Hermann Sons Life - February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

For information on Hermann Sons insurance products, fraternal benefits, calendar of events, latest news, photos, visit:

VOL. 119 • SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS • FEBRUARY 2016 - NO. 6

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE, ORDER OF THE SONS OF HERMANN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

HERMANN SONS NEWS

100th Anniversary

Retirement Home to host celebration COMFORT – Hundreds of Hermann Sons members and guests are expected to gather in Comfort the afternoon of Saturday, April 23, to celebrate the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary.

The event will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Tickets are $10 each. Deadline to order tickets is March 18. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hermannsons.org or by using the form found on Page 13.

Tickets will be mailed.

A catered meal will be served and each person will receive two beer tickets as

well as a commemorative keychain.

Complimentary tea and lemonade will be available throughout the day.

The meal will be served from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. During the program, a plaque commemorating the 100th Anniversary will be unveiled.

After the program, a panoramic photo will be taken and will be available for purchase at a cost of $30 for two copies – one large and small.

Guests will be able to take self-guided tours of the Home and the grounds. Live

entertainment will be provided throughout the day.

Special accommodations have been made for parking. A valet service will park cars at Riverside Camp so that guests do not have to park and walk to the event.

“We are anticipating a great day of celebration,” Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger said. “We invite all our members to come and see what a beautiful facility the Retirement Home is. And bring your friends and family along to enjoy a day in the Texas Hill Country.”

Camp registration begins soon Registration will soon be under way for the summer of 2016 at Hermann Sons Youth Camp. Registration packets will be mailed in early March to Hermann Sons members who will be ages 9 to 13 as of Sept. 1, 2016. The information will be sent to the address of the payor of the child’s policy. For more information on all the excitement in store this summer, turn to Pages 20-21.

Hermann SonS newS (USPS 242200) Periodicals Postage Paid at San antonio, Texas Published monthly by THe Hermann SonS newS 515 S. St. mary’s St. San antonio, Texas 78205

FeBrUarY 2016 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Hermann Sons News P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 oFFICIaL PUBLICaTIon oF THe orDer oF THe SonS oF Hermann In THe STaTe oF TeXaS Home oFFICe: 515 S. St. Mary’s Street P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, Texas 78297-1941 210-226-9261 or 1-800-234-4124 Fax: 210-226-3055 Hermann Sons Youth Camp 830-995-3223 Retirement Home: 830-995-2724 Website: www.hermannsons.org GranD LoDGe oFFICerS PaST GranD PreSIDenT LEROY MUEHLSTEIN PaST GranD PreSIDenT STEPHEN R. PREWITT GranD PreSIDenT/Ceo ALLAN W. "BUDDY" PREUSS GranD VP-SeCreTarY/TreaS. MARY BEAM GranD VP-InVeSTmenTS HARRY WERLAND GranD VP-marKeTInG TIMOTHY P. KOLBE GranD VP-FraTernaL KIMBERLY A. KRUEGER GranD FInanCe CommITTee WILBURN PARGMANN SANDRA JONES JANICE KUHEN PAUL HEATH JACK LARNED reTIremenT Home CommITTee RUTH BAILEY FRANK BRANDON NORMA BRUNS JEAN DUEITT CALVIN LAMENSKY GranD PHYSICIan DR. RICHARD HANNIGAN YoUTH aCTIVITIeS CommITTee JANICE FAIT DEBBIE JORDAN TAMMY KELLEY ED KURTZ DAVID SPAETH

AMANDA DEICKE BOB JUNGMAN STAN STEIGER

Grand Guide Grand Inner Guard Grand Outer Guard

LawS CommITTee

Glenn Altwein Donnie Blinka Glenford Boehme John Bradley Joe Doss Agnes Dreibrodt Lillian Franckowiak Debbie Gold Karen Harborth Robert Herridge Milton Ihlo Jerry Don Klose Oscar Kuehner

Billy Lehde David Lewis James Lowak Jeanette Preuss Calvin Rueter Howard Saathoff Tim Salge Don Saunders Andy Schellenberg Irene Schwertner Joe Trojacek Lee Vogel Ronald Wiatrek

Grand President's Message Home Sweet Home I have a soft spot in my heart for our Retirement Home in Comfort. Maybe it’s because I have been taught from an early age to respect my elders. Maybe it’s because I see all the good that comes to each of the residents and how much they give back to the home itself and the great Comfort community.

Whatever the reason, my feelings are shaped by the history of the Home and shared by members across the state who acknowledge the Retirement Home as our greatest fraternal benefit.

When the idea of the Home for the Aged was first conceived at a state convention in 1913, it was dreamed that this would be a place of community and security for senior members and a place of refuge and respite they could call home. It would become all of that and more.

When the Home first opened in 1916, it was a simpler time.

Residents were provided with a comfortable room and access to public areas for dining and recreation. The Home was very self-sufficient and residents helped out where they could with the chores associated with living. They raised animals that provided meat and dairy necessities and gardens that yielded the needed produce. It is believed this was the first time any fraternal society had undertaken such a project.

Over the years things have changed. Eggs are now bought and delivered instead of gathered, but residents still help in

sustaining the Home in other ways like tending flower gardens on the grounds and refinishing furniture. What hasn’t changed is that it is still a place of security and community for residents and for the families that appreciate the existence of such a wonderful place. The pride our brother and sister members have in their home and their community is strong.

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of our Retirement Home and a grand centennial celebration is planned for Saturday, April 23. The Retirement Home Committee, residents and staff and the Grand Lodge officers and staff have planned a once-in-a-lifetime event and you are invited.

Information about tickets can be found in this issue and on our website. The deadline to purchase tickets is March 18.

You can probably think of many reasons to come be a part of the celebration. It will be a beautiful day and a great time to share with family and friends. It will be a spectacular event that will be remembered for generations. But probably the best reason is one that will touch that soft spot in your heart.

The residents eagerly await your arrival and want you to be a part of this celebration. See you there!

Fraternally, Buddy Preuss Grand President/CEO

Soldier expresses thanks for ‘Hugs’ package The following letter is from Brian J. Henderson, one of the people who received a “Hugs from Home” package in 2015.

“Thank you for the lovely note that you sent to me. It helped to brighten my day.

Anytime we get a letter from

the States during mail call is wonderful. Organizations like yours really help to show the support we have from back home. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to reach out to the soldiers. I’m glad I was on your list.

“I hope you had a great fall in Texas. My family is back there at Fort Hood. The weather here does not vary that much. It has been a little less rainy here which has been nice.

“Snacks are always nice. I’ll

"Hugs from Home"

Give us the name and address of someone who is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan and we will add them to our "Hugs from Home" list of care package recipients.

Name ______________________________________ Address Line 1 _______________________________ Address Line 2 _______________________________ Address Line 3 _______________________________ Deployment Dates ____________________________ Clip and mail to:

Hermann Sons Grand Lodge P.O. Box 1941 San Antonio, TX 78297-1941 Attention: Fraternal Department

make sure that anything that gets sent this way is shared among everyone here.

“Thank you again for remembering the troops.

Your thoughtfulness means so much to me. All the best from Honduras.”

Donors listed SAN ANTONIO – More donations have been made to the “Hugs from Home” program. The latest contributors are: Retirement Home Residents Carol Krauss Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161 McGregor Lodge No. 132 Poth Lodge No. 272 Vick and Eulla May Krueger Wayne and Janilla Kilborn Cuero Family Lodge No. 82 Mission-Alamo Lodge No. 80 Jackson County Lodge No. 318 If you know someone serving overseas and would like for them to receive a package, fill out the form to the left and mail it to the Grand Lodge. If you would like to make a donation, mail it to the same address.

www.hermannsons.org

Calendar of Events

Scholarship deadline . . . . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1 Deadline to apply for the Hermann Sons Youth Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship is March 1. The application is available online at www.hermannsons.org.

Chili Cook-off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 12 The annual Retirement Home Chili Cook-off and Bean Cook-off will be held on the grounds of the Retirement Home in Comfort. For complete details, see Pg. 9.

Ticket deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18 Deadline to buy tickets for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Retirement Home is March 18. Tickets can be purchased online or by using the form found on Page 13.

Garage sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 19 Anton Wenzel Lodge No. 174 will hold a garage sale at the home of Merlinda Elizondo.

If you have items to donate or want more information, call 210-223-1491.

Picnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 19 Pershing Lodge No. 160 members will have a picnic at the Retirement Home in Comfort. For more information, call Terri Armstrong at 210-378-0319.

Scholarship deadline . . . . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1 Deadline to apply for the Hermann Sons Retirement Home Scholarship is April 1.

The application is available online at www.hermannsons.org.

Benefit golf tournament . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 9 The Hermann Sons Youth Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament will be held at The Republic Golf Club in San Antonio.

Complete details are available online at www.hermannsons.org.

Anniversary celebration . . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 23 The Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration will be held at the Home in Comfort. See story on Pg. 1 for complete details.

If you would like to see your lodge’s event listed here, call Kathie Ninneman, 210-226-9261 or 1-800-234-4124, ext. 273, or email the information to kathie@texashermannsons.org.

MEMORIAL FORM

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 3

OFFICIAL BULLETIN

Grand Vice President-Secretary/Treasurer

Through installations, lodge officers were attentive to their duties and how to reach out to their community through service projects and increase member connections through more engagement. But how can we make our lodges a draw to members and non-members alike?

A few suggestions for lodge betterment: • Be adaptable to change. Listen to new ideas and go forward.

• Be creative. Do something different on meeting dates, possibly twice a year. Have a speaker, invite an elected official, meet offsite (at a park or restaurant), tour a historic or cultural venue or host an ice cream social for non-members.

• Have a lodge calendar as a handout that interests and attracts all ages.

• Invite those members who are not regular attendees at meetings to join in on a community service project and include another organization as a partner.

• Host a special event for junior members and their parents. Enjoy an afternoon honoring graduates, scholarship recipients, campers and dancers. Include junior members as a part of the event committee. Let them suggest the program and activities.

• Keep in touch. Reminders are always needed of meetings and events. Create a Communications Committee (for phone calls, emails, texts). Go over your membership list and contact 10 members every month who are not active and invite them to lodge events.

• Make sure you have a reporter to write a monthly article for the Hermann Sons News.

• Continuously serve your community by doing special acts of kindness in the lodge’s name.

• Membership is key to survival in the lodge system.

Encourage members to ask non-members to join. Speak of your involvement and what our organization means to you.

• Remember that Hermann Sons traditions are always guided by our motto of Friendship, Love and Loyalty.

Good luck to all our lodges for a successful year!

Fraternally, Mary Beam Grand Vice President-Secretary/Treasurer

CONTACT US

Name of Deceased: Please print

Acknowledgement from Retirement Home Retirement Home Scholarship Fund

Youth Camp Youth Camp Scholarship Fund

to go to: Name: Address: Donor: Address:

Please print

City, State, Zip

Please print

City, State, Zip: Date:

Amount: $ Clip and mail with your memorial contribution to:

Grand Lodge, Order of the Sons of Hermann, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297-1941

HERMANN SONS NEWS Editor Kathie Ninneman 210-226-9261, ext. 273 email: kathie@texashermannsons.org Assistant Editor Elaine Soto 210-226-9261, ext.279 email: elaine@texashermannsons.org Fax: Website:

1-888-443-3377 or 210-892-0252 www.hermannsons.org

Page 4 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

Index

Continue the Tradition

Monthly Features Grand President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Grand Vice President-Secretary/Treasurer’s Bulletin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Memorial donation form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Pioneer Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 In Memoriam of Our Deceased Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Medical Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Retirement Home News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fraternal Features Home's 100th Anniversary Celebration planned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 & 13 'Hugs' donors listed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Soldier expresses thanks for ‘Hug’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Officers installed in ceremonies across the state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9 Chili cook-off set for March 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Grand Committee meeting minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Grand Finance Committee letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Marketing TOP Recommenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 100% Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The true value of my life insurance certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Lodges honored for reaching goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Roster of Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 youth in action Camp registration begins in March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 & 20 Answers to puzzles on Page 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hondo Victory offering cash to seniors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Comfort Lodge offering camperships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Directors named for Riverside, Hilltop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Jobs available at HSYC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cibolo dancers ride in parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Future Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

loDge rePorts Page no. lodge

lodge

Albert Kypfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Anton Wenzel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Bernardo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Bexar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Boerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Brenham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Brunhilde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Bryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Cat Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Cibolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Columbus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Corpus Christi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Coupland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Cuero Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 DaCosta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Dunlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 El Campo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Flatonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Fort Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Fredericksburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Gay Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Giddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Gulf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Harmonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Haskell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Helotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Highland Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Hochheim-Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Page no.

Hondo Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Jourdanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Kerrville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Kirby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Louise Schuetze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Macdona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 McGregor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Mission-Alamo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Nagel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 New Bielau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 New Braunfels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Niederwald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Old Glory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Paige . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Poth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Prinz Solms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Rosenberg-Richmond . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Round Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Rutersville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 San Marcos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Schulenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Schwertner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Seguin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Shive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Siemering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Spring Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Vineta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Weesatche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Womack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Hermann Sons News Staff editor assistant editor

www.hermannsons.org

Kathie Ninneman Elaine H . Soto

The Hermann Sons News is an official publication of the Order of the Sons of Hermann in Texas . The management and editorial policy of the newspaper shall be in the hands of the Grand President, and the Grand President shall have the authority to appoint a member or members of the Order as editor and/or business manager thereof (Art . 38, Grand Lodge Laws) . All news articles and photographs should be mailed to the Editor, Hermann Sons News, P .O . Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297-1941, or emailed to kathie@texashermannsons .org . Deadline for each monthly issue is the 10th of the month of publication .

Protect the Ones You Love♥

The Team of Outstanding Prospectors Campaign recognized 23 TOP Recommenders for the month of January 2016 . Because of those 23 TOP Recommenders, Hermann Sons added 26 new members .

Congratulations to the following January recommenders:

recommender

agent

Helena Grace Allen, Kirby Lodge Angela Netherton Shawnee Rayne Allen, La Vernia Lodge Sharon Tanneberger, FIC Shawnee Rayne Allen, La Vernia Lodge Marlin Tanneberger, FIC Crystal A . Arratia, Pershing Lodge Carol Krauss, FIC Delbert D . Berryman, Siemering Lodge Judith Schulmeier, FIC Braden Clae Boehme, Castroville Lodge Glenford Boehme, FIC Jessica K . Boehme, Castroville Lodge Glenford Boehme, FIC John H . Fey, Cibolo Lodge Carol Krauss, FIC William L . Fleeger, Schulenburg Lodge Mary Koenig Betty Ann Friar, Paul Vogt Lodge Marilyn Vogt, FICF Emily Friesenhahn, Macdona Lodge Eulla Krueger Morgan Elizabeth Gibson, Mission-Alamo Lodge Angela Netherton Madeline Jean Hein, Biry Lodge Eulla Krueger Linda Carol Hill, Pershing Lodge Carol Krauss, FIC Christian Hosinski, Yorktown Lodge Judy Wolf Dalia Marie McBride, Wichita Falls Lodge David Wolf Florence McQuaig, San Marcos Lodge Sandra Duncan Carlee Pace Pharris, Vineta Lodge Ruth Bailey LaVerne Doris Urban, Giddings Lodge Loretta Chilek, FIC Robin J . Vincent, Seguin Lodge (*) Becki Carley Bernice Vogel, Mission-Alamo Lodge Ruth Bailey Mary E . Vonnetzer, Beaumont Lodge Al Stryk, LUTCF, FICF Tyler Christian Wiens, Spring Branch Lodge Sandra Duncan Lindsey R . Winn, Spring Branch Lodge (*) Marilyn Vogt, FICF (*) Recommended 2 new members

Recommend a new member today!

Hermann Sons welcomes our new 100% Families!

100% Family

City

Lodge

Agent

Jewell Family Brandon Whitley Dacey Riley

Victoria

Goliad Lodge No . 212

Laura Tiffin

100% Family sauer Family Kenneth Patricia Collen Overmann Tynlee Overmann Gage Koen Katrina Koen

City Lodge New Braunfels New Braunfels Lodge No . 21

Agent Becki Carley

Is your family a 100% Hermann Sons Family?

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 5

www.hermannsons.org

Marketing News The true value of my life insurance certificate

By JENNIFER CERNOSEK Member Engagement Director When I was 4 years old, my parents purchased for me a single-premium whole life insurance certificate through Hermann Sons. They paid $589 at the time.

Today, the cash value of that insurance certificate is almost double what they paid. Sure, I could surrender the certificate and take that money. But why would I? If I were to purchase the same size whole life policy from Hermann Sons today, I would pay around $2,090.

What have I gotten out of that $589 purchase so far?

I attended Hermann Sons Youth Camp for five summers and participated in the counselor-in-training program for two summers. Based on rates charged at that time, my parents paid less than $500 for those summer opportunities when I was ages 9 to 16.

So for just $1,089, not only did I have a life insurance certificate but I also was able to participate in a top-notch summer camp for a total of seven weeks. Had I gone to any other camp of the same quality for the same amount of time, my parents would have likely paid between four and eight times what they paid for my camp sessions and life insurance certificate combined. I didn’t even take advantage of all of the junior member benefits available to me and it’s already clear that the $589 purchase was well worth it!

But wait, there’s more… I’m continuing to utilize member benefits today. I’m able to be a part of an exciting lodge community, I enrolled in dance classes for adults and more. It is almost impossible to calculate the financial value of these benefits.

What is harder to put a pencil to is how many individuals and communities my parents helped by choosing to purchase my life insurance policy through Hermann Sons and that I’m continuing to help by remaining a member.

Even better, by keeping this certificate, I’m supporting new generations of campers, dancers and Shining Stars.

I’m also supporting all of the good Hermann Sons does in communities.

“Wait, how is that possible?” you might ask. Even though all of my certificate’s premiums were paid at once, the net profits were invested and the investment income is used to fund our fraternal benefits, including the funding of the charitable work Hermann Sons does in communities.

Furthermore, relinquishing this certificate would be like dishonoring my parents’ intentions when they purchased this piece of financial security and family tradition for me. Parents and grandparents who have the foresight to protect their children and grandchildren in this way should really be consulted as to their intentions when they purchased the financial product.

It has been almost three decades since my parents purchased my life insurance certificate, so it is understandable that rates are higher today.

Keeping in mind that rates for all products should generally be higher in another three decades, let’s consider what purchasing a certificate for a child today might look like.

For a $15,000 single-premium whole life insurance certificate for a 4-year-old girl, the cost is about $1,600. If that same girl attended Hermann Sons Youth Camp (under

Member Engagement Director Jennifer Cernosek and her mother. today’s rates) for five summers, it would cost $1,125. It would be hard to find another American Camp Associationaccredited residential camp of the same caliber charging less than $2,725 for five weeks of summer camp. Not to mention the incredible value of tuition-free dance classes and the numerous other benefits available. And when this child is finished with junior benefits, she will still have a life insurance certificate on top of the incredible memories.

After all, life insurance is a product to be kept for life.

There is a certain element of moral obligation to buy it for the right reasons and to carefully consider all of the ramifications involved with not maintaining the product.

For many people, purchasing life insurance and getting enrichment opportunities in one place is not the first consideration. But if you’re going to purchase life insurance anyway, why not purchase it from a company that has demonstrated social responsibility since before social responsibility was cool?

Jennifer Cernosek and brother James are pictured with their parents around the time they would have purchased life insurance certificates from Hermann Sons for the children.

We were even crowdfunding before it became popular. In the mid-1800s during the infancy of Hermann Sons, members passed the hat to collect money for the families of deceased members and for members in distress. Wikipedia notes the first instance of crowdfunding to have been in 1997, but we were doing it more than 100 years earlier!

If you’re going to pursue life enrichment opportunities for your children, why not also give them a valuable gift that can protect their future families and give them a head start on financial security?

When you purchase life insurance through Hermann Sons, the intention is that you’re purchasing it for life. Our business model is unique in that the life insurance purchase transaction is about mutual protection.

Hermann Sons is securing the customer’s financial product and when the customer (or

Continue the Tradition – Protect

member) pays for the product, he/she is protecting the benefits Hermann Sons offers.

It may not bother a commercial life insurance company when someone walks away after a certain period of time has passed, but in our fraternal business, we need members to keep their certificates for about 15 years in order to recoup the investment we make in member enrichment opportunities. It’s also important to note that beyond recouping the investment, we’re most concerned about the customer’s coverage, the family’s protection and the good that is done by keeping the customer’s money invested.

