April Meeting in Review

Jasper Deutscher Verein Entertained By Local Talent

The Jasper Deutscher Verein held their monthly meeting at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 673 on Thursday, April 15. Over 105 members were in attendance. Sharon Dilger and Rita Corn greeted members as they arrived.

Dan Gutgsell, president of the Jasper Deutscher Verein, welcomed all present. He announced that members may sign up for work shifts at the Food Booth and Pastry Stand during the Strassenfest. Sign up sheets will be available at the April and May meetings. Dave and Rita Blessinger are the Chairpersons for the Pastry Stand. The Club is still looking for a Chairperson for the Food Stand during the Strassenfest. John and Julie Gutgsell will chair the Souvenir Booth. Patti Goepfrich will chair the Float Committee. Anyone interested in serving on that committee can call Patti at 482-4821 or sign up at the May meeting. Mrs. Goepfrich announced that June 27 th is the tentative date to clean and update the float. Interested members are to meet at the float storage area at 12:30PM. More details will be available at the May meeting.

Club dues this year are still being collected. Membership is $5 for a single membership and couple membership is $10 and dues may be sent to Jasper DeutscherVerein, Attn: Rita Egler, P. O. Box 15 , Jasper , IN 47547-0015 . Membership cards will be mailed in the May Newsletter.

Treasurer Rita Egler gave the Financial Report.

President Gutgsell then introduced Mayor Bill Schmitt and Dan Wehr. Mr. Wehr announced that a presentation will be made to representatives of ROJAC at the mill site on Friday, April 16 th at 5:00PM. All club members were encouraged to attend. Mayor Schmitt noted how important the German heritage is to Jasper and how important ROJAC is to Jasper. The $5,000 donation from the Deutscher Verein is being made for the water wheel in the mill. A club function over the next year will be to construct this water wheel.

Bob Dilger, Vice President, then recognized those having birthdays in April. They included Pat Hollinden, Kerstin Ortiz, Ed Zoglman, and Germaine Verkamp. Celebrating wedding anniversaries in April were Jim and Pat Fritch and Pat and Phyllis Schuler, and Bob and Betty Sunderman were congratulated for celebrating 50 years of marriage. Guests recognized were Pat and Phyllis Schuler.

Mr. Dilger then introduced the program and entertainment for the evening. "Hilary and Friends" provided a very entertaining evening of "down home" music. They played German waltzes and other pieces of music known by club members and shared with club members "history" of the group. The members of the group are Hilary Begle, Clarence Waninger, Henrietta Harder, Ron Keusch, LaVerne Begle, and Charlie Dilger.

Mr. Dilger then announced that the May meeting will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #673 on Thursday, May 20th. There will be social time at 6:00PM with a bratwurst meal at 6:30PM. A business meeting will follow at 7:00PM and program at 7:15PM.

Staff Sgt. Wayne Nealy, Indiana National Guard 1st Battalion, 152nd Regiment and Jennifer Prechtel, Holy Family SonShine Preschool teacher, will present the May program.  They will share their real life story of a young man's journey while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the impact that a group of Preschool students had on Sgt. Wayne, his fellow Guardsmen, and some of the local Iraqi people.

Gene & Betty Kempf will be organizing bratwurst grilling for the meeting. Members are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert to complete the meal.

Additionally, Leo & Lora Lou Eckerle will be organizing a card party to begin at the conclusion of the program.  Come prepared to celebrate a very interesting evening!

This will be the last meeting prior to the Strassenfest.

The annual Fall Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 25 th , at the Schnellville Community Center.

Attendance prizes were won by Darren Patterson and Germaine Verkamp. Ed Zoglman won the ½ pot attendance prize. The remainder of the evening was spent socializing.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Deutscher Verein or parents of students taking the German language in area schools are welcome to attend any activities.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendars!

May Meeting

Staff Sgt. Wayne Nealy, Indiana National Guard 1st Battalion, 152nd Regiment and Holy Family SonShine Preschool teacher, Jennifer Prechtel, will present this month's program. They will share their real life story of a young man's journey while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the impact that a group of Preschool students had on Sgt. Wayne, his fellow Guardsmen, and some of the local Iraqi people.

For the meal, the club will provide bratwurst, soft drinks, and beer. Members with last names beginning A - L are asked to bring a covered dish and those with last names beginning M - Z are asked to bring a dessert.

Gene & Betty Kempf will be organizing Bratwurst grilling for the meeting. Additionally, Leo & Lora Lou Eckerle will also be organizing a Card Party to begin at the conclusion of the Program. Come prepared to celebrate a very interesting evening, as this will be the last meeting before Strassenfest this summer!

Our next regular meeting will be on Saturday, September 25th for our Annual Fall picnic. Matt Hilger and his team are busily making preparations for the picnic, which will be at the Schnellville Community Center...,so mark your calendars now!

Indiana German Heritage Society Events

Wed., June 9 , 4:30 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Stammtisch and 7:15 p.m.Program: June 9: Dr. Thomas Bonsett "German-Language Instruction in the Indianapolis Schools and World War I." Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan St., Indianapolis. (317 464-9004 or Giles Hoyt < ghoyt@iupui.edu >)

Sun., July 4 , 5:30 p.m.: Independence Day Celebration at the Athenaeum Biergarten, 401 East Michigan St., Indianapolis (317 630-4569)

Wed., July 14, 4:30 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Stammtisch and 7:15 p.m. Program: Dr. Philip Reid. "America and the Turners". Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan St., Indianapolis. (317 464-9004 or Giles Hoyt < ghoyt@iupui.edu >)

On Sunday, July 11th at 7:30 PM at The Indianapolis Art Center, 820 East 67th Street, La Monica will perform "The 17th Century in Germany or Out of the Depths." La Monica, a baroque music group based on the West Coast, will feature 17th century German music focusing on little-known works by German composers who were rapidly creating their own brand of Baroque style after its introduction to Germany by Heinrich Schutz. Works include sonatas of Rosenmuller, Schmelzer and Johann Kasper Kerll and Cantatas of Buxtehude and Franz Tunder.For ticket information, call 317-251-5190 or access the website at www.emindy.org .

