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jody mckim
I'm very pleased with the DVHH debut at the
2007 Tag der
Donauschwaben in Mansfield. It
was great to
meet DVHH associates and to make acquaintances with
new ones.
Having been to
the Treffen in
Ulm, I'd have to
say, the LUSA
tag der
Donauschwaben is
my preference.
It was so much
fun and I can't
wait to attend
next year.
I appeal to all
DS to make a
point to attend.
It was great to
see the
enthusiasm among
the youth, as
well as all the
traditional
Trachts.
A special thank you to all
those who
contributed to our success, especially our event
committee:
Linda McKenna, Beth
Tolfree & Tina Leto; and Nancy Fredenberg too!
Without their
tenacity and
hard work,
we would not
have reached our
ultimate goal of
getting the word
out to the DS
clubs what the
DVHH is all
about. In
the last few
weeks before the
event, the
committee pulled
out all stops to
finalize
everything.
Jody McKim, Linda McKenna, Beth
Tolfree & Tina Leto.
A special treat
for me was to
finally meet
Barbara
Hilderson, after
years of
corresponding
online and
talking on the
phone it was
great to lay
eyes on her.
She's a
sweetheart!
I would like to
thank Beth
Tolfree, Kathy
Mettler Ward,
Suzanne Gross,
Linda McKenna &
Tina Leto for
contributing
material &
images used in
the production
of this report.
A special thank
you to Gabi
Bugaisky, report
Copy Editor.
While publishing
this report and
reading all the
positive
comments made
about the DVHH,
I was touched.
Thank you all
for your support
and encouraging
words.
Without people
like you. . .
who deem our
organization
significant, the
DVHH project
would still be
--just an idea.
. . . Jody McKim
Acworth, GA
DVHH
Founder
2007 President
DVHH.org
Webmaster
"Never doubt
that a small
group
can change the
world. In fact,
it is the only
thing that ever
has."
Margaret Mead
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tina leto
Tag der Donauschwaben, for me, is always like being in a room
full of my own
family- just
multiplied by
about 500.
At one point I looked up, after having just finished talking to
someone and saw
that every
single person at
the DVHH booth,
DVHH volunteers
and the authors,
was each busy
talking to
someone else.
It was great to see the level of interest. I think that what
we are doing is
going to be
bigger and more
important than
we can even
imagine right at
this moment.
That's the
beautiful part
of it.
. . . Tina Leto
Chicago, IL
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thomas thornton
It was great having the
DVHH represented in Mansfield at the
2007 Tag
der Donauschwaben.
Our collaborations can only
enhance the drive to promote &
preserve the Donauschwaben
heritage.
People at the club did not
initially understand the nature
and mission of the DVHH. So
having the presenters available
at the event gave all of the
members and visitors an opportunity
to learn from you and be able to
relate their own experiences in
an open and friendly atmosphere.
I
hope that we can mutually promote
our websites and have continuous
collaboration
for future events. We need to
keep constantly in touch and coordinate future
associations.
We need to
reach out to other viewers and
organizations that have a
similar mission.
I
hope that you would let me
know any time if there is
anything else I may do to help.
I would like to see you or any
of your presenters members
submit articles, items, pix,
etc. for inclusion in our
newsletter, etc. We need to keep
our web links intact,
accurate and up to date.
. . . Thomas C. Thornton, M.D.
Webmaster, Landesverband der
Donauschwaben, USA
Webmaster, Mansfield Liederkranz
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katherine
hoeger
flotz
Author of ...
A Pebble in My Shoe
From the moment I stepped up to the "DVHH booth, I noticed the big
sign "Meet the Authors"
and I felt welcome. The
whole atmosphere at this
booth was friendly,
excited and anxious to
meet and greet our
Landsleut.
The authors,
Elisabeth Walter, Hans
Kopp and Anne Jung
Holden sat next to me
and we all promoted each
other's books. We were
close enough to the
pavilion where the youth
groups and adults
danced, where people
visited and ate, and the
music played. We never
missed anything and yet
were able to do what we
came to do -- sell our
books, talk about our
heritage and help others
find theirs. It was a
glorious day!
