March

GGS E-Connect
Newsletter of the Germanic Genealogy Society
  February 2008 

This issue of GGS E-Connect contains:

• GGS Winter Workshop
• Beginning Germanic Genealogy Class
• GGS Calendar
• President's Message
• Volunteers are Needed
• Germanic Genealogy Journal Needs Your Help
• GGS Board Meeting Highlights
• How to Buy Germanic Genealogy
• Out and About
• GGJ Editor Says "Thank You"
• Website Picks
• Membership Renewal

Germanic Genealogy Society
2008 Winter Workshop
Saturday, March 8

Location and Parking

Minnesota Genealogical Society
1185 Concord Street
South St. Paul, Minnesota
First Floor Auditorium
For a map and pictures of the building, go to http://mngs.org/library.shtml
Free parking on the north and south sides of the building.  (South lot currently being repaired.)

Program - German Language and Gothic Script in Church Records.  This meeting will focus on reading German church records: translating German words that you encounter and deciphering the Gothic script (old German handwriting). Researching German church records can help you trace your family back many generations by reading baptism, marriage and death records.

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.              Registration
9:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.            German Language in Church Records - Kent Cutkomp
10:40 a.m. to 12 noon              Gothic Script
12 noon to 12:30 p.m.              Question and Answer session - Lois Edwards

 Registration - $10 at the door 

Beginning Germanic Genealogy Class

GGS is offering a two-session beginning genealogy class based on the Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy.  This class, in conjunction with the Guide, will teach you what  you need to know to begin researching in Germanic lands.  An optional third session described below will help you make sense of German church records.

Dates:          Saturday, February 16, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
                         Saturday, February 23, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.                                        
Instructor:   Lois Hemmeter Edwards, author of the Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy, editor of  the Germanic Genealogy Journal, and past president of the Germanic Genealogy Society, with 20 years experience researching German ancestors
Topics:         Introduction and Research Goals
                         Names and Places
                         Geography and History
                         Emigration Patterns
Location:     Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord Street, So. St. Paul, Minnesota, Fourth Floor Board Room
                         For a map go to http://mngs.org/library.shtml
                         Free parking is available on both the north and south sides of the building. 

Cost:           $35 including a copy of the Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy
                        $20 for those who already have a copy of the Beginner's Guide
To Register:  Send a check made out to the Germanic Genealogy Society to:                                                                                                    Germanic Genealogy Society
                                 c/o Beth Baumeister
                                 1124 Bellows Street
                                 West St. Paul, MN  55118-2103                     
Optional Third Session:  To round out your introduction to Germanic genealogy research, you can also attend the GGS Winter Workshop (see details above). 

Questions:     If you have questions, send an e-mail to lahedwards@comcast.net

GGS Calendar
March 8, 2008:           Winter Workshop - (see above for details)
May 2 - 3, 2008          Spring Conference

• Location - Luther Seminary in St. Paul
• Speaker - Marion Wolfert , who is a German specialist with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and has been an Accredited Genealogist since 1980.   Ms. Wolfert  spoke at the GGS Conference in October 1999 and will be the keynote speaker at the Palatines to America National Conference to be held June 19 – 21, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio

June 14, 2008             Minnesota Genealogical Society Branching Out meeting at MGS Building
October 11, 2008        Fall Workshop at MGS Building

November 8,  2008     GGS Annual Meeting at Gasthof zur Gemütlichkeit in Minneapolis, MN

President's Message

Guten Tag! Grüss Gott!  Greetings to GGS members! We are looking forward to an exciting year.

We are focusing this year’s meetings on topics you most prefer.  Our  four general meetings this year (March 8, May 2/3, Oct. 11 and Nov. 8) will be on helpful German genealogy topics. In addition, Lois Edwards is supplementing our programs by providing a very informative beginner class in February (see full announcement in a separate section of this E-Connect).

Many thanks to Del Thomas for her wonderful years of service as GGS Librarian. We welcome new librarian Fred Sauer and his assistant Carol Mahre.

Throughout the year let me or other board members know what information or assistance you would like from our group.

