Summer 2008

Strassenfest - 2008

Thursday, July 31 – Sunday, August 3rd

Enclosed please find the booth workers schedule for this year’s Strassenfest, including the times for set up and teardown.  If you are unable to work your designated shift, please find a replacement.  If you would like to sign up for a work shift, please call Judy Bennett at 482-4275 or Linda Wehr at 482-4432.

Strassenfest T-shirt, Apron, and Tote Bag 
 Pre-Sale

The main items we will be selling again this year will be the 2008 T-Shirts along with some aprons and tote bags (but none with the 2008 logo).

Pre-sale will begin on July 14th at the usual pre-sale areas; see newspaper and listen to the radio spots for announcements.

Show your support for the Club by wearing your T-shirt or German attire during your shift in the booths and through out the Strassenfest weekend.

This year’s theme of the Strassenfest is –
Hoosier Hospitality – German Style

Souvenir Booth Items

During the Strassenfest, JHS students and parents will have a Souvenir Booth benefiting the Exchange Program.  Items for sale include Deutscher Verein Caps, Strassenfest Aprons, plastic mugs, Pfaffenweiler post cards, Greeting cards of St. Joseph Church, Sister City stickers, German Prayer-Proverb-Remedy Book, cookbooks put together by local organizations, CDs of the St. Joseph Choir, Mini-Flag Banners, Key Chains, German License Plates, DVD and Videos of Banished from Paradise, Beneath the Cherry Sapling – Legends from Franconia – Edited and Translated by Norbert Krapf and many other items.

April Meeting In Review

The Deutscherverein met Thursday, April 17 at the VFW for their regular monthly meeting.

President Virgil Gress opened the meeting by announcing that Danny Wehr will be the Grand Marshall of the Strassenfest this year.  Congratulations to Danny.

Dan Wehr gave a very brief Strassenfest update, stating that members need to sign up for shifts to work in the booth. Workers were asked to sign up for more than one shift if possible.

The President also announced that Al Bennett will take charge of next month’s meeting in his absence; before the membership enjoyed the snacks and desserts brought in by the members.

Dan Gutgsell gave his annual report as President of Sister Cities.  He said 10% of membership dues goes for support of the Jasper High School exchange program.  The slate of officers are:  Dan Gutgsell, Pres.;  Dan Wehr, Vice President;  Patti Goepferich, Secretary and Dawn Kieffner, Treasurer.  The slate was accepted with Dave Buehler making the motion and Nancy Eckerle, seconding the motion.  Board of Directors are:  Bob Dilger, Nancy Eckerle, Jim Gutgsell, Allen Hanselman, Matt Hilger and Stan Jochim.  Motion to accept was made by Leo Eckerle and seconded by Ruth Wibbels.  Pres. Gutgsell reported that a $1000 grant was received.  He reported how well the relationship between the two cities was going with 14 visiting Pfaffenweiler; 6 visiting Jasper and 2 exchange students at the high school.  Students from German will visit Jasper this summer.

President Gress thanked the ladies at the host table before he had Matt Hilger introduce Tommy Eckerle from Marion, IN and relative to the Jasper and Pfaffenweiler Eckerles, who spent time studying in Freiberg.  He kept a blog on the Internet with impressive reports.  He studied in Austria and took German at IU before going to Freiberg.  He left for Germany on February 27, 2007.  Tommy gave a report including a slide show of his time in Europe.

President Gress then had Dave Buehler give an update on the ROJAC projects.  Dave said the ROJAC board is proud of the involvement of the German Club, who is the biggest supporter of the projects.  He had computer images of the various projects to be added to the riverfront; including the clock, archway, and mill which will be built starting this summer.  It will be a working mill and flour will be sold. He reported on the various setbacks the mill project has had.  He also gave an update on the train which will make it’s first run on September 27 if the track is finished; and then will run 2 days a week between Jasper and French Lick.

Prizes were awarded to Cletus Knies, John Weidenbenner, Keith Bachman and Ioma Wining.

President Gress again reminded members to sign up for the Strassenfest Booth. 

Our next meeting will be May 15.  The Celebration Singers will be at the kick-off of the Lincoln celebration on Mother’s Day, May 11 in Lincoln City and then bring their very entertaining program to our meeting on the 15th.  Bratwurst and German fries will be served.  Members with last names A – L are asked to bring a snack; M – Z, to bring desserts.  Public is invited.  New members are always welcome.  $5 Buehler Bucks, a good buy, will also be available.

Ruth Wibbels
Secretary

THANKS JOHN!!!  Job well done!!!!

A special THANKS to John Luebbehusen for donating his time, talent and equipment to sharpen the saws we use at the Strassenfest Log Sawing contest sponsored by the Deutscher Verein.

