Dear Friends,                                   Jan 2012

I congratulate and thank all the singers and members of the Kingston Maennerchor and Damenchor especially President and Chairperson Hildegard Edling and the Convention Committee for their gracious hospitality in hosting our recent New York State Saengerbund Convention and the Bundes Music Committee Meeting.

I also thank all the delegates and officers who participated for their dedication, preparation, and thoughtful deliberation. Please refer to the minutes of the BMC meeting and Business meeting for the details of each meeting. Thank you Hildegard Edling and Patty Lenga.

To all members of the German-American community throughout the state. Now is the time to start planning and saving for the

36th New York State Sängerbund Sängerfest.
8th 9th and 10th of June in 2012.

The Germania Singing Society of Poughkeepsie will host this triennial singing festival. We encourage all member vereine and German-American societies to support, attend, and participate in this event so that the 36th Sängerfest will be a true collaboration and demonstration of our Germanic heritage.

Can you remember your immigrant parents or grandparents and how they struggled, worked, and survived in their big new Amerika. They developed new customs, language, and skills while learning to become parents, providers, protectors and good citizens. They all knew and understood the old adage: "United we stand divided we fall".

Because of their hard work and dedication our lives were made much easier as we stand on their shoulders to help our children grow and prosper. As we become more involved in our daily routines we tend to forget what it means to be able to say "I am proud to be a German-American". Quite frankly, we all need to speak up for our heritage and stand together to ensure its preservation.

Please consider how you could participate in this year's grand event. If your local verein no longer performs as a formal chorus, perhaps you and a few friends can join in the Mass Chorus Concert. Involve yourself in your culture and play a part in this sängerfest. If you have not yet done so, take out a personal ad in the Sängerfest Journal in memory of your family heritage. Encourage your club to submit their ad and to support and attend this event. The journal contributions will help fund and offset the major expenses of this sängerfest.

We are truly privileged to represent and honor our forefathers and past members who dedicated themselves to the German Community of New York State and inspired, motivated, and nurtured our cultural heritage and traditions.

The message in Aesop's fable that if we do not stand together we will surly fall apart truly applies to us now. Let this be our incentive to join in motivating and inspiring each other in bringing our German culture and traditions to the forefront once again in New York State. Help your children, grandchildren, and their descendents be proud of their heritage.

For more information, please contact
Germania Singing Society of Poughkeepsie
President Pat Kemmerer (845) 471-0609

To have your club events or e-mail address posted on the NYSSB website please send me your 2012 Calendar of Events or e-mail me directly and I will compile the information. Thank you Gail Miller for sponsoring our website once again.

Mit freundlichen Sängergrüßen und Kameradschaft,
verbleiben ich Euer Sängerbruder und Freund,

Hermann Alfons Koelmel