April 16 - Annual membership meeting

May 2 - German heritage festival at Blob's Park

May -  Awards ceremony for high school students

June - Annual picnic

September - Ecumenical Service - Michaelmas

November - Annual Awards Banquet

 Visit the German Society's website: www.germansociety-md.com

 For more local German-American happenings, check the web site of the Deutschamerikanischer Bürgerverein von Maryland:   www.md-germans.org

 AYMOLD GIVEN SOCIETY'S MEDAL

 At the Awards Banquet on Nov. 8, John K. Aymold, Jr. was awarded The German Society Medal for his services to our Society. John served as president of the Society for two years (1999-2000). He was elected a Lifetime Director in 2001 after having been a director for 12 years. He is a member of our Executive Committee and is active is areas of financial management, membership and education. When not busy on our Society's projects, he works as the manager of the Pritts Funeral home in Westminster . During his term as President, the Society's membership increased dramatically.

 "LUTHER, THE REFORMER" LECTURE BY DR. ERIC GRITSCH OPENS EXHIBITION AT ZION

Rev. Dr. Eric Gritsch, retired professor from the Lutheran Theological seminary in Gettysburg , opened the Luther Exhibit with a lecture in Zion Church on Martin Luther as church reformer. Dr. Gritsch is a member of our Society, and is one of the world's living experts on Martin Luther, having published three books and many articles on Luther's life and works. The lecture was listened to attentively by an appreciative audience which then retired to the Adlersaal for a first view of the exhibition and to enjoy a table of hors d'oeuvres, German delicacies, coffee, cake and wine. In subsequent days of the exhibit, Dr. Gritsch lead guided tours for the visitors. Many of the exhibits contained quotes from Luther in the original German and Dr. Gritsch translated them for the tour groups and added a personal touch from his own vast background and familiarity with Luther's life.

 1522 GERMAN BIBLE SHOWN AT LUTHER EXHIBIT IN ADLERSAAL

 Of more than 3,000 copies of Luther's bible printed in 1522, only 36 are still in existence and one is in Baltimore . It belongs to the rare book collection of The Johns Hopkins University, which loaned it to Zion Church for the Luther exhibit which was brought to the USA from Wittenberg , Germany . The bible was available for only one night, the opening session of the exhibit on November 14 in the Adlersaal. Luther translated the bible (the New Testament) from Greek into German in only 11 weeks of working at night by candlelight. It was the first time the bible had been printed in a language other than Greek or Latin, and it formed the foundation for modern German.

            The bible was acquired by Julius Hofmann, Pastor of Zion Church, an avid book collector. Upon his death in 1929, the executor of his estate, Johns Hopkins Professor Kurrelmeyer (a long-time president of our sister society, The Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland ) sold the bible to a benefactor who gave it to the university. It is housed in its rare book collection and is available for viewing only upon appointment. The cost of insuring the bible, valued at $2,000,000, limited its display at the Luther Exhibit to a single night.

 CONGRATULATIONS...

 ..to our member and past director, Hans Michael Hurdle, who has been named head of a new unit at Mercantile Bank for advising and financing corporate and not-for-profit projects such as new buildings.

 Tune in to the Sunday German Radio hour Edelweiss: Radio 730 AM Sunday 9 am

 (ANNUAL REPORT (continued from page 1 )

 member of AGAS, the Association of German American Societies of Greater Washington. The ecumenical service, held on the feast of St. Michael in September, featuring a large youth group from Halle , Germany , was most inspiring and the church was filled to capacity. The awards banquet in November was a great success. And our co-sponsoring of the Luther Exhibit, with Zion Church , the German State of Saxony -Anhalt and the Wittenberg Luther Institute capped the year's activities.

Plans are already under way to schedule events for 2004 and to encourage even greater participation among the members.

Recent gains in the stock market have increased the market value of our investments well beyond the 17% improvement of the stock market in general.

However, our investment income is still suffering as a result of low interest rates, so that we are unable to fund many projects that are now on "hold." We have had to invade our principal to meet expenses and fund the few projects which are deemed essential to fulfilling the purposes of the Society, such as the awards program for high school students of German, the newsletter, the German community ecumenical service and the publication of "Pioneers in Service," the  history of our Society.

