Announcements
Weldon Mersiovsky now has a digitized copy of the Giddings
Deutsches Volksblatt that is on 12 rolls of microfilm at the Barker Texas
History Center in Austin. It is about 4 gb and is about 7339
images. He is working to find other microfilm copies of this
paper so the Texas Wendish Historical Society might have the most complete
collection that exists. He donated the current digitized copy to the
Giddings Library and the to library at the Wendish Society museum.
Weldon's overall purpose is to provide assistance to
Wendish genealogists, historians and researchers by not having to look at
microfilm with a reader but able to see it in the comfort of their own
home. He would like to start a process whereby different
individuals who can read German will peruse the paper to find pieces of history
that will benefit us all. For example:
1. Local histories - There
were correspondents from local communities who would send in the news
from their areas. If someone were willing to translate these reports, we
could develop an anthology to help create a picture of what the communities were
like in the early 1900's as we transitioned from a Wendish community to a German
community and then English.
2. Marriages - Perhaps someone would like to
take on the project of translating the marriage reports.
3. Letters - There were letters from Germany
that were published in the newspaper, and these need to be translated.
4. Advertisements - Many of our ancestors
advertised in the paper. You might find the occupation of an
ancestor.
If you have the ability to translate German and would like to help with this project, or if you would simply like to have your own copy for your personal research, contact Weldon at weldon@ecpi.com or 512-863-6418.
Calendar of events
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May 16, 2010 | Quarterly Membership Meeting
2:00 p.m., Kilian Building, Museum complex
Come
join us for a short business meeting and then stay for a program
presented by some of our "old timers", who will share memories and funny stories of long ago from their years attending St. Paul Lutheran School at Serbin.
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February 27, 2010
May 22, 2010
August 21, 2010
November 27, 2010
| Family History Workshop, Peter Building
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
$15 per person or $25 per couple
Bring
a sack lunch and your laptop, copy of your family tree or other records
to help us help you. We can get you started in your family history
search or help you solve a puzzle. Weldon Mersiovsky, who has more
years' experience in genealogy than he cares to remember, will be here
to help you find sources online or in our extensive genealogy library.
For more information, please contact Weldon Mersiovsky at
weldon@ecpi.com or 512-863-6418. |
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May 30, 2010
| Serbin Homecoming Picnic, St. Paul Lutheran Church picnic grounds. Enjoy great barbecue, fellowship, and have a tour of the museum while you are here.
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June 11-13, 2010
| Texas Folklife Festival, Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio. Come see our booth at the festival and have a bowl of Wendish noodles!
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August 15, 2010
| Quarterly Membership Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Kilian Building, Museum complex
Following a brief business meeting, the program will be presented by a representative from the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas. Bring a snack or a sweet to share, and join us as we learn all about the rose bushes that are growing in the museum garden and take a tour of the garden!
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September 26, 2010
| Twenty-Second Annual Wendish Fest
Museum complex and St. Paul picnic grounds in Serbin, Texas.
Featured performance by the Road Runners Square Dance Club of La Grange, TX!
Kornelia Thor of Leipzig, Germany will also be here to demonstrate Wendish Easter egg decorating and will have her beautifully decorated eggs available for purchase!
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Newsletters
Selected articles from previous issues
Previous issues:
Membership Update
We have set a record during 2009 for the number of members who are at Patron level or higher. Currently, there are 266 members who have joined at the Patron level or above. In 2008, we set a record with 234.
Our appeal for donations to the building repair, landscape, and genealogy funds has been successful. To date, over $2300 has been contributed from over 100 members who added something extra with their membership contributions.
One less encouraging note is that we have 893 new and renewing members at this time versus 910 at the same time last year. We have a lower number of first-time members and a small lag in renewals.
A note of thanks is given to many of our members who help recruit new members.