GERMANIA ALMRAUSCH S.V. HISTORY

Germania of Poughkeepsie was founded in 1850, then known as Germania Singing Society, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and the education of the public about German and German American Heritage and Culture. For 175 years Germania has provided a place of social gathering for people of European descent. In 1969, after seeing a performance of Schuhplattler dances at a festival, a handful of Germania members formed a group and set forth its purpose to promote and preserve Bavarian folk dance and culture. On January 23, 1970, the first official meeting of “Germania Almrausch” was held under the leadership of Charter President Robert E. Rose Jr., who held that position until June 1974, and Charter Vorplattler Charles Angevine. In fact, the founding members were Robert, Rosina Huettinger Wilkert (the first Vice-President), Dorrie Rose (the first Treasurer), Ingeborg T. Egan (the first Secretary), Charles, Len Plumb, Ed Berger and Clarence Babe Killmer as documented in the minutes of that 1st monthly meeting. Charles, who had danced with Edelweiss-Passaic of New Jersey since he was a teenager, was the only member with Schuhplattler experience. With the blessing and help of Edelweiss-Passaic, Charles brought sheet music, dances and information about Tracht to the Almrausch and continued to teach the group until he transferred out of the area in 1971. At that time George Hupe was appointed Vorplattler and held that position until January of 1977. He held that position again at various times over the years, as well as other positions during his active membership such as 2. Vorplattler, President and Business Manager. 

The first bylaws were adopted on January 15, 1971.  On April 16, 1971, Ria Plumb was the first “new member” application to be voted on.  The first recorded election of officers was held on June 23, 1971; Almrausch had 22 members at that time and 16 voting members were present. Annual elections were held in June until 1975 and then Almrausch revised its bylaws calling for annual elections to be held in January.  The first time Trachtenmutter became an elected position was January 14, 1976.  “Germania Almrausch Schuhplattler Verein” filed its Certificate of Incorporation with New York State on March 23, 1976 with the assistance of Judith Ann Hillery.  Trustees were appointed until the election held on January 12, 1977.  In 2004, officer terms were changed to two years.  Vortänzerin (female dance leader) is historically and currently an appointed officer position, except years 2006-2013 when she was an elected officer.  In 2015, the positions of Trustee, Business Manager and Zweite Vorplattler were eliminated in an effort to balance the officer-member ratio.

On April 3, 1971, Almrausch held a dance at Germania Hall on 197 Church Street, City of Poughkeepsie, called Gründungsfest to celebrate its first year.  There were 292 tickets sold; the Knickerbockers provided the music and the group performed the Kronentanz (crown dance). After that, the group’s annual anniversary dance, called Stiftungsfest, was held the fourth Saturday of April until the Church Street clubhouse was sold in 1997. Thereafter until 2012, our Stiftungsfest celebration was held bi-annually in the spring. The Kronentanz was the group’s traditional Ehrentanz (honorary dance) up until and including the 35th Stiftungsfest in 2005, which was held at The Italian Center because Germania’s new clubhouse was still under construction.  On April 28, 2007, Almrausch held its first Stiftungsfest in its new home at Germania Hall, 37 Old DeGarmo Road, Town of Poughkeepsie. We welcomed our Patenverein Edelweiss-Passaic (Passaic, NJ), our Patenkind Auerhahn SV (Oley, PA), SG Alpenland Montreal (Canada), and Alpenrose SV (Lancaster, PA), and celebrated to the music of The Austrian Boys Band. On May 30, 2015, we celebrated by holding a 45th Stiftungsfest where we enjoyed the music of Bernie’s Orchestra and welcomed Edelweiss-Passaic SV, Auerhahn SV, Alpenrose SV, Bavarian Club Edelweiss Westchester, German American Social Club of Peekskill, SG Alpenland Montreal, SV Alt-Washingtonia, and United German Hungarian Schuhplattler Group. Since we no longer hold a bi-annual celebration, and our 50th was cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a gathering of Trachtler friends is all the more special when we do hold an event. We look forward to our 55th Stiftungsfest being held May 31, 2025 where we will welcome Trachtlers once again to Poughkeepsie and celebrate to the music of The Adlers Band. 

