Kilwien donates beautiful afghan

Debbie Kilwien has been knitting nearly half her life, and she has a deep commitment to helping the Germans from Russia Heritage Society youth programs. So it was a no-brainer for her to step forward and offer her talent in creating the beautiful afghan shown above.

Measuring about 45 inches by 70 inches, the red, white and blue American flag is sure to be a hit among attendees at the International Convention of Germans from Russia this summer in Casper, Wyoming. The creation will be the prize in a drawing that will benefit the GRHS Youth Program. Debbie says she started work on the afghan last fall, but the project was interrupted for several weeks last winter.

A native of Bremerton, Washington, Debbie and her husband, Dave, live in Aberdeen, Washington, not far from the Pacific Ocean. She and Dave own their own construction business, which focuses on residential restoration for homes that have been damaged by fire, flood, or other incidents.

“I married in to the German-Russian community,” says Debbie. Both she and Dave are lifetime members of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society. Dave serves as Vice-President of the national organization and also belongs to the Puget Sound and Inland NW chapters.

Lodging accommodations for the international convention are filling fast, so persons wishing to attend the July 28-August 3 convention at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Casper should try to make their reservations immediately. A number of lodging possibilities are listed in the right hand column.

Conference registration forms will be in the mail any day now, and we’ll also be posting registration forms on-line in the near future!

Casper, Here We Come!

Twenty-two people showed up in Casper last weekend (April 4-5) for another planning meeting to finalize details for the 2008 International Convention of Germans from Russia. The convention is scheduled for July 28-August 3 at the Parkway Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Casper.

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This will be a special meeting, since it is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 members of both the Germans from Russia Heritage Society and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. In most years, the groups -- headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska, respectively -- meet separately.

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Under the leadership of convention co-chairs Patti Sellenrick (AHSGR) and Al Feist (GRHS), the planning committee hammered out final details on the convention agenda. We are posting here a copy of the tentative Convention Program and registration form. You'll also find a few photographs from the April planning meeting, as well as snapshots from earlier planning sessions.

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In coming days, posts to this site and the convention web site will provide additional information on programs and events at the convention.

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Among the many activities at convention time are several tour opportunities. Here is a summary of tour information that will allow you to learn more about these exciting tours. These forms will also be included with registration materials being mailed to members of both societies.

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Rooms are going fast, so if you're planning to attend the 2008 convention, we'd urge you to make your reservations now! Many lodging opportunities are listed on this site. See you in Casper!