Wishing you every blessing this Christmas and New Year...

New Year's Resolutions

A recent article in Family Tree Magazine encouraged me to be serious about some things that have been on my mind.  I always say I'm not doing the resolution thing this year, but these resolutions are a little different.  Hopefully they will help me to do a better job on my family research.

1- Research regularly. I often find that my effort is spotty.  I'll go great guns on my research, then my other life gets in the way.  Weeks or months have passed and I haven't done anything.  Even worse, I forget what I was doing and where I ended.  I spend too much time getting back on track.

2- Cite your sources.  Initially this didn't seem to be all that important, this was just a hobby for my own enjoyment, right?  Now that it is a more serious business to me I find myself going back and trying to document.  That job would have been much easier had I done it along the way, not to mention much less embarrassing when I have to contact people who've shared information with me.

3- Organize.  Need I say more? Pictures, records, letters, on and on... Not to mention the back ups I should do on my documents, pictures, family group sheets, and pedigrees.  It would be terrible to lose all those.

4- Continue to learn. I don't know near enough about so many things.  How do I use my DNA match information to further my research?  What other resources are available to me in my specific areas of research?  Do I know enough about the locations and events that were part of my ancestors lives?  Have I learned enough from elderly relatives about their lives?  The questions are endless.

This list could continue, but in the way of all resolutions, the more there are, the less chance I'll be successful with any of them.  Hopefully, this will spark some goals for you as well in the coming 2017.

Merry Christmas and a ThankYou

This post is a bit personal, but I really need to share a few things.  The photo was taken at our chapter Christmas party.  It shows a group of absolutely wonderful people.  It has been a tough year for me, and I haven't been able to make it to our monthly meetings.  They have kept me in the loop with emails and have been a huge encouragement for me.  These people work SO hard to help our chapter grow and donate untold hours to push forward the research on our Germans from Russia ancestors.  This is my chance to publicly thank all of them for the many things they do.  It was a great party by the way. Here's wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and wishing you all the blessings you deserve. You are truly my people...

German Proverbs, continued...

As fast as laws are devised, their evasion is contrived.

Argument is a sieve for sifting truth.

Each of us knows best where his own shoe pinches.

Many who build castles in the air cannot build a hut on earth.

What is sport to the cat is death to the mouse.

Little folks are fond of talking about what great folks do.

No one is luckier than he who thinks he's in luck.

No answer really is an answer.

He who deals in onions no longer smells them.

Merry Christmas

The Christmas party will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church at 245 South 200 East in Springville, on Saturday, Dec 10. Pat and Shirley can set up Saturday morning. They have the building from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. They have all the paper goods for the table settings. There are nine  70” round tables. If everyone helps with setting up and cleaning up it will go very fast, so please pitch in. 

Congratulations AHSGR

AHSGR was selected as part of the 2016  Nebraska State Passport Program.  It was a great opportunity that increased visits to their museum last spring and summer. They were the #1 attended spot on the “Flavors of Nebraska” tour.  Out of the 1292 people who turned in passports for the prize count, 1247 of them  had  visited headquarters.  

Mark Your Calendar

The next Intermountain Chapter meeting:

November 12, 2016. 

Sandy Library @ 10:00 AM in the small meeting room.  

This room does require that we set up all tables and chairs, including returning furniture to original locations. A helping hand would be appreciated.  We have reservations until 1:00 PM.  Hope to see you there!

Fruit Platz (Cake)

This was shared by the Edmonton Chapter, and I thought you might enjoy it.

It is a German Mennonite recipe and is great for dessert or a coffee break.
Mrs. Mildred Rempel, Tofield, AB
 
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Fruit (apples, rhubarb, plums, etc.)

1. Sift dry ingredients
2. Cut in margarine
3. Add liquid milk.
4. Press into 9x13 pan.
5. Cover with fresh or frozen fruit
6. Sprinkle with sugar to suit taste

Topping:
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
Rub to form crumbs and sprinkle on top of fruit Bake at 450* for 10-15 minutes Then turn oven to 350°F and bake for another 30-35 minutes Serve warm or cold.

The Immigrant Experience

I found this recently and thought you might be interested as well. It adds to my understanding of the immigrant's experience in the early 1900s.  Language classes were taught to immigrants by the YMCA and YWCA.

