but behind-the-scenes, roles in the abilities of generals and presidents to achieve their goals. Or, people like Lincoln’s Secretaries, or his Ambassadors, that played a pivotal role in supporting the President and his policies. Or, the Fire-Eaters, who drummed up support for secession in the south.

Jana Bickel belongs to several historical, genealogical and lineage societies like the Southern California Genealogical Society, DAR, DUVCW and Jamestowne Society  where she enjoys giving occasional talks about historical events and people, She is also a member of American Mensa, the Sherman Oaks Women's Club and a recent member of SAGE, a study group.    She has given talks on Southern California, Mae West, Dorothy Parker, Mata Hari, and Elizabeth Van Lew, Civil War Spy and author,  Frances Trollope.