March 9, 2021 NHF Annual General Meeting
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation
Annual General Meeting
Zoom Meeting at 7:30 March 9, 2021
To receive reports or participate in the meeting
send email to nhfrayh@icloud.com
or text or call 204 324 4115
on or before March 8
Committee and Financial Reports
2021 projections
Affirmation of board members
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation
Reports for 2020
Annual General Meeting
zoom meeting
7:30, March 9, 2021
Table of Contents
for Neubergthal Heritage Foundation Report book
Annual General meeting reporting for 2020
March 9, 2021
1 Proposed agenda p 3
2 Minutes of March 10, 2020 NHF AGM p 4
3 Report by Chair p 6
4 Administration Report p 8
5 Committee Reports
Building and Grounds p 10
Curatorial Committee p 12
Events/Low German p 14
Kitchen/Food p 15
Rentals / Weddings p 16
Roseau Relations p 17
6 Board membership p 19
Finances separate document
2020 year end financial report
2021 budget
Proposed Agenda
for Neubergthal Heritage Foundation (NHF)
Annual General Meeting, reporting for 2020
7:30 Tuesday March 9, 2021
Zoom meeting
1 Open
2 Adopt agenda
3 Minutes of March 10, 2020 AGM
4 Chair report
5 Administration Report
6 2020 Committee Reports
i Buildings and Grounds
ii Curatorial
iii Events / Low German
iv Kitchen/Food
v Rentals / Weddings
vi Roseau Relations
7 December 31, 2020 financial report\
Fundraising
8 Budget proposal for 2021
9 Board and committee membership
10 Other business
11 Adjourn
Minutes of
Annual General Meeting
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation
7:30 March 10, 2020
Commons Barn
Present
Board Brad Braun, Danyne Hoeppner, Joe Braun, John Giesbrecht, Karen Martens, Lori Dueck, Susie Fisher; Ray Hamm
Guests: Darlene & Ted Klassen, Don Klippenstein, Erica Enns Rodine, Ken Hamm, Jaime Friesen Pankratz, Lois Braun, Marilyn Houser Hamm, Pauline Villeneuve, Sarah Dyck, Shaun Friesen, Suzanne Braun,
1 Brad called the meeting to order
2 The agenda was adopted as circulated Moved Susie, Second Lori. Carried
3 The minutes of the March 12, 2019, NHF AGN were accepted Moved Joe, second John Carried
4 Detailed reports were presented for each committee. All reports are attached with the minutes. Brief question about Anishinaabe as name for a committee (note: 2020 should read 2019) Dishwasher is big question for B&G, and for Food/Kitchen, Getting estimates to put gravel border around all buildings to keep grass and rodents away. Curatorial committee members are Margruite Krahn, Marilyn Houser Hamm, Susie Fisher (Lori Dueck and Monique Scholte had been members.) Pauline Villeneuve will join this committee. Posters and information signs for buildings and artifacts are very helpful. Success of Thursday in the Village cannot be judged only on the basis of attendance numbers. Thank you to Altona Elks for volunteer and financial assistance with family movie just before Manitoba Sunflower Festival. Low German events coming up, Ray is getting phone calls asking for information. Big question for Food/Kitchen is about long term development of house. Shop for upright standing dishwasher with counter space. Suzanne Braun will become part of food/kitchen committee. Looking for wedding coordinator. Looking for student to be summer host.
Brief discussion of what first time visitors might expect when they come to ‘national historic site.’ What stories does NHF want to tell? what stories might Parks Canada want to tell here? For 2020, get information on basic work on house and on possible options, landscaping and more Tough to find time and energy for partnerships and genealogy
All reports were accepted Moved Joe, second by Susie. Carried
5 The financial report for 2019 was presented, Joe moved, John second that the report be accepted. Carried. Complete report is available upon request.
Fundraising brought in approx 25000, over and above pledges and a gift for the Friesen Housebarn painting. Thank you to Joe for his hard work in this,
6 The budget for 2020 was presented. More income is needed to avoid deficit and to avoid using/loaning from other NHF funds. More grants? Sponsors for events, dishwasher.
