Festival Award Winners Announced

Here are the award winners for this year's International Festival, hosted by the Nationalities Council of Indiana.

Cultural Booths of NCI Group Members are judged in the following four categories:

1. THEME: Include in cultural booth historical, geographical, culinary, social or educational aspects of the particular culture. 2010 theme: Food for Thought - Tradition, Culture and Cuisine.
2. EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Provide relevant information about the culture.
3. CREATIVITY: Demonstrate an effective and enjoyable method to attract visitors.
4. QUALITY: Overall excellence. Examples would be people in native costumes and friendly approach to visitors.

First and second place winners for theme:
Society for Promotion of Persian Culture and Swedish American Order of VASA

First and second place winners for educational value:
Sons of Norway and German Heritage Society

First and second place winners for creativity:
Korean American Women’s Association and Hungarian Club of Indianapolis

First and second place winners for quality:
Camp Mabuhay (Filipino) and Swiss Club of Central Indiana

In addition, the Best Overall Cultural Booth, recipient of “The Betty” trophy for 2010:
Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis

Food Booths of NCI Group Members are evaluated for quality and authenticity of ethnic food, appearance and sanitary conditions and overall assessment.
First Place: Indonesian Association of Indianapolis
Second Place: German American Klub

Finally (but not insignificantly), the NCI's Volunteer Service award (also known as “The Steve” trophy) is presented to the individual(s) who have demonstrated commitment to the goals of NCI and have actively worked toward their achievement. This year, for the first time, three volunteers were honored:
Josef Laposa and Frances Russell (pictured), and Charles Lindgren (deceased).

Mark your calendars for next year's festival, to be held 17-20 November.

(Photo courtesy of Ming Russell)

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First, Japan; Next, Germany

The Indiana State Fair will spotlight Germany in the International Pavilion at next year's state fair. German heritage throughout the Hoosier state will be highlighted. It's estimated that at least 1/4 of all Hoosiers claim some German heritage.

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Indy’s Ethnic Heritage

"Indy’s Ethnic Heritage", the 15th annual genealogy conference, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 13 November in the Indianapolis Senior Center, 708 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. It's sponsored by the Genealogical Society of Marion County.

Cost (which can be paid at the door) is $30. To register, send an email to GSMC-Indiana@Comcast.net.

Among the topics are Native Americans in Indy, German-American Landmarks of Indianapolis, Scottish and Scots-Irish in Indiana, Ethnic Populations of Indy and the Roman Catholic heritage of Indianapolis.

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Kinder Lernen Deutsch

German classes will be offered again this academic year to first-grade children at Valparaiso University's Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center.

Beginning 27 September and ending on 25 April, Valpo's "Kinder lernen Deutsch" classes emphasize learning German through fun activities, games and songs, and are taught by undergraduate students of German.

The weekly classes meet for one hour, beginning at 4 p.m., for a total of 19 sessions.

Jennifer Bjornstad, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures and director of the German House, supervises the program and said approximately 300 children have enrolled in "Kinder lernen Deutsch" over the past decade.

Children who begin taking German in the first-grade program can continue for two additional years in "Kinder lernen Deutsch." In fourth and fifth grades, children then have the option of continuing their German or starting a new language in the "Bridges to World Languages" program, a separate after-school program offered by Valparaiso Community Schools in partnership with Valparaiso University.

Registration will continue until the class is full. To register a child, call 219:548-1569 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The registration fee for the full year is $60 and is due on the first day of class.

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Dr. Giles Hoyt Receives Bundesverdienstkreuz

Giles Hoyt (pictured), Professor Emeritus of German and Philanthropic Studies and past Director of the Max Kade German-American Center in the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis is the recipient of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Federal Cross of Honor, which is the Federal Republic of Germany’s highest tribute for services to the nation.

An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Hoyt's service to the university, as well as to the German-American community, particularly in Indiana and the Midwest, spans more than three decades. He has served on the board of numerous organizations, both locally and nationally, dealing with German-American relations. Professor Hoyt was instrumental in the establishment and development of the IUPUI Max Kade German-American Research and Resource Center, a national model for interdisciplinary German and German-American Studies.

The Bundesverdienstkreuz was instituted in 1951 by German President Theodor Heuss. It is the only honor that may be awarded in all fields of endeavor. It may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for a myriad of outstanding services to the nation in the fields of social, charitable and philanthropic work.

Hoyt received the Cross 23 June from Consul General of Germany Onno Hueckmann, who traveled from Chicago to make the presentation. The ceremony took place at the Indianapolis Athenaeum and was hosted by the Max Kade German-American Center. Indiana’s Honorary Consul to Germany, Sven Schumacher, served as the event emcee.

