Presidents Message, December 2014

Thank you for the vote of confidence as President; I look forward to a continual learning environment and great memories.

I wish to thank our founding family. Special appreciation to Carol Harless and Shawnette Malan, it has been a pleasure and wonderful learning experience. Thank you for sharing your home and your hearts.  Carol predicted we would locate relatives and friends within the group; she possesses a most accurate insight.

I wish to thank our second Mr. and Mrs. President, Bill and Karen Dellos for their leadership, guidance as we planned the Utah convention and years of serving on the Board of Directors at Lincoln.

I wish to thank Sharon White, past President for her exemplary leadership and willingness to open her home to the chapter.  We all enjoyed her many informative presentations.

Annette Reynolds serves on the Foundation as a trustee, writing grants for the organization.  Thanks Annette for hosting our blog: Intermountainchapterahsgr.blogspot.com.

Pat and Shirley Ansley have consistently produced an outstanding newsletter.  Darrell Weber has willingly served as Treasure for several years.  Thanks you all.

Gratitude to new members accepting the position of Secretary is Adee Hacking and Vice President Fran Eickbush.  

Artistic talent from Shawnette Malan and Sharon White resulted in an outstanding tree donated to the 2014 Festival of Trees. 

Thank you all for being aware of the need to locate new members.  Keep your ears and eyes open while at the library and all other environments.

Thank you to the supportive spouses who attend meetings and offer positive suggestions. 

The Chapter has numerous members serving as Village Coordinators, thank you for your dedication and service.  Presently there are several villages without an active coordinator, please consider these projects or being an assistant.

I look forward to your suggestions and recommendations.  .

Dee Hert

Festival of Trees

This new chapter adventure began with Shawnette Malan and Dee Hert attending a
required meeting at Primary Children’s Hospital. We took lots of notes and asked
questions regarding the strict requirements for the tree.We were both very impressed with the
organizational skills of the volunteers. It was obvious that they are knowledgeable, experienced, and
friendly- certainly an asset to Primary Children’s Hospital.  My first project was to reinforce the tree
joints, insert rebar, and apply clamps, liquid nails, cement, and tape.  The project was completed, and
then I realized the rebar was obvious. With some paint, moss and a glue gun the problem was solved.
The tree needed lights.  Sharon White spent hours placing the lights on the tree and following the
strict requirements. She wired each and every one of the 300 lights. My hands appreciated her
generous donation of time. Shawnette spent countless hours and miles locating the perfect ornaments
certainly a labor of love.  The time spent in preparation of the decorating was extensive. We placed
the tree on my kitchen table and the decorating commenced.  Shawwnette’s inspiration was
Gingerbread Men with a theme of “Sweetly German.” The project also required itemization of
expenses, writing a small tree story (including mention of the chapter blog) and creating a QR code
for additional advertising.  Our goal was to generate revenue for Primary Children’s Hospital and to
advertise AHSGR. Once the tree was decorated it was time to transport it to the Festival.  I decided
the only option was to place the tree in the back of a pickup. Son Todd drove, while husband Darrell
and I sat in the back and supported the tree.  I was grateful for the relatively nice weather, no
December blizzard.  We safely arrived at the site and unloaded the tree. After Shawnette worked her
magic again, the tree was completed and passed inspection. Our tree sold for $725.00, a small
contribution towards the million dollars typically generated by the Festival. We were asked if we
would do this project again; after a brief pause we said yes.
Respectfully Submitted
Dee Hert, President and Membership Chair
AHSGR Intermountain Chapter

CHRISTKINDLMARKT

The December 2014 German Christmas market was held Thursday, December 4^th, through Saturday, December 6^th, at This is the Place Heritage Park.

Carol Harles, Shawnette Malan, Sharon White and Dee Hert toured the facility, sampling the vendor food, the shopping, entertainment and childrens' activities.

We enjoyed the market so much that we were inspired to participate next year.  We have much planning to do but feel there is an opportunity to sell some sweets and drinks, and do some Chapter advertising.

We must submit to a jurying process in order to be selected but hope the German connection of the chapter will be an asset.