 SOCIETY HAS TAX CARRY-OVER

Organizations with tax exempt status such as our Society must spend a percentage of its assets annually on eligible charitable and educational functions. Because we have exceeded the quota in prior years, we now have an $85,000 carry-over. This means that the Society will not be required to give away any money until the carry-over is exhausted. If we continue funding our "essential" projects at current rates, our carry-over will last into the indefinite future.

EDENWALD GAINS SUPPORT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITION

Edenwald (which in German means "the forest of Eden ") is the name of the retirement community whose official name is "The German Aged Peoples' Home." Our Society is a member of Edenwald. It needs to expand, but could not meet the "open space" rules. The Baltimore County Council, recognizing the need for facilities to meet its increasing aging population, changed the law. This permitted Edenwald to count certain indoor facilities as "open space," such as the proposed new swimming pool area, dining rooms, gym and indoor walking track. The facility has 400 residents and 275 employees. The proposed 12 story addition includes 4 parking floors.

 A PHONE CALL FROM HAVANA

Richard A. Fischer, a Society member, called us from his home in Havana , Florida (20 miles N. of Tallahassee and 5 miles S. of the Georgia border), to inquire about our archives. Richard's ancestors arrived in Baltimore on a ship from Germany and settled here. Richard had wanted a contact in Maryland for 50 years, and he found it when he was invited to join our Society.

THANKS...

 ...to Dayna Stueck for her professional assistance in proofreading and offering ideas for our newsletter. Dayna, her husband, Michael and their new baby are moving to Chicago this month, but they plan to remain members of our Society. Dayna has promised to continue helping with our newsletter.

 ...to John Aymold and Christel van der Berg who are now serving as volunteer proofreaders for our newsletter. 

(Note: the "typos" in the last newsletter were not the fault of those listed above, but were made after their proofing.)

 ...to our members who worked at the Luther Exhibit which was brought to Baltimore , courtesy of the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt and the Wittenberg Luther Museum . We  served in food sales and as greeters and security during the historic event. Helping were James Schaub , Harry Gruel , Ted Potthast and Art Nieberding.

 THANKS to the following for their efforts in making our annual awards banquet a success:

 Gary Berg for donating the printing of the program and for his services in assembling and editing it.

 Prof. Dr. Armin Mruck for securing the use of the facilities of Towson University for the banquet.

 Arthur Nieberding for countless hours masterminding the arrangements for the banquet and program.

 Dr. Mohammed Esa for promoting our banquet among his students and the members of the American Society of Teachers of German

 the students of McDaniel College and Loyola College , whose presence at the banquet gave it a youthful spirit and liveliness.

 the MD-DC-N. Va. Chapter of the AATG  (American Association of Teachers of German) for their strong support and presence at the banquet.

 Congratulations to our member and our official photographer, Denis Smith, on receiving a placque from New York 's Mayor Bloomberg for his services in promoting German American relations as the photographer of the Steuben Day Parade. It ws presented on September 19 at the Hilton Towers .

BANQUET A SUCCESS DESPITE FULL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON

 At 8 pm on November 8, just when the Society's annual awards banquet went into high gear, the moon over Maryland began its first visible full eclipse in several years. Some attendees were able to view it in the southeast sky from the balcony entrance to the Potomac Room of the student union of Towson University , the site of the event.  The program contained many ads, some from members who wished to commemorate their deceased family members and their heritage. The program listed the names of all members of the Society and the names of all of the presidents of the Society from 1783 to the present and the current officers and directors. It also printed some traditional German folk songs which were sung at past banquets, such as Der Fröhliche Wandersman, Du, du liegst mir im Herzen and others. Our honoree, Mrs. Katherine Mary Eggerl Peters, a Society member of long standing, was feted with several eulogies. More than 200 attended the banquet, feasting on dinners of filet mignon, chicken and vegetarian dishes after a social hour of hors d'oeuvres and drinks. About 30 students from McDaniel and Loyola Colleges livened up the evening with singing and dancing. Stephanie Reed, president of McDaniel College 's German Club, gave an address in German and in English, thanking the Society for fostering German language programs.