THE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES

The group’s first musician was Fritz Doneit who mastered his accordion with much encouragement from the group. Fritz played for many years for the adults and the children. When he retired his accordion he played piano for the children’s group into the early eighties. Fritz became a member of Germania in 1938, Honorary Member in 1999 and sadly passed away at age 98 in 2001. The group was also fortunate over the years to dance to the accordion music of Joe Eppich (1977-1982) and Steve Mazucca, and the button box music of Adam Levine. After Fritz, our Kindergruppe danced to the accordion music of Ursula Holl, Esther Odescalchi, and Steve Mazzuca, and then to the accordion music of dance member Marion Bauer who learned to play from band leader and longtime Almrausch friend, Joe Unger. Since year 2022, the Almrausch adult and children’s groups are fortunate to have our member, accordionist Erik Yearack to play for us, and when he joins us on the dance floor we rely on recorded music. Erik made his Gaufest debut as an accordionist at the 28th Gaufest in Atlantic City, NJ (2022) where he played accordion for two einzel couples and our Ehrentanz, and he joined the other musicians to play for the Massenplattler. That same year he was invited on stage to play some songs with The Adlers Band and the Maria & John Band, and it’s been a pleasure to watch his passion for the accordion grow.

Almrausch proudly had its first performance in its own backyard at the Germania Picnic on July 12, 1970. Its first public appearance was on August 2, 1970 at the Clearwater Sloop Festival on the Hudson’s riverfront in Poughkeepsie. In addition to the ‘plattlers’, Almrausch performed fest dances such as the Harvest Dance, Mühlradl-Tanz and the Steire Figuren Tanz. By 1971 membership had grown to 20+ members. The club has been honored to dance throughout the East Coast. Our Verein started dancing at The German Alps Festival in 1973 when it originated at the Bavarian Manor Country Inn in Purling NY, and then it was moved to Hunter Mountain in 1975. 

Together with Germania Singing Society and Germania Blue & White Soccer Club, on June 7, 1987 the Germania Almrausch participated in the City of Poughkeepsie’s Tricentennial Parade and celebration of 300 years of People, Pride and Progress.  The parade proceeded down Hooker Avenue to the River Front Festival at Bartlett Park, and Almrausch performed.  

We enjoyed performing at the summertime Hunter Mountain German Alps Festival for 27 years, until year 2000. But we continued dancing at Hunter Mountain, at its annual Oktoberfest from year 2000 until 2019 giving us a 46-year long history of entertaining at the mountaintop village of Hunter, NY in Greene County.  Other favorite past times include New Hackensack Bier Fest, Great Escape, Taj Mahal, Belleayre Ski Lodge, Black Forest Mill Restaurant, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, West Point Officer’s Club, and the Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall for Germania’s bake sale. Almrausch currently performs annually at Germania’s 3-day festivals (Maifest and Oktoberfest), Yulan Fire Department’s Von Steuben Day German fest in Barryville, Tymor Park in Union Vale, and German American Club of Albany; and more recently at Glenville Oktoberfest, Krucker’s Oktoberfest and Aspire Brewing Oktoberfest. The group has also donated its time entertaining at hospitals, nursing homes and schools.  Almrausch attends the Stiftungsfest celebrations held by other Schuhplattler Vereine and enjoys doing an Ehrentanz at those events.