. . . Katherine
Hoeger
Flotz
Crown Point, IN
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kathy mettler
ward
The highlight
for me and my
husband Art was
meeting my fifth
cousin Suzanne
Gross and her
husband Fran for
the first time
after meeting
online and
several years of
emailing and
researching our
Metzger lines.
It was wonderful
to see children
of a young age
dancing
traditional
dances and to
watch the
friendship dance
with all the
groups after the
parade (I took
an amateur video
of it).
Hans Kopp & Kathy
We also enjoyed
meeting Tina and
her husband
because we share
some of the same
interests
(photography).
Kevin & Tina
Linda McKenna
and I are third
cousins and
spent a lot of
time together
over this
weekend. I
had worried that
Art and Linda’s
husband Wayne
would get bored
at the festival
and take off but
they enjoyed
their time with
Fran. We
all got along so
well!
Kathy & Suzanne
Art Ward "wore
out"
. . . Kathy
Mettler Ward
Stoney Creek,
Ontario Canada
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beth tolfree
One of my main impressions from the weekend was how welcome we were
made to feel by
everyone from
Jacob Hunsinger,
Dr. Tom Thornton
and Leo Mayer to
people we met
either at our
booth or on the
Event grounds.
I met many who were from Apatin, in Batschka and enjoyed talking to
them about their
family history.
Helga Momirov
(from
Apatin)
It was really wonderful to see all the youth dance groups in their
beautiful
trachts. The
groups came from
all over and
their enthusiasm
and sense of
community were
catching.
The big thrill of the weekend and the nicest surprise was to meet
Eva Muhl who had
written to the
DVHH List the
week before for
the first time
seeking research
help.
All of us
were touched by
Eva's story and
many on the List
responded to her
post. When Eva
heard that the
DVHH would be in
Mansfield she
made the drive
to come and meet
us there. One
of the most
gratifying
things about
being part of
the DVHH is
being able to
help others
connect to
family and it
was really
special to me to
meet Eva in
person after our
correspondence.
. . . Beth Tolfree
Bakersfield, CA |
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barbara hilderson
Oh, how I enjoyed
listening to the music of my childhood and
watching the youngest children and teenagers
who really enjoyed performing their dances,
wearing their elegant clothing, and
beautiful lace. The food...what can I
say... "wonderful!"
The friendliness of
those hosting the Liederkranz was
outstanding. I enjoyed hearing those
around me speak in their "Mother
tongue" --German.
The faces of
those who visited the DVHH booth were
curious at first, then we noticed an
emotional response to the information we had
available. We heard with pride the
stories of those who survived the aftermath
of WWII and their remembrance of those
terrible times.
The authors
presenting their works talked with many of
the attendees; and I heard sad stories of
their childhoods.
Many of the
attendees were eager to see the maps to
locate their ancestors villages;
and were met by the welcoming arms of our
representatives at the booth.
It's one thing to discuss online what
happened to our families; but quite
another to listen to those who lived
it, describe and to see the anguish on
their faces.
The wonderful
people I met through Jody, Beth, Linda,
Tina; and not least of all. . . Dennis Bauer made
me proud to be of Donauschwaben heritage.
Meeting all the DVHH
people confirmed what I've observed
online, great people who share the same goal-finding,
--our heritage. The sharing
of information without expecting
anything in return proves all of you
have a heart for what you're doing for
the rest of us on the list.
Those of you
who worked to make our presentation are to
be saluted; and gratefully thanked by those
of us who attended.
Barbara &
Ozzie Hilderson
Ozzie described the
Donauschwaben event as a "10"
. . . Barbara
Hilderson
Machipongo, VA |
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hans kopp
Author of ...
The Last Generation
Forgotten and Left To
Die
The DVHH.org group is indeed eye opening and in
my opinion through them
we finally find the
missing links to our
history in the USA and
Canada. The majority of
DVHH members and their
mail list subscribers
did not learn of their
Donauschwaben heritage
until after they began
to seek out their
ancestral roots.
Their discoveries continue as they search for
their ancestors and
forefathers, the towns their
ancestors were born in
and the drama and
tragedies surrounding
their lives. They
search for a connection
to their ancestors past,
which had been lost
mostly during the first
part of the 20th
Century when most of
their ancestors arrived
on the shores of North
America from their
homeland.