Herr Thomas Wriessnig, Cultural Attache of the German Embassy, spoke to the assemblage, bringing greetings from the Federal Republic of Germany.

            Chairman Art Nieberding was kept busy with last-minute emergencies which inevitably arise, despite the best laid plans. His cool head solved all problems.

            Everyone was happy with the music provided by The Continentals, directed by Mike Suratt, who has appeared at many of the Society's functions. The older generation engaged in some ballroom dancing, while the younger group jumped to the sound of rock music.

            The banquet celebrated the 220th anniversary of the founding of our Society.

The Bürgerverein is the umbrella organization for the German American clubs of the Baltimore metropolitan area. It is now in its 103rd year. It runs the Maryland German Festival, more than 100 years old. The German Society of Maryland was a founding member.    The Bürgerverein coordinates the activities of the various member clubs in an effort to avoid conflicts. Many members of The German Society also belong to other local German American clubs.

            Benjamin (Bob) Sheppard, a member of our Society, has served as the President of the Bürgerverein for many years. Bob is well known and highly respected in German American circles in the  United States and is often consulted on matters relating to national German American issues.

            Until now, the annual German Festival was a money maker for the Bürgerverein, but this year it suffered a loss, possibly jeopardizing its future.

            The Bürgerverein has 17 members:

1. The Arion Gesangverein, more than 150 years old, the last survivor of dozens of German singing groups in Baltimore . 2. The Baltimore Kickers was founded 50

years ago to foster soccer teams. It is a distinctly German organization that sponsors its own free German language school, conducts tours to Germany . Austria and other German speaking countries, offers many ethnic events for its members and is the most active German club in the Baltimore area. 3. Blob's Park this year celebrated its 70th anniversary. It was founded by Max Blob, an immigrant from Bavaria and it is currently managed by members of his family, including Katherine Eggerl Peters, who was honored by our Society at our annual awards banquet.

4. Club Fidelitas, founded in 1955, has a limit of 80 members who must be business or professional men of German ancestry.  5. Deutsche Geselligkeit is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1935 with a basic principle of helping the less fortunate. Membership requires a German heritage. 6. The Edelweiss Club is an active social club with a large membership that sponsors a German language radio hour on Sunday mornings, holds numerous social functions and tours to German restaurants that advertise on its radio show. It also sponsors tours to Germany and Austria , as well as bus tours in the USA .

7. G.T.V. (Gebirgstrachtenverein) Annapolis Bavarians, founded in 1975 by a group in Anne Arundel County , performs dancing and wears the costumes of the Miesbach Region of Bavaria . It teaches the customs and dances of Miesbach in local schools.

8. The name Gebirgstrachtenverein Immergrün, means "mountain costume club" and "forever green." It strives to preserve the heritage of the mountain areas of Germany and Austria through dances and "Trachten" (costumes). Men wear Lederhosen and women wear Dirndls. It meets in Dorsey , MD.

9. General German Aged People's Home. Its function is to operate a retirement community in Towson , MD , known as "Edenwald" There are about 400 residents in the facility and it has plans for a 12 story new building. 10. German Radio Klub. Due to the increased costs of  broadcasting time and the illness and death this year of its long-time president, Kurt Schulze, the Radio Klub has ceased its radio activities. However,. the Klub retains its name and continue its social activities for its members, including bus trips, dances and parties. 11. German Society of Maryland , founded 1783. 12. Germania Lodge #160 A.F & A.M. is a Masonic lodge whose members conduct their activities in the German language. 13. Maryland Oktoberfest operates the annual German fest at the Fifth Regiment Armory in October. 14. Schlaraffia Baltimore, founded 1939, is part of a worldwide club of men which was founded in 1859. Its meetings are conducted in German and its purpose is to promote friendship, arts and humor among its members.

15. Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland , founded in 1883, is a nonprofit, tax exempt scholarly organization that publishes a book of articles of German American history every two years.