7 Brad and Lori indicated their intent to step back from the board. Monique had sent a note indicating her resignation. Jaime Friesen Pankratz was interested and willing to be on the board
Board for 2020-2021
Danyne Hoeppner term 1 year 2
Jaime Friesen-Pankratz term 1 year 1
Joe Braun term 1 year 2, chair
John Giesbrecht term 1 year 2
Karen Martens term 2 year 2
Susie Fisher term 1 year 2, vice chair
Moved to accept this board for 2020-21. Susie, Joe, Carried.
8 Move to adjourn Susie, Joe, Carried
Recorded by Ray Hamm
2020 NHF Chairperson’s Report
Joe Braun
AGM, 2021
After the March 10, 2020 AGM, the NHF board reorganized and I agreed to be chairperson, with Susie Fisher as vice-chair. This was immediately followed by governments imposing restrictions due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, and NHF monthly meetings were held by video-conferencing instead of in-person. The board adapted well and was able to conduct business as usual. Thank you! I would also like to acknowledge and thank new committee members for joining the organization.
1. The following NHF activities were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic:
• Two of the three Saturday-afternoon Low German programs
• The “Thursdays in the Village” summer program
• Nine weddings/receptions
• Numerous family gatherings, business meetings, and tours
2. The board has given official labels to the various NHF buildings:
• Commons Schmidt Barn
• Commons Klippenstein House
• Bergthal School
• H. F. Hamm House
• Friesen House-Barn (as it has always been)
3. April 2020: A new kitchen/food services committee was struck, headed by
board member Karen Martens:
• Lois Braun
• Suzanne Braun
• Jamie Friesen-Pankratz
• Vera Voth
4. May: The small henhouse on the Commons property was moved to the property of
Kenton and Julie Lobe (site of the old community centre), and the kiosk from their
property was moved to the Commons, but has not yet been installed.
5. June: Steven Wiebe and Erin Sawatzky were asked to give advice about the best
location for the kiosk. They suggested it be placed south of the Commons driveway
near the peony shrubs; on Sept. 8, the board voted on and agreed to that location.
6. June: Kym Terry gave a four-hour workshop on proper procedures for
painting/restoring heritage buildings.
7. July: Paul Krahn, Margruite Krahn, and Lois Braun, with input from Ray Hamm,
created a new walking-tour brochure for the village.
8. July: Ray Hamm procured some vintage schoolhouse blackboards to install in the
Bergthal School.
9. Through the summer: With the help of volunteers, summer employee Faith Enns
organized and culled the books that have been donated to the NHF and compiled a list; the books were placed on shelves in the Bergthal School.
10. September 19: Margruite Krahn organized a classical music concert in the Krahns’
hayloft, and village/Commons tours were given to audience members as part of their
concert package.
11. September: A group of board members and volunteers cleaned up the Klippenstein
house.
12. Preparing for 2021: the board campaigned to find new board members.
Fundraising
Despite the ever-increasing need for funds, I would like to express my gratitude to the
people on the board as well as to all our donors for their continuing financial support.
Donations from individuals between January and October came to a little under $5000, and the annual November-December fundraising drive brought in a little over $15,000. Large donations from individuals and businesses came to just under $40,000, some of it earmarked for specific capital projects. $2500 came in from three businesses as
sponsorships for specific events.
Grants from governments and foundations came to just over $40,000, most of it designated for operating expenses, much of it in response to losses incurred by not-for-profit organizations due to the pandemic.
--Joe Braun
Administrative Report
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation Annual General Meeting - -Zoom Meeting
March 9, 2021
submitted by Ray Hamm, admin coordinator
NHF in 2020
On good days, 2020 was interesting; on other days it brought fog and anxiety. Financially NHF made it through - more on this below.
