October 2006

German Heritage Day Program and Annual German Heritage Award  

The 8 th annual German American Day Program will be held on Wednesday, October 11 th, at the Schnitzelbank Restaurant.   Social hour begins at 6:00 pm with the Program beginning at 6:30 pm.   The eighth annual German Heritage Award will be presented.   Past recipients of the German Heritage Award are Mary Jo Meuser, Claude and Martina Eckert, Dave Buehler, Linus and Sally Lechner, Joe and Irene C. Eckerle, Danny and Linda Wehr, and Leo and Lora Lou Eckerle.

The German American Bank will again sponsor an essay contest open to all seniors in the four county high schools.

Giles R. Hoyt, Ph.D., Professor of German and Philanthropic Studies at IUPIU, Director of the Max Kade German-American Research and Resource Center, and president of the Indiana German Heritage Society, will be guest speaker.   The winners of the Essay Contest will also present their essays.

Cost for the German-style buffet dinner is $10.   For reservations, please call Patti Goepfrich at 482-4821 by October 4th.    

Upcoming Event – Mark Your Calendars!

November Deutscher Verein Meeting -- Annual Auction for JHS Student Exchange

Date:     Thursday, November 16, 2006

Place:    VFW in Jasper

See upcoming newsletter for more details.

German Dinner & Dance at the VFW

The VFW is planning a celebration of our German heritage on Saturday, October 14th.  There will be a German food buffet available from 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM for $12.95 per person.  Entertainment after the meal will be provided by Indy Polkamotion, a high-energy group from Indianapolis, for $8 per person.  Persons wishing to participate in both events can do so for $20 per person.  This event is open to the public...so bring lots of your friends!

Honoring Mayor Gutgsell

On November 20th, Fritz Gutgsell will retire as Mayor of Pfaffenweiler, Jasper¹s Sister City.  To commemorate this special occasion, the community of Pfaffenweiler will honor him on November 17th with a farewell gathering at the Batzenberghalle in Pfaffenweiler.

Members of the Jasper Partnership Commission discussed several ways to participate in this event. Unfortunately, a live link via the internet would not be feasible so the decision was made to record a two part DVD for Mayor Gutgsell.

Part One of the DVD will consist of special wishes from Mayor Bill Schmitt on behalf of the City of Jasper. Individuals who have been influential in the formation of the Sister City Partnership will also be in the video. Mayor Schmitt will then lead into a “toast” from the German Club. This portion of the DVD will be played during the official farewell celebration in Pfaffenweiler.  Part Two will be a picture and video review of Mayor Gutgsell¹s involvement with the Sister City Partnership.  

In an effort to make this a very special event, there will also be a “card shower” for Mayor Gutgsell.  Everyone is encouraged to write a note or letter and include it in a card.  These cards will be sent to Pfaffenweiler along with the DVD.  The basket of good wishes and the DVD will be presented to Mayor Gutgsell at the farewell gathering. Cards can be taken to Lois Kuntz at City Hall. The deadline is October 6 th.

This is a SURPRISE for Mayor Gutgsell so please do not send cards directly to him prior to the celebration.

German Christmas at The Gasthof

“A German Christmas” with Eberhard and Ruth Reichmann will be held at the Gasthouf in Montgomery on Friday, November 10 th, and Saturday, November 11 th

at 7:00 pm each evening.   The outstanding Crossroads Brass of Terre Haute will provide German Christmas music, the German Heritage dancers will demonstrate German fold dances, and Ed Reichmann will read Christmas stories from his book “Hoosier German Tales.”   The program will conclude with a sing-a-long, both in German and English, of favorites like “O Tannenbaum” (Oh Christmas Tree) “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night).   Come early and enjoy the homemade Amish Buffet. More details in upcoming newsletters.   Mark your calendars for a great way to begin the Christmas season with good food and great German music.  

JHS German Student Exchange News

The Faust Gymnasium exchange students will arrive on September 26 th and will stay until October 14 th.  They will be accompanied by Mrs. Sigrid Duelfer, being hosted by Patti Goepfrich’s family, and Mrs. Erika Schon, being hosted by Sandy Wehr’s family.  As usual, the group is touring various sights in the area such as the Dubois County Museum, the Kimball Showroom, and Jasper’s downtown.  The group is also taking part in special classes at JHS put on by teachers.  Hopefully, you will have a chance to meet the students and teachers during their visit.  It is because of your support of this program that we are able to host our two partner schools during this exchange.  Thank you, Deutscherverein.

The JHS German Exchange will have a booth again this year at the annual Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt.  The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt will take place on November 18 th and 19 th.  Please stop by to see our array of baked goods for sale.  Be sure to introduce yourselves to the student and parent workers and let them know you belong to the Deutscherverein.  We look forward to seeing you there, and thank you for your continued support of our program. 

We are taking presale orders for Advent calendars.   Cost is $3 each.   Orders may be placed by calling Julie Newton at 482-6050.  