16. Verein Deutecher Trachten, founded 1979, preserves and presents to the public the many colorful Trachten of the Germanic Lands , as well as dances, songs, history and traditions. 17. Zion Church , founded 1763, is a Lutheran church founded by Germans and conducts services in both German and English. For details on all these groups, see www.md-germans.org

U-BOAT DEUTSCHLAND, ITS CAPTAIN AND BALTIMORE

 Two of our readers called to report the error in last month's issue, namely that the Deutschland came to Baltimore in 1916, not 1936. Its Captain, Paul König, was welcomed by Maryland 's governor, Baltimore 's mayor and 1,000 citizens at a great banquet. When the submarine successfully navigated the blockade of British warships at the mouth of the Chesapeake and made it back to Hamburg , Paul König was hailed as a hero in Germany and in Baltimore . He was so admired that upon his death, a great memorial service was held for him in Zion 's Adlersaal, opposite the City Hall.

            One of our directors, David A. Denisch, D.D.S, M.A.G.D., a relative of König, sent us a copy of program for the memorial service of Kapitän Paul König (1867-1933), held on Sept. 27, 1933 , and sponsored by the Steuben Society of America. The program:

 1 "My Country 'tis of Thee" .................................... Gemeinsamer Gesang

 2 Eröffnungssprache:  Herr George F. Dederer

 3 Gesangverein Arion: "Sanctus".............................. von Franz Schubert:

 4 Ansprache:  Achtb. Howard W. Jackson, Bürgermeister

 5 Ansprache:  Achtb. James H. Preston

 6 Instrumental Vortrag: Lofghetto Expressivo................. von Beethoven:

                Herr Otto Franke und Frau Roberta Franke

 7. Ansprache: Herr Dr. Gustav Struve, Vertreter der Deutchen          Botschaft, Washington, D.C.

 8 Ansprache:  Herr Henry G. Hilken

 9 Ansprache: Henry W. Drechsel, Ober-Inspecotr des Nordd.Lloyd

 10 Instrumental Vortrag: "Ave Maria"............................. von Schubert:

                Herr Otto Franke und Frau Roberta Franke

 11 Ansprache:  Herr Pastor Fritz O. Evers

 12 Gesangverein Arion:

  "Wie könnt' ich dein vergessen"................................ Hofmann v. Fallersleben

 13 "Deutschland, Deutschland über Alles............. Gemeinsamer Gesang

 Note: Howard Jackson was Mayor. Otto Franke later became president of The German Society of Maryland. Fritz Evers was then Pastor of Zion Church. The Arion Gesangverein sang at Gettysburg when Lincoln made his famous "Address". Robert Fritzschke, a director of our Society, is its current president.

 LOCAL GERMAN AMERICANS:

 J. EUGENE RINGSDORF, SOCCER HALL OF FAME, FEDERATION PRES.

 Eugene Ringsdorf began playing soccer as a child in East Baltimore and stayed with it for life, becoming the President of the United States Soccer Federation. He is credited with introducing soccer in schools throughout the United States . Ringsdorf's efforts to standardize the programs caused it to spread to the mid-west and western United States . He made it possible for hundreds of thousands of boys and girls to learn to play soccer in an organized setting. He was elected to the USSF Hall of Fame in 1977. One of the highlights of his life was receiving communion from the hands of Pope John Paul, II, at Camden Yards during his 1995 visit to Baltimore . He died in October at age 91. He is survived by a son, 4 daughters, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

 HARRY J. HERMAN, SR., BAKER, 85

  Harry Herman worked as a baker from age 12 to age 80, starting in his father's bakery in southeast Baltimore and, in 1958, founding his own. He opened branches in neighborhoods and shopping malls and served as President of the Baltimore Baking Production Club and the Potomac States Bakers Association. His baking skills matched his business acumen. If a recipe needed to be quadrupled, he multiplied the ingredients in his head. He was a genius at picking locations for his retail outlets. Most Baltimore area residents have at one time or another tasted his handicraft, especially his famous strawberry shortcake, which substituted a sweet yellow layer cake for the traditional shortcake. He is survived by a son, 2 daughters, 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen, on N. Charles Street .

 JOSEPH G. MUHLMEISTER, 82

 Joseph Muhlmeister, a supervisor at Baltimore 's main post office for many years and a World War II bomber pilot, died Oct. 31 at Stella Maris Hospice. Shortly after his graduation from Loyola High School in 1938, he enlisted in the Army Air Force. He flew 23 missions over Germany in a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was featured in a book by his co-pilot, Dean Boyd, entitled Black at 12 o'clock . Services were held at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Overlea.

The classic children's book Cat in the Hat by German American Theodor Geisel, a/k/a Dr. Seuss, was cheapened by a Hollywood movie version, starring another German American, Mike Myers playing the cat role. The movie, released to grab the kiddie box office for the Christmas season, is about a bawdy cat, spitting out double entendre jokes, far removed from the innocence of Dr. Seuss' child's book. Although the movie has been panned by the critics, Universal Studios has spent a fortune in pre-Christmas advertising. One critic wrote, imitating the style of the book: "We did not like it/ not one bit."

            Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904 in Springfield MA . He became a writer and car-toonist and one of his cartoons made reference to the insecticide, Flit. The manufacturer hired him and he coined the phrase "Quick, Henry, the Flit" which became a household expression. As a captain in the signal corps in WWII, his writings won him the Legion of Merit. In 1954 a report on children's illiteracy stated that books were too boring for them, and a publisher asked Geisel to write a book using the 250 words known to most first graders. Using only 220 of the words, Geisel wrote "Cat in the Hat" which became an instant success. In 1960 Bennet Cerf bet Geisel $50 he couldn't write a book using only 50 words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham, a work that has been memorized by most American children 45 years old or younger.

 MUSLIM WOMEN'S HEAD SCARVES; THE TABLES ARE TURNED

Our last newsletter mentioned that Germany 's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Turkish schoolteacher's right to wear her Muslim head scarf in the classroom. We now read that in Turkey women are legally forbidden to wear a head scarf at a university or in other public places. When Turkey 's president held his annual party, foreign diplomats and members of the "secular" elite were invited to bring their wives. Members of the AKP party, whose wives wear the head scarf, were told to leave their wives at home! Both Germany and Turkey are democratic republics, but Turkey has a Muslim majority. It is interesting to observe the workings of democracy in diverse cultures.

OUR DUES -  Of the $15 annual dues, about $10 is spent for member services, newsletter, postage, mailings, the annual meeting and events.

 A MENCKEN BOOK REPRINTED

Henry L. Mencken is the most famous literary German American Marylander, as a writer for the Baltimore Sun and prolific book author. One of those, his 1907 The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, has been reprinted and is for sale by See Sharp Press (181 pages, $9.95). Mencken was the first to write a guide in English to the works of the German philosopher. Mencken wrote it at the request of a Boston publisher. When he received the assignment, he checked out every book (mostly in German) by Nietzsche from Baltimore 's Pratt Library and in less than a year his book was in print.  A recent book review by James H. Bready in the Sun pointed out that Mencken agreed with Nietzsche's theory that people fall into classes at birth: "The talented few should be in charge, the bourgeoisie goes about its business, and the vast, incapable lower class should accept its fate."  Mencken was proud of his German heritage and was a member of our sister Society, The Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland .

 FUNNY NAME FOR NEW VW SUV

 Volkswagen 's first SUV tries to move upscale from the firm's pedestrian Golfs and Jettas. VW had a hard time finding a name for it, but finally called it a Touareg (pronounced TWAH-reg), after a nomadic Saharan tribe. Americans may be turned off by the weird name, until they learn that it is about half the cost of a competing Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne.

 HOW TO MAKE UNMLAUTS

 When you are typing on your computer and want to make an umlaut in a German name or word, you can use the "ASCII" tables to do so. Hold down the "Alt" key and at the same time type the appropriate number, using the numbers on the right side of the keyboard. Numbers for umlauts in the Wordperfect program are:

ü = 129            Ü = 154

ë = 137           

ö = 148            Ö = 163

ä - 132 Ä = 142

(Numbers in other word processing programs may differ.)

 When Germans with umlauts in their names immigrated to America , they either dropped the umlaut (Müller became Muller) or inserted an "e" after the letter (Schröder became Schroeder).

The ASCII tables also provide many practical and fun symbols: ½ ¼ ± § ¶ ° £ ¢ J J © ¨ § ª _ R etc.