NEW MEMBERS

We welcome the following new members to our Club: Missy Myers, Tyler Mounnurat and Joe Carlo, Jr. We hope you enjoy the friendship of the Club, and you can join in some of our activities and events. Thank you for joining.

Please note, we are planning a membership drive to encourage growth in our German/American Club as we look forward to celebrating our 160th Anniversary. Positive suggestions should be directed to our Club Secretary - Judy at 315-736-7014 or leoconslt@aol.com . Let's make it happen by asking your extended family and friends to join. You don't have to be German, just love the culture.

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EDELWEISS SCHUHPLATTLERS by Gracie Schell

Our Dancers are finishing up September, by performing at two local Oktoberfests: September 21st at "Baggstoberfest", held at the Baggs Square Brewery & September 27th & 28th at the "Saranac Oktoberfest", held in the new Biergarten at the Matt Brewery. Our featured, special Oktoberfest Dance, at both events, was our version of the "Bierstein Tanz", where we dance the whole time holding a Bierstein in one hand!! We spent weeks learning that very involved Dance!!

On September 1st, we started the month by performing three shows at the NYS Fair! Fifteen of our Dancers were there, entertaining some of the biggest crowds the Grange Building had during the whole Fair! One of the gals who attended our August Open Dance Class came to see us perform at the NYS Fair. By the end of our first show, she had decided to join our group. Welcome to our newest Dancer, Missy! We now number 19 Dancers!

Continuing our Oktoberfest Season will be:

• Oct 4 - Mohawk Homestead, Mohawk, 2-3 p.m.
• Oct 13 - Lake George Village Oktoberfest, Noon-5 p.m.
• Oct 16 - Valley Residential Services, East Herkimer, 6-7 p.m.
• Oct 26 - Old Forge Oktoberfest, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Oct 27 - Rome Elks Club Oktoberfest, 2-8 p.m.

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GERMAN/AMERICAN DAY

It is important as a German Cultural Social Club that we celebrate October 6th as we are reminded of the first Germans to enter the United States in 1683. Thirteen Mennonite families from Krefeld Germany arrived at Philadelphia Harbor on board the Vessel Concord and founded the settlement of Germantown.

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CHORUS

Chorus resumed last month under the Direction of Mark Radlowski, and we are happy that Margaret Fusco is with us again as Accompanist. Our rehearsal resume time will begin in October with Ladies at 5 p.m., Mixed at 5:30 and Men from 6:30-7 p.m. We have started with Oktoberfest music as we will be singing at the FLAG RAISING on Friday, October 4th at Hanna Park, City of Utica. We would love to have some membership support of us at this ceremony. The NYS Saengerbund Convention meeting is scheduled for October 19th hosted by the Buffalo Schwabenchor in West Seneca. This meeting's direction is to prepare for the next Saengerfest in Albany the weekend of May 31, 2025.

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THE MOST IMPORTANT GERMAN PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, which ended 28 years of division of East and West Berlin. This event cleared the way towards German unity when East Germany was officially made part of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since then, October 3rd has been declared as Day of German Unity. (German-American Journal Sept./Oct./Nov. 2024). Close to 45 million of Americans have German ancestry. In NY State, more than 9% of the total population of 19.6 million can claim German heritage.

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Ongoings at the Club

Football Fun: Results are posted in the bar area each week and Thursday Football is on the TVs. Pitch League started Tuesday, September 17th and the Shuffleboard Season started September 12th. If you're not participating in these activities, the Club is still open to all. Stop by and check it out for food, beverages, and fun.

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SAUERBRATEN DINNER

Our well-known German dinner is scheduled for Sunday, November 3rd from noon-2:30 p.m. or sold out. Chefs Cindy & Bill are preparing additional sauerbraten this year as we ran out the previous dinner. Keep this date open and invite your family and friends. We hope you will enjoy the dinner and have a wonderful afternoon at the Utica Maennerchor.

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WEDNESDAY WORK CREW VOLUNTEERISM

We could use your help in keeping our Club in pristine condition. Each Wednesday for 3½ hours we have a continuous crew of 12 who dedicate their time and energy. It would be very helpful if a few more of our members would join us to help. No task is too small ex. washing windows, chairs, floors, kitchen surfaces, dishes, outside work, etc. You know what it takes to keep your house clean. Well---we have a big house to clean. Join us and make new friends. Consider helping us out!

REMINDER NOTE: We are looking for volunteers to chair, cook or work Club events. Long-time Club chairmen are willing to be helpful in giving down our traditions and cooking skills. Event Forms that provide detailed information, menus, tasks to be performed, and lists of workers, are available for planning purposes. If you can help, call Club Secretary, Judy, (315) 736-7014.NEWSLETTER via EMAIL & Miscellaneous: If you wish to receive your newsletter electronically, please send your email address to uticamaennerchor@gmail.com. The Club is connected to Wi-Fi; drop in some evening with your computer if you do not have Internet access at home.