February 2002 - Nr. 2
Kameradschafts Abend at Hubertushaus
by Herwig Wandschneider
On Saturday, January 12th, the German-Canadian Hunting and Fishing Club, also referred to by the name of their Club facilities near Mannheim as "Hubertushaus", not far from Kitchener, hosted the Kameradschafts Abend (friendship evening) for the second time. On this occasion the executive and members of 7 clubs and associations of German-speaking heritage get together for an evening of friendship. This year 124 participants gathered for pure and unadulterated fun from all 7 clubs and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft..
![Hilarious Barney in full form [Photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](202c-Herwig-2a.jpg)
Following
an excellent dinner, the music of the "Blue Wave" (from the Tobacco farming
area) drew people to the dance floor. Enthusiastic dancing was interrupted
by laughter and amazement caused by the unbelievable feats of magic Barney,
the Magician and Entertainer, assisted by "volunteers" from the audience and
Frankie, the (white) rabbit. After the show Barney continued to amaze
speechless groups with card magic and passed Frankie around as evidence that
the rabbit was not a figment of everyone’s imagination.
![Enjoying Barney the Magician at the Hubertushaus [Photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](202c-Herwig-2b.jpg)
The
evening was organized by Art Werner and his niece Susan. In the words of
Harry Vogt, President of Hubertus Haus: "Der Abend wurde mit Sorgfältigkeit
in jeder Einzelheit vorbereitet und es war eine Freude, die Klubs im
Hubertushaus willkommen zu heißen". The result was a highly entertaining,
enjoyable and memorable evening of K-W area friendship in an atmosphere of
warm German-style Gemuetlichkeit.
The concept of the "Kameradschafts Abend" was the idea of the "Cooperative Council of German-Canadian Clubs of Waterloo Region" (also known – hold your breath – as the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutsch-Kanadischen Klubs – Waterloo Region") back in the late seventies and has been held annually beginning in the eighties. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft was founded in the 60’s with 4 clubs (Alpine, Concordia, Schwaben and Transylvania Clubs). The Continental and the German-Canadian Hunting and Fishing Club (Hubertushaus) joined in 1991 and the German-Canadian Business and Professional Association of Kitchener-Waterloo in 1999.
The "Kameradschafts Abend" rotates among member-clubs on an agreed-upon schedule. Next year’s event will be held January 11th at the Alpine Club.
