SYLVIA FOWLER
The Lehigh Saengerbund has been an aspect of my life since childhood. My parents, Gerhard and Gitta Hoenisch, had been active members of the Club since they immigrated from Germany in the early 1950s. My father, now deceased, had held various officer positions - as well as help organize many events for the Club, such as Charter trips to Germany. He was also on the bowling teams and enjoyed the many social events that took place at the Lehigh Saengerbund. He was one of the Allentown Sports Club’s top soccer players. My mother sang in the Chorus when she arrived from Germany. She was also on the bowling team, and helped organize, participate in and enjoy the social events of the Club, which helped raise money for the Lehigh Saengerbund.

I currently hold the position of 2^nd Vice President.  I also held various officer positions when the LSB was located in Emmaus.  My ambitions are to continue to grow the membership, with sponsoring new members, to develop new interests and events, and encourage new and younger members to join our organization.  In the past year, I personally sponsored over 10 new members to join the LSB.  I and fellow members continue to plan events for the enjoyment of the membership.  In the past, I had maintained the membership and I currently am on the membership committee.

Additionally, I volunteered my time to cook in the kitchen and bartend when the Lehigh Saengerbund was short-staffed.  I  helped organize, work and participate in fundraising events to benefit the Lehigh Saengerbund. This year brunches were held on Sunday afternoons at Shepherd Hills in Wescosville, which were much enjoyed by the membership.  Brunches are currently being scheduled for the upcoming year.  I worked on events such as the LSB Picnic, Tiki Night, and the Easter Egg Hunt.  Although Sommerfest was not very big this year, my family and I continued to work on the event, as well as the 19^th Street Oktoberfest, which continued to make money for the LSB.   I would like to continue with traditional LSB festivities and help them to grow, such as Fasching.  This event has been a big part of the LSB traditions, and this past year was much enjoyed by members and guests that attended the event.  Another long standing tradition has been monthly dinners, which I hope can be incorporated into the upcoming year. I would like to encourage membership participation to future events.

My whole family has been active in supporting the Lehigh Saengerbund, including my husband Don, my son, Ryan, and my daughter, Rachael.  Don has been part of the Saengerbund since he graduated from college. He continues to play soccer for the Allentown Sports Club, and also has volunteered his time to help with past and current Lehigh Saengerbund events. My children have also participated in the fundraising events. They helped organize the Children's stand other aspects of Sommerfest and Oktoberfest. My family, since my parents’ time, and along with my brother Roy, who is now a Trustee, have worked extremely hard to support and maintain the Lehigh Saengerbund over many years because it has meant a lot to us and the hundreds of members we knew in our club. Roy, too as helped organize many of the festivities of the Saengerbund in order to help the club thrive. We love what it stands for…maintaining the best parts of the Germanic culture…the singing, music, the fun and socialization we shared together and with the community. Lehigh Saengerbund offers the opportunity to keep the German culture and language active in the Lehigh Valley where it has deep roots. As we have seen over time, the singing and social components of the Lehigh Saengerbund need to be maintained for the Saengerbund to thrive.

Don and his wife, Sylvia, actually met at the Lehigh Saengerbund in 1995 at a Fasching event. They also held their wedding reception, while the LSB was located in Allentown. Don, along with members of the LSB, who also play for the Allentown Sports Club, have for the past 20 plus years participated in an International CanAm Friendship Soccer Tournament with Canada. The soccer players have played in this tournament for a total of 35 years, in which the team entered the tournament under the name of the Lehigh Saengerbund. The LSB Soccer Team has been successful several times in winning the tournament. In the 2013 year, the tournament will return to the United States, in which the LSB team will have it’s turn to host the event. This event generates and continues with many friendships, sportsmanship and cultural facets of the Lehigh Saengerbund.

Don, along with many members, would like to see the LSB grow and offer more activities and events for the membership. Don and his family enjoy what the LSB stands for…maintaining the best parts of the Germanic culture…the singing, music, the fun and socialization we shared together and with the community.

The Lehigh Saengerbund offers the opportunity to keep the German culture and language active in the Lehigh Valley where it has deep roots. As we have seen over time, the singing and social components of the Lehigh Saengerbund need to be maintained for the Saengerbund to thrive.

