|
President’s
Report for 2009 Ladies and gentlemen, dear members of the Remembrance Society, friends and guests.It is
with great pleasure that I welcome you to our 2009 Annual General Meeting. In August
of 2009, the Remembrance Society celebrated its 7th Anniversary and we have once again worked diligently towards
raising awareness of the Remembrance Society, our goals and objectives. We continue to work in this direction focusing on
building organizational strength, maintaining our traditional services and taking on new projects.
Building Organization Strength:The Remembrance Society has shown continuous growth
and our membership now nears 300. We work as a group of dedicated individuals, volunteering our time and efforts.
Our treasurer is once more happy to report on our financial situation – a solid foundation meeting its obligations.
Our website provides details and links of our ongoing work and over this past year, I have been happy to respond to inquiries
as a result of this site. The Board of Directors meets regularly during the course of this past year and we have been pleased
to work closely with the other German Canadian organizations, both locally and abroad. Maintaining
our Traditional Services:In July of 2009, we held the Memorial Service at the Anna Tuerr Memorial in Mannheim.
Although the weather initially was unpredictable, the event was well attended by our members and we received outstanding
support from our guests of honour. As usual, the Memorial Service was followed by our Annual Fundraiser
and Picnic at Paul Tuerr’s Farm – with our best attendance to date and enjoyed by all. In October we worked closely
with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft of Kitchener and Waterloo and the German-Canadian Congress to produce the German Pioneers Day
10th Anniversary event at Kitchener’s City Hall. Let us not forget Volkstrauertag – the German Day
of Remembrance – in November at Woodland Cemetery. New Projects:The Remembrance
Society continues its commitment to the regular and long term care of the German War Graves Section at Woodland Cemetery.
In the spring of 2009, it was discovered that the wooden crosses located at the rear of this section had been vandalized.
It is our goal that these crosses (carved and originally located at the German POW camp in Gravenhurst) once restored, will
find a final resting place in an appropriate museum. The Remembrance Society commissioned and installed
in time for Volkstrauertag, replicas of these crosses – created by local artist – Edward Schleimer.
We would invite all of you on your next visit to the cemetery to visit not only the German War Graves Section but to
stroll to the corner where these wood crosses are located.
As the 40th Anniversary of the relocation to Kitchener of the remains of the German
Soldiers approaches in 2011, it is the goal of the Remembrance Society to ensure that this cemetery is provided the dignity
and attention it deserves. We have been consulted, provided
our input and been assured that the new Region of Waterloo History Museum will accurately represent early
German settlers and the stories of German Canadians, their reasons and circumstances for coming to this
community and the significant contributions made by those of ethnic German background. The Society has also met with
representatives from each of the local German clubs to enlist and motivate their younger members to lend their energy and
become involved with the projects of the Society. It has been gratifying to see the eagerness that they
have expressed in working hand in hand with us in order to preserve and further promote the projects now in place ensuring
that they will continue for generations to follow. We are pleased to continue our support other organization
such at the Transylvania Club, the Schwaben Club and the German Language School Concordia in their fundraising efforts.In 2010,
we will continue our work on the current list of projects and are always pleased with the possibility of new endeavours.
We also welcome suggestions from our members and friends.In closing, I would encourage all
of you to invite your friends and relatives to become members or to donate of your time or money to the Remembrance Society.I would
like to thank all of you, especially those members who are also members of the board of directors for your time, your effort
and enthusiasm along with your ongoing commitment to build and expand our Remembrance Society to protect and further our German
Canadian heritage.
Thank
you very much, Helene Schramek, President, February 21st, 2010
|