At a future Chapter meeting the subject will be discussed in detail.  I am hoping Chapter members will be interested in assisting.

Thanks

Dee Hert

Christmas

"Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes." - Joan Winmill Brown

Chapter Christmas Party

What a fabulous day! Chapter members met for a holiday party with great company and lots of delicious German food. We had an ornament exchange as part of the fun. Chapter president, Dee Hert, brought frozen pies for a fund raiser. I couldn't wait to get home to bake my pie and hang my new ornaments. Many thanks to Sharon White for hosting us all at her beautiful home. More photos to come.

Christkindlmarkt

Experience an authentic German Christmas market in SLC: food, shopping, entertainment and children's activities.

Thursday, December 4 through Dec 6, at This is the Place Heritage Park. 11 am - 8 pm

Check It Out

Sending out a giant thank you to the chapter members who put in so much time and effort on this project...

The chapter tree is now at the South Town Mall for the Festival of the Trees.

I hope everyone will have a chance to see the chapter tree and to also enjoy all the other marvelous creations.  Remember this project is for Primary Children's Hospital.

Festival of Trees dates are Dec 3-6, 10 am - 10 pm

festivaloftreesutah.org

German Chorus Harmonie

http://www.singingtaxman.com/germaninformation.htm

Check out the link for more information regarding the German Chorus Harmonie.

Friday, Dec 19 at 7:00 pm

All Saints Church

1710 Foothill Drive, SLC

Decorating for Festival of the Trees

Tree decorating day is November 13, 2014, at Dee's home, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  

The primary objective is to add the white lights to the tree; per Festival requirements they must be wired every few inches.  It will take some time to complete.  Shawnette will then decide on the next step for another day of decorating.

I have all necessary materials, wire, wire cutters, etc.

If your schedule allows, come and join us.

Upcoming Christmas Party

We will meet at the home of Sharon White on December 13th for the Christmas Party.  Bring a German dish and  an ornament for exchange ($10.00 limit).  If you have items for the Road Home, bring them also.  We will take pictures at this meeting. Also bring the sheet that was handed out at the last meeting asking what you want to learn and what you could teach.

Tree Project

The Intermountain Chapter is decorating a tree for Primary Childrens hospital.

Dee and Shawnette attended the decorators workshop Oct 11.

We are officially registered, Shawnette is finalizing the decorating theme.

Decorating Day is Dec 1, at the South Town Expo Center.  

October 2014

Our next chapter meeting will be October 18, at 1:00 P.M., at the Sandy Library, 10100 S. Petunia Way, Sandy. We will meet in the small meeting room. No food or drink allowed, only bottled water.  Bill and Karen Dellos will bring the DVD "The History of AHSGR".  Other chapters have seen this at their meetings and have said it is good.

Heritage Activity

These are my granddaughters dressed for a special activity.  They were suppose to learn about an ancestor and dress to represent that ancestor.  They were so excited to learn about their German from Russia ancestors.  This is really the future of AHSGR, getting the youngsters involved in their history.

How Young Germans from Russia Play

Dee Hert shared these photos of her son David with friends hiking the Wind River range in Wyoming.

August Meeting

More German Proverbs

If you put out another's candle, you also will be in the dark.

Nobody is trodden upon unless he lies down first.

He who is grateful for a kindness unlocks the door for another.

Never give advice unasked.

Advising is easier than helping.

When you sweep the stairs, you start at the top.

Never trust to another what you should do yourself.

Don't try to fly before you've grown feathers.

The best penitence; never do it again.

If you don't light fires, smoke won't get in your eyes.

August 2014 Meeting

The meeting room at the Whitmore Library has been reserved for August 30th at 1:00 P. M.  The meeting room is in the basement--there is an elevator on the main floor down to the basement.  No food is allowed in the room--only bottled water.  Eat before you come.  Pat and Shirley will do the Bits and Pieces.  Also bring used ink cartridges.  Bill and Karen Dellos will tell us about the AHSGR Lincoln Convention.

