20 fabulous Years…
…for the VTG Almrausch were celebrated at the Hansa Haus on the
6th of November, this year.
![Members of the VTG Almrausch [photo by Almrausch]](image/1012c-almr-01_small.jpg)
 It was very well structured and Peter Henkel did a great job as
Master of Ceremonies at this event. It looks as if he is not
just a pretty face behind an accordion but a great organizer as
well.
After the marching in of the participants and the MC’s greetings
(Trachtengrüße) the participants and guests were asked to stand
for the national anthems of Germany, the United States and
Canada. This was a very colorful and also a solemn occasion and
I don’t think there were ever that many “Trachten” (costumes)
assembled in the great hall of the club – at least not when I
was there. The German, American and Canadian flags of course
added impact to the importance of the occasion.
 The guests in attendance had come from all over North America
and Canada. From Utica, New York, the
Edelweiss Schuhplattler
Male Choir; from Rochester, New York the
SV Heidengold and the Bayern
Verein Alpengrün; from Buffalo, the
SGTV Edelweiss; from
St. Catharines, the GTEV
Alpenrösl; from Kitchener the
Concordia Enzianer
Schuhplattler Verein; from Hamilton, the
GTEV Alpenland and from the Hansa Haus and Toronto area, the
STV Weiss-Blau Bayern
Juniors and the old “Teenagers” of the club.
Of course the host group for this evening was the
“Volkstanzgruppe” VTG Almrausch, who’s president, Nelly Lopez,
greeted and welcomed the participants and guests.
 More addresses followed by Tom Vogt, 1. Gauvorstand/President –
Gauverband Nord Amerika; Reiner Walter, President of the GCC
Hansa and Frank Danner read a salutation letter from the German
Consulate. Next were presentations to the hosts by the SGTV
Edeleweiss, the STV Weis-Blau Bayern, Monika and Steve Taylor
from Connecticut, USA, the GTEV Alpenland and the Concordia
Enzianer Schuhplattler Verein, Kitchener.
| The Almrausch
Dancers and visiting dance groups |
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This was followed by the highlights of the festivities, the
dances – the Volkstänze!
Started by the host with a
Christlboarischer Tanz, followed by the
Kreuzpolka,
Echo Walzer and the Kerzentanz
– where the light was dimmed, the dancers entered and danced
- each just holding a lit candle. Quite a moving performance!
| The Golden Keys and their
famous polonaise |
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Commemorative Beer Steins and Tombola tickets were available all
evening ($5.00 for an arm’s length!) and the Golden Keys were
entertaining the crowd
with their wonderful tunes to keep the dance floor occupied
whenever possible between breaks for the show dances. They each
received a commemorative Beer Stein since they have supported
the Hansa Club since they started themselves – many years ago!
 Of course more dances followed and the Hansa Kitchen was kept
quite busy – apparently the dancing “makes one hungry”, said one
of the young ladies at the counter! Then she turned her
wristwatch back one hour! It was almost midnight!
 One novel idea was incorporated this evening by setting up a
mini-bar for ERDINGER Wheat beer in the hall, to promote this
tasty brew to the guests. Some of the American guests came back
for seconds or more – they did not know this wonderful brew.
Kudos to the gang at McClellands!
As always
Dick Altermann
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![Members of the VTG Almrausch [photo by Almrausch]](image/1012c-almr-01.jpg)