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Volkmar Shulz Returns to Indianapolis

"An Update on the Current Political and Economic Situation in Germany" is the topic for a presentation by Volkmar Schultz, former member of German Budestag. The luncheon begins at noon at Lutheran Child and Family Services, 1525 North Ritter Avenue, Indianapolis. Reservations (due by 10 May) should be made with Danielle Stiles, 317:359-5467 x410.

The event is sponsored by Indianapolis Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany, the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Committee, Indiana German Heritage Society, Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services, and the Max Kade German-American Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Schultz is a former member of the Bundestag and has been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since 1965. From 1980 until 1994, he was a member of the State Parliament of North-Rhine-Westphalia. In that capacity he acted as the Deputy Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group and served as the Chairman of the Committee on Urban Renewal and Housing. Elected to the German Bundestag in 1994, he has since been one of the most active supporters of close transatlantic relations. Re-elected in 1998, he served on the Foreign Relations Committee and concentrated again on North American affairs. He also acted as the Chairman of the German-American Parliamentary Group, seeking close political and personal contacts to members of the US Congress.

After his retirement in 2002 he has volunteered as an advisor to several transatlantic non-profit organizations, among them the German Marshall Fund of the United States, The American Jewish Committee, Berlin Office, and Bridge of Understanding. He remains an observer of the transatlantic "theater", of the European development and domestic German politics. For the Association of Former Members of the Bundestag he still serves as a delegate to the Annual Congress-Bundestag Transatlantic Conference.

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Fishers Students Off to Mecklenburg in June

A group of Fishers High School students will be the first participants in the newly-established German American Partnership Program (GAPP) between Fishers High School and the German Gymnasium am Sonnenkamp (academic high school) in the German state of Mecklenburg, according to a news release.

Fishers students will be in Germany from 1-18 June; German students will visit Fishers in mid-April 2011. The program will become an active part of Fishers H.S., with Fishers students visiting the German partner school in even years and German students visiting Fishers in odd years.

During the exchange, the students will tour the university town of Heidelberg for two days before traveling to Mecklenburg for the home stay portion of the exchange. After the home stay, the American students will visit Dresden and Munich before returning back to Fishers.

For more information, contact Robin Geisinger, (German teacher at Fishers H. S.) 317:915-4290.

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American Turner Movement

A reception for Annette Hofmann, author of The American Turner Movement: A History from its Beginnings to 2000 will be held from 4-6 p.m. 1 April in the Max Kade Room of Athenaeum/Das Deutsche Haus, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. Information, email or 317:464-9004.

The American Turners is a national organization founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1848 by German immigrants.

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IGHS/SGAS Meeting to be held in New Harmony

The Indiana German Heritage Society will join the Society for German-American Studies (SGAS) for a joint Annual Meeting and Symposium 22-25 April 22-25 at the New Harmony Inn and Conference Center in historic New Harmony, Indiana.

New Harmony was founded in 1814 by German Pietists from Württemberg, led by Father George Rapp, who had left their Pennsylvania colony of Harmony in order to move to the wilderness. The community flourished, but after ten years the Harmonists elected to return to Pennsylvania, where they founded the town of Old Economy.

They left behind a spiritual legacy that is still cultivated in New Harmony today. Many of the original Harmonist buildings remain, and docent-led tours of the town provide insight into what life was like for those German pioneers on the Indiana frontier.

Sessions are planned on a variety of topics, including German-American religious communities, Homiletics of German-American spiritual leaders, German migration to the Ohio River valley, German-American linguistic communities, teaching German-Americana at secondary and post-secondary levels, and German-American prose and poetry -- although papers on any other topic of German-American Studies are also welcome!

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Bock Beer Means Spring!

A "Bock Beer Fest" is set for 7-11 p.m. 6 March at the Indianapolis Liederkranz, 1417 East Washington Street, Indianapolis. Admission is $7 (cash bar and food a la carte). There'll be plenty of German music by the Original Alpine Express. The food will be supplied by the Ladies Auxiliary, and will include brats, smoked sausage, German potato salad and more.

Information, email or call 317:266-9816.

According to Wikipedia, "Bock is a type of strong lager beer, first brewed in the 14th century in the Hanseatic town of Einbeck, Germany, from which it gets its name (originally "Einbeck" / "Einbock"). The original Bocks were dark beers, brewed from high-colored malts.

"Bocks have a long history of being brewed and consumed by Roman Catholic monks in Germany. During the spring religious season of Lent, monks were required to fast. High-gravity Bock beers are higher in food energy and nutrients than lighter lagers, thus providing sustenance during this period."

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The Good Person of Szechwan

"The Good Person of Szechwan", a play by Berholt Brecht, will be performed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday (19 February) in Ransburg Auditorium's Esch Hall on the campus of the University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis. Tickets (available at the door) are $10.

