German American Journal | June/July 2012

Volume 60, Number 3

June / July 2012

Euro 2012 By: Luke Faron Following a runner-up finish at EURO 2008 and a 3rd place result at World Cup 2010, German soccer fans have to be wondering: is 2012 finally the year the DFB-Elf will lift a championship trophy?

The path to a first EURO title since 1996 will not be easy for Germany. Group B is considered the most difficult in the tournament by most observers.

Germany will open action on June 9 in Lviv against Portugal, a team they defeated in two of the last three major tournaments.

On June 13, it’s off to Khakiv to face a perennial rival, the Netherlands. Germany soundly defeated the Dutch squad in a friendly last November by the score of 3-0. Finally on June 17, Germany will return to Lviv to play Denmark in a rematch of the EURO 1992 final, won by the Danes. Though Denmark is considered the weakest team in the group, the Germans should not take their northern neighbors lightly: Germany is winless in their last 3 matches against Denmark.

By: Darlene Fuchs Father’s Day is not celebrated all over the world on the same day. This day, to honor Fathers, was first recognized in the United States. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Father’s Day a national holiday celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Not until 1972, under President Richard Nixon, did it become an official national holiday.

To be fair, there is not only a Mother’s Day, but also a day on which fathers are honored. The difference however, currently in Germany, is that all men celebrate Father’s Day regardless of whether they are a father or not.

Father’s Day is very popular in Germany and always falls on Christi Himmelfahrt, “Ascension Day,” when “Gott, den Vater” is honored. Today, Germany’s Vatertag is closer to a “boys day out.” Since 1936, this public holiday is celebrated 40 days after Easter and is called Father’s Day, Men’s Day or Lord’s Day. Since it falls on a Thursday, with Friday as a bank holiday, there are family oriented events that take place over the long weekend.

All men young and old, married and single, look forward to this day of hiking, eating, drinking and participating in pub crawls (Männerrrunde), rather than a more familyoriented celebration.

In larger cities, it has become fashionable in recent years to rent a Beer Bike: up to 16 people sit alongside a keg of beer so they can drink together as they peddle trough the city streets.

Most prefer a more traditional method of getting around.

Wagons and wheelbarrows are pulled through the woods and fields filled with food and, of course, a good supply of beer and alcohol.

On Father’s Day, it is best not to drive your car or motorcycle in Germany. According to the Federal Statistics Office, this day has the most alcohol related traffic accidents

every year. Three times more than any other day of the year.

It may seem that there is no religious connection any more, but the day is still based on a biblical story. The biblical basis is found in the Gospels of Mark, Luke and Acts of the Apostles, in which it is told that the risen Son of God, who had appeared to his disciples for 40 days after rising from the dead, was lifted up by a cloud and ascended into the heavens.

In Austria, Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in June, and just like Mother’s Day, it is an occasion to buy flowers and small gifts. Father’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Austria in 1955 and continues to grow in popularity.

In Switzerland, Father’s Day was sporadically celebrated in areas bordering Germany. In 2007, a so-called Father’s Day was introduced and is now unofficially celebrated on the first Sunday in June across the country. The initiators intent was to bring an awareness and appreciation of paternal commitment to society and the work place. On the first Father’s Day, held on June 17, 2007, the media reported on regional events making political demands on behalf of fathers. In 2008, the focus was on reconciliation of the family. More recently it has become a celebration of fathers and their value, not only to the family, but to society in general.

Father’s Day is a special day of honor for fathers and therefore, he should be respected on his celebratory day.

The whole family; adult children, small children and grandchildren, should reflect on the many things their father has done by showing appreciation and gratitude.

Kind words, a helping hand, or just sitting and listening to an aging father, is a unique way for all of us to recognize the value of selfless giving.

• For the first time since World Cup 1986, the German team will return to the traditional green and white kit for away matches. The team debuted the retro look in February against France.

• Current U.S. Soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann is Germany’s all-time leading EURO goal scorer with 5 from 1988-1996.

Lukas Podolski is the active leader with 3.

• The official tournament anthem “Endless Summer” will be performed by German pop star Oceana, who spent much of her youth in the U.S. The DANK Haus in Chicago will be holding viewing parties for all of Germany’s matches at Euro 2012.

Attendees will be treated to a multi-screen view of the action, including a new theater-sized main screen.

Catering from Chicago’s Old Lviv Restaurant will give fans the feeling of being in the stadium & parties will also be visited by the Schnitzel King, Chicago’s only mobile schnitzel restaurant. A fine selection of German beers and soft drinks will be available to wash it all down. Keep up to date with EURO 2012 happenings at DANK Haus by visiting dankhaus.com or facebook.com/dankhaus.

TidBits

Associate Members

Education

Auf Deutsch

Insider

Business & Tech

Pages 3-5 Page 6

Page 7

Pages 8-12

Page 13-14 Page 15

Lifestyle

Pages 16-17

Calendar Page 18

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German-American Journal

June / July 2012

CHECK OUT THE NEW DANK.ORG German Radio & T V Official DANK Blog Newspaper Archives

Liebe Mitglieder und Freunde!

Dear Members and Friends, Here we are in the warm, balmy days of early summer and probably for some, the busiest days are just ahead (graduations, First Communion, Confirmations, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers and more)! This is not to mention the various chapter activities, outings, bus trips and picnics that are already on the calendar. Many of you have your yard work done and watching your gardens for the first signs of seed growth that will hopefully provide a bountiful harvest. Indeed, these are the days my friend we hope will never end.

June and July are patriotic months…Flag Day June 14th, German Day (June ) then Independence Day (July 4th), not to mention Father’s Day – which should be considered patriotic as many of our fathers and young men during the wars were either drafted or volunteered to serve for their country. Today, we even have young women and mothers who proudly serve for their country.

They all considered it their patriotic duty. We should be thankful to those men (and women) who serve the fight for freedom in other lands, many of whom return battle-worn, and suffering from differ types of injuries. To all our military personnel, THANK YOU for believing in freedom for all! God Bless American and all our soldiers!

Great things are on the horizon! Our Summer Membership Drive is new this year with special dues rates! Join any time now between June 1st and October for a pro-rated fee of 50% for 2012.

Dues for 2013 will be billed in November at full price. Our DANK Raffle has a new face with early bird drawing and grand prize finale! Best of all, every chapter can benefit by selling tickets and promote a local business at the same time!

The Chapters are revving up for their summer picnics, festivals, parades etc. Be sure that you are one of the ‘gang’. If you can’t physically work, there are many jobs that you can help with – stuffing envelopes, etc. Just ask…remember “many hands make the work lighter!”

I would like to welcome to our new contributor to the Journal; Francine McKenna. She lives in Germany and writes “It is truly a fascinating place with many layers.” Francine is the German Culture Editor for Bellaonline.com. I’m sure that you will find her articles very interesting as I did. We look forward to hearing from her giving us a fresh view of life in Germany.

The Executive Board and our Committees work together as a great team! They have come up with many innovative ideas, giving us a new look, and a fresh perspective on what it means to be a member of DANK. Fundraising is important and they have worked out a way so that everyone is a winner! It all goes back to remembering, “Together, we can accomplish great things!”

Have a great summer and I hope to see you at the Chicago and Milwaukee German Fests!

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Beverly A. Pochatko National President

DIE BRUECKE ZUR ALTEN HEIMAT “Building Bridges to Germany” Listen to LIVE radio from Germany on our website!

Find ‘Radio Heimatmelodie’ along with a list of other live German radio stations that you can listen to for FREE.

Visit www.DANK.org

And More...

Der Deutsch-Amerikaner DANK seeks to bring together Americans of German descent in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels. These were the primary reasons that the German American National Congress was founded in 1959, and they are still among the organization’s primary objectives today.

DANK National Executive Board President Beverly Pochatko 1. Vice President Alfred Mueller

2. Vice President James Dombrowski

Treasurer Bob Miske

Secretary Linda Voit

Editorial Staff

Envisioning a Better Tomorrow Working alone has become a common comfort in today’s society.

Your children’s social life is on Facebook, you text your friends rather than calling them, you send e-cards rather than writing, and your social events are sent out with a tweet. Most of todays students, when given the options, would rather work alone than in a group.

In todays society, people do not want to be responsible for other people’s performance and, therefore, they would rather not work with others.

Not everyone is an extrovert, comfortable in group situations, possessing natural leadership qualities. Most people tend to be self conscious in group settings and share less when working on a project.

I am not saying that working alone is unacceptable or unproductive, but we must realize that we as German-American organizations are capable of so much more if we work together for the common good.

While ones strength of character and passion are what inspire greats acts to occur, they alone do not change anything. You can dream and hope to become an engineer one day, but if you never do your math homework, you will never fulfill your dream.

We all know that our problems in our society and in many German-American organizations, so there is no reason to list them all, but there is one we often overlook.

Hoping for things to change, causes nothing to change, just like working alone does nothing to formulate an organizations goals and dreams for the next generation of members. Do not just hope for growth, get together with likeminded individuals in your circle of influence and implement things you can do to make a difference.

Change does not need to be radical in order to create a sustainable future. Ideas are an important aspect of change and change is what drives any organization closer and closer towards excellence. If ideas are not used to feed an organizations progress, then growth will typically halt. If everyone just does a few simple things, it can have an incredible ripple effect and make an amazing difference.

What I have noticed is that most organizations are out of sync with the desires of Generation Y. Historically, younger generations have stirred up new ideas causing some expected ‘irritation’ for older generations. It is not an attitude problem, it is the fact that Generation Y has different needs and ways of communicating. They use Skype videoconferencing or iPhone’s Facetime to connect with others across the US. This way they have the flexibility to work together on a very regular basis, generating results.

If we can harness the wisdom and knowledge of the older generation and allow the creativity of the younger generation to guide our organizations in making changes, we will experience growth. The trick is to breakdown communication barriers and empower the Y Generation, otherwise we will find ourselves short of talented members when they are most needed.

Let your individual passion and hope inspire you, and find others that will work together with you. Do not just sit alone in comfort and envision a better tomorrow, take the lead and make it happen.

Darlene Fuchs Editor-in-Chief

Submission Deadline For The August / September 2012 Issue:

June 25, 2012

Editor-in-Chief Darlene Fuchs darlene@dank.org Correspondents Corinna Bienger Amelia Cotter Stephen Fuchs Christa Garcia Audrey L. Hess-Eberle Matthias Knobloch Editorial Staff Margita Mandel Amanda Pedersen Chapter News Editor Darlene Fuchs darlene@dank.org Membership Erik Wittmann erik25@comcast.net Layout & Design Stephen Fuchs Stephen@FoxTaleEdit.com Advertising & Classifieds Eve Timmerhaus eve@dank.org

Office Staff DANK National Executive Office

4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, Il 60625-2013 Call (773) 275-1100 Toll Free (866) 926-1109 Fax (773) 275-4010 Office Hours:

9am - 4pm / Monday, Wednesday-Friday Executive Secretary Eva Timmerhaus Office@dank.org

Office Manager Eve Timmerhaus Eve@dank.org

General Information German-American Journal - ISSN 1086-8070 - is published bi-monthly and is the official publication of the German American National Congress. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: German-American Journal 4740 N. Western Ave., Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60625-2013

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June / July 2012

German-American Journal

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Rocket Man - Werner Von Braun

By: John Bareither March 23, 2012 marked the 100th Anniversary of Werner Von Braun birth. Braun’s early career was marred by contraversary that he created weapons of war and used slave labor to accomplish this goal. NASA would later regard him as “without doubt, the greatest rocket scientist in history”.

His interest in astronomy was developed at a very early age. After Braun was confirmed in the Lutheran church, his mother gave him a telescope as a confirmation gift and his passion for astronomy flourished from there.

In 1928, Braun parents eventually sent him to Herman-Lietz-Internat boarding school . There he received a copy of “By Rocket in Interplanetary Space” by rocket pioneer Herman Oberth. The book fascinated Braun, and from then on he diligently

studied physics and mathematics so that he could ultimately pursue rocket engineering.

By 1930, he attended the Technical University of Berlin and became a member of the “Spaceflight Society” where he worked with Hermann Oberth and Willy Ley in their liquid-fueled rocket tests.

During the 1930’s, Germany’s rocket program was greatly influenced by Robert H. Goddard an American physicist. Goddard was contacted by many German scientists with technical questions concerning their rocket program. Braun reflected on Goddard influence in rocketry in a 1963 statement: “ His rockets…may have been rather crude by present day standards, but they blazed the trail and incorporated many features used in our most modern rockets and space vehicles.”

Braun and other German scientist started developing rockets that would eventually

strike London in late 1942. The British and Soviet intelligence were well aware of the German rocket program head by Von Braun and his team at Pennemunde. During the nights of August 17th and 18th 1943, RAF Bomber Command’s Operation Hydra and dropped 1,800 tons of explosives. Pennemunde would be salvaged except for the loss of Braun’s engine designer Walter Thiel and Chief Engineer Walther.

Braun and his remaining team would eventually launch their V2 rocket toward England on September 7, 1944. He was interested in the application of rockets as it related to space travel. Braun this remark when he heard that the rocket had stuck London: “The rocket worked perfectly except for landing on the wrong planet”.

By Spring 1945, Von Braun and his team knew that the war was lost and decided that it would be best to surrender to the Americans. In April, Allied troops were moving deeper into Germany. Braun and his team were moved to the Bavarian village of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps. On May 2, 1945, Von Braun brother Magnus approached an American private from the U.S. 44th Infantry Division on a bicycle and said in broken English: “My name is Magnus Von Braun. My brother invented the V-2. We want to surrender.”

After their surrender they were taken to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While there, Braun and his team trained military and industrial and university personnel in the intricacies of rockets and guided missiles.

In 1950, Von Braun and his team were transferred to Huntsville, Alabama which be their home for the next 20 years. By 1957, the Russians had beat the United States into space with the launch of Sputnik l.

The following year NASA (National Arionotics Science Administration) was es-

tabllished at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Von Braun would become the center’s first director from 1960 to 1970.

Marshall Center’s first major program was the developpment of Saturn rockets to carrhy heavy payloads into space and beyond earth orbit-some day even to the moon.

The year 1960 would see the election of President John F. Kennedy. During his inaugural address he pledged: “We will land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.”