Here is the address for the Whitmore Library:

2197 E. Ft. Union (7000 S.)

SLC, UT

(You have to turn onto Whitmore Way to get into the library parking lot.)

See you August 30th at 1:00 P. M.

The Bottoms

This was so interesting to me.  When our Germans from Russia ancestors settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, they settled in the bottoms.  It was an area that was in the flood plain, so they were occasionally flooded.  They settled there because the land was cheaper.  Their lots were very narrow because two houses would share a single lot to save money.  I loved seeing the tidy little homes built by them.

Top Pick

The food demonstrations are always a favorite for me.  This one was so entertaining that I think these men should be on television.  Truly. Not only that, but they shared the top secret family recipe along with family stories.  I loved it!  Steve Loos shared some of the following memories, which are retold with his permission.  

His recipe for Blinna was given to him by his 11 year old sister when he returned from the Navy in 1968.  It was handwritten by her. The recipe is from his grandmother, Katherine Loos, from Norka, Russia.  Steve remembers special family breakfasts with many people, where the Blinna was served. In fact, they still have them about five times a year. The sponge would be started on Christmas Eve so it would be ready for Christmas morning. His aunt would also take a big cast iron skillet to the park in the evening and cook Blinna for the family.

Blinna

1 cake yeast
1/4 cup warm water
4 cups flour
3 cups warm water
2 beaten eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.  Add flour and three cups warm water.  Let sponge stand four hours.  Add the remaining ingredients. If mixture is too thick add warm milk to thin.

They were artists at cooking this.  When they poured the batter in the hot pan, they rolled it around till it came up a little on the side.  Then when it was ready to turn, they just flipped it.  Amazing and delicious!

* Just as a note of interest... Steve, Nancy, Jake and Kelly Loos have an antiques business, Loos Antiques, in Lincoln, Nebraska.  They sometimes obtain items of the Germans from Russia.  If you are interested in finding something or just want to learn from them, they would be a good resource.

Highlights from Lincoln Convention

German Research Classes

You need to preregister for these classes at 801-240-4950 or e-mail

FHLClassReg@familysearch.org.

Saturday, June 28 at 9:15 A. M.: 

German Research Series:  U. S. Immigration Sources

 

Saturday, June 28 at 10:15 A. M and 11:15 A. M.:

German Research Series:  German Emigration Sources

German Language Book Online

Topographisch-medicinische beobachtungen über den südlichen Theil des Saratowschen Gouvernements

The title translates roughly into "Topography and Medicine Observations of the Southern part of Saratov province".  It was published in 1836.  The fact that it is in German leads me to think that it might be focused on the German colonies.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Kz4gAQAAMAAJ&pg=PP9#v=onepage&q&f=false

Shared by Dee Hert

Looking for Information

Neudorf, Odessa, Russia.
Researching this village for the surnames of Walz and Guthmuller.
Jacob Walz was reportedly born, 25 March, 1858, in Neudorf, Russia, and death date unknown.
Jacob married Christina Guthmuller who was born 1853, in Neudorf.
The religion of Neudorf was Evangelical, and the Russian name was Grigoriopol.
If anyone has any knowledge of this village and these families, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Dee Hert deee@sisna.com

FamilySearch Records Update

Nearly 4.2 Million New Indexed Records and Images for Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and the United States. FamilySearch has added close to 4.2 million indexed records and images to collections from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.

FEEFHS Annual Eastern European Research Workshop

August 12-16, 2014, Salt Lake City, Utah

This annual workshop focuses on the records, tools, and methodologies needed to conduct research in Eastern European records- online, in microfilm, and on site. Additional Research Essentials track provides skills and background. Country tracks to include Germany, Poland, Russia, and more. Opens with an orientation of the Family History Library; closes with a banquet and keynote speaker. Includes individual consultation. Call for presentations soon going out.

Mark Your Calendars for the Research Workshop

More info is available on the FEEFHS website: http://feefhs.org/

South Davis Family History Fair

The South Davis Family History Fair is April 25-26. There is information about the classes at the website:
http://fair.ugagenealogy.org.  Dee Hert has suggested that our chapter members attend and wear our AHGSR shirts.

Village Coordinators from the Intermountain Chapter

Brad Hertz  (Fisher)
Sharon White (Warenburg and Straub)
Darrell Weber (Balzer)
Joe Gertge (Rothammel)
Gwen Oryall (Gueldendorf)
Dee Hert (Alexanderdorf)
Shirley Ansley (Neu-Hussenbach)
Carol Harless (Dennewitz)
Suzanne Heinitz-Dodge (Eckheim, Muller, and Holstein)

We have some wonderful resources in our chapter!

April Meeting

Our next chapter meeting will be April 12, at noon. 

3285 E.Ruskin Court, Sandy, Utah  

Gwen will give "Family Tree" for Bits and Pieces.

I have added a new article in the Pfeifer link.  Please remember to send me any of your information or stories you'd like to share for your villages or family lines.  I have recently heard from someone who shares one of my lines because they saw an entry on the blog.  It's a great way to make connections!

 

German Proverbs

A book is like a garden that you can put in your pocket.

Early marriage, long love.

Beauty is a good letter of introduction.

Saving is a greater art than gaining.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, not today, all the lazy people say.

It usually rains where it's already wet.

War is pleasant for those who have not tried it.

Better an unjust peace than a just war.

When God means to punish a nation, he deprives the rulers of wisdom.

Who bows to might loses his right.

War is like a lottery- you never know who will win.

Check This Out

The Riverton FamilySearch Library will host a free seminar on Saturday, March 15th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. that will offer help to genealogists of all skill levels.

 

Taking Your Family History Electronic-Creating Your Own Amazing E-book:

E-books are gaining favor with genealogists and family historians for their readability, look, and convenience. Learn how to take your written family history from paper to electronic format. You can even add photos and embedded videos. Using Sigil, a free open source software program, and a few publication tricks, you will be up and running in no time. Share your family stories in multiple formats to be read by computer or one of the many readers on the market, including the iPad, iPhone, Nook, Kindle, or mobile device.

Luana Darby, MLIS, is a professional genealogist based in Salt Lake City. She specializes in the U.S. Midwest, Palatine German, LDS, and American patriot research. She is working toward receiving her AG and CG credentials. She has been working with clients for over 20 years under her company, Lineages by Luana, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, workshops, and institutes. She is past president of the Utah Genealogical Association. Following the keynote presentation from 9:00 to10:00 a.m., two blocks of four classes each are offered that cover topics of interest for beginning, intermediate, and advanced family history enthusiasts.

10:10 a.m. Choose one of the following four classes:

•    "My Ancestor's Piece of Earth-Learning about My Family through Land Records " Jill Shoemaker

•    "The ABCs and 123s of Genetic Genealogy" Angie Bush

•    "Bite-size Pieces-How to Write Your Personal History" Rose Ann Fisher

•    "How to Save Your Life-One Chapter at a Time" Tom Taylor

11:20  a.m. Choose one of the following four classes:

•    "Evidence Analysis: Looking for Hidden Clues in Your Family History" Kathryn Moore

•    "Story Triage-How to Tell the Ten Best Stories of Your Life" Alison Taylor

•    "Regional Differences in Genealogy" Duncan Kuehn

•    "Puzzilla: My Work Is Done? or, We've Only Just Begun!" Bill Harten

Registration is not required for this free seminar. The Riverton FamilySearch Library is located in the LDS Riverton Office Building at 3740 West Market Center Drive. The facility is near the intersection of Bangerter Highway and 13400 South, just east of The Home Depot

February 2014 Chapter Meeting

Just a reminder that our next chapter meeting will be February 22, at noon. The meeting will be held at the home of Sharon and Bill White, 3285 E. Ruskin Court, Sandy. Bring food to share.

 

The planned presentation is about Beginning Research in Germany. 

If you haven't paid your 2014 chapter dues of $10 per family, send to Darrell Weber, our chapter treasurer, or bring to the meeting.

 

If you have any donations for The Road Home (homeless shelter), please bring them.

Let Sharon know if you are coming.  

