NEWS FROM THE KOLPING SOCIETY OF WINNIPEG

 Our March Communion Breakfast and Meeting was well attended, and included most of our Snowbirds plus several guests. This time smoked sausages were on the menu, rather than chicken. Among other things, the upcoming Annual Kolping Bowling Tournament was discussed; the turnout is declining a little bit every year, which is puzzling since so many of our members bowl every Wednesday in a league. (NB: just 19 people came to the tournament this year, which is three less than the number who normally turn up at the Mosienko lanes each week. - Ed.) Perhaps we'll have to try something new to do in the late winter. The bowling took the place of the Annual Kolping Sleighride of years ago at Bird's Hill Park, which was cancelled because some of our members thought it was too rowdy and childish. (But you should see the antics at the Wednesday bowling!)
At our April meeting the president stressed the importance of everyone's support at our Spring and Fall Schlachtfests - our only sources of income.
Our Preases, Father Wronsky again urged that we change the name of our 'Christmas' party to 'Nikolaus' party since it is held before the actual Christmas. The Executive feels, however, that we are not marking Christ's birth at our party, but rather the 'holiday' season. We do not considered our party a religious celebration. There is a lot of merit in Fr. Wronski's idea, since we all agree that 'Christmas' has been completely commercialized at this point in time, plus the politically correct police are running rampant, and God forbid we should hurt anyone's feelings by referring to our Christianity in our schools or elsewhere.
Father Wronski also would like us to have a similar party before an/or after Easter. This is a very different matter and will be hard to implement; it is being discussed at our executive meetings.
Also at this April meeting, Bill Burchuk gave out the bowling trophies. The winners are: Barbara Broder (ladies), and Victor Littau (men). Congrats to both! What - neither Father Kevin or Father Wronski made the cut???
Our Spring Schlachtfest in April was convened by Barbara and George Broder, to whom a big 'thank you' is due, as it is to all those of our members who cheerfully pitched in again and made the whole evening another great success.
Our faithful "Happy Wanderers", the band that has been playing for us all these many years, had been disintegrating slowly but was still not quite dead and was scheduled to play at this Schlachtfest. Suddenly, two of their musicians were unavailable and the HW had to find last-minute replacements; these included - shall we say - a very unique singer. The crowd was divided in its appreciation - some had never had a better time and others just cringed. After the event, our executive seriously considered cutting our ties with the HW and hiring the opposition (the BMW: the Bavarian Music Werks), when, lo and behold, the Wanderers had a revival while playing in the beer tent during Folklorama week at the German Pavilion. They are now re-energized and ready to go at it for our Kolping Fall Schlachtfest. It should be another sellout, if our super sales lady, Kathy Schoffner, gets into her killer mode. We have never had such a ticket seller!
Our last meeting of the season took place on May 6th, and ended with a free pizza feast, as has become our custom; for some reason we always get an incredibly good turnout for this...
Our Annual Kolping Summer Picnic, was held again on the August long weekend at the cottages in Hnausa. Since we have been having another odd summer, with many violent, torrential downpours, there had been some discussion about cancelling the picnic this year, but cooler heads prevailed and it was decided to go ahead with it. It had rained heavily again on the Thursday before the big day and the ground was still soft in places, but was deemed to be OK. Sunday started cool and cloudy but the rain stayed away, and everything went off quite well, starting with the Mass at 11 AM, with both, our Praeses Fr. Wronski and our pastor, Fr. Kevin con-celebrating. The BBQ, the games and the cake and coffee all went well and everyone was happy with the day. Predictably, within minutes of the last guest's departure, the sun came out and stayed out for almost a week, bringing the highest temperatures of the summer. It ended with another rain storm, at which 100 mm of rain was recorded. Yet another disastrous storm occurred this past weekend, which saw serious flooding in the area, with much damage to crops, let alone the fun of people trying to enjoy the last long weekend of the summer. Very sad.
Sadly, on June 26, one of our longtime members Hans Michelfeit, passed way at the age of 80 years. Hans spent the last years of his life in Bethania Personal Care Home. A private service was held there. Our sympathies go out to his loving wife Sidonia, who, although not at all well herself, was there every single day to help with his meals. Several of our members faithfully visited Hans, in particular John Sessan; also Hans Kessling, who came at least once a week for two years (Hans and Hilde bring Holy Communion plus they entertain on the piano and with songs); our president, Joe Knoll, went to see Hans quite often as well, as did others. Hans was a quiet man with a terrific sense of humour.
Another old friend, Toni Teschner/Strauss, passed away quietly at home on August 7th, of cancer. Toni was a multi-talented woman. Everything she did had to be done to perfection, whether it was in her home, at our functions where she was the official decorator, or at choir. Toni was a soloist since the age of 3, and I don't believe she ever forgot a song or yodel in her life. She was also a choir director - she had the children's choir at the German Society of Winnipeg for many years. She was also the director and driving force of our Folklorama choir, the Alpen Singers, and our ladies choir. She appeared on TV (On the Road Again) twice, with her Alpen Singers and with the German Choir of Winnipeg. She once entertained a bus load of people from Regina to Winnipeg in the middle of the night with her jokes, without a break, and had us howling. We will never replace her, or forget her. Toni and Frank, her longtime companion, were married a week before her death, uniting two families. We extend our condolences to Frank and to all her children and grandchildren, as well as those of her friends who will miss her terribly. At her memorial service St. Joseph's church was packed, an indication of the impact she had. Toni was just 70 years old.
Finally, condolences also to our former local president, Hans Zeyen, and his wife Ilse, who lost a beloved grandgaughter, at the age of 30, in Kelowna, of a heart attack. One can only imagine the sorrow.

Treu Kolping - Hans Kessling/Regina Knoll