January 2025
Liebe Landsleute, liebe Freunde!
On behalf of the Verband’s and the Stiftung’s governing committees, I would like to wish you, your loved ones, and your officers and members all the very best for the upcoming year. May the new year be filled with good health, good luck and much happiness.
By all accounts, 2024 was a good year for our Donauschwaben community of clubs. Cultural activities featuring our special brand of German heritage remained front and center in our Ortsgruppen from California to the Midwest to the great Northeast. Dance groups, youth and culture groups, language schools, instrumental and singing groups, newsletters and social media, memorials and museums, and, among other things, our delicious culinary traditions – gutes Essen! – continued to make ours an authentic living cultural experience not just one we read about. Add to this a wide variety of social activities and in many clubs, great soccer action, and it’s easy to see why we Donauschwaben have cause to be optimistic about our future.
Of course, that optimism is tempered by the mounting challenges our clubs face. Lots of them. These likely include financial pressures, but also the passing of the immigrant generation (the ultimate club stalwarts) and changing expectations and values among our youngest generation. The challenges require us to evolve, adapt, and rethink how we can be successful. That’s much easier said than done and to the extent the Verband and Stiftung can help, we will.
At this point, allow me to express my gratitude to our wonderful committee for making the Verband relevant and an important part of our national community. Thanks go to Ed Tullius and his committee as well for the great job they continue to do with the Stiftung. These committees comprise some of the finest volunteers anyone could ask for. As the Schwowe say: Vergelt’s Gott!
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for all you do on behalf of your club and for the greater Donauschwaben community. Thank you for the countless hours and the care and love you share with your members all year round. Thank you for the support you give to our Verband and Stiftung. Most of all, thank you for preserving, promoting and perpetuating our cherished cultural heritage and keeping all things Donauschwaben close to your hearts.
Prosit Neujahr!
mit landmännischem Gruss,
Ray Martini
Verbandspräsident und Stiftung CEO
