Meet the 30. Gaufest Committee

The core committee for the 30. Gaufest consists of members of the Enzian Volkstanzgruppe (EVTG) and the United German Hungarians (U.G.H.). We thought it would be worthwhile for the larger community of the Gauverband Nordamerika to get to know our committee!

Brian W. Schulz – CO-CHAIR, 30. GAUFEST
Brian has been a member of the Enzian Volkstanzgruppe since 1968. His over 56 years of experience includes his current roles as the Vorstand as well as the 2nd Vorplattler. He attended his first Gaufest in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. He looks forward to hosting everyone for a great fest here in Delaware!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “Definitely Weissbier, and my Obatzda, & Rouladen are slammin.”

Janet Malofiy – CO-CHAIR, 30. GAUFEST
A lifelong member of the United German Hungarians, Janet shares duties as Co-Chair with Brian. She is the President of her club and also serves the Gauverband as Schriftführerin. Janet boasts having been to every Gaufest in the USA since her first in Denver, Colorado in 1985. Excitement is Janet’s middle name and she can’t wait to host along with the EVTG in a different format than what is typical. Camaraderie is key for her!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “Goulash, Käsespätzle & Mohnstrudel are the best!!”

Alex Blank – CO-CHAIR, PREISPLATTELN COMMITTEE
Alex has been a member U.G.H. for 36 years. He is a member of the Board of Governors as well as being the 1st Vorplattler of the dance group. As a small boy he attended Gaufest in 1989 in Parsippany. Big Al is excited about being in the big tent all weekend. Attendees will get to be in close proximity to one another and all the events creating a festive atmosphere. It will be much easier to experience all aspects of our Gaufest!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “I love Leberknödel and I don’t care who knows it!”

Tommy Keith – CO-CHAIR, PREISPLATTELN COMMITTEE
Tommy has been a member of the EVTG for 56 years. He’s currently the 1st Vorplattler of the group. He also serves as a Gaurichter. Tommy is working with Alex on the competitions for the 30. Gaufest. His first Gaufest was 1973’s event in Washington. He looks forward to hosting the whole Gauverband for an amazing, echt festival!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “I’m partial to a good Jägerschnitzel.”

Steve Paul – CO-TREASURER
As long as he can remember Steve has been a member of the U.G.H. He thinks it is likely he joined in 1963. In the 1970s Steve was an original member of the German Hungarian Schuhplattler Group. Within his club Steve is the Vice-President, Soccer Administrator and the Head Coach of the Women’s Major Team. Steve is working with Klaus Vikari to manage the finances of the venture. His first Gaufest was attending the 1989 event in Parsippany, NJ. Steve believes glitz and glamour can take away from an event. He looks forward to a more traditional event with a tent instead of fancy ballroom.
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “I’m simple, Zwetschgenknödel, Käsespätzle, Leberknödelsuppe.”

Klaus Vikari – CO-TREASURER
For 35 years Klaus has been a member of the EVTG. He serves them as their Treasurer and as their Fahnenträger. He also serves the Gauverband as Gaufahnenträger and a great job he does! Klaus sees being together in the tent as the highlight of the 30. Gaufest and doing it all together with U.G.H. as something exciting!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “I carry a love for Schweinebraten.”

Nichole Deely – CORE COMMITTEE MEMBER
Nichole goes way back 43 years with the U.G.H. She is the General Secretary of the club. The 12. Gaufest in Parsippany, NJ was her first Gaufest. She enjoys working with family and friends, and that aspect of planning the 30. Gaufest is what excites her. She thinks the event will give fellow trachtlers a relaxing, and fun environment that promotes Gemütlichkeit.
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “Semmelknödel is great, but I really love a good taste of Haselnuss Schnapps.”

Allyssa Schulz-Fricker – CORE COMMITTEE MEMBER
She’s been dancing since she’s 3 or 4 years old starting out with the EVTG Kindergruppe, and has been an adult member for 15 years! Allyssa is the Secretary of her group. As a member of the Core 30. Gaufest Committee she’s focused on registration and hotels. It’s poetic, or ironic, or funny (she’s not sure) that her first Gaufest was in Philadelphia in 2003 hosted by U.G.H. She loves seeing hard work come to fruition and can’t wait for that to happen on July 3, 2025!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “It’s hard for me to pass up a pretzel and weissbier, but my favorite meal is sauerbraten.”

Richard Grieb – CORE COMMITTEE MEMBER
Richard has been a member of the EVTG for over 50 years. He’s the past Vorstand for over 25 years and he’s the booker of all the dance group’s performances to this day. With the organization and focus of a general Richard works on the Core Committee as the chair of transportation. He attended the 5. Gaufest in Montreal Canada and that was his first. He looks forward to the Delaware Saengerbund being the location of the North American Gaufest for the second time!
Favorite German snack, meal, or beverage?: “There’s not a thing better than good, German beer!”