In April 2000 we attended the 75th Anniversary of Almrausch Philadelphia and in May Richard Killian was elected President.  Legends of Soccer weekend which had traditionally been held at the United German Hungarians’ clubhouse was moved to Riedlbauers' Resort in the Catskills, beginning with the annual soccer game, followed by the presentation of a clubhouse deer head "mascot" to United German Hungarians for their 2003 Gaufest. The annual Labor Day celebration moved to its current location, Lido Beach, L.I.

Although 2001 began on a sad note, with the passing of our last founding member, Gaufest 2001 at the Nevele Resort highlighted our 70^th Anniversary year. In addition to the usual Gaufest events, the weekend included a Frühshoppen on Friday morning, Kinder Einzelplattln, and Adult Einzelplattln as an exhibition event.  At the Picnic in the Nevele Chalet, the Weitpreis was awarded to Enzian Seattle and the Meistpreis to Edelweiss Westchester.  Preisplattln awards were earned by Original Enzian of Glendale, NY – fifth; United German Hungarians, Oakford, PA – fourth; Maple Leaf Almrausch, Ottawa, Canada – third; Bayern Verein Newark, NJ – second; and Gemuetlichen Enzianer – first.  Weekend festivities concluded with a Farewell Pool Party.

In September 2001 the tragedy of 9/11 would change the lives of New Yorkers, as well as everyone else, forever. Telephone calls and letters of support poured in – from friends in Germany as well as here in America.  Out of respect, the Steuben Parade and many other events were canceled. The year came to a close with a gala 70^th Anniversary Dinner/Dance, held at Westbury Manor.

In 2002 at our annual Bauernball, Adam Schaefer became Ehrenvorplattler. Our Kindergruppe attended the Kinderfest hosted by the United German Hungarians, and in July a large contingent traveled to Alpenland Montreal for their 50^th Anniversary.  During the fall we again marched in the Steuben Parade, this year with Siegfried and Roy as Grand Marshalls, and spent a weekend dancing at the Whiteface Oktoberfest in Lake Placid.  Memories and memorabilia were taken out of storage in February 2003 for the Clubhouse Auction.  In traditional clubhouse fashion, members brought hors d’ourves or desserts, and bid on treasures from the clubhouse era

At our Bauernball, held for the first time in the Polish American Hall in Port Washington, Stephen Killian was made Ehren Vice President and the first members of the second generation of Gemuetlichen Enzianer received Ehrenurkunden and fifty-year pins:  Erich Bayer, Marianne Mietzner Hubner, Hugo Kiendl and Kurt Mietzner. We attended the 19. Gaufest, hosted by United German Hungarians in Philadelphia, and once again were the recipients of the Meistpreis.  Members William Hubner and Erich Bayer were honored by the Gauverband, and became, respectively, Ehrengaukassier and Ehrengauvorplattler.  Schlierachtaler Stamm’s 75^th Anniversary celebration and the first practice of the newly formed Kindergruppe rounded out the year.

In March 2004, Gemuetlichen Enzianer hosted the first Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplattler at Plattdütscher Park.  Participants included children from United German Hungarians, Auerhahn Oley, Schlierachtaler Stamm, as well as our own children.  We were fortunate in having Gaujugendvertreterin, Heidi von Recklinghaausen, join us for this weekend.

At our annual Bauernball, the new Kindergruppe made their debut by dancing the Unterwest’ner.  The Gau Delegates Meeting hosted by Alpenrose Lancaster resulted in Joseph Hubner being elected Gaurevisor.  In June White Post Farm welcomed our Kindergruppe (and some parents and grandparents as well) for a Pony Party and members once again gathered at Lido Beach for the traditional Labor Day celebration  In September many Gau Officers and Ehren Officers attended the 100^th Anniversary of the Loisachtaler, Wolfratshausen.  Several of our members were among the group; and visited our Stammverein Almrausch Regensburg to plan for our participation in their 100^th Anniversary next year.  Their member, Jonathan Stock was our guest at the Christmas party, and he presented the official invitation to their 100^th Anniversary, in conjunction with the Oberpfälzer Gautrachtenfest

In March 2005 we attended the 75^th Anniversary of Bayern Verein Newark, as well as the 2^nd Mid-Atlantic Jugend Einzelplattler, hosted by Schlierachtaler Stamm; and at our Bauernball 50-year pins and Ehrenurkunden were presented to Marianne Hauck Bayer, Martin Hubner, William Hubner and Edmund Killian.  During the spring we also participated in the Mid-Atlantic Kinderfest, hosted by Almrausch Philadelphia, as well as the 75^th Anniversary of the Vereinigten Bayern von Gross NY and NJ.  At the end of June we “shuffled off to Buffalo” for the 20. Gaufest, and once again brought home the gold.  Vorplattler Brian Oberheim was honored to accept the Wanderpreis from Otto Dufter, Vorsitzender des Bayerischen Trachtenverbandes.  At the banquet on Saturday evening, 1. Gauvorstand John Schaefer awarded the title of Ehren Gau Officer to Martin Hubner.  The weekend festivities ended with a “Survivor Party”, and Gemuetlichen Enzianer, decked out in team shirts and matching “Buffs” carried the “Tribe GeMu” Banner into the hall.

At the beginning of September a large contingent traveled to Regensburg for the 100-Jahr Feier und Fahnenweihe of our Stammverein, V.T.V. Almrausch Stamm Regensburg, in conjunction with the 9. Gaufest of the Oberpfälzer Gauverband.  Free time allowed for a visit to the famous Wurst Küche on the banks of the Danube as well as a boat trip to Kloster Weltenburg.  Official festivities began on Friday evening with the Totenehrung in the Stiftkirche St. Johann, followed by an Ehrenabend in the Herzogsaal of Der Andechser where 1. Vorstand Sepp Liebl heartily welcomed their “Stammkind.”  Joseph Hubner was made an Ehrenmitglied of Almrausch, in recognition of his efforts in revitalizing the relationship between the two Vereine, and Martin Hubner, already an Ehrenmitglied, was also honored.  Saturday evening’s Gautanzabend took place in the Glöcklzelt of the Herbst Dult where we danced the Oberstdorfer, and also participated in the Massenplattler.

Sunday morning began with the Pontifical Mass with the blessing of the new Almrausch Vereinsfahne in the Hohen Dom St. Peter zu Regensburg.  Our Fahnen Jungfrau Marianne Bayer proudly placed a beautiful Fahnenband on their newly-blessed Vereinsfahne.  The Festzug (encompassing 43 Vereine) then led all participants back to the Glöcklzelt for the continuation of the festivities.  The evening ended with an informal Nachfeier with members of both Vereine celebrating until the early hours of Monday.  Welcoming members back home to New York was an invitation to our Preisplattler team to participate in the Preisplatteln um den Bayerischen Löwe in Bavaria the following year.