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Untergruppen - Groups
The Alpine Club Ladies' Group "Edelweiss"
The ties to our homeland Gottschee brought us together in 1953 with the founding
of the Alpine Club. Within the setting of the Alpine Club we
are keeping our traditions and history alive and honoured. The Club served as a meeting place for companionship, to reminisce and sing
Gottscheer folksongs. At the beginning these gatherings were not recorded. For the Saturday night dances which were held in
the late fifties and early sixties, simple meals were prepared by our Ladies in the Club kitchen. In a leading position at
that time, were Betty Simon nee Kresse (Masern), Julie Hutter nee Petschauer (Moesel) and Rosa Pleschinger, nee Fink
(Altlag).
In the sixties, a tape recording of "Bias ahoima ischt geban" by Ernst Petsche of Moesel, played by a childhood friend for a
gathering of Gottscheer women, gave the impetus to form the more cohesive Alpine Club Ladies' Group "Edelweiss".
Ida Dale nee Petsche, Setsch, took responsibility as this group's first President in 1965. A membership list was established,
meetings were planned and recorded, a bank account for the group was started. Their work involved the preparation of light
meals for the Saturday Night Dances, as well as full meals for other events such as the Gottscheer Treffen, the first three
being held in Kitchener at the Alpine Club. For our City's Sommerfest the Edelweiss Group provided a table with home-baked
cookies, cakes and Nuss Strudel. In addition, the Ladies' Group held dances, card-parties, arranged excursions and outings for
their members.
For the annual "Weihnachtsfeier" in the Alpine Club, Edelweiss Ladies shopped and wrapped the Christmas treat for the
children, handed out by Santa, as was done for decades past and is still done until now.
Close to the time the K-W Oktoberfest was begun, the Edelweiss Group separated the kitchen responsibility from their other
activities. Frieda Mausser took on the kitchen management, a position she held until early 2001. Under her guidance we
prepared in the Club kitchen the best Applestrudel served in the Twin Cities, as acknowledged by our patrons.
The first President of the Alpine Club Ladies' Group Edelweiss in 1965 was Ida Dale; she held the position also from 1984 -
1986. Then followed Edith Herold 1966 and 1988 - 1990; Sophie Degutis 1967 and 1991 - 1992; Olga Bencina 1968, Frieda Mausser
1969 - 1973, Julie Hutter 1974, Stephie Hribar in 1975 and 1976, Erna Spoenlein 1977, Rosa Pleschinger 1978 - 1983, serving
the most years; Anne Kroisenbrunner 1987, Edda Morscher 1993 and 1994, Justine Sigmund 1995 and 1996.
Since then and now, Justine Sigmund and Edda Morscher alternate as Chair-Ladies of the Edelweiss Group, planning meetings and
activities. They are supported by Erna Spoenlein as Secretary and Edith Herold as Treasurer of the Group. We still honour our
homeland Gottschee, sing Gottscheer folksongs as we meet, go together on outings and serve our Alpine Club as
required.
In addition, to commemorate our 40. Anniverary in the year 2000, the Edelweiss Group voted to make a donation for 5 Metres of
the Grand River Community Trail in our City; this nature trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail. This was whole-heartedly
approved by the Alpine Club "Vorstand".
For this contribution the Alpine Ladies Group Edelweiss is permanently listed on the placque of donors, mounted at the Trail's
entrance point of their choice.
Kitchener, May 1, 2002.
Edith Herold.
ALPINE DANCERS
History
The "ALPINE DANCERS" were founded by Hans Kroisenbrunner and the first practice was held in January 1979. The first
performance was within the next month during the annual BAUERNBALL 1979.
A new tradition was started in 1983 when the Alpine Dancers performed at the Gottscheer Treffen in New York. On subsequent
Treffens other Gottscheer youth joined in the festivities and friendships developed among the members of these dance groups,
in particular New York and Cleveland. So much so, that several marriages resulted between members of the Alpine Dancers and
the New York's Erste Gottscheer Tanzgruppe.
One of the most memorable experiences the Alpine Dancers can recall was the European trip July 10 - 24, 1992. The 2-hour
program consisted of not only our traditional folk dancing and Schuhplattlers, but also required 2 costume changes, including
an authentic native Indian feather headdress.
Our tour took us - after landing in Frankfurt and Munich - by bus to Kindberg (1. Performance), to Bad Tatzmannsdorf (2.
Performance), to Vienna for sightseeing, to Glasing (3. Performance), to Hengsberg for sightseeing in the wine area and
visiting with friends, to Graz and Gottscheer Gedenkstätte for sightseeing, to Köflach (4. Performance), to Biber to see the
Lippizaner horse farm, to Klagenfurt (5. Performance) and sightseeing and swimming in the Wörther See, to Döbriach (6.
