Friendship and Tradition celebrated under the Maibaum at the DASV Schützenpark

DASV members, children and friends, join hands and circle the Maibaum as they welcome the arrival of Spring and the coming Summer season at the Schützenpark in Auburn Hills, MI.

Auburn Hills ­ On Sunday, the 30th of April, the German-American Marksmen's Club (D.A.S.V.) of Auburn Hills and the Kolping Schützen of Detroit held their annual Friendship shooting competition at the DASV Schützenpark. This competition emphasizes friendship and camaraderie shared by the sportsmen of both groups. The Schützen of both clubs look forward to meeting every spring for this competition and enjoying each other's company. The shooting results for this year's competition are as follows:

1st Place - 30

Arndt, Ronny DASV

Born, Willi KSD

2nd Place - 29

Arndt, Erika DASV

Werner, Paul DASV

3rd Place - 28

Burney, Kenneth DASV

Seubert, Herb KSD

(Scores out of a perfect 30)

To the surprise and delight of all, when they arrived for the shooting competition, a Maibaum had been erected to herald the arrival of spring and to recognize the vitality of the German-American Marksmen's Club (D.A.S.V.) as it continues to grow in recent years. The centuries-old Maibaum tradition is celebrated annually throughout the German speaking lands and much of Northern Europe. This tradition has now found its way to Auburn Hills. A few members of the D.A.S.V. thought it would be a wonderful idea to celebrate another tradition that has been enjoyed by so many of our members in their earlier years back in their homeland. After a few words of dedication from DASV Vice-President Kenneth Burney, the celebration commenced with the dancing of children ,round the Maibaum to the music of German children's springtime music. Soon the members of both clubs competing in the shooting competition of the day joined the children in singing songs of their youth while skipping around the Maibaum hand-in-hand with the young folks that represent the future of both clubs. Kenneth Burney, Courtney Thiel and Ronny Arndt erected the Maibaum. Christine and Annika Burney, Dana and Alexandrea Thiel decorated the wreath. Many of the senior members of both clubs complemented those involved in surprising everyone with this tradition and thanked them for bringing action to the words of the saying, Treu dem alten Brauch".

The German-American Marks-men's Club (D.A.S.V.) summer activities include a Country Western Barbeque (featuring Steak on the Grill) this upcoming June 2nd and the annual DASV Schützenfest on July 29th. All are welcome to join in celebrating German tradition and friendship with the DASV. For more information visit the German-American Marksmen's Club website at: www.DASV.org or watch the pages of this publication.

R.S.A.