Best of luck with your research!  I look forward to seeing you at our meetings!
Kent Cutkomp

Volunteers are needed

If you can help out in the following or in any other areas, please contact volunteer chair, Bob Rowe (651-407-0017 or email:  rarthurrowe@comcast.net ):

• Marketing for our two books, Germanic Genealogy and Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy
• Program publicity
• Co-chairing a meeting
• Helping with registration and hospitality at GGS meetings

Germanic Genealogy Journal Needs Your Help

We need your paragraphs about your ancestors in 1858, the year Minnesota became a state. By writing a short article on this topic, you can help out the GGJ and also celebrate Minnesota's 150th anniversary as a state.  

• What were your ancestors doing 150 years ago?
• Where did  they live? in the U.S. or in Europe? How old were they?
• What was their occupation?

Choose one (or two) of your most interesting ancestors who were alive in 1858 and write a paragraph about him or her.

Please send your paragraphs (or longer articles) to the GGJ editor at lahedwards@comcast.net by April 1, 2008.  Sooner is even better.  We need your help!  No 1858-articles have been received as of January 25.

GGS Board Meeting HIghlights

GGS Board Meetings are open to all members. Meetings are held at the MGS Building, 1185 Concord Street, So. St. Paul, MN, in the fourth floor board room. The next scheduled meeting will be on March 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

The GGS Board met on December 6, 2007, and January 10, 2008.  Following is a high-level summary of the meetings.

• Upcoming Meetings.  During these meetings the Board scheduled and planned the membership meetings for 2008.
• GGS Treasury.  The Board noted that GGS is in sound financial condition, with slightly more money on hand than at the end of 2006, even after covering the printing costs for the third edition of Germanic Genealogy.  After review, the Board concluded that it is succeeding in its goal of breaking even on the cost of membership meetings. 
• Relocation of MGS.  President Kent Cutkomp updated the Board on the MGS Library move and the facilities now available for use by GGS, including the boardroom on the fourth floor, the auditorium on the first floor, and a storage facility, also on the first floor. 
• Beginning Germanic Genealogy Classes.  Lois Edwards presented a proposal for a two-session beginners class, which was discussed and approved by the Board.
• GGS Library. The Board welcomed Fred Sauer and Carol Mahre as the new GGS librarians.  A current project is making progress on cataloging and shelving a backlog of books.  A good part of this work is being done by Jan and Kermit Frye.  The GGS library is located at Concordia College.
• Program topics.  The Board reviewed the results of the membership survey conducted at the November 10 meeting to determine the needs and wishes of the membership.  Many of the more popular topics will be incorporated into future GGS meetings.

How to buy Germanic Genealogy by mail
If you are unable to attend the next GGS meeting, you can order your copy of the newly released third edition of Germanic Genealogy by mail.  Just send a check or money order made payable to GGS.  The price is $44 for members and $49 for non-members.  Add six dollars for shipping and handling.  Minnesota residents must also pay 6.5% sales tax.  Along with your check, include the following information:

• Your name
• Your GGS membership number
• Your address
• Your phone number, including area code. 

Mail your order to GGS, Sales Committee, PO Box 16312, St. Paul, MN  55116-0312.  Better yet, attend the Fall Workshop on October 6 and buy your copy without paying shipping and handling charges.

Out and About

Minnesota Genealogical Society Events.  MGS is holding a Genealogy Spotlight Lecture Series with events on February 23, April 12, May 10, October 11, and November 8. The program on February 23 begins at 10:00 a.m. and features Paula Stuart-Warren talking on "Researching Your American Indian Ancestors."  Register by Feb. 20 to guarantee space. Each session is $12 for MGS members and $15 for nonmembers. All sessions are at the MGS Building in So. St. Paul.   For more information on the series and a complete listing of MGS and branch activities, refer to http://www.mngs.org/mgscalendar.shtml

Intermediate Genealogy Classes Sponsored by the MGS.  The Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) will present a series of lectures on Intermediate Genealogy, to be held at the Minnesota History Center. The series will lead students through all of the key record types and the necessary skills for success in genealogy. Each core lecture will be offered by experienced and knowledgeable genealogical speakers. Lectures will be the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 and noon.  For registration information and a detailed description of each class go to http://mngs.org/classes.shtml#intermediate

Pommern Regional Group – All meetings are at the MGS building in So. St. Paul, MN on the first Saturday of the month from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  See  www.rootsweb.com/~mnprgm/PRG.html for more detail.

