castrocolonies.org

1st Quarterly Meeting - (Updated 3/9/10)

Please join us for our quarterly meeting and membership drive on March 14th at 2 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Quihi, Texas.

Every member bring a prospective member to get acquainted with our mission and organization.   We welcome anyone who is interested in the preservation of our unique heritage to join.

Our featured speaker will be Professor Ward Albro presenting “The Battle of the Medina”.

Albro, a university professor for over 30 years, began organizing and leading programs through Texas A&M University in Kingsville, where he also created and led that university's first office of international programs. When he took early retirement from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1996, he organized Tierra del Sol. Albro was named professor emeritus in history at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1997 and recently was a visiting professor and holder of the O'Connor Chair at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. He is currently lecturing at both the Texas A&M University , System Center , San Antonio , and at the University of Texas at San Antonio .

Join CCHA for only $20/annual membership dues.  Call Kathy Slansky, Membership Chair, for more information at 210.495.7156.

Benefits of Membership:

• Networking with local experts on historic events and families of the Castro Colonies through tours and visits, student exchanges and correspondence
• Contribute to preserving the heritage of the Castro colonists and their descendants
• Speakers and social events featuring the unique heritage of the Alsatians and the sister-city partnership with Oberentzen/Niederentzen, Alsace France.
• Encouragement of historical and genealogical study and research
• Recognition, preservation and restoration of historic buildings and distinctive architecture

New Officers For 2010 - (Updated 3/8/10)

Castro Colonies Heritage Association (CCHA) announced their 2010-2011 slate of new officers:  President – Mary Anne Votion, Vice President – Charles Suehs, Treasurer – Carol Koch Rogers, Recording Secretary – Laurel D’Orsogna, and Corresponding Secretary – Lisa Schweers.

The new officers were installed at the December 13^th quarterly meeting held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in San Antonio.   The meeting also featured traditional Alsatian Christmas refreshments along with the business meeting and social.

The purpose of the CCHA is to bring together those people who are interested in the culture and history of the Castro colonies of Castroville, D’Hanis, Quihi, and Vandenburg established in Medina County, Texas, during the time period of 1844 through 1847.  Special projects of the organization include the Medina County History Book, Living History Center, Alsace sister city tours and Alsatian dance troupe.   The organization, which has over 450 members, is currently accepting new members interested in the preservation of this unique heritage.  Membership dues are only $20/person annually.