On New Year's Eve, known as "Silvester" in Germany , it is customary to watch "Dinner for One", a short classic, black-and-white English-language video that has been broadcast by German television for decades. A punch line from the comedy sketch, "same procedure as every year", has become a catch phrase in Germany . All across the country Germans know it is the beginning of a new year when they watch this annual program. It is bizarre when you think about it , a short British cabaret sketch from the 1920s has become a beloved German New Year's tradition and yet it is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, including Britain, its birthplace.
Moreover in Berlin , the largest New Year's Eve celebration in all of Europe is celebrated by more than 1,000,000 people attending the festivities around the "Brandenburg Gate" each year. All over the country the New Year will be welcomed at midnight with fireworks, crackers and a lot of noise.
The AIW interest group leaders continue to raise the quality of our events to a new level. The Book Discussion group, led by Harriet Smith, will start the New Year with a guided tour of the remodeled Marion County Central Library. In March the group will welcome author Rosie Molinari for a discussion of her book "Hijas Americanas". Please find more information in this issue of the newsletter.
Beginning in February a second Ethnic Cook's Luncheon group will get into gear. Now more members will be able to enjoy these sociable get-togethers. Olga Keegan has stepped forward as the new group's leader. Thank you to all of our interest group leaders who enable the AIW to continue to thrive and offer these fabulous, stimulating programs for our members.
Over 100 members and guests attended our November luncheon. Our interest group leaders prepared striking displays and offered their time to answer questions of our members concerning our interest groups. Our holiday bazaar encouraged even more members than in recent years to display their goods and crafts. I would like to extend my thanks to our vice president of interest groups Linda Halcomb, luncheon chair Turkan Yalcin and everybody involved for offering their time and expertise to make this luncheon an extra special event.
The highest award the AIW can grant is our honorary membership which is given for exceptional achievements and extraordinary commitment. At the November luncheon we welcomed our honorary members Shelley Johnson and Peter Fischer, who have dedicated so much time and effort to our Association.
Our education seminars on schooling in the US provided excellent speakers and were well attended. Fran Colley and the Education committee are already planning the next topic about immigration, visas, green cards and citizenship .
The preparation for our gala at the Scottish Rite Cathedral is heading to its final stages. Our special events chair Nancy Dorris went the extra mile and added a literature prize worthy poem to our newsletter for you to enjoy. G ala invitations will go out soon. Be on the lookout for them in the mail.
Last month we sadly said "good bye" to our member Ingeborg Goodman who passed away unexpectedly. Ingeborg was honored at our 15 th anniversary celebration in May as a member of the AIW for more than 10 years. I knew "Borgi" since I joined our organization and loved and appreciated her warm personality, her honesty and her Bavarian sense of humor. I will think with great affection and pleasure of those wonderful days we spent together at the different AIW functions.
Cheer up the dark and gloomy winter months with AIW activities. Nothing is more invigorating than getting together with your fellow members and friends. Go skiing, ice skating, and build a snowman or perhaps a more ambitious project - an igloo!
Happy New Year and "Auf Wiedersehen" in 2008!
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