February 2 - "Heart of Pommern” Celebration. At this event people share treasures such as photos, maps, and books from Pommern.
March 1 - Tech day with Bob Rowe. Learn how to cut and paste, how to attach photos to an e-mail, and any other questions you have.
April 5 - Translation meeting. Very popular. Bring one page of German to be translated into English.

Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota - March 1.   The Polish group has scheduled a meeting on March 1 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the MGS Building, in So. St. Paul, MN, fourth floor boardroom.  The topic is  "Single Name Studies."   PGS Board member, Jay Biedny, will discuss the process of tracking all ancestors with a rare surname to try to find their common root. His work is applicable to your research whether Polish or not.

Czech Genealogical Society International Quarterly Meeting - March 15.  This group will meet Saturday, March 15, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to discuss "Czech Language and History"   The meeting will be at the MGS Building in So. St. Paul, MN.

Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America

February 2, 2008 - This meeting, entitled "Low German - What it is and How to Learn the Language" will be held at Becketwood, 4300 West River Parkway, Minneapolis from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on February 2, 2008.  Lübbert Kruizenga will speak.  For directions, call Zella @ 651-452-2574.  The meeting will be held in the lower level of the chapel.
March 8, 2008 - This is a "Research Saturday," which will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the OGSA Library located at the MGS Building in So. St. Paul, MN.   Please RSVP to ogsa@ogsa.us your intent to attend so that an adequate number of staff volunteers will be available to assist you. WiFi is available if you wish to bring your laptop.  Research day will be canceled in case of severe weather.

GGJ Editor Says "Thank You"

Special thanks to all of the GGS members who have contributed time, effort, and talent during 2007 to create Volume 10 of the Germanic Genealogy Journal. More than 25 members helped to make it possible.    Lois Edwards, GGJ Editor

Authors

Darcy Boock                                 Ruth Bowyer                                Kent Cutkomp

Kathy Deiss                                   Theresa Dirksen                           Lois Hemmeter Edwards

Debbe Hagner                               Julie Holles                                   Eileen Brandt Holt

Cindy Jacobson                             Susan Mattern                              Margaret Perry

Lorraine Esterly Pierce                   Josef W. Rokus                            Maynard G. Sautter

Delphine Richter Thomas               Donna Hollerung Turbes                Deb Vevea

Eugene Will 

Proofreading and Editing
Ruth Bowyer                                  Robert Cassens                            Clarence Feltman
Vern Kading                                  Margaret Perry                              Jerry Edwards

Mailing and Labels
John & Carolyn Johnson                Kermit Frye         

Website Picks
Each edition of GGS E-Connect will feature some Internet sites that might be useful in your research.  If you have sites that have been helpful to you, let us know by sending an e-mail to ggsconnect@yahoo.com.  In this issue, we feature the websites of some organizations that focus on the history and genealogy of Germany.

• www.rootsweb.com/~gbhs/index.html - German-Bohemian Heritage Society.
• www.ahsgr.org - American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.
• www.grhs.org. - Germans from Russia Heritage Society.
• www.palam.org - Palatines to America.
• www.ogsa.us - Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America
• http://users.rootsweb.com/~mnprgm/PRG.html - Pommern Regional Group of Minnesota
• www.magsgen.com - Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society
• www.sacgergensoc.org - Sacramento German Genealogy Society

Membership Renewal
Are you wondering when or how to renew your GGS membership?  Look on the mailing label of your latest GGS Journal for your membership expiration date. When it's time to renew, fill out a membership form and send it, along with your check for $12, to GGS, Membership Committee, PO Box 16312, St. Paul, MN  55116-0312.  You will find a membership form on the last page of the Journal, or you can find it in the online membership brochure at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/Members/brochure.pdf.

For additional information about the Germanic Genealogy Society, visit our website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/GGS.html

To unsubscribe:  Send an e-mail to ggsconnect@yahoo.com with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.  State your name in the body of the message. GGS members who unsubscribe will then receive printed copies of GGS E-Connect via U.S. mail.
To update your e-mail address:  Send an e-mail to ggsconnect@yahoo.com with "New e-mail address" in the subject line.  Be sure to state your name and your new e-mail address.