Upcoming Events – Mark Your Calendars
Annual Family Picnic

Family Picnic – Saturday, September 20, at the Jasper Outdoor Recreation Club
The menu will be:
Fleischkaese mit Bratkartoffeln, Brezeln und Senf
Meat Brat with German Fries, Pretzels and Mustard
No Priest for a Mass has been lined up yet. Entertainment after dinner will be a great variety of recorded German Polkas.

More details in next newsletter

German Heritage Day Program and Annual German Heritage Award

The 10th annual German American Day Program will be held on Monday, October 6th, at the Schnitzelbank Restaurant.  Social hour begins at 6:00 pm with the Program beginning at 6:30 pm.  The tenth annual German Heritage Award will be presented. 

Past recipients of the German Heritage Award are Mary Jo Meuser, Claude and Martina Eckert, Dave Buehler, Linus and Sally Lechner, Joe and Irene C. Eckerle, Danny and Linda Wehr, Leo and Lora Lou Eckerle, the late Lowell and Joan Glendening, and Dave and Janet Kluemper.

The Nomination Form for the 2009 German Heritage Award is printed on the back of this newsletter.  Please nominate someone whom you believe has given what they can in order to make a difference.

Our guest speaker this year is Ron Flick, Registered Architect.

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

More details of the German American Day Dinner and Program will be available after the Strassenfest.

FOR SALE –
Man and Woman’s German Club Vests

Call Donnie and Vera Renner at 482-4592 for details.

Wanted Dirndls!!!!!!

The Miss Strassenfest Scholarship Pageant is looking for Dirndls for Miss Strassenfest, 1st runner-up, and 2nd runner-up. If enough dresses are found then Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic will also wear them during the festival. For more information, please contact Becky Hickman, Miss Strassenfest Coordinator, at 812-482-2540.

Additionally, the Strassenfest Committee is asking for any adult dirndls for committee members to borrow during the Strassenfest as all members will be dressed in full German attire this year.

Congratulations to Norb Krapf –
Indiana Poet Laureate!

Norb Krapf will be reading from his new prose memoir The Ripest Moments: A Southern Indiana Childhood at the Dubois Co. Museum Friday, August 1st at 6:30pm, as part of the Strassenfest.  He will also sign this book and others at the DCM Saturday. August 2nd, 10:00-12:00.

Deutscher Verein and Sister City Golf Shirts

Deutscher Verein and Sister City Golf Shirts may be ordered and purchased at Jasper Embroidery, 310 Main Street, Jasper.  They can also embroider the American Flag and the German Flag on shirts.  What a great way to display your German heritage.  These could also make great gifts and also worn at the annual Family Picnic or whenever you want to show your German pride.

Please volunteer for a shift or two at one of the Strassenfest Food Booths!!!! 

Call Judy Bennett at 482-4275 or
 Linda Wehr at 482-4432

Sister Cities of Jasper
Jasper Partnership Commission
Jasper Deutscher Verein
 GERMAN HERITAGE AWARD

"Honoring those who promote our German Heritage"

The annual German Heritage Award is presented to an individual or group who has contributed generously his/her or their time, talents or resources to maintaining, improving or building upon our German roots in Dubois County. Sister Cities of Jasper and the Jasper Partnership Commission created the award in 1999. The Jasper Deutscher Verein is sponsoring the award.

This recognition is open to all individuals, not just residents of the City of Jasper, who give what they can in order to make a difference.
Because the efforts of these individuals are sometimes known only to a few, a nomination will recognize the work of those who generously support our German Heritage.

A committee, consisting of the Presidents of the Jasper Deutscher Verein, Sister Cities of Jasper, and the Jasper Partnership Commission, will judge all nominations.  The Presidents will present the German Heritage Award during the German American Day Dinner celebration on October 6th at the Schnitzelbank.

How you can nominate:

The nominee must be an individual or group, nominated by any individual or group. Please submit the official form (copy is accepted), along with the following:

1. A letter of up to one page listing your reasons for the nomination.
2. A biography, up to two pages, listing the service or efforts of the nominee.
3. Mail or deliver your nomination to: Jasper Deutscher Verein

German Heritage Award
P.O. Box 15
Jasper, IN 47547-0015

(Remember, nominations need to be postmarked to the address listed above by September 2, 2008)

Remember, the Strassenfest is our only fundraiser, please work a shift or two in our booths at the Strassenfest so we can continue the programs we enjoy throughout the year and keep our German Heritage alive.

Please remember to patronize the Food Booth and Pastry Stand!!!  Why not treat your family for dinner on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday or lunch on Saturday.
 You will find friendly faces in the booths to take your orders!!

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