Romanian Roots newsletter of the Romanian Genealogy Society Volume 1, Number 3 July 2012 Vicki Albu, Editor & President his is the third quarterly Our members – and our ancestors -- have newsletter of the Romanian diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and Genealogy Society (RGS), formed religious affiliations. in November 2011. As researchers of Romanian family history, we face many challenges. Due to historical President’s Message boundary changes and migrations, our By Vicki Albu ancestors came from places including but not limited to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Since our last issue of the Newsletter in Serbia, Hungary, Transylvania, the Banat, April, RGS was approved as a branch group Wallachia, Moldavia, and Romania. of the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS). Geographical place names changed, This not only strengthens depending on who held our partnership with political power at the time. MGS and its affiliated Our ancestors may have organizations, but it Our Next Quarterly been members of the affords many benefits to Meeting is Saturday, Catholic, Greek Catholic, our members, including August 18 at 1:00 p.m. Orthodox, Jewish, and other free use of the Library See Page 4 for details. faiths. Or, they may not have resources at 1185 N. attended any church or Concord Street in South synagogue. They may have St. Paul. The MGS site is settled in the United States, also the venue for most of Canada, or South America. They may have our quarterly membership meetings. migrated more than once, whether by force or by choice. Together we can strengthen our RGS continues its strong ties to the Heritage genealogy research skills and knowledge to Organization of Romanian Americans overcome these challenges. (HORA, www.hora-mn.org). HORA has offered to assist members with translation of Our organization is young, and we need to Romanian language documents. publicize our existence in order to expand our outreach and to generate membership Even though we are based in Minnesota, that interest, and the dues and donations doesn’t mean that our interests are limited to necessary for our ongoing support. Please Minnesota, or even to the Midwest. Our read the article inside this newsletter about organization exists to foster interest in the Charter Membership opportunity, and Romanian genealogy worldwide. We provide tell your friends and relatives about us. If you opportunities for the exchange of knowledge have not already paid your $20 membership about Romania; its language, culture and dues for calendar year 2012, please do so history; Romanian immigration and now. It is very much appreciated! migration; and Romanian family history. Romanian Roots, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 2012, page 1 Romanian Roots since 2011 ISSN applied for Newsletter of the Romanian Genealogy Society, a branch group of the Minnesota Genealogical Society www.mngs.org and affiliated with the Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota www.hora-mn.org Contact us at: Romanian Genealogy Society Attn: Vicki Albu 326 23rd Ct. S., South St. Paul, MN 55075 www.Facebook.com/RomanianGenealogySociety E-mail: [email protected] WANTED: Membership dues are $20.00 per calendar year. Library Donations 2012-2013 Officers: Donations to RGS are tax deductible. We are Vicki Young Albu, President Dorrene Dragos Hern, Secretary looking for donations of books or money to Peggy Corniea, Treasurer purchase books and reference materials on Romanian history and family history research, for our library shelf at the Minnesota Genealogical Society. We welcome cash donations and new and gently used books and maps related to the history, culture, and genealogy of Romanians, including Austria-Hungary and other lands where ethnic Romanians lived. Library donations will be housed at the Minnesota Genealogical Society Library at 1185 N. Concord in South St. Paul, and will be available to all researchers who use the library. Romanian Heritage Please contact Vicki Albu at [email protected] Festival in Chicago or by phone at (651) 402-6805 if you have any questions. On July 1, RGS members Vicki Albu, Dorrene Dragos Hern, and Ann Popa Bongard traveled to Illinois to enjoy the Third Annual Romanian Heritage Festival, and to distribute brochures and spread information about our organization. There we were treated to Romanian sights, sounds, and flavors, including a variety of Romanian music and dancing, a costume parade, sarmale (cabbage rolls), and pastries from the Ovy Transylvanian Bakery. For more information see http://romanianheritagefestival.com/ Romanian Roots, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 2012, page 2 Membership Drive: Charter Membership in RGS Every new member who joins Romanian Genealogy Society between the date of our formation in November 2011 and January 31, 2013 will receive a Charter Membership certificate to recognize their support of the establishment of the Romanian Genealogy