 |
Schuhplattler Verein Alpenklang
Troy, NYSchuhplattler Dancing- and - Alpine Bell Ringing
|
|
Schuhplattler Verein Alpenklang
Troy, NYSchuhplattler Dancing- and - Alpine Bell Ringing
|
The following passage is from the program booklet of our Fahnenweihe held July 1-3, 1988.
On February 9, 1978, a delegation from the Troy German Hall Association, headed by Andy Maier, then the president of the association, and comprised of George, (our first 1. Vorstand), and Paula, (our first Schriftfuererin), Wiesnet, Eddie, (our first 2. Vorstand), and Gisela, (our first Kassier), Schlederer, Helmut and Marlies, (our first Trachtenmutter), Reihs, and Otto and Marion Mehner made the hour-and-a-half trek down the Thruway to Kingston, N. Y. to seek the help of Die Bergvagabunden Schuhplattler in forming a Schuhplattler Verein in Troy's Germania Hall.
This was, in effect, the formation of our Verein, but it was not until the group contacted Marty and Betty Ratigan, also members of the Hall Association, to become our first Vorplattler and Vortaenzerin, that the serious pursuit of Schuhplattler dancing began.
The original intent of this group, to form a small Verein to dance exclusively at Germania Hall, was soon abandoned as membership soared. It also became apparent that this group was not going to be content to be relatively inactive. Our friends from Kingston, Carl and Marilyn Grassi, Fred and Carol Hinners, Paul Gordon, Herman and Linda Koelmel, Harold and Ann Barnum, and numerous others faithfully made the trip from Kingston to Troy every Monday evening to teach us the finer points of Schuhplattler dancing. After what seemed like endless sessions of battered hands and bruised and sore thighs, accompanied by ladies spinning dizzily out of control, that things started to come together and we mastered our first Schuhplattler dance-Den Reit Im Winkler. It was a proud moment, soon to be followed by many more as our repetoire of dances grew under the watchful eyes of our tutors.
The next obstacle to be hurdled was to select a name appropriate for our battered group and to set up a constitution and by-laws, and to elect officers. In order to record our ventures, we added the office of Archivar, to which Karl Haeussel was elected. Now for a name. Die Flachland Tiroler was suggested, in jest. Because of our diverse membership, and for lack of a better idea, we voted to officially adopt it as our name, and the following year incorporated under it.
Our first engagement was a weekend at the Plattsburgh, N. Y. "Oktoberfest." There we met the "Bavarian Club Almenrausch" from Syracuse, N.Y., and "G.T.E.V. Alpenroesl" from St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. Needless to say, we felt intimidated by these two established clubs, but they soon put us at ease, and we went into the wee hours of the morning with our new friends, while receiving our first taste of "Gemeutlichkeit." It was here also that we first heard the enchanting sounds of the cowbells as played by the St. Catherines club. We decided then and there that our Verein would have cowbell music. Shortly thereafter, one of our members visited Bavaria and brought back our first set of cowbells, soon to be followed by another. Our first Bauernball, held the following May, featured our newly-found dancing skills, and two very talented ladies playing cowbell music.
Our next "highlight" was the filming of a TV commercial as part of the "I Love N. Y." ad campaign. Approximately 75 of our members, a three piece band, three halves of beer and countless pounds of wurst were bused to the old Saranac Lake Inn, located in the Adirondack Mountains. There a lakeside scene was set up and awaiting us, ready for filming. However, a well-timed downpour caused us to retreat to the front porch of the inn where filming proceeded. The band played, the wurst was cooked, the beer was tapped, (but don't get caught on camera taking a drink). Just as the wurst was served the director shouted "cut". The wurst was picked up, to be served again, but not the beer. After six or seven unsuccessful attempts at serving the wurst, refilling the beer mugs and filming, we had to shuffle some people from front tables to the back of the porch. Thankfully the next couple of attempts sufficed and we all settled down to a good time. We are told this commercial was shown in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but never locally, so none of our members ever saw the fruits of our labor.
In 1982 we reincorporated under the name of the Schuhplattler Verein Alpenklang, reasoning this would cover the bell music and other sounds along with the dancing. (We still hope to have someone master the "saw," the "Hackbrett," and the "Alphorns.") Soon after, we petitioned the "Gauverband Nordamerika" for membership and were accepted. The next year saw us in Cleveland competing at the ninth Gaufest. We were elated finishing 15th, just in the top half, one behind our Patenverein, Kingston. Obviously, we had learned our lessons well, and needless to say we learned much from participating in the competition. Among our discoveries was that our accordionist, at that time, would hyperventilate under pressure.
The following year , while busy, was quite ordinary, as Schuhplattling goes; performing and showcasing Bavarian Tracht and Culture for diverse groups over a wide area.
1984 saw us in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, attending the "G. T .E. V. Alpenland's" Fahnenweihe. There it was decided that in our tenth anniversary year, we would hold our Fahnenweihe. Upon returning to Troy, and even though it was four-years distant, we immediately placed S. V. Alpenklang's name on the Gau Kalendar to host "Fahnenweihe '88" on July 1,2, and 3, 1988.
Although time to organize "Fahnenweihe '88" was plentiful, pressures to start work immediately had to be resisted. We did, however , establish a committee to research and decide upon the design and preparation of our Fahne. Marianne Schmidt, our lone true Bayern woman was elected to be Fahnenmutter. Eddie Schlederer, Helmut Reihs, and Otto Mehner were elected to be Fahnentraegers, and Marlies Reihs was commissioned to design and prepare new Tracht for our ladies. Lastly, committee heads were chosen to guide us on our way. Now for our Patenverein.
Through the years, although we didn't question otherwise, it was taken for granted by us, that Die Bergvagabunden, because of their help in getting us established, was our Patenverein. It was pointed out to us, however, that this was not necessarily the case. So, somewhat embarrassed by our presumption, we humbly, with hat-in-hand, asked our Patenverein to become our PATENVEREIN.
Upon accepting our plea Die Bergvagabunden gleefully reminded us that an official ceremony or "Patenbitten", must be celebrated in order to "cement" our union. An invitation soon arrived to join them in Kingston on June 13, 1987 for this purpose. We had roughly nine months to ponder and to worry about what was in store for us.
As the fateful evening arrived we apprehensively, once again, took the trek down the Thruway to Kingston. Our fears were well founded as preparations for the ceremony unfolded before us. Truly, something spectacular was about to happen here tonight. Cameras and recording devices abounded throughout the hall. The moment of "truth" arrived. . . Four liters is a hell-of-a-lot-of-beer to consume while kneeling on rough logs with Herman Koelmel hovering over you, reading verse. Our president, not being accustomed to kneeling spent most of his time, when not drinking, leaning on our Trachtenmutter for support. The "ceremony" over, and well recorded, the balance of the evening was spent in merriment and trying to rub the ridges out of our sore knees. We were also invited to overnight with individual members of Die Bergvagabunden and Freuhstueck on Sunday morning. We shall be ever grateful to Die Bergvagabunden for their thoughtfulness in making this our "special" evening. We only regret that we will not have the opportunity to get even with them.
Preparations for "Fahnenweihe '88" are now in their final stages, and soon it will be history, as will be our first ten years. They have been good years. . . making new friends. . . bringing fond memories of the Heimatland to others. . . entertaining the elderly and the infirm. . . fostering Bavarian Tracht and Culture. We are thankful for them.