Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta

Donations Welcome

Registered Charity:
#86568 6166 RR0001

The MHSA is such a small organization (with a big web presence) that we haven't incorporated plastic into the means by which transactions are made.  However, thanks to CanadaHelps.org, they will accept donations on our behalf and transfer the monies to us on a regular basis. 

If you would like to make a donation to the work of the MHSA, please simply click on the Donate Now button and walk through the simple steps.  They only take 3% of the donation to pay for the credit card processing charges - the rest comes directly to the MHSA.

In 2008, we are fundraising for an additional bank of mobile shelving (about $2,500) and a microfilm-to-computer image processing tool (about $1,100).  If you can help with contributions, it will make us more effective in offering assistance in your genealogy work.

In kinship and for MHSA
Judii

No Longer: Stille in Lande

My – how things have changed.  “Stille in Land” – that was a desired state for Mennonites for a very long time.

But, in the last 24 hours I’ve had the radio waking me, accompanying me on the short trip to/from work, and the TV’s been on in the background while I get to MHSA things in the evenings.  There appear to be Mennos everywhere – in far disproportionate numbers.  Somewhere between 1-3% of Canadians could be Mennonites. 

NEWS

News Anchors in Calgary are Doug Dirks and Darrel Janz.  Contributing to CFCN regularly now are Terry Vogt and Chris Epp .  On the other hand, the early morning CBC Radio show (hosted by Newfoundlander Jim Brown) features Chuck Regehr regarding business news regularly. 

Today, specifically, Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup) showed up on CBC in the morning, as did Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa for MCC).

ENTERTAINMENT

Susie Wall of Vancouver reports to E-Canada.  Greg Neufeld has been among the finalists for Canadian Idol.  Well, and it’s not current, but what are the odds of TWO Canadian Idolists coming from Mennonite roots; from Abbotsford even?  See Shane Wiebe from 2004. And, tonight, Nickelback made it to e-News where a fourth runner up to the American Idol show is said to be “opening” for them in an upcoming concert.  In this closeup of the band, their t-shirt commentary is particularly poignant: www.landmines.org/images/nickelback.jpg

MILITARY SERVICE
Then, of course, the disturbing news that another six Canadian soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan.  If I’m correct, it follows the three that just died last month.  Of those nine, two had Mennonite names:  Joel Wiebe (G# 677928) and now Cole Bartsch (G# 122485).  Apart from their deaths in a surprising military occupation, Joel and Cole have other things in common.  Both have great great grandfathers with their same surnames who immigrated to Canada in July 1875 – just 2 days apart. 

Cole, in fact, is also descended from Deputy Bartsch – so well known to those who peer into Mennonite history.  See: Neff, Christian. (1953). "Bartsch, Johann (1757-1821)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 5 July 2007 <www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/b37556.html>.

LINKS

• Doug Dirks: (CBC Radio: http://www.cbc.ca/newsatsixcalgary/)
• Darrel Janz: (CFCN TV: http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate?brand=generic&tf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/anchorPage.html&cf=/CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.cfg&nav=anchor&subnav=DarrelJanz)
• Terry Vogt:  (Lethbridge: www.flickr.com/photos/ross2010/17912138/)
• Chris Epp (Calgary: www.christianity.ca/entertainment/television/2004/10.000.html)
• Chuck Regehr (www.cbc.ca/biznet/)
• Scott Regehr (commentating for the World Cup: ww.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/features/whatson.html)
• Ernie Regehr (Peace work in Ottawa: www.iansa.org/regions/namerica/ernie_regehr.htm). 
• Susie Wall (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051103/bio_susie_wall_051103/20051103/)
• Greg Neufeld (www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050616/idolbio_GregNeufeld/20060619?s_name=idol2006)
• Shane Wiebe (2004 Canadian Idol Finalist:  www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/idol/CTVShows/20040714/CI2-Top10-profile-WiebeShane/20040714)
• Nickelback (featuring the Kroeger brothers: www.nickelback.com/)

In kinship,
Judii

MHSA Annual General Meeting

Yeah, I know.  Meetings aren't your "thing".

But, without attending the MHSA AGM (complete details) on May 4-5 in Edmonton, you won't have a chance to visit with your travelling Mennonite history friends, you won't have an opportunity to help set the direction of the organization, and won't have the ability to put your two bits' worth of opinion into the budget size and composition.

And of course, there are the associated workshop sessions. And the book (Bergthal Gemeinde Buch, Hard Passages, etc.) and CD (GRANDMA, Low German, etc.) buying opportunities.

Workshop Session 1 - DNA for Genealogy

This year, Glenn Penner, professor of chemistry at University of Guelph will be giving our keynote presentation on Friday night - about the Mennonite DNA Project that he helped to establish.  If you ever wanted to know what DNA analysis is all about for genealogy, this is your opportunity to ask questions.  It will also be an opportunity to participate since he'll be bringing swab test kits with him.

Workshop Session 2 - West Prussian Mennonite Genealogical Sources

On Saturday afternoon, Glenn Penner will be giving a talk about some of the earliest souces for Mennonite genealogical work - West Prussian sources

Workshop Session 3 - GRANDMA & Brothers' Keeper
I'll also be giving a talk on Saturday afternoon on the use of GRANDMA, specifically how you can get the most out of it when you use Brothers' Keeper software to examine the data.  Bring your confusion, your questions and your challenges.

MHSA Budget

For starters, here are pie charts of our revenue and expenses for 2006 (click on the thumbnail to see a larger/clearer version):

Our projected revenue for 2007 is $9,300 with the vast majority of it coming from donations.  Book sales will help, but we will have the book publishing costs in 2007, so the real rewards from that will be likely be found in 2008.

Our projected expenses for 2007 are for $18,515 with the largest expenditures for equipment (we need one or two new computers and additional shelving), and Rent/Insurance/Utilities.

Hope you can join us - location and times are found at (MHSA AGM).

In kinship,
Judii

New Book: Hard Passage

Now out!  Arthur Kroeger's new book, Hard Passage was launched in Calgary when the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada met here.

You can find the University of Alberta (publisher) summary of the book online.  And, it's available for  purchase from MHSA for $37 plus $8 s/h (no GST or PST).  It and other books that we offer for sale can be found on our Publications page (see also order form).

In Kinship,
Judii

MHSA Website - New Address!

The MHSA now has it's own domain name:

www.mennonitehistory.org

All the content is the same, links should continue to work... but if you find trouble - you know where to find me to complain:  "queries at mennonites.ca" (course you'll need the symbol for "at" and need to remove the spaces).

The old site for the MHSA will slowly be removed.  But, the www.mennonites.ca will continue to exist as the Mennonite Genealogy Data Index - the best and most comprehensive source of links to online Mennonite genealogically-rich data.

In kinship,
Judii