Spring Issue Number 158 Spring 2017 ISSN 8755–6014 Number 158 Our Mission Statement ● to promote interest in the research and study of all German-speaking peoples who migrated to the Americas. ● to exchange and preserve information relating to the history and culture of German-speaking families. ● to provide appropriate methods, tools, and resources to assist members in achieving their research goals. ● to encourage fellowship among members. Our Vision Statement ● to be recognized as a growing and vibrant family history society that focuses upon researching German-speaking people. PRESIDENT’S CORNER Kent Robinson [email protected] It isn’t often that a truly unique opportunity presents itself with regard to enhanc- ing your genealogy research. In less than 4 months you will have the chance to take advantage of one of those events. The 1st IGGP International Germanic Genealogy Conference will take place in Minneapolis from July 28-30. While NGS, FGS and oth- er regional or local conferences may have a German track with a few presentations, they cannot compare to the breadth of presentations by well-known personalities and other knowledgeable individuals that will be featured at this conference. Besides speak- ers from the United States, there will also be some from Germany and Australia. There will also be numerous presentations on topics that are not typically given at major conferences, particularly about some geographic re- gions. However, the excellent opportunity to increase your knowledge by attending choices of more than 70 presen- tations is not the only chance to potentially make important progress in your German genealogy research. There (Continued on page 8) In This Issue Colorado Chapter Spring Seminar .... 5 IGGP Press Release .......................... 11 President’s Corner ............................... 1 Pennsylvania Chapter Spring FGS 2017 Conference ....................... 12 Calendar of Events .............................. 2 Conference ........................................ 5 Kocherthal Circle ............................... 13 Chips From The Board ....................... 3 North Carolina Fall Conference ........ 6 German Birth Records: A Primer ... 13 Illinois Chapter Action ........................ 3 2017 SLC Family History Trip .......... 7 Translation Services Request ........... 14 Ohio Chapter Spring Seminar ........... 4 German Life Subscription Form .......... 9 Quick Copy Request .......................... 15 New York Chapter Spring Seminar .. 4 2017 IGGP Conference ................... 10 Directory of Services ......................... 16 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society 158-1 The Palatine Patter Spring Issue Number 158 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2017 22 Apr Ohio Chapter Spring Seminar, Fritz Juengling, speaker. Details on page 4. 6 May Colorado Chapter Spring Seminar, Dr. Fritz Juengling, speaker. Denver Public Library, www.copalam.org Further info on page 5. 6 May Pennsylvania Chapter Spring Conference. Academic Forum, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA. Further info on page 5. 6 May Ohio Chapter Free Workshop, Jayne Davis, speaker. Beginning German Genealogy. Way Public Library, 101 E Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, Ohio 10-13 May NGS Family History Conference, “Family History Lives Here,” Raleigh, NC Details: http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org 28-29 Jul IGGP International Conference, Minneapolis, MN Please see page 10. 30 Aug - Sep 2 FGS Annual Conference, Pittsburg, PA. Further info on page 12. 9 Sep Ohio Chapter Free Workshop, with the Cuyahoga Valley Genealogical Society, Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Blvd., Cleveland, OH 17-24 Sep Palatines to America Family History Library Research Trip, Salt Lake City, UT. Deadline approaching. Details and application on page 7. 30 Sep North Carolina Fall Conference, Catawba County Library Auditorium, Newton, NC. Speaker Robert Carpenter. See details on page 6. 21 Oct Ohio Chapter Fall Seminar, CML Library. Details to follow. 21 Oct Colorado Chapter Fall Seminar, Speaker James Beidler. Details to follow. SUBMISSIONS FOR THE PALATINE PATTER PLEASE READ! We welcome articles and information related to Palatines to America and German Genealogy Research. Articles must be in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Illustrator, or an RTF file. Please note: many programs will allow you to save a file in an RTF format. PDF files are NOT acceptable; editor will not retype PDF files to enter into a presentable docu- ment. If you send a PDF, the quality will be poor and the type is usually fuzzy and hard to read. We reserve the right to edit, shorten for space considerations or otherwise alter the articles submitted. We also reserve the right to refuse articles that are not suitable for this publication. Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society 158-2 The Palatine Patter Spring Issue Number 158 CHIPS FROM THE BOARD Began the process of updating the Policy & Procedure Manual of the National Governing Board. Joe Stamm, a Trustee of the Ohio Chapter, is the new Treasurer of the National Board of Directors replacing Margie Weiller, who is retiring from that position after several years of service. Thank you, Margie, we appre- ciate all the work you have done. National Membership Meeting for 2016 will be held at the Ohio Chapter Spring Conference on Saturday, April 22 in Columbus, Ohio, Metropolitan Library. Took action to de-charter the Illinois Chapter by September 30, 2017 (see article on page 3.) Will begin implementation of a new membership benefit—reduced subscription price to German Life magazine starting in April (see article on page 9.) ILLINOIS CHAPTER - ACTION TAKEN BY NATIONAL BOARD For the past year there have been a series of discussions expressing concern with regard to the status of the Illinois Chapter. Over the past four years they have been void of any actual, active leadership. Additionally during this period members only received one chapter newsletter and a chapter representative attended a national board meeting on only one occasion. A primary concern of the Board was that Illinois Chapter members were not re- ceiving benefits that are routinely provided by other state chapters. Several recent attempts to identify individuals who would be willing to take an active position within the chapter failed to yield any positive results. In January we sent a letter to all Illinois Chapter members informing them of the potential future action by the board, if no individual(s) came forward to assist in rejuvenating the chapter. Although five people responded, none indicated a willingness to lead the chapter. It was for these reasons and as a result of the previous ill-fated at- tempts to identify leaders that at their March board meeting, the board voted to begin the process of de-chartering the Illinois Chapter which would be completed by September 30, 2017. Obviously, this is not an action that I—nor the Board—took with pleasure. However, we feel that it is im- portant for individuals who join Pal-Am to be provided with benefits on a relatively uniform basis, realizing that there can exist some degree of variability within each chapter from time to time. We made it clear to Illinois Chapter members that they would be able to immediately choose another chapter as their primary or secondary member for the balance of this membership year and emphasized that this in no way affects the status of their Pal- Am membership or any of the benefits to which they are entitled. Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society 158-3 The Palatine Patter Spring Issue Number 158 OHIO CHAPTER PAL-AM SPRING SEMINAR April 22, 2017 "BEYOND THE OBVIOUS: GERMAN GENEALOGY” Presenting: Fritz Juengling, Ph.D, AG, German Research Specialist, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT Topics: Beyond the Obvious: Beyond Practical and Social Concerns for Emigration to America Historical Events that Affect German Genealogical Research The Genealogical Value of German Guild Records: How to Fill the Gaps when Church Records are Missing German Names: Their Origins, Meanings, and Distribution Lunch will be provided by Schmidt’s Sausage Haus. Go to https://oh-palam.org to make reservations. Advanced registration deadline – April 5, 2017 NEW YORK CHAPTER PAL-AM SPRING SEMINAR May 6, 2017 Beekman Arms - Delamater Inn, Rhinebeck, NY 8:30 Registration and continental breakfast 9:00 New York Chapter Board meeting Executive Director of the Dutchess County Historical Society, Co-Chair of the Town of Milan Bicentennial Committee New York Chapter Membership meeting. Name(s): ____________________________________________________ Membership #___________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Registration for: Continental breakfast, hot lunch and programs: Members $45 _____ Non-members $50 _____ Late fee if after Apr. 28: $5 _____ Total: _____ Make checks payable to: . Complete registration and mail to : NY Pala- tines to America, 367 Windsor Highway, #124 ,, New Windsor, NY, 12553. Registration required for this event. For a guest room at the Beekman Arms-Delamater Inn, call 845-876-7077. Tell them that you are at- tending the New York Palatines to America meeting on Saturday, May 6th. Rooms are limited. Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society 158-4 The Palatine Patter Spring Issue Number 158 COLORADO CHAPTER PAL-AM SPRING SEMINAR May 6, 2017 Dr. Fritz Juengling will present the following lecture topics: “German Names: