May 2014 - Gold Country German

Gold Country
German-American Club
P. O. Box 571, Grass Valley, CA 95945
Promoting German Culture and Stronger German-­American Ties in Northern California
www.goldcountrygermanamericanclub.org Mai 2014 ISSUE 356 MmAaIiıFfEeSsTt
FfRrIiıDdAaYy MmAaYy 2NnDd
Come Join us at this special event  for fun, fellowship 
and a Salad Supper.   

Members whose  last names begin with:          
A thru D   please bring finger food 
E thru L    salads to serve 8 
M thru Z  desserts 

If any of you would like to bring 
some rolls and butter, please call 
Margot at 477-2205. 

Please bring your own table settings for a more 
festive touch and anyone with flowers in their yard, 
please bring a few for our tables.   


Entertainment provided by the  
Hannebrink Duo and our own Alpine 
Dancers. 
Doors open at 6:00 pm for Happy Hour   
                                   and Appetizers 
Short  Business Meeting at 6:30 until 7 
pm,  followed by Salad Supper and the 
Entertainment. 

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see you all there!! 
Your Board of Directors 
President's Message
Liebe Freunde, May is the month of flowers. So I would like to offer a "bouquet of flowers" with special thanks to all of the Club Members who have volunteered their time, services and dollars to help our Club to be a success. During my few years with the Club, Roland Bueche (8 years) and Richard Hamner have kept us supplied with drinks. (What's a German club without beer?) I am just finding out the amount of work needed for this job. The Board is currently working on a plan to try to re-­distribute that workload. Mark Schilleman, who served as President for many years, and now is Program Director -­-­ a multi-­
faceted, time consuming job. Otto and Margot Schulze, (whose energy level is unbelievable), have served the Club in various ways over many years. Betsy Wagner and Jesse Emanuel have recently taken over some of the kitchen duties to make room for Margot/Otto to serve on the Board. A big bouquet to all those ladies who magically keep our table filled with mouth watering food prepared by those great German cooks. Christa Benson, since my time and way before (with her husband Al Benson), has helped the Club in many capacities, and is now Board VP as well as keeping me "correct" during our meetings. Dave and Kay Moss are still endeavoring to keep the Alpine Dancers active;; a traditional part of our German heritage. Fred and Karen Herrmann who have probably lost count of the number of hikes they have led over the years for the Happy Wanderers. Our newsletter production requires a tremendous amount of work and patience;; currently done by Eve Hamner with the aid of another hard worker-­-­Richard Fuller, Membership Director. Roses for you both! Christel Denzler and Anneliese Grasshof for bringing a little sunshine into our lives. Anneliese and Ken Welch for keeping our webpage going and active. Theresa and Stefan Arth, who are longtime members and have probably served in just about every EUDQFKRIWKH&OXEIRUGHVLJQLQJWKHFOXE¶VORJRDQGVWDUWLQJWKHGDQFHJURXS Maria and Cecil Caballero, also longtime members, for their help with building and painting the Chalet, club murals and making of our early photo albums, and numerous other jobs. Hank Stoffel, our Liaison, for his dedication to all the German communities. Jim and Nellie Bitzer, IRUVWDUWLQJRXU&OXEEDFNLQWKHODWH¶VDQGHDUO\¶V Bill and Erika Nickerl, for also helping to start our club and for starting the Hiking Group and build-­
ing the Chalet at his house and numerous other jobs also. Del Ebeling for spearheading and organizing all the local Volksmarches we did and kept us abreast of all the international Volksmarch information. (He Volkmarched and wore-­out numerous hiking boots while accumulating over 20,000 hiking miles, locally and internationally). :HUQHU8HEHUVFKDHU+HOJD¶VKXVEDQGZDVDSDVWSUHVLGHQWDQGFOXE¶V*HUPDQODQJXDJHWHDFK
er. And to all the other members, past and present, whose names I have failed to mention: my thanks for all you have done and for all you will do -­-­ a huge bouquet of Easter lilies. Rebecca Claus
President
Page 2 Mai Club Events Conversational German Group
Die Gruppe trifft sich Dienstag, Mai 13 von 18.30 bis 20.30 Uhr. Diesesmal treffen wir uns bei Christel Hermansen 154-­B Sutton Way,Grass Valley. 530-­
274-­2715. Bitte ruft on ob ihr kommt oder nicht. Wer Interesse hat der Gruppe beizutreten bitte ruft Christa an 530-­272-­6095 oder email ² [email protected] Es Grüßt, Christa
5-­2 Friday Maifest See page 1 5-­14 Wed Board Meeting 6:30 pm Bret Harte Inn 305 West Main St., GV 5-­0RWKHU¶V'D\ 5-­17 Armed Forces Day 5-­26 Memorial Day Beginner/IntermediatHGerman
Language Group
Class will meet on Monday, May 5 and Monday, May 19 at 6:30 pm. Meeting places to be emailed to mem-­
bers. Anyone interested in joining our class, please call Rebecca Claus at 916-­710-­0033. Herzlich Glückwünsche zum
Geburtstag im Mai
Robert Scheetz 5/1 Charlotte Starn 5/5 Rolf Manfred 5/12 Theresa Arth 5/22 Joseph Nanut 5/22 Elaine Dierberger 5/26 Gayle Nanut 5/26 Gery Denzler 5/28 Alpine Dancers Dance practice was held 4-­15 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm²getting ready for Maifest. More practices pending. Contact Dave Moss 432-­2236 Gute Besserung Tune into KNCO radio AM 830, week days at 7:50 AM and 5:50 PM, to hear your birthday greetings from GCGAC. Start collecting and saving all your unwanted
things for our BIG Yard
Sale Fundraiser this coming June. Info on time
and place to be anounced!!