DEVON FREY
I joined the Lehigh Saengerbund going on five years ago because it represents my Germanic heritage and I thought I could be of help to preserve this cultural heritage. I have always respected those who worked so hard to maintain the legacy of the LSB. I have invested hundreds of hours voluntarily assisting the LSB. What I’ve done: I have led, or been part of, LSB efforts which raised upwards of $13,000 in the last few years. Chair, Activities Committee (Activities were a challenge to plan this year due to negative actions occurring.); Member of, or helping with: By-laws, Music, Membership, Saengerfest 2012 Committees; singer in the Chorus. Positions held: Trustee, 2^nd & 1^st Vice President, Recording Secretary. I did research on ways to grow, promote and build awareness for the LSB and the chorus, succeed at festivals, helped investigate the creation of a 501c3 to be able to raise more funds to support the chorus and the LSB, bring new members into the club, got Muhlenberg College interns for the LSB which helped draw young peoples’ attention to the club, etc. Some members aired issues with my duties as Recording Secretary and my work with Sommerfest, but in the last Officers’ meeting in November, I satisfactorily addressed these issues with responses verified by our LSB attorney and other Officers understood that I performed as I should in those roles under the circumstances. I inherited the Recording Secretary position with the same issues that had existed before I had that position. As per the Constitution and By-laws, I was bound to respect and follow the direction of the President and Officers of the LSB who had and have been working on a protocol to address the issues raised.

Regarding my position as Executive Director of Sommerfest, my payments were authorized by the LSB President and Treasurer and questions or issues regarding my Sommerfest work were to be handled by the President and the Treasurer in reporting to the Membership. Before I became involved with Sommefest, the E.D. position was structured to be compensated. The first year I aided in making Sommerfest a success, I did not expect to be paid. My  efforts for Sommerfest went well beyond my contract; it’s a mile long list of duties carried out over 12 months of work, hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars of Mark’s and my money and value we invest and donate toward club and chorus efforts. I don’t get paid for any other activities I run or am involved in, including helping with the Saengerfest. As far as Financial Reports on Sommerfest -- they were given in many ways, in detail and were on paper. 

I have earnestly tried to serve the LSB with the talents I can bring to it. The LSB is my and my family’s heritage too. My Mom was an exquisite singer, which sentimentally influenced me to sing in the LSB chorus which I truly enjoyed.  My family has attended a number of LSB events, most recently the Oktoberfest at the Columbian Home. Lately, my involvement with the LSB has been a heartbreaking experience, but I continue because I believe in the potential of this club. I know the people and gifts it has to offer its members and the community. I believe in the need to preserve cultural heritages and traditions which is being lost in our modern day society.

MICHELE HAZZARD
I became a member a few years ago when the club wanted to highlight the anniversary of the Chorus. So came about Sommerfest/at Mayfair. For 2 years I helped plan and run and recruit friends, family and businesses to participate each year. I was very pleased with the outcome of the events. I have been for 15 years on the North Catasauqua Park Committee where we hold concerts and family nights during the summer and run the snack stand. I have now made it on the Borough Council in North Catty. Working in my community is very important to me. The last 2 years I have committed my time to my children, a wedding, a grandson. l would still like to be in a position to show the organization my support. Thank you for your time. LSB Member for almost four years.

MARGARET HILBERT
As a long time member in good standing, I now submit my name for trustee in the Lehigh Saengerbund.  I will follow my parents Joseph and Marie Spindler who served as President of the club and President of the Ladies Chorus for a combined total of over fifty years.

BRIAN MOLCHANY
EDUCATION: Graduated in 1978 from Kutztown State College with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. WORK EXPERIENCE: Shopping Center, Regional Mall, Office Building and Warehouse Building Property Management Experience for 24 years. Regional Property Manager overseeing 20 properties with the responsibility of creating 20 yearly budgets. For the LSB, I worked as the Treasurer of the Sommerfest Committee for 3 years, supplying satisfactory, complete reports to the LSB Club Treasurer; also did various duties at Sommerfest over the five days it ran and other events like the    19th Street Oktoberfest. I’ve been an LSB Member for almost four years. MUSIC EXPERIENCE: I am a medium baritone and have performed Germanic songs by Schuman, Brahms and Wolf. I performed in a variety of musical genres, including Classical, Contemporary, American Folk, Broadway show tunes. I also am a Performing Member of the Allentown Music Club the past 25 years. I’ve supported, attended and enjoyed a number of LSB chorus performances.

DEANNA WALLISER
I have held the position of 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and have also served as a Trustee for 5 years, and as First Archiver.  I have been a continuous member of the chorus since 1998.  I served on the Sommerfest Committee for two years, Head of the Membership committee for 2 years, and am currently on the Saengerfest committee.  There has been a Walliser in the chorus for over 80 years, and my father served as a trustee for the LSB for many years.

CAROL YANAVITCH
My name is Carol Yanavitch.  I am presently a Standard Bearer for the club for the past two (2) years.  I wish to pursue the Recording Secretary position (which I have done when the present Recording Secretary has not been available) or the Financial Secretary position in this organization.  The reason being that I am fully involved with this organization in the planning and execution of what needs to be done.  I have served on the committees for Sommerfest, By-Laws; Membership,  Activities  and other ones as needed.  I also try to attend all meetings which include committee meetings, board meetings, member’s meetings.  I do not just say I belong, I actually participate in this organization and volunteer at all events and last year tried out being in the chorus.  Therefore, for the above reasons, I believe I am very well qualified for the position (s) I am seeking.