Von Braun dream and President Kennedy’s pledge would become reality before the end of the decade. In 1969, the United States landed the first man on the moon with the landing of Apollo 11.

Many people wonder how the space program affects their everyday lives on earth?

NASA has created over 1,750 “Spinoff” technologies since ;the creation of the Technology Utilization Program in 1962.

A Spinoff is a technology developed by NASA that can be used in the private sector for the development of commercial products and services. Some examples of Spinoff technologies are hydrogen energy, solar panels, computer minituationazation, and many more, Your can learn more about NASA Spinoffs by going to a great web-site for more info: www.st.nasa.gov/tto. NASA will also be happy to supply you with a Spinoff book byt contacting: Jennifer.M.Stanfield@nasa. gov.

We can celebrate Werner Von Braun (Rocket Man) 100th birthday by exploring how NASA has changed our lives and taking a trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. They are having a year long celebration of the Rocket Man’s life.

Chicago Opening Tourism Office World-Famous German Brass in Germany By the End of 2012 Ensemble In Clive, Iowa Aug 4&5

By: Stephen Fuchs | GermanPulse.com Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced that by the end of this year, the city of Chicago will be opening a tourism office in Germany and several other countries around the world. The city currently is listed as being in 10th place within the United States when it comes to cities with the most foreign visitors. By opening the new tourism offices internationally, Emanuel hopes that by 2020, Chicago can increase

its ranking to 5th place and host 50 million yearly foreign visitors.

Boosting international tourism will help the Chicago economy since the average spending by each tourist amounts to $4,000.

Chicago is a great city for tourism with hidden gems that can only be experienced firsthand. Rahm Emanuel stated that “Chicago is a global city with worldwide appeal, and I am committed to ensuring that people around the world have a chance to experience our magnificent city firsthand”

Come hear the world-famous Altenmedingen Posaunenchor brass ensemble perform as part of the worship services at Faith Lutheran Church, 10395 University Avenue, Clive, Iowa, USA, at 5 p.m. central daylight time August 4, and 8:30 and 10 a.m. central daylight time, August 5.

No polka dancing will be allowed, but the ensemble plans to present a program of classical brass music, folk music, popular tunes and religious music by such composers as George Phillipp Telemann, Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi and Matthias Nagel. Free-will offerings will be taken at the services.

The ensemble is comprised of young and old musicians. It consists of trumpets, trombones, baritone horns and tubas.

The concerts are among several presented by the Altenmedingen, Germany brass ensemble while it is in the Des Moines area from July 31 through August 14. Other performances include a concert in Colby Park, concerts at farmers’ markets in West Des Moines and Waukee, a concert at Merle Hay Mall and an appearance at the Iowa State Fair. The concert is sponsored by the Polka Club of Iowa, Central Chapter.

To get to Faith Lutheran Church, located in the western part of the Des Moines, Iowa area, take Interstate-235 to the Valley West Drive exit. Go north on Valley West Drive to University Avenue and then go west.

Faith Lutheran Church is by the Clive water tower, beyond the K-mart store. Parking is available at the church and the K-mart store.

Contact Joelle Snyder 515-975-4230.

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German-American Journal

June / July 2012

Germany’s Window Boxes and Balcony Gardens By: Francine McKenna-Klein BellaOnline’s German Culture Editor

Throughout the seasons in Germany beautiful examples of hanging baskets, containers and window boxes, overflowing with flowers, evergreens, trailing vines, ivy and pelargonium, bushes and berries, decorate windows and balconies. Some are hundreds of feet in the air on large apartment blocks, others accessorize trendy apartments in upscale districts, small apartments and houses in narrow streets or hang from every floor on many large prestigious villas as well as most farm houses.

From adorning stores and restaurants of every description to banks, hospital entrances and railway stations, flower filled containers are to be found everywhere.

Given the love of nature and forests present in German culture since preChristian days, and one reason for so much of the country’s land being left to woods, wild spaces and protected areas is that most people do not live in houses with gardens but in apartments, it is easy to understand Germany’s window box and balcony garden culture.

It was in first century Rome that Pliny the Elder, a Roman natural philosopher, wrote about window boxes as ‘every day the eyes might feast on this copy of a garden, as though it were a work of nature’, and when the Romans swept through Europe bringing with them everything from chestnut trees to asparagus they also brought the ‘window box’.

Wherever it is possible just to see a little piece of sky in Germany advantage is taken of all the options.

A dense mass of hanging red alpine geraniums is the most popular choice for window boxes for the pastel colored exteriors of homes of sunny Bavaria, which even in the summer often has snow covered mountains in the background, but throughout Germany planning the seasonal window boxes is almost an art form.

Filled by plants of different heights, colors and textures, or mixtures of roses and lavender with trailing ivy, annuals like pansies with their upturned faces, especially for the winter months, or petunias mixed with the permanent plants or grasses that can over winter and form a background to an ever changing display, blocks of impatiens with rambling evergreens for shady areas.

Each flower box is designed to take into consideration whether it will be sitting on an East or North balcony, window ledge or door step, or one that faces South or West, and plant centers carefully label ‘what would go best where’.

With the arrival of winter both balconies and window boxes are transformed.

Spruce, fir and holly are interspersed with winter flowering pansies or Christmas roses, the bulbs for spring lying in wait and usually having doubled in quantities during summer, while for advent and the Christmas period the mini gardens suddenly become fabulously festive with the addition of lights, candle powered lanterns, additional varieties of evergreen twigs and anything

with red or white berries or pine cones.

For the summer months ‘edibles’, vegetables, edible flowers, berry shrubs and fruit trees, come into their own. Experience having proved that not only are these nutritious and decorative, as long as they are looked after and have the correct soil conditions, they don’t much care if they are in a pot or a garden.

In Roman days a container with medicinal herbs was normally included somewhere in their mixture, whereas today there is often a special window box, or on a German balcony landscaped with its different ornamental tubs, pots and containers, one, or more, that will be filled by the favorite herbs ideal for kitchen extravaganza’s or grill evenings.

Especially basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram or oregano, chives and mint.

It is not at all unusual to see squash and tomato vines laden with their crops snaking up walls and along balcony rails, while marigolds are often somewhere around.

Even set in between the chili, eggplant and paprika plants, as they are great at discouraging mosquitoes on those balmy summer evenings when there can be no better way of passing time than sitting with a glass of wine by an open window, or outside with both wine and a glowing barbecue.

However this is Germany, so there are rules to be followed for balcony living.

A balcony covered with visible ‘junk’ is a definite ‘no no’, so those unloved bits and pieces had better find another home.

Grilling is allowed, as long as it is not

forbidden by local rules or the rental agreement; however it has to be powered by gas or electricity, not glowing charcoal.

After 10 pm there can be no further noise, not even hushed whispers, and the only aromas allowed must come from flowers not grilled sausages.

Window boxes are to be fixed so water cannot drip on a balcony belonging to neighbors living below, or onto passersby on the sidewalk, and they also have to be firmly attached with special hooks and fasteners so that not even the strongest wind will move them.

Despite Germany gradually becoming a ‘no smoking’ country, you can light up your cigar, pipe or cigarette on your balcony but just make very sure that no smoke blows in the direction of your neighbors and disturbs them. Although of course you will no doubt be forgiven if they are also smokers, and out there at the same time.

With centuries of tradition behind them to Germans ‘gardens in boxes’ are simply a way of life, but invariably visitors are captivated by the seasonal displays in pampered window boxes and containers that appear in every small and large town, bursting with trailing vines and colorful flowers. The use of color, textures and accents adding beauty to both city and landscapes, and, even when they do not happen to be in one of Germany’s many medieval villages, nevertheless giving a thoroughly modern country a feeling of old world charm.

Welcome Francine!

By: Beverly Pochatko

I am happy to welcome our newest contributor to the Journal, Francine McKenna. A woman of many talents, Francine lives in Germany most of the time, but her life has been spent traveling the world, and especially within the different countries of Europe, first with her parents and after studying economics, politics and international relations as a journalist, TV, radio and print.

After marrying a German TV journalist they lived in Belgium for a while and then returned to Germany with their son.

“At the time I spoke little German.

English, some French, Dutch, Italian, and rusty Russian yes, but the barest minimum of German. Following our separation, I had job possibilities in the United States, but because of German law my son could

not accompany me, and as a mother, that was unacceptable.

Instead, I was able to see my son through school and into college, while studying German and everything I could about the country, and grew to love it. Its traditions, history, and actual beauty.

In so many ways Germany has developed in a positive direction since the ‘fall of the wall’. It is truly a fascinating place with many layers, and am glad that life took the direction it did otherwise I would never have discovered the country and what it offers.”

We are happy to have Francine share her views of Germany and look forward to a long-lasting relationship with the Journal.

Francine is the German Culture Editor for BellaOnline.com, “The Voice of Women” web-site.

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

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Germans and the War For Independence Submitted by: Beverly Pochatko Information for this article was taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germans_in_ the_American_Revolution

Soon after the founding of Jamestown, Germans began immigrating to the British colonies in America. Germans were easily the largest non-British European minority in British North America. Approximately 10% of the colonial American population spoke German by the mid-18th century. King George III, ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was also the Prince-elector of Hanover. An ethnic German, he was the first of the House of Hanover to speak English as his first language Great Britain utilized the large German population in North America to form the Royal American Regiment, whose enlisted men were principally German colonists during the French and Indian War. When the rebelling began in the American British colonies, the British Army contracted for the temporary loan of German soldiers from several German states to the British Army.

Although the leasing of German soldiers to a foreign power was controversial to some Europeans, the German people generally took great pride in their soldiers’ service in the war.

The arrival of German troops on American soil alarmed the American colonists and their view of King George III was that of a betrayer. These German soldiers provided American patriots with a propaganda, tool,

derogatorily calling them “mercenaries.”

But, despite the American propaganda, German soldiers were well respected and well cared for, both by Americans and British.

The Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel, under Frederick II, uncle to King George III, initially provided over 12,000 soldiers to fight in the Americas. About 1,300 Germans were taken prisoner during the final Siege of Yorktown.

It has been estimated that Hessen-Kassel contributed over 16,000 troops during the course of the Revolutionary War, of whom 6,500 did not return. It was estimated that 1,800 Hessian soldiers were killed, but many in the Hessian army intended on staying in America, and remained after the war.

As with other ethnic groups in the British colonies, German-speaking colonists were divided, supporting both the Patriot and Loyalist causes. German loyalists fought in their local militias, and some returned to Germany in exile following the war. New York had a notably large German population during the war. Other colonies formed German regiments, or filled the ranks of local militias with German Americans.

German colonists are most remembered in Pennsylvania, partly due to friendlier naturalization terms for immigrants, and also because the German soldiers in Pennsylvania stood in contrast to the large, pacifist Quaker population in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Germans were recruited

for the American Provost corps under Captain Bartholomew von Heer, a Prussian officer who had immigrated to Reading, Pennsylvania, prior to the war. During the Revolutionary War the Marechaussee Corps were utilized in a variety of ways, including intelligence gathering, route security, enemy prisoner of war operations, and even combat during the Battle of Springfield. The Corps also provided security for Washington’s headquarters during the Battle of Yorktown.

On 25 May 1776, the Second Continental Congress authorized the 8th Maryland Regiment (aka the German Regiment) to be formed as part of the Continental Army.

Unlike most continental line units, it drew

from multiple states, initially comprising eight companies: four from Maryland and four (later five) from Pennsylvania. John Adams hoped the German Regiment would free “natives of the country who were needed for Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce.” The regiment saw service at the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton, and took part in campaigns against American Indians and was disbanded on January 1, 1781 At the conclusion of the war, Congress offered incentives for German soldiers to stay in the United States. Great Britain also offered land and tax incentives for German soldiers willing to settle in Nova Scotia.

Two German Films to Be Featured at This Years Chicago Underground Film Festival

Passing Your Abitur Do you have what it takes?

This is about high school and the Abitur in Germany; as it is the main conversation in our house these days. My daughter is in the midst of her final exams for the Abiturzeugnis, the document which contains the student’s grades and enables them to attend university.

The importance of the Abitur has grown beyond admission to the university. It has increasingly become a pre-requisite to start an apprenticeship in some professions (e.g. banking.) Therefore career opportunities for Hauptschule or Realschule graduates who do not have the Abitur, gradually receded in the past years.

Passing the Abitur requires a total score of at least 280 in a complicated scale of points and grades, acquired in the final two years of high school. Students with a score below 280 fail and will not receive their Abitur. There are some more conditions that the student has to meet in order to receive the Abitur, like taking mandatory courses in different subject areas and limits to the number of failing grades in core subjects. A

score between 768 points and the maximum of 840 generally leads to the best-possible grade of 1.0.

Historically, very few people in Germany received their Abitur, because there were a number of attractive jobs which did not need one. Even now, there are still attractive jobs that do not require the Abitur, such as in nursing or early childhood education.

The number of persons getting the Abitur has been going up since the 1970s and younger jobholders are more likely to have it than older ones, but the vast majority of Germans still do not have the Abitur.

Despite the fact that the duration of the Gymnasium (high school) has been reduced by one year just a short while back (depending on the Bundesland,) the contents of the thirteen, now twelve, school years has stayed the same. This means that the school timetable is prolonged and that the students have to be at school for fifty hours a week, plus the time the kids have to study at home for the written Abitur exams they have to take in their final year.

All this work ends with the final the oral exam. After that, at the end of the school year, which means the end of their entire school life (this sounds so scary,) the Abiturzeugnisse are officially presented in a certificate award ceremony. Then comes the Abiball, the first formal ball most of the kids will attend. This has already turned into formerly unheard-of conversations in our home about which gown to buy, where to go for hair, nails, make-up and so on. It may be the most strenuous time of our lives, but it is also definitely the most exciting.

By: Stephen Fuchs | GermanPulse.com From May 31 to June 7, Chicago will be hosting the 19th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF) which features a wide selection of experimental, documentary, and narrative films.

The films screened at CUFF can be a bit bizarre, but that is what makes them unique and a true art form. Filmmakers from around the world submit their independent films to the festival and this year there are two German films that have made it in (Axel Ranisch’s “Heavy Girls” and Johan Carlsen’s “Headlock”). There is also a film by Austrian director Michael Kosakowski, “Zero Killed”, which is in German.

