Once a year all of our Karneval clubs meet at GAMGA in Las Vegas. Below are some pictures of their trip.

Note the lavish costume of the King and Queen of Ensenada, Mexico

GAMGA, Prinz Reinhold with the Queen of Ensenada, Mexico.

GAMGA Las Vegas.

GAMGA Las Vegas.

      Mayor Daley being awarded the Prinzenorden by               Mayor Daley's reception. Downtown Chicago. 

                                        Prinz Robert.

Prinzessin Elizabeth beaming at the Mayor's reception of "GermanDay".

Our Karneval Club is everywhere, the "Entertainer" at the Frankfort Labor Day Parade.

Miss D.A.N.K. South, Katarina Hartung with President Reinhard and Gary.

Emperors Ball in St. Paul Minnesota, Reinhard with German Club Dignitaries.

Reinhard and Ilse with local (Minn.) Prinzenpaar at the Emperors Ball.

Prince Robert and Princess Elisabeth at the Emperors Ball.

Prinzess Wafa of Milwaukee and former princess Nana and Ilse

President Reinhard with Klondike Kate "alias" Kimberly Tsoukalas of Winter Karneval fame.

Group with royalty out of Chicago

The Emporer himself "alias" Bruce Larson with the Honorable Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota

Former Prinzess Ilse with EX Prinz Darrel Schenk of St. Paul

Brandenburgerschützenkönig, old and new with Prinz Robert & Hans Wolf.

Its a family event, outgoing schützenkönig Werner Hueppe with extended family.

We just concluded a marathon 2 weeks of Festivals, Masquerade Ball, Weiberfasnacht, Kansas City trip, Rosenmotag and Fat Tuesday. A snippet of movies was made into an informal DVD for our Club Membership review.

Rheinischer Verein takes a field trip to Rush & Division, Bar-hopping to eight adjoining bars. Locals get lessons in Zicke-Zacke, Heu Heu Heu!!!

Prinzenpaar & Miss Hollywood (jester) in action at Bootleggers.

Bar action at Bootleggers.

Another year, and still going strong, and getting stronger. No, I'm not talking about our Rheinischer Verein. We all know that we have existed for more than a century in Chicago. The heritage of our great country Germany is alive right here and we are all proud of it. What more could we have asked of our forefathers to pass on to us? We are blessed with being able to fit into society and are mostly in leading positions or self made business people and accomplished craftsmen. We can survive by ourselves and excel in life. We are strong willed and have a mind of our own, and financially we are not doing so bad either. One could think we are perfect, right?

However, we don't make good politicians, we tell every one what and how to do it, but no one can tell us much or anything, which is not all bad; but, the time has come where we have to mellow, bend a little, and speak out less often.

We need to become a German melting pot; our somewhat different ethnic backgrounds have to flow together into one culture. We need to work together if we want our heritage to live on for another century, we need to seek out our younger generation and get them interested, for it is for them to carry on, and we need to see that we can get a bigger meeting place, where we can [old and young] meet and pursue our interests and goals; a house where all want to go and pursue their hobbies.

I can visualize Club meetings to be held there, a room with some exercise equipment, perhaps a BB target range, a room for arts and crafts, perhaps have cooking/baking lessons, etc. I could come up with dozens of things to do. Oh no, I am getting carried away, when all I wanted to tell you is that our Newsletter is almost 1 year old and getting better all the time, a welcome addition to our Club. Don't forget to keep it up; we need the input of everybody.

This also happens to be my first year as president that is coming to an end [I actually had fun doing it]. I would like to thank all of you for your support.

In the coming year we have great things planned that will keep everyone involved in the Club, on their toes, which is at least the way I envision it. Our next immediate event is very important to our Club, namely, the May Fest. Let's hope we have good weather and a great turnout. It is a huge undertaking, so let's all help and work together, then the burden on each of us will be tolerable. This event does not only support our Club, it will be greater than that; it will also support the Citizens in the neighborhood of Gene Schulter's 47th Ward. We will host the Senior Citizens on Friday, help the youth organizations by donating to the Boys/Girl Scouts and have a farmers market on Saturday morning. We will have 4 days of entertainment for all generations, where they can eat, drink, socialize, have fun, and dance, see ethnic performances, where they can listen to good old German music, perhaps witness some of our ways and hear the language. Perhaps some of it will rub off and that is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Fathers Day is soon coming up. This year, as in the past, we will have our annual "Rheinische" family picnic on that Sunday. Of course, all members and their families are invited for a good time. The Rheinischer Verein would like to take this opportunity to say: "Thank you to all of you". We serve good food, beer and wine, and entertain you with good fun games and if you would like to bring friends [for a small donation] they, too, can participate.

As re-elected President I look forward to the coming year. In the meantime, I say:"Tschues und Auf Wiedersehen" to all of you.

Yours,