AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GERMANS FROM RUSSIA
40TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE &
TIME
MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA, CANADA
June 15-21, 2009 Passports
Required!!!
Click here for accomodation information Click here for things to see and do in and around
Medicine Hat Click
here for
convention itinerary(PDF format) Click here for registration
forms(PDF format) Click here for shuttle bus service info from/to Medicine Hat/Calgary.
Click here for Speaker and Entertainer's Bios
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Mark your calendar! Secure your passport!
Pack your bags! You won’t want to miss the 40th Annual
International Convention of the American Historical Society of Germans from
Russia. This landmark event will be held at the Medicine Hat Lodge in Medicine
Hat, Alberta, Canada, June 15 – 21, 2009. The formal convention activities will
kick off on Wednesday, June 17, with Welcome Night and conclude with the
traditional ecumenical church service on Sunday, June 21.
This will be only the third time in our long history
that we have traveled to Canada to
share our heritage and the planning committee in Canada has woven
a red carpet of welcome entitled “Experience of a Life and Time.” Beginning with
Welcome Night, we will celebrate our rich heritage with music, history, culture,
and traditions while greeting our friends and neighbors.
The program is unique to this convention in that many of
our presenters are from Canada. They include Dr. Harry Loewen from Kelowna,
British Columbia, who will share his expertise and knowledge about Volga-Poet
Dominik Hollmann and Dr. Peter Penner from Calgary, Alberta. Elvire Necker-Eberhardt will be speaking
about the retention of the Bessarabian German language that prevailed in the
Medicine Hat area following World
War II. In addition, the program will include Jerry Frank from Calgary, Alberta,
who will speak about “Bug Hollander in Siberia.” Les Brost from Edmonton,
Alberta, will discuss the parallels between the Germans from Russia experience
and that of today’s immigrants to Canada, and Paul Hofer will speak about the Elkwater
Hutterite Colony. A special travelogue program will be presented by Anna
Bartkowski, a member of the tour group that visited Argentina in the fall of
2008.
One of the keynote speakers
will be Alexander
Pfaffenrot from Germany. Wayne
Bonner from Washington will provide information on how to find our origins in
Germany, and Brent Mai and Doris Evans will
also be on hand to share their expertise and knowledge of the history and
heritage of the Germans from Russia. The winners of the 9th Annual Storytelling Contest will be announced
during the Folklore Symposium, a tradition of sharing family stories that is
timeless and always an exciting event. Village Night and a continuation of the
Village Area Workshops and Area Tables that began in 2008 will give villagers an
opportunity to get together, share their information and meet new friends. Area
tables will be set up before Village Night and remain available during the
convention.
The rich heritage of the
Germans from
Russia in
Canada will be
evident in the music at the convention and the area tours that are available.
Programs will include the Wendelin Stang family from Macklin,
Saskatchewan, and Barry Luft &
Faye Reineberg Holt from
Calgary,
Alberta. A concert of area choirs and a
Saturday night dance by the “Softones” will also be highlighted.
Tours will include the Elkwater
Hutterite Colony, Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery, the
Historic
Clay
District, a tour of
Medicine Hat, and a self-guided tour of the Germans from Russia Historic
Sites.
The host hotel is The
Medicine Hat Lodge. A block of
rooms has been reserved at both the Medicine Hat Lodge (1-403-529-2222) and the Comfort Inn Medicine Hat (1-403-504-1700).
All reservations should be made directly with the hotels no later than May 14,
2009, and must be made under the Group Name of “American Historical Society of
Germans from Russia ( AHSGR)” in order to receive the group
rate.
Check the convention
websites for updates on programs, area attractions, and registration
information. The tentative agenda will come out around the first week in April
with pre-registration forms and information. Visit the AHSGR
convention website for more information. You won’t want to miss this exciting
opportunity! If you have questions, please
or email
Leona Mann
or
Mabel
Kiessling.
WANTED
....... 2 ELECTRIC HOT PLATES TO BE USED FOR COOKING
DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE CONVENTION IN JUNE. CALL ANNE STANG AT
403-246-6968
IF ANYONE CAN OFFER A RIDE TO MEDICINE HAT
FOR THOSE WHO ARE FLYING INTO CALGARY PLEASE