A short description of each film is included below from the CUFF website and you can buy tickets to the screenings in advance or get a Festival Pass that gets you in to see every film. Most of the filmmakers will also be holding a discussion after the screening of their film. All the ticket info can be found www.cuff.org.

Heavy Girls (Dicke Mädchen) Friday, June 1st at 8pm Made for under $1,000, with no script and no crew, HEAVY GIRLS tells the tale of Sven and Daniel. Sven lives with his mother, Edeltraut, who suffers from dementia, and Daniel is her caregiver during the day. When Edeltraut (played with

aplomb by Ranisch’s 89 year-old grandmother) goes missing, Sven and Daniel end up on a search that turns up something besides Sven’s elderly mother, and changes the nature of their relationship for good. In German with English subtitles.

Headlock Monday, June 4th at 8pm Filmmaker Johan Carlsen collaborates with a real-life mother and son to tell the story of the fictional Suzanne and Jonathan, a single mom and her believed-tobe genius child struggling to settle down.

While Suzanne yearns for a steady relationship for the first time in twelve years, Jonathan faces bullying and poor grades at school. In German with English subtitles.

Zero Killed Sunday, June 3rd at 1pm Wednesday, June 6th at 8pm ZERO KILLED delves into the minds of a group of seemingly average people who agreed to participate in video dramatizations of their darkest desires to murder another human being. Kosakowki’s documentary revisits the horror through interviews with these would-be killers and clips of the dramatizations made more than 10 years prior. ZERO KILLED explores how violence is depicted both on camera and in our minds. In German with English subtitles.

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German-American Journal

Den Blick gen Zukunft

Vor der Geburt unseres Sohnes Felix im März dieses Jahres wollten meine Frau und ich noch unsere Wohnung auf Vordermann bringen. Wir haben unsere Schränke nach Brauchbaren und unnützen Dingen durchstöbert um schließlich Platz für unseren Neuankömmling zu schaffen. Während unserer großen Aufräumaktion sind Matthias Knobloch mir meine gesammelten “German-American Journal” Ausgaben in die Hände gefallen. Egal ob Weihnachten, Muttertag oder Ostern, jede Zeitung war einem bestimmten Thema gewidmet. Aber ein sich ständig wiederholendes Thema hat mich beim durchblättern meiner angesammelten Ausgaben doch recht genervt: das unendliche Beschweren über den Mitgliederschwund durch Mitglieder und DANK-Offiziellen. In der letzten Ausgabe des German-American Journals hat unser Präsident Beverly einen weiteren “Beschwerdeartikel” verfasst, in welchem Sie die Zukunft von DANK in unsere Hände legt. Ich finde ihren Artikel großartig, schließlich zeigt der Artikel, wofür DANK steht: Nämlich das zu erhalten, was unsere Großeltern so gern hatten. Nun ja – wenn dass DANKs Hauptinhalt ist, dann werde ich Beverly zustimmen und ihre Meinung teilen: das es mit DANK nur noch bergab gehen kann. Als ich 2010 als Praktikant für DANK tätig war, hatten wir mehrere Diskussionen mit Vereins- und Vorstandsmitgliedern darüber, wie wir mehr Aufmerksamkeit auf den Deutschamerikanischen Nationalkongress lenken könnten. Es wurde über das Logo sowie den Namen gesprochen und die eigentlichen Vorteile für Mitglieder überdacht. Viele unendliche Stunden haben

Look Forward!

By: Matthias Knobloch

Before our son Felix was born in March of this year, my wife and I went through a lot of stuff in order to clean up our place.

We went through old clothing, checked the nursery and paperwork, and bought tons of diapers. We wanted our son to know that we are well-prepared for him after all.

While cleaning up, I found my collection of German-American Journals and – frankly – could not resist looking through every issue. Every paper, every front page, was different and dedicated to a certain subject – from mother’s day, to Easter or Christmas – all in all a diverse mixture of content. But, one repetitive issue was present in every issue and it bothered me a lot. This is the constant complaints of

wir gesessen und es hat sich bis heute nichts geändert.

Ursprünglich diente DANK dazu, die deutsche Sprache weiter zu pflegen, den deutschen Traditionen und der heimatlichen Musik treu zu bleiben. In Anbetracht dessen, dass der Inhalt dieses Journals fast ausschließlich in englischer Sprache verfasst wurde und das sämtliche Vorstandsveranstaltungen etc. in englischer Sprache abgehalten werden, denke ich, dass DANK dieses Ziel deutlich verfehlt hat.

DANK wurde von deutschen Immigranten, welche nach einem besseren Leben gesucht haben, gegründet. Doch Zeiten ändern sich. Krieg, Verfolgung, Hunger und Zerstörung zählen keineswegs zu den Gründen weshalb ein junge Deutsche heute vielleicht nach Amerika kommen. Vielleicht suchen sie ein besseres Leben aber dann aus anderen Gründen. Viele kommen um hier Arbeitserfahrung zu sammeln, um zu studieren oder weil sie hier ihre Liebe gefunden haben. Einen Verein, wie DANK brauchen sie da gar nicht. Man findet sich über das Internet und kann sich daher auch so zum Bier trinken verabreden. Das, wofür sich DANK verschrieben hat, interessiert ehrlich gesagt keinen der jungen Generation.

Wozu dann also Mitgliedsbeiträge bezahlen?

Wo liegen die Vorteile, wenn man Mitglied ist? Ich will das nur kurz an einem Beispiel aus meiner Familie erläutern: Mein lieber Opa ist Sudetendeutsche und wurde nach dem Krieg aus seiner Heimat vertrieben. Nun ist auch er Mitglied eines Ähnlichen Vereins, wie DANK. Einem Verein, der sich den gleichen Aufgaben verschrieben hat und nun ebenfalls vor dem Aus steht, da der Organisation die Mitglieder auf gut Deutsch regelrecht wegsterben. Neue Mitglieder sind scher zu finden. Warum auch?

Wo sind die Vorteile. Mein Opa hat mir von sei-

members and DANK officials about the decreasing number of DANK members.

In the Journal’s last issue, our president Beverly put it this way: “Our future is in your hands”. Her article is great! It sums up what DANK is all about: a member organization dedicated to “preserve what our grandparents held so dear”.

Unfortunately, if that’s all that DANK is about then DANK will begin “to fade from the scene.” When I was an intern for DANK in 2010, I remember sessions with officials and members discussing how we could increase awareness of this great organization and how we could increase the number of members. Many suggestions were made. We talked about the outdated logo, the name, and different ideas to increase the benefits for members. These

June / July 2012

nem Leben erzählt, mir seine Heimat gezeigt und sogar ein Buch darüber geschrieben – Alles Dinge auf die ich mehr als stolz bin. Und das ohne die Hilfe eines Vereins.

DANK muss sich bewusst sein, dass die junge Generation nicht zwangsläufig daran interessiert ist, über die alten Zeiten zu reden. DANK muss Gedanken darüber machen, wie man den Nachwuchs animieren kann Mitglied zu werden. DANK muss die junge Generation verstehen lernen, DANK muss wissen, dass heute auch Techno zum deutschen Kulturgut gehört und statt Bratwurst und Brezel eben auch mal ein Döner gegessen wird. Artikel, in denen man den Lesern ständing die Ohren voll heult, weil keine neuen Mitglieder nachwachsen sind da eher Kontraproduktiv.

Wer möchte schon auf ein sinkendes Boot springen?

suggestions were great, and yet, nothing has changed. When I talk to Germans my age in Chicago, they don’t even know that DANK exists. In the last issue’s article, Beverly pointed out that DANK “was organized by German immigrants who came for a better life” and who wanted “to preserve the (German) language, traditions and music” from their home country.

However, board meetings, the website, and even this paper are almost completely in English. Doesn’t it take more than just the occasional “Prost” to preserve the German language? This is just one application of her argument to think about.

It’s also important to address the first part of Beverly’s statement and to think about why potential new members of DANK – new German immigrants to the states – come to this country. Times have changed. Today, Germans who decide to come to the United States don’t do it because political instability, war, genocide or destruction have forced them to. They may seek a better life, but for very different reasons. Many come to the States to work, to study, or to simply follow their loved ones. Germans find each other through Facebook, Twitter, Meetups Groups – in other words, the Internet. The younger generation has a different perspective of what German heritage means. DANK’s dedication lies in “what our grandparents held so dear” – unfortunately, that is not something someone who comes to the States nowadays is interested in becoming a member for. Even U.S. citizens with German roots (I have learned that almost everyone is somehow German) are hard to gain as members if DANK doesn’t change its benefits. Let me give you an example.

After the war, the Czech government displaced all Sudeten Germans.

It happened that my dear grandfather had to leave his house, his properties, and all of his belongings behind. Of course, he became a dedicated member of an organization similar to DANK that preserves the Sudeten heritage, and of course they face the same problems as DANK. Members are dying and new members are hard to gain because what they are offering to give members is not in demand in the same way that it once was. I do not need to become a member of the Sudeten-German organization because I know all of my grandfather’s stories, his traditions, and his roots and I’m proud of where I come from. What I’m trying to say is that when my grandfather leaves this world, he will leave us more than just his name – his heritage will be preserved in our family and not through membership in an organization.

Let’s face it: the younger generation of German immigrants and U.S. citizens with German ancestors are not interested in only talking about the old days. What matters is the future! DANK needs to rethink how it can build on its cornerstones and realize that the younger generation doesn’t only think differently about Germany – it has a multitude of new tools to connect with Germany and Germans while in the U.S. Sure, the bratwurst and pretzel are still emblematic of German culture, but so are techno music and the döner. Articles in this Journal emphasizing how desperate everyone should be that DANK is about to go under if no new members are found are tiring and do not attract members at all. I mean, who wants to jump into a sinking boat?

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

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Brandenburger Schützenvere 21st Coronation Ball in Chicago

By: Heidi Janztzk The Brandenburger Schützenverein Chicago celebrated their 21st Coronation Ball at the Schwaben Center in Buffalo Grove, Saturday March 17, 2012. The Schützenverein St. Louis, Deutsch Amerikanischer Schützenverein of Auburn Hills, Michigan, and the Sportsverein Peoria were invited for this occasion.

The four clubs took part in a shooting competition early Saturday morning at the DANK Haus in Chicago to determine who would earn the trophies awarded to the best teams.

Bob Doane of the BSV acted as MC for the Ball and introduced President Edward Ott, who welcomed everybody and wished everyone a nice evening. The invocation

was given by High Colburn, followed by a delicious dinner served by the Schwaben Center personnel to the attending guests.

After dinner the festivities got underway.

The clubs lined up in the outer hall of the Schwaben Center, and as always, , made an impressive entrance to the ballroom and surrounded the dance floor.

The queens of each visiting club were presented a bouquet of flowers and the kings a BSV pin. The reigning king and queen, Adalbert Lengsfeld and Kamila Ott, were thanks for fulfilling their duties during their reign, and the new King and Queen Eddi Lindhardt and Inge Totzke were crowned and both queens were given a bouquet of red roses.

The results of the Saturday morning’s shooting contest were announced

Broadcast Journalist John Pertzborn Honored by German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis

Freedom Award Recipient John H. Pertzborn © Joan Hecker

By: Lansing Hecker St. Louis – Well-known broadcast journalist, John H. Pertzborn, was honored by the German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis on Saturday 3 March 2012 with the organization’s Friedrich Hecker Freedom Award at their 22nd annual black-tie dinner at the historic Racquet Club - St. Louis.

The award, named for a popular 1848 German revolutionary, is presented each year to an outstanding individual who has worked for the promulgation of cooperation and understanding between Germany and the United States.

While currently a FOX2 News in the Morning anchor and co-host, Pertzborn was one of the first broadcast journalists to

participate in the German-American professional exchange program in 1995, sponsored

by Germany’s Radio in the American Sector Foundation (RIAS). As a member of RIAS, Pertzborn has traveled to Germany several times and has interviewed many German government officials including a promising CDU party member at the time named Angela Merkel.

Pertzborn has enjoyed a successful broadcast journalist career first in Wisconsin and currently in St. Louis. Along the way, his work has been recognized with numerous broadcasting awards including four local Emmys, two Illinois Press Awards, one SPJ Best Spot News Award, and The Edward R. Murrow Award.

While the Pertzborn family German heritage can be traced back to the 13th century, John’s great, great grandfather immigrated in 1850 to Wisconsin, where the family farm still stands.

Pertzborn also helps thousands of other St. Louis area citizens enjoy their GermanAmerican heritage as an ever-popular Master of Ceremonies at just about every major German festival on both sides of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, including St. Louis’ largest Oktoberfest in 2011.

The Pertzborn family lives in Belleville, Illinois, where they are members of the Belleville – Paderborn Sister Cities. His son, Nick, carries on the family tradition as a past high school German language exchange student in Paderborn, Germany.

and trophies were presented to the BRandenburger Schützenverein for first, winning only by one point (after several recounts), Sportsverein Peoria for second, Amerikanischer Schützenverein of Auburn Hills for third place. St. Louis Schützenverein received Zielwasser for their efforts. The individual awards for the BSV King and Queen Shooting were also awarded. Right Wing went to Jn Casillas, Left Wing to Troy Schulten, Right Claw to Karl Bornschlegl and Left Claw to Kamila Ott. “Paloma” was the performing band for the evening and got most of the people to have fon on the dance floor. But even the band needed a break and during that time, raffle tickets were drawn and cash prizes as

well as beautiful gift baskets and various gifts from local merchants were given to the lucky winners. All in all it was an evening of fun and friends getting together.

A breakfast on Sunday morning at the Schwaben Center ended a weekend of competition and comradery for the shooting clubs.

Anyone interested in air rifle shooting should come see us at the DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. in Chicago. We are looking for new members. We practice every Wednesday at 7:00 pm in the Brandenburg Room and on the third Wednesday of the month are our membership meetings.

John D. Wittenberg Honored by German American Heritage Society of St. Louis By: Lansing Hecker St. Louis – German-American community leader, John D. Wittenberg, was honored by the German American Heritage Society (GAHS) of Saint Louis on Saturday 3 March 2012 with the organization’s Stemmler-Hecker Founders Award at their 22nd annual black-tie dinner at the historic Racquet Club - St. Louis.

Each year, the award recognizes to an outstanding individual or organization for “special service to the German American community.

