Winter 2014

W I N T E R
2 0 1 4
N E W S L E T T E R
GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIETY
President Werner wishes you
a Happy & Healthy New Year!
JANUARY ELECTION
The German American Society connects people
with German and American heritage to enhance
friendship and understanding, as well as cultural
exchange. The Society’s mission is to support the
German-American community in the Portland
Metro Area through a variety of educational,
social and benevolent programs.
All Society members are encouraged to nominate
other Society members to serve on the Board of
Directors and to elect officers at the next quarterly
membership meeting in January! The key
responsibility is to provide leadership for our
Society and our new Home.
Nominating and voting are the privileges and
great honor of membership! Nominate those,
including yourself, whom you believe will carry out
the mission and support the vision of the German
American Society Portland as active, contributing
members of Board of Directors.
Please submit names of potential Board Members
to Steve Easterday, Nominations Committee
Member, at [email protected] or by
telephone at 503.828.7144
Thank you!
2014 CALENDAR
d/dining – k/kitchen – mk/max kada – bs/bierstube – 2nd fl/language – c/conference
JANUARY
Sat 04
Fri 10
Sat 11
Wed 15
Thurs 16
Fri 17
Sat 18
Tues 21
Wed 22
Fri. 24
Sat. 25
Sun. 26
Tues. 28
Fri. 31
DUV/d&K
Lied/d&k
Classes/2nd fl.
BofD/d
Ladies/d&k
Lied/d&k
Classes/2nd fl.
GROW/d
Member/d&k
Lied/d&k
Classes/2nd fl
GROW/d
Rose City/d
Lied/d&k
4-11pm
7:30-11pm
10am-12:30pm
7-9pm
2-3pm
7:30-11pm
10am-12:30pm
12:30-3:00pm
6:30-10pm
7:30-11pm
10am-12:30pm
12-5pm
6:30-9pm
7:30-11pm
FEBRUARY
Sat. 01
Tues 04
Fri 07
Sat 08
Wed 12
Thurs 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Tues 18
Wed 19
DUV/d&k
Classes/2nd fl.
Rose City/d
Lied/d&k
Classes
Austrian/bs
Ladies/d&k
Lied/d&k
Classes/2nd fl.
GROW/d
BofD/d
5-11pm
10-12:30pm
7-9pm
7:30-11pm
10-12:30pm
7-9pm
12-3pm
7:30-11pm
10-12:30pm
12-3pm
7-9pm
Fri
21
Sat
22
Sun
Fri
23
28
Lied/d&k
Private/mk
Classes/2nd fl.
Private/mk
GROW/d
Lied/d&k
7:30-11pm
6-7pm
10-12:30pm
8am-10pm
12-5pm
7:30-11pm
MARCH
Sat 01
Tues 04
Fri 07
Sat 08
Thurs 13
Fri 14
Sat
Tues
Wed
Fri
Sun
Fri
15
18
19
21
23
28
Classes/2nd fl. 10am-12:30pm
DUV/d&k
5-11pm
Rose City/d
7pm
Lied/d&k
7:30-11pm
Classes/2nd fl 10am-12:30pm
Ladies/d&k
12-3pm
Stammtisch
5:30pm
Lied/d&k
7:30pm
Classes/2nd fl 10:12:30pm
GROW
12pm
BofD/d
7pm
Lied/d&k
7:30-11pm
GROW/d
12pm
Lied/d&k
7:30pm
GAS WINTER 2014 NEWSLETTER
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Please welcome our NEW…
LIFETIME MEMBERS…
Ed Wagner
Steven & Katrinka Easterday
Hans Boehm
NEW MEMBER RECEPTION
MEMBERS…
Tabitha Schnake
Michael Sorrell
Sandy Sterzay
Christopher Ackerman
Sarah Cowley
John & Carol Denny
Maria Cannady
Robert Wiltraut
Steven & Beverly Norton
Mary & Roger Burbank
Daniela & Andrew Caine
Jene Goldhammer
Stan Schmidt
Antonio & Vilasinee Edgar
Nancy Van Mechelen
Kenneth & Marcy Von Husen
David & Rosanna Edgar
Michael Ross
Nancy Carr
Tim Medearis
Anne Bender
Birgit Hayden
Jason Peterson
Thomas Coleman
Scott & Kristin Buehrig
Nicola & Felix Ballerstedt
Paul Nelson
Edward Nagel
Bob & Anita Stadey
43 new Members gathered in the Alameda
Bierstube on Sunday, November 10, to enjoy a
little camaraderie and Gemütlichkeit at the firstever New Member Reception, hosted by the
Membership Committee under the leadership of
chair Dieter Engelhardt. President Werner,
several Directors, and Sister Club
representatives were on hand to introduce the
Society’s facility and calendar of activities, as well
as answer questions. The next semi-annual New
Member Reception will be in May.
The Membership Committee plans a special
reception in January, for the Society’s valued
Honorary Members, including those marking 50
years of membership in 2014 .
2013 HERITAGE BALL
This year’s Heritage Ball was held on November 2 , in our new
German Haus. The atmosphere was very festive, people loved
being in our new Hall, and the Oktoberfest theme paired well
with the S-Bahn from Canada, who entertained like the pros
they are. Those in attendance loved the S-Bahn band, as was
evidenced by the survey which was mailed out after the event.