KINDERGRUPPE

The Almrausch members who had children encouraged them to learn the Schuhplattler dances. By 1971 the Germania Almrausch Kindergruppe had taken its formation under the direction of Gloria Hupe. Gloria first taught the Kindergruppe the Bandltanz, a maypole dance. The original children dancers were Hugo Fueglein Jr., Diane Hupe, Norman Licis, Audrey and Robert Rose, Charlotte Barnum, Joey Huettinger, and Cindy Plumb. By August of 1971 the Kindergruppe consisted of approximately eight couples and Hugo Fueglein Sr. helped Gloria teach. In 1973, their successor Kindergruppe directors were Bob and Dorrie Rose followed by Fred & Elizabeth Wilkins who directed the Kindergruppe 1975-1977.  It was also in 1973 that a teen (junior) group was formed with Carl Zuck and Gabi Bunk being the first recorded junior members.  Ann Von Knoblauch and Fred Salchli directed the Junior Group until 1977 which is when all the teens moved into the adult group. Members Gábor and Christine Pattantyús, who took leadership of the Kindergruppe from 1978 until 1993, were proud to have the children present the Knappentanz (Miner’s Dance) at the Almrausch 19th Anniversary, a dance that was taught to them by Adam Levine. Gábor also brought the Ambosstanz to the Kindergruppe and taught them the Steire Figurin Tanz. After the Pattantyús’ retired as the Directors (15 years), Dan Bauer and Pam Capelli took the leadership and in 1994 they took the Kindergruppe to the 1st Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest hosted by Auerhahn SV in Oley, PA.  Sadly, membership dwindled and when Pam’s family relocated to Florida, in July 1995, the Kindergruppe folded. It was revived in the year 2000 under the direction of David and Faith Yearack with their niece and nephew dancing and families Rose, Doedee, Zehner and Zuck.  In 2007, Dave attended a workshop hosted by our Patenverein Edelweiss-Passaic and from it brought the Besentanz to the Kindergruppe; at our 37th Stiftungsfest the dance was showcased using broom props donated to us by Edelweiss-Passaic. In 2010, Dave and Faith briefly re-introduced the Bankltanz at the urging of their son Erik; the benches for the Kindergruppe were handmade and donated by Hank Parslow. Faith co-directed the Kindergruppe through 2012; Jennifer Reichert became co-director in 2013 to 2015, and then again 2017-2018. Dave continued as its director until August 2018 holding the longest run as Director with 18 years. Gertjan Doedee (aka GJ) became Dave’s successor and continues to manage the kids group today. Bev Orser has been the Kindergruppe co-director since 2019. 

At the beginning of 2015, the Kindergruppe had grown again to more than 20 kids; the numbers always fluctuate as they take on academic sports and other interests and move on, and new kids join again. We teach the Kindergruppe dances that the adults perform and we look forward to performances we do with both groups on the floor. In 2019 we started up the Bankltanz again for the junior members of our group.  

On June 5, 2010, Almrausch was the host of the 17th annual Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest.  Sixteen vereine checked in representing the Germania Kinderchor and Schuhplattler Kindergruppen from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Quebec. We held a parade of over 170 children in Tracht to the music of The Austrian Boys Band. The 2010 Kinderfest Committee was Dave & Faith Yearack, Karen Rose and Jennifer Reichert who were later joined by Evelyn Wuytack and George & Gloria Hupe. Karen and Faith introduced the first ever traveling Kinderfest scrapbooks – over 45 pages capturing most of the first 16 years of Kinderfest. The memories of our hosted Kinderfest, and each year since, are now within the pages of those books and passed to the next host each year to be shared by all. The 25th Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest was hosted by the Kinderfest Founders, Auerhahn Schuhplattler Verein (our patenkind), on Saturday June 2, 2018 at the Evergreen Country Club in Oley PA. Germania Almrausch attended with 23 people, including 10 Kindergruppe/Junior dancer participants! We are proud to have attended nearly all of Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest events held in its first 25 years.

Almrausch is proud to have a children’s dance group in addition to its adult group and recognizes it is important to invest in the children as the club’s future. In fact, in 2016 we had three “kids” move up as Junior Members of the adult group, and in 2017 we had seven! We continue to welcome Kinder dancers as Junior Members, typically when they turn 14. 

THE GAU

Edelweiss-Passaic of New Jersey sponsored the membership application of Germania Almrausch to the Gauverband Nordamerika, Bayerisher Schuhplattler und Trachten Vereine. This organization is composed of Bavarian folk dance and Schuhplattler groups and Trachten Vereine throughout the US and Canada. In 1974 Germania Almrausch S.V. was voted into the Gauverband. Since that time, Almrausch has had the honor of sponsoring two clubs joining the Gauverband: The Original Auerhahn Schuhplattler of Miami (at the request of Honorary member Gene Somma) and in 1984, the Auerhahn S.V. of Oley, PA (which celebrated its 25th anniversary in April 2005).  Our relationship with Auerhahn of Oley began in the early 1970’s, before they were even founded, when we met George Babilon, then with Edelweiss Reading, at the Barnsville (PA) festival where he was running a Weinstube (wine bar). In April 1996, the Auerhahn of Oley came to Poughkeepsie for its Patenbitten ceremony and requested Almrausch to be its Patenverein, which we proudly accepted, and on May 25, 1996 they held their Fahnenweihe (flag blessing ceremony). 