Wittenberg is a GAHS Board of Directors member and the organization’s Vice President of Membership. He is also a co-founder of the 600 plus member German Special Interest Group (G-SIG). This relatively new organization is co-sponsored by GAHS and the St. Louis Genealogical Society, of which John is also a member. Recently, Wittenberg retired after a three-year term as the Group Leader of G-SIG. He is also the President of the St. Louis German-American Committee, which is an oversight group consisting of representatives from all of the St. Louis area GermanAmerican organizations on both sides of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Wittenberg has been an active member of

(l) Founders Award recipient, John D. Wittenberg and presenter (r), Louis Stemmler © Joan Hecker

the St. Louis Strassenfest Corporation for more than 20 years.

As both an involved individual and a successful insurance Vice President with the C.J. Thomas Company, he has been actively involved as a Past Missouri State Vice President with the Jaycees and a Past Secretary/ Past Board Member with the Arthritis Foundation of Eastern Missouri for 30 years.

Wittenberg has also been an active member of the Missouri JCI Senate for the past 25 years. He is also finds time to be a Real Estate Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker Gundaker.

Together with is charming wife, Ann, he also actively supports her efforts as a leader in the St. Louis Italian-American community.

Congratulations to the New RV Vorstand By: Hans Wolf, Public Relations The Rheinischer Verein of Chicago, held their election April 17th amid a lot of hoopla and bravado. The house was packed with members from all branches, such as the Fanfaren, Amazonen dancers, Prinzengarde and Elferrat.

The nominating committee had quizzed many applicants wanting to hold a position on the Vorstand (Executive Committee). One must be a dedicated member to handle all the responsibilities. Several of the incumbents said ‘one more year’, understandably when the longest incumbent, Marianne Wehrle, has served 17 years.

Our Ehrenpräsident, Joe Matuschka, chaired the actual election. Some bylaws were discussed and all were reminded that

to be eligible to vote one had to attend 4 meetings a year. This was not to be another Chicago election.

We were pleased to record that Reinhard Richter, our President for the last 8 years, will give us another year. Reinhard has given us excellent leadership and outstanding representation. Thank you Reinhard, for another year.

We were also pleased with the younger members joining the Vorstand; Monica Schulter –Amazonen with a Masters Degree in Marketing and Christel Valentine – Prinzengarde with excellent organizational skills (saved Weiberfastnacht!).

To survive we, as well as all clubs, need new ideas, fresh leadership and team building members.

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June / July 2012

Summer Membership Drive The National Office is pleased to announce the newly designed membership cards for 2012 are finally ready and in the mail! The office has received many compliments on the new cards and hope you enjoy the new look as well. We apologize for the delay and thank you all for bearing with us. Next, we work on designing new Life Membership cards!

George Nagata not only helped design the membership cards but continues to help with the updates to our database. We are using Microsoft Office Access for all our membership data. This new program will make it easier to track, report and share information with our chapters.

During these economic times that are less favorable, the National Office is not only focused on creating new revenue but cost-cutting measures. We have reduced stock rather than adding to our inventory by buying only when necessary, and doing price comparisons. We work hard to secure the best prices possible. It is a challenge, but a necessary one.

It has been a very busy time in the office and things are not slowing down! We are now gearing up for the DANK National 2012 Raffle. In an effort to keep the raffle ‘fresh and exciting’ we are changing the way this year’s raffle works, including an early bird drawing. Tickets will be mailed to all members, so check your mail for the specially marked envelopes. For more details please see National Vice President Alfred Mueller’s article in this issue.

Once again DANK will participate in Milwaukee’s original “Haus party”, Germanfest! Please visit our public relations booth on the midway at Germanfest, July 26-29, and say hello. Our stand has always been a great way to introduce people to DANK and what we do. Volunteers are always needed to help staff the booth. If you are planning on going to Germanfest and can help out for an hour or two, let us know!

Wishing you all a happy and safe Summer!

DANK National Raffle Returns!

By: Erik Wittmann DANK Membership chair It’s that time of year…the DANK National Raffle returns by popular demand with a new and exciting look. The Raffle Committee brought new and fresh ideas and a marketing plan for our only fundraising campaign of the year. The tickets were mailed to our members and additional tickets are available from your chapter or by calling the office at 1-888-USA-DANK. This is your opportunity to support DANK National fundraising event and to help keep membership costs down. A big change in our fundraising this year will be that the local chapters will also benefit from the sales. Fifty percent of every ticket purchased through your local chapter will be given back to support their activities, thus insuring its stability and growth. Only you can help make this a spectacular event! Your support will provide for the ongoing expansion of our National organization.

The theme of this campaign is “Every Ticket is a Winner!” When you purchase your ticket for only $5, and turn over the stub you will notice that one of our many DANK friends is offering an incentive.

For instance, one of our supporters, Matt and Mannie Lodge of Laschet’s Inn, 2119 West Irving Park Road, Chicago will re-

By: Beverly Pochatko DANK National President

Have you considered joining DANK or giving a friend or family member an introductory membership to your organization - dedicated to the preservation of our German heritage?

Here is an opportunity to join DANK midyear and gain benefits from a membership.

From June 1st to October 30th, DANK is offering a special pro-rated membership fee to new members who join during this time period only. The fee, $30 per single/head of household will be reduced to $15; spouses from $10 to $5. ($20/couple). This will cover membership dues for the balance of 2012. (Please Note: This rate also applies to new members joining in September to participate in German language schools. They will also renew in January at the new rate of $40/head of household, spouses $10 for 2013.)

As a new member you will receive your issue of our newspaper, the German American Journal, published in June/July, Aug/ Sept, Oct/Nov, and the Dec/Jan 2013 issues - (a $10 value if you join in June/July); you will be joining the brotherhood of thou-

sands of people who actively acknowledge and preserve their Germanic heritage; meet other like members and share in the camaraderie of a chapter at special events such as German American Day, Oktoberfests, Christmas parties and more. Many chapters offer discounted prices to chapter members; opportunities to travel, language classes and more. Most importantly you will be helping us to preserve the heritage entrusted to us when the German immigrants gathered to lay the foundation of respecting and honoring our German heritage.

To join or enroll a new member, use the application form in this newspaper; get an application form from your chapter to send in; or go to www.DANK.org and join online. For more information call 1-888-USADANK. You will be glad you did!

deem your special coupon for a free ½ liter of beer or soft drink with a purchase of an entrée, valid Tuesdays thru Thursdays.

Each region will have difference incentives available. You have already won a benefit with your ticket purchase, and you are entered in the two drawings!

The first drawing, the Early Bird, will be held on July 20, 2012 at the Historic DANK Haus, German Cultural Center Stammtisch. The winning ticket will be reentered for the grand prize drawing in December. The final drawing will take place at the DANK National board meeting also held at the Historic DANK Haus in Chicago on December 8th.

The Early Bird Drawing First prize in July 20th will be a 40” LCD flat screen TV; prizes drawn in December the Grand Prize of round trip tickets for two to Germany! Both drawings will have cash prizes of Second Prize is $500, Third Prize, $250; Fourth Prize, $100; and Fifth Prize, $50. Buy your tickets NOW to be included in the early drawing. You do not have to be present to win. If you wish to have additional tickets contact the office (888-USA-DANK).

Please support your German Heritage and our Raffle. Remember, Every Ticket is a Winner…and so is being a DANK Member! Being a member has its privileges!

If you are gifting a membership:

Your Name

Your Phone #

Sign Up For Membership Online @ www.DANK.org

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

The Inside Scoop on DANK Haus 2012-14 DANK Haus was once a best kept secret but since the façade transformation – the word is out! Since January, over 2,500 visitors have made the DANK Haus a destination for education, entertainment and enrichment for all things German.

The Board of Directors approved formation of an Education Committee to drive our mission of promoting German language for both adult and children programs. Both the Adult and Kinderschule programs are running at enrollment targets.

The Kinderschule received its annual grant from the Federal Republic of Germany, which is based in large part on our students’ achievement on the DeutschSprachDiplome and is crucial to the school’s financial operations. In response to high demand, eight weeks of Adult Summer classes begin on June 6.

Lead by President Andreas Hecht, the Board made partnership a priority in its February strategic planning session and the results are evident. February saw the second Weiberfastnacht in the Marunde ballroom, spearheaded by the Prinzengarde of Rheinischer Verein. The Prinzenpaar were DANK Haus 1st Vice President, Kim Duncan and her husband .

Our partnership with Goethe-Insitut Chicago on the Maerchenwald Exhibit was highly successful, with over 450 visitors to the bilingual exhibit celebrating 200 years of the Grimm Brothers publication, Kinder und Hausmaerchen. The opening reception was attended by German Vice Consul Daniel Maier and groundwork is established for many future collaborations.

DANK Haus is a Core Member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, a consortium

of nearly 30 ethnic museums. Through our relationship, the Archives Committee is developing a 2013 exhibit on the 75th anniversary of the Louis-Schmeling match as well as a 2014 exhibit on the theme of Verein as family, which will be a citywide exhibit.

On October 6, the Polish Museum of America, Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture and the DANK Haus will lead a 2 hour walking tour featuring the ethnic treasures of Humboldt Park’s Polish, Puerto Rican and German residents. This tour is possible due to CCA’s partnership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation and funding by the Boeing Companies.

The FineArts Committee is in development on a puppet show for 2012 and there are eight German musical performances scheduled for the ballroom. In conjunction with the Austrian Consulate of Chicago, Gottfried Reszner, watercolorist, will exhibit in the Scharpenberg Gallery in 2013. The gallery will be the site of a satellite exhibit of Günther Schaefer’s photographic series on the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2014.

Our next Membership Meeting is June 11 at 7:30pm. Or speak to a Director at our new meet and greet format, next on June 2 at 12:15pm.

Be it for a performance, a class or a film, there is always a reason to visit and support the DANK Haus!

For the most current programming information and tickets, please visit www. dankhaus.com and sign up for our weekly electronic newsletter.

Greetings From the PA Shore of Lake Erie By: Margarete Potocki It just seems like yesterday, that here in the City of Erie during March and April; we had the preview of summer with record high temperatures in the 80’s! Being Erie, we predictably dropped 40 degrees and back to the cold, bone chilling winds off the lake and yes, even snow. Living on the lake shore we were spared the snow, but in south Erie on the ridge of I-90 and south they had their share of snow… up to 10 inches! But – now we are enjoying the balmy breezes of early summer, gardens planted and flowers blooming.

Some of our members have had a rough start to the year with health issues. Carol Snippert broke her ankle in December and then to add insult to injury fell and broke her knee-cap (opposite leg) in April! Needless to say she is happy to be up and about.

Also, we remember Susan Roehrl and wish her well. Jerry Chase is fully recuperated from his surgery and Bev Pochatko as well. It’s hard to believe that we lost two more members this year – Heddy Quest and John (Bob) Wiegmann. They will be sorely missed by all their friends.

We’ve had interesting programs for our meetings: “Germany Royalty”, in March by Leo Gruber was well received. In April, we celebrated with a dessert night marking the beginning of our 22nd year as a DANK Chapter. We noted that Phil and Carol Susann were

20 year members! Members talked about what it meant for them to join, and what it was like to leave Germany and settle in the US. Bev Pochatko gave everyone a Kornblumenblau (Blue Cornflowers) seed packet.

Notepads with German Sayings were also given the members. Our May meeting gave us a chance to discuss our “German Roots” and members shared memorabilia. We also collected a nice amount of pasta for our St. Nicholas Project.

On April 21st, we hosted the Region 3 Meeting and election. It was great to meet up again with those we met at the National Convention. During the meeting, Erik Wittmann was elected Region President and Julie Shursha (Uniontown) and Jeff Chase (Erie) our delegates! We are all excited about the DANK Raffle and the Summer Membership Promotion! Lots of good things are happening that we will all benefit from.

In June, Gary Matczak will talk about Erie’s German architecture at our meeting. And of course on July 11th is our Annual Family Picnic at Mount Carmel’s Picnic Grove. Everything is in motion for our German Heritage Fest that we all look forward to. In between it all we hope to visit German Day celebrations in our Region and possibly a trip to Milwaukee’s Fest in July.

Enjoy these early days of summer, before it gets unbearably hot! Hope you all enjoy a safe 4th of July.

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German-American Journal

June / July 2012

Keep Learning German

AATG AWARDS 2012 DANK School Chicago Northern Suburbs

Students Nele Radons, Kai Jaeger, Peter Rykowski, & faculty Sabine Woerner, Silvia Schmid

By: Silvia Schmid, Ph.D., Faculty On Sunday, April 29, I drove to the College of Du Page, IL for the 56th annual AATG (American Association of Teachers of German) Award Ceremony. As I entered the foyer of the SRC (Student Resource Center), I was impressed by the modern, geometric architecture, the wide open space, and the many windows which made the foyer very bright. Very inviting! Let the ceremony begin!

In the conference room, I studied the program and counted 187 awards, 34 schools, 6 special sponsorships, and 5 acknowledgments of sponsors and supporters. The AATG exams (level 2, 3 and 4) are normally taken in high schools, but also at some private German language

schools.

The AATG examinations are a diagnostic tool and can be used to create excitement and a sense of accomplishment inherent to participation. It also provides a means of comparing students to others in all regions of the country.

First, “Bravo” to anyone who passed the 2012 exam. “Super gemacht!”

For the AATG ceremony at the College of DuPage, students who scored in the 90th percentile from each school in Northern Chicago received a personal invitation.

Looking around, I observed in one corner of the room a table with German books – prices for the students’ achievement. In the other corner was a table - nicely set up with refreshments to enjoy after the ceremony.

After a warm welcome by Karen Calvert

Photo at the book table Nele Radons, Kai Jaeger, faculty Sabine Woerner

(AATG President), the key note speaker, Lisa Seidlitz (Augustana College) reflected on different studies that encourage the learning of a language. She informed us that, according to research, speaking two or more languages boosts brain-development.

As the bilingual needs to continually select the right language for a given situation, the brain does its workout. The brain has to keep the two channels separate and pay attention to only one. It focuses attention on what’s important and ignores distraction.

“Keep learning German!” she encouraged.

The Student-Teacher Recognition was the main part of the ceremony. The students were called and applauded for their excellent achievement. They received a medal or a ribbon, depending which exams they passed (level 1, 2, 3 or 4), followed

by a photo session. Then, each student was invited to select a book from the book table.