Performance) and a tour to the Nockalm, then via the Großglockner (bright sunshine) to Salzburg for sightseeing, to Grainbach
(7. Performance), to Diedorf (8. Performance) and the return flight from Munich. Accommodations and to a large extent even our
meals were provided by our host groups, however, we stayed in youth hostels in Vienna, Graz and Salzburg. 10 members of the
Alpine Club and/or parents of some dancers also accompanied the 20 Alpine Dancers.
The Alpine Dancers have performed at various places in Ontario as well as the U.S.A.
The Alpine Dancers continue to perform throughout the year, as well as during Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, and other
celebrations, seminars, private parties and even weddings.
They were guests of the "Christine Cushing Live" show on the Food Network on Tue. October 7, 2003 and performed live on CTV
Canada AM, as well as the opening ceremonies of KW-Oktoberfest.
"Ein Abend im Alpenland" (An Evening in the Alps) was started by the Alpine
Dancers and serves to this day as our only fundraiser and is held annually at the Alpine Club.
All "Tracht" (costumes) equipment and supplies are purchased with those funds and are supplied to the dancers and remain the
property of the Alpine Dancers.
The executive of the Alpine Club sanctions all activities of the Alpine Dancers, as they are an "Untergruppe" of the
club.
The folkdances and Schuhplattlers we perform are taken from books or from other dance groups and are taught by our own
choreographers and "Vorplattlers".
View our Alpine Dancers Photo Gallery
50th
Jubilee for H. M. Queen Elizabeth II
The Alpine Dancers were honoured to be asked by the DKK (Deutsch-Kanadischer-Kongress) to represent the German speaking
community at Ontario's Celebration of the 50th Jubilee of Her Majesty's Reign.
Approximately 8000 invited guests crowded the Trade Centre in Toronto on Wednesday, October 9, 2002 to take part in this very
special celebration. Everyone anticipated at least seeing Her Majesty and Prince Phillip close up.
The Alpine Dancers, along with the other guests, lined the red-carpeted walkabout. By sheer luck, both His Royal Highness
Prince Philip and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth stopped and chatted briefly with some of our members, Lore Kump (president of
the Alpine Dancers), Anne Kroisenbrunner, Margit Klein and John Mahler. What excitement!
Our families and friends witnessed this event, as it was broadcast live across Canada.
Our performance of folkdances and Schuhplattlers followed. Representatives of the D.K.K. and other dignitaries from the
Kitchener-Waterloo area were also in the audience.
CONGRATULATIONS, ALPINE DANCERS, TO ALL THESE YEARS OF AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCES AND MANY MORE YEARS OF ENJOYMENT WITH FOLK DANCING
AND SCHUHPLATTLERS!
THE ALPINE DANCERS WOULD BE HONOURED TO PERFORM FOR YOUR FUNCTIONS OR CELEBRATIONS!
For further information and engagements, contact:
alpinedancers@alpineclub.ca or 519-744-1521
ALPINE JUNIOR DANCERS
We are 25 children, 11 boys and 14 girls; we range in ages 4-13 and enjoy folk dancing and schuhplattlers. We have performed
at the Alpine Club for the May Dance, the 50th Anniversary celebration and of course during Oktoberfest. We also performed at
Senior Citizen's day at St. Mary's Hall in Kitchener.
If you would like to join us, please call the Alpine Club at 519-744-1521 or write to alpinejuniordancers@alpineclub.ca
ALPINE MIXED BOWLING LEAGUE
The Alpine Club Mixed Bowling Group is welcoming
new members.
Our season starts in September, we bowl every
second Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Towne Bowl on Ottawa Street in Kitchener. For more
information or to sign up please call 519-884-7131 or 519-885-4956.
- Established in 1976 by Roman Samide
- Started with 36 bowlers, used 6 lanes
- In a short while there were 72 bowlers and all 12 lanes on one floor were used
- Team names are mostly Austrian cities: i.e. "Wien", "Innsbruck", "Klagenfurt", "Linz", etc.
- Also the team name "Gottschee" was used
- The season starts on the second week in September and ends in mid-April
- For additional socializing the bowling committee organizes picnics, x-mas wine and cheese parties, card nights and of
course the banquet with trophies and prizes presentations, followed by dancing
- Currently the league consists of 6 teams with 30 bowlers at "Towne Bowl"
- All bowlers are members of the Alpine Club
Presidents:
Anne Bogad, 2003 - present.
Dick Schuster, 1982 - 1985, 1986 - 2002
Steve Feledi, 1985 - 1986
Roman Samide, 1976 - 1982
Secretaries:
Anita Heuchert, 2000 - present.
Jean Plust, 1980 - 1999
Dick Schuster, 1979 - 1980
Emma Vogl, 1976 - 1979
Treasurers:
Anita Heuchert, 1998 - present
Helma Herbst, 1984 - 1987, 1994 - 1998
Emma Vogl, 1982 - 1984, 1987 - 1994
Frank Stohr, 1980 - 1982
Sophie Piller, 1978 - 1980
Theresa Schuster, 1976 - 1978
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