jody mckim

I'm very pleased with the DVHH debut at the 2007 Tag der Donauschwaben in Mansfield.  It was great to meet DVHH associates and to make acquaintances with new ones. 

Having been to the Treffen in Ulm, I'd have to say, the LUSA tag der Donauschwaben is my preference.  It was so much fun and I can't wait to attend next year.  I appeal to all DS to make a point to attend.  It was great to see the enthusiasm among the youth, as well as all the traditional Trachts.

A special thank you to all those who contributed to our success, especially our event committee: Linda McKenna, Beth Tolfree & Tina Leto; and Nancy Fredenberg too!

Without their tenacity and hard work, we would not have reached our ultimate goal of getting the word out to the DS clubs what the DVHH is all about.  In the last few weeks before the event, the committee pulled out all stops to finalize everything.

Jody McKim, Linda McKenna, Beth Tolfree & Tina Leto.

A special treat for me was to finally meet Barbara Hilderson, after years of corresponding online and talking on the phone it was great to lay eyes on her.  She's a sweetheart!

I would like to thank Beth Tolfree, Kathy Mettler Ward, Suzanne Gross, Linda McKenna & Tina Leto for contributing material & images used in the production of this report. A special thank you to Gabi Bugaisky, report Copy Editor.

While publishing this report and reading all the positive comments made about the DVHH, I was touched. Thank you all for your support and encouraging words.  Without people like you. . . who deem our organization significant, the DVHH project would still be --just an idea.

. . . Jody McKim
Acworth, GA
DVHH Founder
2007 President
DVHH.org Webmaster

"Never doubt that a small group
can change the world. In fact,
it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

tina leto

Tag der Donauschwaben, for me, is always like being in a room full of my own family- just multiplied by about 500.

At one point I looked up, after having just finished talking to someone and saw that every single person at the DVHH booth, DVHH volunteers and the authors, was each busy talking to someone else. 

It was great to see the level of interest.  I think that what  we are doing is going to be bigger and more important than we can even imagine right at this moment.  That's the beautiful part of it.

. . . Tina Leto
Chicago, IL

katherine hoeger flotz

Author of ...
A Pebble in My Shoe

From the moment I stepped up to the "DVHH booth, I noticed the big sign "Meet the Authors" and I felt welcome.  The whole atmosphere at this booth was friendly, excited and anxious to meet and greet our Landsleut.

The authors, Elisabeth Walter, Hans Kopp and Anne Jung Holden sat next to me and we all promoted each other's books.  We were close enough to the pavilion where the youth groups and adults danced, where people visited and ate, and the music played.  We never missed anything and yet were able to do what we came to do -- sell our books, talk about our heritage and help others find theirs.  It was a glorious day!

. . . Katherine Hoeger Flotz
Crown Point, IN

kathy mettler ward

The highlight for me and my husband Art was meeting my fifth cousin Suzanne Gross and her husband Fran for the first time after meeting online and several years of emailing and researching our Metzger lines.  

It was wonderful to see children of a young age dancing traditional dances and to watch the friendship dance with all the groups after the parade (I took an amateur video of it).

Hans Kopp & Kathy

We also enjoyed meeting Tina and her husband because we share some of the same interests (photography).

Kevin & Tina

Linda McKenna and I are third cousins and spent a lot of time together over this weekend.  I had worried that Art and Linda’s husband Wayne would get bored at the festival and take off but they enjoyed their time with Fran.  We all got along so well!

Kathy & Suzanne

Art Ward "wore out"

. . . Kathy Mettler Ward
Stoney Creek, Ontario Canada

beth tolfree

One of my main impressions from the weekend was how welcome we were made to feel by everyone from Jacob Hunsinger, Dr. Tom Thornton and Leo Mayer to people we met either at our booth or on the Event grounds. 

I met many who were from Apatin, in Batschka and enjoyed talking to them about their family history. 

Helga Momirov
(from Apatin)

It was really wonderful to see all the youth dance groups in their beautiful trachts.  The groups came from all over and their enthusiasm and sense of community were catching.

The big thrill of the weekend and the nicest surprise was to meet Eva Muhl who had written to the DVHH List the week before for the first time seeking research help. 

