Carpatho-Rusyn Society

C-RS LAKE ERIE CHAPTER PRESENTS

"IN SEARCH OF OUR ANCESTORS"
a 3-part workshop for Eastern Europeans, especially Rusyns
Sunday, June 1, 2003

Crossroads Community Baptist Church
I-90 exit 27; Junction of Routes 505 & 97
Erie, PA, 2:00-5:30 p.m.

Well-known genealogist Megan Smolenyak will lead the seminar, including:

"Jump-Starting Your Eastern Europe Research"
"Maximizing your Results from the Ellis Island Database" and
"Honoring Our Ancestors"

Megan Smolenyak was lead researcher of the PBS series, "Ancestors" and "They Came to America" and has appeared on the Today Show, NPR and other national shows. She is also author of several books, including: "In Search of Our Ancestors" and "Honoring Our Ancestors." She is a frequent speaker for cultural and genealogy groups. Her family is from the Rusyn village of Osturnja in Slovakia, and she has organized trips and reunions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Sponsors: Mercyhurst College and Erie Society for Genealogical Research

Fee: $10 for national Carpatho-Rusyn Society members and Erie Society for Genealogical Research members; $20 public.

Ethnic Dinner:
You can also get a delicious dinner for $5.00, including stuffed cabbage, noodles and caraway, baby carrots, cucumbers, rye bread and pastry. Seating at 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. (The meal is optional.)

DESCRIPTIONS:

Jump-Starting Your Eastern European Research:
Certain aspects of Eastern European families -- such as the relative rarity of many of our surnames and time of our arrival in North America -- make particular records and techniques more useful than others for going back to the old country. Learn about the records that will help you identify your village of origin and make contact with your European cousins most quickly. The best of the ever-expanding toolbox of Internet resources are discussed as well as port and naturalization records, Social Security applications, and FHL microfilms from Eastern Europe. Real world success stories -- and a few potential pitfalls -- are also shared.

Maximizing Your Results from the Ellis Island Database:
Still can't find Great-Grandpa in the Ellis Island database? Or perhaps you've found him, but the manifest is missing or mis-linked. Learn all the nuances of the Ellis Island website and about other online resources (such as Stephen P. Morse's tools) to help you find the elusive immigrants in your family.

Honoring Our Ancestors
Let yourself be amused, amazed and touched by stories of the many creative ways people have developed to pay tribute to those who came before us.

Registration is requested in advance by MAY 17, with checks made payable to:
Carpatho-Rusyn Society
c/o Lake Erie Chapter
926 West 8th Street
Erie, PA 16502
Note name, address, phone, and number attending for workshop and dinner.

DIRECTIONS:
From Pittsburgh: I-79 North to I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27.
From Buffalo or Cleveland: I-90 West/East to Erie, Exit 27.

From Exit 27 (State Street Exit): Take Rt. 97 North for one mile to Jct. 505. At light, veer right on Rt. 97 North and the church is immediately on the right, 5827 Old French Road.

For more information:
Call Eileen Zinchiak at (814) 456-7217 or email: Eileen@stargate.net

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