Book Project

Thanks to all who donated books for the youth project, it is much appreciated.

We will continue to collect books at each meeting and event.  Stop at yard sales for clean, appropriate youth books for Primary Children's Hospital. Clean is very important.  Dee is in the process of sanitizing the books donated thus far.

If you have books to donate and cannot attend meetings she will gladly come and pick them up.

Libraries often have used book sales, watch for those events.  We will accept new books also. Perhaps your family, friends and neighbors would like to participate. Involve your kinder!

Displays at the Family History Library

If you are in or near Salt Lake City, check out these displays on Germans from Russia. Thanks to those who put this together!

Calendar of Events

Nov 12, 2016- Chapter meeting

Dec 10, 2016- Chapter Christmas Party (RSVP)

Dec 1,2,3, 2016- Christmas Market  
http://www.christkindlmarkt-slc.com/  
Let Dee Hert know if you would like to volunteer.

Feb 8-10, 2017- RootsTech

April 22, 2017-  South Davis Family History Fair

Recipe Request

Dee Hert has asked us to please send her lots of GR recipes; the chapter is considering a cookbook.

It's always nice to have the name of the original family member, as well as yours.  Some recipes have been passed down several generations,so note this also.

Any personal comment is important, such as, "My husband's favorite salad."

If you have family who has treasured recipes please include them in this project.   

Perhaps this book will be the perfect Christmas present, reunion, wedding, birthday, thank you, etc.  The volume of the order will dictate cost.

Thanks!

Check This Out

http://search.archives.gov/search?utf8=&affiliate=national-archives&query=family+group+sheet&commit=GO

Take a look at this site for an alternate Family Group Sheet.

Mark Your Calender

Hope to see you September 10, 2016 
Sandy Library at 10:00 am

This meeting will have information regarding the Concord, CA, Convention as well as Michigan and Lincoln Conventions.

There is always interest at AHSGR to secure additional records from Russia; presently we are working on Beideck and Messer records.

If we pool our resources it would be more economicsl to obtain this material rather then as individuals.

• What areas and time frames would be of interest to you?  Lets see if we can work together and obtain more records.

Dee

Reminder: Next chapter meeting will be on June 4, 2016.

47th International Convention of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia

“Before the Storm”

The evolution and life of Germanic colonies from 1763 to 1916

in the Volga, Black Sea and Ukraine areas of the Russian Empire

July 11-16, 2016

Hilton Concord Hotel

1970 Diamond Blvd. • Concord, California


To reserve a room, call (925) 827-2000 or toll-free at 1-800-826-2644. Reserve a

room online at http://www.hilton.com. Use the code AHG. The AHSGR group

rate is $119. Register for the convention online at www.ahsgr.org.


Explore topics of historical, folkloric and genealogical interest. Listen to speakers from Russia,

Germany and South America for more insight into the history of Germans from Russia. Learn

about AHSGR online resources and records in Germany and Russia. View the premiere of the

Norka village film, entertainment by folksinger Jim Stevens, storyteller Bil Lepp and the Grand

Island Polka Band. A research room will provide Internet access and key documents from the

AHSGR Library. Librarian Diane Wilson and Village Coordinators will assist in research.

More German Proverbs

Do right and shun no one.

Speaking comes by nature, silence by understanding.

No one betrays himself by silence.

Nothing dries sooner than tears.

A poor person isn't he who has little, but he who needs a lot.

What three know will soon be known to thirty.

He who thinks of death begins to live.

The morning hour has gold in its mouth.

Bad times make good men.

Forgiven is not forgotten.

FEEFHS Conference

Registration is now open for the 2016 Eastern European Family History Conference to be held August 8-12, 2016.  The program will be at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, convenient to the nearby Family History Library for research.

This year’s program is country-research-focused, with a full track on German research carrying over all three days, and extended Polish, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian research tracks. The FEEFHS board has been heavily involved in selecting just the right classes to provide both an introduction to researching in Eastern European countries as well as in-depth topics for more advanced researchers. Optional consultations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visit the conference website for full details and registration information.

http://feefhsworkshop.org/ 

A Note from Dee Hert

Anton, Russia

Research continues for the village of Anton.  Also known as Antonow, Antonowka, Sadovoye, Sebastinovka, Sebastjanowka, Sebastyanovka, Sewastjanowka, Sevastinovka, Sevastjanovka, Sevastyanovka (after 1941, Sadovoye)

Located at:  51º2' N 45º51' E.  Map #6 at AHSGR

Anton was found in 1764 by 270 Evangelical Lutherans- parish headquartered in the village of Messer.

