DANK National Office Chicago
PRESS RELEASE November 29, 2007
Members of the German
American National Congress (aka. DANK) met in Chicago during the first
weekend of November 2007 for the purpose of electing their National
Executive Board for 2007-2009. The convention brought delegates from
all over the United States to the historic DANK Haus German Cultural
Center on North Western Avenue in Chicago. The Presidents of the
individual chapters met at a Town Hall Meeting to voice their input and
concerns. At Friday evening’s delegate reception; those in attendance
were treated to a performance of the Egerländer Dance Group from
Chicago.
Saturdays round of
meetings went quickly. As part of the business meeting in the morning,
the delegates elected the new National Board. William Fuchs, of the Fox
Valley chapter, was elected as DANK’s new National President. The rest
of the newly elected board consists of First Vice-President Erich
Wittmann from the Pittsburgh, PA chapter, Second Vice-President Donna
Lippert from the Benton Harbor, MI chapter, Secretary Beverly Pochatko
from Erie, PA and Treasurer Linda Voit from Cleveland, Ohio.
National President
Fuchs presented the newly elected board to the delegates as a team, that
was capable of working together in a professional manner, to move the
organization to new heights. In using a team approach the organization
intends to grow its national leadership team from the small group of
elected officials with the help of capable and willing members that want
to contribute in the efforts to revitalize the German American National
Congress. At the end of the session all in attendance were excited by
the energy this new Board seeks to bring to DANK and delegates were sent
off with the motto: “Together, We Can Achieve The Extraordinary!”
The evening’s banquet
was very much enjoyed and the enthusiasm of the day continued.
Dignitaries attending were Deputy Consul General Roland Herrmann of the
Chicago German Consulate and Chicago’s 47th Ward Alderman
Eugene Schulter along with his wife Rosemary.
The Awards Ceremony,
part of the banquet, was very touching as family members and friends
presented the awards with thoughts and remembrances. The “Ernst Ten
Eiken” Leadership award was presented to Timothy Garrett of Chicago
South. Ernst Ott was the recipient of the “Willi Sharpenberg”
Humanitarian Award. The “Elsbeth Seewald” Outstanding Service award was
presented to Christa Garcia. The “Rising Star” award was presented to
Katarina Hartung, who is currently Miss DANK of the DANK Chapter Chicago
South.
Mr. Raymond Lohne, the
keynote speaker of the banquet then gave an enlightening talk on the
relationship of German Americans to President Abraham Lincoln.
Following his presentation, gift baskets donated by various DANK
Chapters were raffled off to benefit the DANK Education Fund. The
evening rounded out with dancing to the music of Paloma.
