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Officers and Contacts for Austria Club of Washington for 2002

The Austria Club operates under the direction of an elected board consisting of a president, a vice president, secretary, treasurer, and two trustees. These people have the final vote in all matters. In addition, members of the board serve on committees such as membership, events, newsletter, tickets, ethnic, and telephone. Officers who run these committees either volunteer or are asked to serve by the president. The general membership is welcome to attend the board meetings, which are held the second Thursday of every month at 7:30 P. M. in the home of one of our members. Club members are invited to submit proposed additions or changes to club events. You may send your idea(s) or request to attend the meeting (asking for time/place/agenda_ to any member of the board. ).
New officers:
President: Heidi Busek
Vice President: Gunter Vierthaler
Secretary: Diane Smith
Treasurer: Rosemarie Mulholland
Trustees:

Kathleen Cotton

Rupert Dorn

Herbert Pawelka
Membership: Kathleen Cotton
Webmistress: Jenelle Anderson
Kronenzeitung Editor and Ethnic Chair:Alfred Mitterndorfer
Sunshine Lady: Helga Jaques
Telephone Ladies: Sigrid Vierthaler (chair), along with Renate Bloom, Dolores Dorn, Alma Kramer.

Annual Membership Dues are $30 per person, or $50 for a couple; children under 16 are free. Many of our events have a cover charge; guest prices are typically $3 to $5 more than members, plus we have several "potluck" gatherings each year.
Here's an overview of what the Austria Club is about:

INTERNATIONAL DANCE

The Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Hungarian and Austrian clubs participate in this dance held at the beginning of the year (early February). The clubs take turns hosting the event, and the ethnic entertainment is provided by that particular club. All clubs contribute to the ethnic foods that are available for dinner preceding and during the dance.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Austria Club annual meeting is held on a Sunday afternoon in February. We renew memberships, elect new officers, and plan events for the coming year. Since 1995, this has been a dinner meeting, and always on the nicest day of the season.

HEURIGEN NACHMITTAG

One of the most cherished customs of spring and summertime in Vienna is to go to the Heuriger, the place where one drinks the Heurige, or new wine. We celebrate here in the Seattle area with wine, beer, food, live music, and a sing-a-long. Often our Heurigen is held at the Benson barn in North Bend. The food is traditional Austrian at its finest, and the atmosphere is "sehr Gemütlich."

SOMMERFEST

On a Saturday afternoon in May, we gather for dinner and dancing in a REAL barn...with a wood floor.

PICNIC

Throughout the summer we have picnics or garden parties at members' homes. The club supplies the main entree, and members contribute the rest of the meal. This provides an opportunity to sample the creations of our many excellent cooks while enjoying peaceful gardens with fantasic company.

OCTOBERFEST

Everyone is German at this time of the year! Our fest includes dancing, entertainment, German food and beer, and a raffle with prizes from local German-speaking merchants. The traditional red, white, red of Austria becomes the blue and white of Bavaria. In December we gear up early for the season with a Christmas celebration at the Benson Barn in North Bend, or at the German House in downtown Seattle. Everyone brings baked goods and the caroling begins. We also ask people to donate two cans of food for a local foodbank.

AUSTRIAN AMERICAN DAY

In September, we join to celebrate Austrian-American Day (proclaimed by President Clinton in 1995). On this day, we celebrate Austrian Flag Day as well as the contributions that Austrians as an ethnic group have brought to North America.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

The Austria Club of Washington adopted a two mile section of I-90 near Issaquah, and four times a year a few of us don our litter crew helmets and vests and go to work keeping America beautiful. Weather permitting, we picnic afterwards.

We also have a community service project in Austria wherein we sponsor a young person in an S.O.S. Kinderdorf in Altmuenster am Traunsee. In addition to monetary support, we remember this child with gifts at holidays and birthdays.

This concludes the information about the Austria Club of Washington. However, we would like to acknowledge the many individuals, both Austria Club members and local business owners, who continue to promote the Austrian and German-speaking heritage:

AUSTRIAN CONSULATE

This is an honorary appointment from Austria. In October 1983, Walter R. Weber, CPA, was appointed Honorary Austrian Consul for the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. In 1988 he was raised to the rank of Honorary Consul General. Elisabeth Steinacker, an attorney in Seattle, was appointed to replace MR. Weber when he retired in 1997. The Austrian Consulate has always been supportive of the Austria Club and keeps us informed of the latest happenings in Austria. The most thorough update occurs October 26th, Austrian National Day, when the Austria Club of Washingotn hosts this celebration.

In 1999, October 26th was proclaimed by President Clinton of the United States, Washinton's Governor Gary Locke, and Seattle's Mayor Paul Schell to be Austrian-American Day.

Why not check the Club Events and attend one of our upcoming gatherings to meet us, speak German, have fun in the traditional Austrian culture? Families welcome!

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