Names can be hard to choose. NHF now speaks of the Commons yard (Klippenstein/Schmidt yard and the former school yard), the Klippenstein house (founding family and long occupancy) and the (Eddie) Schmidt barn (Eddie was the last farmer and he had reworked the interior of the barn). The former Altbergthal school now in Neubergthal is called the Bergthal School. The house built by Johann Hamm, now a picnic shelter and meeting space, is called the HF Hamm House (Henry was grandson of Johann.)
There were great plans for the year, Darp Day, music by Henry & Larry Abrams, “Sposs n TietVedrief,” promotions for wedding rentals, program plans, 9 wedding rentals, All cancelled; the barn was closed.
NHF bought the kitchen equipment from Nora’s Diner in Gretna. Jeff & Kathy closed their business due to covid regulations, especially the closed US/Canada border. Two generous donors immediately paid for this.
Before meetings were shut down, a few conversations were arranged with Anne Friesen, Joyce Friesen, Otto Hamm, Rose Hildebrand looking for stories and memories of Neubergthal. John Giesbrecht was also in this circle. More of this needs to be done. One of these people is Elma Kisser, grand-daughter of Henry Klippenstein (son of Bernhard Klippenstein and the widow Hamm) - personal note - she is my second cousin) She is in her mid-90’s, comes out at least once a year.
Storage is an ongoing need, to receive donations or to allow for proper exhibits - for artifacts for house and barn and also for old farm equipment.
In 2019 there were approx 1000 visitors to NHF facilities. In 2020 this was down to 3-400. Visitors were asked to make reservations. There was lots of hand sanitizer at each door. NHF people wore masks. Thank you to Loren Braul (Gilmor & Braul) for creating a covid agreement for NHF to use for rentals of NHF facilities.
Faith Enns, Altona, was the NHF host and guide this summer. due to covid, it was a half-time position this year. Since there were fewer visitors and tourists, she did other work; documenting the items in the Friesen housebarn; checking the cemetery lists and making an index; sorting and listing all the books in the Bergthal School.
Lois Braun coordinated (with Paul Krahn, Margruite Krahn) and created “A self-guided tour of the historic village of Neubergthal.” Thank You.
Two issues, spring and fall, of Neubergthal Notes were sent out - regular mail and email.
Brenda Friesen is the new wedding coordinator for NHF, handling correspondence and arrangements. Several events have been booked for 2021. There has already been an inquiry for a date in 2022.
Finances and Fundraising
NHF ‘earned’ approx $6000 income in 2020; this is 20% of actual earned income in 2019. In 2020, generous and numerous friends and donors and government grants carried NHF. Some expenses were eliminated or cut back. NHF was able to make the full mortgage payment.
“Regular” grants were received from the RM, Altona Community Foundation - $12000.00. Covid-related grants were received from (federal) Museum Assistance Program -$13000.00; provincial bridge funding - $5000.00; RM/federal funds - $5000.00.
Fourteen general donations of $1000 or more were received for a total of almost $30,000.00. On top of this, Friesens designated $20,000.00 for the house/kitchen project. Total donations and sponsorships were just under $60,000.00.
Year end cash was $54,000.00. $14,000.00 of this was used in January to complete the 2020 mortgage payment. $20,000.00 is set aside for the house project. $20,000.00 is left to start the new year. ( 2019 finished with approx $20,000.00 cash.) NHF will be receiving a $40,000.00 interest free loan - federal funds, through Triple R Community Funds (Morris). If it is repaid by Dec 31 2022, 25% is forgiveable.
NHF looks forward to 2021. Some events are ready to go when health guidelines allow gatherings. The house project will be the big thing this year- - -planning and fundraising. NHF is applying to provincial and federal programs for funding. The information kiosk and the brass plaque from Parks Canada will be set up.
NHF invites ideas and participation for the board and committees. We are trustees of a national historic site. There is much to dream and to do.
Board members for 2020-2021 were
Joe Braun (chair), Susie Fisher (vice-chair), Danyne Hoeppner, Jaime Friesen-Pankratz, John Giesbrecht, Karen Martens.
Harv Heinrichs, bookkeeper, Ray Hamm, administrator.