Society. Certificates will be issued in early 2013 and are suitable for framing. If you know anyone with Romanian roots, or Please send the names and addresses or e-mail someone who has an interest in Romanian addresses of people who might like to receive a family history, please recommend that they sample copy of our newsletter to the address join our organization! We count on inside this newsletter. We’ll send them a copy membership dues and tax-deductible with your compliments. contributions to print and mail the newsletter, and to keep our Society We need to raise funds through membership operating. Membership dues are only $20 dues to carry out the work of RGS. Thank you per calendar year and include these for helping us to reach a broader audience benefits: throughout the U. S. and beyond! Four mailed, or e-mailed, newsletters per year, containing Vicki Albu, RGS President research tips and other valuable information; Free admission to membership Your Ideas Matter meetings where you will learn about topics like immigration history and This newsletter is intended to serve how to do genealogical research of the membership of Romanian Romanian ancestors; Genealogy Society. While much of the Free use of the Minnesota content of this issue pertains to Genealogical Society Library in Romanians of Minnesota, it is not our South St. Paul, Minnesota; intent to limit our coverage to Minnesota. We are interested to know what you would like to Publication in our newsletter of the see in future newsletters. surnames you are researching; Free research advice (send us a letter Do you have a Romanian family history and related photographs or historical documents to with a specific question you want to share with other readers? have answered); Do you have a question that you would like to Assistance with translation of pose to us or to a researcher? Romanian language documents; An opportunity to share your family What else would you like to see here? stories and photographs with other members. Don’t worry about whether Please drop us a note or an e-mail to [email protected] to let us know your you are a writer. We will even write the requests and preferences. story for you! Romanian Roots, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 2012, page 3 Upcoming Events Saturday, August 18th - 1 pm to 4 pm Romanian Genealogy Society Quarterly Meeting MGS Library, 1185 North Concord, South St. Paul, MN. “Preparing for Research: What You’ll Find at MN Historical Society & Dakota County Historical Society.” No cost. Meeting will be conducted by Vicki Albu and Dorrene Hern. You should definitely attend this meeting if you plan to do any research on either of the Fall Tours (see below) on September 15th (Minnesota Historical Society) or October 20th (Dakota County Historical Society). IMPORTANT: Bring to this meeting everything you know about your ancestors, preferably written down on family group sheets. If you have any questions before the meeting, give us a call at (651) 402-6805. We will help you to prepare for the research tours, so that you will be more likely to find the information you are looking for. Saturday, August 25th - 4 pm to 7 pm - Annual Picnic – Minnesota Genealogical Society Thompson Park, W. St. Paul. Bring a dish to share. Everyone welcome! Bring a friend. $10+ donation. Thursday, September 13th – 6:30 - 8 p.m. “Introduction to Genealogy” lecture by Vicki Albu at Robert Trail Library in Rosemount, MN (not a program of RGS). No cost. This is not a step-by-step beginning genealogy class, but a basic overview of what family historians do, and the kinds of information available. If you are looking for the class Genealogy 101, go to www.mngs.org for class schedules and information from the Minnesota Genealogical Society. For RGS Members Only RESEARCH TOUR: Saturday, September 15th – 11:00 am - ? Closes at 4 pm Tour of Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. You MUST RSVP for this event (651) 402-6805. No cost. Examples of records housed here are Minnesota vital records, census records, newspapers, much more. Saturday, September 22nd 10-12:30 - DISCOVERING YOUR IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR’S EUROPEAN PLACE OF ORIGIN & IMMIGRATION, NATURALIZATION, AND ALIEN REGISTRATION RECORDS This class is offered at the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) by Jay Fonkert, a Certified Genealogist. There is a charge of $28, or $32 for non-members of either MGS or MHS. The Historical Society is located in St. Paul, near the Capitol. For more information and to sign up, see www.mnhs.org. For RGS Members Only CULTURAL TOUR: Thursday, September 27th – 6:00 – 8:00 pm Tour of Serbian Cultural Center in South St. Paul. You MUST RSVP for this event (651) 402-6805. Formerly the Serbian Home, a lodge where fraternal organizations and community members met and celebrated, the facility is now operated as a museum by Ted Trkla. An optional admission donation towards support of the Museum is strongly encouraged.