You Can Help the Children and Teachers in the Ukr ainian Schools
Updated:

To: Friends and Colleagues and Persons interested in future tours Journey to the Homeland: Germany and Ukraine

From: Michael M. Miller, Germans from Russia Bibliographer, Tour Director, Journey to the Homeland: Germany and Ukraine

Warmest regards from the campus of North Dakota State University!

Please find enclosed the brochure, You Can Help the Children and Teachers in Ukrainian Schools. The brochure has been sent to 1) persons joining the June tours; 2) persons on our wait-list for future tours in 1997 and 1998; and 3) friends and colleagues of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. Join us to bring basic school supplies to the children in the former German villages near Odessa, Ukraine.

When the idea of bringing school supplies was first discussed with some of the June tour group members, there was an enthusiastic and positive response. Recently I received an electronic mail message from Margaret Freeman of Redondo Beach, CA, informing me that Gwen Pritzkau of Salt Lake City, UT, had already collected 3,000 donated pencils for the Ukrainian school children. Gwen and Margaret join the June tour to Germany and Ukraine.

Emilie Kessler Link of Bismarck who teaches German at St. Mary's Elementary School will lead a program of gathering school supplies for the former German villages, donated by the pupils at St. Mary's. Emilie and Raymond Link join Tour Group II (17 June-2 July 1996) for their historic visit to Odessa and Stuttgart. Emilie will visit the former German village of MŸnchen (Munich) [Beresan Enclave] near Odessa where she was born and lived as a child until she was ten years old. The Links will celebrate their wedding anniversary between 24 June-1 July when they visit Odessa.

Carol Just Halverson of St. Louis Park, MN, a LaMoure, ND native, leads a project of gathering school supplies with her daughter's elementary school classroom, as well as within the German-Russian community in the Twin Cities area.

Initial plans have begun for the 1997 tours. The dates will likely be 18-21 days late May and early June, 1997. One week will be spent in Odessa and the former Bessarabian and Black Sea German villages with the other days tentatively set for Kiev,

St. Petersburg, and Germany. The 1997 tour will not include the Germans from Russia gathering in Stuttgart, called the Bundestreffen, since this event is held every two years. The 1998 tour will include the Bundestreffen in June as well as one week in Odessa. You will be notified regarding dates and registration for the 1997 tours.

Because of the growing interest for persons desiring to visit Odessa and the former German villages, we may need to consider offering an early 1997 autumn tour. This tour would likely occur in late August/early September, 1997. We are hesitant to pursue tours during July and August due to the warm temperatures and lack of air conditioning in the Ukraine.

Should you have additional questions regarding the 1997 and 1998 tours, please feel encouraged to contact me. Let me know if you have additional names and addresses we should add to our wait-list for future tours. Write to Michael M. Miller, Journey to the Homeland Tours, NDSU Libraries, P.O. Box 5599, Fargo, ND 58105-5599 (Tel: 701-231-8416; Fax: 701-231-7138; E-mail: Michael.Miller@ndsu.edu).

Join us to bring school supplies to the Ukrainian school children.