Family protection, tradition, value, supporting new generations of members, doing good work for individuals and communities. These are the reasons why I will keep the life insurance certificate my parent’s purchased when I was 4 years old for life.

the Ones You Love

Page 6 – Hermann SonS newS – January 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Go for the Goal - 125 in 2015

Lodges reach goals in 2015 SAN ANTONIO – In 2015 members across the state were asked to recommend others for membership as part of the annual lodge membership growth campaign. Each lodge was assigned a new member goal by the Grand Lodge Marketing Department.

A total of 37 lodges met or surpassed their assigned goal. In addition, 20 of the lodges that met their goal also finished the year with an increase in membership over the previous year.

Lodge officers were presented certificates at their installation of officers ceremony last month. Pictures of some are featured on this page and the next. The complete list of lodges that reached their goal appeared in the January issue.

KARNES CITY LODGE NO. 215, STOCKDALE LODGE NO. 316 and POTH LODGE NO. 272 – The presidents of three lodges accept their lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand President Buddy Preuss, right, during the installation of officers held in Karnes City. They are, from left, Vernon Fenner Jr., Karnes City Lodge; Ronald Wiatrek, Stockdale Lodge; and Paul Hosek, Poth Lodge.

COLUMBIA LODGE NO. 66 – Bobby Wilbanks, right, president of Columbia Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Finance Committee Member Janice Kuhen during the installation of officers held in Fort Worth.

Also pictured is Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Andy Schellenberg.

COMFORT LODGE NO. 2 – Connie Spenrath, president of Comfort Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand President Buddy Preuss during the installation of officers held in Boerne.

PAIGE LODGE NO. 154, GIDDINGS LODGE NO. 54 and BRYAN LODGE NO. 99 – The presidents of three lodges accept their lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger, right, during the installation of officers held in Bryan. They are, from left, Rachelle Dube, Paige Lodge; Pat Abell, Giddings Lodge; and James Hyvl, Bryan Lodge.

MAXWELL LODGE NO. 75 and SAN MARCOS LODGE NO. 26 – Officers from two lodges accept their lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger, left, during the installation of officers held in Maxwell. They are Charles Croley, president of Maxwell Lodge, and Agnes Dreibrodt, president of San Marcos Lodge.

McGREGOR LODGE NO. 132 – Doris Mooney, second from left, president of McGregor Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from, from left, Grand Finance Committee Member Paul Heath, Past Grand President Leroy Muehlstein and Shive Lodge No. 253 President Katherine Hopper during the installation of officers held in Hamilton.

ROSENBERG-RICHMOND LODGE NO. 85 – Calvin Lamensky, left, president of Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe during the installation of officers held in El Campo.

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 7

www.hermannsons.org

Go for the Goal - 125 in 2015

LA GRANGE LODGE NO. 8 – Sanford Schmidt, vice president of La Grange Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger during the installation of officers held in La Grange.

LA COSTE LODGE NO. 261 – Harvey Kunze, right, president of La Coste Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Grand Vice President-Investments Harry Werland during the installation of officers held in Hondo.

YORKTOWN LODGE NO. 36 – Chris Hosinski, right, president of Yorktown Lodge, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Past Grand President Stephen R. Prewitt during the installation of officers held in Yorktown.

HASKELL LODGE NO. 241 – Phyllis and Jerry Don Klose, secretary and president of Haskell Lodge, display the Certificate of Achievement the lodge received.

NORDHEIM LODGE NO. 108 – Mildred Schuenemann, president of Nordheim Lodge No. 108, accepts the lodge’s Certificate of Achievement from Past Grand President Stephen R. Prewitt during the installation of officers held in Yorktown.

Installation of Officers 2016 KARNES CITY – Scouts from Karnes City Troop 115 took part in the flag ceremony held prior to the installation ceremony held in Karnes City.

Pictured are, back, from left, Karnes City Lodge President Vernon Fenner Jr., Scoutmaster Robert Jonas, Grand President Buddy Preuss, front, from left, Russell Jonas, Zachary Rutherford and Gabriel Rutherford.

Robert and Russell Jonas are both members of Karnes City Lodge.

KARNES CITY – Officers from the lodges in Districts 3 and 4 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Karnes City Lodge Hall in Karnes City. Karnes City Lodge No. 215 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Karnes City Lodge President Vernon Fenner Jr., Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Ronald Wiatrek and Grand President Buddy Preuss. Officers from La Vernia Lodge No. 180, Karnes City Lodge No. 215, Poth Lodge No. 272, Jourdanton Lodge No. 310, Stockdale Lodge No. 316 and Nixon-Smiley Lodge No. 327 were scheduled to be installed.

Page 8 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Installation of Officers 2016 MAXWELL – Officers from the lodges in District 12 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Maxwell Social Club in Maxwell.

Maxwell Lodge No. 75 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger, Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Agnes Dreibrodt and Maxwell Lodge President Charles Croley. Officers from San Marcos Lodge No. 26, Lockhart Lodge No. 64, Maxwell Lodge No. 75 and Niederwald Lodge No. 110 were scheduled to be installed.

BRYAN – Officers from the lodges in District 17 were installed on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Bryan Lodge Hall in Bryan. Bryan Lodge No. 99 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger, Bryan Lodge President James Hyvl and Milton Ihlo, a member of the Grand Lodge Laws Committee.

Officers from Giddings Lodge No. 54, Bryan Lodge No. 99, Paige Lodge No. 154 and Deanville Lodge No. 301 were scheduled to be installed.

FORT WORTH – Officers from the lodges in Districts 28 and 29 were installed on Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Lodge No. 33 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Fort Worth Lodge President Shannon Jones, Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Andy Schellenberg; and Grand Finance Committee Member Janice Kuhen.

Officers from Dallas Lodge No. 22, Fort Worth Lodge No. 33 and Columbia Lodge No. 66 were scheduled to be installed.

BOERNE – Officers from the lodges in Districts 21 and 22 were installed on Saturday, Jan. 16, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boerne. Boerne Lodge No. 25 was the host lodge.

The installation team included, from left, Grand President Buddy Preuss, Boerne Lodge President Alice Quinn and Grand Inner Guard Stan Steiger. Officers from Comfort Lodge No. 2, Kerrville Lodge No. 12, Boerne Lodge No. 25, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 41, Paul Vogt Lodge No. 234 and Highland Lakes Lodge No. 317 were scheduled to be installed.

BULVERDE – Officers from the lodges in District 13 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Bulverde Community Center in Bulverde. Prinz Solms Lodge No. 136 was the host lodge.

The installation team included, from left, Grand Outer Guard Amanda Deicke, Grand Vice PresidentSecretary/Treasurer Mary Beam and Prinz Solms Lodge President Clifton Klabunde.

Officers from New Braunfels Lodge No. 21, Spring Branch Lodge No. 127, Prinz Solms Lodge No. 136 and Twin Sisters Lodge No. 138 were scheduled to be installed.

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 9

www.hermannsons.org

Installation of Officers 2016

LA GRANGE – Officers from the lodges in District 30 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the La Grange Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in La Grange.

La Grange Lodge No. 8 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Glenn Altwein, a member of the Grand Lodge Laws Committee; Sanford Schmidt, La Grange Lodge vice president; and Grand Vice PresidentFraternal Kim Krueger. Officers from La Grange Lodge No. 8, Ellinger Lodge No. 30, Round Top Lodge No. 151, Rutersville Lodge No. 152 and Plum Lodge No. 238 were scheduled to be installed.

YORKTOWN – Officers from the lodges in District 9 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Yorktown Lodge Hall in Yorktown. Yorktown Lodge No. 36 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, James Lowak, a member of the Grand Lodge Laws Committee; Yorktown Lodge President Chris Hosinski and Past Grand President Stephen R. Prewitt. Officers from Yorktown Lodge No. 36, Cuero Family Lodge No. 82, Weesatche Lodge No. 96, Nordheim Lodge No. 108, Gruenau Lodge No. 117 and Goliad Lodge No. 212 were scheduled to be installed.

EL CAMPO – Officers from the lodges in District 8 were installed on Sunday, Jan. 10, at Prasek’s Hillje Smokehouse in El Campo. Jackson County Lodge No. 318 was the host lodge. The installation team included, from left, Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe, Jackson County Lodge President James Fait and Joe Doss, a member of the Grand Lodge Laws Committee. Officers from Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge No. 85, Brazosport Lodge No. 86, El Campo Lodge No. 87, Needville Lodge No. 153, Da Costa Lodge No. 265 and Jackson County Lodge No. 318 were scheduled to be installed.

Page 10 – Hermann SonS newS – Febuary 2016

75 Years PAULA MAYS Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 JUNE NELL GARNER Yorktown Lodge No. 36 LUNES SCHLINKE Nordheim Lodge No. 108

70 Years

doRIS RUtH bLEtHRow wALtER HERbSt RUtH A. JUNG MARvIN PAUL toEPfER Comfort Lodge No. 2 L.L. KUtSCHENREUtER Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 MARGAREt fEERICK vIRGINIA C. HARdIN bEvERLY J. JoHNStoN ELIzAbEtH f.

McAdAMS bEttY JEAN McNIEL Vineta Lodge No. 15 GERRY LEE RISKE Yorktown Lodge No. 36 doRIS LEE bEICKER Seguin Lodge No. 37 JoAN LEE SHAw Gulf Lodge No. 46 HERMAN bEfELd JR. RobERt MILLER JR. Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge No. 47 GEoRGE G. wIGGINtoN El Campo Lodge No. 87

bARbARA L. LAUER Hochheim-Prairie Lodge No. 90 PHYLLIS J. bUffINGtoN Bryan Lodge No. 99 GLAdYS K. EICHLER NAtHAN J. SEGAL JR. Houston Lodge No. 100 NoRMA M. KARNEI Nordheim Lodge No. 108 IMoGENE wAGNER Twin Sisters Lodge No. 138 vIdA MARIE ARLItt LA vERNE L. oAKES Needville Lodge No. 153 HELEN bALMoS Pershing Lodge No. 160 EMILIE E. CowAN Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161 bEvERLY A. bEESoN Gonzales Lodge No. 175 EdwIN o. doRNbUSCH Knippa Lodge No. 233 MILdREd MEttING DaCosta Lodge No. 265 NoRA JEAN bENdER EUGENE KoSAREK JoHN CALvIN RoEMER RICHARd H. SCHULzE Poth Lodge No. 272 bARbARA ANN GotCHER Jourdanton Lodge No. 310

www.hermannsons.org

Pioneers 60 Years

tHoMAS LEStER GRAY Castroville Lodge No. 71

wAYNE J. woLff Harmonia Lodge No. 1

CoNNIE d. MooRE Bryan Lodge No. 99

PHILLIP R. KNAUPP StEPHEN A. MoRYL dAvId HENRY oLfERS tHoMAS R. SCHMIdt Siemering Lodge No. 32

oLAMAE JACobS bERtHA M. MANN Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3

C.f. MACKENRotH Houston Lodge No. 100

SAM PAUL JoNES JR. SANdRA KAY JoNES Fort Worth Lodge No. 33

PAtRICIA bobKoff Brenham Lodge No. 6 EdItH M. KRUEGER Bellville Lodge No. 11 EdwARd A. IHLE II Schulenburg Lodge No. 14 doRotHY f.

MGEbRoff Hallettsville Lodge No. 19 RoY H. CRENwELGE JoE w. StoELtJE New Braunfels Lodge No. 21 JoSEPH P. CoNNELLY Dallas Lodge No. 22 fREdERICK bRANdt Shelby Lodge No. 28 JoSEPH C. bURRELL J.E. MoRGENRotH StEvEN f. wooLdRIdGE Siemering Lodge No. 32 ELEoNoRE L. wHItING Fort Worth Lodge No. 33 R.A. EICKENRoHt Seguin Lodge No. 37 GERALd w. SPItzER Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge No. 47

CANdY fARRIS oLSoN Richland Lodge No. 107 dIANA J. MELE JACKLYN P. SCHofIELd Pershing Lodge No. 160 dENNIS L. MANN RoNALd S. MANN Anton Wenzel Lodge No. 174 ARNoLd A. RoESE Washington Lodge No. 178 CoLLEEN M. wILtoN La Coste Lodge No. 261

50 Years wILLIAM CoRY HUtH dANIEL LEE NobLE CLARENCE G. SobECzEK Harmonia Lodge No. 1 JAN MARIE voGES Comfort Lodge No. 2 GERtRUdE H. ALbERt JEAN L. APPLEbY PAtRICIA A. KNAUPP Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3

CARLYN MARIE HALL tERRENCE f. wood Corpus Christi Lodge No. 34 ELLIS CoLEMAN LEAtHERwood JR. StEvEN owEN MARtIN JASoN vICtoR MILLER RAYMoNd wILLIAM MURSKI RENEE M. SHULtz Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge No. 47 CARMEN MARIE KENNER Cuero Family Lodge No. 82 vIRGINIA ANN fILIP Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge No. 85 EvELYN LILIE RobINSoN ANGELINE SCHoENfIELd El Campo Lodge No. 87 GAIL MARIE LENz Bryan Lodge No. 99 SCott H. ENGELMANN Richland Lodge No. 107 GLENdA GAIL KAISER Niederwald Lodge No. 110

SHERRIE KELLIE PowELL Waco-Robinson Lodge No. 4

LAURA RENE McLEAN Austin Lodge No. 120

JANICE M. HERMANN Brenham Lodge No. 6

PEGGY P. tANNER Prinz Solms Lodge No. 136

PAULINE A. PoSPISIL MARIE vIvIAN RoGERS Brunhilde Lodge No. 7

JANICE R. CULtoN Twin Sisters Lodge No. 138

LILLY A. dREwS Burton Lodge No. 55

CARoL ANN HENNEKE Schulenburg Lodge No. 14

JoHN w. PAGE Columbia Lodge No. 66

JAMES bRIAN ULbIG Flatonia Lodge No. 15

CARMEN G. MAREK New Ulm Lodge No. 70

IRIS JEAN bERGER PAULEttE vALIS CARoL ELAINE vELEK Shiner Lodge No. 20

otto LUENSMANN JR. SHARoN d. MACK Zuehl Lodge No. 163 bARRY JoN dEwItt JAMES M. MILLER Anton Wenzel Lodge No. 174 CoNtINUEd oN PG. 11

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 11

www.hermannsons.org

Pioneers

CONTINUED FROM PG. 10

STEVEN N. PFENNINGER Goliad Lodge No. 212 CRAIG J. TEPLICEK Rowena Lodge No. 216 GINA ZUERCHER-MONTALVO La Coste Lodge No. 261 WERNER W. SCHMIDT DaCosta Lodge No. 265 MARY E. BANKS ELMER E. SCHNEIDER JR. ALBERT R. SCHNEIDER Biry Lodge No. 283 ELWOOD E. STRIDDE General Bee Lodge No. 284

In Memoriam

Donations to the Retirement Home Fund

EDWIN ADOLF NOVAK New Bielau Lodge No. 205

John Wiesner Jr. of Conroe has received his 60-year membership pin. Brother Wiesner is a member of Hillboldt Lodge No. 162 and has been a member since Sept. 20, 1955.

LISA NORRICE CATER WANDA AVA MORGAN PATRICIA KAY WHITLEY Schwertner Lodge No. 307

Richard G. Karm of Bonham has received his 60-year membership pin. Brother Karm is a member of Siemering Lodge No. 32 and has been a member since May 5, 1955.

THOMAS DEAN BLUM MARY C. KLORER DAVID R. MEAD JR. LELA ALINE PORCH JAMES ALAN RODRIGUEZ CAROLYN L. SANDERS PAUL A. SKARDA DEBORAH L. SULTENFUSS DOROTHY E. STAHA GEORGE A. STICH CHARLES E. AHRENS LILLIAN H. HARBOUR EVELYN J. SAUTER LILLIAN SCHWERTLICH HELEN FAYE TERRELL Donor: Pershing Lodge No. 160 LLEWELLYN L. STOKES HENRY G. GEISLER JR. JAMES V. THOMPSON JOHN CHARLES HOYO JR. JAMES C. SCHOULTZ THOMAS L. BARBER HAROLD DEAN CLARIDGE JR. ALBERT LEON STEMEN MATTHEW A. HAYMAN PETER WIATREK CHARLES A. VOLZ

DAVID THOMAS LAWHON MICHAEL ALLEN ANDERSON CHARLES TEAGUE ALAN JOSEPH ROZELLE BARNEY K. McCALL JAMES L. DENSON JEROME LEO WINDLINGER EDWARD REESE HARWELL ADRIAN LOUIS BLUDEAU WILLIAM H. BURKHARDT III ELTON J. ROSE JOHN F. DUTMER EDWARD C. BOHL Donor: Harmonia Lodge No. 1 MYRTLE MARIE GRABARSCHICK BASIL R. McLENDON Donor: Brenham Lodge No. 6 NORENE KUNZE Donor: La Coste Lodge No. 261

ESTHER A. KUNKEL THELMA N. NEUTZLER WILTON C. BAYER Donor: Burton Lodge No. 55 LORRAINE MUELLER Donor: La Vernia Lodge No. 180 MAUREEN ARMSTRONG CLARA H. ALEXANDER Donor: DaCosta Lodge No. 265 ERNA DUNN Donor: New Bielau Lodge No. 205 ALFRED ELIMAR STREMMEL JR. Donors: Canyon Sams Chapter (George Wangerow) Lorraine Howard Lareta A. Ennis HELEN M. DANIEL CLARENCE E. GOETZ VICTOR J. MERFELD Donor: Rowena Lodge No. 216

Donations to the Retirement Home Scholarship Fund in Memory of: DOROTHY MUZNY Donor: Houston Lodge No. 100

JOHN BACCUS URSULA BLACKMON Donors: Jack & Dianne Larned

Donations to the Hermann Sons Youth Camp

Joyce Meyer Hermes, a member of Schulenburg Lodge No. 14, has received her 60-year membership pin. Sister Hermes lives in Hallettsville and has been a member since Sept. 20, 1955.

MYRTLE MARIE GRABARSCHICK BASIL R. McLENDON Donor: Brenham Lodge No. 6 Terry Rapp, a member of New Braunfels Lodge No. 21, has received his 60-year membership pin. Brother Rapp lives in New Braunfels and has been a member since Oct. 5, 1955.

JAMES W. MEINKE Donor: Paige Lodge No. 154

WILBURN ARNDT Donor: Cuero Family Lodge No. 82 LAURALYN KOSLER Donor: New Bielau Lodge No. 205

Donations to the Hermann Sons Youth Camp Scholarship Fund in Memory of: MARIE GERLICH Donor: La Vernia Lodge No. 180

Page 12 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

exercise can help prevent onset of osteoporosis for men, women Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that occurs when a person loses too much bone, produces too little bone or both. Though the disease is most often associated with women over age 50, anyone can suffer from osteoporosis,

which weakens bones and can make them more susceptible to breaks.

Exercise is a great way for men and women to build and maintain strong bones in an attempt to prevent the onset of osteoporosis. According

to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, weight-bearing exercises can help build and maintain bone density. But the NOF notes that men and women who have suffered broken bones due to osteoporosis or those at risk of such

breaks may need to avoid high-impact weight-bearing exercises.

For those whose physicians suggest they avoid high-impact weight-bearing exercises, low-impact weight-bearing exercises can

help them strengthen their bones. Such exercises may involve low-impact aerobics and using cardiovascular machines. Exercises that can benefit those looking to prevent osteoporosis can be found at www.nof.org.

In Memoriam of Our Deceased Members

ronald e. walters Austin Lodge No. 120 Died March 9, 2012 • Age 69

edith a. schacherl Moulton Lodge No. 59 Died Sept. 28, 2015 • Age 94

frances p. hoffmann Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 Died Nov. 27, 2015 • Age 88

helen m. daniel Rowena Lodge No. 216 Died Dec. 16, 2015 • Age 93

agnes w. fuchs Rowena Lodge No. 216 Died Dec. 24, 2015 • Age 97

walter f. hoehne jr.

Nordheim Lodge No. 108 Died July 30, 2013 • Age 52

charles teague Harmonia Lodge No. 1 Died Oct. 8, 2015 • Age 72

elmer a. jachade Seguin Lodge No. 37 Died Nov. 28, 2015 • Age 97

glen h. tussing jr.

Comfort Lodge No. 2 Died Dec. 17, 2015 • Age 94

david b. ezell Mission-Alamo Lodge No. 80 Died Dec. 25, 2015 • Age 70

marvin f. stanchos Gruenau Lodge No. 117 Died July 20, 2014 • Age 88

jean kramer birt Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Oct. 9, 2015 • Age 90

william mccoy dean Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Nov. 28, 2015 • Age 86

louis frerich jr.

