Vital records - Kovno

Subject: Vital Records matching grants for Vilijampole and KovnoFrom: "Joel Ratner" Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 21:24:42 -0400X-Message-Number: 1As a reminder, there are outstanding matching grants which have gone unfulfilled for both Vilijampole and Kovno. A limited number of records for both towns are going out for translation however, without further funds for both towns, the number of these records is limited. The Vilijampole matching grant is in the amount of $2000, and it has been matched with just over $600. The Kovno matching grant is in the amount of $1000 and so far, we have received just over $500. Researchers for these towns and other towns with vital records are encouraged to contribute now so we can put more records into the hands of translators.A list of towns with vital records being translated under the VRT project can be found at the VRT website at http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeol99xA donor form can be found at the VRT website under the Downloads page. Any questions about the records for your town can be forwarded to me.Joel Ratner ----------------------------------------------------------------------Subject: Update - LitvakSIG Vital Records Translation Project 6_2006From: "Joel Ratner" Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 22:15:35 -0400X-Message-Number: 2The first 5 months of this year have been very busy for all involved with the Vital Records Translation Project. The highlights of the first half are given below:1. Name change from Vital Records Indexing to Vital Records Translation Project - this was done to quell the confusion by any researchers whoassumed this project only provided indexing of the records rather thanfull translation.2. Keidan - Olga Zabludoff along with our Keidan records translator, completed the translation and distribution of the Keidan birth records in the FHL films. Olga, along with Jose Gutstein, developed an extremely useful spreadsheet which they are now using as a means of distributing the translations to qualifying donors. This spreadsheet provides a myriad of different sorts of the birth data. The sorts provided include chronological, alphabetical, mothers maiden name and town of registration. Other Shtetl coordinators will be encouraged to use a similar template. In fact, plans are in the works to enlist the skills of a few sharp programmers to add even more content to these translations as aids to the researcher. This is in the planning stages right now, and I have asked for volunteers with Visual Basic experience to come forward to help develop these added tools. MNore on this development as this project matures.3. Shirvint - The translations of the vital records for Shirvint on FHL microfilm were completed and distributed thanks to the efforts of Tova Jaffe. Tova is seeking further donations to cover the Vilna okrug records which include further vital records for Shirvint. Shirvint researchers are encouraged to reach into their pushkas and provide some more support here.4. Rasein - These vital records were completed earlier this year and distributed.5. Pumpenai - The vital records for Pumpenai on FHL microfilm have been completely translated and have been sent to those who contributed. Thanks go out to Chaim Luria, the Shtetl Coordinator for Pumpenai, who single-handedly raised all the necessary funds in rather short order and has seen this project through.6. Kernave - A small number of records for this town are on FHL film and these have been translated.7. Recently, we welcomed Susan Cooper as Shtetl Coordinator for Varniai. Varniai researchers are encouraged to contact Susan at suzecooper@yahoo.com.au .8. Vilna - The vital records for the years 1861 - 1865 have just been started, now that Pumpenai translations are complete.9. Many of the records described above, over 11,000 in total, have been combined into a format suitable for publishing in the ALD. This publication is in the works.10. We have added a Rabbi as a translator in the last few months. His family hails from Vilna, and he is anxious to get started translating for us. These plans will unfold over the summer.11. A professor at Brandeis University has expressed possible interest in helping out this project. Currently out of the country, he is expected back in the US in the fall and I will be in communication with him regarding his interest.Plans for the future of the VRT Project, namely the next 12 month period, have been developed based on funding received and will be presented at the conference in New York. I will be there giving a talk on the VRT project on Tuesday afternoon, and hope to see many of you these. I expect to have with me a myriad of resources pertaining to Litvak research.As always, please check the VRT website at www.mysite.verizon.net/vzeol99x for further updates to the project. Not all the events posted above have been incorporated into the weblog.Joel Ratner ---END OF DIGEST---Post messages to and visit our home page http://www.jewishgen.org/litvakLitvakSIG is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation.Contributions to LitvakSIG http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/donor.htm