Intermountain Chapter Cookbooks

Let Dee Hert know if you need to purchase Chapter Cookbooks. We have many to sell.  The books make great birthday gifts, hostess gifts, etc.  Keep a few on hand for those unexpected events when you need a gift for someone special.

Interesting Information

Excerpt from “Materialien zur Geschichte und Statistik des Kircheb-und Schulwesens der Ev. Luth. Geneinden in Russland “ by E.S. Busch 1862; translated by Bill Pickelhaupt

My husband, Darrell Hert, has Germans from Russia heritage from both sides of his parents.  So when his DNA test revealed he had Turkish and Greek heritage we were surprised.  I have heard numerous times that Germans from Russia “never” intermarried outside their faith or culture.  So much for “never”.

I am a very curious person and could not rest until I solved this puzzle, so I started to re-read my resource materials.

The sited material stated, “Colonists from the adjacent German villages repeatedly married women from Estonian villages and don’t consider this a “misalliance” even though the Estonians don’t have the privileges of the colonists, but rather only the rights of the crown farmers. For worship and communion the Estonians go to the church in Weizenfeld.

Now I need to locate records pertaining to the Greek Orthodox faith, perhaps at the Family History Library.  The Community FamilySearch site may also be a source as individuals post research questions and challenges.  Responses are always helpful.

The village of Alexanderdorf may have been home to our ancestors, and this information pertains to the Volga area.

Previous researchers and translators deserve much appreciation.

Contributed by Dee Hert

Happy Genealogy

Happy Genealogy

1 cup good ancestors

1 cup interested relatives

1 cup time

2 cups good record keeping

2 cups letter writing

3 cups patience

Mix thoroughly letters of found ancestors, unsuccessful

 replies, uninterested people.  Fold in 4 cups faith.

Blend into daily life.  Bake well with warmth of

 human kindness and serve with a smile anytime.

From CCC newsletter June 1992

REMINDER: AHSGR Storytelling Contest

The entry form for the 2018 AHSGR Storytelling Contest is now posted on the AHSGR website. To find it on the website, go to the dropdown menu under About, then to Storytelling. There you'll also find last year's Storytelling Contest winners.

The entry deadline is May 15. Stories must be no longer than 1,500 words, and video entries (for youth under 14) no longer than 10 minutes. If you have questions, please email Dan Moser, AHSGR editorial and publications coordinator, at danm@ahsgr.org.

Happy storytelling!

Hotels for Convention, July 29- August 2, Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas

 Here are the rates for three hotels in Hays, and they’re a bargain:

• Baymont Inn and Suites, 3801 N. Vine St.; 785-625-8103; $69 plus tax
• Days Inn, 3205 Vine Interstate 70, 785-628-8261; $74.69 plus tax
• Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 4650 Roth Ave., 785-625-8000; $129 plus tax

Get those hotel reservations made and stand by for full registration information. Early-bird registration will be due June 15.

January 2018, Village Coordinator of the Month

Congratulations! 

Francis Eickbush

Neuburg, Neu-Arzis

Entertainment, continued...

Next Chapter Meetings

The next two Intermountain Chapter Meetings will be on February 3, 2018, and April 14, 2018, in the Sandy Library at 10:00 a.m. in the Small Meeting Room. 

International Society for British Genealogy and Family Search

Members who have British, Irish, Welsh, and Scot heritage will be interested in the upcoming International Society for British Genealogy.

Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, SLC  15-19 October 2018

Reading the information I see they provide a quarterly journal, "British Connections" and a "Surname Interest" database.

Registration opens 15 March 2017.

Membership costs:  $25 per person, $30 family and $35 library or society

Watch for other educational opportunities and share what you learn.

More Dancers

Storytelling Contest

Among Germans from Russia, storytelling is an important oral and written tradition that ensures the continuation and enhancement of GR history and heritage among future generations of Germans from Russia.

The annual AHSGR Storytelling Contest invites both adults and youth to participate in this GR tradition by submitting stories related to Germans from Russia. They can be either fiction or non-fiction. Winning stories are presented at the Folklore Symposium at the annual convention and prize money is awarded.

This year, we’re trying something new: For youth (under 14), a video contest. Video stories can be anything from interviews to more produced stories; again, fiction or nonfiction, and up to 10 minutes in length.

Consider entering the 2018 AHSGR Storytelling Contest. The entry form will be available on our website next week; we’ll let you know when it’s there. But in the meantime, start thinking and creating – and pass the word along to others, AHSGR members and nonmembers alike.

If you have any questions, email Dan Moser at danm@ahsgr.org.

Good luck and happy storytelling!

Christmas Party Entertainment

I'm Back

It's been about four months since there have been any updates on this blog... my apologies.  Life sometimes just gets crazy.  I encourage you to check out the six posts below this one.  I've attempted to post any items that are still pertinent and of interest to you.  Just to make it clear, I absolutely appreciate all of you who follow the events of our chapter, as well as those of you who keep me current through emails and entries for me to post.  This is the time of year that we think more of the  people we are grateful for.  I am grateful for you and all the help I have received over the years through resources and your generous sharing.  Here's hoping you have a fabulous holiday season!

2016 National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair

Check out the link for free access to these session videos and handouts.

You can watch the sessions and download the materials.  You will also find  materials from previous years.

Remember to share what you learned.

www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-fair

Village Coordinators of the Month

Every month we feature two Village Coordinators, to recognize the work they do for AHSGR and give members an opportunity to become more familiar with their Village Coordinators.

August 2017

Dee Hert

Anton,  Alexanderhoh,  Alexanderdorf  (North Caucasus),  Alexanderdorf   (South Caucasus),  Blumenfeld, Emmas, Tiegenhoff,  Tilfis,  Eigenheim,  Nalchik,  Johannesdorf,  Karlsruhe,  Katharinenfeld

Dee Hert has been a village coordinator for several years and continues to find villages of interest for which there is no coordinator.

“These are important areas, so I find myself agreeing to be the village coordinator,” she said. “The Caucasus region has my primary attention at this time; what a fascinating area and I am locating villagers from various regions. As I become aware of Caucasus villages without a village coordinator, I may consider adopting them.”

Dee married into a double-GR family. “My mother-in-law informed me there were very few Herts remaining; I accepted this information at face value,” she said.  “Years later I can disprove that statement as my database contains thousands of Hert/Herdt/etc.”

Dee has advice for people researching their heritage:  

“Gather all appropriate resource materials, join and refer to professional organizations depending on your objective.  Materials from AHSGR, NDGR, societies such as the Germanic Genealogy Society, Montana Historical Society are increasingly valuable,” she said. “I live in Utah and have easy access to the Family History Library (FHL) which is also an incredible resource. Facebook and other social media are constantly improving and should be reviewed frequently. Establish an AHSGR Facebook page or social media of choice and share what you learn.  Genealogy is sharing!”

Another source of information is the annual on-line Village Coordinator reports; one can improve research skills and gain insight into successful practices.

Dee encourages members to consider becoming VCs. “If you are hesitant then offer to assist another VC, mentoring can be very enjoyable.”

“AHSGR has a wonderful link to individual village files.  Read beyond your primary village, read all files as data crosses villages and your ancestors may have lived in numerous locations,” she said. “You would be amazed to learn how many villagers relocated to the Caucasus; slowly I am gathering that data into a separate database.

“I am a Life and Board member of AHSGR, I can honestly say that these folks are amazing.  They possess a positive attitude towards improvement and strive to attain the goals of preserving and promoting the Germans from Russia culture as do many individuals in the field. Working together we can move forward in a positive direction.”