We had a great start into 2016 at our monthly meeting on January 28, 2016. Our guest speaker, Dr. Hans Boas from UT-Austin, gave an informative and entertaining presentation on the Texas-German Dialect Project (TGDP). I encourage you to read more about the project at http://tgdp.org. If you are so inclined, they are in need of donations to continue this important project of archiving the language of Texas German speakers prior to the extinction of the dialect. In addition to Dr. Boas, several special guests also attended the meeting.
From the German Consulate, Deputy Consul General Bernd Reindl and his wife Susanne, and Consul Jochen Olbricht and his wife Bärbel joined us. The Olbrichts brought their guests Colonel Ingo Kresser and his wife Annett. Colonel Kresser, Commander of the German Air Force, Air Defense Center in Fort Bliss (El Paso, TX) described his additional role as the German Air Force Liaison Officer to the US Army Fires Center of Excellence and Air Defense Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Kressers and the Olbrichts had just returned from a ceremony at the George Bush Presidential Library where Annett spoke about her experiences as a refugee and her escape from East Germany two months before the Berlin Wall came down. We enjoyed hearing both of them share information about their history as well as their current activities.
Reminders:
This month we will join with Sister Cities of Houston for their Networking Dinner on February 23, 2016, in lieu of our traditional Houston-Leipzig meeting since the dinner will highlight Germany. Consul General Ricarda Redeker will be the guest speaker. The German-themed dinner will be held at Kris Bistro in the Culinary Institute LeNôtre at 7070 Allensby St. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, February 19. The cost is $60 per person and is inclusive of tax and gratuity, but not alcoholic beverages. Parking is free.
RSPV and Purchase Tickets via this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sister-cities-of-houston-13th-networking-dinner-series-tickets-20736802334?ref=esfb
Are you interested in traveling to Leipzig to run in the Leipzig marathon or half-marathon on April 24, 2016? It is the 40th anniversary of the event. Please contact Angelika Schmidt-Lange or myself if you’d like more details.
It’s time to pay your 2016 Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association dues. We now offer PayPal as a payment method. You can fill out your membership information and pay your dues here: http://houstonleipzig.org/membership .
Take care and I hope to see you at the Sister Cities Networking Dinner in February. We want to have a strong showing of Houston-Leipzig members to support Consul General Redeker.