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation AGM
Building & Grounds Committee Report - 2020
Committee Members:
Shaun Friesen, Ray Hamm, Joe Braun,
Terry Mierau, Wilf Hiebert and Brad Braun
Yard Maintenance & Custodial:
John Abrams looks after the yard, cutting the grass and clearing snow.
Irina Pauli cleans up in the barn after events.
Friesen Housebarn:
The Housebarn was painted in 2019, but some touch up work remains. Planning to finish that this year.
The area east of the house was landscaped to allow buses to drive onto the yard to unload and load passengers closer to the site. There is room for the buses to turn around safely as well.
Commons:
The former fence area is ready for levelling and seeding. We cleaned up more debris as it was unearthed by cultivating, Alfalfa will be seeded there, except on the septic field. That area will have native grasses and plants, with help from Ducks Unlimited.
The chicken coop was removed from the Commons last summer.
The information Kiosk was removed from the former community centre yard and brought to the Commons yard. It will possibly be placed south of the Commons driveway near the peonies.
The Commons Barn:
In August of 2020, kitchen equipment was purchased from Nora’s Diner. The business was closing and the NHF picked up a dishwasher, an oven and a bunch of other kitchen equipment. These were items that had been discussed at length over a few years. The price was reasonable and the time was right. Nothing will be installed in the barn at this time.
The Klippenstein House:
There have been many discussions regarding the house and how it will be used. What will the kitchen location and layout look like, what features should we preserve and how do we make the space useable while still respecting the heritage aspects. The plans for the house are loosely coming together.
The house has been cleaned out. The articles that were brought over from the community centre have been dealt with, leaving the space ready for the next phase. All drywall and construction that is not original will be removed to find out what original material was covered up.
The School:
Some work remains at the school. The south door has to be reworked, repaired or replaced. Some inside work and finishing touches yet to be done.
Curatorial Team- Annual Report 2020
Like most organizations and committees, the pandemic restricted some of what we would have liked to have accomplished in 2020. However, our committee which is made up of Marilyn Houser Hamm, Pauline Villeneuve, and Margruite Krahn, were able to move forward on a number of things. They include the following:
1. Linseed Oil Paint Workshop – hosted by the Curatorial Team
June 27/20, Kym Terry from Restoration Workshop (Parks Canada) lead a workshop at the Commons Barn which included the history of linseed oil paint, surface preparation, painting, thickness, drying time, and second coat.
The workshop was limited to 25 people and was well received
2. Friesen Housebarn Interpretive Centre
summer exhibition- Pauline took the lead in setting up much of the housebarn with childhood memories of visiting grandma Friesen
reorganizing and culling display items as they relate to the Friesen Housebarn began in 2020 and will continue into 2021
Paul Villeneuve built a proper front entrance step replacing the board that has been there for years
Margruite, on behalf of the Curatorial Team inspected and documented the exterior paint job and reported to the building committee and NHF-a substandard job.
3. Norma Giesbrecht Memorial
In 2019 Pauline was approached about a permanent memorial for Norma who devoted years to the NHF and the love of her childhood home. Ideas were discussed as a family and as a curatorial team, and Eric Friesen was approached re the memorial.
based on a conversation with Eric, the committee decided that a memorial will be set up in the northeast corner of the house and barn ( cement pad and cistern.)
the memorial will be funded by Norma’s family with work beginning in spring/summer of 2021
4. Designated Heritage Grant
A grant was submitted in January of 2021 by this committee for restoration, preservation, and renovation of the floors throughout the Friesen Housebarn. Initial plans were to do the work in 2020
Plans for floor restoration to compliment the summer 2021 tour season at the Friesen Housebarn Interpretive Centre
5.Kiosk, Walking Tour Brochure
The CT was consulted regarding placement of the kiosk
Redesign of map in the brochure as well as consultation regarding the overall brochure
6. Naehverein Exhibition
Discussion began in early 2020 to create an exhibition honoring women of the Naehverein, from nearby villages and towns. Due to the pandemic and the nature of the exhibition we decided on 2023 exhibition. Marilyn will take the lead in planning this.