Wooden Coasters – Great Gift Idea!!!

Sister Cities of Jasper is selling sets of beautiful, solid wooden coasters.  

Preliminary designs were shown to the membership of the German Club earlier this year during a monthly meeting.

The four designs are the Jasper Train Depot, Eckert Mill, St. Joseph Church and the City Hall.   The coasters can be purchased individually for $5 each. They are also offered as a set of the four designs resting in a wooden base for $25 per set.

They can also be purchased at the Jasper City Hall, the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, and Dubois County Museum Gift Shop as well as at the Schnitzelbank Gift Shop.

The profits will benefit the Jasper High School German Exchange Program. These are a nice gift for anyone and can be a holiday gift for family and friends in Germany or outside of the area.   Take a look at them at the Picnic or at the above mentioned places around town.

Lapel Pins with the Jasper/Pfaffenweiler Logos

Lapel pins with the Jasper/Pfaffenweiler logs have arrived.   They are available for sale at the Dubois County Museum Gift Shop, the Schnitzelbank Gift Shop, and the Chamber of Commerce.   Cost is $3.00 each.

Christmas at The Athenaeum

The Athenaeum in Indianapolis will host again a traditional German Holiday celebration the weekend of Dec. 1 to 3. A Christkindl Market, offering old-world and other crafts and gifts, opens the festivities on Friday, Dec. 1st. Market hours Friday and Saturday are 5-9p.m., Sunday 1-5p.m.  

On Sunday, Dec. 3rd the Athenaeum will be alive with festivities of the Annual Sankt Nikolaus Fest. Family activities begin at 1 p.m. with gingerbread making, crafts, games, a puppet show and dancing.   At 3p.m. the traditional Weihnachtsbaum Zeremonie--the lighting of the Christmas tree with candles and group singing will take place in the Auditorium.

At 3:30 p.m. a fanfare announces the arrival of Sankt Nikolaus dressed in red and gold vestments, carrying a crozier. He is followed by Knecht Ruprecht, in ragged, sooty clothes, who carries in his sack treats and switches. Nikolaus checks his Goldenes Buch (Golden Book) and calls the children by name to account for their behavior through the year. Cost for the Sunday event: Adults $7.00, children under 13, $5.00. Reservations a must! For info or to make reservations, call 317-630-4569 #1. Seating is limited on Sunday and children MUST be registered to participate.

A Very Special Christmas Celebration  – December 10th

December 10, instead of the regular Wednesday Stammtisch,IGHSmembers, family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Eb and Ruth Reichmann's 50th Wedding Anniversary and Eb Reichmann's 80 th birthday.   Following the German Advent Service at Zion Evangelical Church we will be celebrating 4:30 - 7:30 pm at the Athenaeum with Christmas foods and spiced and non-spiced drinks.  Karl Kugler will be there with his Zither and there will be Christmas tide events including Jim Gould presenting "The Story of the Rauschgoldengel: the Nuremberg Christmas Angel" - a big hit at the National Christmas Convention. There will be a Christmas sing-along with Eb, and Giles Hoyt will be the MC. The only presents Eb and Ruth wish for are speeches, short, funny or serious (but not too serious), presented that evening or given to them for a scrap book, remembering the times they had with IGHS members and friends over the years, and some of the memorable things that happened. Donations to the publication fund in honor of Eberhard and Ruth are also accepted. This is a perfect complement to the Sankt Nikolaus Fest, which is held on December 3rd.

Poetry Readings by Norb Krapf

Friday., September  22, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Jazz & Poetry with Monika Herzig, Boulevard Place Café, 4155 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, 317.283.2233. $5 cover

Thursday., September. 28 , 7:00 p.m., reading with Jason Ammerman, Heartland Incantations Series, Beech Grove Library, 1102 Main St., Beach Grove, IN., 317.788.4203.

German Festivals Around the State

Seymour Octoberfest – last week of September, 1st  week of October
Marion Octoberfest – 1 st weekend of October
Terre Haute Octoberfest – 1 st and 2 nd week of October
Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt – 3 rd weekend of November
Fort Wayne Christkindel Market – 4 th week of November
Jasper Tannenbaum Days – 1 st weekend of December

Thanks to Ralph Ruppel of Vincennes for gathering this information.   For more information on German Heritage in Indiana, contact the Indiana German Heritage Society at 317-464-9004 or www.ighs.org.

Potential New Club Members

If someone knows of a potential new club member and would like information about the Deutscher Verein forwarded, please contact Ruth Wibbels at 482-5403.

Erinnerst Du Dich?

From The Dubois County Daily Herald
Saturday, January 15, 1955

HARK THE HERALD

Einsiedeln, Mother of St. Meinrad’s--- by A. T. Rumbach

As the shadows began to lengthen on the Alpine slopes, we took a final look at peaceful Lucerne, returned to our bus and hit the trail for our next destination, the Abbey of Marie Einsiedeln.

