The Life & Certified members gathered during the Annual General Meeting at the Austrian Village on March 19, 2025. They elected these individuals by acclimation. They will fulfill expired terms on the Board of Governors: Sasha Malofiy, John Reiter, & Bobby Wilkinson. Sasha, John, and Bobby all have previously served the club on the Board of Governors. Our board consists of 13 members.
In July of 1975 an article appeared in the Monthly Progress summarizing the members of the B.O.G.. The opening paragraph by Otto Fischer read:
The purpose of this informational article is mainly to explain, describe, and inform you of the responsibilities and activities of your Board of Governors. It shall constitute a beginning of a closer relationship between this body of government and you as a member. It shall promote a rising interest for you to become a more devoted member, to become involved, to become more active in the club’s functions and at least in part, to become concerned enough to achieve and build a better tomorrow.
-Otto Fischer, Board Secretary
(Monthly Progress Volume 29, No. 7 – July 1975)
In a similar fashion we present now a summary of each member of the B.O.G today.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
JOSEPH S REITER: Joe was elected from within the board to serve as Chairman of the Board. He is the presiding officer at B.O.G. meetings. Reiter also serves the club as Chair of the Membership Committee. He is a past Vorplattler of our Schuhplattler Group and enjoys music. Joe is currently organizing a performance of our members featuring music and singing for the 30. Gaufest. He is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams. He is the inspiration behind our Manhattan Club series. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 1990. Joe lives in Warminster with his wife Barbara (née Schiller). They have one son, also Joe who is a member of our Cultural & Schuhplattler Groups.
ALEX BLANK: Alex Blank has been the Vorplattler of our Schuhplattler group since his appointment in 2013. Along with Emma Walter, Chair of the Cultural group, he oversees all dancing at our club. He has been a member of our award winning Preisplattler teams. He serves as one of the delegates to the Gauverband Nordamerika as well. Alex is currently a member of the 30. Gaufest Core Committee focusing on all the competitions to be held at Gaufest. Blank served in the past as our Grounds & Fields Chairman. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2020. He lives in Glenside with his wife Jenn (née Lineman). Their children, Kurt and Kirsten, are members of the Cultural Group.
KAREN DAVID MAHADEVAN: Karen is the treasurer for our dance groups. She is still an active dancer traveling from time to time with the Schuhplattler Group. Karen is indispensable to the dancers. She does not simply handle the finances. Karen is a do-it-all organizer who takes on various organizational tasks for the group. She is always there when needed. She is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams. She is also active in our Women’s Auxiliary, including reservations and planning for the Penny Party. She received the Ehrenwürdig in 2010. Karen lives in Blue Bell with her husband Raman. They have one daughter Anika Sita who studies at Penn State.
LISA FRICKER: Lisa serves on the Publicity & Editorial Committee. She is in charge of the “Among our Members” column. Lisa also writes various other articles ranging from entertainment reviews to recipes. She is also active in our Women’s Auxiliary, including reservations and planning for the Penny Party. She is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams. She received the Ehrenwürdig in 2000. She lives in Horsham with her husband Werner Jr. They have three children, Werner III, Michael, & Karina all of whom are members of the Cultural group. They also have two grandchildren Michael K and Penelope.
MICHAEL FRICKER: Michael serves as Secretary to the Board of Governors, diligently recording minutes of B.O.G. meetings and maintaining a comprehensive archive of all board files. He was elected to this position within the board in 2024. Michael is also the Chairman of Publicity & Editorial. He has held this role since 2014. He began serving as editor of the Monthly Progress at that time. He is the Verbandspresse (Press Secretary) for the Landesverband der Donauschwaben and chairs the Festbook for the 30. Gaufest. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2020. Michael is an active member of both the Cultural and Schuhplattler groups. He resides in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Allyssa Schulz, and their two children, Michael K. and Penelope. Michael K. is a member of our Cultural Group, and Penelope will join soon.
WERNER FRICKER, JR: Werner Jr. is an Honorary President of the German Hungarians. He served as our President from 1998 through 2004. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Governors. Fricker Jr. also is a past General Manager of our Major Soccer team and Director of Soccer at our club. He is a National Champion, having been part of the staff of the 1999 Open Cup team. He is a member of the Soccer Committee. He assists Werner Fricker III, and Jason Karasow in an advisory role with the team. He is also a trustee of the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania and a delegate for our club. Werner regularly represents us at the Landesverband der Donauschwaben USA. Werner is a Alumni member of our Cultural & Schuhplattler Groups. He cuts numbers regularly for the Women’s Auxiliary Penny Party. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 1990. He is a Life Member. He lives in Horsham with his wife Lisa (née Hartmann). They have three children, Werner III, Michael, & Karina all of whom are active in our club. They also have two grandchildren Michael K and Penelope.
