The genealogy website for those with ancestors from the Ostfriesland area of Germany.
(Ostfriesland is located in the NW corner of Germany, bordered by The Netherlands and the North Sea.)

                              Wishing all of you a Healthy, Happy New Year!

• Non-Members:  A sample newsletter is available at the left, bottom corner.  Click on the blinking button.  

• MEMBERS:  If you have not renewed your membership, you will not receive the January 2012 newsletter!
  
  The January, April, July and October 2012 newsletters are online the first day of each of those months, but may be on a few days earlier if they are ready.  Print copies are typically mailed the first of these months and are sent by bulk mail.  You should receive them within a week or two.  If you request a print copy, you can still download the newsletter at any time!
  Click on the "Members Only" button.  We have a great 32 page quarterly newsletter available to members.  
  Join our organization today!   Help us preserve the history of Ostfriesland!
  
  2012 CONFERENCE - Click here for a brochure with more information. 

• OGSA will host a conference on August 11-14, 2012 in Rockford, Illinois.  If  you have never attended one of our conferences, please don't miss this one!  This is truly an Ostfriesen Family Reunion.  We will spend Sunday in German Valley, Illinois, the first destination of many of our ancestors. 

• The new German Valley, The People book will be distributed Sunday, August 12 in German Valley, Illinois.   This was the project Robert Appledorn worked on for many years.  This two volume set of books will have information on more than 4,600 families who settled this area are in the mid 1800's.    Check back often for more information. 
   

• The January 2012 newsletter is now online.
  We have back issues for several years of our newsletters!  Ask us about them!
   

• The 2012 OGSA Conference brochure will be here very soon!  Make sure you put August 11-14 on your calendars!  See you in Rockford, Illinois!
   

• The January 2009, 2010 and 2011 issues feature emigration!  Our best selling newsletters!

• An index of all the articles in our past issues will soon be available.
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  RESOURCES:

• OGSA ORDER FORM  (Ostfriesen maps and books translated into English plus lots of other great things!)
  OGSA MEMBERSHIP FORM - download here.
   

• NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS  You can join or renew your membership online and pay with Paypal.   
  You can even buy a gift membership this way!  Click on the "Member Info" button (top left column).  We appreciate our members!  
   

• Take this Online Survey!  Print and send back to us, please!  We need your input even if you are not a member.                         
  We are always trying to make OGSA an even better organization. 
   

• Please contact us with questions!

• Contact Information:       info@ogsa.us / News Editor - 651-269-3580
  
  Library, Orders:                Gene janssen@ com cast. net    (remove spaces in email addresses)                                     
  Membership:                     info@ogsa.us    
  
  Newsletter:                        Lin Strong Lin@ogsa.us or lcstrong@frontiernet.net                
  
  Email Contact:                   info@ogsa.us 
  
  OGSA Phone No.:            (651) 451-6472 - phone messages returned when volunteer is in the office.
  
  OGSA Mail Address:      1670 So. Robert St, #333, West St Paul, MN 55118
  
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  OGSA Book Collection:  Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord Street North, South St. Paul, MN   
                                                     651-451-6472   http://www.mngs.org/

• MGS Library Hours:
  Tuesday 6:30-9:30PM  / Wednesday 10:00AM-4:00PM  / Thursday 10:00AM-4:00PM & 6:30-9:30PM                                                     Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM
  * If you wish to do research at the library other than the times listed above, please call our office number and leave a message or contact us at info@ogsa.us.  Someone will return your call & we will do our best to meet you at the facility at a time convenient for you.  If you are coming during any holiday weekend, please call ahead to make sure the library is open. 

• Click here for directions.        

• If you are traveling a distance, please call to verify hours.  As a member of OGSA, there is no fee for you to use the library.

• Note that the OGSA library office is not typically open during MGS library hours.
  
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• 2012 OGSA Programs & Other Events 
  
  January 28, 2012 - Minnesota Genealogical Society Library, 1185 Concord Street North, South St. Paul, MN   
  10 a.m. - Program - Writing Your Family History
  Noon - Potluck Lunch, German sausages, beverages and utensils provided
  1 p.m.  Annual Meeting
  Library has copies of all Ostfriesen Ortssippenbücher and is open until 4 p.m. 
  Let us help you with your research!  Great get-acquainted opportunity!