7. Neubergthal Sports Exhibition
Discussion has begun for an exhibition featuring sports and sports teams in the village. Promotion of this exhibition and collection of artifacts will begin this spring with a tentative opening summer 2022. Pauline will be the contact.
Submitted by,
Margruite Krahn
Events Committee / Low German report
to Annual General Meeting
Neubergthal Heritage Foundation
March 9, 2021
Ray Hamm
2020 could have been a good and entertaining year. Instead it became an “interesting” year filled with covid-19 and cancellations.
TietVedrief (Low German programs): Three Saturday afternoon sessions were planned. On Mar. 14, Hans Werner gave a talk about his book, The Constructed Mennonite, in Low German, and John and Margaret Wall were the musical guests. 30 people attended. One of the Saturdays was to feature stories and songs by a small group from Reinland. One of the men had been a village cowherd in his youth. The TietVedrief sessions were sponsored by Access Credit Union, Altona IGA, and Pioneer Meat. The last two Tietvedrief sessions were cancelled due to pandemic.
Saturday seminar on Agriculture and Energy, Martin Entz, U of M Agric Dep’t
Thursdays in the Village had an interesting line-up of topics and people.
A photo/art exhibit of photos by village photographer P G Hamm (1883-1965) was planned.
A docudrama about Neubergthal commissioned by Parks Canada twenty years ago, and several other movies, were to be shown.
Henry and Larry Abrams. Brothers Keep Music, were to begin Darp Day (second weekend in September) with a Friday evening music concert.
spring and fall music concerts
ALL events were cancelled. Some will be planned again for 2021.
At the beginning of the year, committee members were Danyne Hoeppner, Lori Dueck, Shaun Friesen and Ray Hamm. Lori and Shaun needed to pull back early in the year.
NHF Kitchen Committee Report
AGM Mar 9, 2021
A Kitchen committee was formed in April 2020. Members include
Karen Martens
Lois Braun
Suzanne Braun
Vera Braun
Jaimie Friesen Pankratz
This past year has been one of change. From a basic kitchen corner in the barn being used with a growing number of events and showing a need for the development of our kitchen facility in 2019, to a very quiet year due to COVID 19 restrictions. Five events were held where NHF needed a kitchen.
Mar 21 – a beverage and snack was served to the guests attending a Low German event
July 12 – Family celebrating a birthday in the school
Aug 19 – Soup and sandwich lunch served to a Fehrway Tour group
Sep 19 - WSO fundraiser -snack in the barn
Oct 19 –Soup and sandwich lunch for Steinbach Heritage Museum staff Workshop
The events happening in 2019 identified the need for a commercial dishwasher to be installed in the kitchen corner in the barn. It was a priority for the kitchen committee to research our options. This initiated an inquiry made by Lois to Jeff Dyck at Nora’s Diner in Gretna about dishwasher recommendations. Little did we know that an offer to purchase Nora’s Diner kitchen equipment was awaiting. In early August, NHF was given the chance to walk through Nora’s Diner and pick any kitchen equipment we would want. Not only was this an amazing offer, it was also very affordable. A list of the items purchased from Nora’s is available. These items are in storage on site
The kitchen committee changed its focus from equipping the kitchen corner in the barn to redesigning a commercially approved kitchen in the Klippenstein house. Two plans were made which included all the equipment that had been purchased from Nora’s. One plan included the southeast room and the second plan included the northwest room in the Klippenstein house. In Aug the Kitchen committee met with Jeff and Kathy Dyck (Nora’ Diner)at the Klippenstein house. The 2 plans were presented and after weighing the pros and cons it was decided that the northwest room would be the new kitchen site.
Keeping the integrity of the Klippenstein house is also important. Both Shaun Friesen and Margruite Krahn have submitted their suggestion about what should be preserved, such as floor patterns, chair moldings, casings, and others moldings. The plan currently is to convert the northwest bedroom as the kitchen and the exsiting kitchen in the house will be a beverage room that looks like a kitchen. To help keep the old kitchen look, an antique wood stove was purchased and will be added to the beverage room.
