What is the CCC?

In this case, CCC isn't the Civilian Conservation Corps. It means

Cultural Cooking Classes!

No gathering of Unser Leute would be complete without good food – and the 2008 International Convention of Germans from Russia in Casper is no exception.

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In addition to the quality banquet fare offered to attendees (check out the varied menu listed in the tentative Convention Program!) there’ll be an opportunity for a limited number of registrants to hone their skills in cooking select German-Russian dishes. In fact, this convention is offering three off-site Cultural Cooking Classes!

These sessions are being presented on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, and only 25 participants are allowed in each workshop. Those who’ve signed up for the classes must pay a $5 fee when picking up their registration packets at the convention registration booth. All classes will be at the Mills Senior Center.

On Thursday, July 31st, chefs Vi Schielke and Jerry Siebert will team up to present “Fleischkuchle and Bierocks” for Cultural Cooking Class #1 beginning at 2:30 p.m. The session will run until 5 o’clock.

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The Friday, August 1st Cultural Cooking Class #2 will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will feature Käseknopfla and Strawberry Katfilta, cooked under the learned tutelage of Del Paulson and Ken Koehler.

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On Saturday, August 2nd, Del Paulson, Nancy Borrell and Diane White will offer up a variety of Black Sea and Volga Kuchen, sure to soothe the taste buds of all who savor Kuchen. This session, too, runs from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Mills Senior Center.

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The Cultural Cooking Classes are just three of many dozens of interesting workshops taking place during this rare joint gathering of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and the Germans from Russia Heritage Society.

Folklore Symposium set for August 1

Literature and music are key elements in German-Russian folklore, and they’ll be in abundance August 1st during a symposium that is part of the International Germans from Russia Convention in Casper, Wyoming. The convention opens July 28th and will run through August 3rd at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.

The Folklore Symposium: Storytelling, Youth Essays, and Music will get underway at 8:30 Friday morning, August 1st, with announcement of the winners of the AHSGR Storytelling Contest and the GRHS Youth Essay Contest. Top winners will read their award-winning stories and essays – or they’ll be read by others.

The symposium will be moderated by Ken Koehler of Arvada, Colorado, Chairman of the AHSGR Folklore & Linguistics Committee, and Del Beck, a retired educator from Rapid City, South Dakota, a long-time and well-known song leader and emcee for GRHS events.

Cyndi Lesser Babish will share insights into the “Music Legacy of Adolph Lesser,” honoring her father’s memory as an esteemed German from Russia accordionist known around the world.-

This is a special joint convention for members of both the Germans from Russia Heritage Society based in Bismarck, North Dakota, and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, which has headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska. As many as one thousand attendees are expected.

2008 Storytelling Contest

Even the marvels of high definition television can't compare with the theatre of the mind when great stories are told!

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Storytelling remains an important way for us to preserve our heritage, even as aging buildings in the old country deteriorate and "unser Leute" become more assimilated into cultures around the world. Last year at the Hays convention, many of our AHSGR members were mesmerized by the stories shared by the Storytelling Contest winners -- and now it's your turn!

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Not only is this a wonderful way to help preserve our heritage, the best storytellers will take home some cash! The First Place winner in the Adult Division will receive $100, Second Place receives $75, and Third Place wins $50. In the Youth Division for those 14 years old and younger, First Place is worth $50, Second Place is $30, and Third Place is $20. Additionally, all winners are awarded an AHSGR Youth Membership.

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Here's a link to the AHSGR 2008 Storytelling Contest Entry Form and Rules. Please note that all entry materials are to be sent to:

Ken Koehler

7831 Lewis Court

Arvada, CO 80005

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Entries must be received by April 15, 2008!

Coupled with the GRHS Youth Essay Contest, this competition is another splendid way of "Celebrating our Common Heritage" -- the theme of our 2008 joint convention in Casper, where the winners will be announced. It's also an opportunity to reach out and capture the interest and imagination of our young people -- a vital element in the future of both AHSGR and GRHS!