Movement was recorded between Anton and the following villages: Alexanderdorf, near Tiflis in the Caucasus, Balzer, Franzosen, Kraft, Kukkus, Lauwe, Merkel, and Neu-Straub. As research continues I am sure there will be additional villages with connections to Anton.

My personal interest in Anton are the following surnames: Hert/Herdt, Hart/Hardt/Hard, Stark/Stork.  I am in the process of updating the surname database, which will be available at the AHSGR conventions.

Anton was industrious as it had a sugar beet factory owned and operated by Mr. Sigrist. Researchers have reported that the Anton villagers were originally from Thuringia, Germany. 

• I am searching for the photo and additional history of the sugar beet factory.

The AHSGR village files index noted an article “History of Anton, by Emilie von Liphart, which is missing. 

• I hope to locate a copy.

According to an article in “Die Lauwe Lampe”, Spring 2001 a surprising number of arranged marriages were from villages on the west side (bergseite) of the Volga. The colonies of Anton and Balzer were predominant sources for brides.

Die Welt-Post, Thursday, 8 December 1921, reported of hunger and starvation in Russia including the villages of Kukus, Dinkel, New Anton, and New Moor.

I accepted the position as Village Coordinator recently due to the fact that the position was vacant, and I wanted to further the history of my family.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or information to share; together we can answer some questions.

I plan to explore the availability of records in Russia.

Thanks to Sharon White for agreeing to assist!

Dee Hert

President and Membership Chair

February Meeting

This Saturday, February 27, at 10:00 am will be our chapter meeting:
Sandy Library 
10100 Petunia Way 1300 South 
Sandy, Utah

Please bring empty ink cartridges.  The subject is maps, so bring your favorites. 

Any ideas for a summer community project to enhance our awareness and locate other Germans from Russia??

The Center for Volga German Studies is sponsoring a seminar series in Fort Collins, Colorado on 23 July, 2016.  These seminars will feature the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the colonies of Dönhof and Messer.  The event will also include a Deines family reunion, evening banquet and Dutch Hop Dance with The River Boys! Please join us and invite others who might be interested! 

When: 23 July 2016

Where: Colorado State University, 599 South Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80521

What:  Sessions -

·         The History Dönhof

·         The History of Messer

·         A Day-in-the-Life of the Volga Germans

·         The Volga Germans of South America

·         The Volga German Deportation of 1941

·         The Geography of the Volga Germans

·         The Musical Heritage of the Volga Germans

·         The Sugar Beet Industry and Its Connection to the Volga Germans

·         The Volga German DNA Project

·         The Volga Germans Today

·         Genealogical Resources for Volga Germans

·         Famous & Infamous Volga Germans

·         Volga German Resources in the CSU Archives

Registration: $50 per person before July 1^st; $65 per person after July 1^st  

Additional information and online registration at the CVGS Fort Collins Website:

http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/events/2016Jul23.cfm

http://www.cu-portland.edu/cvgs-event-registration

German Mush
Makes 4 Servings
Try something different this weekend with a hot, comforting breakfast. This recipe takes a delicious twist on traditional Cream of Wheat.

• 4 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup Cream of Wheat
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (or to taste)
• Butter 
• Optional add-ins:
• Raisins
• Peanuts
• Sliced bananas 

Whisk eggs into milk until froth forms on top and no more egg bits can be seen. Whisk in Cream of Wheat, sugar, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. Cook on stove over medium heat, stirring constantly with flat-tipped wooden spoon to avoid clumping. Cook until mixture begins to boil.

Spoon into bowls and add 1 tablespoon of butter to each. Stir in raisins, peanuts, sliced bananas, or other additions, if desired. 

Christkindlmarkt

Many thanks go out to Sharon White and Dee Hert who worked so hard on our chapter booth at the Christkindlmarkt in December.  Their devotion to this project was amazing and helped spread information about AHSGR and the local chapter.  We appreciate their effort in raising funds for our chapter and working toward increasing our membership.