Here's a summary of the plot: When three gods come to earth in search of a thoroughly good person, they encounter Shen Teh, a goodhearted but penniless prostitute, who offers them shelter. Rewarded with enough money to open a tobacco shop, the “Angel of the Slums” Shen Teh soon becomes so overwhelmed by the demands of people seeking assistance that she invents a male alter ego, “Tobacco King” Shui Ta, to deal ruthlessly with the business of living in an evil world. One of Bertolt Brecht’s most celebrated works, this intercultural play blends his fascination with Chinese theatricality, German politics, and American detective novels into a fast-moving, comic consideration of Right and Wrong in the real world.

For more information, contact Valerie K. Miller Wahlstrom, 317:788-2183.

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Karneval Time at the Athenaeum in Indy

Karneval, the German version of Mardi Gras, will be celebrated from 6 p.m. 'til midnight 30 January at the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. Theme this year is "Wild Wild West! Shoot Out at the 'A'!"

Karneval societies participating are the hosts, the Athenaeum Karneval Klub, plus Erste Karnevals-Gesellschaft of Cincinnati, Germania Society Cincinnati and German American Klub of Indianapolis. Advance tickets are $15, with admission $20 at the door. For reservations, call 317:655-2755 x3.

The tradition of Karneval, in Indianapolis, goes back to the 1880's when German societies held lavish masked balls. Traditions of the evening continuing in 2010 will include: Presentation of Karneval Royalty and Karneval Ordens, the Grand March, music, dancing, raffle and prizes! Dance band will be Pros't from Cincinnati, Ohio. Other entertainment: Athenaeum Pops German Band, Indianapolis Maennerchor and Erste Karneval Gesellschaft. Athenaeum Karneval also incorporates Karneval traditions of its German sister city Cologne/Köln.

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Ethnic Groups Stage New Year's Eve Parties

At least three galas are scheduled for New Year's Eve by ethnic groups in Indy:

The New Year's Eve Dance begins at 8 p.m. in the German-American Klub, 8602 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Sponsored by Die Fledermaeuschen Tanzgruppe, tickets are $15. For reservations, call 317:460-4270. There'll be dancing to the music of Jay Fox and the Bavarian Showtime Band. We will have fun, music, dancing, noisemakers, snacks and a champagne toast at midnight.

A family-centered New Year Celebration also begins at 8 p.m. in the India Community Center, Indianapolis. Sponsored by India Association of Indianapolis, tickets are $5 family, $2 individual. For more innformation, call Sumit Thaker: 317:374-7472.

A Multiethnic New Year's Eve Party takes place at the Latvian Community Center, 1008 West 64th Street, Indianapolis. Join the Latvians, Scots, Poles, Finns, Lithuanians and others for an international celebration.

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German Church Road's German Church Threatened

German Church Road on the far east side of Indianapolis got its name from St. John's Church (pictured). Built in 1914, St. John’s is the German Church. The congregation, dating to the 1850s, was originally comprised primarily of German immigrants who farmed the surrounding area. The present building, originally known as Deutsche Evangelische St. Johannes Kirche, is the third structure on the site. Its Tudor Gothic Revival architecture and stained glass windows mark it as the “gateway” to the community of Cumberland.

According to the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, a developer has offered St. John’s congregation a "significant amount" for the property. Historic Landmarks Foundation has filed for emergency designation of the church by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.

The Cumberland Town Council unanimously passed a resolution favoring preservation of the structure, and Indianapolis City-County Councilor Benjamin Hunter submitted a letter supporting the preservation plan. Negotiations for compromise continue with the developer's representatives, though so far no resolution has been achieved.

UPDATE (3 February 2010):
The Metropolitan Development Commission has approved an emergency motion to protect a 1914 church at the northeast corner of Washington Street and German Church Road, Indianapolis (source).

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Germans, Scots Meet in Indy on Wednesday

Two ethnic group members of the Nationalities Council of Indiana have their regularly scheduled meetings on Wednesday (9 December).

Jeanette Footman and Alice Matsuo will talk about "The Wonderful World of German Breads and Pastries" at the 7:30 p.m. meeting of the Indiana German Heritage Society in the Max Kade Room of the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. The meeting is preceded by an optional Stammtisch (no-host dinner) at 6:30 p.m. in the Athenaeum's Rathskeller Restaurant. For more information, contact Claudia Grossman, 317:464-9004.

Scottish toasts are the topic for the 6:30 p.m. meeting of the Scottish Society of Indianapolis. The evening begins with a pitch-in dinner at the Latvian Community Center, 1008 West 64th Street, Indianapolis.

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The Award Winners are Announced

Awards for the just-completed 2009 International Festival have been announced. First and second place awards are given to Nationalities Council of Indiana member-groups in each of five categories: theme, educational value, creativity, quality and food. In addition, the best overall culture booth received the grand prize trophy, nicknamed "The Betty".

