Golden Wheat Christmas Party

Time for our annual Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR Christmas Party. We had wonderful attendance this year, we even had to set up more tables as families came in. The children's choir was unable to be there, but we were completely entertained with the story of Christmas, family stories, singing and Harold's wonderful story of Christmas.

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

AHSGR Kansas Roundup of Chapters

October 22 was the Kansas Roundup of Chapters of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. The Friday prior, Oct. 21, was Welcome Night. Tanja gave an unscheduled treat by sharing pictures and information not on the program.

Fall Meeting - Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR

Most of our meetings begin with our covered dish dinners, and there's always plenty of food.

After our meal everyone moved their chairs to the front to watch the video.

Harold explained that there was a change in video. He had obtained on loan a video from North Dakota University titled, "A Soulful Sound: Music of the Germans from Russia." We would watch the other video another time as that it is in our library.

After the video we had our business meeting with the installation of officers.

Traveling Trunk at the Golden Wheat AHSGR library

The Traveling Trunks are a program through the Kansas Historic Society. Harold procured for us the Volga German Immigrants in Kansas Traveling Resource Trunk.

From the KHS page, "Follow a family’s journey from Germany to Russia to Kansas. Read an immigrant’s journal. Explore traditions. Learn about immigration through the experiences of Volga German immigrants. Historical information, replica artifacts, music, and photographs included in this trunk tell the story of settlement in Ellis County."

"The manual in this trunk contains fourteen sections containing content information about the Volga German immigrant experience. Topics range from an exploration of why they left Russia to settlement patterns in Kansas to traditional housing, food, and clothing."

This trunk contains:

Teaching manual
2 aprons
2 scarves
2 caps
boutonniere
bridal veil
2 pipes
kraut cutter
kraut stomp
newspaper page
2 sets of "Purchasing Activity Cards" (84 cards)
39 photographs
Books: Conquering the Wind & German Hero Sagas and Folk Tales
Cassette Tapes
Tape #1 - Volga German Music and "Exodus to Freedom" (songs)
Tape #2 - Volga German Dance Music
Tape #3 - Spoken Verses in German and English

Some members even found pictures of their own families among the material in the trunk. We're happy to see the KHS has such a wonderful teaching aide in their collection.

Souper Salad - Golden Wheat Fund Raiser

The Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR fund raiser at Souper Salad was a huge success! We set up our table with fliers and a donation jar by the door.

Our member bused tables and helped customers with their trays.

We even took time to enjoy some of the great food ourselves.

All said, we had a GREAT time earning money for the Chapter!

Golden Wheat AHSGR Picnic

Always a wonderful assortment of good food!

Sondra had her Watkins table set up. The Golden Wheat Chapter receives a portion of her sales as one of our fund raisers.

Karen opened the meeting and reported on her trip to Salt Lake City for the Convention.

Karen presented Rachel with a Citation for her work as Village Coordinator for Village of Dreispitz.

Harold led us in singing German songs.

Dennis reported from headquarters.

Karen gave a very moving report on a new addition to our library, "Bloodlands, Europe Between Hitler and Stalin"

Harold obtained on loan a Traveling Trunk from the Kansas State Historical Society. The trunk contains an assortment of Kansas GR related materials. It was quite an interesting educational collection.

The last business of the day was to draw a winner for the painting done by Jerry Caulkins as a fund raiser for the chapter.

We were all reminded to attend the SouperSalad fund raiser on Aug 23...

For members that are interested in hearing Karens book review, the meeting is on DVD in our library.

Oldest Grandson Turned 18yrs

My oldest grandson has turned 18 years old. They grow so very fast.

We started the party out with pizza because that is one of his favorite foods. Then he opened his presents and after we had cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday my all grown up Grandson!

Mother's Day 2011

Beautiful day to be celebrating Mother's Day. Sun shining and flowers blooming.
We lined up all the kids to have their picture taken with Great-grandmother. What a wonderful picture it is!

Hope all you Mother's out there had a Wonderful, Loving, Mother's Day, Too!

Grandson Birthday Party

A chilly day in May for a Happy Birthday party! This weather is difficult to guess if it's going to be warm or cool. But the Birthday Boy had a GREAT party no matter what the weather.

Genealogy Meeting - Golden Wheat AHSGR

Click on the newsletter to enlarge.

I did not get any pictures of my presentation about filling in the forms. We do have the video of the meeting on DVD at our library.

Easter Egg Hunt 2011

A beautiful, sunny, Kansas windy day for our annual Easter Egg hunt. A crowd begins to form in the park.

Parents with cameras are everywhere.

I've one grandchild here that doesn't feel too big to hunt Easter Eggs. Or, she REALLY likes chocolate.

The Easter Bunny joins us at the hunt.

With all the children divided up into age groups they're walked over to the soccer field that is strewn with foil wrapped chocolate eggs.

Once they're all lined up at their designated area they're given permission to go hunt for all they can find.

Look at her go! On a bee line for the egg straight ahead.

Lot's of little eggs to be had, enough for all.

Mom and sis join her to walk back to the park.

A good hunting trip, though some appear to be a bit mushy. Maybe they all should spend some time in the freezer before attempting to unwrap them.

Another Happy Easter Egg Hunt for all!