Paige Lodge No. 154 Died Dec. 19, 2015 • Age 85

c.v. bourquin Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 Died Dec. 26, 2015 • Age 85

carol s. mcclain Vineta Lodge No. 15 Died Jan. 5, 2015 • Age 75

myrtle s. carson San Marcos Lodge No. 26 Died Oct. 10, 2015 • Age 91

dewey a. morgenroth Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Dec. 2, 2015 • Age 85

edna g. metzger Fredericksburg Lodge No. 41 Died Dec. 20, 2015 • Age 100

lennert l. boenig Converse Lodge No. 157 Died Dec. 27, 2015 • Age 92

erwin h. teggeman Taylor Lodge No. 3 Died Jan. 30, 2015 • Age 93

jacquelyn lois pauley D'Hanis Lodge No. 130 Died Oct. 16, 2015 • Age 66

wilton c. bayer Burton Lodge No. 55 Died Dec. 3, 2015 • Age 82

alice p. lero Bryan Lodge No. 99 Died Dec. 20, 2015 • Age 90

edward c. bohl Harmonia Lodge No. 1 Died Dec. 28, 2015 • Age 93

david w. crews Montgomery Lodge No. 315 Died Feb. 8, 2015 • Age 82

mary cecilia fisher Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 Died Oct. 21, 2015 • Age 93

janet c. robertson Highland Lakes Lodge No. 317 Died Dec. 6, 2015 • Age 84

lillian schwertlich Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Dec. 20, 2015 • Age 94

wilburn e. arndt Cuero Family Lodge No. 82 Died Dec. 28, 2015 • Age 87

martha a. shelander Corpus Christi Lodge No. 34 Died Feb. 25, 2015 • Age 93

thomas dean blum Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Oct. 22, 2015 • Age 71

myra ruth garrett New Braunfels Lodge No. 21 Died Dec. 8, 2015 • Age 88

dorothy e. staha Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Dec. 22, 2015 • Age 94

ruby e. varnon Vineta Lodge No. 15 Died Dec. 29, 2015 • Age 91

timothy s. junker Boerne Lodge No. 25 Died April 6, 2015 • Age 57

alfred l. reinhard Poth Lodge No. 272 Died Oct. 22, 2015 • Age 77

angie krueger Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge Died Dec. 9, 2015 • Age 96

gwendolyn m. caviness Jourdanton Lodge No. 310 Died Dec. 22, 2015 • Age 96

evelyn j. dawson Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161 Died Dec. 29, 2015 • Age 85

meta w. kriegel Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died July 5, 2015 • Age 96

eugene g. mora jr.

Poth Lodge No. 272 Died Nov. 8, 2015 • Age 60

clara h. alexander DaCosta Lodge No. 265 Died Dec. 11, 2015 • Age 86

ruth e. birdwell Jourdanton Lodge No. 310 Died Dec. 22, 2015 • Age 97

william j. vordenbaum Seguin Lodge No. 37 Died Dec. 30, 2015 • Age 50

julie l. minus Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Aug. 8, 2015 • Age 99

mary r. martin Washington Lodge No. 178 Died Nov. 12, 2015 • Age 95

elton j. rose Harmonia Lodge No. 1 Died Dec. 13, 2015 • Age 81

lucille e. tschoepe DaCosta Lodge No. 265 Died Dec. 22, 2015 • Age 88

e.j. keller Harmonia Lodge No. 1 Died Dec. 30, 2015 • Age 93

sue ellen r. slife Ellinger Lodge No. 30 Died Aug. 26, 2015 • Age 65

bernie l. bloch La Vernia Lodge No. 180 Died Nov. 16, 2015 • Age 88

tracy e. kimble Spring Branch Lodge No. 127 Died Dec. 13, 2015 • Age 22

john f. dutmer Harmonia Lodge No. 1 Died Dec. 23, 2015 • Age 96

sylvia mertz La Grange Lodge No. 8 Died Jan. 1, 2016 • Age 91

joe c. orsak New Bielau Lodge No. 205 Died Aug. 29, 2015 • Age 84

helmut merz Edelweiss-Magnolia Lodge Died Nov. 18, 2015 • Age 83

norene marie kunze La Coste Lodge No. 261 Died Dec. 15, 2015 • Age 76

roland robert fryer Womack Lodge No. 135 Died Dec. 23, 2015 • Age 86

david s. schneider Goliad Lodge No. 212 Died Jan. 3, 2016 • Age 62

donald l. tschirhart Hondo Lodge No. 236 Died Aug. 30, 2015 • Age 85

maureen c. armstrong DaCosta Lodge No. 265 Died Nov. 25, 2015 • Age 81

marie grace gerlich La Vernia Lodge No. 180 Died Dec. 15, 2015 • Age 73

george a. stich Pershing Lodge No. 160 Died Dec. 24, 2015 • Age 81

ernest d. schoellhorn Anton Wenzel Lodge No. 174 Died Jan. 9, 2016 • Age 76

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 13

www.hermannsons.org

Retirement Home

Home to award five $1,500 scholarships to graduates COMFORT – ATTENTION HERMANN SONS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS! It is time to apply for the Hermann Sons Retirement Home Scholarship.

The deadline to apply is April 1.

Be sure to follow the directions on the application. Send your application, SIGNED essay and two photos to the Hermann Sons Retirement Home, P.O. Box 689, Comfort, TX 78013.

Home residents have voted to increase the scholarship amount to $1,500. Each year five scholarships are awarded - one for each of the five Hermann Sons regions in Texas. Another change made is that the full $1,500 is payable in the fall after the student has submitted proof of enrollment.

Residents are proud to offer this scholarship opportunity to the youth of Hermann Sons.

We invite you to come to the Home, meet the residents and

see for yourself what we do.

Visitors to the Home in January included people in the photos along with Josie and Rey Rodriguez, Houston; Dustin Gulley, Melissa, Jareth, Jaylee, Skyler, Aries, Navaeh, Tracen Franklin, Baytown; Bud and Lorrie Meyers and Aries, Baytown; Julie Sheldon, Seguin; Michelle Sheldon, Victoria; and Ken Kubo, West St. Paul, Minn.

What a way to start the New Year! Black-eyed peas served for good luck along with ham, sweet potatoes and cherry cheesecake made a fine feast.

The Retirement Home Committee held its quarterly meeting Jan. 25. The Centennial Committee met after that.

Cake and ice cream were served on Jan. 26 honoring the birthdays of Ralph Spenrath, Lillian Wehmeyer and Sandy Fey. – Helen Widner

Cowboy Al Schroeder, center, enjoyed a visit from great-nephew Roddy Arnold, left, and great-great-nephew Drake Arnold recently. The guitar Brother Schroeder is holding was a gift from Brother Schroeder to Roddy back in December. The guitar has been safely kept in Brother Schroeder’s Hermann Sons Retirement Home room for more than 17 years. “The guitar is bigger than just a guitar. It has a story behind it that will continue for many years to come,” Roddy said. He added, “My son and I really enjoyed our brief stay at the Retirement Home and visiting AC, his friends and bandmates.”

Hermann Sons Retirement Home 100th Anniversary Celebration April 23, 2016 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Retirement Home in Comfort $10 per person Price includes lunch and two beer tickets.

Complimentary tea and lemonade available all day.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Program begins at 1:30 p.m.

Panoramic picture will be taken after the program.

Residents line up to get their New Year’s Day meal at the Retirement Home.

Self-guided tours • Musical entertainment all day

DEADLINE TO ORDER TICKETS IS MARCH 18!

Tickets will be mailed to you. If you are buying more than 4 tickets, write the names of the additional guests on a separate piece of paper.

Name __________________________________________________ Name __________________________________________________ Name __________________________________________________ Name __________________________________________________

❏

No. of guests __________ X $10 each =

__________________ Amount enclosed for tickets

Mail tickets to: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cook Janie Jaimes, left, and kitchen helper Deddi Castro prepared the New Year’s Day meal for the Home residents.

Cut on the dotted line and mail form and check to: Tammi Sutherland, Hermann Sons Grand Lodge P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297-1941

Make checks payable to Hermann Sons.

Page 14 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Grand Committee Meeting Minutes - Jan. 28 Grand President/CEO Allan W. Preuss called the Grand Committee meeting to order on Jan. 28, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in the Grand Lodge Home Office.

Committee members present were as follows: Past Grand President Leroy Muehlstein Past Grand President Stephen R. Prewitt Grand President/CEO Allan W. Preuss Grand Vice President-Secretary/Treasurer Mary Beam Grand Vice President-Investments Harry Werland Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger Grand Finance Committee Member Wilburn Pargmann Grand Finance Committee Member Sandra Jones Grand Finance Committee Member Janice Kuhen Grand Finance Committee Member Paul Heath Grand Finance Committee Member Jack Larned Past Grand President Leroy Muehlstein made the motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve the minutes of the Oct. 29, 2015, meeting and of a special meeting held Dec. 15, 2015. Grand Finance Committee Member Jack Larned seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Grand President Preuss reviewed the day’s agenda and began with his report. He spoke on proposed governance changes that were given to members of the committee for review. Member education will be a key component for the governance changes.

Seminars will be presented later in the year to key lodge leaders that will focus on the governance changes and provide helpful information to our Hermann Sons ambassadors on ways to improve lodge events and fraternal communication.

Grand President Preuss gave an update on the Enterprise Risk Management program that includes the revision of the Grand Lodge investment policy that will be handled by Grand Vice President Harry Werland’s office. There will be a committee appointed to oversee the continuance of this important program. By the 2017 Grand Lodge Convention, the Enterprise Risk Management program should be in effect.

Officer installations were discussed with regard to the future of this annual ceremony and how we can improve the event for the betterment of members and attract more officers.

He spoke of The Insider newsletter developed for the ambassadors of Hermann Sons to help keep our membership informed of current events and future activities. The newsletter was developed to increase member involvement.

The Member Community Online Portal was explained. Officers from two of the installation districts are now able to access the portal and provide lodge information and photos of lodge events and activities.

Grand President Preuss spoke on a new policy for Retirement Home residents. Resident members will now be able to continue membership in their respective lodge or may transfer to a lodge closer to the Retirement Home and take a more active part in the lodge. This request was considered and studied

after several inquiries on the subject. The effective date of this new policy is Feb. 1, 2016.

Grand President Preuss spoke on his involvement with the American Fraternal Alliance. He is serving as chair of the the Executive Summit Advisory Council that will hold a meeting in Toronto, Canada, in April. He also spoke on his involvement with the Fraternal Branding Co-Creation Session of the AFA. Various updates were given on legal outcomes of property development and claim settlements.

Member Engagement Director Jennifer Cernosek gave a report on her job performance goals that include new ideas for member communication and ways to better express the value of membership through engagement and communication. She explained she has met with all the vice presidents to discuss member engagement and has developed five main ways to address the topic over the last quarter. These new ways to address member engagement include: targeted communications, member service engagement opportunities, lodge engagement, university engagement and branding.

She went through each engagement assignment with committee members and shared what has transpired to date. A blog has been established and posts from Grand Lodge officers and employees on various subjects are now on the website. A new interactive newsletter has been developed for lodge ambassadors. Increased social media presence has been targeted through e-mails, Facebook ads, Linked In and a website that brings awareness to the insurance industry (MyPath). Member service inquiries are being forwarded to the Marketing Department after the requests have been completed for member contact opportunities. Lodges are being contacted to establish attendance numbers through surveys and monthly lodge engagement forums are being held for home office employees and officers in an effort to strengthen lodges. A community portal has been launched to create more awareness of lodge events and activities for members. University engagement discussions have opened up an opportunity for an in-person campus meeting at Texas State scheduled in February and a social group starting in the fall. Sister Cernosek also spoke about being a member of the American Fraternal Alliance Grow Younger Task Force, a Hermann Sons branding task force and forming a focus group on demographic markets.

An Investment Policy Presentation by Parkway Advisors was presented by Theron Holiday and Kyle Timmermann. Subject emphasis included surplus, risked based capital and the growth of our portfolio. The committee then broke for lunch at 11:45 a.m. New Executive Camp Director Katie Klohn was introduced to the committee.

The Grand Committee reconvened at 12:35 p.m.

The end of the year financial statement along with comparison figures was reviewed. Grand Vice President Werland presented a synopsis report and figures for operating results and an investment summary. Discussion followed on premium refunds to members. A motion was made by Grand Vice

President Werland, based on the recommendation of the Grand Lodge Consulting Actuary, that premium refunds on all premium paying whole-life certificates will be paid in 2016 based on the formula consistent with the year 2015. Grand Finance Committee Member Sandra Jones seconded this motion. Motion carried.

A motion on SAFE Plans was made by Grand Vice President Werland based on the recommendation of the Grand Lodge Consulting Actuary that SAFE Plans issued between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 2010, will receive a 2016 paid-up addition recorded at the rate paid in 2015 (62.5% of the 2014 rate). These SAFE plans will be reserved to allow the refund to purchase paid up insurance which will pay the same death benefit to the beneficiary for 2015 and 2016 at the same death benefit as before (Post Mortem Dividend). All SAFE Plans issued from Jan. 1, 2011, to the current time will receive refunds on the same level as in 2015.

Grand Finance Committee Member Paul Heath seconded this motion. Motion carried.

Grand Vice President Werland spoke on more secured protection for the Home Office. A keypad system to secure the back entrance will be installed.

Grand Vice President-Secretary/Treasurer Mary Beam gave the Operations Report. She noted that two departments within the Home Office have recently been renamed. The Collections Department is now known as Member Services and the Membership Department is titled Underwriting Department. The change was made to give members a better focus of direction when calling the Home Office for inquiries.

She noted that the phone system goes on an automated system when the operator is at lunch or on break. When automated, members still may reach specific departments, enter an extension number or name to reach the office staff.

An informational letter is now being sent to members who have paid premiums and dues for only one or two months and have no cash value explaining how to reinstate their policy and remain a member. This letter is being used to help reduce the flow of lapsed policies.

Discussion followed on how to maintain a better lodge system and stress to lodge secretaries the importance of lodge reporting to the Grand Lodge.

Grand Vice President Beam reported that address changes are being kept up to date and research on members with “address unknown” is currently under way.

Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe reported that in 2015 an increase in members and positive margin in premium income was evident. A total of 23 agents were named to one of the award clubs for their 2015 production and 91% of the agents showed an increasing trend over the past year. He spoke on the 2015 membership campaign that included 778 recommenders. Thirty-seven local lodges met their membership goals in 2015 and certificates of appreciation were presented during See GRAND COMMITTEE, Pg. 15

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 15

www.hermannsons.org

Grand Committee Meeting Minutes - Jan. 28, 2016 Cont’d. from Pg. 14 the January installation ceremonies. New Braunfels Lodge had the most recommenders in the state. He announced the 2016 campaign as “Continue the Tradition – Protect the Ones You Love.” The 2016 new member goals have been mailed out in poster form along with a letter to lodge presidents explaining this year’s theme.

New incentives are planned for agents in 2016 to improve production. An agent workshop will be held Feb. 27 at the Grand Lodge to introduce the new illustration software.

Advertising will continue with Texas State Networks in 2016.

Mail-outs continue and targeted insurance information will

be rotated during the year.

Grand Vice PresidentFraternal Kim Krueger reported that the Retirement Home Committee had met on Jan. 25 and three members had applied for residency at the Home. She noted that a new main steam line for heat had to be replaced at the Home. Residents are working on preparations for the Chili and Bean Cook-Off on March 12 and prize drawing tickets are on sale. She spoke about the April 23 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Retirement Home and noted details of the program, set up, food and tickets for the event.

New Executive Camp Director Katie Klohn has moved into her position and is doing well. Youth Camp

Columbia plans year DALLAS – Columbia Lodge No. 66 has set most of its schedule for 2016. The printed calendar will soon be available at the Dallas Hall.

The lodge has many fraternal activities planned and is always looking for volunteers to staff and participate in these events.

Upcoming events include the 67th annual Saint Alphonso Pancake Breakfast scheduled for Saturday, April 2, at the Hall. The price will be $8 and includes pancakes, eggs, sausage and lots of Friendship, Love and Loyalty. Serving will start at 8:30 a.m. and stop at 12 noon.

This will be immediately followed by the annual Carter Blood Drive that will be held outside the Hall in conjunction with the Deep Elm Arts Festival.

Lodge members also will cook and serve food at the Deep Elm Arts Festival that weekend. Servers and volunteers to help with kitchen details are needed.

During the monthly meeting, members learned that Jean Ernst is on the mend. She is still in rehab but getting better every day.

Lisa Byrn reported that she

has several contacts for new membership.

Let the agents know what they can do to help with your insurance needs.

Plans are to make the annual book drive a big event for the spring and to aid in summer reading for the lodge’s chosen school.

After the meeting the annual chili cook-off was held. This year all the lodge members and guests voted for their favorite bowl of red. The winner and several-time champion was none other than Glenn Mullah Marvin who will be proudly representing Columbia Lodge on March 12 in Comfort at the Retirement Home Chili Cookoff.

The Home Association’s general meeting will be held Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the Hall. Mrs. Butterworth will cook dinner, which will be served after a review of the books and discussion about what is going on at the Hall.

The next First Friday is scheduled for March 4 at 7 p.m.

There is always a lot going on at the Hall including swing dancing on Wednesday and acoustic jam sessions on Thursday nights.

– Dave Moynihan

registration information is to be mailed out the first part of March. Repair work is being done on the Camp property and several dead trees are being removed. She noted that roof repairs are needed on the Hilltop Camp dining hall with the cost to be approximately $41,000. She made a motion to adjust the maintenance budget at the Camp by $41,000 to allow for these repairs. Grand Finance Committee Member Jones seconded this. Motion carried.

Sister Krueger also commented on the new fraternal benefit called “Perk Spots” and the positive response by members.

A call by Grand President Preuss for any other business included upcoming dates to remember: Agents Awards Weekend – April 15-17, 2016, in League City Retirement Home 100th Anniversary Celebration – April 23, 2016 Grand Committee Meeting – Sunday, April 24, 2016, at the

GRAND LODGE OF THE

Grand Lodge (9:45 a.m.)

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. by motion of Grand Finance Committee Member Janice Kuhen, seconded by Grand Finance Committee Member Wilburn Pargmann.

Motion carried.

Fraternally submitted, MARY BEAM GRAND VICE PRESIDENTSECRETARY/TREASURER ATTEST: ALLAN W. PREUSS GRAND PRESIDENT/CEO

ORDER OF THE SONS OF HERMANN

ALLAN W. PREUSS, FIC

Grand President/CEO

GRAND VICE PRESIDENTS MARY BEAM

IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

Founded 1890

A Fraternal Benefit Society

Secretary-Treasurer

HARRY WERLAND, CPA

Investments

TIMOTHY P. KOLBE

Marketing

KIMBERLY A. KRUEGER

Fraternal

Wilburn Pargmann Sandra Jones Paul Heath Jack O. Larned Jr. Janice M. Kuhen, Chairman 515 S. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78205 • P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297 • Phone: 210-226-9261 800-234-4124 Fax: 210-226-3055 • www.hermannsons.org

Page 16 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Harmonia will hold memorial service March 10

SAN ANTONIO – Harmonia Lodge No. 1 will meet Thursday, March 10. The lodge will provide the corned beef and members are asked to bring side dishes and desserts.

The annual memorial service will be a part of the meeting.

Members enjoyed a steak dinner prior to the Feb. 11 meeting. The steaks were grilled by Steve Prewitt, Mike Beam, Albert Ranzau and Terry Haecker. Harry Werland helped with and provided the baked potatoes. There were

approximately 40-45 members and guests present.

The 2015 Humanitarian Award was presented to Albert Ranzau by Brad Dietrich. Both serve on the lodge’s Finance Committee.

Bill Witteman was presented with his 50-year membership pin. He lives in Adkins and has been a member since April 28, 1966.

Members were reminded that the annual Retirement Home Chili and Bean Cook-off benefiting the Retirement Home

Answers to puzzles on Page 40

1. George 2. Washington 3. Abe 4. Lincoln

5. President 6. United 7. States 8. America

9. February 10. Holiday

Members of Hermann Sons Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161 Graduate Cash Drawing Hondo Victory Lodge will hold a drawing and award up to FIVE $200 prizes to eligible 2016 high school graduates who are female graduate members of Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161. The prize will be in the form of a check. Names will be drawn on June 1, 2016. The winners only will be notified and are encouraged to attend the June 14, 2016, meeting to accept their check. For more information, call Verlie Nietenhoefer at 830-426-2847. To enter, the form below must be completed and received on or before May 31, 2016.

Mail to: Verlie Nietenhoefer, Secretary Victory Lodge No. 161 1204 32nd St. Hondo, TX 78861 Please send a cap and gown picture for publication in the newspaper. (Photo will not be returned). The photo is not a requirement for the drawing, but will be appreciated.

