A SPECIAL INVITATION GOES TO THE
DUBOIS COUNTY SUDS CLUB TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL WINE AND BEER TASTING/JUDGING MEETING ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2008!!!!!

Annual Auction to Benefit JHS German Student Exchange Program

The November meeting of The Deutscher Verein was held Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the VFW in Jasper.

President Virgil Gress opened the meeting reminding the members of the upcoming Christmas Party to be held Thursday, December 6th at the VFW.  Reservations can be made by calling Ruth Wibbels.

President Gress called upon Patti Goepferich, Jasper and Dubois County's representative to the Indiana German Heritage Society.  Patti announced the
Indiana German Heritage Society's decision to hold a meeting in Jasper in March 2008 to discuss German Heritage, and reaffirm our commitment to German
Heritage.  There will be a meal on Friday, March 14, 2008, at the American Legion, featuring Matt Hilger and Mayor Schmitt, who will speak on the Jasper-Pfaffenweiler Sister City Partnership, and Janet Kluemper who will talk about the Museum.  The cost for attending will be $15.00 per person. There will also be various organized tours during their time in Jasper.
More information on this event will be in the Jasper Herald and the German Club Newsletter. 

President Gress thanked Patti for her hard work in putting together the Newsletter each month.

Virgil also announced we will need to find a new location to store the Strassenfest float.  Anyone with a suggestion for a new storage place, please call Virgil.

Virgil requested all veterans stand for a deserving round of applause thanking them for their dedication to our country and our freedoms.

During this evening's meeting, an auction was held to raise money to help defray the costs of the Jasper High School German Club students who are planning to travel to Germany next summer.  Auctioneers for this evening
were Dan Hoffman, Ray Lechner and Al "Freddie" Hopf.

The food table was set up by Patti Goepferich, Viola Wehr and Laura Lou Eckerle.  The greeting table was manned by Judy Gress, Judy Bennett, Rita Egler and
Sharon Dilger.  Attendance gifts were won by Bob Stemle, Mark Fierst, Matt Hilger and Felicia Bush.

Written by Sharon Dilger

Jasper Deutscher Verein Christmas Dinner Program

Jasper Deutscherverein held their annual Christmas party at the VFW Thursday, December 6.  President Virgil Gress had a very brief meeting before a delicious meal, prepared by Fran Johnson and the staff at the VFW.

President Gress thanked the people at the welcoming table before he introduced Patti Goepferich, who is working with the Indiana German Heritage Association.  Their annual meeting will be held in Jasper, March 14-15, 2008.  A dinner meeting will be held at the Jasper American Legion on Friday and another luncheon meeting on Saturday at the Dubois County Museum.  Speakers at the museum will be Father John Schipp, Ron Flick,  Father John Boeglin, and Kristen Ruhe.  This will be the March meeting for the Deutscherverin but is open to the public.  Patti will have more details forthcoming.

New members, Ed and Mary Lou Beyke and Lila Seger were welcomed to the club.

President Gress thanked Danny Wehr and his crew:  Leo Eckerle, Keith Bachman, Mike Hochgesang, Rafe Ackerman, Mike Ackerman, Ron Keusch, Al Astrike, Gary Egler and Joe Rohleder who moved the float to its new location in Jerry Fuhs’ warehouse.  He thanked Bill Kaiser and family for use of their warehouse for the past years and  reminded memers to say a special thank you if they saw the Kaiser family.  He also thanked Jerry Fuhs for letting the club store the float at his location.

The Recycled Teenagers from St. Anthony under the direction of Bernie Jeffries entertained the members before  Santa  Claus (aka Father John Boeglin) surprised everyone and led the singing of Christmas carols and gave out a candy cane to everyone before departing.  The group then sang more oldies to the delight of the membership.

Special prizes were awarded to Linus Lechner, Louise Hopf and Dorena Schnaus.  Attendance prizes of potted poinsettias were awarded to:  Al Bennett, Bob Dilger, Robert Fleck, Mike Hochgesang, Louise Hopf, Irene Kapp, Gladys Knust, Leroy Schnaus, Mary Lou Beyke, Wilfred Gress, Linda Wehr and Ruth Wibbels.

President Gress reminded the members of the January annual Beer and Wine judging meeting at the VFW on January 17, 2008.  He closed the meeting wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from his family to all the membership and their families.

Ruth Wibbels

Upcoming Events – Mark Your Calendars

January Deutscher Verein Meeting

The January meeting will be on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at the VFW.  As has become our custom, this meeting will be our annual beer and wine tasting/judging gathering.  Members are encouraged to bring samples of their beer and wine making for the annual competition.  Categories will be judged in Grape Wine, Non-Grape / Other Wines, and Beer. I have invited the Jasper Beer clubs members to join in for the competition. So let’s show them how to have a good time.

The club will provide canned drinks and a variety of meat and cheese samples.  There will also be a cash bar available for anyone wishing to purchase mixed drinks. 

Look forward to a great time at the January meeting!

February Deutscher Verein Meeting

The February meeting will be on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the VFW.  Come and find out what ROJAC is planning for this year and what we as German Club members can do to help. This is going to be a very exciting year for Jasper and the surrounding areas. We will have Dave Buehler, Nancy Eckerle, Kristen Ruhe, and Ron Flick keeping us up to date on all the exciting things that will be happening in 2008.

Stay tuned for more details in the next newsletter.

