Golden Wheat AHSGR Folklore Meeting

This was the Folklore meeting of Golden Wheat Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. This meeting many members bring traditional foods and share family history.

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It wasn't a real big crowd but there was plenty of food and a good variety.

There were bierocks and sausage...

Zwieback..

A poppy seed pastry...

...Gooseberry pie and peppernuts.

We started off with a prayer as usual...

 and then Karen told everyone filled their plates.

We had the installation of officers. Karen C., Membership chair was out with the flu. Ella and Dennis traded jobs, other than that no change.

Officers stood as they accepted their positions.

Vail presented the budget for approval.

Mel presented the memorial service.

The program was member sharing about our ancestors coming to Kansas as part of Kansas celebrating it's statehood today. Ella F. started with a poem about Kansas written by Ella D. then she gave brief history of our coming to Russia and the reasons why we fled Russia, stories of the various Russian colonies and where in Kansas they settled.

    Alberta N. gave her family history of coming to Kansas.

Dennis shared his family migration history,

Karen shared an interesting book for teaching children and adults about our history using zwieback as a teaching tool (see picture of display table at beginning of post). As the meeting was ending Karen presented the plaque commemorating Rachel Smith for her contribution to the library and beyond.

Our Folklore meeting is always one of the favorites of the year because of the wonderful food and sharing of family memories. A Wonderful way to start a New Year!

Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR Folklore Meeting

Members were encouraged to bring their favorite fairy-tale books to share.

Melvin Epp brought his newly published, "For the Children" 

Karen welcome guests and shared announcements

Ella share with us her interesting recipe for Black Forrest cake

After Karen returned blessings it was time to partake

For the meeting we moved to the room that holds our library. 

We had Installation of Officers

and a Memorial Service

Our program began with Karen introducing us to Russian folk tales

Fay read a Russian folk tale about sister rivers racing to the sea

Then our Grimm skit of the Wolf and the Fox

This is my granddaughter wearing my fox ears

Ella gave us a very interesting history of the folk tales and how Disney has transformed them

Our folklore meetings are always one of the more popular meetings because of the ethnic foods and entertaining and informative program. Everyone had an enjoyable time.

Rachel Smith Memorial Folklore Meeting

The Golden Wheat Chapter of the AHSGR was scheduled to have its annual Folklore meeting on January 24, 2013 when only days before we receive news of the passing of one of our more active chapter member and member of the board. The loss of Rachel Smith has left a big void in not only our chapter but our hearts.

Rachel Elizabeth (Borecky) Smith passed away on Jan. 24, 2013 at Wichita, KS. Born on May 30, 1920 in Ellsworth County, Kansas to Edward and Rachel Heinze Borecky. Married Robert Enos Smith on September 27, 1941 in Larned, KS. He passed away April 11, 1974. Also preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Carol Ann Smith Lyne; brother, Roy Borecky; nephew, Ronnie Borecky and niece, Elaine Borecky Scoggins. Rachel worked for the Midwest Air Procurement District, the Office of the Price Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service for thirty-five plus years, retiring on May 2, 1979. Genealogy became her hobby, and she researched and prepared several Family Histories. Rachel is survived by two granddaughters, Denise Ann (Mark) Kalmer, Chandler, Arizona and Julie Kay (Christopher) Jennings, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; two great grandsons, Keifer Jennings and Quentin Jennings; and many relatives and friends. Service will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 1:00 p.m. at the Mission Chapel Mausoleum, 3424 E. 21st Street, Wichita, KS. Visitation will be Monday 4 to 8 p.m. at Old Mission Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to AHSGR Golden Wheat Chapter, 822 N. Cypress Ct., Wichita, Kansas, 67206.

For our meeting we shared our traditional ethnic covered dish dinner. Just to name a few, there was Pluma Moos...

...I don't know the traditional name for this but it was poppy seed rolls and they were delicious!

Two different pots of Borscht...

...and always have to have a bowl of vareniki...

...German sausage and some sauerkraut...

...something new to the table...

...and some bierocks to sample for a change in seasoning for our next bierock fund raiser.

Karen brought some of her family history to share, letters from her grandmother to a son in Texas...

...and her grandfather's song book that he wrote that used numbers instead of notes.

There was time for leisure visiting before the meeting.

After the usual meeting and installation of officers we began our program with Harold playing Amazing Grace on his trombone accompanied by his wife, Vicki.

Joel gave the memorial and then members were encouraged to share memories of Rachel.

The meeting closed with Harold, accompanied by Vicki, playing a German Medley on his trombone.

We will all miss you Rachel. You leave a large hole to fill in our chapter, you filled many shoes not only in your research work but also as our main greeter with the registration book & name tags and chief librarian who was always on call to anyone to open the doors for research. Godspeed!