Graduate Cash Drawing Entry Form Name Address Phone Number Name of High School School Address

School Phone Number

Scholarship Fund will be held March 12. And the 100th Anniversary of the Retirement Home will be celebrated April 23 in Comfort.

Members mourned the passing of several members. They are Walter E. Ellis, age 76, a member since 1964; E. J. Keller, a member since 1947, who passed away Dec. 30 at the age of 93; Elmer E. Anderson, a member since 1964, who

passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 92; James B. Clary, a member since 1958, who passed away Jan. 12 at the age of 82; Ray R. Gehrels, a member since 1964, who passed away Jan. 18 at the age of 68; and Outer Guard Al Stremmel Jr., a member since 1949, who passed away Jan. 31 at the age of 85. Brother Stremmel’s daughter Janet and grandson Matthew were present to honor his distinguished

life.

Celebrating February birthdays are Steve Prewitt and J.W. White, who is celebrating his 90th. Celebrating February anniversaries are Bill and Ginger Bernhard, 56 years, and Jim and Ann McNeel, 58 years.

Brandon Warneke and John Hoog won the attendance prizes and Wilfred Gold won split-the-pot.

– John Hoog

Hermann Sons Comfort Lodge HSYC Campership Application 2016

This application is for children who need financial assistance in order to attend Hermann Sons Youth Camp. The application can be completed by a parent/guardian, but the short answer portion should be completed by the child.

The Hermann Sons Comfort Lodge camperships pay half of the camper fee ($112.50 is half of the fee for the full-­‐week session and $75 is half of the fee for the half-­‐week session). Nine camperships are awarded to Comfort Lodge members in good standing and one campership is awarded to any Hermann Sons member in good standing. The camperships being awarded to Comfort Lodge members are awarded on a first-­‐requests-­‐received basis and there is no application deadline.

The campership awarded to any member is based on application evaluations by the Campership Committee and the application postmark deadline is May 4, 2016. Applicants will be notified as to whether or not they were selected by May 11, 2016.

Campers who receive camperships from Comfort Lodge may still complete the online application but will need to mail their payment along with the check from Comfort Lodge.

Camper Information:

Last Name: ________________________ First Name: ____________________

Date of Birth: ___/___/______ Lodge: _____________

Mailing Address: ____________________________ City: ________________

State: ______ Zip Code: ______________

Primary Parent/Guardian Information:

Last Name: ________________________ First Name: ____________________

Phone Number: _________________________

Email Address: ________________________

Does the camper intend to attend a full-­‐week session or the half-­‐week session? ________

Short Answer Written by Child (Use a separate page, if needed) Why do you want to attend HSYC this summer? ______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Please mail to: Comfort Lodge Camperships P.O. Box 629 Comfort, TX 78013

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Cernosek at 210-­‐859-­‐7966.

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 17

www.hermannsons.org

Helotes Lodge re-elects officers HELOTES – Officers return to serve the members of Helotes Lodge No. 76 for 2016. This includes President Carl Gass, Vice President Al Michalczak, Corresponding Secretary Rebecca Henley and Secretary-Treasurer Susie Michalczak.

Financial trustees are Megan Gass, Letty Fragoso and Mary Lee Sloan.

Membership Coordinator is E.J. Menn and Communications Coordinator is Lisa Fragoso.

After more than two decades of service, Evelyn Carolan has decided to retire as manager of Braun Hall.

Members thank her for her

service and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Effective in January, the Helotes Home Association has entered into a lease agreement with the local United Methodist Church (UMC). The lease runs through approximately mid2017.

Public dances and softball league games will be suspended until further notice.

Lodge meetings and lodge activities will continue to be held at Braun Hall. Friday morning line dancing will continue through the church.

This agreement will allow the Helotes Home Association to bring in funds

Evelyn Carolan has retired after more than two decades of service as the manager of Braun Hall. while it regroups and plans for the future of Braun Hall.

– Reporter

Officers of Helotes Lodge attended the installation of officers ceremony held Jan. 30 at the San Antonio Home Association Building. Pictured are, from left, Letty Fragoso, Rebecca Henley, Susie Michalczak, Carl Gass, Lisa Fragoso and Al Michalczak.

Poth reminds seniors to apply for lodge scholarship POTH – Poth Lodge No. 272 met Feb. 7 with members discussing several upcoming events.

Members were reminded that the Retirement Home’s Annual Chili and Bean Cookoff will be held March 12.

Proceeds from this event benefit the Retirement Home’s Scholarship Fund.

The lodge will once again host a pin presentation during the Christmas party in December. More information

will be available when the time draws closer.

Members were provided with information about the Hermann Sons Youth CampShannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament coming up April 9.

Discussion was held concerning the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Retirement Home and how many members plan to attend.

Members were asked to sug-

gest probjects for Join Hands Day in May and Make a Difference Day in October.

High school seniors interested in applying for the lodge’s scholarship are asked to contact either Beth Cutsinger at 210 325-6667 or Paul Hosek at 830-484-2825 to obtain an information packet.

These seniors are reminded that the Retirement Home and Youth Camp also offer scholarships. Information on those is available online at www.

Jourdanton Lodge presents award Jourdanton Lodge No. 310 presented the 2015 Humanitarian Award to Deputy A.J. Mendez from the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department. Lodge President Rusty Prasifka, right, made the presentation at the lodge’s Dec. 10 meeting. The lodge decided to present the award to Mendez in part because of a video of him playing drums with the Poteet High School Band in October that went viral. “We felt that especially during this time of assault on police officers that it made your efforts and this video of you drumming with the Poteet High School Band even more important,” said President Prasifka during the presentation. “We support all law enforcement efforts and want to encourage you and others. Thank you for your service to our community.”

hermannsons.org.

Chris Kotara celebrates his 84th birthday in February.

Patricia Lowak and Thomas Novak won the door prizes.

The names of Annette Kunkel, Nadine Karoline Kehrer and Clifton J. Henke were drawn for the kitty but none were in attendance to claim the money.

Everyone enjoyed sandwiches and cherry cobbler and then played games.

– Reporter

Chris Kotara celebrates his 84th birthday in February. He is a member of Poth Lodge.

Womack Lodge installs officers, to meet March 6 CLIFTON – Womack Lodge No. 135 will meet March 6 beginning at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Officers unable to attend district installation were installed at the Feb. 7 meeting.

Members stood for a moment of silence in memory of Roland Fryer, Floyd Hoffman and Earline Gaskamp who passed away recently.

Condolences go out to their families.

Meeting dates were set and events planned for the

coming year.

The attendance-prize winner was Nadine Conrad and Beverly Rueter won the 50/50 drawing.

Members sang “Happy Birthday” to February celebrant Nadine Conrad.

Calvin and Nadine Rueter hosted the afternoon meeting. Everyone enjoyed the social hour playing domino games and visiting.

Members brought an assortment of sandwiches, chips, dips, brownies and other assorted goodies for the refreshment table.

– Nadine Rueter

Page 18 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Schwertner Lodge presents Humanitarian Award SCHWERTNER – Schwertner Lodge No. 307 will meet March 21 at the Schwertner Community Center.

The lodge held its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 13.

A chicken fried steak dinner was served to 28 members and guests including Youth Activities Committee Member Ed Kurtz and wife Betty who represented the Grand Lodge.

Margaret Jones reported for the Humanitarian Award Committee that also included Mona Rieger and Cynthia Gersbach that they had chosen Diedra Schwertner as the 2015 recipient.

Diedra Schwertner is the head athletic trainer at Cibolo Steele High School in Cibolo.

She recruited some of her football players and trainers to help clean up in Wimberley after the devastating floods.

They moved debris, cleaned up and helped put up fences.

She said she was proud of what the students accomplished and the people were very appreciative. She said it taught her students about helping others and giving back to the community.

The lodge and Agent Irene Schwertner presented gifts to junior members Cason Gersbach, Colten Marek, Kurt Kaderka and Sydney Marek.

Each family represented received a door prize.

– Reporter

Junior members who attended the Schwertner Lodge Christmas dinner received gifts from the lodge and Agent Irene Schwertner. Pictured are, from left, Cason Gersbach, his father J.R. Gersbach, Colten Marek, Kurt Kaderka, Sydney Marek, her mother Jessica Marek and Sister Schwertner.

Schwertner Lodge President Irene Schwertner, left, presents Diedra Schwertner with the 2015 Humanitarian Award.

Betty and Ed Kurtz, right, represented the Grand Lodge at the Schwertner Lodge Christmas dinner. They are pictured with lodge President Irene Schwertner, left.

Corpus Christ Lodge to meet March 7

CORPUS CHRISITI – Corpus Christi Lodge No. 34 will meet Monday, March 7, at the Golden Corral off of South Padre Island Drive.

The lodge met Feb. 1 for a potluck dinner and games.

Welcomed as a new junior member was Rosemary Norsworthy.

Bob Stephenson won the 50/50 cash. The other half was donated to the Kairos Prison Ministry.

Paul and Joann Hood were celebrating their anniversary.

– Reporter

Celebrating February birthdays at the Corpus Christi Lodge meeting were, from left, Christian Carrillo, Frank Brandon and Bob Stephenson.

Officers of Schwertner Lodge for 2016 will be, front, from left, Mona Rieger, secretary; Irene Schwertner, president; Margaret Jones, vice president; Cynthia Gersbach, treasurer; back, from left, Tommy Krueger, Finance Committee member; Clarence Schuetze, trustee; Michael Hovatter, trustee; Charles Gersbach, guide; and Randall Schwertner, trustee. Not pictured are Darrell Marek and Lana Reese, Finance Committee members; April Marek, guard; Rene Marek, guide; D’Ann Orr, youth director; Diedra Schwertner, assistant youth director; and Betty Lum, Cheer Committee member.

Prinz Solms re-elects officers BULVERDE – Prinz Solms Lodge No. 136 will not meet in March. The next meeting will be held April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Bulverde Community Center. The meeting date is being changed in an effort to increase attendance. The May 19 meeting also begins at 7 p.m. Members are reminded there is always plenty of food and drink at meetings. And prizes are given away at every meeting.

The lodge met Friday, Feb. 5, at the Bulverde Community

Center. Irene Scholz gave the invocation before the meal featuring brisket, sausage and all the fixings from Smokey Mo’s.

All of the 2015 officers have agreed to serve again in 2016.

Members discussed possible activities for the year and discussion will continue at the April meeting.

Prizewinners were Bonnie Friesenhahn, Evelyn Tague, Tom Pardue, Doug Klabunde and Teresa Saathoff.

– Reporter

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 19

www.hermannsons.org

Fish on menu for March 4 Albert Kypfer meeting CLEAR SPRINGS – Albert Kypfer Lodge No. 106 will meet March 4. Fish is on the menu with members asked to bring a side dish or dessert. If you know a member who does not drive anymore, offer them a ride to the meet-

ing or bring a guest who may be interested in joining Hermann Sons.

Members gathered Feb. 5 for fellowship and a meeting. After the meal, President Tim Salge called the meeting to order.

Grand President Buddy Preuss was in attendance.

He presented a 50-year membership pin to Dwayne Koepp. Brother Koepp lives in New Braunfels and has been a member since June 14, 1966.

Nelrose Koepp reported that she called Lillian Soechting to see how she was doing after her hospital stay. Receiving cards were Josh Salge and Jeanette Constance who fell and broke her wrist. Let Sister

Koepp know if there is anyone sick or who has passed away.

Winners of attendance prizes were Joyce Koepp, Jim Sureddin, Barbara Pizil, John Turner and Cheryl Koepp.

– Darline Preiss

Dwayne Koepp, right, receives his 50-year membership pin from Grand President Buddy Preuss during the February Albert Kypfer Lodge meeting.

Celeste and Tim Salge celebrated their anniversary in January. They are members of Albert Kypfer Lodge.

Celebrating February birthdays at the Albert Kypfer Lodge meeting were Charlie Seiter and Nelrose Koepp.

Celebrating February anniversaries at the Albert Kypfer Lodge meeting were, from left, Dennis and Molly Koepp, 33 years; and Nelrose and Oran Koepp, 60 years.

Brunhilde holds January meeting

Linda and Past Grand President Leroy Muehlstein attended the Brunhilde Lodge meeting in January.

Winners of door prizes and split-the-pot at the Jan. 18 Brunhilde Lodge No. 7 meeting are pictured.

Members were asked to be thinking of possible Join Hands Day projects and were encouraged to attend the Retirement Home’s Chili Cook-off on March 12.

Ruth Lampman, left, and daughter Sharon Solanik prepare the prize drawing tickets for the January Brunhilde Lodge meeting.

Annemarie Lopez gives her reports during the January Brunhilde Lodge meeting.

Patti Shippey-Shaw, left, and Carol Krauss are ready to enjoy dessert during the January Brunhilde Lodge meeting.

Hondo Victory makes donation

Old Glory to meet March 6

HONDO – Hondo Victory Lodge No. 161 met Jan. 12.

Thank-you notes were read from HANK (Helping Abused and Neglected Kids) Inc. Instead of holding a Christmas gift exchange, the lodge sent HANK a donation.

Cheer Chairperson Grace Schmidt reported sending get-well cards to Pat Saunier, Doris Bartelt, Marie Tschirhart, Betty Newman and Elsie Rothe.

Hostesses Grace Schmidt

OLD GLORY – Old Glory Lodge No. 228 will meet Sunday, March 6, at 4 p.m.

Hamburgers and all the trimmings will be furnished and the ladies are asked to bring desserts.

President Doug Vahlenkamp announced the lodge’s new member goal for 2016 is four.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of three members who recently passed, Margie Lackey, Wanda Ward and Dwaine Nauert.

January birthday celebrants attending the Hondo Victory Lodge meeting were, from left, Irene Cox, Verlie Fay Nietenhoefer and Grace Schmidt. and Betty Newman served a variety of cookies, nuts, coffee and punch. The meeting

concluded with “The Lord’s Prayer.”

– Verlie Fay Nietenhoefer

President Vahlenkamp reminded everyone of the Valentine’s Day dance on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Due to the recent high winds, some of the lodge hall roof will need to be repaired.

Pat Pyron is on the sick list and is in the hospital recovering from surgery.

Terry Letz won the door prize.

Following the meeting, everyone enjoyed a potluck meal and desserts.

– Reporter

Page 20 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Hermann Sons Youth Camp Here’s what’s new at HSYC for 2016

Hermann Sons Youth Camp registration information will be mailed to the policy payors for eligible junior members in March. The brochure contains registration information and important summer updates. Registration will be completed online via the Hermann Sons website once again this summer.

Care Packages and Emails During the registration process, you will be able to purchase a care package for your child that will be delivered no later than Tuesday of the week that they attend. These care packages cost $25 and they are only available during the registration process. This will be the second summer that Camp will be offering free one-way emails through the Hermann Sons website. In order to use this free service, you will need to keep the registration information so you can use the unique login information to send those one-way emails while your camper is at Camp. In addition to one-way emails, this login information will allow you to view the photo gallery for the summer.

Half-Week Session Change This summer will be the third summer that a half-week session has been offered. The half-week will be Week 4 and the dates are July 6-9. This year the session will run from Wednesday-Saturday. The half-week session will once again include a carnival, fireworks and a model rocket launch. If your camper is unsure about attending Camp for an entire week, this is a great option for them.

Weekly Themes This year, there are three weekly themes that are being used. Campers are welcome to bring themed items and/or clothes but that is optional.

Sensational Sports Week 1 (June 12-18) Week 6 (July 17-23) Week 8 (July 31-Aug. 6) Get ready to support your favorite pro, college and high school teams throughout the week. Camp will be full of jerseys, spirit and teamwork. You will have an opportunity to compete in some team sports throughout the week with your dorm. Make sure you pack a shirt from your favorite college to celebrate College T-Shirt Day on Tuesday.

Camo Camp Week 2 (June 19-25) Week 5 (July 10-16) Week 7 (July 24-30) Whether your choice is Camo Bling, Country Camo or Neon Camo, this week is the one for you! We cannot wait to see all of the different camouflage combinations that will be worn throughout the week.

Party in the USA! Week 3 (June 26-July 2) Week 4 (July 6-9) - Half-Week Session What’s better than a full-camp carnival and dance at HSYC? Bring your red, white and blue attire for the festivities to be held throughout the session. The carnival will be capped off with a model rocket launch and fireworks show.

Jazz Dance New for Riverside Last summer Lyrical Dance was added to the activity selections for girl campers. This summer we are excited to continue the growth of our dance offerings by adding a Jazz Dance class for campers. In Jazz Dance, campers will be placed by ability level and then taught a choreographed routine throughout the week.

Checkin Schedule Please note that changes have been made to the checkin schedule for this year. This schedule also is listed in the registration brochure.

Full-Week Sessions Riverside (Girls) 2:00 p.m.

Gates Open 2:45 p.m.

Introductions & Announcements at the Pavilion 2:50 p.m.

Cabin Assignments Posted & Campers Move Into Cabins Hilltop (Boys) 3:00 p.m.

Gates Open 3:40 p.m.

Introductions & Announcements at the Houston Home Association Activity Center 3:45 p.m.

Cabin Assignments Posted & Campers Move Into Cabins Half-Week Session Evening checkin available. Contact Camp with information.

Riverside (Girls) 12:15 p.m.

Gates open 12:45 p.m.

Introductions and Announcements at the Pavilion 12:50 p.m.

Cabin Assignments Posted & Campers Move into Cabins Hilltop (Boys) 1:15 p.m.

Gates open 1:40 p.m.

Introductions and Announcements at the Houston Home Association Activity Center 1:45 p.m.

Cabin Assignments Posted & Campers Move into Cabins

Checkout Schedule The schedule is the same for full-week sessions and half-week sessions.

Campers with Last Names Beginning with A-M Riverside 10:00 a.m. Hilltop 10:30 a.m.

Campers with Last Names Beginning with N-Z Riverside 10:30 a.m. Hilltop 10:00 a.m.

The gates will open when checkout begins and parents/guardians will be able to sign out their children right away. Campers will have closing ceremony on Saturday mornings during the full-week sessions, but it will be just for the campers. Pictures will be posted in the photo galleries if parents wish to view them.

For all sessions, proof of identification will need to be brought to the signout area. If someone is picking up children with last names falling during separate times, both children can be picked up during the earlier time slot. When signing out, each camper will receive an 8x10 cabin photo. Parents also can download the photo from our online photo gallery.

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 21

www.hermannsons.org

Vineyard, Miller will lead Riverside, Hilltop in 2016 COMFORT – Executive Camp Director Katie Klohn and the directors at Hilltop Camp and Riverside Camp are already hard at work preparing for the summer of 2016 at Hermann Sons Youth Camp.

Riverside Camp Kristen “Dyno” Vineyard will be serving as Riverside Camp director this year. She replaces Katie Klohn who is now the Executive Camp Director. Kristen has spent the past three summers as a senior counselor and program assistant. This will be her ninth summer on staff at Hermann Sons Youth Camp.

Her full-time job is teaching middle school art to students in the Boerne Independent School District.

This is her first year with the

district but her third year as an educator.

Serving as the assistant director at Riverside will be Erin “Holla” Rose. She has previously served as a senior counselor and climbing specialist. This will be her fifth summer on staff.

Erin is currently a junior at Texas Lutheran University.

She is majoring in exercise science with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy. In addition to her academic studies, Erin is a member of the women’s soccer team at TLU. Hilltop Camp Hunter “Papa Bear” Miller will be returning for his second summer as Hilltop Camp director and his 10th summer on staff. Hunter will be assisted by Colby

Freehauf who will be serving as Hilltop assistant director.

This is Colby’s second summer as assistant director and his seventh summer on staff.

Hunter works full-time as a fourth grade teacher in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

Colby is a middle school teacher and coach for the Coahoma Independent School District when he is not at Camp.

Sister Klohn remarked, “I am very excited to be working with a great group of directors who consistently make the campers their number one priority. Camp will be even better this summer with the experience and ideas that this group brings.”

John Sorbel will be serving as the facilities direc-

Cibolo dancers participate in parade

Hilltop Camp Director Hunter “Papa Bear” Miller, from left, Executive Camp Director Katie Klohn and Riverside Camp Director Kristen “Dyno” Vineyard are looking forward to a great summer at Hermann Sons Youth Camp. tor. This will be his 28th summer at Camp. Food Services Director Jody Zizelman will be returning

for his 33rd summer on staff.

Maintenance Director Clay Haley will be returning for his fourth year on staff.

Summer Camp Jobs Hermann Sons Youth Camp is seeking highly motivated men and women for summer employment.

Summer Positions Available: Counselor Food Service Worker Food Service Manager Maintenance Worker Housekeeper Also, Nurse positions for one week or more are available.