The Gauverband was formed as a federation to form bonds and improve communication between Vereine throughout North America, and because dance style varies from one region to another, it also sets the rules and guidelines for Preisplatteln. Preisplatteln (competition dancing) takes place every two years and is hosted by a member Verein. This gathering is called “Gaufest”. Almrausch attended its first Gaufest in Montreal in 1975 and is proud to have been represented at most Gaufests since then. Almrausch participated in Gruppen (group) Preisplatteln in Montreal, 1975; New York City, 1981; New Jersey, 1989 and Buffalo, 1993. At the 7th Gaufest in 1979, hosted by GTEV D’Oberlandler, Los Angeles, California, the Germania Almrausch was presented with the Weitpreis, a silver trophy given to the Verein that had traveled farthest to hold onto until the next Gaufest.  

In 2013, at the 24th Gaufest, junior member Janneke Doedee represented Almrausch by competing in the Einzelpreisplatteln (one couple competition) 16-34 Age Group – a first for her and the club! While she and her partner, Phillip Loeschinger from GTEV Schlierachtaler Stamm, did not place, they did do very well for their first time together and for an age group that saw 66 couples compete. 

The Gauverband Nordamerika was invited to participate in the Trachten-und Schützenzug and perform at the Oide Wiesn Festzelt of the Oktoberfest for two very special reasons: the 100th Anniversary of Trachtlers in America (2014 marked the anniversary of America’s first Schuhplattler Club, S.V. Edelweiss Chicago) and the 50th Anniversary of the Gauverband Nordamerika. In September 2014, over 350 Trachtlers from over 35 Schuhplattler clubs from Canada and the United States, including Germania Almrausch SV, represented the Gauverband Nordamerika at the 181. Münchner Oktoberfest. 

In August 2015, at the 25th Gaufest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosted by S.V.E.V. D’Oberlandler, Janneke Doedee represented Almrausch by competing in the Einzelpreisplatteln 16-34 Age Group with her partner, Eric Schoellkopf from the Auerhahn Schuhplattler Verein, our Patenkind, from Oley, PA.  They came in 29th (out of 68 couples) performing the Schnackwalzer. Janneke’s younger sister, Sabine, competed too. Her first time competing at a Gaufest, Sabine came in 4th place in the Jugend-Einzelpreisplattln performing the Haushammer, just shy of 3rd place by .17 points. Her partner, Caleb Weber from BSC Holzackerbuam, Toledo came in 3rd place. 

Sabine Doedee competed again in the Jugend-Einzelpreisplatteln in July 2017 at the 26th Gaufest in Buffalo with Tristen Allmendinger from Edelweiss Reading. She placed 3rd in her age group making her eligible to participate in the 2018 Bayerischer Löwe. So in June 2018, GJ & Sabine Doedee and Bev Orser attended the 84. Allgäuer Gaufest, hosted by D’Wageggler in Haldenwang (Bavaria), which included the Bayerischer Löwe hosted by the Gauverband Nordamerika. In a parade of about 3,000 Trachtlers, Gauverband NA was lined up # 11 out of about 110 spots! This Trachtenfest included our Preisplatteln champions from the US participating in competition where our Junior Member Sabine ranked 6th in her age group.

With a group of 15 people, Germania Almrausch attended the 27th Gaufest held July 4-7, 2019, in Washington, D.C., which was hosted Alt Washingtonia Schuhplattler Verein and where we had participants in the Einzelpreisplatteln: In the 12-15-year category: Erik Yearack (with Sofia Mueller from SG Alpenland Montreal, and again with Felicia Hepp from Bavarian Club Edelweiss), and Christian Kuklis (with Allison Bogovic of Bavarian Club Edelweiss); and in the 16-34 year category: Jarrett Kuklis (with GJ’s daughter Sabine then of Edelweiss Reading group), and April Yearack (with Zachary Gagne from Montreal); all received respectable scores and we are very proud of these young dancers.  Congratulations also to Erik who did a very respectable job as acting Fahnenträger for this event, and to GJ Doedee who realized his goal to lead the group onto the dance floor at the Gau after a miraculous recovery from his motorcycle accident on October 31, 2018.  

Our Patenverein, Edelweiss-Passaic, hosted the 28th Gaufest the weekend of July 8-11, 2021 in Atlantic City, NJ! While we did not participate in Preisplatteln, we did attend with 15 members and proudly performed an Ehrentanz. In honor of Edelweiss-Passaic hosting the Gaufest and celebrating its 65th anniversary, we presented them with a Fahnenband. In 2023, Erik & April Yearack represented Germania Almrausch by competing in the Einzel Preisplatteln 16-34 Age Group at the 29. Gaufest hosted by S.T.V. Bavaria Cleveland at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. This was their 1st Einzel as dance partners, and Erik’s 1st in this age group; they danced the Haushammer Plattler.

