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Toledo In an era when volunteerism is a fading
social virtue, coupled with the fact that members of the Toledo Schwaben
Verein have an aging membership, the two-day Waldfest was dropped in favor
of a revised one-day Fest. Those wise Toledo Schwaben officers and members
put their heads together and maintained the basic strengths of the cultural
program and added an old Schwabian legend to enrich Waldfest 2007.
The strength of the Toledo Schwaben Verein was evident on
Saturday, July 21, when 14 veterans came at 9 in the morning to peel and
slice potatoes for the Sunday program. How encouraging to see Lee and Elsie
Pfouts and Walter and Gerda Fritz, snowbirds from Arizona, Rosemary Boyd,
and accident-recovering Caroline Renz, to name a few, contribute their
talents as they have done for so many years in the past. You can be sure the
potato salad was first class.
On Sunday, the Fest opened at 12:30 to the music of the
Deutschmeister Band, directed by Harold Waters, with his wife, Nancy, as
soloist. Guests came from Norwalk, Blissfield, Napoleon, and of course
President Art French of the Ann Arbor Schwaben Verein was there with is
group. Schwaben Verein President Hubert Rosch and Secretary Lisa Gerstheimer
came from Detroit. Of the over 1,000 attenders, more came from outlying
regions that from the Toledo area.
The Deutschmeister Band played Alte Kameraden" for the
march-in parade. All GAF-member clubs were represented. Even the retirees
joined in the parade. After the playing of the American, German, and Swiss
national anthems, Master of Ceremonies, Don Pfouts introduced President
Herman Schmalzried, who acknowledged participation by the member societies
of the GAF, and introduced current President of the GAF, Mel Arndt, former
presidents, Chris Able, Richard Hardt, Lee Weber, and Michael Willinger.
Acknowledgment was also given to absent 2007 Festival Chairman, Tim Pecseyne.
The Deutschmeister Band played until 3:30 when The
Vagabonds from Detroit took over for dancing and listening pleasure. During
the band's first break a special program was introduced, which was the
highlight of the Fest. An enactment of the legend, Die Sieben Schwaben" was
presented, in costume, by Lee Pfouts, Shawn Pfouts, Dan and Don Pfouts, Matt
Harrison, Dennis Majors, and John Schwarzkopf. Frank Fink narrated the story
of the Sieben Schwaben" who spears in hand, went out into the forest to
capture the supposed monster. The monster turned out to be nothing more than
a small rabbit. In this performance, 6'1" Shawn Pfouts played the rabbit to
perfection. Towering over the other Schwabs he brought humor, and yet,
realism to his performance. This skit was such a crowd-pleaser, that it will
be performed again at the German-American Festival in August.
Guests continued to drink beer, munch on freshly baked
pretzels from Stuttgart, and eat the well-prepared German foods and Kuchen,
while they danced and listened to the music of the Vagabonds.
At the bands next break Joe Gates and his Bavarian
Schuhplattler entertained with their lively routines to the cheers of the
onlookers. After an intermission, they returned to complete their program.
With the support of the Toledo Schwaben Verein, this group performed at the
Gaufest in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Thespian Shawn Pfouts, who did so well as
the giant" rabbit in the Sieben Schwaben" legend, won honors in dancing at
the Gaufest.
A bubble bug" was provided for the children's
entertainment, and a giant raffle with a great prizes completed the program.
There was something for everyone. At the end of the Waldfest not a morsel of
food or drink remained. Come back again next year you wonderful guests and
the Toledo Schwaben Verein will give you more of the same!
Roy F. Lessing |
