February "Goings on"

Except for all that snow, February was not one of the more exciting months. Except for the ‘Schlachtfest’ at the Danube Swabian Club in Scarborough and the elections of their new Board of Directors. Since the last president, Henry Betsch, threw in the towel and quit, a new leader was required.

Welcoming the guests at the Schlachtfest was the last official act of his reign. Only about three members remained from the old board – the rest are new. Some had been on the board before and decided to run again – their past experience being an asset of course. One of them, Mike Lutz, agreed to be the new president. It is gratifying to see some of the ‘Oldtimers’ like Joe Folk, Joe Ripp, Alfred Rohr, Andy Mora and Adolf Schank still supporting the club in important positions. Brigitte Wecker – a past president – is now ‘VP Wirtschaft’ on the new board. Thanks for running and "Good Luck" in your new jobs.

To get back to this scrumptious Schlachtfest that – thanks to court butcher Stefan Sellner – featured delicious pork roast, bratwurst and liverwurst, accompanied by mashed potatoes and – of course – sauerkraut. A delectable salad, with mouth- watering dressing, had already prepared the palates of the over 300 guests for the scrumptious spread that soon followed.

Danube Swabian Brass Band

After the tables had been cleared, the Donauschwäbische Blaskappelle (Danube Swabian Brass Band), under the direction of Mario Dombek, started to entertain with a rich palette of musical memories. This turned out to keep the dance floor well filled all evening.

Polka Night

Heidi Gutwein helped out with the report on the "Polka Night", and here it is:

On Saturday, February 23, the Hansa Men’s Auxiliary hosted their annual polka night with Walter Ostanek and his band. Over 200 strong attended the event.

Walter and his band started performing at 8:00pm, but many people were there much earlier to feast on the delicious food and drink that was made available for the evening. The President of the Men’s Auxiliary, Robert Gutwein, emceed the evening, welcomed guests and thanked the Men’s Auxiliary Polka Night Committee for making the event possible.

I guess that should do it for February – Happy (early) Easter

As always

Dick Altermann

P.S.: Points to ponder: Toronto Life recently published the City Guides for 2008 and a separate booklet that pertains to restaurants. They are listed from African to Vegetarian! But no German or Austrian Restaurants were listed. Why, I wonder! I suppose the traditional Austrian and German cuisine can only be found in the few German Clubs that are still viable. In our area that leaves only the Concordia Club in Kitchener, the Donauschwaben Klub, in Scarborough and the Hansa Haus in Mississauga

Of course if you really want to eat well you might want to make a reservation at Michael Stadtländer’s "Eigensinn Farm" – a little west of Collingwood, Ontario. You may have to make your reservation a few months in advance – when you pay the $275.00 per head – and bring your own wine! But even at Eigensinn the menu is incredible – in point of fact there is no menu – but dining there is an experience not soon forgotten. However, even Michael doesn’t serve authentic German Food.