MID-ATLANTIC JUGEND EINZELPLATTELN 

The Mid-Atlantic region of Schuhplattlers is defined as the southern-most host: Enzian Volkstanzgruppe, Newark, DE; western-most host: Alpenrose Schuhplattlers, Lancaster, PA; northern-most host: Germania Almrausch SV, Poughkeepsie NY; and eastern-most host: Alpenland Taenzer, New Britain, CT.  Each year in March, the youth of the region can participate to be ranked or critiqued. 

It was another “first” for Almrausch on March 7, 2015, when Kindergruppe member Sabine Doedee participated in the Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplatteln hosted by Enzian Volkstanzgruppe in Delaware with her partner Ethan Dunn from Edelweiss-Passaic; she danced very well, ranking 4th out of ten girls in the 10-13 Age Group. 

In March 2017, Junior Members Sabine Doedee and Jarrett Kuklis participated in the Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplatteln hosted by United German Hungarians in Pennsylvania.

In March 2018, at the Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplatteln hosted by Alpenrose S.V. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the following members represented Germania Almrausch: Junior Members Christian Kuklis, Michael Linder, and Erik Yearack (Age 13-16 Boys), and April Yearack (Age 13-16 Girls), and Kindergruppe member Isabelle Molison (Age 9-12 Girls). It was our largest participation in this event to date and a first for each of them! 

In March 2020, hosted again by Alpenrose S.V., Junior member April Yearack (Age 13-16 Girls) competed at the Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplatteln with her partner Josh Stanavage of Alpenrose S.V., and for the first time, Kindergruppe member Hazel Mangelsdorf (Age 13-16 Girls) competed with her partner Landen Peck of Alpenrose S.V.

We are so proud of these young Trachtlers!

TRACHT

The first Dirndl worn by the women was made locally by seamstress Krista Kohlmaier. The Dirndls worn over the years after that were made by Almrausch members Inge Egan, Dorrie Rose-Mathewson and Margarethe Killmer (purple Dirndl, black Dirndl with flowers, and the burgundy spencer and skirt interchangeable with the grey-green flowered spencer and skirt). In 1974, Almrausch first appeared in Festtracht (formal traditional costume). The club’s Miesbacher Festtracht consisted of a deep red wine skirt with black velvet ribbon circling the bottom, a Meider and an imported white cotton blouse, apron and shawl set with lace inserts. Today the ladies wear a silk shawl and apron with their Festtracht, which were initially made by Barbi Stanavage of Alpenrose SV. In 1981, the men received its club designed crosspiece for the hosenträger (suspenders). It is embroidered with the Verein’s name and was made by Trachten Pöllmann in Munich, Germany; Ernst Licht now makes our crosspiece.  The hunter green Dirndl was also made by Ernst Licht and was first worn by the group at the 12th Gaufest in 1989. Almrausch later adopted a black-teal plaid skirt made by a seamstress in Albany and a dark blue Dirndl made in Canada by a woman named Regina. The men purchased and started wearing Bauchgurt (belts) in 2005. Material scraps from our Dirndls from three decades were sewn into a quilt by Kathleen Magiera of Cranston, RI (cousin of Almrausch member Karen Rose) and the quilt was raffled off at our 35th Stiftungsfest on May 14, 2005.  In 2015, a hunter green skirt and spencer, a black skirt, and interchangeable multicolored aprons were made for the adult women by Bergland Trachten. Also in 2015, the Almrausch ordered new name pins beautifully cast in white bronze with oak leaf border with a design that is a replica of the club’s hosenträger crosspiece. They were made by BNA Custom (company owner and jeweler Angelo Giaimo). 