The building and grounds committee has met and decisions about the kitchen construction are now in process. Thanks to everyone……from fundraising, to contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and history preservers the NHF kitchen is in progress.
Submitted by
Karen Martens
Rentals and Weddings
Neubergthal Heritage Annual Meeting
March 9, 2021
submitted by Ray Hamm
Nine wedding events had been booked for 2020.
6 families planned gatherings in the barn or the school.
December had 4 family or business bookings.
There were a few other miscellaneous rentals.
A small church group had meetings in the barn twice a month.
There have been several inquires and a few bookings for wedding events for 2021, and also some inquiries for 2022.
Brenda Friesen is the new wedding coordinator for Neubergthal Heritage Foundation. New advertising will begin on Facebook and Instagram.
All events were cancelled. NHF closed the barn.
Anishinabe Report for NHF Annual Meeting March 2021
Group Members: Ray Hamm (Neubergthal), Ron Wiebe (Morris), Ian Timshell (Senkiew), Tim Kroeker (Roseau River), Shaun Friesen (Altona)
In a spirit of friendship and reconciliation, the NHF has sponsored and participated in various Indigenous themed events, which originally flowed from connections developed by Ray and Shaun.
The “Breakfast at Barney’s” group was formed after an “Indigenous event” promoted by the NHF. Now comprising the core of the NHF Anishinabe Committee, it was initially an invitation for interested people to get together once a month over breakfast to discuss Indigenous and Metis issues, as well as exploring how to live with integrity on Treaty One Land, and to advance the 94 recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. From 2017 to December 2019 the committee, has organized and participated in various opportunities to develop connections, to listen, to learn, and to educate. See the following list of examples.
Treaty presentations and discussions.
Our role as settler people, in “post” colonial culture.
Blanket exercise
Story telling
Sharing Circles
Drumming Circle
Invitation to attend summer and winter ceremonies
Invitation to attend a clan teaching event on the reserve
Sweat Lodge.
The pandemic resulted in fewer meetings, and in the suspension of event planning. The group remained active in a number of ways.
Recommendations for books
21 Things You May not Know about the Indian Act: Bob Joesph
Indigenous Healing Exploring Traditional Paths: Rupert Ross
The North-West is our Mother: Jean Teillet
Braiding Sweet Grass: Robin Wall-Kimmerer
Gathering Moss: Robin Wall-Kimmerer
Firewater – How Alcohol is Killing My People: Harold R. Johnson
Recommendations for Interviews and podcasts
Harold R Johnson - Lawyer, author of Firewater, and How Alcohol is Killing My People
Murray Sinclair – Former senator and Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Ian participated in an online event, featuring Bob Joseph, the author of 21 Things You May not Know about the Indian Act.
Tim maintained an online connection to the Circles for Reconciliation Program.
Tim and Ian have maintained their connection to Lawrence Henry.
Ray has maintained his connections to Elders Charlie Nelson and Peter Atkinson.
Ray attended the scaled back seasonal ceremonies.
Ian is constructing a new “Little Boy Water Drum” for Charlie Nelson.
The trajectory for 2021 remains fluid, as the Pandemic continues to weave a web of uncertainty. The plan is to continue to pursue a path of friendship and reconciliation. We remain committed and empowered to move forward with this intention in 2021.
Submitted by: Shaun Friesen March 2021.
Board for Neubergthal Heritage Foundation for 2020-2021
NHF board is to be between 5 and 9 members
One term on the board is 3 years
A person can serve two consecutive terms and then there must be a break for at least one year.
Board meetings are open unless by board action for specific reasons.
Danyne Hoeppner term 1 year 2
Jaime Friesen-Pankratz term 1 year 1
Joe Braun term 1 year 2, chair
John Giesbrecht term 1 year 2
Karen Martens term 2 year 2
Susie Fisher term 1 year 2, vice chair