I saw many students lingering around the table, and finally walking away with a dictionary or an atlas, a chapter book or an illustrated book. Many smiling faces!

The ceremony was rather short and simple which gave plenty time to mingle with family and friends after the closing.

We spoke German and English or a mix of the two. We enjoyed the refreshments. I even recognized some German cookies.

And as we departed, motto “keep learning German” stuck with me. www.chicagogermanschools.org facebook “Dank German Schools” Photos By: George Rykowski

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June / July 2012

German-American Journal

Chapter Milwaukee Entertains “Germany Under Glass”

By: Jane Nacker DANK Chapter Milwaukee participated in “Germany Under Glass” on Saturday, March 3, at Milwaukee County’s Mitchell Park Domes. Sponsored by the German American Societies of the Greater Milwaukee Area and the Milwaukee County Parks, “Germany Under Glass” derives its name from the three glass domes that enclose the horticultural conservatory of the Milwaukee County Park system.

The event was a mini-German Fest in the middle of winter. “Germany Under Glass” showcased customs from Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking communities. Visitors could stroll through

the beauty of the conservatories while listening to German musicians and singers.

Multiple German dance groups performed traditional dances. Presentations on German language, genealogy, Milwaukee Beer Barons, and pretzel making were just a few of the activities in the Education Center.

There were also interactive activities with German crafts, storytelling, Lebkuchen decorating and German script writing.

Delicious German food and beverages were available.

DANK Milwaukee’s Chor performed a selection of traditional songs in the Show Dome. DANK Milwaukee’s Dancers performed several dances, including the Bändertanz in the main Lobby. The

Region 3 Holds Quartely Meeting and Election of Officers!

11

at

Milwaukee members at “Germany Under Glass.” (L-R) William Bessa, Jane Nacker, Carolyn Fuchs, DANK Milwaukee Chapter President Ronald Kabitzke, and Deanna Sommerfeld.

DANK Milwaukee display booth was located in the Tropical Dome. Members provided information on DANK, DANK membership, and recruited volunteers to work at the DANK booths at Milwaukee’s German Fest.

The Domes have hosted Irish, Chinese, Polish, and other ethnic groups in the past.

The success of this first “Germany Under Glass” bodes well for a repeat performance next year.

Our chapter is planning a bus trip to the William Tell Festival in New Glarus, Wisconsin on Labor Day Weekend. We plan to make a day of it with the possibility

of touring the New Glarus Brewing Company and enjoying a meal at one of the great restaurants in New Glarus. We will be poling the members to see if they wish to go on Saturday, September 1 or Sunday, September 2. Saturday has just one performance which will be in English and Sunday will have two performances, one morning performance in English and the Afternoon performance in German.

This is the 75th Anniversary of the William Tell Festival. The Chapter will provide the bus at no charge to our paid up members. The cost of attending the play is $10. Meals will be on your own.

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Region 3 Officers

By: Erik Wittmann Four Chapters and one sub chapter from Region 3 met on Saturday, April 21 in Erie Pennsylvania for a quarterly meeting and election of Regional Officers. A total of 18 representatives from Cleveland, Erie, Pittsburgh (including the Laurel Highlands sub chapter) and Uniontown Chapters came together at the Erie Mannerchor to discuss common issues, including coordinating a Regional Membership Drive, developing Regional festivals ; implementing the St. Nickolas Project and developing additional sub chapters through out Region 3.

Erik Wittmann, Chapter President of Pittsburgh, and acting Region 3 President

was elected as the permanent Region 3 President. Vice Presidents elected were Stefan Pigler, Cleveland Chapter President and Margaret Potocki, Erie Chapter President. Julia Skursha from the Uniontown Chapter was elected Chapter Secretary with Chris Sabatini from the Pittsburgh Chapter named Supportive Secretary. Patty Schmitt, from the Pittsburgh Chapter was re-elected as Chapter Treasurer. Region 3 also elected 2 official delegates to the Board and 3 alternates. Permanent delegates will be Jeff Chase, Erie and Julia Skursha from the Uniontown Chapter. Alternates are Eric Trainer, Erik Wittmann from Pittsburgh and Margaret Potacki from Erie.

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12

German-American Journal

A Trip to Historic Zoar, OH

The Greek Revival-German Baroque Zoar Hotel. Photo: Zoar Community Association

By: Maria K. Roth Zoar, meaning “small” or “insignificant” in Hebrew, (a “little one” as Lot called it,) was a city east of Jordan in the vale of Siddim, (which later became the Dead Sea,) grouped with Sodom and Gomorrah as being one of the 5 cities slated for destruction by God; but it was spared at Lot’s plea as his place of refuge. (Genesis 19:20-23) In spite of cool and cloudy weather, 27 people (myself included) gathered at the German Central in Parma on April 28th to board a bus and take a day trip to historic Zoar, Ohio.

The trip was organized by DANK Chapter #30 (Cleveland) as just one more of their many recent events targeted at educating, entertaining and building relationships for our local German-Americans.

Zoar is located in Tuscarawas County, approximately an hour and a quarters drive south from the Cleveland area. It was founded in 1817 by about 300 German religious dissenters fleeing persecution by the government and Church of State in Germany. These Separatists purchased 5000 acres in Ohio and started building a communal society, with everyone contributing to the good of all villagers.

Zoar was written about by the Secretary of the Ohio State Archeological and Historical Society in 1899. Here is an excerpt from his book “History of the Zoar society, from its commencement to its conclusion; a sociological study in communism”: The Separatist Society of Zoar. 3 “Its origin and growth are credited to the writings and teachings of Johann Arndt (1555-1621), Johann Andrea (1586-1654) and Frederick Christoph Oetinger (17021782). The latter was an enthusiastic disciple of the mystic philosophy of Jacob Boehm (1575- 1624).

Oetinger’s heterodoxy fostered a species of dissent

Cellar and storage of the Number One House.

Photo: Zoar Community Association

known as Separatism. The Separatists rejected baptism, confirmation and other ordinances. They declined to do military duty or take the legal oath, and refused to remove their hats to their designated superiors — they had no superiors in their own estimation, •as all men were equal before the Lord.”

Today Zoar is still a working village, though many of the building and businesses are owned by the Ohio Historical Society.

We arrived a bit earlier than our appointed tour time, so we all took advantage by wandering about, shopping at the bakery (the original Zoar bakery building, with its original storage bins and ovens) which had classics such as Schnitzbrot and Stollen, and at the cannery, where I could not resist purchasing the Hot Pepper and Onion Relish. Sampling their delicious canned goods made leaving the store to start our tour a bit difficult.

After gathering at the Zoar Store (which now serves as a gift shop and office) we received a bit of the village history and the DANK group was divided between two very capable guides.

Our first destination was the Number One House. Built originally as a home for the elderly, it eventually became the home of Joseph Bimeler, the founder of the Zoar Separatists. Besides the Bimeler family, 3 other families lived in this large building, making the most of the space. It has been a museum since 1935 and houses a wonderful display of antiques which gives one a great sense of life during that time.

Our guide explained many of the facets of life in Zoar for example how each morning, seven days a week, Zoarites would gather at the nearby Assembly House for that day’s work assignments. The blacksmith, bakers, dairy workers, tailors etc. were of course sent to their specialties and others wherever they might be needed. A pottery horn on display in the Number One House was used to call the villagers on those early mornings.

Our next stop was the Dining Hall (built in 1860) where daily meals were served. In this room stood an original cabinet, upon which were written the following words (translated from the German): Love God not his gifts if you want him for a friend, grant that I be toward you and all people; meek (in) Heart, plain in words, Humble (in) works.

A room for clothes washing and a “dock” for received

June / July 2012

goods were later added to the dining hall. Zoarites sold many of their goods, especially bakery and dairy products.

The monies received for these goods were in turn used to purchase coffee, tea and other items the Zoarites could not grow or make for themselves, as well as pay off the loan for their land. This building also had a “magazine” (storage room) in which these items were kept, and distributed equally among the villagers.

Even their education system reflected their beliefs and disdain of cash. Since they had no intention of allowing their children to be taught in public schools, a villager was certified in teaching and taught the young Zoarites in their own schoolhouse. When he received his paycheck from the school board, it went directly to the general fund.

We then traveled across Zoar’s famous garden toward the Garden House (1835). This two acre garden, built around 1820, is landscaped based on the Book of Revelation with a towering tree in the middle representing Christ. Paths surrounding the center represent the paths one takes in life in order to find Christ. Though the garden consisted mainly of flowers, vegetables and herbs were also grown here. Today the garden is cared for by the Historical Society and is a great draw for Zoar due to the serene feeling it projects.

The Garden House was the greenhouse of Zoar, and the home of the gardener Simon Beuter and his family. Simon kept the garden in pristine condition with the help of teenage village boys assigned to work with him. It was restored to its original form by the Historical Society in 1930 after being an Inn for a time.

From the lovely garden we proceeded to the Dairy House, a fascinating look into life at that time. The Dairy House was run by women, led by the “Milk Mother”. The young women who assisted her were known as “Milk Maids” and lived in the building. Here were areas for “warm” and “cool” storage. Our guide explained the process of making cheese and the dangers involved for these women dealing with the huge kettle used in the process.

The cold storage area, called the Spring House, is a demonstration of what is called cool curing. The cold basement area has a floor with deep rectangular pits, in which spring water from nearby (a hill to the north) flowed through a pipe system (This system of piping also brought drinking water to several public troughs). Here containers of milk were stored, and the process of allowing the separation of milk and cream began – this, of course, after distribution of milk to the villagers in equally sized large cans.

So what happened to the Zoarites? It seems founder Joseph Bimeler’s death on August 31, 1853 led to a slow decline in the cohesion of the village. By 1898, the village voted to disband the communal society and the property was divided among the remaining residents.

Today, Historic Zoar is under threat. The Army Corps of Engineers has declared the nearby levee unsafe and in need of immediate repair. At this point there are three options: repair the levee, demolish the town and let the area flood, or relocate Zoar village to higher ground.The Zoar Village Government and the Zoar Community Association believe the only acceptable option is to “preserve Historic Zoar intact where it is.” To help save this amazing piece of German-American history, visit www.savehistoriczoar.org or call (330) 874-3011 for more information.

At this point our tour of Zoar was completed, though many of us would have liked to wander and/or shop a bit more. We boarded our bus and headed out to Sugarcreek’s Dutch Valley Restaurant for lunch, followed by a stop at both the Swiss Heritage Winery and Broad Run Cheesehouse. Our trip home was filled with reflection as well as plenty of German songs sung by our happy tourists.

Special thanks are due to DANK Chapter #30 President Stefan Pigler for arranging this trip, as well as Secretary Linda Voit for her efforts, including providing water and snacks and some delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies for the trip. And our chapter sends it regards and best wishes to everyone working so hard to keep Zoar “alive”.

The very first building of Zoar – the Bimeler Cabin (1817). Photo: Zoar Community Association

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

13

The Strategy Paper Revisited:

“Deutsch als Fremdsprache in den USA in der Krise” Dr. Daniel Hamilton, A follow-up conference Johns Hopkins University, at the Goethe Institut in took the initiative in the New York in the fall of 2011 summer of 2010 and came up with additional convened a meeting of a suggestions for promoting number of German language German: “Just Add stakeholders at Concordia German” and “Add German Summer Language Camp to a degree in engineering in Bemidji, Minnesota. Dr. or computer technology”.

Hamilton was the logical Another suggestion made person to invite this group at that conference would because he had served in actually be of great VALUE the United States Embassy not only to German Christa Garcia in Berlin during the 1990s Saturday and Immersion and now heads the Concordia Summer Schools but also to public schools across Camp. The task before that first group was the country – “establish a guest teacher to outline a strategy for ‘saving’ the German program which would allow German language in the USA. students seeking a teaching degree do their In September of that same year a group of student teaching in American classrooms as concerned educators and administrators of they would project an attractive image of German institutions were then convened at Germany to young people!) the German Embassy to sign a Declaration Amity International (www.amity.org), for the Promotion of the German Language which is a non-profit organization dedicated – the following Netzwerk (network) to building international friendship and organizations signed: cultural understanding through teaching exchange is already helping German 1. The Goethe Institut – Eva Marquardt, students find ‘internships’ and deal with Director, the increasingly difficult visa problems and US requirements.

2. German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD), Dr. Sebastian Fohrbeck, Director, Where are we now?

3. (ZFA) the central agency for the administration of German schools abroad, Frank Mueller, Fachberater/ Coordinator Washington D.C., 4. The American Association of Teachers of German,(AATG), Helene ZimmerLoew-Executive Director, 5. The Concordia Language Villages, Dr. Daniel Hamilton, 6. The German Language School Conference, (GLSC), Dr. Renate Ludanyi, 7. DANK German Language Schools and German School Chicago, Christa Garcia, 8. Deutsch Forum USA – Kerstin Hopkins, 9. German American School Association of Northern California (GASANC)Carl Pfeiffer, 10. Franklin & Marshall College – Jennifer Redmann, 11. German American School Association of Southern California (GASA) – Rita Reiff, 12. The German American School of Portland – Blake Peters-Director, 13. Deutscher Schulverein Washington, DC – Frankfurter 14.

Vorstandsvorsitzende, 14. German Studies Association (GSA), Prof. David E. Barclay, Executive Director.

Daniel Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C. and Michael K. Legutke, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, wrote the following article: “ In the U.S., German is on the defensive -- retreating, not advancing. To get out of this defensive position, to strengthen the role of the German language and thus raise

American awareness about the importance of Germany, the German Federal Government should make the United States a strategic ‘priority country’ for the promotion of German, and offer some appropriate stimulus. The Foreign Office should commit to an active language policy in the United States, issue a correspondingly clear mandate to German institutions, and above all support and engage more directly with American colleagues and decisionmakers to win them as equal, collaborative partners to advance the future of the German language in America.”

At first glance, German remains strong in the U.S. -- still the country’s third foreign language, with growing total numbers of learners, even with increased total numbers of students. But first impressions can be misleading. Changes in the U.S. require enhanced and modified German efforts to support the German language.

Since the end of the Cold War, promotion of German in the U.S. has not been a particularly high priority. This cannot continue. Without new energy and initiative, the linguistic bridge to one of Germany’s most important global partners could be in danger. One must adjust to new times and act accordingly.”