Come live the adventure of camp for a rewarding summer experience!

For an application or more information visit our website at www.hermannsons.org (Click on the Employment Opportunities tab and then Camp)

Students from the Cibolo School of Dance rode the Hermann Sons float in the City of Cibolo’s Annual Holiday Parade. The entry received a third place award. If your lodge would like to sponsor the float in a parade in your area, call the Marketing Department at 210-527-9113 or 877-437-6266.

For more information contact Katie Klohn, Executive Camp Director Hermann Sons Youth Camp PO Box 629; Comfort, TX 78013 Phone – 830-995-3223 Email – katiek@texashermannsons.org

Page 22 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Brenham Lodge welcomes transfer members BRENHAM – Brenham Lodge No. 6 met Jan. 8 and welcomed transfer members Ralph Wellmann, Brian Scott Wellmann, Rodney Alan Wellmann and Patricia E. Wellmann from Bryan Lodge No. 99.

Celebrating birthdays in December and January were Pearlie Hanath, Janice McClendon, Travis Pilchiek, Shirley Ganske, Rosalie Renner, Judy Baichtal, Evelyn Harmel, Allyne Sillavan, Arnold Knuppel, Hilbert Goessler and William Kuretsch.

Hilbert and Lena Mae Goessler celebrated 59 years of marriage in December.

Thank-you notes were read from the family of Elsie Longhofer for the donations made in her memory; from the Washington County

Healthy Living Association for the $200 donation and from Erline Somerfield and Karen Heidemann for the sympathy card they received after the passing of their brother-in-law and uncle, Ervin Somerfield.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of members Delphine Stoelke and Myrtle Grabarschick.

The Cheer Committee also mailed sympathy cards to Dorine Stoelke and Jeffrey Stoelke following the passing of husband and father Delphine Stoelke and to Robert Grabarschick following the death of his mother, Myrtle Grabarschick.

Members attended the installation of officers hosted

by Washington Lodge No. 178 on Sunday, Jan. 17.

Members remember in prayer Marvin Marburger,

Celebrating December and January birthdays at a recent Brenham Lodge meeting were from left, Hilbert Goessler, William Kuretsch, Rosalie Renner, Evelyn Harmel, Shirley Ganske, Judy Baichtal, Janice McClendon, Allyne Sillavan, Pearlie Hanath, Travis Pilchiek and Arnold Knuppel.

Brenham Lodge members Hilbert and Lena Mae Goessler celebrated 59 years of marriage in December.

made with Schovajsa hired to cater the meal and Charles and the Fabulous Four booked to provide the music.

Everyone enjoyed the chili

and the trimmings prepared

by Nina Runge and Shirley Ganske and the desserts members provided.

– Lena Mae Goessler

Robert Preuss, Melvin Meinecke and Doris Falkenberg.

Plans for the December 2016 Christmas party were

Bernardo Lodge will meet March 16 BERNARDO – Bernardo Lodge No. 243 will meet March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bernardo Volunteer Fire Station.

At the Jan. 20 meeting, Agent Terrel Maertz reported that he would be attending a workshop in San Antonio in February.

Officers were installed Jan. 16 in Sealy. Bernardo Lodge was well represented with only one officer absent. Agent Maertz thanked the members for coming and being a part of the installation.

Bernardo Lodge will host the installation in 2017. The St. Roch Catholic Church dining hall has been booked for the event that will be held on the third Sunday in January 2017.

Beatrice Hill read a card from the Melvin Neuendorff family thanking the lodge for being such a wonderful organization and a good friend to Brother Neuendorff.

“Happy Birthday” was sung to Lacey McKenzie

Entertaining members and guests at the Bernardo Lodge Christmas party was the trio of, from left, Theresa Henneke, Robert Herridge and Vickie Henneke. who celebrates her special day in January and Colby Maertz whose birthday was in December.

Attendance prizes went to R.W. Maertz and Lacey McKenzie.

The annual Christmas party was held in December.

Members enjoyed music by Vickie and Theresa Henneke and Robert Herridge.

At the November meeting, Beatrice Hill reported sending get-well cards to Michael Maertz, Joann Weishuhn and Melvin Neuendorff and a sympathy card to R.W.

Maertz following the loss of his wife.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Marcella Maertz and Melvin Neuendorff.

President Maertz read a letter from the Grand Lodge thanking the lodge and its members for making a donation to the “Hugs from Home” program.

Members agreed to send poinsettias to members living in nursing homes.

Happy Birthday wishes went to Billy Hagan and Arlene Trojacek.

Happy 60th Anniversary wishes were extended to Arlene and Joe Trojacek.

Special attendance awards went to Billy Hagen and Ruby Bell Henneke.

The 2015 officers were re-elected to serve in 2016 with two exceptions. Arlene Trojacek is now a member of the Finance Committee and Joan Trojacek is now a trustee.

– Robin Maertz

Coupland will play games at next meeting COUPLAND – Coupland Lodge No. 113 will meet Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at the Coupland Fire Station.

Following the meeting, everyone will enjoy fellowship, refreshments and cards or dominoes.

Members are asked to bring snacks to share.

All of the lodge’s elected officers were present and installed Sunday, Jan. 17, at the 2016 installation ceremony hosted by the lodge. Barbara and Tim Worthy, owners of the Old Coupland Inn and Dance Hall, served a delicious meal.

Members were honored to have Grand President Buddy Preuss and Grand Laws Committee Member Irene Schwertner serve as installing officers.

– Reporter

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 23

www.hermannsons.org

Schulenburg Lodge hosts installation of officers SCHULENBURG – Schulenburg Lodge No. 14 will meet March 9 at the Schulenburg Community Center. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and the meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

The lodge hosted the installation of officers Jan. 17 at the American Legion Hall in Schulenburg. The lodge has one new officer in 2016, Vice President Kathy Loth.

Officers from HochheimPrairie Lodge No. 90, Hallettsville Lodge No. 19, Shiner Lodge No. 20, Moulton Lodge No. 59, Flatonia Lodge No. 15, Gonzales Lodge No. 175 and Schulenburg Lodge were present. The lodge with the most members present was Hochheim-Prairie Lodge.

Officers of Schulenburg Lodge installed Jan. 17 included, seated, from left, Jerry Jochen, Lois Demel, Rene Sustr, Arline Ulrich, Kathy Loth, Mary K. Seifert, standing, from left, Calvin Dieringer, Junette Rodecap, LeRoy and Verlene Hoffmann, Kitty Dittrich, Grace Baylor, Delores and Bill Michalke, Elmer Ulrich, Nathan Loth and Paul Dittrich.

Curtis Baca and Kathy Loth celebrate January birthdays. They are members of Schulenburg Lodge.

The officers received an ivy plant. Grand Inner Guard Bob Jungman and Grand Vice President-Secretary/

bers Lane Margaret Schiffi, Olivia Laine Lee, Tucker John Krupala, Elijah Dean Landers-Sustr and Chandler

Treasurer Mary Beam officiated during the installation.

At the January meeting, the lodge welcomed new mem-

Rose Bubela.

Blair E. Tousek has transferred to Moulton Lodge No. 59.

The Christmas party was a success. The funds raised during the silent auction and prize drawing benefitted the lodge’s scholarship fund.

The dancers who performed each received a drink cup filled with candy with the lodge’s logo and 125th anniversary year printed on it.

Get-well cards were sent to Susan Kohleffel, Kitty Dittrich and Josephine Kloesel.

A donation was made to the scholarship fund in memory of Ozzie Berger.

Twenty-eight members and guests enjoyed a meal of chili and pies for dessert.

– Junette Rodecap

Houston plans casserole meal for March 14 meeting HOUSTON – Houston Lodge No. 100 will meet Monday, March 14, at the Sokol Hall. Social time starts at 6 p.m. The meal is served at 7 p.m. and the meeting follows at 7:45 p.m.

The meal plan for March is casseroles. There are thousands of casserole recipes on the Internet so there has to be one that suits your cooking style and taste buds. Members also are asked to bring desserts.

The March meeting is when members plan the April Family/Pioneer/Spring Picnic

meeting and lodge function.

This annual event is scheduled for Sunday, April 10, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sokol Hall. There will be a games party, door prizes, free meal for Houston Lodge members plus other events.

The April event is when members start making arrangements for the annual Christmas party.

Everyone is asked to make plans to attend both lodge functions.

The new 2016 lodge meeting schedule cards have arrived and they can be picked up at

the March meeting.

At the January meeting, members welcomed Jackson Taylor of Spring as a new junior member.

Thank you letters were read for the lodge’s donations to “Hugs From Home” and the Houston Special Olympics.

Thank you cards were read for the donations made in memory of Norman Peerce and Joan Albert to the Retirement Home and Youth Camp.

President Gary Falkenberg reported that Recording Secretary Doris Falkenberg spent three days in the hospi-

tal and was slowing recovering from an illness.

A resolution was read to honor the recent passing of member Dorothy Muzny.

Milton Fuchs, Catherine Manchack, Jack Manchack, David Thomason and James Ellison won the annual attendance prizes.

Jackie Bushman, Pat Bushman, Darlene Ellison, Duane Haas and Lavina Patterson won monthly door prizes.

Hope to see lots of members at the March meeting.

– Reporter

Lavina Patterson, left, and Catherine Manchack celebrated their January birthdays at the Houston Lodge meeting. They each received a birthday gift from the lodge.

Bryan Lodge hosts installation of officers for District 17 BRYAN – Bryan Lodge No. 99 will meet March 8.

The lodge meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the lodge hall.

The lodge hosted the installation of officers for District 17 on Saturday, Jan. 23. Lodges in District 17 include Giddings Lodge No. 54, Paige Lodge No. 154, Deanville Lodge No. 301 and Bryan Lodge. There was a good turnout from each lodge.

Everyone enjoyed a noon meal consisting of tamales, beans, rice and assorted desserts.

Following the meal Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger and Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Milton Ihlo installed the 2016 elected and appointed officers. Sister Krueger presented Certificates of Achievement to Bryan Lodge, Giddings Lodge and Paige Lodge for meeting

their 2015 new member goal.

Bryan officers for 2016 are James Hyvl, president; Virginia Charanza, vice president; Katherine Akin, secretary/treasurer; James Dowling, Rose Kucera and Robert Buffington, trustees; Mike Dowling, Fernando Pineda, and Joyce Schaefer, Finance Committee members; Melvin Schaefer, guide; Larry Kucera, inner guard; Evelyn Matcek, outer guard; Larry Kucera and Rose

Kucera, Cheer Committee members; and Joyce Schaefer, reporter.

Special Representative Gary Falkenberg and wife Doris were guests at the Feb. 9 meeting. Brother Falkenberg spoke briefly and noted that the lodge’s new member goal for 2016 is five.

James Dowling was installed as a trustee.

Sue Dowling celebrates a birthday in February.

The Cheer Committee reported sending a sympathy card to James and Sue Dowling following the passing of Brother Dowling’s sister.

Everyone received a candy bar for Valentine’s Day. Raymond Fickey would have received the progressive door prize but he was not present.

After the meeting, the members enjoyed a potluck meal.

– Joyce Schaefer

Page 24 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Spring Branch welcomes two new junior members BULVERDE – Spring Branch Lodge No. 127 will meet March 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bulverde Community Center.

The lodge met in the Bulverde Bowling Alley on Jan. 17. The Bulverde Community Center is the usual meeting place but because of a party going on that day the meeting was moved to the bowling alley.

President Sandra Duncan updated members on several upcoming events and deadlines.

Join Hands Day is scheduled for May 7.

Deadline to apply for the Hermann Sons Youth Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship is March 1. Deadline to apply for the Retirement Home Scholarship is April 1. Both of these scholarships are available to Hermann Sons members who are graduating from high school in 2016.

For an application and other requirements go to www. hermannsons.org and click on Scholarships under the Benefits tab.

The Retirement Home Chili Cook-off will be held March 12 and the Hermann Sons

Providing the meal for the January meeting of Spring Branch Lodge were, from left, Alverne and Tom Halloran and Gloria Gass.

Celebrating birthdays at the January meeting of Spring Branch Lodge were, from left, Bill Woody and Mary Woody. President Sandra Duncan presented them with their birthday cash.

Youth Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament will be held April 9. Proceeds from both of these events benefit the respective scholarship funds.

A thank you note was received for the lodge’s donation to the Retirement Home Christmas Fund.

Two new junior members were welcomed and an adult member was welcomed by way of transfer.

The remaining meeting dates for this year are March 20, May 15, July 17, Sept.

18 and Nov. 20. All meetings with the exception of the one in July will be held at the Bulverde Community Center at 2:30 p.m. The July 17 meeting will be hosted by Chuck and Sharon Knibbe at the Knibbe Ranch. Membership pins will be presented that day. Spring Branch will host the Christmas party at the Bulverde Community Center

Members agreed to donate a $100 H-E-B gift card to the Bulverde Chicken Festival for the prize drawing that will be held April 24 at the Bulverde Community Center.

Celebrating birthdays were Sharon Knibbe, Mary Woody and Bill Woody.

Attendance drawing winners were Karen Woody, Mildred Bartels, Tom Halloran, Carmen Rittiman, Bill Woody and Sandra Duncan.

on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

Carmen Rittiman reported sending get-well cards to Erica Newman, Ben Havens and Melba Kraft. She mailed a sympathy card to Karen Woody following the passing of her mother.

A meal of gourmet sandwiches and homemade desserts was enjoyed by all.

Gloria Gass and Alverne and Tom Halloran provided the meal.

– Jane Wanke

Haskell will meet on March 6

Kerrville plans events

HASKELL – Haskell Lodge No. 241 will meet Sunday, March 6, at 4 p.m. at Camacho and Charlie’s.

The lodge met Feb. 7 at Camacho and Charlie’s.

President Jerry Don Klose provided information about upcoming activities.

The Retirement Home in Comfort will host its annual Chili Cook-off on March 12.

Proceeds from the cook-off benefit the Retirement Home’s Scholarship Fund. For more information call 830-9952724. No early registration is required and all entry fees will be paid on the morning of the event.

Kathryn Howard of Plano has received her 50-year membership pin. She has

KERRVILLE – Kerrville Lodge No. 12 held its bimonthly meeting Feb. 3 at the Wells Fargo Community Room. Boyce Grona prepared the barbecue pork for the meal.

During the short business meeting, members made plans for the year that will include a Join Hands Day project, Flag Day ceremony, a family event and the Christmas party.

The lodge is looking for an organization to which it can donate a flag and talking about hosting a family barbecue or cookout in honor of Flag Day. Discussion also was held about where to host the installation of officers when

Anthony Charles, left, draws the winning door prize ticket at the February Haskell Lodge meeting. President Jerry Don Klose, right, was the winner. been a member since Jan. 11, 1966.

The Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration is coming up on April 23.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are $10 each and must be ordered no later

than March 18. Tickets can be ordered online at www. hermannsons.org or by using the order form found in the February and March issues of the Hermann Sons News.

With February being Valentine’s Day month, members shared stories of romances and/or how they met their mate in days gone by. Much laughter accompanied those stories. Most of these members have already received their 50-year, 60-year and even 70-year pins so you know their sweetheart stories are tried and true but still members decided that “what happens at the Haskell Lodge meeting stays at the Haskell Lodge meeting.” Ha Ha! – Reporter

it is Kerrville Lodge’s turn.

Member Gordon Oehler has volunteered to contact lodge members by phone in an effort to increase awareness and participation in lodge meetings and special activities.

The meeting dates for 2016 are as follows: April 6, June 1 or June 14 in honor of Flag Day, Aug. 3, Oct. 5 (election of officers) and Dec. 2 (Christmas party).

All meetings are held in the Wells Fargo Bank Community Room, 301 Junction Highway, Kerrville, unless otherwise stated.

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

– Juanice Grona

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 25

www.hermannsons.org

Round Top Lodge presents Humanitarian Award ROUND TOP – Members attending the Feb. 25 meeting of Round Top Lodge No. 151 are encouraged to wear red.

The lodge’s 2015 Humanitarian Award recipient was honored at the Jan. 28 meeting. Edna Meinkowsky was joined by son Leonard, daughter-in-law Myrt Fay and daughter Deloris Koehl as she received the award from lodge President Linda Mattocks. Sister Meinkowsky has a 100% Hermann Sons Family.

She has been a Hermann Sons member since 1948 and a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Burton for 60 years.

She is currently an active member of St. John’s Circle 1 and involved in that group’s quilting projects. She was a charter member of Circle 2. She devoted much of her time cleaning the church facilities for 24 years and until just a year or two ago she helped make dressing for the church’s annual turkey dinner.

In the summers she worked with Circle 1’s Gospel Night and Ice Cream Social helping with the ice cream and baking cookies.

She did all this while raising three children and helping her husband on the farm.

While her children were in school, she was a room mother and member of the RTC Mother’s Club.

Edna Meinkowsky receives the 2015 Humanitarian Award for Round Top Lodge from lodge President Linda Mattocks, left.

Currently she still bakes bread and donates it to sell at the various Fireman’s Feasts auctions and other fund-raisers.

Over the years her family has grown. In addition to her three children and their spouses she now has nine grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren with another one due in April.

Sister Mattocks presented her agent report and other Grand Lodge information.

The lodge’s goal for 2016 is 16 new members.

Join Hands Day was discussed.

Valentine treats were distributed.

A monetary donation will be sent to the Kay Payton

fund to help her recover from a fire.

The Cheer Committee reported sending cards to Ira Mae Hinze, Nellie Wolff, Florine Schulze, Genell Rhode, Marie Nelius, Shirley Wagner and Gerry Banik.

Jocie Braun, Edith Pfeiffer, Floyd Braun, Sedalia Ullrich and Linda Mattocks won attendance prizes.

Margie Stardig, Edna Meinkowsky, Deloris Koehl and Jeanette Schoenst won door prizes.

A dinner of chicken fried pork steak with gravy, ham with cranberries and lots of vegetables and desserts completed the evening of celebration.

– Jeanette Schoenst

Members of Edna Meinkowsky’s family were on hand Jan. 28 to watch as she received the 2015 Humanitarian Award for Round Top Lodge. Members of the 100% Hermann Sons Family include, from left, Leonard and Myrt Meinkowsky, Sister Meinkowsky and Deloris Koehl.

Prize winners at the January meeting of Round Top Lodge included, seated, from left, Edna Meinkowsky, Edith Pfeiffer, standing, from left, Jeanette Schoenst, Floyd and Jocie Braun, Linda Mattocks, Deloris Koehl, Sedalia Ulrich and Margie Stardig.

Boerne meets March 4 at Kronkosky Place BOERNE – Boerne Lodge No. 25 will meet Friday, March 4, at 12 noon at Kronkosky Place in Boerne.

Meal reservations must be made in advance by calling 830-249-2114 no later than 9 a.m. that day.

The lodge hosted the installation of officers ceremony for Districts 21 and 22 on Jan. 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boerne. A catered barbecue lunch was served before

Boerne Lodge President Alice Quinn welcomed officers from Comfort Lodge No. 2, Kerrville Lodge No. 12, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 41, Highland Lakes Lodge No. 317, Paul Vogt Lodge No. 234 and Boerne Lodge.

Installing officers were Grand President Buddy Preuss and Grand Guide Stan Steiger.

The lodge met Feb. 6 at Kronkosky Place. In honor of Valentine’s Day all the

ladies received a carnation.

Sam Franklin, a resident at the Retirement Home, was a guest.

Kambree and Presley Hiser were welcomed into the lodge as new junior members.

Congratulations go to nine members who will be receiving their 50-year membership pins and three who will be receiving their 60-year pins in 2016.

Upcoming events were dis-

cussed and include the Chili Cook-off in Comfort on March 12 and the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Hermann Sons Retirement Home on April 23.

Celebrating January birthdays were Barbara D’Spain, Jack Faecher and Dixie Pfeiffer.

Martha Wallis celebrates her birthday in February.

Get well wishes go to Alice Quinn.

– Barbara D’Spain

Flatonia meets

FLATONIA – Flatonia Lodge No. 15 held a brief quarterly meeting with Beverly Ponder presiding.

In correspondence, a letter was read inviting everyone to the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in April.

Karen Novak reported sending a “Happy Birthday” card to Martha Tauch who celebrated her 99th in December.

Helen Steinhauser won the door prize.

– Reporter

Page 26 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Columbus moves meetings to every other month COLUMBUS – Columbus Lodge No. 10 will now meet every other month instead of every month. That decision was made at the Feb. 8 meeting. The lodge will meet the second Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December. The next meeting will be held April 11 beginning at 7 p.m.

At the February meeting, President Doug Lilie installed the officers who were unable to attend the district installation held in January in Sealy.

