Genealogy Meeting Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR

Participants to the Genealogy Roadshow Workshop were greeted by Ella's welcoming smile.

Our Golden Wheat Chapter President, Karen Penner, introduced Mike Meisinger.

The workshop began with the history of Germans from Russia.

A nice size group just right for our library room.

As always there were delicious snacks to boost brainpower.

There were breaks between presentations to socialize...

...share information...

...ask question...

...and check out the displays.

Mike's second presentation was on doing the actual research, what is available online and how to access it.

After lunch Mike shared with us slides of his trip to Russia. Then Dennis gave an overview of the creation of AHSGR and the history of the Golden Wheat Chapter.

Karen, our Golden Wheat Chapter librarian shared the holdings, resources of the chapter library.

Members of the chapter can check out books at no charge. 

Non-members may contact Karen to arrange access to books at the library.

It was a very informative workshop. Lots of questions and answers.

Videos of the presentations are being made. Info TBA.

Golden Wheat Chapter Genealogy Meeting

Sunday April 10th was the Genealogy meeting of the Golden Wheat Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.

Our meetings begin with a covered dish dinner and there is always a wonderful variety of tasty foods.

Great selections at the desert table, too.

Our president, Karen, asked for blessings for all present and those unable to attend. 

Then it was time to chow down!

Our Watkins table was set up to take orders to keep us supplied with their excellent products and contribute to our funds.

After everyone had sufficiently stuffed themselves we all moved over to our library (the bookshelves in the back) for our Genealogy meeting after a short chapter business meeting. Our featured speaker was Melvin Epp discussing his recent book on his Epp family history going back as far as he could trace them. 

His second book, "For the Children: Pursuing Religious and Political Freedoms." His ancestors joined the Anabaptists movement after the Protestant Reformation of 1517. Generations of the family relocated from Holland to West Prussia, to southern Russia, and finally to America in the 1880s in the continuing search for places where they could practice their Mennonite religion with freedom. By now his grandfather Epp has over 700 descendants living in the US enjoying the freedoms that the family sought through the years.

Then Dennis introduced everyone to the AHSGR website and what resources are available online for research. This was interactive and everyone was encouraged to ask questions about their ancestors.

Another GREAT meeting. 

Genealogy Meeting Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR

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Genealogy Meeting - Golden Wheat AHSGR

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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.

Golden Wheat AHSGR April 18, 2010 Genealogy Meeting

Most of our Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR meetings begin with sharing lots of good food. More often than not there were be several ethnic dishes. This meeting a member brought a crock of Bohne Beroggi (another recipe) that was delicious, just to name one of the ethnic foods.

The bulletin board had copies of other chapter newsletters...

...and two tables full of random books and information from our library, some of the most used resources for researching G/R ancestors.

Dennis made a wonderful stand for our banner so it can be beautifully displayed whenever we gather for meetings or events. We applaud your creativeness, Dennis.

Harold led us in a couple of German songs, something we plan on doing every meeting.

Then various members came up to the podium to share their "Elektra!" moments in doing their research. Something that broke down a wall or caused information to finally make sense. These testimonies give hope to others that their "Elektra!" moment could be in the turn of a page.

Then Karen shared with us the recent troubles with our Clues publication and the necessity to fill out our family forms and send them to headquarters so we will all get properly published in the next publication.

Next was Dennis' turn to give his presentation on the SOAR program. This is an online searchable database. Information is constantly being added. To find out more click the link above.

The last event was to draw the winner of a painting donated by Jerry Calkins as a fund raiser. Congratulations Joel!

Another GREAT meeting!