German-American Social Club of Peekskill, Inc.
11 Kramers Pond Road
P.O. Box 395
Putnam Valley, NY 10579
845-528-5800
www.gac1936.com
October 2008 Newsletter
Photo: George Wolf
Dear Members,
Oktoberfest 2008 was a big success, even though the
two days were hotter than we would have liked. Several
guests told me that our Oktoberfest is the best Fall event of
the Hudson Valley, and we couldn’t have accomplished it
without the hard work of our club members and their
families and friends. Frank Schusteritsch, Kurt Kampp, and
all the people who helped them, did yeoman’s work in
setting up the grounds and venues for the Oktoberfest.
Herman Buck had the challenging job of making
arrangements for entertainment, including finding our
wonderful band from Germany, the Trachtenkapelle
Hohenmirsberg, and lining up the Schuhplattler dancers.
Thanks to Sig Linnemeyer, who arranged to house the band.
The people who staffed the office worked non-stop: Marilyn
and Herman Buck, Maggie Kampp, Rich Hansen, and Eric
Boggs. Marianne Kapfer supervised the main food line on
both Saturday and Sunday. Other tireless workers were
Peter Gibbons at the inside bar, Ruth Ann and Walter Ritter
at the Wurst Express, Rudy and Sigi Meyer, along with
Trudy and Charlie Gilleo at the funnel cakes, and the
amazing Ahrens family who prepared, cooked, and served
the potato pancakes. A huge job in ensuring the success of
the potato pancakes is the preparation of the potato pancake
mix. This tedious job was accomplished by Jennifer and
Fritz Scheuermann, and Kurt Kampp. Special thanks go to
Paul Scherer and CJ Durham for designing and building our
beautiful new outside bar.
Officers:
President: Linda Geppert
1st Vice President: Kathy Scherer
2nd Vice President: Chrissy Meslener
Secretary:
Treasurer: Eric Boggs
Financial Secretary:
Monika Wolf
Directors:
Jeff Bernert
Marilyn Buck
Kurt Kampp
Sigrud Linnemeyer
Frank Schusteritsch
Fred Sprado
George Wolf
Alternate Directors:
Volunteers needed
Committee Chairpersons:
Atlantic City Oktoberfest Trip
Marilyn A. Buck
Bar: Peter Gibbons
Building: Paul Geppert
By-Laws: Fred Sprado
Entertainment: Board of Directors
Grounds: Frank Schusteritsch
Kitchen Coordinators
Marilyn Buck
Volunteer
Membership: Kathy Scherer
Newsletter: Linda Geppert
Public Relations: Chrissy Meslener
Rentals: Kathy Scherer
Reservations:
Chrissy Meslener
Kathy Scherer
Linda Geppert
Souvenirs: Kathy Scherer
Tag Sale: Monika Wolf
Webmaster: Kurt & Maggie Kampp
Die Trachtenkapelle Hohenmirsberg provided
a delightful mix of traditional German music
and contemporary American popular music
for the entertainment of our guests.
Above, youngsters who came to our Oktoberfest
this year enjoyed games and crafts at the
Kinderzelt, run by the Mahopac High School
German Club. At right, members Anny and Randy
Hendricks supplied water and soda for our
Oktoberfest guests.
It was the perfect day for a parade – especially
one up Fifth Avenue. Of course it was the 2008
Steuben Day Parade, held on 20 September. The
Peekskill Club turnout was about the same as
last year, with most of the same members
marching. The proud, the few, representatives of
our club included (from left to right) Wilhelmina
Ottenwalder, Ulla Zoller, Frank Hartl, Roland Link,
Paul Geppert, Marianne Kapfer, Linda Geppert,
and Frank Schusteritsch. Also marching, though
not pictured, were Erich and Marianne Bayer,
Peter Gibbons, Monika Wolf, Trudy Reynolds,
and Frank Hartl’s daughter, Marilyn.
Membership Meetings
The next membership meeting is 11 October at 7:30 pm. We will serve coffee and cake.
There is no charge.
On Sunday afternoon, November 16, we hold our annual nominations meeting and
goulash dinner. Marianne Kapfer will prepare the goulash dinner.
