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1990 to 1999 - Third Generation

 

At the annual meeting in 1990 Larry Damiani was elected President. We attended Edelweiss Buffalo's Waldfest, Maple Leaf Almrausch Ottawa's Fahnenweihe, United German Hungarians' Kirchweih Fest and danced at the Hunter Mountain GermanAlps Fest.

 

In 1991 we once again hosted the Gauverband Executive Board meeting in the Clubhouse and attended Almrausch Poughkeepsie's Fahnenweihe.  At the 13. Gaufest in Vancouver, we won the Meistpreis and a 3rd Place trophy for Preisplattln. Many of our members continued the Gaufest celebration by cruising from Vancouver to Alaska, and plattling aboard the New Amsterdam. In the fall many clubs joined us as we celebrated our 60th Anniversary with a Heimat Abend and Gala Dinner Dance in the Polish Hall.

 

At the Gau Delegates Meeting hosted by the United German Hungarians in May 1992, we submitted a letter of intent to bid for the 2001 Gaufest. Our summer included many weekends of dancing at Great Adventure Six Flags and the Hunter Mountain German Alps Festival. The First Legends of Soccer weekend, featuring a soccer tournament between Gemuetlichen Enzianer and United German Hungarians, was held in July and Volleyball/Plattler weekend was again held at the Clubhouse

 

On Memorial Day weekend 1993 we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Rededication of the Clubhouse. Ehrenpräsident George Lindner, who rechristened the clubhouse 25 years ago, began the official ceremony. President Larry Damiani broke a bottle of champagne against the corner of the house, and rededicated the clubhouse in the name of the members who built it, the members who rebuilt it 25 years ago, and those who will begin a rebuilding project now. After dancing a Massen Steirer on the volleyball court, the evening was highlighted by a slide show of Clubhouse Memories.

 

In July, we traveled to Buffalo for the 14. Gaufest. It was truly a memorable weekend:  our Preisplattler Team brought home the first place Wanderpreis. In addition, 145 tickets gave us the Meistpreis; and we danced the Stern Polka with 28 couples.  We began advertising our bid to host the 18. Gaufest -- "It's coming. ...2001, a Gaufest Odyssey."  The following year we accepted both HSV Bavaria, New Haven, CT and Bergvagabunden Schuhplattler’s requests to be their Patenverein and participated United German Hungarians' Fahnenweihe.

 

During the summer of 1994, the Gemuetlichen Enzianer again traveled to Germany. We were graciously hosted by the Geigerstoana, as guests of Hans Zapf in Munich, followed by a Heimatabend with D'Wuermtaler, arranged by Hans Menzinger, and then spent enjoyable evenings with the Chiemgauer, Grabenstaett; Saalachthaler, Bad Reichenhall and D’Ammertaler, Diessen.

 

1995 was highlighted by Patenbitten with both Bergvagabunden and HSV Bavaria. At the annual meeting, Joseph Hubner was elected President, and in July we traveled to Milwaukee for the 15. Gaufest.  In the fall several of our younger members traveled to Germany and included a visit with our Stammverein AlmrauschRegensburg and in October, we participated in the Fahnenweihe of our Patenkind, the Bergvagabunden Schuhplattler in Kingston, NY.

 

Although the following years were saddened by the loss of many of our founding members, it was also an exciting time. We attended the Fahnenweihe of both Auerhahn Oley and our Patenkind, HSV Bavaria.  The Kindergruppe was again established, and they performed at our annual Bavarian Bierfest in New Hackensack, and well as participating in the Kinderfest hosted by Schlierachtaler Stamm.  Members were kept busy not only with dancing, but also preparing our bid for the 2001 Gaufest to be held at the Nevele Resort in Ellenville,

 

Labor Day weekend in the Clubhouse that year was celebrated as a Tribute Weekend, sharing memories of the golden years of the clubhouse and the members who made them happen. In November we attended the 75th Anniversary of Original Enzian and later that same month, made our debut at NYC’s Lincoln Center.  We danced the Steirer and the Kuhglocken at the European Folk Festival, a prestigious event with its own Playbill, listing the Gemuetlichen Enzianer with Adam Schaefer, Director.

 

At the Delegates Meeting at United German Hungarians in May 1998, we officially became the hosts of the 2001 Gaufest. In that same year, after much discussion, serious thought, and many tears, the membership voted in favor of selling the clubhouse - a vote reflecting the hope that the clubhouse was not just the building, but rather the spirit of the members.

 

In March 1999 the Gauverband Executive Board was welcomed to New York at a Heimatabend in our Vereinslokal and then traveled to the Nevele Resort to experience first hand the concept of an all-inclusive Gaufest. In July we traveled to St. Paul for the Gaufest and, in the midst of a tent filled with blue and white 2001 Gaufest balloons, were awarded the Meistpreis and the 2nd place trophy in Preisplattln.  For the first time the annual Labor Day celebration was held not in the Clubhouse, but in the house and garden of our members instead - with the spirit definitely still there, even down to the traditional Horseshoe Tournament. In the fall several of our members traveled to Germany for the Oktoberfest, and again continued the tradition of visiting our Stammverein, Almrausch Regensburg.