April 2001 - Nr. 4
Club Activities and Customs
Our German Canadian clubs are still going quite strong, some
more so than others. But there is concern everywhere that it all might end
with our demise, and I too still belong to the "younger"
generation. I don’t feel like the younger generation because it is the
generation of my generation’s children that should run the show
everywhere. Here and there are groups that qualify for that group, but on
the whole it is still the original immigrant who came here in the early
fifties as young adults who controls what is left of our club lives, or the
then born children.
Do I have to do the arithmetic for you? Even I get a senior’s discount at
the bookshop now!
But somehow, with much voracity we hold on to our clubs and organisations. Every once in a while we make a renewed effort to rejuvenate ourselves and, surprise, succeed!
How
we do it is almost inexplicable. In Kitchener’s Concordia Club it is
apparent that efforts of rejuvenation have been fruitful. We regularly see
younger couple on the dance floor at all events. And they are in their
civvies, not in a traditional, folkloric dancing costume! The clean fun and
atmosphere is still attractive to people. We also see more couples of mixed
heritage in our organisations and rejoice that the culture is crossing over.
At
the annual President’s Ball in Kitchener we can see that it takes a lot of
people to keep our German culture moving forward. The representative of all
our clubs were there, some politicians, members of KW’s university
community as the new board of the club was introduced. 
Elisabeth
Rowsell is going to keep the reigns firmly in her hand for another term, but
some other faces changed. The German community in that area is fighting just
now a terrible bureaucratic war within the justice arena. We don’t want to
say too much at this point, but if things do not have a favourable outcome I
fear that such huge successes as Oktoberfest might bite the dust! As here in
Toronto, Kitchener too has within or close to city counsel some elements
that appear to be more destructive than helpful in assuring the longevity of
successful actions within the community.
On
every table that night there were conversations regarding the future of our
and any other culture with laws and bylaws in force that do not make much
sense, that protect the individual from being personally responsible for
his/her actions. The blame is always put at the collective doorstep, an
organisations threshold, or a bartender’s discretion.
This
is not what we are all about. Responsibility is a thing that individuals
must take for their own actions. We live in an age when everybody else is
blamed for what is wrong.
But
when we get together we still celebrate our culture the best way possible,
even if we are not allowed to smoke in public places. Hey, as long as we can
guzzle beer at the ballpark and drug our children in school!
Sorry,
I slithered into sarcasm there. Climbing out of that undesirable pit we must
remember that it is up to us to be strong and handle the system within the
system with engagement and clear arguments, with solutions and not just
complaints. Kitchener is fortunate in having such a strong active
German-Canadian group engaged in standing watch for not just their freedoms,
but ultimately for ours too.
So
it is with much admiration that we congratulate the Concordia Club Kitchener
and all other organisations of that region for holding the torch high. Over
125 years contain a lot of experience within one club alone.
The evening was by no means unpleasant. We met with a lot of people, all cheerful and confident, that we will forge a good future.
Schlachtfest
On
the tables in the Hansa House were flyers explaining the tradition of this
popular way of get-together. Of course, the root is found in the past, but
still practised widely. Despite huge meatpacking factories there still are
small places and farmers that adhere to slaughtering several time a year to
preserve meat, make sausages and celebrate what nature has to offer. It
makes for a great excuse to come to a club and sit with friends, eat the
fresh blood and liver sausage, some tender Kassler meat and all the
trimmings.
Every
once in a while a "stranger" finds the way through the doors and
partakes in our simple pleasures. We were seated where Mississauga’s Mayor
was to sit, but Hazel McCallion did not show up. Probably busy. Instead we
were sent a lady who belied her advanced age by taking a turn on the dance
floor with our table host Herbert Gross. 
A
young woman who made her this visit as a birthday gift accompanied her.
Helena Wiese had just turned 94! And what an interesting life she led. When
the war broke out she was in the diplomatic service in Washington and had to
go home. She was exchanged, as was the practise then.
We
are planning a visit to be able to tell you more about this fascinating
woman, who freely admits that being that old is not what is cracked up to
be.
That
night the only young people were to be found among the dancers, who even
brought their offspring, some of which appear to be very eager to join into
the fun.
Upstairs
a new addition to the club was having a special hunting dinner. Asking how
the kitchen prepared the "Wildbret" they supplied the answer,
which was unanimous: "Superb!"
After
dinner the group came down to do a little digestive dancing, just like the
rest of us. This filled up the hall, which looked a bit barren earlier on.
This hunting club prides itself to uphold all old German
hunting rules, as laid out so many centuries ago. 
Language
and all other hunting rituals are adhered to. This is obviously a good new
addition to the club, which has several "Untergruppen".
So
long as new members can be found this club too will flourish and prosper.
The President Reiner Walter, who celebrated a birthday that evening, was
also recently reconfirmed in his post for another term.
The next day he and a bunch of friendly German Canadians turned out to see upstairs a German movie while having coffee and cake. This is to happen every month once and will surely be "gemuetlich".
Hope
to see some of you here, there or at an Easteregg hunt…or write to me….
Happy Easter
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
