2013 Winter Staatsbote
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Neuer Pennsylvanischer Internet: www.germansociety.org Staatsbote Winter 2012/2013 Chairman’s Comments (More than) Building News President’s Message After more than fifty years in the New Those of you who read the Staats- The Holiday Season is just ahead York / Philadelphia region, I find Fall bote regularly know about our and for many of us it is the most to be the most beautiful season of the building projects. Responsibility for enjoyable time of the year. I trust year. We are blessed with lots of sun- the preservation and development that you will have an opportunity to shine, moderate temperatures and an (for example, making the GSP en- visit and reconnect with family occasional rainy day – all that turning ergy independent) of our building members and friends. Let me wish the foliage of the deciduous trees has been a central focus of my work all of you the best for 2013, espe- abounding our region into a dazzling over the last three years. cially good health. And I hope that color scheme with hues of red, orange Every week, in addition to the lar- our political leaders find the courage and yellow. ger projects that I regularly report to tackle the pressing economic and Sure, on occasion, we are rocked by a on, there are countless smaller is- social problems which face our na- blizzard or hurricane, such sues: leaking pipes, failing pumps, tion. as Irene or Sandy, both of which re- broken locks – in short, all of the Rather than give a typical end of the sulted in heavy property damage, problems that one can expect when year overview, I thought it is timely downed power lines and many of those taking care of a building that is at to dream a bit about the future. Our beautiful trees uprooted or crip- least 120 years old. 250th Anniversary is just around the pled. Unfortunately, the swell of the I could easily spend the next 15 corner and an appropriate question ocean caused by monster years keeping the building running - might be - what will the next decade storm Sandy also devastated entire repairing those things that have Cont’d on page 3 communities along the New York and been neglected over the years and Jersey shoreline. The city center of ensuring that the building remains a In This Issue Philadelphia was providentially spared vital cultural center in the future. – for which we are ever so grateful. I am grateful for our volunteers and Chairman's Comments 1 Inspired by this, and upon having their invaluable help in many areas, (More than) Building News 1 reached a certain milestone in my life, I but some tasks require professional President’s Message 1 organized a Saxon's Thanksgiving feast attention. In cases when I do not Ensuring the Society’s Future 4 with chamber music and Lieder recitals have the time to do the work my- Honoring Chef Walter Staib 5 by composers who lived, at various self, I look for reliable companies Stiftungsfest Photo Collage 6 times over the past 300 years, in my who can work within our budget German home state. and who can truly deliver what they Stiftungsfest 2012 8 This event was held on the eve of promise - a process which is also Remembering Tom Pastorius 8 Thanksgiving, which coincided with very time consuming. New Members 9 the German Buß- und Bettag (day of The work of preserving the building The American Wild West 9 repentance). is vital and I am committed to con- St. Martin’s Parade 10 The concert portion featured music tinuing my contributions in this Friday FilmFest - Die Manns 11 by J. S. Bach, J. A. Hasse, H. Mar- area. In addition, I am very inter- Calendar of Events 11 schner, C. M. v. Weber, Felix Men- ested in expanding our program Cont’d on page 2 Cont’d on page 2 Second Annual Bierfest 12 Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Gesellschaft von Pennsylvanien, a publication of the German Society of Pennsylvania Neuer Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote Chairman’s Comments Cont’d land, that area looked like a moon- (More than) Building News Cont’d delssohn, Robert & Clara Schumann, scape with huge craters. These are offerings and would like to devote Richard Wagner and Hans Auen- now being flooded – as part of the more of my energies in this direc- müller, a cousin of mine whom I, recultivation efforts by the govern- tion in the future. I feel strongly regrettably, never met because of the ment, after the open pit mining of that we need to be attracting new Iron Curtain separating us during our brown coal has ended – transforming and younger members to the GSP; adult lives. the region into a parklike area for the too few of our events deal with His father, a prominent Lutheran cler- residents of Leipzig. German American modern culture. gyman in Dresden, baptized me be- Our concert – lasting well over two I don’t wish to be misunderstood; I fore World War II, and his two chil- hours – was well attended. All sev- believe that our program offerings dren are now well established musi- enty five guests were invited to a sub- are very strong, but we need to cians at the Semper Opera in that sequent reception in the Library, and focus more on contemporary reconstructed city on the Elbe River. I – time permitting – joined us for a themes in music and culture. am deeply indebted to them for hav- buffet dinner where delectable Indian Over the past several months, I ing lent me copies of their father's dishes were served up by Mohan have served on a committee that handwritten scores which are difficult Parmar, owner of Lovash Restaurant has considered concrete plans for to read and required transcription by a and a Society member. Impromptu how we can structure our business musicologist for them to be per- speeches, including roasting and and strategic plans to meet our formed. toasting of the host, as well as musi- needs for the next five years and Ten young musicians participated in cal interludes and dancing rounded beyond. We need to take important the concert, some of them played out the evening. steps that go beyond ensuring our period instruments. For an encore, a Those* who participated in our spe- financial viability – to expand our flash mob rendition of "Ode to Joy" cial Thanksgiving celebration, and business opportunities, adapt our was presented – with members of the quite a few who could not make it, mission to the needs of the present audience joining in as the chorus. In were very generous, indeed – contrib- environment and try out new ideas. 1985, this tune was adopted by the uting over $8,000 to the recently es- We are already taking some of European Community (now Euro- tablished SAVA Educational Fund of these steps. We are opening the pean Union) as the official an- the German Society, which will be lines of communication and build- them. The lyrics for this piece are administrated by the Philadelphia ing cooperation with other groups based on a poem, written by Friedrich Foundation. that could help us in our efforts to Schiller exactly 200 years earlier – as Now, after two weeks, as I reflect on expand our offerings and ensure a "celebration of the brotherhood of this event I can only say "Thank you, that the GSP remains a vital and man" on the estate where my paternal thank you, thank you. You made my relevant force in the culture of grandmother was born. day very special." I am ever so grate- Philadelphia. Well, if the American liberating ful to you – and I enjoy living here in troops had not yielded that territory to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly I hope to devote much of my time the Russians in 1945, I would most Love. No regrets. to the development of new ideas probably be living there today Have a blessed Christmas and all the and impulses for the GSP in the as Gutsherr on that estate with its best for the coming year. future and trust that I can rely on romantic moat. In 1990 though, when your continued input and support. — Hardy von Auenmueller I first was able to return to my native — Tony Michels * for listing of donors see page 3 Winter 2012/2013 Page 2 Neuer Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote President’s Message Cont’d activities – even though their Ger- model for the Society, which allows mean for the Society? Our vision, as man connections might be a bit re- us to prosper and grow. Our much articulated in our strategic plan, mote by our current standards. We talked about endowment effort is a highlights our aspiration to be recog- have embarked on a number of co- very important part of this plan; it nized as a premier German- operative events in the past few would be wonderful if we were to American ethnic Society in the years to expose our building and its receive 25 or 30% of the funds United States by making our own contents as well as various programs needed annually for operational pur- historic building the home of signifi- and activities to new, and hopefully poses from our Philadelphia Founda- cant contributions to the diversity of wider, community audiences. We tion account. social and cultural life in the greater need to do even more of this, and we Frohe Weihnachten und Alles Gute Philadelphia area. might look ahead to a time when we zum Neuen Jahr. It certainly is a nice vision. But what are recognized as the best partner for — Ernie Weiler might it mean on a more practical such cooperative events.