Elsie Kahlden reported sending a sympathy card to the Terrel Maertz family fol-

lowing the passing of his mother and a sympathy card to the family of Gertrude Huebel. A get-well card was sent to Adrian Fritsch.

Members voted to give a thank-you gift to the city for allowing the lodge to use its building for meetings.

Virginia Lilie won the Valentine candy guessing game.

Doug and Virginia Lilie led the entertainment after which the group enjoyed refreshments.

The Jan. 11 meeting was canceled.

On Dec. 14, members

met at Mikeska Barbecue for the Christmas social.

Special guests were Agent Terrel Maertz and wife Robin and Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Joe Trojacek and wife Arlene.

The group enjoyed chicken fried steak, buttered potatoes, green beans and apple pie.

Agent Maertz and Brother Trojacek each spoke briefly. Elena Holub read a letter from the Grand Lodge wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sixty-year membership pin

Vineta sets scholarship deadline SAN ANTONIO – Vineta Lodge No. 15 scholarship applications must in the office no later than March 15. The mailing address is 525 S. St. Marys’ St., San Antonio, TX, 78205.

The lodge will be paying for tickets for members who want to attend the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration on April 23. All members are encouraged to attend. This will be a once in a lifetime event. Call Ruth Bailey at 210-602-5147 no later than March 16 if you plan to attend.

A potluck meal will be served at the March 3 meeting. The 2016 calendars will be available. This will be followed by a social on March 16. Members will play bunco and a surprise lunch will follow.

On May 5 members will meet at El Mirador Restaurant

Happy money winners at Vineta Lodge’s February meeting were, from left, Elaine Pruski, Yvonne Anderson, Genny Kraus, Dorothy Wille and Cecilia Padalecki. at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Call Sister Bailey at 210-602-5147 in April.

Members will return to the Home Association Building for cake, a short meeting and games.

At the February meeting, members enjoyed cakes and cookies furnished by Cynthia Holliday.

Anniston Kreusel was welcomed as a new member.

The lodge mourns the passing of Terri Graves, a member for 50 years; Emily Heitkamp, a member for 50 years; and Ruby Varnon, a member for 53 years.

Hope to see lots of members at upcoming functions.

– Reporter

New Bielau will meet March 28 WEIMAR – New Bielau Lodge No. 205 will meet March 28 at 6:30 p.m. The lodge will furnish the food and members are asked to bring desserts.

At the Jan. 25 meeting held at the New Bielau

Community Center, President Dorothy Chevalier installed officers who were unable to attend the district-wide installation.

A discussion was held on Join Hands Day. Before the meeting, every-

one enjoyed chili made by President Cavalier and desserts.

Gladys Sander celebrated a birthday in January and Arlene Marshall has a February birthday.

– Reporter

recipient Roger Wienken was unable to attend. His pin was mailed to him at his home in Elgin. He has been a member since May 20, 1955.

At the Nov. 9 meeting, John Holub, representing the Nominating Committee, presented the slate of officers for 2016 as follows: president, Douglas Lilie; vice president, Elsie Kahlden; secretary/treasurer, Elena Holub; trustees, Marjorie Brune, Elena Holub and Adrian Fritsch; Finance Committee members, Virginia Lilie, Elsie Kahlden and Virginia

Fritsch; guide, Virginia Lilie; inner guard, John Holub Jr.; outer guard, John Holub Jr.; Cheer Committee member, Elsie Kahlden; and reporter, Virginia Fritsch. All officers were elected by acclamation.

Elena Holub read a resolution of condolence in memory of Gertrude Huebel who had passed away recently.

A donation was sent to the Retirement Home in her memory.

The Cheer Committee reported sending a get-well card to Virginia Fritsch.

– Reporter

Fort Worth Lodge to meet March 6 at Westcreek Lanes FORT WORTH – A writer once said you should always start with the most important information in your article and then go to things of interest to your readers. Fort Worth Lodge No. 33 meetings are very important. The next one will be held March 6 at Westcreek Lanes starting at 3 p.m.

Hope to see everyone there for a discussion about upcoming events and new things that are happening.

The youth are a very important part of the lodge, as they will some day be the officers of the lodge. The Youth Committee awards two Hermann Sons Youth Camp scholarships every year. The only thing a camper needs to do is send a postcard to Ronnie Jones stating what attending Hermann Sons Camp means to them.

They should also know that if they have a friend who wants to attend Camp and they are not a member they need to contact the lodge’s agent, Sandra Jones, or the Grand Lodge.

Mail the postcards to Ronnie Jones, 11704 Frazier Lane, Crowley, 76036.

The lodge’s new member goal for 2016 is five.

Members can help the lodge

reach this goal by recommending a new member or two new members.

Hermann Sons has some great life insurance plans to offer new members. More information can be found on the website – www.hermannsons.org. Prospective new members can call an agent or the Grand Lodge for more information.

Some members have met milestones this month.

Eleonore Whiting joined the lodge on Feb. 12, 1956, and is a 60-year member. Sam and Sandra Jones joined on Feb. 6, 1966, and have reached their 50-year milestone.

Two members had surgery in January but are doing fine.

Get well wishes are sent to Kim Burns and Fred Murphy.

Chris and Kecia Andries celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in January. Celebrating theirs in February are Robert and Linda Balmos, 37 years, and Sam and Sandra Jones, 50 years.

Happy Birthday wishes go to Patricia Burns, Kim Burns, Cheyenne Davis, Jennifer Dean, Karen Burns-Lane, Kylie LeBlanc, Alicia Putman and Nicole Seise.

– Reporter

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 27

www.hermannsons.org

Mission-Alamo to serve ham at Feb. 24 meeting SAN ANTONIO – MissionAlamo Lodge No. 80 will meet Feb. 24 with Jack and Dianne Larned furnishing the ham.

Members are asked to bring their favorite sides. The March meeting will be held at Tip Top Restaurant on Nacogdoches Road.

The lodge stepped off into 2016 at the January meeting with a great meal of tamales furnished by John and Georgia Hall and chili made by Diane and Kirby Cline topped off with lots of side dishes and desserts. Members enjoyed getting caught up on the news of the last two months. Dorothy Breezee was the “cover all” winner during the games.

Three new junior members were welcomed. They are Noah Thomas Pedrotti, Amos Cooper Ellingson and Avery Rose Dawson.

A note of thanks was received from Cindi Bielke regarding the gifts for The Forgotten Child Program, which was the lodge’s Make A Difference Day project.

Two letters of thanks were received for the lodge’s contributions to the “Hugs from

Home” project. Members agreed to continue donating the lodge’s half of split-the-pot to “Hugs from Home.”

Also received were letters of thanks for the lodge’s donations to the Retirement Home Christmas Fund and Child Advocates of San Antonio.

Forrest Miller wrote the CASA letter thanking the lodge for the toys donated to the program during the pre-holiday party held in November.

A note of thanks was received from Floresville High School for the $1,000 donation made

by Hermann Sons of which Mission-Alamo Lodge was a part. With this the school was able to replenish classrooms following the tornado that struck the school last October.

The name drawn for the $175 big jackpot was that of Anistyn Pederson. She was not present so the next drawing will be worth $180.

Georgia Hall won split-thepot.

All of the lodge’s officers were in attendance at the installation ceremony held Jan. 30.

– Sylvia Schulmeier

Dorothy Breezee, left, receives her 50-year membership pin from MissionAlamo Lodge President Carol Swan. Sister Breezee lives in Floresville and has been a member since April 27, 1966.

All of Mission-Alamo Lodge’s officers were present for the installation ceremony held Jan. 30 at the Home Association Building. Pictured are, front, from left, Carol Swan, Kathy Wilson, Dorothy Breezee, Lillie Mae Dienger, Joyce Kneupper, Lee Vogel, back, from left, Diane Cline, Bernice Vogel, Don Schulmeier, Sylvia Schulmeier, Jack Larned, Dianne Larned and John Hall.

Laura and Allen Adams celebrate their wedding anniversary in January. They are members of Mission-Alamo Lodge.

Members of Mission-Alamo Lodge who celebrated birthdays in January are pictured at the lodge meeting. They are, from left, Mary Himes, Elizabeth Cline, Don Schulmeier and Kathy Wilson.

DaCosta invites members to Easter party March 12 DaCOSTA – DaCosta Lodge No. 265 will hold its Easter Party at the hall on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. All members are welcome to attend. Bring your Easter basket.

The Summer Family Social has been scheduled for Aug. 14. More information will be provided as the date gets closer.

During the Christmas program, the DaCosta School of Dance honored students for their years as a dancer. Kelsy Spiller, Melanie Smith and Kaycie Quinn were presented two plaques each – one for 5 years and one for 10 years.

Emily Quinn, Mariah Morales, Cheyann Parks, Carsyn

DaCosta School of Dance students recently honored for their years as a dancer were, front, from left, Kelsy Spiller, Melanie Smith, Emily Quinn, Mariah Morales, Cheyann Parks, Carsyn Shilinga, Elizabeth Drane; back, from left, Kaycie Quinn, Adrianna Cortez, Miranda Garcia and Hailey Billeaud.

Shilinga, Elizabeth Drane, Adrianna Cortez, Miranda Garcia and Hailey Billeaud were all presented their 5-year

plaques.

The next lodge meeting is scheduled for May 10 at 6 p.m.

– Reporter

DaCosta Lodge President Geraldine Venglar, right, presents a donation to Christ’s Kitchen on behalf of the lodge. Accepting the check is Trish Hastings, co-director of Christ’s Kitchen.

Page 28 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Fredericksburg to hold covered dish supper March 1 FREDEICKSBURG – Fredericksburg Lodge No. 41 will meet March 1 for a covered dish supper. Members are asked to bring a meat or side dish, along with a plate and eating utensils.

Contact Windy Duecker at 830-997-2983 or Hans Enderlin at 830-895-1343 for more information.

At the lodge’s Feb. 2 meeting, 37 members and guests enjoyed a chili and tamale supper followed by a business meeting during which members heard a report from President Hans Enderlin on several topics of interest.

Three members had passed away recently. They are Edna Metzger, a 47-year member; Edwin (Jack) Straube, an 11-year member; and Ret. Major Adolph Basse, a 65-year member. A moment of silence was observed in their memory.

The lodge received thank you cards from Hill Country

Steven and Marissa Weinheimer celebrate their wedding anniversary in February.

They are members of Fredericksburg Lodge.

Memorial Hospital and the hospice staff for the contribution made to the hospice program.

The lodge’s 2016 new member goal is 16. President Enderlin encouraged members to submit referrals to the agents.

Members celebrating their birthdays during the February Fredericksburg Lodge meeting were, from, left, Edgar Priess, Wanda Starns, Dennis Henke, Lola Enderlin and Donna Staudt.

The books for the last six months of 2015 were audited prior to the meeting. No discrepancies were found. The report will be submitted to the Grand Lodge.

President Enderlin ann-

ounced that he submitted a tax-exemption status request for the lodge. If approved, the lodge would save $7,000 or more on its property taxes.

All of the lodge’s officers attended the installation for

Paige Lodge welcomes four new members PAIGE – Paige Lodge No. 154 will meet March 13 with Mexican food on the menu.

Games will be played after the meeting and don’t forget the theme for the day is St. Patrick’s Day. Members and guests enjoyed a stew lunch prior to the Jan. 10 meeting held at Milton and Linda Ihlos’ country place. Special thanks go to them for preparing the stew and for their warm hospitality.

Thanks also go to the members and guests for the corn bread, crackers and desserts.

Everyone enjoyed playing the “rob your neighbor game.”

The lodge welcomes new members Brooklynn Jean Densmore, Chase William Densmore, Addison Lorene Densmore and Lillian Jewel Wright.

Bernice Basward reported sending “thinking of you” cards to Leroy Wobus, Sherwin and Betty Wissen and Sadie Raschke. Get-

well cards were sent to Jim Millner, Shane Wright and Ronnie Harmon. Sympathy cards were sent to Roy and Dorothy Tschatschula, Willie and Linda Haverland, the Louis Frerich family, the Fred Laake family, David Laake and James and Mary Laake.

Christmas cards were sent to Jim Meinke, Ofelia Saegert and Margaret Boyd. A card was sent to Kevin and Doris Kunkel congratulating them on the arrival of their new baby.

President Chelle Dube gave a brief report on Grand Lodge happenings including the emailed newsletter called The Insider, the member perks program and upcoming events.

She also reported the Paige Buyers Club, which has received support from the lodge and lodge members, purchased 17 projects at the 2016 Elgin Livestock Show.

Members and guests were

urged to attend and support the Paige Buyers Club Fundraiser held each November at the Paige Community Center.

The following schedule of events for the 2016-2017 year was approved: – April 10, grilled hot dogs furnished by the lodge; meeting; members bring chips, dips or desserts.

– May 15, Mother’s Day lunch; menu to be announced; meeting.

– June 12, Father’s Day lunch; menu to be announced; meeting.

– July 10, grilled hamburgers furnished by the lodge; Fourth of July celebration with red, white and blue theme; meeting; games.

– Aug. 14, salad potluck; meeting.

– Sept. 11, sandwich potluck; meeting.

– Oct. 9, meeting; 120th anniversary celebration, menu to be announced.

– Nov. 13, Thanksgiving

lunch; meeting; election of officers.

– Dec. 11, Christmas party lunch at noon at St. Andrew’s Paint Creek Fellowship Hall; pin presentation and Humanitarian Award presentation.

– Jan. 8, 2017, potluck lunch; meeting.

– Feb. 12, 2017, potluck lunch; meeting.

President Dube also suggested that a day of special activities for the youth be planned sometime during the year.

Sandy Botkin won the attendance prize and Emily Kunkel won the dollar pot drawing.

Special thanks go out to Bryan Lodge No. 99 for hosting the installation of officers for Deanville Lodge No. 301, Giddings Lodge No. 54 and Paige Lodge on Saturday, Jan. 23. Everyone enjoyed the Mexican-style meal and the warm welcome.

– Sandy Botkin

elected and appointed officers held Jan. 16. Fredericksburg Lodge was the only lodge at that installation with 100 percent of its officers in attendance.

The Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration is set for April 23 in Comfort President Enderlin encouraged everyone to attend. He has forms for ordering tickets.

Members were encouraged to submit ideas for a Join Hands Day project. Join Hands Day will be observed May 7 this year.

Members were reminded of the Chili and Bean Cookoff set for March 12 at the Retirement Home. Proceeds from the cook-off will benefit the scholarship fund. Anyone interested in participating in the cook-off should contact President Enderlin.

Attendance prizes were awarded to Vernell Doebbler and Edgar Priess.

– Reporter

Hochheim-Prairie to meet March 6 YOAKUM – Members of Hochheim-Prairie Lodge No. 90 are reminded the lodge will meet at 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 6, at Turner Hall.

In January several junior members participated in the Yoakum Livestock Show. Some brought home Grand and Reserve Champion honors.

Officers installed in Schulenburg in January were president, Janet Zabransky; vice president, Roberta Wenzel; corresponding secretary, Carolyn Hoepfl; treasurer, Wilburn Pargmann; Finance Committee member, Ann Machalec; trustee, Charlie Hoepfl; guide, Joyce Word; and outer guard, Tommy Wenzel.

Hope to see everyone at the next meeting.

– Reporter

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 29

www.hermannsons.org

Cat Spring presents membership pins, award CAT SPRING – Cat Spring Lodge No. 44 will meet March 10 at 6:30 p.m. A soup and sandwich dinner will be served. Members are asked to bring sandwiches or desserts.

The lodge met Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Agricultural Hall for the annual Christmas party. A turkey and dressing dinner was served and members brought side dishes and desserts.

Robert Herridge, Grand Lodge Laws Committee member, represented the Grand Lodge and presented 50-year membership pins to Reed Froebel of Cypress, a member since Oct. 8, 1965; Vana Froebel of Sealy, a member since Sept. 3, 1965; and Malcolm Dittert of Cat Spring, also a member since Sept. 3, 1965.

Other recipients who were unable to attend were 60-year members Randy Reichardt of Cat Spring, a member since Nov. 9, 1955; Sherry M. Hayes of Houston,

Cat Spring Lodge President Randall Tipp presents the Humanitarian Award to members of the St. John’s Cat Spring Lutheran Quilters during the annual Christmas party. a member since March 15, 1955; Lawrence Nelson Jr. of Gresham, Ore., a member since Nov. 17, 1955; and Mauldine Schubert of Sealy, a member since Jan. 20, 1955; and 50-year member Deborah Krause of Brenham, a member since Aug. 6, 1965.

The lodge welcomes new member Kaston Wayne Tipp, grandson of President Randall and Marsha Tipp.

President Tipp presented the Humanitarian Award to

the St. John’s Cat Spring Lutheran Quilters. Lodge members Delores Dittert and Carrie and Vana Froebel are members of this group.

They and other members of the group were in attendance and accepted a $50 donation from the lodge. In addition, members donated to the quilters in lieu of a gift exchange.

Celebrating birthdays were Marge Michaelis and guest Esther Luedecke.

Celebrating anniversaries

Robert Herridge, Grand Lodge Laws Committee member, far right, presents 50-year membership pins to, from left, Malcolm Dittert, Reed Froebel and Vana Froebel during the Cat Spring Lodge Christmas party. were Clarence and Delores Dittert, 60 years, and John and Pat Klotz, 43 years.

Grand Lodge 125th Anniversary Cookbooks were awarded as door prizes to Lonie Michaelis, Cindy Daly, Loyce Pacher, John Klotz and Pat Klotz.

In January, officers attended the installation of officers hosted by Sealy Lodge No. 239 in Sealy.

– Reporter

San Marcos plans memorial service SAN MARCOS – San Marcos Lodge No. 26 will meet March 7 at La Vista Retirement Home in San Marcos. Billy and Mary Lou Preuss will provide the pork steaks and members are asked to bring side dishes.

The annual memorial service will be a part of this meeting.

The lodge did not meet in January because of the installation of officers. All of the lodge’s officers attended.

The lodge met Feb. 1 at Garcia’s Restaurant in San Marcos.

Larry Moreau celebrates his birthday in February.

Since February is the month for Valentine’s Day, the lodge honored all married couples attending. They were Billy and Mary Lou Preuss, Evelyn and Larry Moreau, Agnes and Freddie

Dreibrodt and Dean and Leola Gourley.

Crystal Campbell was welcomed by way of transfer.

Members were informed that the lodge met its new member goal in 2015.

A sympathy card was sent to Janice Kuhen’s sisterin-law, Geraldine Kuhen Marburger.

Members were reminded that the Retirement Home Chili and Bean Cook-off will be held March 12 in Comfort.

Peggy Meiners is in charge of the lodge’s Join Hands Day project on Saturday, May 7.

Members also were reminded about the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration to be held April 23 in Comfort.

Members donated 75 pounds of food to the San

Members of San Marcos Lodge deliver toys to the San Marcos Police Department’s Blue Santa Program. Members donated the toys. Lodge representatives pictured are, from left, lodge Secretary Janice Kuhen, Freddie Dreibrodt and lodge President Agnes Dreibrodt.

Marcos Food Bank last year.

Members wore red and donated Valentines for the San Marcos Women’s

Shelter.

Dean Gourley won the attendance prize.

– Leola Gourley

Cat Spring Lodge members Delores and Clarence Dittert recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Niederwald will meet March 8 NIEDERWALD – Niederwald Lodge No. 110 will meet March 8 at the Sirloin Stockade.

Members are reminded to wear green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Members met at the Sirloin Stockade in January. Connie Schriber has assumed her new role as secretary/treasurer.

Members signed Valentine’s Day cards and took them to the Chisholm Trail Nursing Home.

Everyone dressed in red for the meeting in honor of Valentine’s Day and in honor of past presidents.

– Nancy Smith

Page 30 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Giddings offers scholarships to graduating seniors GIDDINGS – Giddings Lodge No. 54 has announced that scholarship information letters have gone out.

If you are a high school senior and a member of the lodge but did not get a letter, contact Deborah Beistert at 979-540-8144 or dkbeisert@ hotmail.com.

Completed applications are due April 1.

Members commenced the business of the New Year on Jan. 14. Already striving to meet its 2016 membership goal, the lodge welcomed two new members, Michael Beisert and Slade Schroeder.

A report was given on the Dec. 14 dance recital and Santa’s visit.

The Cheer Committee reported sending a sympathy card to the family of Edward Tomanetz and getwell cards to Gladys Saegert and James Eichler. A visit was paid to Harry Namken and a card was sent to him.

It was reported Clarence Chernosky is receiving treatments and Doris and Kevin Kunkel were blessed with a daughter, Lillian Claire, in December. The proud grandparents are Arthur and Laverne Urban.