Have we now come full circle? – I am reminded of the early involvement and exploratory foreign language programs we offered in the Iowa City public schools in the early seventies. So now our attention focuses once again on the importance of early language learning for all children. We must now more than ever support communitybased language and culture programs for pre-K-12 students along with academic courses for all age levels, culture events and language summer camps, for these

programs not only help children to learn languages from native speakers, but also encourage high school and undergraduate students to serve their community and get reacquainted with German.

Through partnerships and networking (as suggested in the 2012 Report of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages “Touch the World” and as already demonstrated at the Community Language School at Michigan State University: we can succeed to keep the German language alive in this country!

Arecent ‘inter-organizational’cooperative project in the Chicago area has already had success: The exhibit MÄRCHENWELTEN sent from the Goethe Institut in Muenchen, Germany. This exhibit was produced in commemoration of the Grimm Brothers’ 200 years of Fairy Tales. The interactive exhibit opened at the DANK Haus on March 28, 2012 and will run through April. The MAERCHENWELTEN enticed even the youngest students from the German School Chicago www.germanschoolchicago.org.

Their teachers planned a field trip to visit the exhibit and the children found all the fairy tales which they had read in class.

There is another field trip being planned by the Deutsche Sprachschule DANK DSS Chicago. This field trip will take older students to the Graue Mill in Oakbrook: once a huge property held by Frederick Graue, born in Germany, who was instrumental in hiding runaway slaves in his mill on their journey to freedom. The students will explore via ‘Schnitzeljagd’ (paperchase) 150 years of German History in DuPage County.( The Graue Mill is now listed in the National Register of Historical Places.)

14

German-American Journal

June / July 2012

An Illinois History Project, Part 2 By: Anne Marie Fuhrig

At a time when the issue of immigration to the United States commands much public attention, students can gain a perspective by studying an individual immigrant (or their own family’s German background) who had a noticeable impact in this country. They can start by considering the lasting changes German immigration has brought, especially in the non-metropolitan Mid-West, and how life, work processes, and institutions have changed, because of the particular skills and knowledge of both individual immigrants or of a group.

Such examples teach a new way of looking at historical events, because they illustrate this benefit for America. If students work under the guidance of a social studies or history teacher and for the purpose of competing at the Illinois History Fair in Springfield early every May, students also have a chance at the Ernst Ott Prize sponsored by DANK. To get their student started, families need to understand that research alone—no matter how much work has gone into it—is not enough for a prize-worthy project. Rather, the summary paper and the bibliography turn out best after the student has thought through the research in two major steps: analysis, and a conclusion/statement of impact.

For younger students, this can be partly personal, but at the High School level, students need to show how the person or situation they featured in their paper had a wider impact. There also needs to be a statement of what was learned from doing this work. Remember that the exhibit that is presented together with the paper, should be no larger than 40” wide, 30” deep, and 6’ high.

Since many DANK families have some knowledge or even records of their German heritage, their children have a good start with the facts. Proceeding to “analysis,” (point 1), students need to include their impression of the contributions by the person or group and this can be related to the German background. A German tradition observed in the family could be a topic, but generally the person’s success based on the special ability is a better focus. After all, immigrants noticed opportunities here based on their German perspective.

There were immigrants who left Germany only because they were the younger sons and they needed a new territory to work in their family business. However, since there are few requirements for starting a business, they sometimes changed to a different specialty based on a particular need they observed. This kind of project should then record what they made of their chosen specialty, but such topic requires sketching the business context in the location at the time.

The ways in which the German connection had an impact and became important for the person give a natural and very productive conclusion. (point 2).

Other possible conclusions can describe how the larger situation was changed because of the person’s eagerly applied skill and knowledge. There should also be a summary of what the student learned for the work.

Since this part is at the end, there have been times when a student found important new insights based on the con-

siderations above so late in the process, that last minute changes could no longer be made and the paper became unconvincing. Therefore it is very important that time is reserved for several drafts, teasing out the sequences of events in the materials, making them into threads that inform the perspective, and interpret them thoughtfully for a convincing point 2.

For upper level students who want to pick a topic beyond a particular family or business, it is sometimes hard to see how “German” so many communities in the Mid-West really are, and to explain this influence of German immigration with available examples.

They could, for example, look into a religious institution or the festivals and social life of a German immigrant community. There are German social clubs of one specialization or another in all larger Illinois towns, and they tend to be shaped by the interests of their members. Such clubs may well have begun as a group where new immigrants from a particular area socialized, learned to cope and celebrated their special holidays in ways they knew. As the next generation came along, interests as well as language use were likely to change, but the organizations still exist.

DANK is an example for such a group that has chapters in many locations. When groups have a particular purpose, however, such as music, dancing, or the support of a Saturday German language school, they tend to stay together better and remain more consistent.

This change is, however, not always happening at the same speed. It seems to be slower for groups from a German-speaking island within non-German countries, such as the “Danube Swabians,” who had lived in today’s Hungary until the end of World War II. The “Saxons” from today’s Romania—where even some cities still preserve their German names and architecture—had centuries of experience with actively maintaining their identity. “Saxons” began to settle there as early as 1000 AD when these were border areas of the Turkish Empire. Living in a non-German environment, they organized their own cultural and educational institutions, continued to teach and use their language, and persisted through the centuries. This skill served them well in this country. Their educational and cultural institutions, and their traditional annual celebrations, along with organized assistance for compatriots, are exemplary.

A senior-level project or paper on such a group or one of their institutions can link this cohesion to the special role concept that grew from their need to organize their lives in a foreign land. None of that means that, once in this country, they are less American; instead they have simply refined the ability for two allegiances, one public during the day and now wholeheartedly American, and the other ethnic or cultural and practiced after hours.

Regardless of which developments a student describes or compares, the conclusion/statement of impact should again connect the particulars to their actual situation, such as the time in history, the ethnic community, or the region of the state.

There are not many resources to guide the study of ethnic self-concepts and allegiances. Only recently have the retention of cultural practices and fluency in multiple languages even been publically validated. What was formerly thought to get in the way of becoming American, the cultures and traditions of immigrants—their “invisible immigration baggage” —has now come to be understood as an asset for Americans engaged in this country’s international tasks where a deeper appreciation of foreign cultures has proven so important. When this is shown with a senior level exhibit, that would certainly deserve the Ernst Ott Prize twice over.

Obviously, if conflicting information was found, that has to be explained. It is also important to relate the chosen topic to Illinois History. A bibliography of the sources used, including oral traditions and interviews, and any public sources, such as libraries, museums and the internet, finishes the accompanying paper.

If a teacher is not available to guide the project, families can find further details at: http://illinoishistory.gov/education/Expo_rules.pdf.

Photos: (1 - Lauren Wombles 2 - Alexa Timmermann) Alexa Timmermann and Lauren Wombles of Tri-Valley Middle School received the Ernst Ott Award from the German-American National Congress and a $50 savings bond each for their entry, “Ignaz Schwinn of Chicago.”

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

Google Chrome Extension Helps Teach You a Foreign Language

15

Star Architect Ingenhoven Builds for Google

By: Magazin-Deutschland

By: Stephen Fuchs | GermanPulse.com So many of us want to be able to learn German but often find excuses to put it off for another time. Whether its our busy schedules, or the high cost of lessons, most of us have a valid reason to give ourselves not to do it this week. Well, a new browser extension for Google Chrome has been created to help you out in an area we always find time for… the internet. Language Immersion allows you to pick a language that you want to learn, and as you browse the web, random words will be swapped from English into the language of your choosing. The translated text is highlighted in blue and you can even control the amount of text you want translated by controlling a sliding scale

that goes from novice to fluent. Clicking on the word reveals the original english text if you get stumped by the translation and if you want to take the learning up a notch, a setting can be activated to have your computer speak the translation.

While the extension isn’t 100% accurate when it comes to grammar, this is a great resource for boosting your German vocabulary. If you feel like you’re already fluent in German, try using it to learn one of the other supported languages… the list is long. Using the internet is something we all do, at least if your reading this article, so if you’re prone to making excuses for not learning a new language, this is an easy way to break the habit. You can download the extension for Google Chrome in the source link.

Google’s going green! Well, at least the Internet company’s new headquarters is. It will be built by a team led by top German architect Christoph Ingenhoven (photograph). Google spokesperson Jordan Newman puts it this way: “We have asked them to build the most green, sustainable building possible.” Construction work will begin in 2012, right next to the current Google headquarters, Googleplex, in Mountain View, California. The site, measuring 60,000 square metres, will provide room for up to 3,000 engineers and scientists – as well as for the company’s top management.

Ingenhoven is a pioneer of sustainable architecture and has an outstanding reputation worldwide. In 1996, for example, he built the world’s first ecological highrise, the headquarters of German energy supplier RWE in Essen, where an intelligent ventilation system uses the outside air to lower energy consumption. In the 139-metre-high building 1 Bligh, completed in Sydney in 2011, a double-skin glass facade provides natural ventilation. The office building of the Swarovski company on Lake Zurich uses lake water for heating and cooling. Christoph Ingenhoven is faced with a particular challenge in California: there is a risk of earthquakes in the region around Mountain View.

Germany Still Holds the Top Investment Spot in Europe for American Companies By: Stephen Fuchs | GermanPulse.com Germany has quickly become the leading investment destination in Europe for foreign companies and even with the current economic problems spreading in Europe, Germany is still holding strong. The American Chamber of Commerce in Germany released its findings from this years AmCham Business Barometer and found that Ameri-

Comparing Markets DOW

can companies saw only slight decreases in revenue from Germany in 2011. It’s important to note though that this comes after an unusually high year in 2010.

Juergen Friedrich, Chief Executive of Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin stated that “these results confirm Germany’s position as the locomotive of the European economy. American companies have a long tradition in Germany. Their feedback is a

iTunes Top 10 Song Downloads United States

DAX

great indicator of what is going well and what can be improved.”

There is still plenty of room for improvement as the American companies in this study showed some concern about the ongoing financial struggles in Europe. Germany can still be seen as a safe country in terms of investment, but there is still steep competition among the other leading countries of China and India.

Data Taken May 19, 2012

Germany

03/23/12:

$13,080.73

03/23/12:

€6,995.62

1 Call Me Maybe • Carly Rae Jepsen

1 Whistle • Flo Rida

05/18/12:

$12,369.38

05/18/12:

€6,271.22

2 Somebody That I Used to Know • Gotye feat. Kimbra

2 Tage wie diese • Die Toten Hosen

$ Change:

- $711.35

€ Change:

- €724.40

3 We Are Young • Fun. feat. Janelle Monáe

3 Call Me Maybe • Carly Rae Jepsen

% Change:

- 5.44%

% Change:

- 10.36%

4 Wild Ones • Flo Rida feat. Sia

4 Too Close • Alex Clare

5 Boyfriend • Justin Bieber

5 Back In Time (From “Men In Black III”) • Pitbull

EUR/USD

6 What Makes You Beautiful • One Direction

6 Little Talks • Of Monsters and Men

03/23/12:

$1.3271

7 Drive By • Train

7 We Are Young • Fun. feat. Janelle Monáe

05/18/12:

$1.2761

8 Dance Again • Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull

8 Scream • Usher

$ Change:

- $0.051

9 Back In Time (From “Men In Black III”) • Pitbull

9 Easy • Cro

% Change:

- 3.84%

10 Where Have You Been • Rihanna

10 There She Goes • Taio Cruz feat. Pitbull

Source: Yahoo! Finance

Shaded Row: Song found on both lists

Source: iTunes

16

German-American Journal

Nepal

By Design of Splendor By: Audrey L. Hess-Eberle Euro Lloyd Travel Group/Chicago In 1953, world attention was drawn to a tiny kingdom in the Himalayas as Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Nepalese Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, joined a British Expedition and became the first to conquer the world’s highest summit (29,029 feet) of mighty Sagarmatha (Nepali) or Chomolungma (Tibetan) – known to us as Mt Everest. Many since then have forged their own climb to honor the memory of those first mountaineers. My great honor was to have met Tenzing in Darjeeling in 1982 – my childhood hero.

Like the illusive Himalayan ‘Shambala’, or James Hilton’s Lost City of ‘Shangrila’, the Kingdom of Nepal continues to be a land of intrigue, extraordinary cultural and natural diversity, home to a warm and hospitable people in which Hinduism and Buddhism dominate a tapestry of 35 distinct ethnic cultures. From fertile landscapes and terraced rice fields, subtropical jungles, rhododendron forests, to the world’s tallest summits, Nepal is a fusion of stunning geography interlaced by its rich cross-cultural heritage, boarded by India and Tibet.

It is easy to take Nepal and her jovial people into your heart as you set out to explore Kathmandu Valley by foot, bus or guided tour. Visit the famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath – the holiest Hindu temple outside of India, then Boudhnanth - one of the world’s largest Buddhist Stupas (interred with the bones of a revered

predecessor of Buddha), with its whitewashed Buddhist temple and eyes of Buddha flanked by hundreds of fluttering prayer flags. Nearby, a Tibetan Monastery offers insight into Buddhist faith, surrounded by small shops selling Tibetan handicrafts and garments. Several ancient cities like Patan, founded in 299AD, or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur with its ‘Sun Dhoka’ (Golden Gate) are but a few kilometers away.

Derived from the name meaning ‘House of Wood’, the capital of Kathmandu’s old section is a forest of fire-baked brick and tiered temples and shrines set amidst an urban sprawl of modern-day living. This crossroads for centuries of trade and barter with China, India and Tibet, continues its lineage as thriving bazaar-life is set at the steps of buildings richly decorated with magnificent woodcarvings, metalwork and gilding, flanked by mythical stone creatures of strength’s ascending order. Yet amidst the furious activity, quiet shrines and deities are tucked away for moments of prayer and contemplation in this city like no other. And, where else can you have an audience with a living child-goddess? As a refuge, stay at the ‘Yak and Yeti Hotel’ – a luxurious grand dame of a gilded past and demanding present, built around an old Rama Palace off Durban Square, the main, old section of town.

Safari anyone? A mere 130KM, 5-hour drive south, or a short flight from Kathmandu, will take you to Royal Chitwan National Park where you can experience

jungle walks, canoeing, and 4WD safaris.

During a full-day safari, look for royal Bengal tigers, leopards, monkeys, rhinoceroses and many types of deer. After Chitwan, travel to Lumbin – the birthplace of Lord Buddha - a revered place of holy pilgrimage for Buddhists.