September 2007 In this issue of GGS E-Connect

• GGS Fall Workshop
• GGS Calendar
• President's Message
• GGS Board Meeting Highlights
• How to Buy Germanic Genealogy
• Out and About
• New Home for MGS
• Website Picks
• Membership Renewal
• Request for Comments

GGS has just released the third edition of Germanic Genealogy, authored by six of our members for the benefit of the organization.  The authors are Edward R. Brandt, Ph.D., Mary Sutter Bellingham, Kent Cutkomp, Kermit Frye, Patricia Adams Lowe, and Paul Sternberg.  At our Fall Workshop, they will guide us through the book and answer our questions about it.  Join us as we acknowledge their remarkable accomplishment and learn all about this valuable resource.

At the fall workshop, you can

• help celebrate the recent release of the third edition
• learn how to use the book, all 658 pages of it
• get up to speed on the features of the new edition
• buy your own copy without paying shipping and handling fees

Bag lunch:  Bring a bag lunch and stay for an informal lunch gathering.  This is your opportunity to socialize and network with other GGS members. Visit with people who have ties to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and other Germanic speaking areas.  Meet and speak with the authors.

GGS Calendar
November 10, 2007 - GGS Annual meeting

• Location:  Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit, 2300 University Avenue N.E., Minneapolis. MN
• Time:  Registration at 11:30 a.m.; lunch at 12:00 noon. 
• Speaker:  LaVern Rippley, Ph.D., professor of German and German-American Studies, St. Olaf University.  Go to http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/german/faculty/rippley.html to learn more about Dr. Rippley.
• Topic:  German Migration to and German Settlements in the Midwest

May 2 and 3, 2008 - GGS Spring Conference

• Location -  Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
• Speaker - Marion Wolfert , who is a German specialist with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and has been an Accredited Genealogist since 1980.   Ms. Wolfert  spoke at the GGS Conference in October 1999 and will be the keynote speaker at the Palatines to America National Conference to be held June 19 21, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio

Other 2008 GGS meeting dates to be announced.

President's Message
Guten Tag! Grüss Gott!  Greetings to GGS members!

On April 19, MGS hosted an awards banquet where each branch honored a few selected volunteers. The following five GGS volunteers were honored at this year's banquet held at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul:

• Ed Brandt - co-author Germanic Genealogy, 3rd edition, Journal contributor
• Kent Cutkomp - president, co-author Germanic Genealogy, 3rd edition, FEEFHS co-chair
• Lois Edwards - Journal editor, author of Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy, past president
• Kermit Frye - membership database, co-author Germanic Genealogy, 3rd edition, past president, labels
• Donna Turbes - corresponding secretary, publication sales, assistant journal editor, Journal contributor

Vielen Dank (Many thanks) to each of the above honorees and to the many other faithful GGS volunteers who make our organization successful! <>

Conference speaker Baerbel Johnson from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City provided us with a very enjoyable conference in May at Concordia University. Also in May, GGS authors completed and published the 3rd edition of Germanic Genealogy all 658 pages! A very big thank you to each of the co-authors for their tremendous effort: Ed Brandt, Kermit Frye, Mary Bellingham, Pat Lowe, Paul Sternberg and Kent Cutkomp.

Volunteers are needed
If you can help out in any of the following areas, please contact volunteer chair, Bob Rowe (651-407-0017 or email:  rarthurrowe@comcast.net ):

• Marketing for our two books, Germanic Genealogy and Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy
• Library, publicity, and regional resources chairs
• Helping with registration and hospitality at GGS meetings 
• Helping the committee of your choice

We are seeking candidates for the 2008 GGS Board.  Specifically, we hope you will consider becoming president, vice-president, secretary or one of two members-at-large.  If you are interested or have a candidate to suggest, please contact me at  kcutcomp@comcast.net.

Look forward to seeing you at one of our meetings!
Kent Cutkomp

GGS Board Meeting HIghlights

GGS Board Meetings are open to all members.  Meetings are held at the MGS Library, 5768 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN.  The next scheduled meeting will be on October 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. 
Highlights of the August 23, 2007 meeting include:

Upcoming Meetings.  We discussed and planned for upcoming membership meetings.

