Happy New Year, und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr.

O.K. einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr; means and a gut Slide into the New Year. I hope that all German American Society Alpenrose members and their Families had a very merry Christmas.

Wow, we just had the Holiday Dance and our December Meeting, both were great affairs. The Holiday Dance was not as well attended as everyone wished but whoever participated had a great time.

The Altland House served a great meal and The Continentals played their hearts out. The Valencia Ballroom was, as usual, very nicely decorated and the friendly staff made us feel welcome. Please plan to attend next year.

The next day was the Alpenrose Society Christmas Party at Siebenthal Resort starting with a covered dish affair, including baked goods, Cookies, Christmas Stollen, Apple Pie and many other treats. And a very the special Gluhwein heating you up from the inside out. My thanks to all who attended and contributed. We had over fifty members and prospective members present. Some from the Harrisburg area. A great turnout. Ed Sklar came a long way with his wife, Marie, to play the Accordion for us and Ed was into it with his Heart and Soul. Even after most members left he picked up his accordion again and played and played and played. Ed gave back to Al Langis the Christmas Card, including the Gratuity from the Club, and said he was there to support the Alpenrose Society and all the nice people there and that this was his Gift to the Club. After assuring him that we put the check back into the treasury, he accepted the Christmas Card. Wow! What a great guy, may God bless him forever.

During 2011 we had many great functions, Fasching Dance, Maitanz, Picnic , Oktoberfest and the Holiday Party. The Fasching Dance is always fun, but it was said that our way of judging the Costumes left much to be desired. So in 2012 we will have professional, knowledgeable judges doing these duties. Please start tailoring and wear your costumes proudly and order your tickets early. I am proposing that every participant will be able to acquire a competition ticket and that the cash will go to the first three winners.

The May Festival had a great attendance and thank you to all, and this thank you goes for all functions. Again, THANK you to ALL who helped set up, decorate and cleanup after the dances and special activities including Meetings. A special thank you to Klaus Brunnengraeber for setting up the May Baum and to all who are bringing flowers and Greens for decorating. Do you know that Klaus is also always setting up the Club Sound system for all dances? Thank you Klaus and an enthusiastic applause to all Officers, Board Members and Chairpersons. Without them we would not have a Society.

The Picnic was well attended and a lot of good food and Beer was consumed. A Picnic at Siebenthal is always enjoyable with the smell of freshly cut grass and a million dollar view into the surrounding Hills and Valleys.

Do we need to talk about the Oktoberfest??? Not necessarily, so lets talk about the heavy wet snowfall hitting the area before and during the dance. What a mess! Highway advisories, downed trees and slippery roadways. Nothing to stop The Autobahn. Yes, the newly discovered House-Band from the Pittsburgh Hofbreu-House named "Autobahn" who arrived according to schedule to play for Alpenrose Oktoberfest. There was no way to stop another 80 or so Club Members from coming to the dance and enjoy a delicious dinner catered by Sue Kline. The Autobahn was a super Musical Highway and kept everyone dancing.

I don’t have the count, but during the year, former members and new members joined the Club and also attended meetings and the social hour afterward. Let’s get the word out and bring your friends and invite former members back

We also had a down time when Uwe Trautenbach passed away. Uwe, an enthusiastic member and well liked person, was taken suddenly from our midst. May his soul and the souls of all our departed members and friends rest in peace and may God bless their families.

Happy New Year to all and may God Bless You.

ELECTION – Board Members will be nominated and elected at the January meeting. The results will appear in the next Newsletter.

FASCHINGSTANZ - The first official event for 2012 will be Faschingstanz scheduled for February 18, 2011, at the Alert Fire Hall in Emigsville. Music will be by John Salov and The Polka Quads. There will be no meal, but food will be sold. Always remember we need Door Prizes.

Fasching, Fasnacht, Karneval, Carnival or Mardi Gras is a pre-lenten celebration observed by many cultures throughout the world, and goes by many names in German, depending on the region and district: KARNEVAL (Rhineland, former Roman settlements), FASCHING (Austria, Bavaria, Berlin), FASTNACHT (Baden, Switzerland), FOSNAT (Franconia) or FASNET (Swabia)

Since the celebrations involve masks, costumes and dancing it is much like Halloween. Therefore, you may come in costume but it is not mandatory Prizes will be awarded for three catagories.

PERSONALS –A Christmas Card with Get Well Wishes included was sent to Hannelore Emig for her recent knee surgery. Most of our other patients (Hilda Herman, Hank Heinrich, and Al Heindel) are doing better, but we need to continue to keep them, also Dee Hackett, in our prayers as well as anyone else you may know that is ill or bereaved. If you know of anyone sick at home, in the hospital or going through a rough time contact Marie Fink (717-755-2044) or any Board Member.

MEMBERSHIP – Membership year begins January 1, 2012. Dues for adults are $15.00 per year and for youth 6 years of age through college age $7.50. For your convenience to renew we are enclosing a Membership Renewal Form. Renewal deadline is March 31, 2012. Why not send your check to Al Langis today!

We’re starting 2012 with 79 members.

We welcome new member Monroe Frederick and welcome back former members Don Cresswell and Jutta McDonald.

ITEMS OF INTEREST – In the 15^th Annual YMCA York Thanksgiving 5K Turkey Trot run Emily Dubs finished 1^st in the women’s division and sister Amanda Dubs finished 3^rd. BELATED CONGRATULATIONS! Emily and Amanda are the granddaughters of George and Helga Erich.

Congratulations to Tom and Marie Fink on the birth of their first great grandchild. A boy, Miles Ethan, born December 13 weighing 7 lbs. 9oz. And 20 inches long!

Reminder from Edie Heindel regarding the German Life Magazine. Don’t forget when you receive your renewal, get in touch with her ( 717-764-1725) for more information on your special rate. For new members, German Life is a unique, bi-monthly magazine dedicated to travel, history, culture and genealogical topics. It provides readers with modern and historical perspectives on German speaking Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as German America. Each issue of German Life is comprised of full color features that you can’t find elsewhere. As a German Club member, you may receive a special rate.

The annual German Christmas Service at 1^st Saint John Lutheran Church was held Sunday, December 18, 2011. The minister was from Baltimore. Lancaster Liederkrantz Chorus provided music. Alpenrose members Inga and Klaus Brunnengraeber sing with the Chorus.

A thought from Hank Merges column. "Yorkers might want to keep in mind that it was the German settlers who brought their Christmas traditions when they came to York County.

In 1806, Lewis Miller of York painted what today we recognize as the earliest illustration of a Christmas tree in America."

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES

  2/1 Horst & Marian Zeiler

  2/8 Bruce & Karin Heckman

  2/11 Dale & Jean Hein

  2/12 Al & Edie Heindel

If we missed anyone or have an incorrect date we apologize. Contact Newsletter Editor (717-755-2044) with correct information.

The Editor would like to thank those persons who provided her with articles to be used in the Newsletter during the year. Makes life easier for her when there is input from other people.

REMEMBER JANUARY 9^TH MEETING IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING AS YOU WILL BE ELECTING NEW PEOPLE TO THE BOARD OR HAVE THE BOARD REMAIN AT ITS PRESENT STATUS.