GERMAN SPEAKING DAMENKLUB

President: Astrid Hicks, (804) 526-0471
Vice-president: Linda Peters, (804) 526-0690
2247 Van Dorn Street
Petersburg, VA 23805
e-mail: crhicksjr@aol.com

The German Speaking Damenklub of Petersburg, Virginia, was founded in March 1968, by Mrs. Ulrike Rogers. The idea was to bring German speaking ladies together and practice their native language and culture. The first meeting was held at Fort Lee outside Petersburg with only a few ladies present. Currently, the GSD has a membership of 81 ladies.

Annual events are held such as the Oktoberfest, attendance of plays at a Dinner Theatre, Christmas party for members and spouses, anniversary dinner in March, and trips to the Amish country in Pennsylvania, Busch Gardens, Atlantic City, etc. In 1971 the GSD made their first trip to the "German-American Festival" in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and continued attending this event for many years. Our club sponsored a Christmas Party for the Veterans hospitalized at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond and it was very well received. On May 31 many members were present at the dedication of the historic marker "First Germans at Jamestown."

For the monthly meetings we have a variety of programs - including white elephant and craft sales, fashion shows, and guest speakers on topics of fire prevention, nutrition, wills, estate planning, consumer law, travel, and others.

Membership is open to all German speaking ladies. Monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at the Optimist Club, 916 Meridian Avenue, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 at 7 pm.

TIDEWATER GERMAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY

President: Stephen Hudak
P.O. Box 7492
Hampton, VA 23666
Telephone: 757-245-4906
e-mail: SMSHudak@aol.com

The Tidewater German American Society is a German ethnic fraternal organization which was formed for social and cultural purposes in December 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Rudolph Naurath. Membership is open to German born individuals and families, individuals and families of German ancestry, or to other persons who show sincere interest in the German language and culture.

T.G.A.S. has five general business meetings per year in addition to the monthly board meetings. All general meetings are concluded with an educational or entertainment program.

T.G.A.S. sponsors a Faschingsball and Oktoberfest which is open to the public. Other activities such as the Spring Dance, Picnic, and Holly Ball are usually reserved for members and guests. Volkstrauertag is observed annually at the Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia, where crew members of the submarine U-85 are interred.

T.G.A.S. assists numerous worthy charities with monitory contributions and has become increasingly involved with the German Student Exchange program at Denbigh High School of Newport News.

The T.G.A.S. Frauenklub is very active. Monthly meetings are held at the German Store and Café and the ladies hold a meeting every third Tuesday of each month, where German skits are presented, poetry is read and songs are sung.

T.G.A.S. members support the "German-American Volkssport Association" which conducts Volksmarches in the Tidewater area and the "German Volktanzers" who perform locally.

A.G.A.S. members are welcome to attend any T.G.A.S. function.