Celebrations in January included Loretta Chilek’s birthday and the wedding anniversaries of Johnny and Jean Herzik and Raymond and Ruby Lehmann. Sister Chilek had attended the Lehmann wedding and recalled some of her memories of that day 68 years ago.

Attendance award winners were Hattie Harmon, Willie Mae Meyer and Ty Kasper.

Door prizes were a box of chocolate covered cherries won by Deborah Beisert, a decorated storage box won

by Arthur Urban and another bigger, decorated storage box won by Laverne Urban.

Appreciation was expressed to Jerry Potter and Ty Kasper for grilling the sausage for the evening meal.

Visitors to the Giddings Lodge Hall recently may have noticed a fresher look.

A few dedicated members have been busy cleaning, painting and making other improvements.

Plans are under way for the May 2016 Join Hands Day project, the June celebration of the Hall’s 60th anniversary and other activities. The lodge welcomes input from members.

Nagel officers attend installation in Sealy MILLHEIM – Nagel Lodge No. 299 members will meet April 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Gordon and Sharon Goebel. Brother Goebel has volunteered to grill hamburgers.

At the Jan. 12 meeting, also held at the Goebel residence, members enjoyed taco soup prepared by Lola Landua and snacks and desserts furnished by the members.

A thank-you note was read from the Bellville Christian Food Pantry for the monetary donation made at Christmas.

Brother Goebel noted that

Nagel Lodge was founded Aug. 31, 1913.

Members celebrating birthdays in January were Hurst Barbee and June Barbee.

Dennis and Lola Landua celebrated an anniversary in January.

Members reported to be ill included Fay Johnson and Lloyd Klaus. Condolences were extended to Chuck Ulrich whose wife recently passed away.

Everyone was reminded of the installation of 2016 officers on Jan. 17 hosted by Sealy Lodge No. 239.

– Reporter

Santa stopped by the December meeting of Giddings Lodge to talk to the children.

In December, Arthur and Laverne Urban were presented the 2015 Humanitarian Award. They were recognized for their outstanding support of the lodge and the community.

The lodge also approved donations to the Retirement Home and Lee County’s Blue Santa program.

The lodge welcomed new members Steven Ingram and Carlos Medina.

The Cheer Committee sent get-well cards to Gladys Fritsche and Edward “Whitey” Tomanetz. A

Arthur and Laverne Urban are the recipients of the 2015 Humanitarian Award for Giddings Lodge. The award was presented Dec. 10. moment of silence was observed in memory of Brother Tomanetz who passed away. The Tomanetz family has been a 100% Family since 1964.

Attendance award winners were Bernice Bittner, Johnny Herzik, Hattie Harmon and Debbie Beisert. The $50 attendance-prize winners were Willie Mae Meyer and Jerry Potter.

Appreciation was expressed to Pat Abell for preparing

the chicken fried steak for the meal served following the meeting along with the sides and desserts provided by members.

Following the meal, a gift exchange game was played with gifts and plants provided.

Meetings are held at the hall the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. They are preceded by fellowship and followed by a meal.

– Reporter

Dunlay installing new ceiling DUNLAY – Dunlay Lodge No. 285 met Jan. 19. Members were excited and thankful to see the progress that has been made in the installation of the new ceiling, creating a much safer atmosphere in which to meet.

Clyde Muennink and Stanley Meyer have been working diligently installing the antique tin sheets over the existing deteriorating ceiling tiles.

Since the hall is more than 100 years old, the old tin adds to the uniqueness of the building.

Thanks go to both men for a job well done.

– Reporter

Clyde Muennink installs antique tin sheets to the ceiling of the Dunlay Lodge Hall.

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 31

www.hermannsons.org

Gay Hill plans next cleanup day for April 9 GAY HILL – Hosts for the March 3 meeting of Gay Hill Lodge No. 193 will be Brian and Jennifer Lorenz and Robert and Shonda Ziese.

The lodge met Thursday, Feb. 4, with members voting to approve the 2016 schedule as submitted by the officers after their meeting on Jan. 26. The schedule includes the fund-raiser dates.

Marvin Fischer reported that the last fund-raiser, the Sirloin Steak Supper, was a big success. The next fundraiser was a Fish Fry scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12.

The next cleanup day will be April 9 unless the hall is rented. A new hall rental ad campaign was approved.

The lodge will once again collect non-perishable canned goods for delivery to area food banks and collect gently used clothing for area

Bobby and Mary Lee Mertz, left, celebrate their anniversary in February. Celebrating February birthdays are, from left, Emily Lehde, Bradley Fischer and George Lorenz. All attended the February meeting of Gay Hill Lodge. thrift shops. Members also are asked to donate pull-tabs from aluminum cans for people on dialysis and to donate salt/pepper packs, which will be sent to military personnel serving overseas.

Before the meeting, members and guests enjoyed a hamburger steak dinner with all the trimmings. Hostesses were David and Doris

Roehling, Janice McClendon and Charlie Schroeder.

The Cheer Committee reported that Shirley Bosse broke her leg.

Special Representative Gary Falkenberg spoke about the “Hugs from Home” project.

He urged families with members in the service to contact the Fraternal Department at the Grand Lodge so that a

Preparing the meal for the February meeting of Gay Hill Lodge were, from left, David and Doris Roehling, Janice McClendon and Charlie Schroeder. package can be sent to their loved ones.

He also reviewed the 2016 Lodge Membership Campaign. Anyone who recommends a new member who meets with an agent

and completes an application will have a chance to win a $100 gift card. Five winners will be selected in July and another five will be chosen in January 2017.

– Reporter

Cuero Family reminds members to wear green March 1 CUERO – Cuero Family Lodge No. 82 encourages members to wear green to the March 1 meeting.

Officers and members attended the installation of officers in January. At the Tuesday, Feb. 2, meeting, President Laura Tiffin installed June Guenther who was unable to attend the district installation.

President Tiffin reported the school of dance has been collecting shoes to be sent to third-world countries. So

far the students have collected 68 bags of shoes and each bag has 25 pairs in it.

Shoe collection is still taking place so if you have shoes to donate, take them by the office of Wayne and Laura Tiffin.

The 2016 calendar of events was provided. Members are asked to place the calendar in a prominent place so they can keep up with lodge activities.

Agent Wayne Tiffin reported on the final results of the first ever prize drawing held

last year. Two graduating seniors will receive a check for their participation in this prize drawing. Another ticket sale will start later this year in about August. Any high school student is eligible to participate and earn some money for future college expenses.

Members reviewed the proposed budget for 2016 and approved it as presented.

A donation will be made to “Hugs from Home” in memory of Carroll Ley who recently

McGregor reaches member goal McGREGOR – McGregor Lodge No. 132 will not meet in March. The next meeting will be held April 6 at 6 p.m. at the Sneed Insurance Building. The meal will be provided.

Members and guests enjoyed lasagna, pasta, salad, dessert and a Valentine “turtle” treat when they met Feb. 3. Everything was delicious thanks to

Teresa Sneed.

Congratulations go to Diane Knuppel and Kenneth Knuppel on their 50 years of membership.

Both became members on Jan. 12, 1966.

President Doris Mooney read correspondence from the Grand Lodge about the lodge’s new member goal for 2016. McGregor Lodge was presented a Certificate

of Achievement at the recent installation of officers for reaching its new member goal in 2015.

President Mooney reminded members of the Valentine Party at Westview Manor.

Members are providing refreshments.

Lucky door prize winners were Regina Arseneaux and Milton Schmalriede.

– Doris Mooney

passed away Sister Guenther reported on the coupons for the military project. The lodge has been collecting coupons for 13 years and has sent more than 850,000 coupons to bases overseas. The lodge still needs everyone’s help with this project. Sister Guenther said it is her personal goal to have the lodge send 1 million coupons. Members can turn in whole pages of coupons and she will do the trimming.

Celebrating birthdays were

Sue Trammel, Gary Hotz, Joyce Hotz and Louise Buchhorn.

Members providing desserts were Gloria Suggs, Helen Lempa, Pat Wanjura and Ann Carpenter.

Door prize winners were Gloria Suggs, Willa Dean Wolter, Holly Hotz, Pauline Kueker and Allison Tiffin.

After the meeting, members enjoyed a meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans and a roll.

– June Guenther

Bexar plans summer picnic SAN ANTONIO – Bexar Lodge No. 306 members met Feb. 7 for the quarterly meeting with new President John Grof presiding.

Thirteen members of the lodge have signed up to attend the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. Members discussed having T-shirts made with “Hermann Sons Bexar Lodge No. 306” printed on them to show lodge support.

The summer picnic will be held July 9 at Raymond Russell Park. More details will be discussed on May 1.

Members are encouraged to attend this meeting.

A chocolate cake was served to celebrate birthdays in December, January, February and March.

Members are asked to call for the location of the May 1 meeting.

– Linda Wehmeyer

Page 32– Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Rutersville to make ‘Hugs from Home’ donation RUTERSVILLE – Rutersville Lodge No. 152 will meet Wednesday, March 2. The meal will feature fried chicken. Members are asked to bring a side dish and dessert.

Chili and hot dogs were served at the Feb. 3 meeting.

Members provided the side dishes and desserts.

The Cheer Committee reported sending get-well cards to Albert Loehr, Margie Stibora and Mary Noak.

Sympathy cards were sent to the Nelda Weyand family, the Doris Hartmann family and Loretta Brugger.

Special Representative Gary Falkenberg and wife Doris were in attendance.

He reminded members that any member who recommends a new member who completes an application will have a chance to win a $100 gift card. Rutersville Lodge’s membership has held steady for the last couple of years. The lodge’s new member goal for 2016 is five.

The lodge will make a monetary donation to the “Hugs from Home” program.

Members are reminded that the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration will be held Saturday, April 23, in Comfort. Tickets are $10 each and will include a catered meal and two beer

tickets.

Trustees will check into gravel for the hall’s parking lot and driveways.

Members receiving their 60-year and 70-year membership pins will be honored Saturday, June 25.

Celebrating February birthdays were Ginger Muesse and Sylvester (Bob) Schmitt.

Dorothy and Kirby Keilers celebrate their wedding anniversary in February.

The five lucky members receiving attendance prizes were Sherry Noak, Roy Weyand, Dorothy Keilers, Wayne Noak and Darlene Weyand.

– Reporter

Rutersville Lodge members celebrating special occasions at the February meeting were, from left, Sylvester (Bob) Schmitt and Ginger Muesse, birthdays; and Dorothy and Kirby Keilers, an anniversary.

Cibolo will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day March 3 CIBOLO – Cibolo Lodge No. 147 will meet March 3 at 7 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Universal City. The lodge will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the “wearing of the green.”

Members are asked to bring their favorite green food to go with the sub sandwiches that will be served. The lodge also will celebrate Easter with the annual Easter Bonnet Contest.

Members are reminded that meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the church.

ATTENTION GERMAN SPEAKERS: There is a group from the University of Texas in Austin that is interested in recording anyone who still speaks Texas German dialect so that it can be taught for years to come. The contact phone number is 512-9105047 and the email address is texasgermandialect@gmail. com. Anyone who is interested in preserving the German dialect that is spoken in this area is asked to contact this group and assist if you are able.

The Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration will be held April 23. Tickets are on sale until March 18.

Members can carpool if anyone is interested in going.

The lodge will hold a rummage sale on Sept. 17 in the parking lot at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1129 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, just across from the What-aburger. Save your stuff that you want to donate and then come out and support the lodge at this Matching Funds Event.

It’s scholarship application time. Applications will be available at the next regular meeting for those who will be attending college in the fall.

At the February meeting, Gail Gray’s spinach-strawberry salad was named the best side dish and Dawn Bierstedt’s cherry tarts were named the best dessert.

Hayley Dylla’s name was drawn for the progressive prize but she was not present.

Next month the drawing will be worth $40.

– Tracy Campos

Jonny Brown celebrates his birthday in February. He is a member of Cibolo Lodge.

Maxwell will hold Easter bonnet contest April 3 MAXWELL – Maxwell Lodge No. 75 will hold a best homemade Easter bonnet contest at the Sunday, April 3, meeting. All members are asked to participate by decorating an Easter bonnet. For the March 6 meeting, sandwiches and chips are on the menu and members are asked to bring ingredients for sandwiches.

At the Sunday, Feb. 7, meeting, President Charles Croley discussed the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration to be held April 23 in Comfort. He is looking

into renting a van so members can travel together. The cost of a ticket is $10. Further discussion will be held at the March meeting.

Homemade stew and cornbread were served at the February meeting.

Door prize winners were Clarence Schulle and Catherine Blackard.

In January, the lodge hosted the District 12 installation of officers. Lodges represented included Maxwell Lodge, San Marcos Lodge No. 26, Lockhart Lodge No. 64 and

Niederwald Lodge No. 110.

Installing officers were Grand Vice President-Secretary/ Treasurer Kim Krueger and Grand Lodge Laws Committee Member Agnes Dreibrodt.

Elsie Croley has retired after 25 years of service as secretary/treasurer of the lodge.

A special election was called and Darlene Bohmfalk was elected to the position.

Sister Bohmfalk has been a Hermann Sons member for 19 years and is an agent. She and her daughter transferred to Maxwell Lodge from San

Marcos Lodge.

A meal of assorted mini croissant sandwiches from Jason’s Deli as well as fresh fruit and cake was served.

Niederwald Lodge will host the 2017 installation of officers Jan. 22, 2017, at the Maxwell Social Club.

Each lodge lit a candle in memory of its deceased members. The memorial table was decorated with a white tablecloth, gold satin table runner, fall flowers, cream-colored candles, an open Bible that is more than 100 years old and

a hand-carved wooden cross.

On Dec. 13, the mini Luling School of Dance recital was held at the Maxwell Social Club. Maxwell Lodge sponsors the Luling School of Dance.

Admission to the recital was non-perishable food that was donated to the Luling/Caldwell Food Bank. The lodge donated assorted potted plants and the Parents’ Club donated homemade candles for door prizes. Cookies and punch were served. The children received small gift bags from Santa.

– C. Blackard

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 33

www.hermannsons.org

Gulf installs officers, makes donation Officers from Gulf Lodge No. 46 who were installed in January are pictured.

They are, seated from left, President Henry Bennison, Finance Committee Member Bill Graefe, Finance Committee Member Henry Wulf, Historian Ruby Wolf, standing, from left, Financial Secretary Al Stryk and Vice President Clyde Hannes. The lodge will celebrate its 124th anniversary on Sunday, March 20, at 3 p.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant on Seawall in Galveston. A Grand Lodge representative will be on hand to present membership pins and other important activities will follow. Quarterly meetings also are scheduled for July 10, Sept. 25 and Dec. 4.

Shive presents pin

Wayne Kohler, left, received his 60-year membership pin during the installation of officers hosted by Shive Lodge No. 253 in January. Making the presentation were, from left, Shive Lodge President Katherine Hopper, Grand Finance Committee Member Paul Heath and Past Grand President Leroy Muehlstein. Brother Kohler lives in Arlington and has been a member since Sept. 1, 1955.

Gulf Lodge No. 46 recently made a donation to the Military Moms and Wives of Brazoria County in Angleton.

The lodge presented its 2015 Humanitarian Award recipient, Marie Stryk, with a check that she then passed on to the organization. Pictured are, from left, Mary Marino, Sister Stryk, a Marine and Kathy Lynch.

Austin to meet March 6 AUSTIN – Austin Lodge No. 120 will meet Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. The meeting will be held at a new location, the Ben Hur Shrine Temple, 7811 Rockwood, Austin.

The lodge hall has been

sold. Future meetings will be held at the Shrine Temple location.

The lodge will furnish hamburgers and the fixings.

Members are asked to bring chips, dips and desserts.

– Reporter

Louise Schuetze will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day March 14 SAN ANTONIO – Louise Schuetze Lodge No. 3 will meet March 14 with a green theme in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The lodge will provide the beef stew.

The lodge’s officers attended the installation ceremony held Jan. 30 in the Home Association Ballroom.

Newly-elected President Janice Schwab officially took the gavel from Carol Grill at the February meeting. Members enjoyed the homemade tortilla soup made by Sister Grill.

Welcomed as a new member was Charlotte Elizabeth Roberts.

JoAnn Massengale won $25 in the attendance prize drawing and Sister Grill won splitthe-pot.

– Reporter

Carol Grill, left, passes the president’s gavel to Janice Schwab during the February Louise Schuetze Lodge meeting.

Louise Schuetze Lodge President Janice Schwab, left, extends “Happy Birthday” greetings to Mary Beam and Linda Muehlstein during the February meeting.

Page 34 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Rosenberg-Richmond welcomes new members Ivan Richter prepared the stew with the help of several other men. Margaret Maynard and Joyce Lamensky helped serve.

Members provided desserts. Margie Krenek gave the blessing.

Marjorie Engelhardt reported that sympathy cards had been sent to Gloria Reuter, Catherine Reuter, Nicholas Reuter, Nikole Reuter, Delvin Reuter, Candace

Reuter, Sherry Fisk and Daryl Schmidt.

A get well card was sent to Marjorie Engelhardt.

A memorial service was held to honor all members who passed away in 2015.

The schedule of events for the year was accepted.

Hamburgers will be served at the June 13 meeting with members asked to provide desserts It will be ice cream and

game night on Aug. 8.

For the Oct. 10 meeting, the lodge will provide sausage, sauerkraut and a side dish.

Members are asked to bring desserts.

Turkey and dressing will be served at the Nov. 14 meeting. Members are asked to bring desserts.

For the Dec. 12 meeting, chicken fried chicken and chicken fried steak will be served along with dessert.

It will be game night and members are asked to bring items for donation to Helping Hands.

Jean and Robbie Hartfiel, Malcolm and Elaine Krause and Otto and LaVerne Tiemann donated the door prizes.

Cipriana Negrete, Margie Klobedans, Marjorie Engelhardt, Philip Martin and Joyce Lamensky won the attendance prizes.

Celebrating January and February birthdays from RosenbergRichmond Lodge were, from left, Delvin Reuter, Theresa Lamensky, Dylan Lamensky, W. Lee Hedt, Malcolm Krause, Margie Krenek, Elaine Krause and Willie Mae Nesvadba.

Kiba James Baird is the greatgrandson of Tom and Lynette Atkins. He was born Dec. 22, 2015, and is a new member of Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge.

Ella Olivia Kubes is the granddaughter of Tom and Lynette Atkins. She was born Dec. 1, 2015, and is a new member of Rosenberg-Richmond Lodge.

Rylie Ann Marie Butler is the great-granddaughter of Tom and Lynette Atkins. She was born Nov. 23, 2015, and is a new member of RosenbergRichmond Lodge.

ROSENBERG – RosenbergRichmond Lodge No. 85 will meet April 11. The lodge will provide the fried chicken and members are asked to bring a vegetable, salad or dessert.

The lodge met Feb. 8 at the Rosenberg Civic Center with 58 members and guests in attendance.

Kaitlyn Garver, Ella Kubes, Rylie Butler and Kiba Baird were welcomed as new members.

Macdona Lodge announces schedule ATASCOSA – Macdona Lodge No. 198 has announced its schedule for the coming year. The next meeting will be held Thursday, March 10, at 6:45 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church Parish Hall, 11150 Macdona Lacoste Road, Atascosa. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Other meetings will be held as follows: – Thursday, June 9, at 6:45 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

– Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. The lodge will hold a hamburger and hotdog social. Members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.

– Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6:45 p.m. the 2017 officers will be elected and snacks and drinks will be provided.

– Sunday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. Members will celebrate

Macdona Lodge served a turkey and ham dinner during the Christmas celebration in December. Pictured enjoying their meal are Donna Bachle and daughter Alee Bachle and Sara Kauffmann. There was no winner of the Progressive Jackpot so come to the March meeting for the next drawing. You must be present to win.

Santa came to visit the children during the Macdona Lodge Christmas celebration on Dec. 13. He brought gifts for the approximately 25 junior members who attended including Easton Cole Hennessey, pictured with his mother.

Christmas with a holiday party. Members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.

All meetings are held at

activities, call Eulla Krueger at 830-895-3643 or Kathy Thomas at 210-426-5817.

– Reporter

Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church Parish Hall.

For more information on any of these meetings and

El Campo Lodge meets March 4 EL CAMPO – El Campo Lodge No. 87 has announced its meeting schedule for 2016.

The next meeting will be held Friday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Best Seafood & Steakhouse.

After that meetings will be held Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Mr. Gatti’s; Friday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Golden Phoenix; Friday, Sept.

9, at 6:30 p.m. at Best Steakhouse & Seafood; Thursday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. at WCEC for the scholarship drawing; and Friday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Golden Phoenix.

