Deutsche Gesellschaft estab. 1847 -- Deutsches Haus inc. 1928

Deutsches Haus Elections 2003

      At a jam-packed meeting of all Haus members in good standing, elections were held at the Deutsches Haus on Tuesday, January 28. Tom Shinn was elected for a third consecutive term as President. Members of this year's Board of Directors are George Lesage, 1^st Vice-President & Haus Chair, Heinz Kloth, 2^nd Vice-President, Bill Gunn, Treasurer & Oktoberfest Chair, Richard Kuntz, Secretary & 75^th Anniversary Chair, Brigitte Gunn, Membership Chair, Hans Heinemann, Margaret Ingram, Children’s Easter & Christmas Party Chair, Ursula Jackson, Kitchen Chair, Jules Lauritzen, Phyllis Lesage, Décor Chair, Keith Oldendorf, Social Chair, Michon Shinn, Inventory Chair, Joe Stephany, Jr., Assistant Haus Chair, and Anna Whitely, Hospitality Chair.

      In accepting the presidency, Tom Shinn stated as his goals for 2003: outperforming the 2002 Oktoberfest, which broke the record for the fiscal success achieved in 2001, continuing capital improvements to the Haus, and supporting and extending the traditions and mission of the Deutsches Haus, including preparations for a rousing celebration of our 75th anniversary year

Standing: Jules Lauritzen, Bill Gunn, Joseph Stephany, George Lesage, Hans-Georg Heinemann, Tom Shinn, Heinz Kloth, Richard Kuntz, Keith Oldendorf - Front: Anna Whitely, Brigitte Gunn, Phyllis Lesage, Ursula Jackson, Michon Shinn, Margaret Ingram.                     Photo by: Stewart Eastman

Deutsches Haus Annual Fish Fry March 15^th

      George & Phyllis Lesage have spent the past few months filling their freezer with speckled trout from their favorite waterways and fishing holes. The annual fish fry is a favorite of our members and a successful fundraiser for the Haus. The Lesages lead a small group of experienced trout fryers and potato/corncob boilers in preparing this delicious traditional southern Louisiana meal.  The dinner is scheduled for Saturday, March 15^th. Doors open at 5 PM. and dinner will be served at 6 PM. The dinner is $10 per plate if reservations are made before 6 PM Friday, March 14^th, and $12 per plate after the deadline and at the door. Bring your friends and family to share the bounty of our Louisiana streams and lakes and the fellowship of our Deutsches Haus membership. Make your reservations now with the House Steward.

Our Past Presidents

The annual general membership meeting for the election of officers and members of the Board of Directors was held Tuesday, 24 January 1933 at 8:00 P. M. at the Deutsches Haus. The newly elected officers included Adam A. Muhleisen - President, Joseph Reuther –1st Vice President, John Regus, Jr. –2nd Vice President, Fritz Baldenhofer - Treasurer and Paul J. Sendker - Secretary. In addition to the newly elected officers also selected for one year terms as Directors were Paul Abele, Ernest Blattmann, Thomas Fischer, Bernard Gerhardt, Victor Huber, John Junius, K. M. Rahm, Jr., Martin G. Rapp, Otto Rubisch and Fritz Weber. The success of the Annual Volksfest was due in large measure to Adam A. Muhleisen as Chairman of its committee. By his leadership and the enthusiastic support of his entire Committee, Adam Muhleisen firmly established the Fests as a popular Haus event.

Colonel Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret)
 

A Fond Farewell to Janice Daughdrill

It is difficult to realize that Janice Daughdrill is gone. She died peacefully Tuesday morning February 18^th. Although she was confined to a wheelchair for many years, her disability never defined her or held her back. If something needed to be done, she did it. Despite poor health, she spent years contributing selflessly to the betterment of Deutsches Haus. She was an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary for many years and was the cashier on the food line at Oktoberfest. When ill health forced her to miss the 2002 Oktoberfest, many inquiries were made about her from our regular patrons. She chaired the Deutsches Haus yearly children’s Christmas and Easter parties, riding herd on Santa Claus and his elves, searching out and providing child-centered entertainment (remember the magic shows and corny jokes?) and dyeing hundreds of rainbow-colored Easter eggs for the little ones to find each year. She made certain that there were peanut butter sandwiches for the kids and that no child would be left out. She baked literally hundreds of delicious, beautifully-decorated cakes for all Deutsches Haus events and her raffled gingerbread houses were a tour de force at our Christmas celebration every year. As a long-standing member of the board of directors, she provided Deutsches Haus with her guidance and unwavering support. President Tom Shinn said of her, “She was a rare and special friend of Deutsches Haus whose life will always inspire us. Our best wishes are with her family and friends as they deal with their grief. We will miss her presence, but we are better for the dedication and hard work she so generously contributed to us.”