March Activity

There will be no regular meeting in March but Deutscher Verein members and the public are invited to attend the Indiana German Heritage Annual Dinner Meeting on Friday, March 14th, at the American Legion in Jasper.

A reception at the American Legion will begin at  6:00pm and dinner, program, and entertainment beginning at 6:30pm. Cost for the dinner, program, and entertainment will be $15 with a cash bar.  The program will be Janet Kluemper of the Dubois County Museum and Mayor William Schmitt and Matthias Hilger discussing the Sister City Partnership with Pfaffenweiler, Germany. 

On Saturday, Matthias Hilger, President of the Jasper Partnership Commission and former resident of Pfaffenweiler, Germany, will introduce the presentations to be given at the Dubois County Museum and after lunch, there will be time to tour the Dubois County Museum.  Allow approximately 2 hours for a complete and meaningful tour of the Museum.  The Dubois County Museum is one of the best Museums in the state of Indiana.  Cost for coffee, juice, pastry, lunch, and program will be $15. 

The presentations on Saturday will be:  Father John Schipp - German Immigration into Dubois and part of Spencer County.

Ron Flick - Registered Architect - German Architecture in Jasper and presentation using old Jasper postcards.

Father John Boeglin - German Catholics Immigration into Dubois County and their contributions and Celestine’s Sister City Partnership with Wagshurst, Germany. 

Kristin Ruhe - Executive Director - Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission - German influence on Dubois County

Reservations for either Friday or Saturday can be made by calling Patti Goepfrich at 482-4821 by March 3.  There will be a sign up sheet at the February Deutscher Verein meeting.

News from the Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission

Looking for that one special item?  Visit Dubois County in southern Indiana for the annual Huntingburg Winter Antique Show, Saturday & Sunday, January 19 & 20, 2008.   Showcasing over 30 vendors at the newly constructed Huntingburg Events Center, the show offers visitors the opportunity to browse antique furniture, glassware, jewelry, toys and other collectibles on display.  Guests can continue their shopping experience with a visit to dozens of antique and specialty shops and unique eateries in Historic Downtown Huntingburg and nearby Jasper, Indiana.  For more information, go to visitduboiscounty.com or call (800) 968-4578. 

New Members of the Deutscher Verein
Gil and Nancy Eckerle
Phil and Kristin Ruhe

Thanks to Jim Corn for his dedication to the landscaping around the Maypole at the corner of 6th and Newton Streets.

Empty Beer Bottles

Please remember to return any empty beer bottles from the Picnic to Bob Sunderman or Matthias Hilger.

JHS German Exchange Program Chili Dinner

Mark Your Calendar:

JHS German Exchange Chili Supper

Friday, January 25th (new date)

5:30PM - 8:00 PM

Tickets $6 – Adults
Child - $3 – (two items/drink)
Chilc - $2 – (one item/drink)

The menu is all you can eat chili, hot dog, beverage, and dessert.

Address Changes for Newsletters

If a member has an address change, please notify Rita Egler at P. O. Box 15, Jasper, IN  47547-0015 or call her at 634-9068. 

Any help you can give in maintaining postage costs is greatly appreciated!!!!

Potential New Club Members

If someone knows of a potential new club member and would like information about the Deutscher Verein forwarded, please contact Ruth Wibbels at 482-5403 or Rita Egler at 634-9068.

Membership Dues

It’s that time of year again!  Please submit your dues for 2008 as soon as possible by completing and sending in the following form at the back of the Newsletter or by attending the January, February, March, or April meeting.  Rita Egler, Treasurer, will be accepting dues at those meetings.

Single membership is $5.00 per year and a couple membership is $10 per year.  What a deal!!!  What an opportunity to experience our German heritage on a monthly basis.

Renew your membership now OR give a membership for a family member or someone new to the area.  What a welcoming gift!!!! 

Indiana German Heritage 24th Annual Meeting and Symposium

The IGHS 24th Annual Meeting and Symposium will be held on Friday evening, March 14th, and Saturday, March 15th, here in Jasper.  The Friday evening dinner and program will be held at the American Legion in Jasper.  The Saturday morning program and luncheon will be held at the Dubois County Museum.  The public is invited to the dinner, luncheon, and programs and reaffirm their dedication to our German heritage.

If anyone has any questions, they may call Patti Goepfrich at 482-4821.

Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemut-lich-keit, Ein Prosit
Ein Prosit, der Gemut-lich-keit, Eins Zwei, Drei…G’suffa

A toast, A toast, To happy times, A toast, A toast, To happy times, One, two three… drink up

Endowments at the Dubois County Community Foundation

Jasper Deutscher Verein (German Club)
German Heritage Endowment

A donor-advised endowment to benefit generations in ensuring that our German heritage is preserved and enriched in Jasper and Dubois County.

Claude and Martina Eckert
Sister Cities Endowment

A designated endowment to provide support to Sister Cities of Jasper, Inc. to support the Jasper/Pfaffenweiler relationship.

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

Enclosed is my gift of $___________.   Please direct my gift to the __________________________________ Endowment (Please specify appropriate Endowment).  

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

City/State/Zip: _________________________________

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

_____________________________________________

Please acknowledge gift:

Name: _______________________________________

Address:______________________________________

City/State/Zip:__________________________________

Membership Dues

It's that time of year again! Please submit your dues for 2008 as soon as possible by completing and sending in the following form. Thanks!