All of us were touched by Eva's story and many on the List responded to her post. When Eva heard that the DVHH would be in Mansfield she made the drive to come and meet us there.  One of the most gratifying things about being part of the DVHH is being able to help others connect to family and it was really special to me to meet Eva in person after our correspondence. 

. . . Beth Tolfree
Bakersfield, CA

linda bautz mckenna

Tag der Donauschwaben 2007 was a success for DVHH.  Beginning early in the year I happily contacted Jacob Hunsinger, President of the Mansfield Liederkranz and Dr. Thomas Thornton, MD.  Both welcomed me graciously and worked unceasingly to accommodate our group throughout our planning up to the event. 

It was great to finally meet in person those I've corresponded with through the DVHH.  The DVHH banner and handouts were great; and the map drawing was a success as well. 

It was good to meet the authors and to hear their personal reasons for writing. As well, it was nice to meet all the people who were interested in our program. 

We enjoyed the weekend at the fest along with cousins, Art and Kathy Ward of Canada and Suzanne and Fran Gross of the Philadelphia area. 

The sausage sandwiches and the cream-puff like dessert were my favorites, along with a cold glass of 'water'.  Never did acquire a taste for beer, but my husband enjoyed it. 

As the Mansfield Coordinator I was deliriously happy that the weather cooperated, and that my fellow event committee members were pleased with the set up and for all the attention the DVHH received at the fest.  I wanted so much to please. 

Now, I can release a sigh of relief -mission accomplished. 

. . . Linda Bautz McKenna
DVHH Mansfield Coordinator
Mansfield, OH

The Mansfield Treffen this past Labor Day weekend was a big success by any measure.  In fact there continues to be a spirit and enthusiasm at the annual Landesverband der Donauschwaben Treffen few could have imagined not that many years ago.  Fears that as the older post WWII generation of immigrants died out, so too would the Verband have not been borne out. Carrying the movement forward with great energy and passion are those who were teens and 20 something’s when they arrived in this country, their descendants, friends, and now a growing group of members who are discovering their Donauschwaben roots through research and scholarship over the internet. 

This burgeoning interest in one’s family heritage has not only brought new and contributing members to the individual clubs, it’s also giving existing members another compelling reason to stay involved.  Perhaps even more importantly for many of us baby-boomer club members is that keeping the connection to the old country is falling more and more on our own shoulders.  In most cases we can’t just turn to the Oma and Opa anymore and often even mom and dad were too young to remember the details, much less the history, etc.  We’re the generation taking on the responsibilities of running the individual clubs and we need help!

Enter the DVHH.org.  The wealth of information this group of devoted and energetic individuals provides on how our ancestors came to the Danubian Basin, how they lived, and what they were like comes at just the right time and just the right place – at home on the family computer.  With its slick graphics and easy to navigate pages, finding out about mom’s hometown of Palanka, for instance, is just a keystroke away.  While there have been many authors and interested folks in the Verband who’ve been doing wonderful research and scholarship over the years, nothing comes close to making all the information, the stories and pictures as accessible and user-friendly as the DVHH has – and the site just keeps getting better.

It came as no surprise then to have seen how well the DVHH was received at the Mansfield Donauschwaben Treffen. The enthusiasm was evident on both sides of the information table!  Located right between the two main venues, the Helping Hands tent attracted an almost continuous stream of Treffen attendees at various times throughout the two day festival. Led by Jody along with Tina, Beth, Dennis and other friendly “info-Schwobs”, the group made an excellent impression on everyone they met.  In fact, it appeared to this writer that native Donauschwaben finding out about the organization for the first time were taking the whole thing quite personally.  They seemed delighted and perhaps even proud of what the group was doing. 

It’s quite clear the Donauschwaben Village Helping Hands brings something special to the Verband’s ongoing efforts to promote and perpetuate the culture of our ancestors.  Individual clubs like ours in Trenton and Philadelphia spend hundreds of hours keeping the various Kindergruppen, Jugendgruppen, and Schulen, etc. going in an effort to keep our culture alive, never mind just working to keep the clubhouse doors open.  The DVHH provides all Verband members with a central collection and distribution point, if you will, for the facts, figures, pictures and stories that will serve as a ready resource for every club.  For members of the Verband, the DVHH is a welcome partner in the ongoing efforts to keep our cherished heritage alive now and for the generations to come.

. . . Hans Martini
Hamilton, NJ
Trenton Donauschwaben Club Secretary
16 September 2007