After days of exploration, head from Kathmandu north to Pokhara (1 hour by plane, 8 hours by bus, 8 days by foot offering you an excellent introduction to trekking with relatively low passes, numerous tea houses and means to exit should trekking not be your forte). While you will have been impressed by the hand of human creativity, Pokhara will offer you opportunities to touch the sublime in Himalayan experiences. With its fertile valley of terraced rice fields and vegetation, Pokhara is set against the backdrop of the towering

If you have not traveled to Germany lately, or just thought you might skip the trip to Europe this year, you can not afford to pass up the low discounted travel airfares being offered by all airlines. Please identify yourselves as DANK members when calling our office.

Current Summer airfares (special sales are offered as they occur) for travel to and from Germany, including taxes and fuel surcharges, start from: Chicago Indianapolis Milwaukee Madison Cleveland Detroit

$1360 $1400 $1400 $1400 $1400 $1425

Audrey L. Hess-Eberle or Tiffany Nedwed EURO LLOYD TRAVEL GROUP Partner of Lufthansa City Center The Monadnock Building 53 W. Jackson Blvd. - Suite 863 Chicago, Illinois 60604

*Call for special airfares to other European cities and beyond. *Low discounted Domestic and international airfares. *European Rail passes and single tickets. *Car rentals with special low dollar rates in most European countries. *Cruises world-wide. *Worldwide tours – independent, hosted and fully escorted.

Call now for information: 1-800-572-3149 or 1-312-362-0218 email: chi@eurolloyd.com Visit us at: www.eurolloyd.com

Rates are subject to availability for your date of travel, with various airline non stop or connection options.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday Weekend surcharges apply for each direction.

June / July 2012

Annapurna mountain range and ‘Machbapuchre’, or’ ‘Fish-Tail Peak’. The jingle of mule bells, the smiles from gear-laden porters, Tibetan settlements, trekker lodges, and a more lazy life will hypnotize you into readiness to experience this awe-inspiring sanctuary. Besides renting bicycles, you can safely trek alone for hours (both of which I’ve done), exploring the valley, town and hill-villages, or join an escorted trek for as little as one day, or as much as one month. When trekking is through, take your refuge at the ‘Fish Tail Lodge’ on Phewa Lake, accessible by raft as you are pulled over to the island by rope.

For those hardy trekkers, nothing more than the Annapurna or Everest ranges will do. One can trek to the thriving prosperous Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar as a turning point (a mere 11,300 feet high), or continue onward to higher realms.

Whatever your experiences, honor the Spirits of the mountains, and those who have come before you, and have yet to follow in your footsteps.

Tours to Nepal as a full tour or extension combined with India, Bhutan, Darjeeling or Sikkim start from $200 per person, per day.

Call today for more information, on this and other cruises or tours, various destinations.

Identify yourselves as a DANK member. Ask for Audrey or Tiffany.

Phone: 312-362-0218 /// Toll Free: 800572-3149 /// Email: chi@eurolloyd.com

Nick, The Journey of a Lifetime

EURO LLOYD TRAVEL Announcing AIR FARE SPECIALS for members of DANK

Book By: Christine Schimpf Dousman, April 2, 2012 -- In a small European farming community, in a village called Calma, Nick is a young man who is elated to have completed his carpentry apprenticeship. The coins in his pocket jingle as he walks down the cobblestone street and enters the gasthaus. But his joy is soon dampened, when he realizes his sweetheart, Theresa, will be wed to a stranger, in an arranged marriage orchestrated by her parents. He does the only thing he knows he must do to save her and their future, even though it will break all the rules.

Nick is soon torn between his love for his family and the call to his country preparing for war. Leaving his loved ones behind to face an uncertain future, he honors his duty. Despite the military’s best efforts, his family is forced to leave

the only home they ever knew to escape torture and death. At the time, they do not realize they will never be able to return home again.

Through the life story of Nick and Theresa, the plight of the Danube Swabian people during World War II is illuminated to those who might be unaware that this actually happened to nearly 14 million people. The unique set of consequences build the momentum in the story forcing a resolution that ends in reaching the American Dream; however, it’s what happens in the middle that grabs the reader, suspends them in anticipation, and releases them in a satisfying conclusion.

This epic is intended to inspire and educate the reader to a piece of history that otherwise may have been forgotten and is available in digital and paperback format at Amazon.com.

Review by Darlene Fuchs: Nick, The Journey of a Lifetime, not only is a well thought out book, but it is packed full of action, adventure and excitement which gives the reader a fascinating perspective of the Danube Swabian people and the plight they endured.

As the pages turn one not only gets to know the courageous Nick but also feels as if they are right there next him with every twist and turn. From the first page on, Christine Schimpf engages the reader with the life events of Nick and Theresa. She tells the story of Nick with simple charm under unimaginable circumstances that is highly engaging.

June / July 2012

German-American Journal

Recipe: Raspberry Cheese Strudel One of the most common desserts that Germany is often identified with is Apfelstrudel or Apple Strudel. Although it really is more of an Austrian specialty and goes back a long time at least to the 17 century.

There is an old hand written Strudel recipe in the Vienna Library dating back to 1696.

The word Strudel is a Germanic word for Whirlpool......I can just see someone back then saying ....”Can I please have some of that stuff that looks like”, (and they spin their fingers) and say “whirlpool”?

17

By: Stephen Block - kitchenproject.com

It is undoubtedly the most popular type of Strudel. However you shouldn’t limit yourself to just Apfel strudel. There is everything from Nut strudels to Kraut Strudels.

Like with many dishes this one is a fusion of different cultures. The pastry most often used is a thin pastry that was invented most likely by the Turks, although the Greeks often lay claim to it. Over time every chef out did the other by making the pastry thinner and thinner, until we had a pastry that we most often call Phyllo dough.

Ingredients: 1 1b. box phyllo dough 3 cups. cottage cheese 8 oz Cream Cheese (1 package) 1/2 cup butter or 1 stick 3 egg yolks 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on taste) 2 tablespoons flour

1/2 tsp salt Vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 tsp. Grated lemon peel 2 cups Raspberries mixed with 2 tablespoons sugar.

Leave some raspberries for garnish

Directions: 1. Measure out your ingredients, melt your butter and soften the cream cheese 2. Rinse the cottage cheese, Press to drain water out. With your hand or rubber scrapper press the cheese through the mesh of the strainer. You could also put this in a food processor.

3. Add the cream cheese, eggs and blend in. Add the sugar, salt and blend. Add the flour and mix in. You can eliminate the flour if you need to, it is mainly to thicken the filling a little more.

4. Slit a vanilla bean down the center with a paring knife or scissors.

Scrape the pulp out with the back of your knife and put into the mix. I use a microplane or zester to grate in approximately 1 teaspoon lightly packed lemon peel. About 1/3 of the lemon. You can also use a vegetable peeler and then dice it very fine.

Façade Donations to the DANK Haus By: Keith Vogel Thank you to all of our generous donors. Your support has helped shine “The Jewel of Lincoln Square.”

The DANK Haus hosts a multitude of events every month including KultureKueche

Friend Of The Dank Haus Alfred and Rosa Lengfelder Chicago Brauhaus (Harry and Guenter Kempf) Joseph Bradtke

All Other Dontations Yvonne Frazier Martin Hartig Ida Gantner Martin Hartig Hidai Bregu Rosemary Reiner Kaye Steve Erbach Martin Hartig Dr. William A. Pelz Peter Contos Sara Hartig Wambach Roofing Gerald Streib Christine Clark

cooking classes, the viewing if German films at German Cinema Now, and Stammtisch.

For more information on these events and special events held throughout the year please visit www.dankhaus.com.

Also, check DANK Haus out on Facebook.

Johann & Rosemarie Morgen Horst & Anna Wagener Walter Kirchherr Elizabeth & Floyd Miller Anne Wegener Otto Perlenfein Hans & Christa Scheel James & Lawrence Dombrowski Familes Mark & Mary Bookman Ed Ott & Kamilla Vokounova Isabella Stadler Kahntact USA, Inc. - Gary Kahn Rosemary Reiner Kaye Eva K. Timmerhaus Martin Hartig Deidre Baumann Lynda Maxwell Scott Will Margareth Schubert Ludwig Interiors Hildegard Haenisch Guenther Boeger

5. Roll out the Phyllo Dough on the counter. Cover the dough with a slightly damp towel. Some folks put plastic wrap over the top layer to protect it from the moisture. Brush the top layer with butter.

6. Spread 1-1/2 cup of the filling over the phyllo leaving a 2 inch border on each side. Add some of the raspberries and roll up as shown, You never want to go light always on filling, or it will get soggy and ooze out. Lift up about 6 phyllo sheets Roll the phyllo up.

7. Finish rolling and lift it onto a sheet pan that has been greased or on a silpat. Brush with melted butter. I like to curve the strudels slightly to fit the pan. Bake the Strudel at 350 degrees F. for 20 -25 minutes Serve with raspberries, fresh whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon

Gerald Streib Anton & Karin Winkhardt Erhard & Dora Totzke Hedwig Mayrens Kim Duncan Daniel Reichart Marie Sauser Linda & Rory Trausch Kristina Schramm Gertrud Noedl Courtney Conway Joseph Fields Herbert & Karin Fiedler Adalbert Bielski Richard & Margot Ertman Jacqueline Methling Transylvania Saxons German American Children’s Chorus Hans & Inge Behrens Katharina Drotleff Keith Moderson Portage Park Animal Hospital Bach & Beyond Birgit Kobayashi Roger Haas Paul Zultner August H. Pfeifer Michael Wolkov German American Senior Citizens Club Christa Antonaitis Hedwig Beer Markus & Maria Wimmer Beth L. Casey Randi & Sofia Bauer Ogden International School of Chicago Adam Coleman Werner Juretzko Hans & Elfriede Lohr Frank J. Pesce John L. Phillips Katharina Kipka

John E. Owens George & Anna Hessberger Theresa Gajdos Anne Wegener Guenther Boeger Trish V. Berry Laurie Davidson GAPA Chicago Linda & Rory Trausch Donation Box Patricia Jones St. Hubertus Club Jerry Smiley Ryan Dargis Cynthia Sanders Amanda Cohen Isabella Stadler Margaret Loris Mary Jane Rickert Mina Marien Patricia Acerra The Kaput D’Angelo Family Horst & Anna Wagener Robert Adam Walter Rozak Nancy Lang Sean Wiedel Richard Noeller Elly Heuberger Andreas & Hilde Mueller MB Financial Bank (MB Charitable Foundation) Anita Walthier Eva Korber Gerhard & Lilli Greif Leo & Elsa Fahl Patricia Acerra Frank J. Pesce Barbara Ely Marianne & Gary Dietz William & Darlene Fuchs DANK Milwaukee Chapter Ehrenfried Zaschke

Donna & Reinhard Lippert Maria & Johann Huprich Martin & Susan Wallner Gerhard, Emma & Peter Brezina Gunether Boeger Hofbraeuhaus of America, LLC Eric Bentsen Joseph Rickenbacher Heinrich Janssen Gene and Rosemary Schulter Helga Wittosch Erika Sprainys Meredith and Brad Boza Linda Lent Erika Erdbeer Johannes Inzenhofer Kevin Hoffman Hans and Anita Callies Sherry Horn Elsa and Leo Fahl Gerald Streib Karina Freiberger Margaret Zalewski Samuel Malkind Rebecca Treptow Maria and Frank Bappert Bela Mohapp Michael Ianni Matthew Hoffman Catherine Schwab Dahra Parenteau William Russell Matthew Hoppe Louis Bodo George and Gail Bohling W.H. Nona Schneider Prinzengarde (Rheinischer Verein) Sharon Walker Dagmar Freiberger Floyd Miler

18

German-American Journal

June / July 2012

*** Calendar Of Events *** This area is designated for DANK chapters and Associate Members to inform their members and the public of events they are having. We rely on the submissions of each chapter or organization, therefor all events may not be included. Please contact our National Office at 773-275-1100 or visit www.DANK.org for the most recent listing of events or for information on how to make sure your event is listed in the next issue.

JUNE 2012 1

Benton Harbor, MI. DANK Benton Harbor Fish Fry. 6-8 pm. The doors open at 5:30 PM. The band plays from 7-10 PM. 2651 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI

2

Chicago, IL: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, Doors open at Noon. Vorfilm at 1pm Feature at 2pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

2

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

6

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

8

Chicago, IL. Kulturekueche. Make Oma proud demonstration, recipes, tasting and drink. 7:30 pm. 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. For more information call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

9

Brunswick, OH. Introduction to Genealogy, 2:30 pm, Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Rd. Brunswick Ohio

9

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

9

Chicago, IL. Euro 2012. World Cup Viewing Party. Germany vs Portugal 1:45pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

9

Louisville, KY. Biergarten, German-American Club Gesangverein Music by The Knappers.1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville, KY. www.german-americanclub.com.

11

Chicago, IL. DANK Haus Membership Meeting. Learn about chapter actives, hear committee report, get involved!

For info call: 773-561-9181or visit www.dankhaus.com

13

Chicago, IL. Euro 2012. World Cup Viewing Party. Germany vs Netherlands. 1:45pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

13

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

15-16 Parma, OH. German American Fest at German Central, 7863

York Road. Parma, OH 44130, 5pm til midnight both days.

