Luxembourg American Gazette
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LUXEMBOURG AMERICAN GAZETTE Under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg VOL. 8, NUMBER 3 FAll 2013 IN THIS ISSUE Luxembourg Heritage Weekend & Page 2 Board of Directors Luxembourg Fest Are a Resounding Success Executive Director’s Letter Page 3 LACS Launches NEW Website 2013 LACS Annual Fund Appeal Page 5 Luxembourg Fest of America 2013 Honored Families Page 6 Miami University Celebrates 45th Anniversary Page 8 Krier Foods 100th Anniversary Page 10 LACS News Briefs Page 12 Remember the LACS in Your Will Luxembourg Fest Parade with Traditional Hämmelsmarsch Procession of Sheep Photo–Sam Arendt The 2013 Luxembourg Heritage Weekend and the 27th Annual Luxembourg Fest of America were a resounding success. Over a four day period, from August 8-11, thousands of Luxembourg Americans, residents of the Grand Duchy and Luxembourg enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the unique bond between Luxembourg and the United States. Heritage Weekend and Luxembourg Fest were sponsored by the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS). Highlights of this year’s Fest included the 50th anniversary celebration of Rosch Krieps’ 1963 book and Luxembourg American Cultural Center documentary film Luxemburger in Amerika, as well as performances by Saxitude band and the Men’s Chorale of 100 Peter Thein Avenue Luxembourg, and the premiere of Luxembourg’s Bofferding beer in the United States. P.O. Box 157 Belgium, WI 53004-0157, USA Heritage Weekend began on Thursday, August 8, with the groundbreaking for the new Grand Duke Phone: 262.476.5086 Fax: 262.476.5087 Henri Plaza and the Belgium Village Hall in the New Luxembourg Development. The LACS, Ansay Email: [email protected] Development Corporation, Village of Belgium and Belgium Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed special www.luxamculturalsociety.org guest, His Excellency Jean-Louis Wolzfeld, Luxembourg’s Ambassador to the United States. Following the Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and ground breaking ceremony, LACS members gathered at the Belgium House for dinner and the Society’s annual YouTube! membership meeting. LACS Board Chair David Perrott presided at the annual meeting and the Society’s 2012 Annual Report Cultural Center Hours: was presented by Kevin Wester, Executive Director, and Edward Zapp, LACS Board Treasurer. Following the Wednesday /Thursday/Friday: 10AM – 4PM meeting, Lisa Oberg, LACS member and librarian/professional genealogist from Seattle, Washington, offered a Saturdays (1st and 3rd): 1 – 4PM Also by appointment presentation about recording oral family history. (continued on page 4) Groups are welcome! FALL 2012 1 LUXEMBOURG AMERicaN CUltURAL SOCIEty, INC. BOARD OF DIREctORS OFFICERS David Perrott – Chairman Sacramento, California James Birnbaum – Secretary La Crosse, Wisconsin Ethan Hastert – 2nd Vice Chair Chicago, Illinois Mike Ansay – Secretary Port Washington, Wisconsin Edward Zapp – Treasurer St. Cloud, Minnesota From the Executive Director DIRECTORS Steve Befort Dear LACS Members & Friends, St. Paul, Minnesota As we come to the close of 2013, all I can say is WOW, what a year! The highlight of this Jay Binsfeld Phoenix, Arizona year is certainly the retirement of the debt on the Luxembourg American Cultural Center Pierre Biwer in February 2013—nearly one year earlier than anticipated. The Center is now paid off and Los Angeles, California this puts us on an even stronger financial footing. Looking forward, the LACS is beginning Allen Buchholz the planning process to launch both a Planned Giving Program and LACS Endowment Cedarburg, Wisconsin Fund in 2014. This will help us perpetuate our mission for generations to come. Jean Calmes Naples, Florida & Luxembourg City, In addition to retiring the debt on the Cultural Center, these are some additional highlights Luxembourg from this past year: Georges Calteux Echternach, Luxembourg • Led our 5th annual Discover Luxembourg Tour; Lloyd Croatt – Chairman Emeritus Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Created four special exhibits at Cultural Center; René Daubenfeld • Cataloged donation of Jean Lanners Collection of 185 pieces of fine art; Surre, Luxembourg Guy Dockendorf • Continued development of LACS regions in Aurora, Illinois and Central Minnesota; Diekirch, Luxembourg Jean Ensch • First LACS National Day Celebration in Twin Cities; Strassen, Luxembourg • Annual Sounds of Luxembourg Concert Series with Luxembourg’s acclaimed pianist– Fausto Gardini Jacksonville, Florida Jean Muller; Robert “Bob” Gaul • Hosted Luxembourg culture, heritage and genealogy workshops in four States; Sioux City, Iowa Donald Hansen • Developed a consultation process to assist people with Reclamation of Luxembourg Estero, Florida Nationality; Linda