Recent successes.  Since the last board meeting we published the Third Edition of Germanic Genealogy and enjoyed an information-packed conference with Baerbel Johnson.

Book Sales.  Donna Turbes reported that we have sold over 150 copies (now over 170) of Germanic Genealogy since May.

Journal.  Lois Edwards described the next issue of the Journal and said that it is filled with many wonderful articles. Lois is always looking for articles for future Journal issues. The deadline for the next issue is October 1.  Articles on Germans in the Civil War would be especially appreciated for the next issue.
FGS Conference.  Donna and Lois also reported on the FGS Conference held in August at Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They sold a lot of books and signed up more than 20 new GGS members. The conference had 10 simultaneous sessions including one devoted to German research. Next years FGS conference will be held in Philadelphia.  <>

Library Chair Vacancy.  Due to a relocation, Del Thomas has resigned as Library Chair.

Nominating Committee.   The Nominating Committee is forming to find candidates for 2008 officers.   They are searching for people interested in the following positions. 

• <>President
• <>Vice-president
• <>Secretary
• <>Library chair
• <>Publicity chair
• <>Regional Resources chairs
• <>Two members-at-large

 The GGS Board of Directors currently includes:

• Kent Cutkomp, president
• Julie Holles, treasurer
• Beth and Carl Baumeister, members at large
• Ruth Bowyer, member at large 
• Linda Lange, member at large
• Karen Schroeder, member at large
• Lois Edwards, Journal editor
• Donna Turbes, corresponding secretary
• Bob Rowe, volunteer coordinator
• Mary Bellingham, research
• Lil Hopponen, membership

How to buy Germanic Genealogy by mail
If you are unable to attend the fall workshop, you can order your copy of the newly released third edition of Germanic Genealogy by mail.  Just send a check or money order made payable to GGS.  The price is $44 for members and $49 for non-members.  Add six dollars for shipping and handling.  Minnesota residents must also pay 6.5% sales tax.  Along with your check, include the following information:

• Your name
• Your GGS membership number
• Your address
• Your phone number, including area code. 

Out and About
Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) Annual Seminar

• Saturday, September 29, 2007
• Featuring John Philip Colletta, Ph.D.
• Location:  Olson Campus Center Chapel, Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota
• For more information about the program, Dr. Colletta and registration, go to http://mngs.org/quarterly.shtml

Dates for 2008 MGS Quarterly Meetings

•  March 29 -Greater Minnesota
•  June 14 - Branching Out Meeting to be held at new MGS library
•  Sept. 27 - Annual Meeting
•  Dec. 6 - Fort Snelling

Intermediate Genealogy Classes Sponsored by the MGS
The Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) will present a series of lectures on Intermediate Genealogy, to be held at the Minnesota History Center. The series will lead students through all of the key record types and the necessary skills for success in genealogy. Each core lecture will be offered by experienced and knowledgeable genealogical speakers. Lectures will be the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 and noon.  Each pair of lectures costs $28 for MGS and MHS members, $32 for non-members. Classes will be limited to 30 and will be held in the Fraternal Congress Classroom at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W. in St. Paul (corner of John Ireland & Kellogg boulevards). 

For registration information and a detailed description of each class go to http://mngs.org/classes.shtml#intermediate

New Home for MGS
The Minnesota Genealogical Society will soon move to its new home at 1185 Concord Street North, South St. Paul, Minnesota.  This easy-to-find location (south of I-94 and north of I-494) is the former CENEX headquarters. Its distinctive exterior features multi-colored squares, which cause some people to refer to it as the "Rubik's Cube Building."  

Key dates:

• Now through Wednesday, October 24:  MGS Library open during its usual hours in its current location
• October 25 through November 9:  MGS Library closed for moving
• November 10:   MGS Library re-opens at its new location
• December 1:    Open House at the new library following the MGS meeting at Fort Snelling

Website Picks
Each edition of GGS E-Connect will feature some Internet sites that might be useful in your research.  If you have sites that have been helpful to you, let us know by sending an e-mail to ggsconnect@yahoo.com.   This time we have a miscellany of sites for your consideration:

• www.eh.net/hmit   This is the Economic History Services site, where you can ask for a historic conversion for dollars or pounds to 2005 dollars. This site can help you figure out, for example, how much your ancestor's estate would have been worth in current dollars. In addition, the site shows the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and 40 other currencies from 1913 to 2005. 
• www.staatsarchive.de .  This site contains information about and addresses for all the state archives in present-day Germany (in German)
• www.timeanddate.com/worldclock .  This is a world clock for major cities.  You can also click on the city for its weather forecast.  

