NEW CLUB HOURS

Effective October 1st, Monday-Thursday 5:30-10 pm, Friday 4-10 pm.

______________________________________________________

2025 CLUB MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

We thank our members who have renewed their membership since the 2024 membership expired on 12/31/2024. For our 2025 Members, are you enjoying your free drink of the month, along with our 'new membership discount' on your Friday entrees when showing your new 2025 membership cards?

Timely membership renewals not only help you receive discounts, it also helps to keep our records up to date and we want you to enjoy all the benefits of supporting our German/American club. The Club's operating expenses are not covered by your dues, but dues and your support help with the Club's overall expenses. A new membership list will be posted in March. Hopefully, we will not have to delete any unpaid members. Any concerns, contact your Secretary Judy.

______________________________________________________

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to our latest new members: Olivia Murphy, Tina Beck, Paul Beck, Peter Beck and Kathy Madrak. A couple of these new members have worked on our summer festival, and we are happy they decided to become members of the Club. Thank you all.

______________________________________________________

CHORUS

Hopefully our members are enjoying their break from singing during these cold, snowy weeks. Some of us enjoy the winter, but driving during these weeks can be a challenge. To keep you up-to-date, rehearsals resume March 4th with Mixed Chorus at 5 p.m.

We have a lot to work on with only 3 months before the NYS Saengerfest in Albany on the weekend of May 31st. Attendance will be very important. Shortly you will receive information in the mail regarding the schedule for this event. Also, our Club Anniversary Banquet is on May 3rd and our Spring Concert is June 8th. Please mark your calendars with these dates and enjoy the next few weeks of winter.

______________________________________________________

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALE

Please support the Girl Scouts as they sell their famous cookies at our Club during Friday Fish Fry on February 28th and March 7th. Girl Scout cookie selling is a tradition that started back in 1917. They love our support, and we love their cookies!

______________________________________________________

VOLUNTEERS FOR SNOW DUTY

To date we have been lucky not to have had much snow, but you know the snow will soon be upon us. We have a snow plowing contract with Steveners, but sidewalks and walkways are the Club member's responsibility. We have a snowblower, shovels and snow melt, but we can always use peoplepower. If you arrive at the Club and work needs to be done, please help us out. Sean Scott has done a great job for us in the past but is having knee issues and could use your help. UMC is your home away from home, so please take pride in it and help us out. Thanks!

______________________________________________________

NOTED GERMAN

Francis X. Jenny was a marble cutter and granite dealer who entered partnership with Joseph J. Nelbach in 1869 and opened a marble shop in Boonville in 1871. He was the manufacturer of statuary, family vaults and art monuments.

______________________________________________________

FASCHING

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5th. A German tradition celebrates Karneval of Fastnacht as the weeks before the upcoming time of fasting. We know this time as Mardi Gras.

In Germany during this time there are thousands of costume balls and dances for a time of a "foolish or silly season." Donuts called 'Krapfen' or 'Berliner' can be found everywhere during this season.

These donuts are often filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. Look for your Mardi Gras beads during Fish Fry on February 28th with purple beads representing justice, green for faith and gold for power as we celebrate Fasching.

______________________________________________________

SAINT PATRICK'S PARTY

Our fun-filled Club party takes place after the Utica City Parade from noon - 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 15th. As usual we will be offering sandwiches, desserts and Irish Coffee all afternoon. We will be entertained by the Craobh Dugan-O'Looney musicians along with the Butler Sheehan Irish Dancers. Bring your family & friends. Enjoy the afternoon at UMC!

______________________________________________________

BAVARIAN FESTIVAL

Saved these dates for our summer Festival July 18-19-20. We need everyone to pitch in and help. Our festival helps keep our Club solvent. It is also a requirement stated in our Constitution to promote our German culture. We have been notified of a change in our entertainment as the Bavarian Brothers are unable to perform due to the absence of one of their members. We have enjoyed their music and are pleased they have been with us for the past several years.

We are happy to announce that we are bringing back Die Lustigen Almdudlers’ German Band who were with us a few years ago. More information will be forthcoming in upcoming newsletters. We look forward to everyone’s participation at the UMC Bavarian Festival.

______________________________________________________

EDELWEISS SCHUHPLATTLERS by Gracie Schell

February is already upon us, which means it's time again for the Edelweiss Schuhplattlers Dancers to hold their annual "Learn How" Classes! You are all welcome to attend any, or all, of these free, open, "Learn How" classes, being held every Wednesday in February at the Maennerchor. "Learn German Dancing" is from 6:30 - 7:30p.m; "Learn Square Dancing" is from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Both classes were so much fun last year, so we decided to have them again this year. (FYI - Three of our current dancers came from attending these Classes in 2024!)

Other than performing our final 2024 Christmas Show at the Mohawk Homestead on Jan. 3rd and having our annual "End of Dance Season" party on Jan. 24th, we have been enjoying some needed time off from rehearsals. Regular dance practices will start again in late March. Speaking of our party, it was a blast as usual - eating lots of yummy food at our Pot-Luck Dinner and doing plenty of different dances from around the World!!