The DVHH has yet to
realize the service
they
have done for our
Donauschwaben community
in North America.
I hope I can
speak for all of
us in saying
thank you and by all
means keep it going and
do not stop.
. . . Hans Kopp
Cleveland, OH |
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suzanne gross
Suzanne &
husband Fran
I was one of the
early DVHH list
members when I
was researching
my maternal
ancestors from
the Banat. I met
wonderful caring
sharing
people. I did
not think that
it could get any
better. Well,
you have done
it, Jody!!
Having been
unsubscribed for
several years
because my
research turned
to my father's
ancestors from
Baden, Germany
and Missouri, I
was truly amazed
and delighted at
the progression.
One thing that
does not appear
to have changed
is the people on
the list. They
still remain
caring and
sharing. I very
proudly have
recommended the
dvhh.org to a
number of people
and will
continue to do
so.
I must thank
Hans Kopp for
spending time
(and being very
patient) with me
answering my
questions and
clarifying areas
of my research
that puzzled me.
It was
a pleasure to
meet him.
Art Ward and I
were honored to
carry the DVHH
banner in the
parade. Tina's
design so
perfectly
depicts the
purpose and
ideals of the
website.
During the
ceremonies on
the parade
field, we
received a
wonderful
applause as DVHH
was announced. I
really got the
feeling that
people were glad
that DVHH was
part of Tag der
Donauschwaben.
What was really
wonderful
to see children
of a young age
dancing
traditional
dances and to
watch the
friendship dance
with all the
groups after the
parade.
What really
impressed
me throughout
the day was the Jugend
and Kinder, fine
representatives
of their
Donauschwaben
culture. They
were very
mannerly,
knowledgeable
and
articulate and
not embarrassed
to speak to a
senior citizen--
who turned out
to live about
twenty miles
from my home in
Pennsylvania.
Linda McKenna
should be
commended for
her hard work as
the DVHH
Mansfield
host at the Tag
Der
Donauschwaben
2007. She
spent many hours
to make this
event
successful. . .
and the bonus of
34 new members
signing up for
the list is
spectacular.
It was a great
idea for the
DVHH to have a
booth and bring
the DVHH.org to
the attention of
the visitors
attending the
festival. My
husband and I
thoroughly
enjoyed the
camaraderie that
enveloped the
dvhh booth. It
was a joy to
meet all of
you.
. . . Suzanne Gross
Pennsylvania |
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linda bautz
mckenna
Tag der
Donauschwaben
2007 was a
success for
DVHH.
Beginning early
in the year I
happily
contacted Jacob
Hunsinger,
President of the
Mansfield
Liederkranz and
Dr. Thomas
Thornton, MD.
Both welcomed me
graciously and
worked
unceasingly to
accommodate our
group throughout
our planning up
to the event.
It was great to
finally meet in
person those
I've
corresponded
with through the
DVHH. The
DVHH banner and
handouts were
great; and the
map drawing was
a success as
well.
It was good to
meet the authors
and to hear
their personal
reasons for
writing.
As well, it was
nice to meet all
the people who
were interested
in our program.
We enjoyed the
weekend at the
fest along with
cousins, Art and
Kathy Ward of
Canada and
Suzanne and Fran
Gross of the
Philadelphia
area.
The sausage
sandwiches and
the cream-puff
like dessert
were my
favorites, along
with a cold
glass of
'water'. Never
did acquire a
taste for beer,
but my husband
enjoyed it.
As the Mansfield
Coordinator I
was deliriously
happy that the
weather
cooperated, and
that my fellow
event committee
members were
pleased with the
set up and for
all the
attention the
DVHH
received at the
fest. I
wanted so much
to please.
Now, I can
release a sigh
of relief
-mission
accomplished.
Thank you to all
who made this a great experience.
. . .
Linda Bautz
McKenna
DVHH Mansfield
Coordinator
Mansfield, OH |
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dennis bauer
"The
Treffen was a success especially with the addition
of the DVHH booth and staff.
The
sharing of genealogical information and
resources and the making of new Danube Swabian
contacts and friends was great.
