August, 2004 - Nr. 8

German-Canadian Education Fund (GCEF) Hosts Fundraiser on High-Tech Pig Farm

Earlier this year - in the year of the 30^th anniversary of German Language competitions - the German-Canadian Business and Professional Association in Kitchener-Waterloo registered the German-Canadian Education Fund (GCEF) as a Charitable Organization. On July 11th, the event was celebrated at the Fund’s first family fundraising picnic at the farm of Philipp and Sibylle Hofmeyer and their son Hilmar, members of the G-C Business Association, who made the farm grounds available and donated a pig for this event.

They could not have chosen a better day. Bright sunshine and seasonally warm temperatures made the day a joyful and entertaining day for adults and children alike. The over 120 participants had an uproariously entertaining day in the sun, and under the sun-shading tents provided by the Huber family. Participants included members of the Education Fund, of its parent organization (the Business Association) and visitors from its Toronto sister organization, together with Special Guest, Mrs. Marianne Bath, Vice Consul of the German Consulate. Mrs. Bath and spouse took time off from packing to attend the event. She has accepted a transfer to a consular assignment in Bulgaria.

Aside from the pig, roasted and carved expertly by the Hofmeyers and Wilhelm Huber himself, there were sausages, hamburgers, potato salad, desserts and refreshments, home-made or donated by members to satisfy the hunger pangs and thirst of adults and children alike. The Piller’s mobile BBQ unit, designed for such events, rounded out the menu.

Hayrides and games were organized for both adults and children. The hayride was particular popular and needed to be done twice to handle the demand. Tours around the gardens and orchard heard gasps of admiration at the meticulously maintained and exotic flowerbeds with growth higher than, and well in advance of, the same flowers others tried to persuade to grow in their own gardens.

Unfortunately, visitors were not able to visit the business end of the farm. Modern technology does not allow visits to the barns, where pigs are raised. Technology today is such that entry to the barn here is restricted to only Philipp and Hilmar Hofmeyer, who have to pass through an Airlock, where they don their special suits, similar to space-station airlocks, to absolutely avoid all transmission of detrimental viruses and bacteria to the barn.

German Picnics cannot be complete without musical entertainment. The Accordions and voices of Cathy Thompson and her son Peter Speckner, known as "Peter und die Katibas", incredibly entertained the crowd the entire day with song from all corners of the world. They also organized "human horseraces", hilarious entertainment for both participants and spectators.

A musical surprise was the participation of Jean-Claude Saal, a visitor from France, who not only knew all the songs initiated by "Peter und die Katibas", but tirelessly played along throughout the day just for his own pure fun of it.

Sitting around the bonfire, only the flickering flames provided the light, as the last couple of dozen picnickers sang songs, some with more and others with less coordination, but loud nonetheless, late into the evening.

Dr. Marga Weigel, President of the Education Fund, explained that the proceeds from the GCEF Fundraiser are dedicated to support the Annual German Language Competition initiated by the Business Association 30 years ago for Region of Waterloo high school students taking German as an additional language, and since 1999 also for students taking business German at the Region’s Universities. Book prizes, trophies, certificates and valuable cash awards are presented to the winning students at the Wilfrid L. Bitzer Event, which is celebrated at a Festhall in October with participation of the general public and an attendance of over 300 guests. Also, High School students, who scored highest in their class in first and second-year German receive awards.

Clearly a successful undertaking that should be allowed to grow.

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