April, 2005 - Nr. 4
Community Events of Importance
As
long as our community can sustain clubs and associations it is a member’s
duty to support such an organisation, or else, how can it continue to exist?
For the same reason it is also important that the contributing members are
being recognized for their commitment of duty.
In
the Concordia Club the annual Presidents Ball inaugurates a new board and
celebrates past and present members for their contributions. Thus nearly
everyone attending is a guest of honour, or a close associate of such a
person. Civic and polit
ical
leaders are present to acknowledge such activities as vital to the whole
fabric of Canadian life: 2 MPPs, Elizabeth Wittmer and John Millroy of
Waterloo and Kitchener respectively, 2 MPs, Karen Redman, Kitchener and
Andrew Teledgi, Waterloo.
All other presidents of German Canadian Clubs were present, as was the President of the German Canadian Congress Ontario Ernst Friedel and Herwig Wandschneider, President of the Kitchener Waterloo Business and Professional Association.
A festive crowd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Among the cross section of German Canadian dignitaries Professor David John, the Dean of the Germanic and Slavic Department of the University of Waterloo was present.
From the many past presidents 10 are still around and happily joined in the celebration.
This year’s ball in Kitchener, including the swearing in of the new board, was an example of outstanding planning and exemplary in its form of renewed establishment and commitment to and by the club for the immediate community, as well as towards an extended human family.
Monika
Matthaes was again the recipient of a nice cheque for the Concordia School
and its needs. And 2 thousand dollars were raised among subgroups of the
club and the amount was then matched by the club and produced thus 4
thousand dollars for the Tsunami relief, as we heard from re-elected Club
President Werner Schlueter. He also said a fond fare well to Hans Schaadt, a
past president of his club who did not stand for election this year. A nice
thank you gift sent him on his happy retirement.
Jubilation
|
|
|
|
Sarah
Allmendinger was a charming Master of Ceremonies. All the formalities were
framed by a reception and outstanding dinner and entertainment by the clubs
choirs under the baton of Dr. Alfred Kunz and the Concordia Ballroom Dance
Group, thus demonstrating just two of the reasons why clubs have longevity
and importance in our communities.
Dance with me
|
|
|
|
|
|
The rest of the pleasant evening people circulated and danced to Eurosound, one of our local trusted bands.
One on One
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This evening really assured us of the continued existence of
our German Canadian organisations.
Easter Egg Hunt
Who could be more important than our little ones?! Every
German
Canadian Club knows that and caters to it. The Danube Swabians have a big
tradition in that department and so do other clubs. We visited with the
Easter
Bunny and Heidi Luig-McLean, who we first met when she was but a kid and
Miss Hansa. Now she has taken on the responsibility of President of the
Women’s Auxiliary in the Hansa Club, Mississauga.
Young Artists at Work
|
|
|
|
In
the middle of the hall a lot of tables were lined up for keeping the kids
occupied until the Easter bunny would give out the colourful baskets filled
with sweet Easter eggs and chocolates, no doubt as a reward for the
faithful!
Easter Bunny Pleasures
|
|
|
|
Grandparents and parents got involved in the craft making and also in the egg hunt, which took place inside due to inclement weather. The Easter Bunny refused to go outside and who are we to argue!
Easter Bunny comes to Big and Small
Most
amazingly there was a little girl who on a first attempt guessed correctly
the amount of Easter eggs in a mason jar, and was allowed to take it home of
course!
Wish I was a little girl!
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
