Deutsches Haus

Monatsblatt
November

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

Lisa Hollis

The Deutsches Haus is pleased to report that the 2001 Oktoberfest Celebration has been another smashing success. President Tom Shinn reports outstanding attendance averaging 1,700 persons per weekend as of the third weekend of the festival.

As the Oktoberfest is the primary fundraiser for the Deutsches Haus, having a successful event is essential to the existence of our organization. Without the membership, guests, and especially the volunteers, Oktoberfest would not be possible. President Shinn commented that the hard work of the volunteers, especially those who participate in the food preparation on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as those who help cook on festival nights, is an invaluable asset to the Haus. Many thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who generously give of their time, talent and treasure to make Oktoberfest happen, and our grateful appreciation to the membership and guests who attend each year.

An equally important event for the Deutsches Haus occurred on 30 December 1929 when Bruno Prauger, second vice-president, acting in that capacity, did by act before Leon S. Cahn, Notary Public and Haus attorney, accept and received for the Haus from the TURNVEREIN OF NEW ORLEANS (Formerly the Germania Turnverein of New Orleans, Louisiana) the building located on Dryades in the square bounded by Clio, South Rampart and Erato Street since the Turnverein membership is now affiliated and amalgamated with the Haus.

Colonel Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret)

Reminder
2002 dues must be paid before 12/31/01 in order to vote in January 2002.
Mail or drop off your dues at the Haus
Attention Membership Chair or Michon Shinn. Dues are $40.

Danke Vielmals:

     We would like to thank the members who arrived early on October 13^th. That day thunderstorms, followed by a cold front arrived in New Orleans. Preparations had to be made to have an indoor Oktoberfest. The cleaning and moving of tables, chairs and the upstairs seating area, making room for the band, taking down the tents to protect them from the gusty winds all were completed in time for the festival. The weather cleared and we had a great crowd that night.

Without volunteers like this, there would be no Oktoberfest!!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Willkomen Our New Student Member:

Catherine R. Setzer

German Heritage Festival Association’s
15th annual Oktoberfest parade
April Robinson

The weather couldn't have been better for the German Heritage Festival Association's 15th annual Oktoberfest parade. The 10-float procession rolled through the streets of the Warehouse District, Downtown and the French Quarter on October 7, accompanied by beautiful, clear skies and mild temperatures. Clad in lederhosen, grand marshal and local historian Buddy Stall led the parade, toasting the crowds with a German stein and a smile. He was followed by this year's prince, John M. Fortmeyer, a student at West Jefferson High School, and Princess Alexandra E. Miller, who attends Concordia Lutheran High School. Enthusiastic parade-goers along the route called out for coveted throws which included pretzels, German flags and pfennig (pennies), medallion beads and multi-colored red, gold and black long beads.
Parade morning began at the Deutsches Haus with German services conducted by Hans Neumann of the German Seamen's Mission. The parade hit the streets at 1 p.m., despite a last minute change in the route. There were plenty of familiar faces among the flag-carriers and on the floats, which bore names such as "Bavaria," "Berlin" and "A Streetcar Named Germania," along with the signature Oktoberfest title float and the ever-popular "Pied Piper of Hamelin" float, complete with a team of little mice.
Other parade units included the West Jefferson High School ROTC, Landry High School's band and dance teams, the Davy Crockett Volunteer Fire Company antique steam pumper, the Schlaraffia buggy and the Acadian Brewhouse wagon. The parade remained tight and well-organized, except for an errant and unsuspecting Nissan Sentra, which made a wrong turn in the French Quarter and slipped in between the Volkswagens.
After a scheduled pit stop at Fritzel's on Bourbon Street, the parade continued on to the Deutsches Haus for an after-parade party with food, drinks and music by Rocky's Fox Trot Orchestra.
GHFA president Keith Oldendorf seemed pleased with the ride. "Everything fell into place," he commented, adding that "the weather was great...all the minor problems worked out."
Grand marshal Buddy Stall summed it up at the post-parade party when he said, "I can't wait for next year."

Hold Annual Winterfest November 17th

The Crescent City Homebrewers will hold their Winterfest on Saturday, November 17, 2001, at 6 p.m. at the Deutsches Haus. The event is the club’s primary fundraiser, and will feature homebrewed and commercial beer and wine, as well as delicious food and lively music. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and the admission price covers the cost of food and drinks for this festive evening.
Call 341-5361 for tickets and more information.