As for the history of the Kindergruppe Tracht, the Kindergruppe girls first wore blue Dirndls, then red Dirndls with flowers, that were made by Dorrie.  Around 2002, when the Kinder girls of the re-formed Kindergruppe grew out of the remaining red Dirndls, they adopted a black spencer and burgundy Tracht skirts handed down by the adult women. Since the group continued to grow in size and the girls outnumbered the skirts, in 2005 the girls then wore a green multicolored skirt with pink hearts, and a mauve colored apron and shawl set, that was made by Anny Mueller of SG Alpenland Montreal; they first wore it at our 35th Stiftungsfest. Singer Helga Nowak-Razey later made a new mauve apron and shawl set for the girls out of a heavier, silkier fabric. In 2009, the girls adopted a blue Dirndl and a multicolored checked apron made by Bergland Trachten in Kansas and wore it for the first time at the 16th Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest. In 2014, the girls adopted the black flowered skirt with yellow aprons using unused material and gently used Dirndls the adults wore from 1976 through the late 1980’s; and they found material so they can continue wearing burgundy skirts to match the adults. In 2018, we again made use of retired adult skirts and fabric sitting in storage by adding a grey-green with burgundy flowers skirt and burgundy apron to the Kindergruppe Tracht; a sewing project taken on by Barbi Stanavage. Barbi also worked on additional burgundy Tracht skirts for a growing children’s group. Our boys wear grey Lederhosen that we purchase from Ernst Licht Embroidery and Imports and they alternate between white shirts and checked shirts.

THE FLAG (FAHNEN)

In 1972, a committee was created to work on getting the group a Tischstandarten (table standard / flag); its members were Rolf Dammenhayn, George & Gloria Hupe, Bob Rose, Fred Salchli, and Inge Egan.  Gloria’s cousin Rudolf Jaeger took drawings, made by the members, to Markt Hohenwart in Bayern, Germany, where nuns hand embroidered the group’s table flag. It is made of silk and is bordered by 14K gold fringe. It arrived from Germany in 1974 at a cost of 606.63 marks (approximately $250 US). The inscription on the table flag’s backside reads “Treu dem Guten Alten Brauch” (loyal to the good ol’ traditions).  Bill Von Knoblauch made a wood case for the table flag that we still use today.  

The group’s full-size club flag is an exact replica of the table flag. It was ordered from Reichardt Flag Shop in Poughkeepsie and made in Pennsylvania. It arrived at the club in 1984 and was shown to family and friends at the 14th Stiftungsfest. As a prerequisite for the consecration of the flag being planned, on October 28, 1990, a Patenbitten ceremony was held where Edelweiss-Passaic accepted our sponsorship request and became our Patenverein (our Godfather association) for our upcoming flag blessing ceremony. The weekend of April 19, 1991 Almrausch celebrated its 21st Anniversary and Fahnenweihe (a flag blessing ceremony to devote the flag solemnly to a purpose).  April 20, 1991 was officially proclaimed “Fahnenweihe Day” by City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Robert E Bleakley and was also recognized by the County Legislature, State Assembly and State Senate. The service that day was lead by Rev. Richard LaMorte, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and was accompanied by Pastor Henry J. Wuertz of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Almrausch was honored to have the Germania Singing Society sing the hymns for the service; they sang the Sanctus, Loben Den Herren, Grosser Gott wir Loben dich! and Nun danket all Gott, and Frieden (Peace) was sung solo by Annaliese Durr. Scriptures were read by Christine Pattantyús and George Hupe, and prayer of intercession by Steve Mazzuca.  Following the flag blessing, the Fahnenmutter banner was presented by Gloria Hupe, the Gründungs Mietglieder banner by Dorrie Rose-Mathewson, Kindergruppe by Sarah vonBurg, Patenverein banners by Erika Rechner, and the Totenband in honor of our deceased by Grete Licis. Almrausch and its guest Vereine paraded, with Steve Wood as our Fahnenträger, to the Poughkeepsie Main Mall and danced the traditional Massenplattler (dance as a large group) around the Bee Hive. The formal banquet was held at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and the group took pride presenting its own version of the Marianna Plattler under the leadership of 1. Vorplattler Joseph Sultana to approximately 500 guests. This memorable weekend opened doors to new friendships and strengthened old friendships. 

Almrausch’s first Fahnenträger (flag-bearer) was Henry Schmitz ( Feb. 1979 – Mar. 1984).  The honor of carrying the club’s flag was then held by Mark H Delaney, and through the years Steve Wood, Greg Delaney, Mark E Delaney, Gertjan Doedee, Kevin Blatz, and Robert Rose. Michael Reichert was our Fahnenträger 2013 thru 2018, and has held that honor again since 2023.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS…

