11 x 11 Anniversary Gala Celebration

In a most elegant setting, the Rheinischer Verein celebrated its founding since 1890. The symbol of 11x11 equals 121 years of Karneval in Chicago. Rosemont Convention Center and Catering, under the direction of Ed Sugar, provided the elegant setting for this momentous black tie event.

Karnevalisten from around the US and Germany joined together at this Anniversary festival. President Reinhard Richter, in his opening speech, pointed out the dedication required by so many club members. Cornell Erdbeer, MC, then started the festivities. The many Karnevalisten from Cincinnati, Kansas City, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Germany were introduced and the schunkel show started.

Former Chicago Prinzenpaare from the last 20 years had been invited and were introduced to the crowd to show the dedication to carry on our rich Karneval traditions. All appeared in an elegant pomp of feathers, cepters and most colorful attire. A slideshow with pictures dating back 100 years had been collected by Ron Zilinski and was playing non-stop next to the stage.

My personal highlight was the introduction of 50 year memberships. Icons Gustav Hopp and Karl Heinz Brockerhoff, both co-founders of the fanfaren, and Willi Hopp, received their Urkunde and Orden. Gustav Hopp was the reason I joined the club and started our website and Facebook.

Our Haus Kapelle Phenix played traditional Karneval and Schunkel musik. Our Fanfaren and Amazonen provided for traditional entertainment. Our Prinzengarde and Elferat framed our event most elegantly, Karneval Germany style in Chicago is alive and well. Alaff (Köln) or Helau (Mainz)!

Congratulations to all our members, friends and benefactors on achieving this 11 X 11 milestone

It has been an honor and privilege to have known past presidents such as Karl Laschet, Erich Himmel, Joe Matuschka and Helmut Mueller. It is humbling to follow their footsteps and together with my board lead the oldest Karneval Organization in the United States. During the last seven years I have become acutely aware of what it takes to maintain and cultivate German tradition and culture in a foreign land. It takes a lot of support from all of you, club members and the “Festbesucher” of our 11 X 11 Gala Anniversary Banquet. Without the support and assistance of our fellow organizations, not only Karneval clubs, but all those who nurture German culture in America, we would not have achieved this milestone in our history.

Here in the Midwest we have been blessed to be surrounded by organizations like the Spielmanszug Minnesota, Kansas City / St. Louis, Cincinnati, Edmonton Canada and our close neighbors to the North, Milwaukee with Gruen Weiss and the Spielmanszug all who regularly attend and support our functions, sometimes at great expense.

Today we also honor members who have been actively involved over the last 50 years, this kind of commitment is to say the least rare but to us indispensable. Our history is full of icons like Joe Gies, Erika Brockerhof, Wally Klink and countless others who may not have been on the board but have left an indelible mark on us and our Verein.

I welcome all of our guests and visitors and wish them many more happy and healthy years celebrating Life and Karneval, and my our own personal Ash Wednesday be many, many years off in the future.

Respectfully I remain
Reinhard Richter
President KGRV Chicago 1890

In 2011 the Rheinischer Verein has reached another milestone 121 years, the product of 11 X 11. Therefore it is fitting to celebrate and reflect on these 10 years since our last big event the 111th. which was celebrated in 2001.

Much has happened since then, Helmut Mueller became president in 2002 relieving Josef Matuschka who became our Ehrenpresident, joining Erich Himmel in that exalted position. Our Prinzenpaar that year was S.T. Prinz William III and I.L. Prinzessin Elizabeth II.

In 2003 under Helmut’s leadership and under the reign of Prinz Wilfred I. and I.L.Prinzessin Wilma, with 150 members, the R.V. traveled across the pond to Lörzweiler, Germany to participate in the Rosenmontags parade in Mainz. Unable to find a Prinz the following year, Bill Keim happily repeated his reign in 2004 as S.T. William III and his wife Elizabeth joined him for another wonderful year.

During his second term as Prinz, the Rheinischer Verein was invited by Mayor Daley to the opening of Millennium Park. The Fanfaren Corps, under the direction of Reiner Mayer, led the way for the ethnic parade celebrating the multicultural fabric of this city as this long awaited gem of Chicago finally was opened to the public. A new president was also elected that year, Helmut Mueller handed the reigns over to Reinhard Richter a long time member of the Rheinische Gesang Verein who has led the Verein since then. Reinhard and his wife Ilse became our Prinzenpaar for 2005. With the support of a strong and able Vorstand the year came off as a success despite the dual duties of the president and Prinz. During this time we entered the digital / modern age with Hans Wolf bringing our website, www.mardigraschicago.com, to life, where our past ten years are thoroughly documented including some historical photographs of many years ago. In 2006 our Fanfaren Corps participated in the Oktoberfest parade in Munich as the first ever non European marching band to ever be invited to this world renowned event.

Gisela Jüngling retired as leader of the Amazonen, concentrating on her own young family, and handing over the reigns to Anita Krestel and Christine Fazekas.

Our honorary president Joe Matuschka started the Mayfest at Lincoln Square in 1999 and by 2009 it was voted “Best Fest in Chicago” by Red Eye of the Tribune. The Mayfest has become indispensable in maintaining our financial well being. Even though we are now a 501c3 organization we cannot support ourselves from Karneval alone and depend on the good will of many.

Our Rosenmontag is frequented by many of our friends from Minnesota, Kansas City / St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and this year even from Edmonton Canada. We are proud to be able to maintain this yearly tradition. The Rheinischer Verein is the only Karneval organization in the United States who still celebrates Rosenmontag traditionally as the last event of the “Fünfte Saison” (Fifth Season).

During the past couple of years we unexpectantly lost two icons of Karneval, Wally Klink and our beloved “Mother Superior” Erika Brockerhof. We will always keep them fondly in our hearts and memories and will remain true to their guiding light.

Our Prinzengarde was revived by Christel Valentine and is now again actively involved in every facet of our organization.

Our Prinz for our 11 X 11 Anniversary year is none other than our Polizist of three decades, now addressed as S.T. Prinz Manfred II and I.L. Prinzessin Jennifer I.

This year being a long season, enabled us to travel to Lörzweiler and Mainz again, renewing old friendships and strengthening our resolve to maintain traditions and customs, come what may. The planning for the next season has already begun with the election in May of our Prinz Elect, Franz Josef (Sepp) Oberl.

We would like to thank all of our friends and supporters who have made this journey possible.