15

Chicago, IL. Stammtisch. Monthly Open –Haus – Great German food, Bier and Gemütlichkeit . 7:30 pm DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

16

Chicago, IL: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, Doors open at Noon. Vorfilm at 1pm Feature at 2pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

16

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

17

Chicago, IL. Euro 2012. World Cup Viewing Party. Germany vs Denmark.1:45 pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

20

Erie, PA. Erie Männerchor Club, 1607 State St. Brief Meeting; Program – German Aarchitecture in Erie presented

by Gary Matczak. Early sign-up for volunteers to work the German Fest. No fee. Open to the public. Join us for dinner at 5:00. Please make reservations by Tuesday evening (814520-536)

20

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

21

Chicago, IL. Euro 2012. World Cup Viewing Party. Semifinals. 1:45 pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For info call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

Chrissta Wetzel

Chicago-South , IL

13

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

13

Chicago, IL. Kulturekueche. Make Oma proud demonstration, recipes, tasting and drink. 7:30 pm. 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. For more information call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

14

Louisville, KY. Biergarten. Louisville, KY. Biergarten, German-American Club Gesangverein Music by Rheingold Band. 1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville, KY. www.germanamericanclub.com

14

South Bend, IN. Wet & Wild Pool Party at Szulczyk’s. 1 p.m. 16509 Bennington Ct., Granger, IN. Potluck

Chicago, IL: German Cinema Now. Contemporary German films with English subtitles. Free. 7:30 p.m. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

14

23

Cleveland, OH. Oldies Rock and Roll band “Eddie and the Edsels” 5:00 p.m. Cleveland Maennerchor, 4515 State Rd. Cleveland Oh 44109

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

15

23

Chicago, IL: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, Doors open at Noon. Vorfilm at 1pm Feature at 2pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

Wadsworth, IL. DANK Lake County Annual Picnic at Van Patten Woods, Wadsworth, IL. Route 173 just east of Route 41 in Wadsworth, IL. Free to Chapter members. Donations will be requested from non-chapter members. Food served at 1 p.m. Please bring a dish to pass

15

Benton Harbor, MI. DANK Haus Picnic. Food, games Prices. Please bring a dish to pass. Begins at 1 pm. 2651 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI

18

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

20

Chicago, IL. Stammtisch. Monthly Open –Haus – Great German food, Bier and Gemütlichkeit . 7:30 pm DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

21

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

25

Chicago, IL. Brandenburger Schützenverein Practice at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 7:00 pm

27

Chicago, IL: German Cinema Now. Contemporary German films with English subtitles. Free. 7:30 p.m. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL. For more information call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

28

Louisville, KY. Biergarten. Louisville, KY. Biergarten, German-American Club Gesangverein Music by The Knappers. 1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville, KY. www. german-americanclub.com

28

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

23

23

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com Louisville, KY. Biergarten. Louisville, KY. Biergarten, German-American Club Gesangverein Music by Gebhard Erle. 1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville, KY. www.germanamericanclub.com

23-24 Benton Harbor, MI. Concertina Weekend. 2651 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI. 12-8 pm

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Chicago, IL: Kino, Kaffee, und Kuchen, Doors open at Noon. Vorfilm at 1pm Feature at 2pm. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more info call 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

JULY 2012 1

Brookfield, IL. DANK Chicago-West Picnic. At Kiwanis Park in Brookfield. 11:00am

1

Chicago, IL. Euro 2012. World Cup Viewing Party. Finals.

1:45 pm. DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. For more info call: 773-561-9181 or visit www.dankhaus.com

4

DANK Pascack Valley Picnic. For Info: 201-391-2185

6

Benton Harbor, MI. Fish Fry at DANK Haus. 2651 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor, MI. Doors open at 5:30 pm

7

Chicago, IL. Lost German Chicago, Exhibit celebrating the establishments no longer with the Chicago German community. Doors open 11am DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Info: 773-561-9181 or visit dankhaus.com

Peter & Nicole Hauschildt Brian Reynolds Ike Mayrens

Rob Kaiser Heather & Jonathan Polcyn Leslie & Heinz-Dietrich Suppan

Chicago-West, IL

Chicago, IL

Andreas and Tracy Gass

George Nagata Alfonso & Bernadette Carmona Ranae Schlichting Ingeborg Sarich Matthew & Caryn Arndt

Erie, PA. Family Picnic at Mt. Carmel Picnic Grove 5:30 -8:30 pm. Call (814) 456-9599 for information

22

Welcome New Members National Members

11

Ingrid Stuhrenberg

Fox Valley, IL

Springfield, IL

Gary & Bobbie Eby Donald & Karola Beahringer Gloria Read

February 26, 2012 - April 25, 2012 Peoria, IL

Wayne Bogart

Benton Harbor, MI Quentin & Linda Lowe Cory Schmidtke Larry & Linda Castle Barbara Dorgelo Donna Tober Jerry Kaup Erich Norris Joseph Newton

Milwaukee, WI Edward Berg Gary Rebholz Christine Schimpf

Chicago Northern Suburbs Natasha Backes

Phoenix, AZ

Philip & Lynn Nickle

Erie, PA

Joe Gallagher Patricia Munz

June / July 2012

Marie Abelkis Robert Adam Ursula Anderson Dennis Antkowiak Helmut Appelt Scott Baranski Michael Baum Edmund Baumann Brian Becker Hedwig Beer Gerhard Beinhauer Eugene Bernhardt Werner Bertsch Adalbert Bielski Christa Bigham George Blanke Marvin Block Hans Boden Guenther Boeger Daniel Bolle Rose Willand John Bradel, Jr. Sara Brantsch Katherine Braun W. Theodore Bruns, MD Josef Burkart Hank Burnett Hans Callies

Marie Abelkis Peter Anger Dennis Antkowiak Helmut Appelt Scott Baranski Michael Baum Gerhard Beinhauer George Blanke Marvin Block Guenther Boeger John Bradel, JR Leonhart Burkhard Hank Burnett Alfred Chlubek Lauren Chodak Martin Deubler Andrew Diener

German-American Journal

German-American Journal Donations 2012

Jeffrey Chase Ralph Childs Lauren Chodak Larry Crawford Paula Davidson Martin Deubler Andrew Diener Alois Doblinger Inge Dominis George Dornseif Adrianne Dost Hagen Dost Herta Duban Meredith Dunn Boza Veronika Encisco Steven Erbach Joan Erichsen Ronald Ernharth Carol Erzinger Horst Fiedler Joseph Fields John Fluss Allan Foster Dr. Wolf Fuhrig Steven Fulghum Martin Gahbauer Ewald Gansewendt Walter Geissler

Peter Gier Margaret Greif Ggerhard Greiff Erwin Gronau Helen Gyarmaty Andrew Hain Marianne Haller Dr, Kenneth Hatfield Frederick Hebel Hans Heinscher Lois Henck George Herrmann Elly Heuberger Alexander Hinz Matthew Hoffman Metz Holzmann Prof. Peter Horwath Reinhard Hudak Martha Jasniowski Ern Jochum Heike Johnson Johann Joneikis Patricia Jones Albert Juengling Johanna Jurgens Lanny Kearney Guenter Kempf Klaus Kempken

Robert Kilcoyne Katharina Kipka Martina Kistner Charles Klein Gerd Klutke Oscar Koenig Henry Koepfle Michael Konrath Karl Kordas Victor Kordas Siegfried Kratzke Elisabeth Krueger Hedwig Kruse Hasso Kuehn Vigil Kuppelwieser Erika Lange Erika Laben Edward Leddin Alan Lemke Fred Lemke Rosa Lengfelder Raymond Lintner James Lipa Rosina Lotspeich Brian Luecht Erich Luettke Craig Lundt George Mandl

Dieter Markwart Gisela Martin karl Mayer Ewald Mayland Hedwig Mayrens Harry Meinhold Peter Mendes Jared Meyer Elfriede Michallek Frank Misch Gertrude Missun Robert Mitchell Tak Mizuta Anna Montsko Horst Muenx Dr. Ingrid Naugle Kathleen Nelson Phillip Nice Alfred Obernberger Dr. William Pelz William Perry Frank Pesce Dieter Petersen August Pfeifer Reimar Pielstrom Albert Pizzato Katharina Pollmann Egon Polnau

Thomas Prenzno Anita Prolic Walter Radke Linda Ray Ernst Rehder Ruth Reichmann Eva Robertson Rodney Schaeffer Roland Scheibe James Schmidt Ursel Schmitt Helene Schoentag Ken Schroeder Susan Schubert Jakob Setter Horst Siegel Doris Simon Loni Singer Wilfried Smaka Ingeborg Smith Carol Snippert Erika Sprainys Rudolf Strahl Gerald Streib Harri Strelis Anneliese Strupat Waltraud Tooren Erhard Totzke

German American Day Donations 2012

Alois Doblinger George Dornseif Hagen Dost Katharina Drotleff Herta Duban Meredith Dunn Boza Allan Foster Heinz Freese Dr. Wolf Fuhrig Steven Fulghum Petar Gataric Peter Gier Gerhard Greiff Erwin Gronau Andrew Hain Sandy Hartman Frederick Hebel

Hans Heinscher Lois Henck George Hermann Elly Heuberger Matthew Hoffman Steve Hollands Prof. Peter Horwath Reinhard Hudak Martha Jasniowski Ern Jochum Johann Joneikis Patricia Jones Albert Juengling Guenter Kempf Klaus Kempken Martina Kistner Oscar Koenig

Henry Koepfle Michael Konrath Victor Kordas Siegfried Kratzke Jeanne Kross Vigil Kuppelwieser Helga Laibacher Erika Laven Edward Leddin Alan Lemke Raymond Lintner James Lipa Brian Luecht Erich Luettke Christine Luscher Willi Maas Dieter Markwart

Karl Mayer Ewald Mayland Harry Meinhold Peter Mendes Anna Montsko Rosemarie Morgen Horst Muenx Dr. Ingrid Naugle Kathleen Nelson William Perry Frank Pesce Dieter Petersen August Pfeifer Reimar Pielstrom Albert Pizzato Thomas Prenzno Gerda Prill

Edith Prusak Walter Radke Linda Ray Julie Reichert Eva Robertson Juergen Scharpenberg Ken Schroeder Susan Schubert Horst Siegel Doris Simon Ingeborg Smith Erika Sprainys Rudolf Strahl Gerald Streib Harri Strelis Waltraud Tooren Erhard Totzke

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Donatas Uogintas Jennifer Valentine Nicolaa Va Der Vlis Elizebth Verterano Katie Viebach Irene Vieraitis Elfriede Vogel Roma Schafnitzel Klaus Voss Andrew Wadler Ingrid Wagoner Ingrun Wagschal Heinrich Walz Jane Wanda John Wasley IV Anneliese Wegener Thomas Weidl Clifford Wilson William Wirth, Jr. Matthew Wirtz Angelique Wisler Horst Wolf Michael Wolkov Ehrenfried Zaschke Ernest Zeller Vincent Zerngast Reuel Zielke

Jennifer Valentine Nicolaa Van Der Vlis Nancy Vazquez Elizabeth Verterano Katie Viebach Elfriede Vogel Klaus Voss Andrew Wadler Horst Wagener Ingrid Wagschal Jane Wanda John Wasley IV Anneliese Wegener Richard Wieser Matthew Wirtz Ehrenfried Zaschke Reuls Zielke

Basic German For Travelers Whatever your reason for traveling to Germany, unless you are staying with relatives or friends, the chances are you will be eating out. When eating out you will need to know a few common German phrases for ordering your food and drinks along with paying your bill in restaurants, bars and cafes.

The waiters in tourist areas usually speak English but there is always the chance you may come across someone who does not.

I would like… - Ich hätte gern...

Menu – die Spisekatre The bill please - Die Rechnung, bitte Bread – das Brot Fish – der Fisch Meat - das Fleisch Vegetables – das Gemüse Soup - die Suppe Chicken - Huhn, Hänchen

Veal - Kalbfleisch Lamb - Lammfleisch Beef - Rindfleisch Ham - Schinken Cake - Kuchen Salad - Salat Beer - Bier Coffee -Kaffee Wine - Wein

Obituaries Ilse (Heddy) Quest Ilse (Heddy) Quest, age 83, born on April 13, 1928 in Hof, Germany, resident of North East, died on Tuesday March 13, 2012 at home. Heddy lived in North East since 1972 and volunteered for a variety of organizations within the community. She was a member of the North East Historical Society, Gardening Club, and Erie DANK Chapter.

Heddy loved the outdoors, nature, flowers, walking, and collecting beach glass along the shores of Presque State Park and Freeport Beach. She was passionate about her beautiful flower garden which still contains a California Dawn Redwood Tree that she planted for everyone to enjoy. Heddy will be missed by her friends and family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dean R. Quest; a daughter, Rosemary

Quest; brothers, Hans and Bert. She is survived by her son, Dr. Dean E. Quest and wife, Selena of Jackson, N. J.; grandsons, Dene, Joshua, and Adam Quest; a greatgranddaughter, Isabella Quest. Remembering Heddy’s love of animals, a memorial gift was sent by the chapter to the Erie Humane Society in her name.

John R. Wiegmann and his wife Melissa Owens of Denver, Colo., and William J. Wiegmann and his wife Rachel of Palmyra, Pa. He is the brother of Betty Langhorst of Ill. and is also survived by five grandchildren. . A memorial gift was sent by the chapter to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation in his name.

John R (Bob) Wiegmann

Lieselotte Berta Schulz

John R (Bob) Wiegmann, age 87, of Erie passed away Thursday March 29, 2012 at UPMC Hamot. He was born July 5, 1924 in Moweaqua, Ill. and had served with the US Navy during WW II. A longtime resident of Erie, he was a retired supervisor from Lord Manufacturing. Bob was a member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church.

He became a member of DANK in 1996. Bob enjoyed singing and he joined the Erie Männerchor Gesangverein and sang Bass in the choir until illness prevented him to attend. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane West Wiegmann who died in 2004. Bob is survived by a daughter, Mary Tierney of Rutherford, N.J. and two sons;

Lieselotte Berta Schulz geb. Wendt, am 28. Oktober, 1926, in Klein-Wanzleben bei Magdeburg geboren. Am 20. April, 2011 in Riverside, Illinois, gestorben. Mitglied beim DANK, seit dem l. Juli, 1964. War auch Mitglied von WBF (Workmen’s Benefit Fund), Chicago, IL. Branch # 232 und Technische Verein von Chicago.

In tiefer Trauer:Karl Schulz, Ehemann Soehne: Karl Alexander Schulz, M.D., mit Familie, Frau Laura, Kinder, Claire- Lauren, Katharine Elise, Arianne Marie.Peter Robert Schulz, M.D., mit Familie, Frau Regina, Kinder, Alexandra, Erika, Peter A.Nichte, Familie Jutta Florek, Klein-Wanzleben bei Madgeburg.

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German-American Journal

June / July 2012

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Authentic German Music & Food CHICKERIA & Sheepshead are back!! Dachshund Derby, Fireworks, Cultural Village, Marktplatz, Home Brewed Bier Competition, Battle Of The Bands, Live Glockenspiel, 5KRun/2K Walk und so much more!

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