Winners are as follows:

Creativity: 1st - Confucius Institute at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis; 2nd - India Association of Indianapolis.
Educational value: 1st - Indiana Association of Chinese Americans; 2nd - Italian Heritage Society of Indiana.
Quality: 1st - Sons of Norway; 2nd - Scottish Society of Indianapolis.
Theme: 1st - Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis; 2nd - Swiss Club Of Central Indiana.
Food: 1st - Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis; 2nd - German American Klub.
Best Overall Cultural Booth Trophy: Indiana German Heritage Society (pictured).

This year's Volunteer Service award (nicknamed "The Steve") went to Dan and Sophia Anderson.

The outside judges for the awards came from IUPUI.

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Eberhard Reichmann Has Died

Dr. Giles Hoyt, former director of the Max Kade Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, reports that Eberhard Reichmann died 16 October 2009.

Dr. Reichmann, Professor Emeritus of Germanic Studies at Indiana University Bloomington, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1926 and immigrated to the United States in 1953. He received his doctorate in languages from the University of Cincinnati, and was professor of German Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington from 1959-1989.

He is well-known to members of the Nationalities Council of Indiana for his tireless work with the Indiana German Heritage Society and the International Festival (that's him, in the green hat, in the photo above left).

He is the author of numerous books and articles on German immigration and Indiana German Americana. Some of his titles are Der Dichter spricht; deutsche Gedichte, Hoosier German Tales Small & Tall, Emigration & Settlement Patterns of German Communities in North America and Deutsche Romantische Prosa.

See also Publications of the Max Kade German-American Center at the Historic Deutsche Haus-Athenaeum, and Indiana German Heritage Society Publications.

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Dachshund Racing, Yodeling...and More!

"The Original and Fabulous GermanFest" (a first for Indy) takes place Saturday (10 October) at the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis.

This "coming together of the Indianapolis German-American Community" is a free indoor/outdoor, day-long, family event on the grounds of the Athenaeum. The idea is to celebrate all things German and German-influenced . . . food, drink, live entertainment, cultural displays, children's activities, crafts and more.

Here's the schedule for Stage One:
Noon-1 p.m. Meisterwinds - German Oompah!
1-1:30 p.m. Yodeling Contest
2-2:30 p.m. Dachshund Racing
2:30-3:15 p.m. die Fledermaeuschen Tanzgruppe - German Folk Dancers
3:15-4:15 p.m. Liederkranz - German Song!
3-3:30 p.m. Damenchor
3:30-4 p.m. Maennerchor
4-7 p.m. PolkaMotion - Polka Cleveland-Style

Bandshell Biergarten
4-4:30 p.m. Amazing AutoHarps
5-6:30 p.m. Athenaeum Pops Orchestra

Stage Two
1-2 p.m. Young Actors Theatre
2-2:30 p.m. Kindertanzgruppen
3-3:30 p.m. Saengerchor - German Song
5-6 p.m. Indianapolis Maennerchor - Gentlemen of Song since 1854

The Athenaeum Theater
Special VIP event (tickets are $125)
7:30 p.m. dinner and GermanFest silent auction, followed by 9 p.m. performance of "1964", a Beatles tribute band, in honor of their starting point, Hamburg, Germany. 7:30 to 8:30 pm - 1964 perform at 9:00 p.m. Call 317:655-2755 ext. 1 or email Jim Gould for reservations or more information.

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Ethnic Fairs This Weekend

Greek, Native American, German, Scottish, French, Chinese -- "welcome to the world in Indiana isn't just a slogan this weekend: check out these ethnic festivals in the Hoosier heartland!

36th Annual Greek Festival, today and tomorrow; Carmel.
35th Annual (German) Oktoberfest, today and tomorrow; Indianapolis.
19th Annual French Market, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
18th Annual Scottish Festival, tomorrow and Sunday; Columbus.
2nd Annual Chinese Festival, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
Andersontown Powwow and Indian Market; tomorrow and Sunday; Anderson.

Don't forget Indy's International Festival, coming up in November!

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September is Ethnic Festival Month!

The glorious weather of September means more ethnic festivals than there's time to attend!

Some of those on the calendar are:

Oktoberfest sponsored by the German-American Klub, on Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 September

Little Italy Festival in Clinton: 4, 5, 6, 7 September

Kenya Festival at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis: 5 September

Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel: 11-12 September

Chinese Festival in Military Park, Indianapolis: 12 September

French Market at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Indianapolis: 12 September

Scottish Festival at Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, Columbus: 12-13 September

Andersontown Powwow in Athletic Park, Anderson: 12-13 September

Irish Fest in Military Park, Indianapolis: 18-20 September

(Hispanic) Fiesta on the American Legion Mall, Indianapolis: 19 September

Scottish Highlander Festival in Trafalgar: 26-27 September

There are more details on these (and many other events) at the Nationalities Council's calendar: click here. (And, don't forget that Indy's International Festival is coming up in November!)

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