German Genealogical Seminar

JGS/Seminar
P. O. Box 961
Metairie, LA 70004-0961

Are proud to present

A German Genealogical Seminar

On Understanding Intermediate and Advanced German ProceduresUse of Maps in German Genealogical Research Determining the Place of Origin in Germany

By Larry O. Jensen

Senior Consultant European Reference Unit
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

Also a
Historical Overview of 19^th Century
German Immigration and Its Impact on the Local Community

By Wilbur "Bill" Meneray, Ph.D.

Assistant University Librarian
Special Collections Tulane University

Saturday, November 10, 2001
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tulane University / Jones Hall

For more info, contact
Doris Ann Gorman, 504-899-7846

Goings on at the German-American Cultural Center

Lisa Hollis

The German - American Cultural Center is raffling a beautiful oil painting of Seven Oaks Plantation by Texas resident and Gretna native Betty Bourgeois Grummer. The 29" x 35" painting depicts the Seven Oaks Plantation, which was built in approximately 1840 by Camille Zeringue in what is now known as Westwego, Louisiana. The plantation had 26 Doric columns which supported the gallery that encircled the entire home. Grummer visited the plantation many times as a young girl, and was fascinated by it. She used an old sketch of the plantation when it was still standing to create her lovely rendering. Grummer has donated the painting to the GACC as a fundraiser. The raffle tickets are $1.00 each, and the drawing will be held on December 15, 2001.

The German-American Cultural Center is located in Old Gretna at 519 Huey P. Long Avenue. If you have not already visited the center, which features a multi-media exhibit on German-American culture, history and language in southeastern Louisiana, make plans today. For more information about the GACC, call 363-4202 or visit their Web site at www.gacc-nola.com.

Vielen Dank !!! To all of our Oktoberfest Volunteers

• Bob and Julie Durocher for donating Shrine which was placed above the outside / garden bar.
• Hubert Vahrenhorst donated materials and built 24 benches and 10 tables for Oktoberfest. This gives the festival more of a German look and feel. How do you like the new look? More authentic per German tradition.
• Phyllis LeSage who donated, made and installed lovely lace curtains in dining room.
• Elwyn Nicholson and Norris Fant - Regular volunteers who donated an electric potato peeler.
• Jeff Graf for the idea of the lattice around the stage and James Tregler for his great job installing it.
• The Deutsches Haus is very grateful to the Ladies' Auxiliary for their tremendous contribution in creating a terrific variety of tantalizing desserts for Oktoberfest, and then for volunteering their time to staff the dessert booth to serve their tasty treats. Ladies, we salute you!
• The entire Kitchen staff. You have done another exceptional job.

There are so many who make Oktoberfest a success, it is hard to include everyone, so we apologize if we have inadvertently omitted any one.

Monatsblatt Submissions Invited

The Monatsblatt staff would like to offer an invitation to all of our readers who would like to submit an article. Just drop it off at the Haus attention Monatsblatt, E-Mail to deutscheshaus@home.com or contact a staff member. Photos are welcome and will be returned. The next Monatsblatt staff meeting will be on Thursday December 6^th, 7:00 p.m. at the Haus

Deutsches Haus Secretary

Haus Christmas Party December 9^th

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

Ira Milan Polka Band will perform

Deutsches Haus

James Copeland, Janice Daughdrill, Jeff Graf, Dr. Charles D. Hadley, Hans-Georg Heinemann, Margaret Ingram, Col. Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret), Claus Sadlier, Joseph Stephany, Jr., and Anna Whitely
Haus Steward: James Copeland

Monatsblatt

Issued monthly except July by Deutsches Haus

DECEMBER DEADLINES:
For ads: Nov. 9
For articles and announcements: Nov. 9
Preparation for mailing: Nov. 15

Concert Cancellation

The concert by the Waldmössigen Accordion Orchestra, scheduled for Thursday, November 1, has unfortunately been canceled. The community band from Southern Germany, also scheduled to play dates in Memphis, Natchez, Tallahassee, Orlando, Miami and Key West, canceled their first American tour because of complications due to the September 11 terrorist attacks.