We also learned from that survey that a more formal venue
for the Heritage Ball is preferred for the future. It might be an
option to plan an additional Oktoberfest event in September or
October. Thank you to all that attended, and we look forward
to your attendance and support again next year. The complete
results of the Survey will be shared at the next General
Meeting. Mark your calendars for November 1, 2014 for the
next Heritage Ball.
nd
Heritage Ball Committee
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GAS WINTER 2014 NEWSLETTER
Guenther Hoffmann speaks at the dedication of the
Education Wing named in his honor.
GSSOP Flourishing
The GSSOP has had a busy autumn settling into its
new classrooms. Inquiries about our language
classes come in weekly and enrollment across 11
classes totals nearly 130. In October we celebrated
our 50 year with a special program at which we
unveiled the signage for the Günther Hoffmann
Education Wing, named for the founder of the
Deutsche Sprachschule Portland, launched in 1964.
Early in November the pupils and their families
joined in a longtime GSSOP tradition echoing a
beloved custom in Germany: the St. Martin’s Day
Lantern parade. On the first Saturday in December,
St. Nikolaus, accompanied by his female helpmate
(our Nikolaustag celebration combines various
customs), delighted our pupils with treat bags after
being welcomed by German carol singing and
student recitations. Two of our advanced students
have started their Deutsches Sprachdiplom testing,
and a large number of pupils are preparing to take
national AATG exams late in January. The program
was again validated with a generous annual grant
from the German government and continues its
focus on building lifelong German language skills and
appreciation of German culture.
th
Parents, friends, and pupils at the dedication of
the Guenther Hoffmann Education Wing
LIBRARY UPDATE
ANNUAL FUND
The GSSOOP Library, named for Martin
Stelter, consisting of 800 German books, is
up and running in the Gunther Hoffmann
Education Wing. The Society Library in the
foyer of the Alameda Building will be
organized and in operation soon (with the
assistance of willing volunteers). Anyone
interested in volunteering to help with this
project in encouraged to contact the
Education Committee Chair, Christian Stehr,
at 541-760-3883 or [email protected].
The fifth yearly fundraising effort, known as the
ANNUAL FUND, is underway. The Society needs
to receive cash donations each year to maintain
its public charity status
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated. If
you have questions, contact Fundraising Chair
Chris Stehr by phone at (541) 760-3883, or by
e-mail at [email protected]. To those who have
already sent in a contribution: THANK YOU!
Thank you.
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GAS WINTER 2014 NEWSLETTER
A F FI LI AT E C LU BS
GERMANS FROM RUSSIA OF OREGON & WASHINGTON (GROW)
Kurt Radtke and Adi Hartfeil of GROW (Germans from Russia of OR & WA) are submitting this article to further
strengthen the relationship between GAS and GROW. Kurt selected Anna Durand's 1st Place Youth Essay from the
"Winter, 2013 GRHS NEWS" Addendum to better understand GROW. Adi obtained permission from the national
GRHS (Germans from Russia Historical Society) organization to reprint parts of Anna's article. GROW is a chapter
of the GRHS organization located in Bismarck, ND. Adi would also like to invite GAS members to our monthly GROW
meetings at the GAS Deutsches Haus with the January meeting having a presentation on the main German dialects
and interesting German words/phrases. See the new GROW website to learn more about GROW
meeting times/dates and additional information. Because of limited print space Anna Durand's TEXT IS
SELECTIVELY PROVIDED.
In the 1700's life in Germany was hard and taxing. There had been religious wars, financial sufferings, and also
political conflict. Some Germans were ready to leave! In 1763, the ruler of Russia, Czarina Catherine [sic, the
Great], who was originally from Germany, invited people to move to Russia and made some promises to them, such
as no taxes for a number of years, use of their own language, and no requirement to serve in the Russian
military. Courageously waves of Germans began to immigrate, some to the Volga area and some nearer the Black
Sea....Because many liberties in Russia were being taken away, many Germans from Russia moved to the United
States of America between the years 1870 to 1917. Naturally they first went by sea voyage which took several
weeks. They generally went to New York City and then traveled by train to the mid-west. The German Russians
needed to learn the English language but did not have to join the military. They were free to do whatever job [sic,
pleased them] and settle where they wanted. In America, they enjoyed having liberty in religion and politics....Life in
Germany was hard. Life in Russia was even harder! Although many people never leave their country because it is
costly and complicated, the Germans from Russia have moved twice and unfortunately undergone many
hardships. Are the Germans from Russia finally at home in America? Time will tell. The most important thing is
that wherever they went and wherever they go, the Germans from Russia take with them a love for peace and
freedom.
GERMAN LADIES RELIEF SOCIETY
Greetings!! What a great year it was! We were
able to have all our special events in our new,
beautiful Hall. Our November Bazaar and
Christmas Party were well attended and very
festive. To all of our volunteers, MANY THANKS
for your help and the fun we had working together.
The Frauensverein donated all the dishes and
silverware for our new kitchen for all to enjoy.
Please note that the January meeting will be held
on the third Thursday of the month (January 16).
Friends and guests are always welcome to our
meetings. We do serve lunch for a small fee.
CONTACT US
German American Society
5626 N. E. Alameda Street
Portland, OR 97213
503-775-1585
email: [email protected]
website: www.germanamerican.org
Office hours: Monday – Thursday
8:30 am – 2:30 PM
Happy New Year! Ruth Werner, President
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