Lilo Koegler Maria Caballero David Jappay Jan Guevel Hildegard Kramer Erika & Bill Nickerl Christa Benson Theresa Arth Please notify either Christel Denzler or Eve Hamner when you are well or when you wish to be taken off the Gute Besserung list. Thank you. SAVE THE DATES FOR 2014 ON YOUR CALENDARS June 7 Saturday Picnic No Regular Meeting July 4 Friday Parade No Regular Meeting August 1 Friday Wine & Cheese Fest September 20 Saturday Oktoberfest No Reg. Meeting October 5 Sunday German-­American Day No Reg. Meeting November 7 Friday Sea Shepherd Presentation December 13 Saturday Christmas Party No Reg. Meet -­ ing Page 3 7KH+DSS\:DQGHUHU·VMai Hikes
Hiking or walking is the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise. Carrie Latet Mai 1 ...Sugar Pine Lake This hike is located past Foresthill. Our group did it last year. The trail is fairly level and goes all the way around the lake, approximately 5 miles. Easy to moderate. Paved to the trailhead. We meet in Auburn at the Grocery Outlet at 9 am Directions: From Grocery Outlet drive 1.8 mile east on #80 toward Reno to Foresthill exit (#121) Drive about 26 miles -­ through Foresthill. Turn left on Sugar Pine Road Continue for about 6 miles and you will arrive at the boat ramp at the reservoir. Mai 8 ...CRONAN RANCH Cronan Ranch Regional Park is an area with beautiful rolling hills, huge oak trees and hopefully with lots of wildflowers. We have our lunch along the Middle Fork of the $PHULFDQ5LYHU,W¶VHDV\JRLQJRQWKHZD\WRWKHULYHUDQGJHQWOHXSKLOORQWKHZD\ back. We meet in Auburn at the Grocery Outlet at 9:00 am Directions: Highway 49 toward Placerville. After 11.5 miles, turn right on Pedro Hill Road. Mai 15 ...BULLARDS BAR :HZLOOEHKLNLQJDORQJWKHHGJHRI%XOODUG¶V%DU/DNHEHQHDWKWKHFDQRS\RIODUJH trees. We plan on having lunch on a peninsula. This hike is considered 'easy to moderate' -­ about 5 miles long We meet at the Government Center in N.C. at 9:00 am Mai 22 ...HUMBUG CREEK -­ YUBA RIVER This is one of the best Spring hikes we have done in the past. We start at Malakoff Diggin's and follow Humbug Creek as it tumbles down towards the Yuba River creating numerous small and big waterfalls. We are walking under tall trees and the trail is steep in places, but it's all downhill. We'll see lots of wild-­flowers as we follow the Yuba River. The last half mile is uphill but overall it's considered a hike of moderate difficulty and about 7 miles long. We meet at the Government Center in N.C. at 9:00 am Mai 29 ...CULVERT TRAIL 7KLVWUDLOLVQHZIRUPRVWSHRSOH,W¶VLQWKH$PHULFDQ5LYHUDUHDRQWRSRIWKHULGJHDERYH
WKH&RQIOXHQFH,W¶VDQHDV\PLOHKLNHRQWKHVXQQ\VLGHRIWKHFDQ\RQGRZQWRZDUGV the river. We meet in Auburn at the Grocery Outlet at 9:00 am If you are not a regular Hiker with the group but would like to hike with us,
call Fred 346-7392 since the hike might change due to
various reasons. Page 4 Was soll ich Dir sagen?
Ein langes Gedicht?
Ich hab Dich lieb
mehr weiss ich nicht
Frohen Muttertag
What shall I say?
A long poem?
I love you
and that's all I know.
