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The German Cultural Society of Erie, Pennsylvania

Newsletter: March 2014 Printer: Gannon University Press Website: http://gcsoe.org

Mission:

The mission of The German Cultural Society of Erie, Pennsylvania, is to preserve German values, customs,

language and music through education and activities. The German Cultural Society of Erie, Pennsylvania, aims to

unite German-Americans and to share our German culture in the community through special events and charitable

functions.

Meeting Location and Date:

All are invited to attend our meetings and events. We meet the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at the

Erie Männerchor Club, 1607 State St. in Erie.

Officers - 2014: Board of Directors - 2014:

Paul Fischer, President 838-4315 Rose Hill 825-6721

Betty Schubert Vice President 217-9425 Wayne Koble 873-7552

Tom Laska, Treasurer 572-8016 Carol George 572-2774

Alice Niebauer, Board Secretary 864-9474 Carol Matheis 864-8417

Marilyn Mack 734-3706

Committees:

Membership: Betty Schubert 217-9425 Programs: Wayne Koble 873-7552

Ways & Means: Carol George 572-2774 Christian Mueller 825-5702

Nancy Rusnak 864-3427 Marilyn Melhuish 833-6718

Parliamentarian: Marilyn Melhuish 833-6718

Dance/Luau: Bill Matheis 864-8417

Grant Programs: Paul Fischer 838-4315

Website: Roy Voshall 898-2124

Activities: Marilyn Voshall 898-2124

Newsletter: Wayne Koble 873-7552

Fasching Party March 1

Call Nancy at 864-3427

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A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT

‘Time for a Warm Fuzzy’

It’s the time of year when most of us get cabin fever again and are looking for things to make

us feel warm and fuzzy. Here’s an opportunity that should help and would also be a testament

to the Mission Statement of our Society.

Unless we are Native American we are all either immigrants or

descendants of immigrants to the United States. Along with

immigration came the possibilities for fortune and misfortune

alike. We have all been touched in varying degrees by both

ends of those spectrums yet we continue to strive to fulfill the ‘American Dream’ and to build this country into the great land

of opportunity with each other’s support.

Our community recently suffered a huge misfortune when 4

immigrant families from Somalia lost all of their worldly possessions in a fire. Worse however, the tragedy took the life

of a beautiful 4-year old daughter, now undoubtedly an angel

in heaven. Following the news stories about the incident made

it undeniably clear that these recent immigrant families were

indeed productive upstanding citizens. With their modest

neighborhood grocery store now totally destroyed, their adjoining home leveled and faced with burying a precious child the families have been faced with unimaginable grief and expense plus

the task of starting yet another life. In an interview the courage and faith of the child’s mother,

and the determination to rebuild their lives, was also undeniable.

The outpouring of clothing and durable goods assistance from the community has been heartwarming but their need for financial support will be a daunting burden for these 4

families for a long time. Nathan Koble, Marketing Specialist at the Multicultural Institute, is

coordinating assistance for the families. You’ll recall that Nathan presented an inspiring

program to our Society last year about his Peace Corps experiences in Tanzania.

At our February General Membership meeting, a free-will offering of $403 was collected and sent to Nathan to be used for audited support for the 4 families. Those monies were not taken

from the treasury of the GCSoE. If you were not able to be at that meeting and would like to

support the effort to assist these people please send your check made payable to the Erie

M.C.R.C. (Multicultural Community Resource Center), 554 East 10th Street, Erie 16503, (or to

me at the above address) with ‘Somalia Family Refugee Fund’ in the memo line.

As immigrants ourselves or daughters and sons of immigrants, I would hope that our support

in this time of desperate need should bolster the faith and hope of those affected and give us a

much needed warm and fuzzy during these late days of a hard winter.

‘What you have done for the least of my children, you have done for me’.

Paul E. Fischer

Paul E. Fischer, President

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Preview of March 13th Meeting

Father George Rapp, the Harmony Society and Old Economy Village

In 1804, the followers of the Separatist George Rapp (1757-1847) immigrated

to America from Iptingen (near Stuttgart) in southwest Germany seeking religious and economic freedom. Nearly 800 farmers and craftsmen followed their leader to Butler County,

Pennsylvania where they built the town of Harmony. Ten years later they migrated westward to Posey County,

Indiana founding a second town named Harmony, which today is known as New Harmony.