Membership Renewal
Are you wondering when or how to renew your GGS membership?  Look on the mailing label of your latest GGS Journal for your membership expiration date. When it's time to renew, fill out a membership form and send it, along with your check for $12, to GGS, Membership Committee, PO Box 16312, St. Paul, MN  55116-0312.  You will find a membership form on the last page of the Journal, or you can find it in the online membership brochure at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/Members/brochure.pdf.

Request for Comments
We'd like to know what you think of the GGS e-communications.  Is the content useful?  Do the messages display correctly on your computer screen?  Do you have ideas you'd like to share?  Send your comments and suggestions to GGSconnect@yahoo.com with "Comment" in the subject line.

April 2007 - This issue of GGS E-Connect contains:

• GGS Spring Conference (see attached pre-registration form)
• GGS Calendar
• President's Message
• GGS Board Meeting Highlights
• Out and About
• Essay contest
• New technology at MGS
• Website Picks
• Membership Renewal
• Request for Comments

 Germanic Genealogy Society
2007 Spring Conference
Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5, 2007
Concordia University, 275 Syndicate Street N., St. Paul, MN
Presented by
Baerbel Johnson
International Librarian, Family History Library, Salt Lake City

Pre-registration deadline is April 27.  See registration form attached.

Friday, May 4.    Concordia University, Library Technology Building, Room 214.
(Building is southeast of the corner of Concordia and Hamline Avenues.)
6:30 pm         Registration
7:00 pm         Announcements & Introductions
7:10 pm         Understanding Occupations in German Research.  An overview of German society between the 16th and 20th Centuries, this session explains the positions of farmers and artisans in rural communities and shows how feudal controls, taxes, and other obligations affected their lives.

Saturday, May 5.  Concordia University, Music Auditorium in the Herbert P. Muetow Music Center.  (Building is in the center of the campus, just south of the Library Technology Building.)
8:30 am         Registration
9:00 am         Announcements and Introductions
9:10 am         Strategies for Solving German Research Problems.  The lack of an exact birth place, naming practices, record limitations, and other problems often make it difficult to document a German ancestor.  This class explains various research principles and strategies that can be used to locate elusive family members in German records.

10:40 am       German Research on the Internet.  The Internet is fast becoming the genealogist's best friend!  Learn how you can use it to locate towns and find research helps, addresses, pictures, and background material for your German ancestor's family history.

12:10 pm       Delicious German lunch served at Concordia University cafeteria.  The menu includes sauerbraten, bratwurst, German potato salad, and red cabbage.  Soup, salad, and Black Froest cherry cake will round out the meal.

1:45 pm         Solving German Emigration Problems.  Sometimes it takes "thinking outside the box" to solve tough research problems.  In this class several case studies demonstrate innovative use of resources to locate German ancestors' places of origin.

3:10 pm         So you think you want to get married...Marriage Laws and Customs in Germany.  Imagine having to get written permission from the town council before you can get a marriage license, after presenting a sworn affidavit listing your assets and income!  Learn about marriage laws, restrictions, and customs that directly affected the lives of your German ancestors and often contributed to their decision to emigrate.

Questions about the conference?  Call Kent Cutkomp at (612) 920-8118, or visit the GGS website at www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/GGS.html.

Directions and map.  Concordia University is located in St. Paul  immediately south of Interstate 94 between the Snelling Avenue and Lexington Parkway exits. For a map of the campus go to http://www.csp.edu/AboutUs/maps/color_campus_map.pdf

Parking.  You may park directly on Concordia Ave. (the Interstate 94 south frontage road) or in one of three lots: immediately north of the library off Concordia Ave. or on either side of Hamline just south of Concordia Ave.

Lunch.  If you wish to have the Saturday lunch, you must pre-register.
 

