2017 Von Steuben Parade in Lincoln Square

President’s Message:

Lord Hear Our Prayers
I’m sorry to report that our good member Bob Issel succumbed to injuries resulting from a tragic car accident this past summer. His wife Marianne was also in intensive care before being released. Kenny Hauser is still on the mend but progressing. Please keep them in your prayers as well as Lorelei Haas.

GAPA Oktoberfest

Our Ofest will be held at the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont this year in order to provide a more authentic experience for our members and guests. Also to attract a younger crowd. So members should encourage their 21 or older kids to come with them and join in what could possibly be GAPA’s best Ofest ever. The Hofbrauhaus offers Hofbrau bier brewed on-site, bands from Bavaria, dancing, yodeling, etc. GAPA member Joe Matuschka, one of Hofbrauhaus’ owners, has offered GAPA an excellent price. Contact Bryan Pyferoen for tix. A perfect opportunity to show some membership pride. So leave the suits and ties in the closet. lederhosen and dirndls or otherwise casual dress are more than welcome. Valet parking is available and easy access via Kennedy xway and tri-state tollway. See ad inside and mark the date!

2018 GAPA Scholarships

We will also be picking our GAPA scholarship winners Ofest evening, so don’t forget to send in your applications before the deadline. See OFest ad and Scholarship App inside for more information.

GAPA Picnic

Our picnic was well attended as John Meindl had a fun-filled day in store for all of us! We thank Art Oswald for the job he did with the Picnic Raffle, but we still need more members contributing. This raffle funds the picnic—without it we’d have to charge a steep admission and much more for the food. We thank John, Joe Schreiner, Johnny Huinker, Roger Haas, Jeff Schuck, Tim Schaefer (pic l) among others who all helped to set up, run and clean up. We also thank George Mikell for taking excellent pix. We, especially, thank Tim for running the Danielle-Marie Pisterzi Scholarship. Nicole Schaefer was the recipient of this award.

Von Steuben Parade/German Fest

GAPA marched down Lincoln Ave with the rest of the German American community on a beautiful late summer day. We were joined by two police officers from Berlin, Fabian Daehnrich and Martin Banditt, both of whom were part of a contingent of 12 Berlin police officers who also marched in New York’s Von Steuben/German Day parade the following week.

Elections

Nominations for GAPA elections for officers will be held at the October and December meetings. Anyone nominated must be present to accept the nominations.

Annual GAPA Chicago/GAPA Milwaukee Tailgater

Will be covered in the next issue because of the game’s late date.

Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Meister Tim Schaefer has the 2018 Super Bowl Party Fundraiser tix printed and ready to distribute.

2018 membership dues are also due!

Ein Prosit!

Mike & Carol Haas

Health and Welfare:
Dear friends at GAPA, please think of the Bob Issel family in your prayers as we mourn the death of long time member and all-around great guy Robert Issel in a tragic traffic accident and the severe injuries to his wife Marrianne who is recovering, though it will be a long process.

Also in GAPA’s thoughts is Lorelei Haas, wife of Roger, who is undergoing post-op treatments for her health issues.

It was good to see Rich Haack at our meeting in September. Karl Haack, you are one great son. George Volkl is also on the mend and has purchased a table at our Oktoberfest on 1o November at the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont.

During the crazy weather, this summer GAPA reached out to members living in Florida both before and after the hurricanes ripped through the areas where they are living and stayed to hold down the fort. Best wishes to the Geoghegan’s, Pisterzi’s, Thiry’s, and any others I may not heard of. Word is they all came through the storms with only minor damage and no injuries. In Chicago, we may complain about the weather, but overall I believe that we live in one of the safest and most stable areas in the country. Until we have a Sharknado-caine-quake I will take the occasional blizzard-arctic cold- heatwave conditions we get here. However one of the genuine reasons people are leaving Chicago / Cook County are the unrelenting increase in taxes and the perfidy of our politicians at all levels of government but particularly the local ones. Would rather have real alligators in the backyard than the political piranha’s who are destroying us by a thousand bites (taxes).

The weather for the Von Steuben Parade and German Day was perfect and GAPA was again joined by our friends from the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums who shared some relaxation and brunch pre-parade at Laschet’s Inn. FOP provided a float which was beautifully decorated and two police officers from Berlin, Fabian Daenrich and Martin Banditt also marched with us. The event was well attended and the parade participants had a pleasant walk down Lincoln Ave. to the cheers of many spectators.

What can I say but to urge all GAPA members who are able to join us for the meetings and other activities particularly the upcoming Oktoberfest this year at the fabulous HofBrau Haus in Rosemont on Friday, 10 November 2017. This exciting venue will host our celebration and change things up with great food, drink, and their in-house German Band.

As always, best wishes,

Art