April 2003 - Nr. 4
President’s Ball in Kitchener
Like
a pilgrimage we drive every March to Kitchener to witness the swearing in of
the newest board of directors at the Concordia Club. It is always a festive
affair that starts out with an ample buffet of delicious finger food and a
champagne fountain. The latter produced this year especially drinkable
bubbly.
Festive guests at festive tables
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After
that the MC, this year it was again the lovely and young Sarah Allmendinger,
welcomed everyone before the dinner was served with wine.
Then the official part commenced and Miss Concordia, Miss
Allmendinger, introduced the head table and all other special guests, of
which there were many. Hardly any uninvolved people were present.
Among the politicians were the MPs from Kitchener and Waterloo, and MPP Wayne Wettlaufer, as well as city officials and regional representatives like Ernst Friedel, President of the German Canadian Congress. No less then 6 Kitchener Waterloo presidents of German clubs were present, 2 Oktoberfest officials, plus 8 other noteworthy representatives of German Canadian organisations. Even nine past presidents were in the hall. All were acknowledged with hardy applause.
Eventually President Werner Schlüter and 12 other board members were sworn into office for the next term by past president Elizabeth Rowsell.
In the meantime the Mixed Choir Concordia had assembled and warmed everyone’s heart with some rousing tunes under the direction of Dr. Alfred Kunz.
But
the official part was not over until the president gave an honorary
membership to Wayne Wettlaufer for instituting the private members bill for
the German Pioneers Day, who in turn also gave away some honours.
Thus
Ernst Friedel was commemorated for his part in the bill.
Some members who left the board after working for many years
diligently for the club had
to
be said good-bye to and thanked for their services, and Monika Matthaes
received a cheque fro the Concordia German Language School. Finally
President Werner Schlüter and his lovely wife Angela opened the dance floor.
One has come to expect a well organized evening and this year it went as well as all the other years before. This is part of the tradition. Perhaps next year there will be a surprise? SFR.
