Golden Wheat Chapter Picnic

Today was the annual meeting of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR) Golden Wheat Chapter Picnic. With our aging population our Picnic is held indoors in the AC.

Dennis began the meeting with Greetings from our intrepid leader, Karen. She regrets being unable to attend as she is currently undergoing chemotherapy which drains her of all her energy. She thanks everyone for all the cards, thoughts & prayers.

Ella #2 then led us in prayer.

Lots of good food as always.

Our program today is group sharing. Ella #1 started us off with a reading of a poem she wrote.

Ella #2 quizzed us on items from the past, what we were old enough to remember. Remembering items always brings up memories of events from the past. From items we went to memories of "fast food" and or going out to eat.

Then on to Momma's apron and a reading by Ella #2. Many memories of everything made from flour and sugar sacks. Ella #2 shared her grandma's tea towels with her embroidery work. Pat shared two different styles of aprons. Memories of many aspects of lives past.

It was a small gathering but a lot of good sharing.

Meeting Adjourned.

Golden Wheat Chapter Picnic

Saturday was our annual picnic of the Golden Wheat Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.

As you enter the room you see our registration table with a display of a sampling of books from our library.

We had a nice size gathering for our indoor picnic. 

 Karen welcomes everyone, especially our guests. The pastor of the church (in the black sweater vest) led us in prayer and blessings for our food.

Always plenty of the best food.

 Don't forget the desert table.

Sondra was there with her Watkins products with sales providing a percentage to the chapter.

Good food, good friends, good conversation. As part of our program we were asked to share a memory of our favorite picnic or family reunion. Some were able to combine both with a picnic at a family reunion. 

Dennis' daughter and her two sons were visiting from London England. What treat!

Ella provided a game having members bring pictures of themselves when they were younger and placed them on a board with a number attached to it. Members were to guess who everyone was and write it on a lined and numbered paper that Ella later graded. Two members were able to identify seven of the nine photos.

Karen gave a report from the library sharing with us two new books and a video that we will watch as a group at a future meeting. She then gave the Convention report.  

Dennis had laptops set up to help people online research at the AHSGR website.

Another successful meeting of the Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR!

Meeting adjourned on time.

Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR Picnic

There was a pretty nice turn out for the annual picnic of the Golden Wheat Chapter AHSGR.

After registration we gathered for a prayer then lined up for the feast.

The food is always wonderful and in abundance.

One thing we are not short of is good cooks.

Sorry I didn't get a picture of the desert table but you can see it was a popular place.

Karen began the meeting.

Karen and Dennis gave brief reports from the Convention and Headquarters.

(*Note Ella sitting on the end here.)

Joan brought her grandmother's cross.

Ella read *Ella's story for her.

 Melvin shared his grandfather's contract for the sale of Schönhorst (Scheromet).

The contract and translation.

Fay brought a picture of her as a little girl.

She said she still has parts of the teddy bear.

Vail brought a German bible with family history.

Some of it is a mystery that needs more research.

Ella brought passport, ship's list and info on the ship when her grandmother came over.

Karen shared history from her husband's family.

The piece of material they believe was a front piece to a wedding dress belonging to the women pictured. Her husband's great-grandmother.

Dolly brought a key-chain she recently received from her older sister.

She believes her grandfather carried it for many years.

Dennis brought a few items. The trunk was the "suitcase" that was brought over from Russia.

The paper was a parish "shcein" (document). Used to transfer from one church to another. Also used as ID.

Lastly he held up the little wooden piece and asked if anyone knew what this was...

I was the last to present (no picture of me). I brought a New Year's Greeting for 1829 written in German, a letter written in 1877 from Russia, fabric that my great-grandmother brought over from Russia and a receipt for a newspaper written on the back of a political ticket for Grover Cleveland.

Oh, the little wooden object Dennis had? It was his grandmother's noodle board, for cutting noodles.

What a fun and enjoyable meeting. If you'd like to hear the full stories the DVD for the meeting is in the Golden Wheat library. The library is open from 1:30 to 4 PM on the second Friday of each month.