WERNER FRICKER, III: Werner III is the General Manager of our Major Soccer team. He is the past President of the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania. He is also the 2nd Vice-President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association. He serves the Landesverband der Donauschwaben as the Landessportleiter or National Sports Director. Active in our Cultural & Schuhplattler Groups he holds the position of 2nd Vorplattler. He is a past Fahnentraeger. He has been a member of our award winning Preisplattler teams. In 2013, Werner was awarded 3rd Place (Ages 16-34) in Einzelplattler (individual) competition along with partner Allysa Reiter. Fricker III serves as our “House” Chairman and maintains organization and inventory of our items in storage. In the past, he has worked on the grounds and fields. He also worked on catering, bar, and festival committees. Additionally, he was involved in other special events committees. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2020. He lives in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
JOHN HUBERT: John is on the Sponsorship & Festbook Committees for the 30. Gaufest. He joined the cultural group around 1974. He is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams. He also participated for many years as part of our Kirchweih floor shows. He had a memorable appearance as the Co-Proprietor of “Saint Booby-Girl Beer.” He was the Chairman of the 19. Gaufest Steering Committee. He was also on the Gaufest Bid committees. He also served in the past as Oktoberfest and Rocktoberfest Chairman. He is a former House Chairman. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2000 and is a Certified Member. He lives in Wyncote, PA with wife Heather (née Williams) and their three sons Jakob, Evan, and Jackson. Jakob is a member of our Cultural & Schuhplattler Groups and also plays on our Major Soccer team.
ALEX MALOFIY: Alex, known as Sasha, has been assisting in coaching our Preisplattler teams for the recent Gaufest competitions. He played youth soccer at our club, juniors, and has served in the past on the Soccer Committee. He coached and managed youth girls teams, the men’s reserves, and started a pee wee program at our club. Sasha was a member of our Cultural & Schuhplattler Groups and still participates from time to time when needed. Malofiy is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams and the Kirchweih show groups. Along with partner and wife Janet, Sasha won 1st place (Ages 35-49) in Einzelplattler competition in 2007. Sasha is also a past 2. Vorplattler of the group. He was our club’s first appointed Fahnentraeger serving before 1994 until 2009. His style in carrying our club flag is considered legendary by some. We saw a recent glimpse that he still “has it” at the Hirschjaeger Fahnenweihe this year. In the past Malofiy has also served as the Bar Chairman, the Schnitzel Night team, and the Oktoberfest committee. He has also been a part of the house committee and assisted in club building renovations over the years. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2000. Sasha has the distinction as the first “First Man” of the United German Hungarians. He lives in Horsham, PA with wife Janet (née Fricker & our club President). They have three children who are members of the Cultural Groups; Sasha Jr., Mikaela, & Kyra. He has one grandchild on the way!
MICHELLE MCFADDEN: Michelle (née Paul) is the manager and player for our Major Women’s soccer team. She is also the secretary for our Schuhplattler group. She handles all the bookings. She arranges all our performances with the venues that hire us. She has been a member of our award winning Preisplattler teams. She is working on a committee planning decorations for the 30. Gaufest. Outside our club, Michelle is on the Board of Directors of the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania. She serves as both General Secretary and Financial Secretary. She received the Ehrenwürdig in 2020. Michelle is proud to be “double jointed.” 😆She lives with husband John and almost 1 year old daughter Delanie.
“I have been a part of the organization since birth and grew up dancing. I love the built in family and community environment it has created for me growing up and now for my family!” – Michelle Mcfadden
JOHN REITER: John is the Honorary Vorplattler of our Schuhplattler group. Reiter is a past member of our award winning Preisplattler Competition teams. He first joined the Cultural Group at age 3. John still dances whenever needed with our dance groups. He has served in the past as Grounds & Fields Chairman and Co-Chair of the Kitchen committee. (many remember the weekly sandwich board!) He received the Ehrenwürdig in 1990 and is a Life Member. John has been a musician with the Heimatklänge since 1979. He lives in Warminster with his wife Connie (née Simon). Connie is also active member of our club. They have two daughters Allysa and Kristen both who are members of our Cultural & Schuhplattler groups. The Reiter family is also known for their pets. Dogs Sammy, Nala, and Piggy live with them along with many temporary hounds that frequently visit their home. How does John manage all the ladies and all the dogs in his family?
MICHAEL WAGNER: In 2024, Michael returned to the B.O.G. after 38 years serving on our Executive Board first as Secretary, then as Vice-President and finally Treasurer. Wagner was an original member of our Cultural Group at the founding in 1965. He also played soccer in his youth. Over his years he has chaired special events and handled finance and other important aspects of our large Kirchweih festivals. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 1990. He splits his time between Eastern Pennsylvania and the warmer climate of Florida these days. Wife, Betty (née Buerger) is also active in our club. They have two children; Erik and Stephanie. They also have three grandchildren: Nicholas & Emily Wagner, and Alex Zygmont. Alex is currently a member of our Cultural Group.
“I remember old original clubhouse in Oakford along with Mrs. Welsch’s Sunday roast beef dinners & Mrs. Knowles donuts. The island in the picnic grove, winning a car, playing hockey in the green room, building new clubhouse, the fire, rebuilding clubhouse, ski trips , KW in tent, bringing my kids & grandchildren to participate in cultural events.“ – Michael Wagner
BOBBY WILKINSON: Bobby serves on the soccer committee as a special advisor to the Major Team. He is a National Champion. He was the Player-Coach of the 1999 Open Cup team. He had been named the Head Coach in 1995. He received the Ehrenwürdig in 2000. Bobby and his wife Laura have two children, Emily and Robert “Bubba” Wilkinson.
We hope this summary of the Board of Governors has been informative. Sometimes the tight-knit nature of our modern club means we neglect some housekeeping items that were commonplace decades ago. We all know one another quite well. We might not recognize the roles we all play as parts of the whole. The article inspiration for this article from 1975 ended with the following quote I think is quite appropriate:
“‘I MUST DO SOMETHING’ will always solve more problems than “SOMETHING MUST BE DONE‘”
-Otto Fischer, Monthly Progress Volume XXIX, No. 7 – July 1975