At the edge of the city we halted briefly for a view of the Queen Astarde Memorial chapel, erected on the very spot where the beautiful and beloved queen of the Belgians, a favorite of the Swiss as well as of her own people, met her death in a tragic mishap just a few years ago.

As we proceeded along the highland pass, our gaze was fixed upon the Birkenstock, a lofty Alp across the valley, its snow-capped peak responding colorfully to the play of the descending sun and the creeping shadows, showing now pink, now green, now rose, now purple, like the leading lady on a vaudeville stage under the revolving colors of a spotlight.

A memorable two hour ride it was, indeed, with an ever changing panorama of valleys bathed in sunshine as we rose higher on the mountain trail, then flooded with shadows of the twilight as we descended on the east slopes.   Even after comparative darkness settled upon the landscape, it was interesting to watch the flickering lights of a chalet far up on a mountainside or the lamp-posts of a village draped over the foot of an Alp, trailing away into the even meadows below.

At last the twin towers of the Abbey church could be faintly seen like phantom sentries standing guard over the ancient Benedictine abbey, the windows of its broad façade, lighted for the early evening study of monks and students, tracing its outline against the horizon. On the side on a lofty peak facing the abbey stood a large illuminated cross, the emblem of faith and salvation throughout the night.

Herr Buehler, our chauffeur who frequently escorts pilgrims to this favored spot, took us direct to the Hotel Krone.   After obtaining rooms for the night, he advised us to arrange for a late super, as we were just in time for evening devotions and to hear the monks chant compline.

So it was that we joined a group of 165 pilgrims who had arrived from Frankfurt early in the afternoon, in the recitation of the Rosary in the Gnaden-Kapelle (The Chapel of Our Lady of Grace) in the large and beautifully-ornate Abbey church.   This was followed by Compline, the official night prayer of the church.   The monks, assembled in the choir stalls before the altar, sang the impressive Gregorian chant.   The ceremonies closed the solemn Benediction; as the lights were dimmed and the pilgrims filed out, the echoes of the rising crescendos and the waning tones of the decrescendos of the sublime chant still reverberated through the lofty arches of the abbey church.

The dinner was plain but substantial; Ochsenchwanz – suppe, Wiener-schnitzel, chigory salad with vinegar and oil, Swiss cheese and crackers and coffee.   We retired early in order to join the Frankfort group at the early morning service at 6:30.

By a strange coincidence our visit to this one-thousand-year old abbey took place on the very day on which St. Meinrad Archabbey, back home in Indiana, a daughter institution of Einsiedeln, was observing the one-hundredth anniversary of its foundation.   In fact, the Rt. Rev. Benno Gut, Prince Abbot of Einsiedeln, was one of the guests of honor at the St. Meinrad event.

It was through the efforts of the Rev. Joseph Kundek, founder and first pastor of St. Joseph’s church in Jasper that the then reigning Abbot, Henry IV of Einsiedeln, was persuaded to send two of his monks, Fathers Bede and Ulrich, both of whom were closely associated with St. Joseph’s to America;   they laid the groundwork of the Southern Indiana institution which has been a great cultural factor in our part of the country for a century and has well-merited its elevation to the dignity of Archabbey under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Ignatius Esser.

Jasper Deutscher Verein (German Club) German Heritage Endowment  

A gift to the Jasper Deutscher Verein (German Club) German Heritage Endowment of the Dubois County Community Foundation is a wonderful way to remember that special someone.   A gift in honor of someone or in memory of someone may be given. The Dubois County Community Foundation will send a letter of acknowledgment to the individual being honored or to the family of someone being remembered.   Send your gift along with the appropriate  information  to the Dubois County Community Foundation, P. O. Box 269, Jasper, IN   47547-0269.   Envelopes are also available at the greeting table at each club meeting.

Enclosed is my gift of $___________.   Please direct my gift to the Jasper Deutscher Verein (German Club) German Heritage Endowment.  

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

City/State/Zip: _________________________________

I want my gift to be in memory of/in honor of:

_____________________________________________

Please acknowledge gift:

Name: _______________________________________

Address:______________________________________

City/State/Zip:__________________________________

SPEISEKARTE
Tagesgericht : Gekochte Schweinerippchen (Cooked Pork Ribs)

mit Kartoffelbrei und Sauerkraut dazu Salat – und Gemueseauswahl vom Volk.

(with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut and salads and vegetables brought by the club members)

(Fuer die, die keine Rippchen moegen, geraeucherte Kroeger Bierwuerste)

( For the ones which don’t like ribs, smoked beer sausages from Kroeger’s)

Nachtisch

(Dessert)

Vom Bueffett praesentiert by der Mitgliedschaft

(from the buffet, presented by the club members)

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please contact Matthias Hilger or Patti Goepfrich.