German-Texan Heritage Society, The Journal, Volume 16, Number 3, Fall 1995 Page: 196
[91] p. : ill.View a full description of this periodical.
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u 1 I he Journar Year 199b Vol. 1 (xvIl) No. 3 (rail)
196
FAREWELL LETTER FROM GUILD PRESIDENT
As I near the end of my term in office as the Founding President of the German Free School
Guild, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who have made this experience so rich and
rewarding. First and foremost, I want to thank the Officers and Board of Directors of the Guild,
whose energy and enthusiastic effort were invaluable to the success of the Guild. They include:
Officers
Charles Kalteyer, President Elect; Treasurer, William Koehler; Secretary, Elinor
Koppelman; VP of Building Facilities, C. A. Schutze; VP of Communication, Helga von
Schweinitz; VP of Education, Dr. Gerhild Rogers; VP of Landscaping, Charles Clinger;
VP of Membership, Renate Leonard; VP of Special Events, Edwin R. Jordan, Jr.; VP of
Support Services, Edna Groeschel
Committee Chairpersons and Advisors
Genealogy, Marvin Schwausch; Library, Ingrid Lansford; Merchandising, Suzann
Thompson; Newsletter, Richard J. Burges; Docents, Julia Mellenbruch; German
Christmas Traditions, Connie Krause; Telephone, Mary Clinger; Advisors, Howard
Barr, Anna Thompson, Eva Hardeman, William Wendtland
I also want to give special thanks to the GTHS Board whose consent and support made the
formation of the Guild possible, and, of course, to our Executive Director, Teresa Schwausch
Chavez whose assistance was so dear to all of us. In addition, I want to thank all statewide
members for their generous aid for our many endeavors.
It's hard to believe that it has already been two years since the Guild was founded to serve as
caretakers of the German Free School, our GTHS state headquarters. The Guild has been
fortunate in the response of those who share both our German-Texan heritage and desire to help
preserve our unique history for future generations. I cannot begin to thank all of those who gave
so unselfishly of their time and expertise to insure that the activities undertaken would succeed.
Suffice it to say that the results speak for themselves. You have only to walk through the gate to
notice immediately the lovely garden inviting you to linger for awhile, to know that care was taken
to make it so. As you enter the front door, smiles of "Wilkommen" greet you and beckon you to
visit and share in the beauty of the charming and historic building. Countless hours were spent in
cleaning and decorating to create an atmosphere of eduring appeal. The beautifully appointed
Charles Trenckmann Memorial Library, housing family genealogies, German-Texan history and
Texana, would not have been possible without the Trenckmann's generous family gift. The
delicate lace curtains enhancing the large windows were also made possible through a generous
donation. Several other restoration projects were funded partially through grants and/or
contributions, including much of the office furniture.The list of accomplishments for the GFS were aided by activities undertaken by the Guild, such
as: the 1994 Development Fund Drive, a Silent Auction, the 1994 Convention Raffle, a bowling
fundraiser, the gift shop, membership dues, and coming soon, a Weihnachten Market. In all,
more than $20,000.00 was used to continue the maintenance and restoration of the GFS. Many
other projects are in the "wings" just waiting for the time when they can be activated. A "wish list"
was included in the statewide Development Fund Drive letter sent by the GTHS President, W. M.
Von-Maszewski. In pursuit of creating a German-Texan Cultural Center at our headquarters,
several outstanding GTHS-sponsored exhibits have been held. The first was a "Hummel" exhibit
in 1994 held on German-American Day. This past May, "Oma's Attic" featured handmade textiles
of a bygone era. This past October/November, the "Der Stern von Texas" exhibit highlighted
accomplishments of German-Texans past and present. The speakers series this past year featured
several noted and outstanding lecturers, enhancing the intellectual opportunities of both members
and guests alike. The beginning German classes have offered members and non-members the
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German-Texan Heritage Society. German-Texan Heritage Society, The Journal, Volume 16, Number 3, Fall 1995, periodical, Autumn 1994; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1507426/m1/8/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting German-Texan Heritage Society.