September, 2005 - Nr. 9
The good deed – Die gute Tat
In our hectic world of multi-mega-mergers, extreme weather and the suffering because of it, and the ensuing chaos merchandizing of the media, we all too often forget that a lot of good things happen all around us. And sometimes something really nice occurs in our own backyard and we do not see it because it is too close to us.
We are here to remind all of us that there are a lot of good people out there; in fact, there are a lot more good people out there than bad ones. Echo Germanica is in search of our local Samaritans, the unknown and unsung heroes of our neighbourhoods. We invite you to send in a report with enough information and a picture, if possible, of someone you know who was helpful to a cause and deserves to be acknowledged for his or her - or their - good deed or deeds. You can write to us in English or German.
We
are making a beginning by reporting about a picnic held by Hannelore and
Reinhard Schneider on their charming property up Midland way. If the names
are familiar it is not a surprise: they are running now, for a few years
already, the well-established Lesezirkel.
North
of Toronto there are all sorts of German congregations for all sorts of
reasons. Firstly a lot of German settled there because German firms had
established themselves there, or the Germans had a trade or professional
skill that was much needed and wanted by existing companies, or they moved
out there to more or less retire and leave the city rat race behind. Our
"Hinterland" is full of surprises like that, and this community of Germans
is quite active and stubbornly German in their habits.
This,
of course, makes for great hospitality. Hannelore and Reinhard are
especially generous in their efforts to get their friends together in a good
cause. Not only do they help their local German Club Gemuetlichkeit, but
also for the second year in a row they held a picnic to raise funds for a
good cause.
They
chose Ronald MacDonald House, because they live in Canadian skating ace
"Elvis Stoiko Country", or where he used to live, and some time back ran
into Elvis’ mom, who suggested her son’s favourite charity as a cause.
The
Schneider’s thought: why not and set about planning an event. Alongside
friends had asked Reinhard to cut a CD of nice light popular German music,
which he likes to entertain them with on the keyboard. Well, Reinhard takes
the wishes of his friends seriously and did just that. He produced a CD and
is selling it and the profit goes to the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton.
Together with the donations collected at the picnic a tidy sum of over one
thousand dollars came together at he fabulous picnic, which was resplendent
with an excellent buffet of anything anyone might desire. Fruit and cakes
and meats and salads, drinks galore, often brought along by the attending
folks, all contributed to the lovely affair with a purpose.
Even
the Leierkastenmann was there and played his organ tirelessly.
Thank you Hannelore and Reinhard for showing us that we are a community with heart and a lot of friends!
Send your "good deed" story to Echo Germanica!
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