Update From Gwen Oryall

Here are a few sites that I have recently been using with German from Russia ancestors. Maybe they can help you with research and finding family.

http://www.blackseagr.org/  Started about 2 years ago, has index, family names, references to EWZ,etc.  Work in progress. Free.

http://www.grhs.org/ German from Russia (Bismark, ND headquarters) lists, history of villages, extractions, family records, church records, etc. 

http://www.ahsgr.org/ American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (Lincoln, Nebraska headquarters) Currently SOAR, old CLUES, villages, information, censuses, church, etc.

Soar will be moving to FamilySearch.org soon.

Did you know you can HELP index obituaries in SOAR for the whole world to find obituaries from SOAR file? It has started.  I have been indexing obituaries in German and English from newspapers, catalogs, and family records.  Each index is only about 10-20 names with information. You can do it anytime.  Go to FamilySearch.org/Indexing to sign up and NO YOU DON"T need to be LDS. Anyone can volunteer time to indexing...

http://www.familysearch.org/

Monthly schedules for instruction and learning on various subjects. Free Salt Lake Family history
library  www.FamilySearch.org/saltlakecity/library/courses

            February 2014 courses include:

Thursday, February 20, 2014 11:00-12:00 Floor 2N Calendar changes in German, French and Dutch areas.

            

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Organizing your Genealogy 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.

You can ride Trax or Front Runner within 1 block of library.

On-line learning activities for many countries and needs. German favorites include but NOT all inclusive of activities:

Reading Handwritten Records and Current Letters: view handwriting, current letters, upper and lower case, special letters and notes

Common words in German: abbreviations, symbols, etc.

German Documents and formats: formats, columns, paragraphs, phrases, dates, places, names, keywords.

Many more things: Basic German research, outlines, resources.

Address: 

Salt Lake Family History Library 

35 North West Temple Street

Salt Lake City,  Utah 

It's just West of the Temple, with parking in the rear. Trax, Buses, Front Runner are all nearby.  Mon 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Tues-Fri 8 a.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. *This is a change for Saturday. It's closed holidays and Sundays.

http://www.ancestry.com/ Collection of records from members, churches, towns, countries. Indexed. Costs, but if you can get to a family history center it is FREE!

www.ndsu.edu/grhc/history   North Dakota State University collection of GR archive. Food, fads, etc. Fun site to see historically sound info.

info@rootstech.org or rootstech.org  They usually have a conference Feb-March of each year with new technology and information.

http://www.odessa3.org/  Collection of German from Russia records in 18th, 19th, and 20th century.

http://www.ellisilland.org/  Ships arriving in port of New York.  Caution- many of our Germans from Russia last name spellings are "what the port authority heard", so try variations.

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sources: Beginning records locations for various nations and information. http://www.cyndislist.com/. Maps, records.

http://www.nara.org/  National Archives and Record Administration in Washington D.C. collection of EWZ records for Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Volga, Volhynia, etc. After war and for storage, German states gave USA records reluctantly. Some can trace 4 generations with records and pedigree charts.

http://www.feehs.org/  The Federation of Eastern Europe genealogy society.  Next conference in Salt Lake City is August 12-14, 2014.  They have many maps, gazetteers, and info on European research. Helpful.

www.site.lib.byu.edu/familyhistory BYU Harold B. Lee Family History Library, 2250 Harold B Lee Library, bottom floor. Use map quest to google directions. Provo. 801-422-6200.

Classes on 2nd and 4th Sundays for public. FREE. Class schedule posted monthly.

February 23, or March 9, or March 23, from 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. GERMAN RESEARCH....BRING US YOUR GERMAN RESEARCH PROBLEMS, by Kim Harsara Smith and Eleonor Wollenzien.  Note: These are Sunday afternoon classes.

To find tutorials online or courses in German research at BYU: byu.edu.courses.

    Reading Old German Handwriting

    German Basic Research

    German Script tutorial

    Town of origin

    Beginning German Research 1 start, goals, tools

    Beginning German Research 2 Historical info

    Beginning German Research 3 Maps, gazetteers, etc.

    Building a German Library

    Learning about church books