I would like to take this opportunity at this juncture of sharing with you my experiences and observations of my work with Georg Primas, Erhard Lampersberger, and Franz Kainz, the Gedenkdienst interns currently working at the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre.As well as these three gentlemen, I was also familiar, albeit more briefly, with the former Gedenkdieners, Lothar Bodingbauer and Michael Pollan, and thus while my letter is written directly about my interactions with the current Gedenkdieners, it reflects in general, the productive and valued cooperation between the MHMC and the Gedenkdienst program.

Erhard, Franz and Georg have been and continue to remain indispensable to our work at the MHMC.Certainly, every staff member can attest to the many ways in which the Gedenkdieners have helped in so many varied areas of work.However, more specifically, I can attest to their invaluable contribution to my work.The four of us are currently working on cataloguing and documenting our extensive archival collection.As one could imagine, such a task is not always simple.The documentation in many cases is scant, and sometimes even absent altogether.Nevertheless, they have succeeded in a few short months in organizing what has been to date an extremely disorganized record system.Since July of this year, they have succeeded in adapting a database (which had been designed originally by a previous Gedenkdiener) to meet our needs more directly, and in gathering together in one place all of our three-dimensional artifacts.As well, they have culled together the disparate documentation and have photographed, measured and catalogued the physical information on our collection.Their familiarity with our archival collection is now on par with my own.They analyze information sheets which we have on individual items, summarize the information and more importantly are capable of noting discrepancies.They do not simply copy information by rote - they read it and ensure that it is consistent, and if it is not, they bring it to my attention, which is of course, the appropriate course of action.Of course, it goes without saying, that their ability to translate from German easily is frequently and graciously appreciated.Their organizational and documentation skills are further enhanced by their computer literacy, yet another set of skills upon which the MHMC staff are so dependent.They helped set up, build and maintain our computer systems and databases.I have yet to ask them a computer-related problem which they cannot resolve.I cannot list exhaustively, nor overstate the important ramifications of the changes that they, on their own initiative, have introduced into the daily workings of the MHMC, especially in the area of computer skills.In the time that I have been employed at the MHMC, I have seen the positive effects of their efforts and suggestions on the efficient functioning of the MHMC.I can safely say, that from the perspective of the archival work in preparation for the new museum, that the MHMC would not be anywhere near our current level of accomplishment were it not for the efforts of Franz, Erhard and Georg.And I must add that as time has passed, I have come to realize that my dependence on their skills only grows.

As well, of course, they act as Jacks-of-all-trades, helping staff, volunteers and visitors to the center in numerous ways. They help survivors in the translation of personal and legal documents. They help various committees in computer graphic and computer organization of documents and publications.They are always willing and enthusiastic to help members of the MHMC community in thousands of ways.

And from a personal perspective, they are an extremely pleasant addition to the MHMC staff.They are friendly, courteous and helpful at all times, and under all circumstances.The MHMC's appreciation of these three fine gentlemen is evidenced in that staff members and volunteers have developed close personal relationships with them.

I believe, that in my experiences, Franz, Georg, Erhard, Michael and Lothar are accomplished ambassadors for Austria.

Steven Lapidus
Education Director