Happy Mother's Day.
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MUTTERTAG In Austria, Germany, and Switzerland Muttertag is observed on the second Sunday in May, just as in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Italy, Ja-­
pan, and many other countries. During the First World War, Switzer-­
land was one of the first European countries to introduce Mother's Day (in 1917). Germany's first Muttertag observance took place in 1922, Austria's in 1926 (or 1924, depending on the source). Muttertag was first declared an official German holiday in 1933 (the second Sunday in May) and took on a special significance as part of the Nazi mother-­
hood cult under the Hitler regime. There was even a medal²das Mut-­
terkreuz²in bronze, silver, and gold (eight or more Kinder!), awarded to mothers who produced children for the Vaterland. (The medal had the popular nickname of "Karnickelorden," the "Order of the Rabbit.") After World War II the German holiday became a more unofficial one that took on the cards-­and-­flowers elements of the U.S. Mother's Day. In Germany, if Mother's Day happens to fall on Pfingstsonntag (Pentecost), the holiday is moved to the first Sunday in May JHUPDQDERXWFRP OFFICERS: (VOTING MEMBERS only 5 votes) President: Rebecca Claus 916-­710-­0033 Vice-­Pres: Christa Benson 272-­6095 Secretaries: Margot Schulze 477-­2205 Treasurer: Otto Schulze 477-­2205 Program: Mark Schilleman 265-­5159 DIRECTORS: (VOTING MEMBERS only 5 votes) Membership: Richard Fuller 887-­8037 Dance Director: Dave Moss 432-­2236 Happy Wanderers: Fred & Karen Herrmann 346-­7392 Newsletter Editor: Eve Hamner 265-­4732 German Language Directors: Conversational: Christa Benson 272-­6095 Beg/Intermediate: Rebecca Claus 916-­710-­0033 ACTIVITY LEADERS (NON-­VOTING MEMBERS) Refreshments: Committee Get Well & Sunshine: Christel Denzler 878-­0504 Anneliese Grasshof 916-­783-­5411 Kaffe & Kuchen: Jessie Emanuel 272-­2017 Betsy Wagner 432-­2797 Inter-­Club Liaison: Hank Stoffel 269-­3137 Webmaster: Anneliese Welch 292-­3571 Publicity: Karen Clark 265-­6814 Property: Dennis Naumann 477-­1622 Historian: Karen Herrmann 346-­7392 Page 5 -HVVLH(PDQXHO %HWV\:DJQHU /LOO\6DFNO ³0RWKHUDQG )DWKHU1DWXUH´-­
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+HUUPDQQ -XGLH6FKXHW]OH /DUU\:KLWH 'HQQLV 1DXPDQQ 0DUN 6FKLOOHPDQ -XGLH 6FKXHW]OH Page 6 2IFRXUVHRXURZQ :DOWHU*URE 7KH+DUPRQLF &RQYHUJHQFH .HYLQ.LUNSDWULFN%DVV -LP:DKOHU%DULWRQH 0DWW5H\QROGV/HDG -LP³-5´5H\QROGV7HQRU *DLO.LUNSDWULFN 9LFNL5H\QROGV :RQGHUIXO DQG WKRURXJKO\ HQMR\DEOH SHUIRUPDQFH 7KDQN\RX IRUFRPLQJ WRRXUFOXE 'HQQLVDQG 1DQF\ 1DXPDQQ .ULVWLQD :HWKHUEHH KHOSLQJDOO
WKHNLGV GHFRUDWH (DVWHUHJJV 5\DQ )DUDK 1LFKRODV .LPP\ &ROH Page 7 We had 16 guests come to our meeting to partake in all the fes-­
tivities, gathering up plants, get-­
ting ideas for gardens and of course humming to tunes by our own Walter Grob playing his wonderful accordion music and listening to The Harmonic Convergence sing some great old tunes. Thanks to all for making this a very enjoyable evening. MAIBAUM (MAYPOLE) The German Maypole goes back to pre-­Christian celebrations of spring. Beginning with the Equinox in March ± April, German tribes celebrated the new life and fertility of the season. Trees received a particular reverence during these rituals. Dancing around them became the precedent for the Maypole. Some philos-­
ophers theorize spirits inhabited the early poles and dancing is a form of homage. In Germany and Austria the maypole (or Maibaum) is a tradition going back to the 16th century. A Maypole is a tall wooden pole made from a tree trunk (pine or birch), with colorful ribbons, flowers, carved figures, and various other decorations adorning it, depending on the location. In Germany the name Maibaum ("May tree") reflects the custom of placing a small pine tree atop the Maypole, which is usually set up in a town's public square or village green. Traditional dances, music, and folk customs are often associated with the Maypole. In small towns virtually the entire population turns out for the ceremonial raising of the Maypole and the festivities that follow, with Bier und Wurst of course. In Munich a permanent Maibaum stands at the Viktualienmarkt. The custom of combining it with a village or town fete, that usually takes place on 30 April, 1 May or at Pentecost (Whitsun), is widespread. This tradition is especially strong in the villages of the Bavarian Alps where the raising of the traditional Maypole on 1 May in the village square is a cause for much celebration. The pole is usually painted in the Bavarian colours of white and blue and decorated with emblems depicting local crafts and industry. Page 8 Just before the Maibaum is erected, depending on the region, there may be a procession through the village, usually ending up at a central place and/or restaurant and usually watched by crowds of spectators and ac-­