Saturday, 6 December, at 7:30 pm is the elections meeting. Last year we did not have a
quorum and so we couldn’t elect the officers for 2008. Please plan to come to the November and
December meetings so that we can conduct essential club business.
Upcoming Events
Taj Mahal Bus Trip, 18 October. For more information, please see the flyer included in
this newsletter.
Harvest Moon Dance, 8 November. Marilyn and Herman Buck will cook. For details,
please see the flyer on the last page of this newsletter.
Kids’ Christmas Party, 7 December. Santa is coming to the German American Club on
Sunday, 7 December, between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Activities include crafts and a magician.
Refreshments will be provided. Cost is $5.00 per family, which consists of members with their
children or grandchildren. However if both parents and grandparents attend, we consider that to
be two families and the cost is $10.00. Santa will hand out presents. So be sure to bring a
wrapped gift for each child you are bringing to the party. Make sure that the name of the child is
clearly marked on the gift. Please let Marilyn Buck know how many children, parents,
grandparents, or other family members will be attending (845 227-5159). We would greatly
appreciate donations of cookies or other snacks.
GAC Annual Christmas Dinner Dance, 13 December. Bud and Linda Gramer and the
Melodies will play a mix of German, ballroom, and popular music. Chef Kevin Scanlon will
prepare a delicious dinner. You will have your choice of a chicken or a salmon dinner. Doors
will open at 6:30, with dinner at 7:30. Music begins at 8:00. Before dinner, feast on delicious
homemade hors d’oeuvres.
Club Trips
We are in the process of planning some club trips. Possible excursions are visits to the
Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at the Rockefeller Estate in Sleepy Hollow, New York; and to the
Old Heidelberg Restaurant in Bethel Connecticut. The trips would occur in October or
November. Next year we are considering a club trip to the Paramount Theater on 11 April 2009
to hear a performance of German opera music, principally music of Mozart, Beethoven, and
Humperdinck. Please let Chrissy Meslener know if you are interested in any these trips – 845736-3922.
2008 Kitchen Duty List
October 11
We are working out details
November 16
Ruthann and Walter Ritter
December 6
Al and Linda Ahrens
Please be at the club house one hour before the meeting.
Remember: If you are unable to fulfill your kitchen duty, you are responsible for finding
someone to take your place or paying $25 toward hiring a paid worker.
Food Basket
The club continues to collect food items for our food basket, which are usually donated to
the needy through Grace Lutheran Church in Yorktown. Please continue your generosity and
bring nonperishable items when you come to the club on Friday evenings or for meeetings.
2008 Membership Dues
Dues for the year come due on 1 January. If you haven’t paid your dues, please pay them
as soon as possible. Send or give your dues payment to Monika Wolf. Her mailing address is 13
Boswell Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579.
Do You Know
The New York City marathon is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. This
year it will be run on 2 November, attracting more than 100,000 applicants, who enter a lottery
that decides who will get to run. A strong field of world-class runners will compete for over
$600,000 in prizes. In all, more than 39,000 runners will compete, about half of them from
outside the United States. It’s great fun to be in Manhattan the week before the race and see the
many obviously fit athletes taking pictures, jogging, or conversing in their various languages.
Because marathons in different cities run over different terrain and in different climate
conditions, the marathon has no true world record classification. For men, the fastest marathon
time—2:03:59—was set in September by Haile Gebrselassie in the Berlin Marathon. That’s well
under five minutes per mile and over 12 miles per hour. Paula Radcliffe set the fastest woman’s
time—2:15:25—last year in the New York City Marathon. Since 1971, The New York City
Marathon has run through all five burroughs, for the most part in Brooklyn, Queens, and
Manhattan, with short stretches in Staten Island, where the race starts, and also through the
Bronx for few miles. Before 1971, it made several tedious loops around Central Park.
$45.00 Per Person
Refreshments Provided on Bus
Leaving From Home Depot Parking Lot
Rt. 6 Mohegan Lake, NY
At 8:30 AM
Will make a pick-up in Westchester County
At Sam’s Club – 333 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY
$18.00 Give Back from Taj Mahal
$5.00 Food Comp valid at the Sultan’s Feast Buffet
( total return per person is $23.00 )
Hosted by the German-American Social Club of Peekskill, NY
Reservations – Linda Geppert @ 845-628-9283
All reservations must be paid prior to the event.