Czech/Slovak Interest Group January 27, 2007 Meeting Report

Another productive meeting!

We talked about the April 2008 CGSI Symposium in the Seattle area. After reading the list of our responsibilities from Paul Matousky of CGSI, we decided it would be a "go". We got some great ideas for speakers, ideas for tourist trips, and having dinner on a boat on Puget Sound. Allan Pescek will talk with Cindi from Cindi's list ( who lives in Tacoma) as keynote speaker. He will also have suggestions for the symposium venue. This will be the second or third weekend in April 2008. Allan and Julie send their greeting from Texas, as they are on a SW trip.

Treats! There were wonderful treats to sustain us thru the meeting and Austria Military workshop. From cookies to sweetbreads to kolach we were well fed, just as my grandmother would have provided the minute I walked in her door. Thank you everyone!!

The CGSI Conference will be in Madison, WI, October 18 to 20, 2007. I plan on going and was happy to hear Karen Hobbs will be speaking on Military Records at this conference. She helped me SO MUCH with the presentation I gave today.

I shared the book, " In Excellent Company, the History of Kusak Cut Glass Works" with the group. Kusak Glass has a long history in Seattle. Also I bought on ebay an old book from 1882, 'Castles, Palaces and Strongholds" that gives info about castles in the NE corner of Bohemia. It has information and pictures about Litomysl, where my Great Grandmother Kure was born. It is in bad shape but still as good information in it. Eric Taylor recommended I take it to UW libraries to have it rebound.

Bev Ryder brought the jewel of the day, CESKE A SLOVENSKI LIDOVE KROJE, a lovely book she bought on eBay. I n color are lovely Czech and Slovak national costumes pictures.I must find my village kroje if they are in this book. It is in Czech but has an English description in the back.

Gladys Shipek brought a couple bottles of the Czech liquor Becherovka. She does not want it so both bottles found a new home. And again, we send sincere sympathy to Gladys that her Bob passed away about two weeks ago. His spirit will abound in Gladys as she continues to come to our meetings.

Janet Roach has been looking at the new ship record sites and found herself in 1956 when her family sailed to Europe and back!!!

Fred Gessner is interested in finding more information about his grandfather in the military records. Fred helped me with German pronunciations during the workshop!

Eric Taylor and his wife took a successful genealogy trip to NYC. They both stood at Castle Garden and Ellis Island where their ancestors walked. A nostalgic time. They actually helped relatives do more of their genelaogy thru ancestry.com which was free at that time.

Marilyn Arnoldi has managed to get her sister to work on their family genealogy thru websites we have shared!!!

Norb Ziegler has put more meat on the bones of his ancestors due to Dr. Lorraine Mc Conaghy's talk to EGS about newspaper research! He has used the New York Times index to find information about his grandfather's arrival in NYC. The New York Times database is free to library card holders on the King County Library web site. http://www.kcls.org/ Look for the New York Times Historical Backfile under Databases. It contains articles from New York Daily Times (1851-1857) and New York Times (1857-2001).

Tom Sernka needs some input on Czech Culture (Czech-ness) for a culture class his is taking.Tom's email address is: [email protected] Please write him with any input about traditions, folk dress, music, language, etc.

Collie Liska accomplished the best thing ever on a Thanksgiving trip to Pittsburgh. He mended a past problem in his family by sharing his genealogy research with relatives there. It is all mended. Don't we all wish we could do that! They also visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters. Collie also suggest going to the Tenement Museum if you ever go to NYC.

Bettelinn Brown shared her Creative Memories ancestral album. It is in the "working on" stage but the organization behind it is amazing. And what wonderful tintypes, pictures, stories, and charts she had included. Makes me realize I better finish the album, something like that, that I have started!

Jo Herber is still beaming with happiness about the successful DNA match she has done with her Slovak relatives. THEN she found where she is related to these folks WAY back in her line. Jo suggests renting the DVD "The Illusinists" Supposedly it takes place in Vienna but is filmed in the Czech Republic.

Martha Soltesz will use the NY Times site to continue her research, also has some military record information in Civil records.

Terri Malinowsky will be first to share next time, we were running close on time. Thank you, Terri.

We then tackled the Austria Military Records that are on microfilm, thanks to the LDS Church. Yes, it is complicated. A thick handout, pronunciation of German words, maps, knowing your ancestors' village name in German or Hungarian, regiment numbers, how to read the German script, goals, how tos; all these facts and ideas were thrown around the table. At the next meeting we will see how it is going!

NEXT two MEETINGS: MARCH 3 AND APRIL 14 2007. From 9:30 to Noon at the same fire station.

ALL THE SHARING AT THIS MEETING WAS SO VERSATILE, covering many topics, what impressive researchers!!

FYI:

1) Becherovka: An herbal liqueur made from a secret blend of spices, herbs and alcohol. The production process involves soaking sacks of the ingredients in alcohol for one week, then mixing with water and sugar before being laid to rest in oak barrels for two months.Becherovka is produced in Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) in the Czech Republic.

2) Ship pictures http://www.theshipslist.com/

HAPPY RESEARCHING!!

Rosie

Copyright 2003-2020
Czech-Slovak Interest Group
Webmaster: Mary Kathryn Kozy
Web Design by Mary Kathryn Kozy
Flower Folk Art Drawings by Marie Stryckova