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 As every year we attended the President’s Ball in
Kitchener, which follows the election of a new president, and
this time it actually was a new president. For so many years,
nine to be exact, it was a re-election of Werner Schlüter, who
navigated the club’s affairs through often difficult waters.
Sometime during the evening he reminisced a bit in a farewell
speech, filled with pride for the past accomplishments for all
that came before him and the current members and its board, but
also expressing hopes and wishes for the future. He especially
mentioned that the club and its members in the past were
involved in politics with some serving on Council, the
Legislature, and in Parliament. He reminded everyone of the two
upcoming elections, which make it important to make our voices
heard and making our heritage in Canada known, like Wayne
Wettlaufer did by creating the German Pioneers Day in Ontario.
| Werner Schlüter's special
thanks to his main ladies: Rita Allmendinger, his wife
Angela & daughter Serena |
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 He thanked all the many board members and volunteers, especially
his vice president Rita Allmendinger, which helped him over the
years to do his job as president effectively. But he also
thanked his family, his wife Angela and daughter Serena and son
Andrew. He also thanked the presidents of all the other clubs
and work related associations like the Oktoberfest organization.
Of course he wishes the club well and surely we will see him
around as a guest instead of the head of such a fine example of
German community life.
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| Sarah
Allmendinger as M.C. |
Sarah Allmendinger as the MC for the evening lead through the
evening that started with a lovely reception that offered
champagne and a light buffet to the guests that had all passed
through a welcoming receiving line at their arrival. Werner
Schlueter kicked off dinner by saying grace. It was no surprise
that the meal was delicious and animated conversations took
place at every table. Then Sarah Allmendinger introduced all the
many special guest, which again included many local and
provincial politicians and past and present close associates and
German oriented organisations, the leaders of our organizations
such as the presidents of the German Canadian
 Congress Ontario
and Canada respectively, Karsten Mertens and Toni Bergmeier,
Helen Schramek, President of the Remembrance Society, the
presidents of all the local German Clubs, the invited German
media organizations, management of the club and of course Miss
Concordia, the lovely Kristen Storer. The list continued with
all the presidents of 18 subgroups belonging to the club and
many others, like the club historian Leo Tukums and numerous
past presidents of the club.
 And then, Werner Schlueter gave his farewell speech, Dr. Alfred
Kunz and the Mixed Choir Concordia sang a few rousing songs to
much applause and Gerhard Griebenow received a cheque for the
Concordia School by president elect Karl Braun.
| The Concordia Choirs under
Dr. Alfred Kunz |
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 Karl Braun was the First Vice President of the Club for the last
8 years, a club member for 29 years and also for many years in
charge of Oktoberfest and buildings and properties.
 He gave Werner Schlueter a lot of credit for his leadership and
is grateful that he is staying on as a director for another year
to finish the zone change on the farm property, as he had
promised, an ongoing story which resembles a bit of a nightmare.
| A special send off for Werner
Schlüter |
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Special presentations were then made to Werner and his wife and
in good fun Werner had to wear all sorts of paraphernalia that
was meant to be helpful when he ascends into a “retirement-
vacation” as a big thank you.
| The swearing in of the new
Board |
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This was followed by the swearing
in of the new board, as always conducted by Elizabeth Rowsell.
That concluded the official part of the very successful evening.
The rest of it was spent in conversation and dancing. We wish
the club continued success under its new leadership.
Afternoon pleasures at the
Hansa Club
This German Club on the outskirts of Toronto, right on
the cusp between Mississauga and Brampton, also elected a new
board of directors and for the first time in a long while a new
president was elected. Reiner Walter who was at the helm for
many years can now enjoy his club as a visitor. Robert Gutwein
is taking over from him, we just heard.
 On the first Sunday in April we went to the club to test a pilot
program that if successful, will become regular Sunday fair at
the Hansa Club. We certainly hope so, because we feel it is a
great idea to have an afternoon in good company with “Eintopf”
and a movie for very little money.
 $10 dollars bought a visitor a plate of goulash soup with a bun
and butter, a piece of apple or cherry “Streusselkuchen” and a
cup of coffee. What a deal! The goulash soup should probably
have cost a bit more than say pea soup, after all, meat is
expansive and there was no shortage of it in the soup.
 The backroom of the club was packed with people who loved the
idea. The movie was “The white Ribbon” a grippingly dark story
of pre-WWI life in Germany, when authoritarian ideas ruled
families and communities and democracy was still far off. A lot
of people remembered that in their family too it was customary
to address the parents in a formal way: “Frau Mutter” or “Herr
Vater”, children were seen but not heard, woman were treated
like objects and possessions as were the labourers that had to
work for the Baron and his farm (“Landgut”). The children abused
and terrorized by their elders appear to become a sullen group
of kids that takes action against such a world. They become as
cruel as they have been treated.
This multi award winning movie (several European film prizes and
a Golden Globe in the US) was in true Michael Haneke fashion,
(he was the writer and director of the film) in contrast to
Hollywood movies, a dark and psychologically deep scraping film,
that tells a story which aims to educate, not entertain.
I do not know if this is the kind of movie the people will
favour. I however was surprised, because often only the oldies
but goodies are being shown.
There is another worthwhile cause we should mention: On a table
donated books are on display which can be bought for 2 bucks a
piece. I always find something I want to read. The donated money
goes towards a chairlift for the club, which we think is a
marvellous idea, since building an elevator would not be
practical for obvious reasons.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Sybille reports as a German-Canadian about culture, arts,
entertainment, community events from her unique perspective as an artist.
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