Heinz • Welcomed three university interns from Luxembourg and three from the United Wheeling, Illinois States; Robert Johanns Tétange, Luxembourg • Coordinated successful Luxembourg Heritage Weekend and 27th Annual Bob Krieps Luxembourg Fest of America; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Fernand Lamesch • Introduced Luxembourg’s Bofferding beer to North America; New York, New York John Magerus • Began accessioning and cataloging LACS photo collection of over 500,000 images; La Crosse and Racine, Wisconsin • Developed a curriculum for elementary school age visitors to Cultural Center; James K. Michels, P.E. Sugar Grove, Illinois • 50th Anniversary Re-edition of the book and documentary film Luxemburger in Guy Moris Amerika; Bertrange, Luxembourg Kristin Speltz • Developed and launched new LACS website. Minneapolis, Minnesota What an amazing year it has been! None of these accomplishments would have been Dennis Thein Rochester, Minnesota possible without YOU—our faithful and generous LACS members and friends. Let’s Egide Thein continue to work together to celebrate the ties we cherish between Luxembourg and Naples, Florida America! Guy Thomas Luxembourg City, Luxembourg His Excellency Jean-Louis Wolzfeld Washington, DC STAFF Kevin Wester Kevin Wester – Executive Director Executive Director Sara Jacoby – Operations & Events Manager Marie Fieber – Administrative Assistant LACS Launches NEW Website—www.lacs.lu The LACS is proud to launch its news website! The new LACS website can in Contern, Luxembourg. We cannot thank Daniel enough for his generosity now be found at www.lacs.lu. Note the use of “.lu” instead of “.org”. The LACS and support! Special thanks, too, to Sara Jacoby and the LACS Marketing & website is now hosted in Luxembourg! Special, special thanks to LACS member Communications Committee who oversaw the development of the website. Daniel Toth of Strassen, Luxembourg, who donated the design, engineering Stay tuned for more information about the new and improved MEMBERS- and hosting of our new website through his company, e-biz Solutions, located ONLY SECTION of our new website. So visit www.lacs.lu and check it out! I ♥ aca 2013 LACS Annual Fund Appeal LACS Members L-R: Terry Sveine, Sophie Myck, John Magerus, Lisa Oberg Photos–Allen Buchholz Why do LACS Members Lisa Oberg & John Magerus ♥ LACS? LISA Oberg—SEattlE, WASHINGTON (LIBRARIAN/PROFESSIONAL JOHN MAgerus—RaciNE, WISCONSIN (RETIRED UNIVERSity GENEALOGIST) PROFESSOR/ADMINISTRator) I ♥ LACS because of the world-class Cultural Center it sponsors. The Roots I ♥ LACS because it provided so many opportunities for cultural exchange and Leaves Museum tells the unique story of Luxembourg and America and between Luxembourg and America including tours, internships, hosting it educates visitors about the impact of Luxembourgers on life in America. Luxembourg visitors, musicians and artists as well as researchers and The LACS’ Dooley-Wagner Research Center, the largest of its kind in North academics. Luxembourg Fest of America brings together Luxembourgers America, is a treasure trove of resources for anyone who wants to discover and Luxembourg Americans from around the world to celebrate and learn more about their genealogy and heritage. more about each other! Show how much YOU ♥ LACS! Make your tax-deductible gift to the Annual Fund today! You can make your gift online at www.lacs.lu. On Friday, August 9, about 85 people gathered the Fest. Within four hours, the 1,250 bottles of for the LACS’ annual Cultural Conference at the Bofferding were wiped out! Prairie Conference Center in nearby West Bend, At noon, the 3rd annual “Minute To Win Wisconsin. The focus of the conference was the 50th It Treipen Eating Contest” took place. Sixteen Anniversary of Rosch Krieps’ book and documentary contestants from throughout the United States filmLuxemburger in Amerika. LACS Board member participated in the contest. Corey Dimmer, a and noted Luxembourg American author/ Luxembourg American from Belgium, Wisconsin, historian, Fausto Gardini, facilitated the conference. was the winner devouring nearly a pound and half Fausto translated the 1963 book by Krieps and, of Luxembourgish treipen in just a minute. He was in collaboration with Krieps and the LACS, the crowned the 2013 Treipen Eating World Champion. book premiered in English as Luxembourgers in On both Saturday and Sunday afternoon the America. Also premiered at the conference was the Men’s Chorale of Luxembourg performed at nearby 50th anniversary re-edition of the documentary St. Mary’s Church in Belgium, built by Luxembourg filmLuxemburger in Amerika. The film was also immigrants in 1884. The Men’s Chorale, under the translated into English and reproduced as a direction of Ms. Josee Faltz, performed for a full collaboration between Krieps, the Roots and Leaves capacity crowd and