Music, Dance and Gemuetlichkeit! Through the years the Almrausch has come to know and love a great many people within the Gauverband. It was through these lifelong friendships that the 12:01 Club was organized. Members of Germania Almrausch SV, Alpenveilchen, Auerhahn SV and United German Hungarian Schuhplattlers came up with the idea to co-host a Gaufest hospitality room and it was a tremendous success at the 12th Gaufest in 1989 in New Jersey! John Blank, Gary Phlag, Ronnie Row and Robb Rose will never forget the line that formed outside the door waiting to get in, or the bottles of Jägermeister that were consumed! Alpenrose Schuhplattlers later joined the 12:01 Club at Auerhahn’s Annual Picnic; a ceremonial event that was all in good fun. The name of the club comes from not being able to open the doors of your hospitality room to guests until after Midnight, which is when the Gaufest Banquet ends. Cartoonist Marty Qatani designed a special logo: a penguin dressed in Lederhosen pouring a shot of Jägermeister! The logo appeared on post-it stickers and letterhead in 1989 and on embroidered shirts in 1993. Musicians from the participating Vereine would provide a musical jamboree at each party. Unfortunately, by the 15th Gaufest, it was getting too hard to host the 12:01 Club Hospitality Room due to cost and hotel restrictions. So, the 12:01 Club disbanded.

Almrausch, a daughter club of Germania of Poughkeepsie, is proud to call Germania Hall home.  Almrausch members have served on the Germania Board as well as on committees. Our support for our mother club is documented as early as June of 1972 when Almrausch donated seven yards of concrete for the shelter.  In fact, in the early 1970s, Oktoberfest at Germania was a joint endeavor with profit sharing.  In 1996, Almrausch donated and installed a swing set to Germania, which was a welcome addition to the Germania festival grounds. In 2006, Almrausch moved, enlarged and improved the swing set and in 2008 installed a chain link fence for the playground. It takes pride in seeing Germania’s future, the children, playing there. In addition to some monetary donations by the group and its individual members during the construction of the new clubhouse, a group of Almrausch members and friends were instrumental in building the vestibule that serves as the main entrance of the new clubhouse which opened in the summer of 2006. Almrausch members Robert Rose and Mike Reichert also served on the team that was instrumental in building the bar at the new clubhouse under the leadership of Germania member, the late Cal Baker.  The group hopes to help as much as it can with future improvements of the Germania clubhouse, pavilion and grounds. We donated annually as a newsletter advertiser until Sept 2020 when the newsletter was suspended after Karen Roses’ retirement after almost 15 years as editor for Germania. Almrausch donates annually at Germania’s Christmas Party and to its 25-Week Club insurance fund, and it runs the kitchen and dining hall at least 2 times each year for Biergarten events.

In July 2001, Almrausch’s “Public Relations Committee” Karen Rose and GJ Doedee released the first issue of a club newsletter, In Verbindung. GJ served as the first editor through 2003. Karen Rose became editor in 2004 and held this position until 2016; she released a special holiday edition in December 2022. In Verbindung was one way we remained connected to our members, family, friends and fellow Trachtlers, and hopefully we will publish again in the future.  In April 2014, former member John Weinzierl created our Facebook page and we have been closer than ever to our friends and each other through this social media. With Karen Rose as our page administrator since 2016, we actively interact with people all over the US and in several countries.  We welcome you to find us @GermaniaAlmrauschSV, and ask that you “like” our page and follow us.  You can also find us on the web at www.GermaniaPok.com.   

2025 marks the group’s 55th year. Germania Almrausch Schuhplattler Verein would like to recognize our members with 25 or more years of membership that are still active: Gertjan Doedee, Robb & Karen Rose, Dave & Faith Yearack and Christine & Gábor Pattantyús.  We also respectfully recognize the following founding member that is still connected to the group through his Life Membership: Eugene Schlag.  

This written history is dedicated to our departed members: Charles Angevine, Edwin Bauer, Eddie Berger, Mark E. Delaney, Fritz Doneit, Inge Egan, Bruno Groetschel, Thomas Hart, George Hupe, Gloria Hupe, Rudolph Jaeger, Clarence Babe Killmer, Helmut Kraft, Ojars Licis, Leonard Plumb, Dorrie Rose, Robert E. Rose Jr., Audrey Salchli, Fred Salchli, Horst Schaffner, Gisela Schmitz, Henry Schmitz, Bill Von Knoblauch, and Rosina Huettinger Wilkert.

Almrausch continues to look for new members and hopes that many generations to come will join us and continue to bring Bavarian dance into the community, uphold true traditions and promote German social and cultural activities.