CGSI Genealogical/Cultural Conference - Oct. 2011

CGSI held its 13th Czechoslovak Genealogical/Cultural Conference in St. Louis, Missouri October 26-29, 2011.

Major conference sponsors were the CSA Fraternal Life of Oak Brook, IL
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Supporting Sponsors were the Immigration History Research Center – University of Minnesota, Germanic Genealogy Society – St. Paul, Minnesota,
German-Bohemian Heritage Society – New Ulm, MN, American-Czech
Educational Center – St. Louis, MO, and PattyLong Catering, Inc.

Czech and Slovak Neighbor Tour
A deluxe motor tour Meet Me in Historic St. Louis was offered on each of the two days prior to the conference.

Entertainment during the 2011 Conference
Entertainment was provided after the Friday and Saturday Evening dinners.

Parade of Kroje during the 2011 Conference
A Parade of Kroje was held for the attendees.

Compatriot Genealogists
Conference of Compatriot Genealogists in the U.S.A. This article about the St. Louis conference and CGSI was written for “Genealogicke a heraldicke listy”, the newsletter of the Czech Genealogy and Heraldry Society in Prague.

            
Paul Makousky was the chairman of the St. Louis conference

            
Ginger Simek, the president of CGSI, welcomed the attendees to the conference.

            
Sister Anita Smisek lead the singing of the United States, Czech and Slovak national anthems

            
Joan Huisinga presented the Keynote Adress entitled “Meet Me in Historic St. Louis”

            
Greetings were presented by Sharon Valasek, Czech
Honorary Consul for Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas

            
Katie and Debbie Makousky at the registration desk
Debbie made the quilt that was raffled off to the attendees

            
Volunteers filled Welcome Bags for the Conference Attendees

            
Presenter Jan Dus is a Professional Researcher and Tour Guide.
Jan was born in Brno, Moravia and now lives in Policka, Czech Republic

            
Presenter Miroslav “Mirek” Koudelka is a Professional Researcher
and Tour Guide. Mirek studied Teaching Czech and History,
and, English at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic
and at Komensky University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Mirek is the
CGSI Regional Representative for the Czech Republic.

            
Presenter Michal Razus is a professional Genealogy Researcher
from Presov, Slovakia. Michal was selected by the CGSI as Regional
Representative for the Slovak Republic, where his role is to establish
an awareness of the CGSI in Slovakia and identify possible networking.

            
Presenter Rebekka Geitner was born in Bremerhaven, Germany and now is employed as a historian at the Betriebsgesellschaft BallinStadt mbH (Ballinstadt Emigration Museum)

            
Presenter Leo Baca is a fourth generation Czech Texan from Richardson, Texas

            
Presenter Donald Makousky preparing for his presentation

            
Lunch was served Friday and Saturday noons as part of the conference fee.

            
Attendees could browse through the Vendor Room which contained a wide
selection of genealogical books, suplies, t-shirts, ethnic priducts, folk art,
music tapes/CDs collectibles,travel and professional research information.

            
Jerry Parupsky (wearing Slovak t-shirt) assisting attendees at the CGSI Sales Table

            
Glassware and Ornaments were popular in the Vendor Room.

            
Native folk dress (kroj) from Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia were modeled on
mannequins. The many special pieces have been brought back by Helene Baine
Cincebeaux and her mother Helen Baine during more then 40 years of travel.

            
Peter and Terri DiCarlo were the highest bidders for the child’s kroj in the Silent Auction.

            
                  Barbie and Ken dolls at the Silent Auction.

            
          Mushroom Galore and Slivovice (plum brandy) at the Silent Auction.

            
Bidding started slow for the Silent Auction on Friday. Near the end of the
auction on Saturday bidding was fast and furious. Donations of 188 items
were made to CGSI by speakers, vendors, members, and various businesses
with proceeds to be used to take the “CGSI Traveling Library” to locations with
Czech or Slovak population. The Auction raised $3,277 for the Traveling Library.

            
The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Bob Bina by Ginger Simek.
Bob has been a member of CGSI for almost ninteen years. He served 7 years
as Product Sales Chair and served 15 years as Webmaster for our web site.

            
Garnet and Bob Bina along with Ginger Simek

Many of these pictures are the courtesy of Russ Helwig