Germans spend time in Hays By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN Hays Daily News They wanted to give their visitors a week to remember. Mission accomplished. Members of the area Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia hosted the 38th annual international AHSGR convention this summer in Hays. It was the first time for the convention to be in Hays and only the third time in Kansas. Wichita hosted the event twice, in 1982 and 1988. Organizers thought Hays would be a perfect spot, considering all the Germans from Russia who settled in Ellis County in the late 1800s. The city of Hays was rewarded with an economic boost upwards of a million dollars. The international organization, whose home office is located in Lincoln, Neb., netted almost $64,000. And those in attendance went home knowing a little more about where their ancestors came from and what they went through to get here. "We were all winners, I guess you can say," said Kevin Rupp, president of the Sunflower Chapter. About 450 people pre-registered for this year's convention, more than the final attendance at the 2006 convention in Lincoln. But by the time the last person passed by the registration table in Hays on the Saturday of the convention, that number had ballooned to nearly 650. Janet Kuhn of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau admitted while it was a little crowded at times, that was a good problem. "What made that fun was that you really got to meet a lot of people as you crossed them in the hallways," Kuhn said. "And the Holiday Inn staff bent over backwards to accommodate the people at the convention," she said of convention headquarters. Rupp credits the success of the convention to a lot of people. "The community made it a success," he said. "The way the local merchants contributed to getting this off the ground, to pull this off, was impressive. Donations just poured in, both financial and material. And the Convention and Visitors Bureau did so much. It was a real 'team' effort." Rupp said in addition to the camaraderie, learning more about their genealogy and getting to visit numerous historical sites, attendees also talked about the hospitality extended them. "They really liked coming to Hays, the way the community welcomed them with open arms," Rupp said. "They could walk down the streets and still hear people talking German." Following the convention, Rupp accepted a position on the international board and will be making regular visits to Lincoln for meetings. He said he has heard nothing but good things about the 2007 convention. "They definitely were very impressed with the attendance," Rupp said. "And they say it's one of the best conventions we've had in a while. They wanted to know when we wanted to host it again." Rupp chuckles when asked about the possibility of that request becoming a reality. At least one thing is for sure. It wouldn't be before 2012. The dates and places already are booked for the next several years -- in Casper, Wyo., next summer; Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, in 2009; Lincoln, Neb., 2010; eastern United States, 2011; and Midwest United States, 2012. So with Hays, Kansas, following into that last category, is there a chance the convention will return in five years? "Because of the success, the first question out of a lot of people's mouths is, 'When are you going to do it again?' " Rupp said. "You never know." Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.