GGS Calendar

April 14, all day - MGS Branching Out Meeting, Lake Junior High School, Woodbury, MN

GGS presentation: "Web sites for Germanic Genealogy" by Kent Cutkomp and other GGS members.  GGS will also have a display table.  For information on other presentations, go to http://www.mngs.org/quarterly.shtml

May 4 & 5 - GGS Spring Conference

• Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
• Presenter:  Baerbel Johnson, international librarian at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City

October 6 - Fall Workshop

• Location and program to be announced

November 10 - GGS Annual meeting

• Location and program to be announced

President's Message
Guten Tag! Grüss Gott!  Greetings to GGS members!
 
GGS is a successful organization due to the efforts of its many excellent volunteers. On April 19, MGS will host an awards banquet where each branch will honor a few selected volunteers. MGS plans to hold this banquet on an annual basis. For more info go to  www.mngs.org   The process of selecting this years GGS honorees for the MGS banquet was difficult because there are so many wonderful helpers. I am including an alphabetical list of these volunteers. My apologies if anyone was inadvertently left off. 

Current or recent long time board members and selected volunteers who have contributed regularly within past five years:

Volunteers are needed
If you can help out in any of the following areas, please contact volunteer chair, Bob Rowe (651-407-0017 or email:  rarthurrowe@comcast.net ):

• Filling mail orders for the new edition of Germanic Genealogy
• Marketing for our two books, Germanic Genealogy and Beginner's Guide to Germanic Genealogy
• Library chair
• Cataloging GGS materials at the Concordia University Library
• Helping with registration and hospitality at GGS meetings 

Wishing you an enjoyable year of research!
Kent Cutkomp

GGS Board Meeting Highlights
GGS Board Meetings are open to all members.  Meetings are held at the MGS Library 5768 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN.  The next scheduled meeting will be on August 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.     

During its late 2006 and early 2007 meetings, the board focused on the following: 

• GGS membership meetings:  Debriefed past GGS meetings, scheduled and planned for the four meetings to be held in 2007, and started planning the 2008 meetings.
• Third edition of Germanic Genealogy:  A Guide to Worldwide Sources and Migration Patterns.  Discussed pricing and promotion of the third edition of this book, which will be published by GGS later this year.  The price for the 670-page book will be $49 for nonmembers and $44 for members.  Volunteers are needed to help market the book and to ship out mail order copies.
• Library collection.  Explored ways of collaborating even more effectively with the Concordia University library staff.  GGS volunteers are needed to help catalog new GGS materials, which will help us gain access to new resources more quickly.  In addition, GGS is seeking a new librarian since Del Thomas is no longer living in the area. 
• MGS affiliation.  Discussed items of interest regarding the Minnesota Genealogical Society, of which GGS is a branch member.  Items included MGSs request for a list of our needs so that it can consider them as it plans for its upcoming relocation and a discussion of GGS honorees to be announced at the MGS Awards Banquet.
• Communication with membership.  Decided to resume issuance of our newsletter via e-mail.  It will be called GGS E-Connect.  Members without e-mail will receive hard copies of it by U.S. mail.  In addition, timely e-mail reminders will be sent via e-mail and called GGS E-News.
• GGS Journal.  Heard from the editor Lois Edwards that she is soliciting articles for future issues.  Members and non-members alike are eligible to have their submissions considered for publication. 
• Website.  Commended Eileen Lund-Johnson for her work on the GGS website.
• Long Range Planning. The GGS Board would love to hear from members with suggestions to improve our society: our programs, journal, communication, website or other areas. Suggestions may be sent to GGSConnect @yahoo.com.