In 1824, the Harmony Society returned to

Pennsylvania, this time settling in

Beaver County along the Ohio River. There they founded “Oekonomie,” now better known as Old Economy Village.

It was here that the Society gained worldwide recognition for its religious

devotion and economic prosperity.

The Harmonists developed a simple, pietistic lifestyle based upon the early

Christian Church. They turned over everything they owned to the Harmony Society when they became members. Everyone worked together for the good of the Society and received, in turn, what he or she needed to live simply and

comfortably. Because they expected Christ’s Second Coming to Earth at any moment, they

adopted celibacy in 1807 in order to purify themselves for the Millennium – Christ’s 1,000 year reign on Earth.

Fortunately, the saga of the Harmony Society is

more than an interesting chapter of history detailing the impact German immigrants had on the development of Pennsylvania. It is a living

history that can be visited today in Harmony, near Zelienople and the restored and preserved Old Economy village in the town of Ambridge,

located on the Ohio River near the border of Beaver and Allegheny Counties.

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Deutschland Geography

Cochem

In the most romantic part of the Moselle Valley, where the river curves

between two hiking paradises - Eifel and

Hunsrück - lies the old town of Cochem.

Even the Romans sang the praises of this

remarkable landscape. It is true - a few

things have changed since then, but the

attraction has remained because the past

centuries - above all the Middle Ages - have

left their marks here.

The magnificent Reichsburg, the big

castle, situated on a precipitous rock high

above the town, dominates the landscape. The

many delicate pointed towers, battlements and

oriels give the impression of a typical fairy tale

castle, particularly as it is one of the few

castles in Germany, which was rebuilt in its

original style after its complete destruction. As

impressive as the castle itself is the view of the

Moselle Valley with its beautiful forests,

meadows, fields and vineyards, as well as the

old part of the town.

The town of Cochem itself is a sight worth seeing, not only because of its

narrow streets and twisty alleys, the lovingly restored half-timbered houses

with the typical slate roofs, the historical market-place, but also because of its

medieval town gates, churches and walls. The wine-growers and restaurant

owners would also like to take the time to introduce you to the variety of their

excellent Riesling wines.

A further attraction is a river tour on one

of the Moselle boats, either during the day

or at night when the lights of the castle

and the town are reflected in the water.

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Announcements

German Folk Dance (Tanzen) Classes

The German Cultural Society of Erie holds a German Folk Dance class every

Tuesday night at 7 p.m. for FREE. Beginners welcome! The steps are easy and our

experienced dancers are happy to assist you. It is a great way to exercise to music

with friends and to appreciate our German heritage.

Classes are held at St. Joseph Church, 147 West 24th Street Erie, PA. Call Bill

Matheis 814-864-8417, for more information.

Christmas Markets Along the Danube 2014

Nancy and Paul Fischer invite you to experience their 10th annual magical pre-

Christmas cruise on Europe’s beautiful Blue Danube River, December 9th –

17th. For more information call Paul at 838-4315 or 449-1199.

2014 Membership Dues

If you haven’t had the opportunity to remit your 2014 membership dues to

Betty Schubert, now is the time to do so. Membership form with Betty’s contact

information is listed on the cover page of this newsletter.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Would you like to learn to speak basic German without all of the stress and

pressure? Well, your opportunity is here. Our very own Christian Mueller is

starting a monthly session of basic conversional German for members of the

GCS of Erie, beginning March 9th. For more information call Christian at 825-

5702. Don’t miss this unique opportunity.

Calendar of Events for the Ways and Means Committee

June 21st the Heimmatag in Cleveland combined with other German stops;

July 12th a day trip to the Watkins Glen Wine Fest; October a trip to Niagara

On The Lake to see Cabaret; and December 5-7 a trip to Bethlehem, PA to the

Christmas City Village.

Luau is now the “Schweinfest”

More information to follow, but the ever popular German Luau, is now the

German Schweinfest, which will be held on Saturday, August 16th at Pleasant

Ridge Park on Dobler Road in Fairview.

