At our February meeting, the Committee Members elected in January were sworn in. Many thanks to our outgoing officer: Trustee Roger Kraft served for nearly two decades and the committee depended on him for diligence, level head, and humor. Welcome to our three new members: Mark Wajer was elected to the office of Bar Obmann, a job that has been open for the last year. Sonja Bresset is our new Ticket Obmann, replacing Sharon Walker who had been fulfilling the role well on an interim basis.  Heather Wajer was elected to the 3-year term of Trustee.  Welcome to the three of you!  The other officers remained the same. Fred Walker and Roger Kraft switched appointed roles of GACC Delegate and Alternate. Our Committee Members are:

• 1.Vorstand Erwin Rauschendorfer
• 2.Vorstand Fred Walker
• 3.Vorstand Rick Michel
• Secretary Rita Dziersk
• 2.Secretary Mike Campbell
• Treasurer Colleen Michels
• 2.Treasurer Sharon Walker
• Ticket Obmann Sonja Bresset
• Bar Obmann Mark Wajer
• Trustees Heather Wajer (3 year); Alex Lamerand (2 year); Annette Edelhauser (1 year)
• Sachenverwalter Chrissy Walker
• Historian & Pressewart Karin Dean Kraft
• GACC Delegate Roger Kraft; Alternate Fred Walker

Our dance officers stayed the same with the exception of the secretary.  Thank you, Janet Seefried, for filling that role so well the last couple of years! Welcome to Megan Lepkowski as our new secretary.

• 1.Vorplattler Eric Walker
• 2.Vorplattler Alex Lamerand
• 1.Vortänzerin Chrissy Walker
• 2.Vortänzerin Anni Porter
• Secretary Megan Lepkowski
• Sachenschlepper Annette Edelhauser

We have dance practice twice a month -- on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.  The second Sunday we start dance practice at 12:30 pm and dance until the 3 pm Membership Meeting.  No change to that day!  But starting this year our fourth Sunday practice start time is being pulled ahead to 11 am, dancing until 1 pm.  This will give our dancers a nice long afternoon afterwards. This new time starts this Sunday, January 27.  If you're interested in dancing, come and try us out!  No experience necessary!

Many of you already heard this news at our Christmas celebration.  Rita Miltner passed away on Thursday, November 29.  She died just before her 84th birthday.  Rita was still living in her family home, and her sons Kevin and Mark were helping her stay as independent as possible.  Rita's husband, Art, died in January 2011.  Rita was not at the club too much after that, but we did get cards from her on occasion. Rita and Art both joined Edelweiss in 1995 and were great friends of our club, participating, dancing, and working at events and behind the scenes. Mostly they'll be remembered for their kindness and pleasant natures.  Son Kevin said that they loved being members.  Ruhe in Frieden - Rest in Peace.

There will be a memorial service for Rita on Saturday, January 12, with a luncheon afterwards.  Her sons contacted us to invite her Edelweiss friends to attend.  If you are able to pay tribute to Rita, please do so. Here are the details:

Sat., Jan. 12, 11 am -- Memorial at Troy Christian Chapel, 400 East Long Lake Road (near Livernois), Troy.  Luncheon immediately following at Kim's Restaurant, 102 East Long Lake Road, Troy.

You may have noticed we had a few issues with the website the last 6 weeks.  But we're up and running again!  The calendar of events that was there during those six weeks was accurate but incomplete.  Committee meetings & some out of town events have been added.  There's also a "fridge edition" of the 2019 calendar of events that you can download or view (it was handed out at the December meeting and has not changed).  The Wegweiser for September went missing but is back and the November Wegweiser has been added.    Look under "Newsletters" in the right hand column for Wegweiser issues & one-page calendar).

Unfortunately, all the news posts that were on the website since August 1 disappeared and cannot be restored easily (but I'm still working on it!).  These included:

• Gedächtnismesse information (posted 11/4)
• Funeral information for Bev Knofski, Fred Walker's sister (posted 10/24)
• Funeral information for Edelgard Dziersk, Rita's mom (posted 9/24)
• Funeral information for Ken Baker (posted 9/5) -- a remembrance is in the September Wegweiser
• German-American Festival, Toledo, info (posted 8/14)

Wishing all of you a very Happy, Healthy 2019!  Euch allen einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!

--Karin

Can you believe it's less than a year away to the 2019 Gaufest in Washington, DC, hosted by Alt-Washingtonia?  As of 12:01 am on August 1, you can reserve your room at the Hilton Hotel in DC either online or by phone.  You'll have to pay a non-refundable one night deposit per room that will be booked to your credit card right away.  Go to the Gauverband website (THIS LINK) for much more detailed information.