companied by a brass band. The actual installation of the tree then takes place in the afternoon or evening. While the crowds usually while away the time drinking beer and eating sausages, the young men busy them-­
selves with decorating the Maypole to get the symbols of various trades representing the region into the right position. While the Maypole is traditionally set up with the help of long poles, today it may sometime also be done using tractors, forklifts or even cranes. In Lower Austria ropes and ladders are used. Depending on local custom, the Maibaum may remain in place until the end of the month and is then taken down, decora-­
tions removed and the trunk stored until the following year. In many parts of Bavaria it remains in place all year round. The Maypole and the dance around it is a major symbol of spring's reawakening of fruitfulness. May was known as the "Wonnemond," the month of lovers where a young man's fancy would turn to love. In May the largest number of weddings take place. Over time the Maibaum (May Tree) lost its original meaning, that of celebrating a wedding. In the old days, young unmarried men of the village would organize and sponsor par-­
ties, dances and celebrations, to get the unmarried maidens of the village into the spirit of May. If then a wedding would take place, a tree decorated with colorful streamers and ribbons would be placed in front of the bride's house. On the night of the last day of April, many young men erect small decorated "Maibäume" in front of the houses of their sweethearts. Some attach a red heart with the name of the girl written on it. In Bavaria May 1st is an especially important day. Festivals there have a special Bavarian flavor. In Bavarian villages, it has been the custom for cen-­
turies to cut a tall and straight tree, a day or two before May 1, place it in the middle of the village and deco-­
rate it with a wreath of spring flowers and colorful ribbons. One of the traditions is to attempt to steal the May-­
pole of the neighboring village the night before, and to hold it for ransom, usually a couple kegs of beer. At the same time villagers had to make sure that their Maypole was not stolen by their neighbors. Another Bavarian tradition is the Maibaumkraxeln (Maypole climbing) contest. In many parts of Bavaria, guys battle to see who can climb up the shaven and pol-­
ished tree trunk the fastest, a task made even tougher by soaping down the May-­
pole, so that climbers only succeed if they smear ashes, tree sap or pitch on their hands. The goal is to win the Brezeln und Wuerste (pretzels and sausages) that hang on top of the pole, and to impress the girls down in the crowd. Beginners climb carefully, gradually and in spurts. Veterans will grab a hold of the tree be-­
tween hands and feet and climb right up. These are trees, 15 m (46 ft.) high, with-­
out branches, no bark, and slick as a grease pan! For those of you who have computers²fun videos of Maypole Dancing: KWWSVZZZ\RXWXEHFRPZDWFK"Y Y,E-+$OJJ 2NWREHUIHVW0D\SROH'DQFLQJDW%XVFK*DUGHQV:LOOLDPVEXUJ KWWSVZZZ\RXWXEHFRPZDWFK"Y J2B23(\N-58 0D\SROHGDQFHSHUIRUPHGDWWKHWKDQQXDO 1HZ<RUN5HQDLVVDQFH)HVWLYDO Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole http://www.germanculture.com.ua http://mygermantravels.com http://www.german.about.com/ Remember to support all of our advertisers and mention the GCGAC when you do. 1DWXUDO)DEULFV‡0DGHLQ86$‡&DVXDOWR'UHVV\ Page 9 SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS * MENTION THE GOLD COUNTRY GERMAN-­AMERICAN CLUB WHEN YOU DO! This Newsletter is printed at: Advantage Print & Marketing, 528 Auburn Ravine Rd., Auburn, CA 95603 530-­885-­0464 Dean Wood, Owner Gold Country German-­American Club is a member of the German-­American Heritage Foundation of the USA® 719 Sixth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 ³5HSUHVHQWLQJ$PHULFDQVRI*HUPDQ6SHDNLQJ+HULWDJH´ Ph: 866-­868-­8422 (toll free) email: [email protected] web: www.gahmusa.org Mai 2014 Issue 356 Gold Country German-­American Club P.O. Box 571 Grass Valley, CA 95945 First Class Mail