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Dear Club & District Presidents, all singers and readers
Attached is a letter written by our former North American Singers
Association Secretary Frank Pascher which explains in great detail the
plight of two of our Association members, namely Deutsches Haus Maennerchor
and Deutsches Haus Damenchor and the North American Singers Association
response to the disaster It is so well written that I didn't want to
paraphrase it but wanted all of you to read it. For those of you who are new
to the Association, Frank served the Association as Secretary for many
years. Its been over 13 years since he left the Board but his heart is still
with us and he feels very deeply about all of our choirs. The details of the
Foundation's Fund are spelled out and the Board of the North American
Singers Association hope all of our singers and their clubs give generously
to this Relief effort.
Sincerely, Lois D. Lynch, Secretary, MI
SUBJECT: Hurricane Katrina Relief
Liebe Sangesschwestern und Sangesbrüder:
The Nord-Amerikanscher Sängerbund has established a tax-exempt foundation
(The North American Singers Association Foundation) to assist in projects
and charities that further the propagation of German song and the German
language in the United States. Our tax-exempt status was just granted by the
IRS last month and we were going to announce it in our fall issue of the
Sänger Zeitung. Well, nature, in the form of Hurricane Katrina, has prompted
an earlier announcement and a call for immediate donations from all of our
Gesangvereine and singers.
As
you all know, the Deutsches Haus Sängerchor and Damenchor are located in New
Orleans. At last report, their clubhouse was under water and most of their
members unreachable. They will need our help to replace their music library,
piano and who knows what else! Many years ago, as I approached many choruses
and singers about affiliating with the NASA, I was asked, "What can you do
for us?" My answer always was, "It's what we can do for one another!" Well
now is the time! We have all been bombarded with requests for donations to
large charitable organizations, where much of the money is eaten up by
administrative costs and I am sure none of it will reach our people. Now is
the time to take care of our own. Within the tax-exempt status of the
Foundation, we have established the "Katrina Relief Fund", every penny of
which will go to our choruses in New Orleans. All donations are tax
deductible. The President has appointed a committee, chaired by
Ehren-Präsident Tim Pecsenye and consisting of Richard McGinty from Texas at
713.944.0959, Juanita Landau from New Orleans at 318.442.5718 and myself. We
ask you to reach into your hearts and wallets, and coordinating through your
clubs, send your checks, made out to the "North American Singers Association
Foundation" and marked "Katrina Relief Fund" to:
Paul Bockstege · 1917 Hawkeye Drive · Evansville, IN 47710
I
don't want you to think small. Don't consider donating the cost of a couple
of beers, but rather think in terms of a couple of cases of beer or the cost
of one evening's entertainment! Just imagine yourselves or your club in this
situation. Every dollar will be appreciated, but ten or a hundred would be
better, and those of you with going businesses can take a tax deduction on a
couple of thousand. I'm not normally a beggar, but in this case it is for a
good cause, and for our own! God bless you all! If you have any questions,
please contact me at 715-798-2428 or Tim Pecsenye at 419-356-9790
Mit freundlichen Sängergrüssen,
FRANK H. PASCHER
Former Secretary NASA |