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Deutschland Insights

A supremely gifted and versatile German artist of the

Renaissance period, Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

was born in the Franconian city of Nuremberg, one of

the strongest artistic and commercial centers in

Europe during the fifteenth

and sixteenth centuries. He

was a brilliant painter,

draftsman, and writer,

though his first and

probably greatest artistic

impact was in the medium

of printmaking. Dürer

apprenticed with his father,

who was a goldsmith, and with the local painter

Michael Wolgemut, whose workshop produced

woodcut illustrations for major books and

publications. An admirer of his compatriot Martin

Schongauer, Dürer revolutionized printmaking, elevating it to the level of an

independent art form. He expanded its tonal and dramatic range, and provided

the imagery with a new conceptual foundation. By the age of thirty, Dürer had

completed or begun three of his most famous series of woodcuts on religious

subjects: The Apocalypse (1498), the Large Woodcut Passion cycle (1497–

1500), and the Life of the Virgin (begun 1500). He went on to produce

independent prints, such as the engraving Adam and Eve (1504), and small,

self-contained groups of images, such as the so-called Master Engravings

featuring Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513 ), Saint Jerome in His Study

(1514), and Melancholia I (1514), which were intended more for connoisseurs

and collectors than

for popular

devotion. Their

technical virtuosity,

intellectual scope,

and psychological

depth were

unmatched by

earlier printed

work.

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Immigration in Erie in 2014

What is immigration in Erie like in 2014?

Much has changed but much remains the same since the first German immigrants came to

Erie long ago to start businesses, raise families, and worship freely.

While most of the other immigrants in the Erie community were from other European countries

at the time of the German arrivals, today’s immigrants come from five continents around the

world. Most pronounced in the last few years are those from the countries of Bhutan and

Nepal, from which nearly 3,000 have immigrated to Erie in recent years. From Eastern

Europe, the wars in the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia brought many immigrants from Bosnia

and neighboring countries. Immigration is also increasing from the Middle East and Africa,

particularly Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, and Somalia.

In addition, ongoing immigration from Latin America remains strong and 2014 will see the

arrival of many immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo where Swahili, English,

and French are among the languages spoken. To lesser degree immigrants from Ethiopia,

Burma, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan also continue to arrive in Erie.

Of note is the German Cultural Society of Erie showed its solidarity with and

commitment to current immigrants through a “pass-the-hat” donation at its February 13

meeting. A total of $403 was raised to support the relief efforts from a February 3 fire

that displaced four Somali families and claimed the life of a 4-year-old-girl. Money was

used to help get the families re-establish themselves in the Erie community.

While the nationalities of immigrants have changed, what has remained the same is most of

today’s immigrants relish the opportunity to work and advance themselves. An example is 27-

year-old Kater Issa, who arrived in Erie last summer. Issa started in his native Darfur region of

Sudan in 2007 and made a treacherous journey that landed him in Erie, where he works the

night shift for Matrix Tools in Fairview before taking a 2-1/2 hour English course in the each

morning at the Multicultural Community Resource Center.

Issa’s trek included a 14-day transit across Chad (including several days across the Sahara

Desert), a year in Libya, four days in the Mediterranean Sea without a motor, and five years in

a refugee camp in Malta before coming to the United States via a United Nations program.

“Erie is good. I feel good here,” says Kater. “I like to work and study. It is very good here.”

Kater’s story is just one of many playing out each day in Erie, where immigration continues to

restock the population and talents of Erie. From Cuban artists to kickboxers from Iraq, Erie’s

tradition of immigration remains strong and vibrant.

If you would like to volunteer or learn more about current immigrants in Erie, you can contact the

Multicultural Community Resource Center, 554 East 10th Street, 814.455.0212 or

www.facebook.com/mcrcerie.

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German Cultural Society of Erie

PO Box 67, Girard, Pa. 16417

Membership Renewal, Year 2014

Name_____________________________________________Spouse___________________________

Address (if new) _____________________________________________________________

City/State____________________________ Zip Code _______________________

Phone______________________ E-mail Address (optional) __________________________

Birthday & Anniversary Dates___________________________________________________

Type of Membership: ( ) Basic or Head of Household $25, ( ) Spouse $5, ( ) Family $35

I would like to contribute $10 towards the cost of the monthly newsletter. ( )

All membership fees go to the GCS operations in Erie. Children under 17 are free of charge

with a Basic or Family Membership. Membership includes monthly newsletters, monthly

programs, and reduced fees for special events. Make checks payable to German Cultural

Society of Erie. Send to: Betty Schubert, 6377 Dickens Ct., Erie, Pa. 16505