Erinnerst Du Dich?

By Patti Goepfrich

DIE DEUTSCHERVEREIN ZIETUNG - May, 1988

The next German Club meeting will be Thursday, May 19 th , at the VFW Shelter House at 7:30PM. Matt Hilger and Sonja Huppe will present a program about "Customs and Costumes" in Pfaffenweiler. Nancy Eckerle, President of the Chamber of Commerce, will also be at the meeting to present information about joining the Chamber.

Remember that cold January day when we had the "hog butchering" at the farm of Leonard Wehr? Well, the country hams are cured and ready to eat. Whole hog sausage and country cured ham sandwiches will be served at this meeting. However, bring your own snacks (potato chips or pretzels, etc.). Also, bring your own refreshments. Ron Kieffner, Danny Wehr, and Fred Hollinden have agreed to prepare the ham and sausage on the grill. There will also be some good German music - so put on your dancing shoes.

Prior to the regular meeting, beginning promptly at 7:00PM, there will be an up-to-date briefing on the European trip concerning gifts, entertainment, etc. Anyone going with the DeutscherVerein or Sister Cities group can get the latest information at this meeting.

Orders for cutting boards must be in by June 1 st . Boards are $2.00 and $6.00. Call Sally Lechner if interested.

Eileen Schaber or Joan Glendening will be calling you to schedule time to work in the German Club Foods Stand at the Strassenfest. We must have this information and schedule completed before the end of June so we can mail it with the next newsletter. Carole and I will be leaving for Europe July 4 th and will return July 29 th : therefore, the last newsletter before the Strassenfest will be late in June.

Ron Kieffner and Danny Wehr will be co-chairmen of the float. They will be calling you for several work sessions.

The "Descriptive Plaques" for the murals on the east side of the Gamble building are almost finished. Thanks to Eileen Schaber and Rev. Muenich.

Thanks to Dr. Rod Kalb and his wife, Jan, Ed and Sarah Zoglman, and Bob and Sharon Dilger for serving on the dance committee. Everyone had a great time.

The Indiana Police Chief Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn from June 12 - 15. A dinner and dance will be held on Monday, June 13. Chief of Police, Bill Schmitt, has invited German Club members to attend. German outfits will be required for admittance. Reservations are required one week in advance. Call Bob Verkamp (482-3809) if you plan to attend.

Two seats are still available for the Deutscherverein trip. Call Ron Kieffner if interested.

The Jasper Deutscher Verein (Jasper German Club) has thought for some time that there was a need for souvenirs of Jasper for local merchants to have for sale.

Several months ago a committee was formed to research and select various types of souvenirs. A decision was made on three items to being this project. A 7 ½" while porcelain plate with a gold rim featuring an ink drawing of the Dubois County Courthouse done by local artist Judy Bennett, retail price $12.00; a 6" corked back Trivet done in German colors featuring the State of Indiana with the word Jasper on it, retail price $7.00. This was designed by Nancy Gerber, and an enameled pin of the flag of Jasper to be worn on the lapel, hat, or dirndl is available for $3.00.

As a non-profit project the German Club has arranged for the production of these souvenirs, which are being made available to local merchants for sale. They are First Edition, Haas Hallmark House, Newman's Diamond Center, Rogers Jewelers, Klink's Hallmark, Finishing Touches, Georgia Lee's, Schnitzelbank Restaurant, Holiday Inn Gift Shop, and Merle Norman.

Please support your German Club by purchasing these souvenirs for your host families, relatives and friends in Pfaffenweiler; or during any of your travels

Auf Wiedersehen,
Bob Verkamp, President

(found in The Deutscher Verein Records - May, 1988)

Jasper Deutscher Verein (German Club) German Heritage Endowment

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

Deutscher Verein Food Booth Sign Up

It's that time of year again! We're already gearing up for our annual Strassenfest. Remember that this is our only fundraiser during the year, so we need the support of our large membership.

To sign up for a shift, please contact Linda Wehr at 482-4432. Sign up for working in the booths will also take place at the May German Club meeting. Please sign up for the shift of your preference.

Outdoor German Home Decorating/Lighting Contest

A feature of the 2004 Strassenfest will be an Outdoor Herman Home Decorating/Lighting Contest sponsored by the Jasper Deutscher Verein and Sister Cities of Jasper, Inc. The contest is open to all residents of Jasper and those living within two miles of the city limits. The categories for the contest are: Most Traditional German Theme, Best use of Lights Displaying a German Theme, and Most Original German Theme.

Prizes will be awarded to the top two winners in each category. A category/placing sign will be placed in each winner's yard. This is a wonderful way to promote our German Heritage and a great way to decorate the city of Jasper for the Strassenfest.

Judging will take place on Friday evening, July 30 th . Lights should be turned on by 7:30PM that evening.

Watch The Herald for entry information.

German Club Strassenfest Float

Anyone interested in being on the committee to "spruce up" the current float should contact Patti Goepfrich at 482-4821 by June 1 st . If schedules permit, the "sprucing up" will be done in June. Thanks.

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