Out and About

• German genealogical conferences of interest around the Midwest in 2007.  This link provides a description and link to each of the conferences:  www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/Misc_Conferences/ConfList.htm
• German Genealogy Seminar sponsored by the Blue Hills Genealogical Society in Barron County, WI on March 17, 2007. The speaker is Stephen Barthel, who has 21 years of experience as European Reference Consultant at the FHL, five years tracing genealogies of VIPS, and has published more than 25 family history book. He will talk about publishing strategies, beginning research into US and German records, and using passenger lists with the Internet to find ancestral localities and gazetteers to locate church and civil records.  More information at http://www.rootsweb.com/~wibhgsbc/announcements.htm
• German Interest Group-Wisconsin on July 14, 2007 at Whitewater University, Whitewater, WI.  Larry Jensen will speak. More information at www.rootsweb.com/~wigig/workshop_page1-general_info.html
• German Interest Group of Iowa, July 30, 2007.  Ernest Thode will address the group at the Des Moines Botanical Center.  More information at www.iowagenealogy.org/sigs/german.html
• Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America Bi-Annual Conference in the Twin Cities on August 15-19, 2007.  Speakers from Ostfriesland.  Mini sessions will be taught be experts in all areas of Ostfriesen research, culture and customs.  More information at www.ogsa.us FGS/ACPL Conference, Ford Wayne, Indiana, August 15 - 18, 2007. "A Meeting at the Crossroads of America."   The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), of which GGS is a member, holds a major conference annually.  This year in Fort Wayne, it is adjacent to the newly renovated Allen County Public Library, with its excellent genealogy collection.  Sessions include German and other ethnic-group genealogy, as well as American genealogy and general research techniques.  For more information go to www.fgsconference.org.
   

Essay Contest
The Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society is sponsoring an essay contest focused on "Contributions of German-speaking Immigrants and/or Their Descendants to American Culture and Society."  For more information go to http://www.magsgen.com/magsessaycontest.html.

New Technology at MGS
Thanks to its Technology Committee, the MGS library has made several significant upgrades over recent months. It now offers Internet access at its computers, wireless access for members who bring their own laptops, and use of the library editions of Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest.  In addition, there are six new computers at the library, and the MGS technology committee is working to make scanners available. 

The committee is looking for time, talent, and money to put toward future technology improvements. If you can help with time and talent, contact Jim LaValle at jimlavalle@comcast.net.  Or send a cash donation to Minnesota Genealogical Society, Attention: Tech Fund, 5768 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN  55422.  You can also make donations through PayPal at http://www.mngs.org/donatepaypal.shtml.

Website Picks
Each edition of GGS E-Connect will feature some Internet sites that might be useful in your research.  If you have sites that have been helpful to you, let us know by sending an e-mail to ggsconnect@yahoo.com.  This issue's picks are all about newspapers:

• www.thepaperboy.com.   This free website links to thousands of newspaper websites both in the USA and around the world. You will find some foreign newspapers published online in English.
• www.newspaperarchive.com.  This subscription site allows you to browse its list of 650 historical newspapers, some dating back 239 years.  If you're organized and quick, you could make good use of its 14-day free trial period.

Membership Renewal
Are you wondering when or how to renew your GGS membership?  Look on the mailing label of your latest GGS Journal for your membership expiration date. When it's time to renew, fill out a membership form and send it, along with your check for $12, to GGS, Membership Committee, PO Box 16312, St. Paul, MN  55116-0312.  You will find a membership form on the last page of the Journal, or you can find it in the online membership brochure at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnggs/Members/brochure.pdf.

Request for Comments
We'd like to know what you think of our new e-communications.  Is the content useful?  Do the messages display correctly on your computer screen?  Do you have ideas you'd like to share?  Send your comments and suggestions to GGSconnect@yahoo.com with "Comment" in the subject line.

Even if you already use the Family History Library (FHL), this workshop will teach you additional techniques for tapping its rich resources.  You'll learn about:

• Methods for researching your German ancestors using the FHL and your local Family History Center (FHC)
• Some little known but highly useful features of familysearch.org
• FHC basics, like how to order microfilmed records
• FHL's online research guides
• FHL's growing collection of digital books
• Exciting new developments at the FHL in Salt Lake City.

Plan now to attend this informative session.  And invite your friends.  This session is relevant to anyone interested in genealogy, regardless of their ancestorscountries of origin.  Please forward this announcement to friends who may be interested.  Everyone is welcome!

Date:            Saturday, March 10, 2007
Time:            8:30 a.m. to noon
Place:           Minnesota Genealogy Library

• 5768 Olson Memorial Highway on the north side service road of State Highway 55 (Olson Memorial Highway) just west of Highway 100 in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
• Free parking is available behind the building.
• Map at www.mngs.org/library.shtml

Registration:  $5.00 at the door

Older issues of Connect.
 

© 2009 Germanic Genealogy Society
PO Box 16312
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55116-0312
For further information regarding the GGS organization send email queries to: GGS Queries.

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