Volksfest 2003

Mark your calendars!  Volksfest 2003 will be celebrated on May 31^st.  Doors open at 5 PM. Bill Gunn & Tom Shinn co-chair this annual Deutsches Haus event and plan a scrumptious springtime/early summer menu with outstanding entertainment. Volksfest is the Deutsches Haus’ oldest annual event, starting in 1931 and predating even our Oktoberfest. So, tell your friends and bring your family to celebrate Volksfest 2003.

Goessl Memorial Planned

Professor Alfred Goessl, former instructor of German at Loyola and Tulane Universities and Life Member of Deutsches Haus, passed away in September of 2001. A fund drive has been started for a plaque memorializing Professor Goessl installed at Deutsches Haus. Anyone wishing to contribute to this effort is welcome to do so. Checks should be made payable to "Goessl Memorial" and either dropped off at the Haus or mailed to: Ray Garrity, 4533 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie, LA 70006-2133

Touring Germany with Margo Mitchell

Margo Mitchell is planning a 16-day trip to Germany on April 30 that will include many points of interest in and around Frankfurt, Luxembourg, the Black Forest, Fuessen, Berchtesgaden, München, and the ‘Romantic Road’. The cost per person is $2500.00, including airfare, bus, insurance, hotels with breakfast, all entrance fees, and drinks on board the bus. You are invited to join Margo and fellow Deutsches Haus members for a fun-filled authentic experience of the real Germany. For more information, contact Margo at home 504-861-9966 or on her cell phone 504-258-2593 or E-mail her at bapm39@aol.com. The deadline is March 18^th!

Updating Membership Information

We need your help to keep our membership information updated. Please keep your mailing address and phone number current and don’t forget to provide your E-mail address. During a crisis such as the hurricane that hit during our preparations for Oktoberfest, we were able to keep in touch with our workers through E-mail. You can notify Brigitte Gunn at wgunn2@bellsouth.net or the Tommy Mertz at deutscheshaus@cox.net or phone 504-522-8014; fax 831-1706. Thank you!

Please excuse the disarray of the dining area while we improve the flooring of the kitchen. Your Deutsches Haus endowment dollars & Oktoberfest proceeds at work!               

We need your E-mail address.  Please send an E-mail to e-mail: deutscheshaus@cox.net       

Membership Meeting

The Quarterly Membership Meeting will be held at 8 PM on Friday, March 28 followed by music from the Ira Milan Polka Band. Chef Michon Shinn is planning an after-meeting meal of DH favorites. Lent friendly menu items will also be available.  There will be a nominal charge of $3 for the meal.  So, members, plan to attend the meeting hungry!

Ein herzliches Willkommmen unseren neuen Mitgliedern!

The Haus Calendar

Haus members, especially club officers, are invited to submit items for the calendar by writing them in the calendar kept by the Haus steward behind the bar, by giving them to a member of the Monatsblatt staff, or by e-mailing it to monatsblatt@cox.net. Please note that the Monatsblatt staff is always eager to promote events but we do need your information in order to do so, particularly if a date is changed or rescheduled. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND OUR DEADLINES FOR ADS & ANNOUNCEMENTS WHEN SUBMITTING ITEMS FOR THE CALENDAR.

Deutsches Haus opens at 4 p.m. Wed., Thurs., Fri.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are after noon and in the Haus.

Haus Steward: James Copeland

Monatsblatt

Issued monthly except July by Deutsches Haus

Claus Sadlier, Editor Emeritus
Barbara B. Fineberg,  Executive Editor
Tommy Mertz, Assistant Editor
Col. Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret), Contributor
Stewart Eastman, Photographer
Thomas C. Mertz, Webmeister, Mailing List
Anna Whitely, Mailing Coordinator

APRIL DEADLINES

For Ads: April 20th
For Articles and announcements: April 20th

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