. . . Dennis J. Bauer
Levittown, PA |
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hans martini
DVHH Receives Enthusiastic Welcome
in Mansfield
The Mansfield Treffen this
past Labor Day weekend was a
big success by any measure. In fact there continues to
be a spirit and enthusiasm
at the annual
Landesverband der
Donauschwaben Treffen few could have
imagined not that many years
ago. Fears that as the
older post WWII generation
of immigrants died out, so too
would the Verband have not
been borne out. Carrying the
movement forward with great
energy and passion are those
who were teens and 20
something’s when they
arrived in this country,
their descendants, friends,
and now a growing group of
members who are discovering
their Donauschwaben roots
through research and
scholarship over the
internet.
This burgeoning interest in one’s
family heritage has not only brought
new and contributing members to the
individual clubs, it’s also giving
existing members another compelling
reason to stay involved. Perhaps
even more importantly for many of us
baby-boomer club members is that
keeping the connection to the old
country is falling more and more on
our own shoulders. In most cases we
can’t just turn to the Oma and Opa
anymore and often even mom and dad
were too young to remember the
details, much less the history,
etc. We’re the generation taking on
the responsibilities of running the
individual clubs and we need help!
Enter the DVHH.org. The wealth of
information this group of devoted
and energetic individuals provides
on how our ancestors came to the Danubian Basin, how they lived, and
what they were like comes at just
the right time and just the right
place – at home on the family
computer. With its slick graphics
and easy to navigate pages, finding
out about mom’s hometown of Palanka,
for instance, is just a keystroke
away. While there have been many
authors and interested folks in the Verband who’ve been doing wonderful
research and scholarship over the
years, nothing comes close to making
all the information, the stories and
pictures as accessible and
user-friendly as the DVHH has – and
the site just keeps getting better.
It came as no surprise then to have
seen how well the DVHH was received
at the Mansfield Donauschwaben Treffen. The
enthusiasm was evident on both sides
of the information table! Located
right between the two main venues,
the Helping Hands tent attracted an
almost continuous stream of Treffen
attendees at various times
throughout the two day festival.
Led by Jody along with Tina, Beth,
Dennis and other friendly “info-Schwobs”,
the group made an excellent
impression on everyone they met. In
fact, it appeared to this writer
that native Donauschwaben finding
out about the organization for the
first time were taking the whole
thing quite personally. They seemed
delighted and perhaps even proud of
what the group was doing.
It’s quite clear the Donauschwaben
Village Helping Hands brings
something special to the Verband’s
ongoing efforts to promote and
perpetuate the culture of our
ancestors. Individual clubs like
ours in Trenton and Philadelphia
spend hundreds of hours keeping the
various Kindergruppen, Jugendgruppen,
and Schulen, etc. going in an effort
to keep our culture alive, never
mind just working to keep the
clubhouse doors open. The DVHH
provides all Verband members with a
central collection and distribution
point, if you will, for the facts,
figures, pictures and stories that
will serve as a ready resource for
every club. For members of the
Verband, the DVHH is a welcome
partner in the ongoing efforts to
keep our cherished heritage alive
now and for the generations to come.
. . . Hans Martini
Hamilton, NJ
Trenton Donauschwaben Club Secretary
16 September 2007 |
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elizabeth b.
walter
Author of
Barefoot in
the Rubble
I would like to thank the DVHH for inviting me to join their
"Meet The
Author" table at
the
Tag der
Donauschwaben in Mansfield.
The DVHH members were just wonderful. I am happy to now be a part
of this great
group and hope
to meet many
more members in
person at the
coming events
over the next
few years.
Those of us who are brave enough to record, video or write down our
experiences of
our homeland and
how we came to
America, Canada,
Europe, Brazil
or Australia
will give
today’s
generation the
greatest gift
that anyone can
give -their
identity.
Our
grandchildren
should be STOLZ or
proud of their
heritage.
I believe that the DVHH and their web site is one more way of
getting our
story - all over
the world.
I was impressed
by what I saw
and I am happy
that I am now a
new member of
this special
group.
.
. . Elizabeth
Walter
Palatine, IL
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