Officers attended the officer installation on Sunday, Jan. 10, that was hosted by Jackson County Lodge No. 318. Those in attendance were Dennis Wigginton, Donald and Ruby Wigginton, Warren and Cindy Witcher and Adolph and Lydia Sablatura.

Members are encouraged to attend all meetings.

– Cindy Witcher

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 35

www.hermannsons.org

Comfort hosts successful wine tasting event COMFORT – Comfort Lodge No. 2 hosted a successful RIEDEL wine tasting event on Feb. 6 to benefit the Comfort Golden Age Center.

The lodge worked with Bending Branch Winery to host the fun and different type of tasting. The event was about the RIEDEL wine glass and teaching people about how the shape of the glass affects the taste of the wine.

Guests were able to taste three different Bending Branch Wines out of three different RIEDEL glasses, which guests got to take home at the end of the tasting.

There also was a CocaCola tasting out of a RIEDEL

Coca-Cola glass. Guests were amazed at how much difference the glass made with how the Coke and wine tasted!

After the tasting there was a silent and a live auction.

Prizes included a “Taste of Fredericksburg” package, Spurs vs. Lakers tickets and a Bending Branch Winery tour for six.

Organizers were very pleased with the turnout and the amount of money raised.

A check will be presented to the Golden Age Center at the March 14 meeting.

In January lodge officers attended the installation of officers at the Lutheran Church in Boerne. Comfort Lodge was the only lodge in attendance to receive a

Certificate of Appreciation for meeting its new member goal in 2015.

The goal for 2016 is 50 new members. If you know someone who may be interested in joining, refer them to one of the lodge’s agents.

The lodge will host its Join Hands Day Easter Carnival on March 20. The event will benefit Comfort Youth Baseball.

There will be an Easter egg hunt, a cake walk and other fun carnival games.

Members are asked to bring candy-filled eggs (no chocolate candy) to the March meeting.

For the March meeting, members are asked to bring a salad. Those wanting to play Left, Right, Center will

Comfort Lodge officers installed in January included, back, from left, C.B. Chenault, David Spenrath, Buddy Preuss, Elizabeth Preuss, front, from left, Katie Klohn, Kristen Vineyard, Connie Spenrath, Bobbye Burrow and Jennifer Cernosek. Not pictured are Tammy Aldrich and Arthur Koennecke Jr. need to bring dimes.

For the most up to date information on Comfort

Buddy Preuss inspects his wine glass during the RIEDEL wine tasting event hosted by Comfort Lodge.

Nancy Burke tastes the difference in the wine from the RIEDEL glass compared to the “joker” glass.

Kevin and Joellen Klohn attended the RIEDEL wine tasting event hosted by Comfort Lodge. They are the parents of Executive Camp Director Katie Klohn. Joellen also works at Camp during the summer.

Sandra Valderaz and her mother, Mary, enjoyed the RIEDEL wine tasting event.

Lodge check the lodge’s Facebook page.

– Reporter

Dinah Johnson from the Golden Age Center presents a gift to John Rivenburgh from Bending Branch Winery.

Members of Comfort Lodge, from right, Norma Bruns, Bobbye Burrow and Connie and David Spenrath pour their wine from their “joker” glass into their RIEDEL glass.

Page 36– Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Dallas Lodge to participate in food bank project DALLAS – Dallas Lodge No. 22 has announced its meeting dates and other activities for 2016. Lodge business meetings will be held on the fourth Sundays of the month at 1 p.m. with some exceptions. The lodge will meet March 20 and Nov. 20 and there will be no meetings in May or December when social luncheons will be held May 22 and Dec. 18. Pin presentations will be held on those dates.

The lodge will take part in a Join Hands Day project on May 7 at the North Texas Food Bank. The lodge also will participate in Make A

Difference Day on Oct. 22.

At the Jan. 24 business meeting, Secretary/Treasurer Steve Schellenberg reported that the lodge has 329 adult and 39 junior members for a total membership of 368.

Members were reminded of the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration to be held April 23. The deadline to order tickets is March 18. Order forms and a flyer with all the details are available at the Dallas Hall. Or contact the Grand Lodge.

The deadline to apply for the Hermann Sons Youth Camp-Shannon Leigh Gaffney Scholarship is March 1. The application is

available online at www.hermannsons.org.

Deadline to apply for the lodge’s scholarship is June 1.

Details about that scholarship will be mailed to eligible members.

The Retirement Home’s Chili and Bean Cook-off will be held March 12. Proceeds benefit the Retirement Home Scholarship Fund.

Applications for that scholarship are due April 1. The application is available online at www.hermannsons.org.

Roland F. Griffin Jr. has received his 50-year membership pin. He became a member Jan. 14, 1966.

Another 23 members will receive their membership pins in 2016. Five of those will receive their 60-year pins, another five will receive their 70-year pins and one will receive her 85-year pin. The rest will receive their 50-year pins.

Eleven of these members reside in the Dallas metro area so perhaps their pins can be presented in person.

The pins can be presented at one of two specially designated dates or at any lodge meeting.

Brother Schellenberg thanked all those who attended the officer installation ceremony Jan. 9 in

Fort Worth. Thanks go to Fort Worth Lodge No. 33 for hosting. Members thank Fort Worth Lodge President Shannon Jones, Grand Finance Committee Member Janice Kuhen and Andy Schellenberg for conducting the ceremony. Dallas Lodge will host the next installation on Jan. 14, 2017.

Margaret Owens reported her cousin, Jean Ernst, is in rehab with a broken arm.

Remember, the next business meeting is Sunday, March 20, at 1 p.m. Come and participate in the meeting and socialize with your lodge family.

– Reporter

Kirby Lodge will meet March 7 KIRBY – Kirby Lodge No. 305 will meet March 7 with the Kirby School of Dance parents and dancers providing the meal. Members are asked to bring desserts. The meal will be served at 7 p.m. and the meeting follows at 7:45 p.m.

The lodge met Feb. 1 and welcomed a new junior member, Pearl Berryman.

Members interested in applying for the lodge’s scholarship are reminded that they need to attend three lodge functions before the application deadline of July 1. For more information call

Judy Schulmeier at 210-6671938.

Judy and Samantha Schulmeier were installed as officers because they could not attend the Jan. 30 ceremony.

The lodge’s new member goal for 2016 is 20.

Members were informed that registration for Hermann Sons Youth Camp will start in March and will be conducted online again this year.

Letters of thanks were received from the family of Vernon Schultz and Boysville.

The lodge will spon-

sor a team in the Fraternal Alliance of Texas Bowling Tournament.

The Retirement Home Chili Cook-off is set for March 12.

Members were reminded that the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration is coming up on April 23. Deadline to order tickets at $10 each is March 18.

Celebrating a February birthday was Linda Muehlstein.

Linda Muehlstein, Judy Schulmeier, Irvin Schulmeier and Angela Netherton won split-the-pot.

Weesatache plans 2016 activities WEESATCHE – Weesatche Lodge No. 96 has made its plans for the coming year.

The officers traveled to the Yorktown Lodge No. 36 Hall on Jan. 10 and enjoyed great food and fellowship at the officer installation ceremony.

On Jan. 27 members met at the Karnei home to set the schedule for the rest of the year. Business was completed and refreshments enjoyed.

The lodge’s Bunco group

meets the first Tuesday evening of the month and is off to a good start. Members always have lots of fun and enjoy good food. Everyone is welcome to join.

The lodge has scheduled its annual Bake Sale and Country Store to benefit the Weesatche Volunteer Fire Department for April 2 at the Weesatche Community Center.

Donations of baked or canned goods, homemade items, plants and other

items should be delivered to the community center by 10 a.m. that day.

Members are encouraged to order their tickets for the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration before March 18. Members will carpool to the event.

They will leave the lodge hall at 7:30 a.m.

Active members should be receiving their calendar in the mail soon. They are reminded to keep it handy.

– Betty Frisby

Members of Highland Lakes Lodge who attended the installation in Boerne were, from left, Linda Enderlin, Ruby Sanders, Grace Seguin, Janice and Fritz Friesenhahn and Jim Embrey.

Highland Lakes Lodge officers attend installation HIGHLAND HAVEN – The next meeting of Highland Lakes Lodge No. 317 will be held Sunday, March 6, at the Highland Haven Community Center. Social time will begin at noon followed by the meeting at 1 p.m.

The meeting dates for 2016 are March 6, June 5, Sept.

11 and Dec. 4. Members are asked to mark their calendars and plan to attend.

The 2016 officers are president, Jim Embrey; vice president, Linda Enderlin; secretary/treasurer, Terry Embrey; financial trustee (3-year term), Fritz Friesenhahn; financial trustee (two-year term), Ruby

Sanders; financial trustee (one-year term), Joe Schott; membership coordinator, Pat Malone; and community coordinator, Grace Seguin.

Five of the officers and one spouse attended the installation on Jan. 16 hosted by Boerne Lodge No. 25. Thanks go to the installers and the host lodge.

A potluck meal will follow the March meeting. The lodge will provide chili and tamales. Members are asked to provide appropriate side dishes and desserts.

Hope to see lots of members in attendance .

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 37

www.hermannsons.org

New Braunfels will serve catered meal March 6 NEW BRAUNFELS – New Braunfels Lodge No. 21 will serve a catered meal at the March 6 meeting to be held at the lodge hall beginning at 3 p.m. To make reservations, call Virginia Vetter at 830625-4951.

Junior members of the lodge who are graduating from high school this year are reminded that application forms are available for the lodge’s scholarship. To be eligible to apply, members need to meet the requirement of attending two or three meetings from March to May. For more information, call Tommy Daum at 830-625-8937.

At the Feb. 7 meeting, the lodge welcomed three new junior members. They are Maverick, Wyatt and Ryder Metcalf.

The lodge was awarded a certificate of achievement for meeting its goal in the “Go for the Goal – 125 in 2015” Lodge Membership Campaign. The certificate was presented in January during the installation of officers

Celebrating February birthdays at the New Braunfels Lodge meeting were, from left, Sharon Suchy, Josephine Heideman, Jerome Vetter, William Wenzel, Dennis Schwab and Leola Stolte. hosted by Prinz Solms Lodge No. 136 in Bulverde. The lodge goal for 2016 is 154 new members.

Grand Vice PresidentMarketing Tim Kolbe presented another certificate of appreciation to the lodge at the February meeting.

This one was for having the most recommenders out of all lodges during the “Go for the Goal” Membership Campaign in 2015. Forty

members recommended 56 new members in 2015.

Tommy Daum, Scholarship Committee member, introduced Brittany Malik and her father, John. A scholarship applicant, Brittany was attending her first lodge meeting. She plans to attend Texas State University.

Dorothy Fetters is home from the hospital and doing well. Bennie Beiersdorfer is in the hospital and his wife,

Grand Vice President-Marketing Tim Kolbe is pictured at the New Braunfels Lodge February meeting with Agent Shirley Huebinger, left, and President Karen Harborth. The lodge was awarded certificates for achieving its new member goal in 2015 and for having more members recommend new members than any other lodge.

Pearl, is at Kirkwood Nursing Home.

Brother Daum reminded members of the Retirement Home’s 100th Anniversary Celebration on April 23.

Attendance-prize winners were Michael Huebinger, Dorothy Ebert, Dorella Colbert, Harvey Heideman,

Dennis Schwab, James Stolte, Leola Stolte, Rennie Guenther, Shirley Huebinger, Sharon Suchy, Karen Harborth and Jerome Vetter.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and desserts members provided. Dorella Colbert served as hostess.

– Reporter

Seguin donates to Children’s Advocacy Center SEGUIN – Seguin Lodge No. 37 meets the third Wednesday of the month.

The next meeting will be held March 16. Refreshments are served at 6:30 p.m. and the meal is served at 7 p.m. The meeting followed.

The lodge welcomed guest Christy Williams from the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center (GCCAC) to the Jan. 19 meeting.

Williams spoke to members and guests about the center and gave a brief history of the organization.

Williams explained how the GCCAC serves children who have been victims of sexual, severe physical or emotional abuse. They also serve child witnesses to domestic violence and felony offenses and non-offending family

Door prize winners at the January meeting of Seguin Lodge were, from left, Brenda Schrank, Annette Roecker, Tim Kolbe, Arlene Christmas, Velma Buie and Faye Huebner. members.

The GCCAC relies on the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses that want to make a difference in the lives of abused children.

The lodge presented Williams with blankets, teddy bears and monetary donations from members.

If you suspect any child has been a victim of sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect, by law you must report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400.

Four new members were

Seguin Lodge President Vernelle Jones, left, presents donations to Christy Williams from the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center. welcomed. They are Jemma R. Shelnutt, Zelianna J. Cardenas, Zaley D.

Placencia and Zariansa R. Hernandez-Placencia.

– Tammy Beutnagel

Page 38 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Siemering will honor past presidents March 8 SAN ANTONIO – Special activities are planned for the next two Siemering Lodge No. 32 meetings.

The lodge will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and honor past presidents during the March 8 meeting. Agent Katherine Hess will host an event in the Rathskeller starting at 5:30 p.m. She will be serving information, cookies and punch. So if you have any friends or family looking for life insurance with a company that has a strong sense of community and friendship, bring them with you and let them talk to Agent Hess about the life insurance plans Hermann Sons offers to every member of the family.

Hopefully, students from the San Antonio School of Dance will be there to perform. Lloyd and Elizabeth Markell will pro-

vide the meal and Ana Vasquez will bring dessert. Don’t forget to wear green and shamrocks.

The April 12 meeting will take place away from the Home Association Building. Instead, members will meet at the San Antonio Museum of Art on Jones Avenue. Members will have dinner at Sketch, the restaurant at SAMA. Reservations need to be made by calling the lodge office at 210-226-6831 no later than March 29.

In preparing for Join Hands Day on May 7, members are asked to start bringing small stuffed animals to lodge meetings. They will be donated to two San Antonio fire stations where members also will be providing dinner for the firemen.

Barbara and Bill Ramzinski have a new grandbaby. Her name is River Paige and she is already a member of the

Sharon Fite celebrates her birthday in January. She is a member of Siemering Lodge.

Celebrating December birthdays from Siemering Lodge were, from left, Katherine Hess, Bill Ramzinski and Ana Vasquez.

lodge.

In January the lodge celebrated the December birthdays of Katherine Hess, Bill Ramzinski and Ana Vasquez and the January birthday of

Sharon Fite.

At the February meeting members celebrated Valentine’s Day and Heart Healthy Month by wearing red. Barbara Ramzinski pro-

vided dinner and dessert.

Members are welcome to submit their ideas for future activities and projects. Call or text 210-268-6048.

– Augusta Fite

Anton Wenzel Lodge welcomes three new members SAN ANTONIO – Anton Wenzel Lodge No. 174 will meet March 1. The lodge will provide the fried chicken and members are asked to bring side dishes and desserts.

Hamburgers were on the menu when the lodge met

Feb. 2.

Three new members were welcomed.

They are Alexandria Del Angel, Samantha Barbosa and Noel Barbosa Jr. The lodge will hold a garage sale on Saturday, March 19,

at the home of Merlinda Elizondo. Donations and volunteers are needed.

Members extend condolences to the families of James Roy Roberts, a member for 52 years; Lisa Rae Rogers, a member for 39

Anton Wenzel Lodge Vice President Larry Burns, left, congratulates Diane Jaramillo and Mike O’Dowd on their February birthdays.

Doris Aichner, left, was the winner of the split-the-pot drawing at the February Anton Wenzel Lodge meeting. Lorene Kreusel with assistance from Nesarae Wolf drew the winning ticket.

years; Raleigh Rogers, a member for 38 years; and Steve Dorrell, a member for 17 years. Brother Dorrell served as secretary of the lodge at one time.

Get-well wishes go to Emma Moya.

Dale Torres assisted in the drawing of a name for this month’s membership prize.

The winner would have been Carlos Juarez but he was not there to claim his prize so his name is back in the barrel.

– Reporter

Winners of tickets to the Pershing Lodge No. 160 Spaghetti Dinner Fund-raiser at the February Anton Wenzel Lodge meeting were, from left, Delmus Brau (who donated his two winning tickets), Larry Burns, Julie O’Dowd, Ruth Polendo, Mike O’Dowd and Merlinda Elizondo.

www.hermannsons.org

Marketing

Grand Vice President-MarketinG timothy P. kolbe MarketinG anaLYst ana Vasquez, Fic, FLMi, acs, airc MarketinG adMinistratiVe assistant Gladys rowley

210-527-9113 or 1-877-437-6266 or 1-888-839-7667

February 2016 – Hermann SonS newS – Page 39

sPeciaL rePresentatiVes Gary R. Falkenberg, FICF ..... Houston.............. 713-466-6069 or 979-530-3059 (cell)

Carol Krauss, FIC ................. San Antonio ........ 210-725-4106 or 830-914-3383 (cell) or email: carolk@texashermannsons.org

Eulla May Krueger ............... Atascosa ............. 210-863-0546 or 830-985-3643 (home) or email: eullak@texashermannsons.org

Teresa Saathoff .................... San Antonio ........ 210-276-0361 or 210-422-6996 (cell)

Alfred Stryk, FICF, LUTCF .... Pearland ............. 281-485-4095 Marilyn Vogt, FIC ................ Boerne ................ 210-630-9874 email: marilynv@texashermannsons.org

Roster of Agents (alphabetized by area) name . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hometown . . . . Phone Pruski, Roxy . . . . . . . . Adkins . . . . . . . 210-667-1995 Faske, Shirley Kuhen . . Austin . . . . . . . . 512-288-7326 Heath, Eileen-FIC . . . . Bandera . . . . . . 210-392-0761 Heath, Paul-FIC . . . . . Bandera . . . . . . 210-392-0760 Laechelin, H.H. Jr.. . . . Beeville . . . . . . 361-358-1615 Herridge, Robert . . . . . Bellville . . . . . . 979-865-3702 Maertz, Terrel . . . . . . . Bernardo/Columbus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979-732-1727 Behrendt, Carl . . . . . . . Boerne/Fair Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210-422-1159 Rozacky, Lisa. . . . . . . . Boerne . . . . . . . 210-838-3306 Akin, Katherine-FIC . . . Bryan . . . . . . . . 979-823-8625 Blinka, Donnie . . . . . . Caldwell . . . . . 979-596-1309 Duncan, Sandra . . . . . Canyon Lake. . . 830-905-3233 Bippert, Roger . . . . . . . Castroville/La Coste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210-737-4070 Boehme, Glenford-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Castroville . . . . 830-931-3227 Schulmeier, Judith-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cibolo/Schertz . 210-667-1938 Bruns, Norma-FIC . . . . Comfort . . . . . . 830-995-3980 Merchant, Jean . . . . . . Comfort . . . . . . 830-995-3396 Boenig, Dan . . . . . . . . Converse . . . . . 210-705-1815 Brandon, Frank . . . . . . Corpus Christi . 361-241-5593 Hunt, Lena Pearl . . . . . Corpus Christi. . 361-241-0940 Sisneros-Gonzalez, Troylyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corpus Christi. . 361-232-7413 Tiffin, Laura . . . . . . . . . Cuero . . . . . . . . 361-275-8421 Tiffin, Wayne . . . . . . . . Cuero . . . . . . . . 361-275-8421 Brown, Helen Tyson . . Dallas . . . . . . . . 214-796-0668 Byrn, Lisa . . . . . . . . . . Dallas . . . . . . . . 214-693-3693 Fritz, Pat-FIC . . . . . . . . Del Rio . . . . . . 432-292-4483 Sultenfuss, Cynthia . . . Devine . . . . . . . 210-219-6409 Stricker, Dianna "Dee" Devine . . . . . . . 210-414-0293 Matlock, Sam . . . . . . . Edna/Jackson Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361-782-3206 Wigginton, Dennis . . . El Campo . . . . . 832-278-9636 Cutsinger, Beth . . . . . . Floresville/Poth 830-484-2285 Wiede, Lynn . . . . . . . . Floresville . . . . . 830-393-4660 Jones, Sandra-FIC . . . . Fort Worth . . . . 817-295-2666

Henke, Dennis . . . . . . Fredericksburg 830-997-5290 Caron, Tracy . . . . . . . . George West. . . 361-449-0348 Klein, Bradley . . . . . . . Georgetown . . . 512-497-0678 Chilek, Loretta-FIC . . . Giddings. . . . . . 979-542-2806 Kieschnick, Linda-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Giddings. . . . . . 979-542-5224 Polasek, Bobbie . . . . . Gonzales . . . . . 830-672-6317 Polasek, Greg . . . . . . . Gonzales . . . . . 830-540-4812 Wolf, David. . . . . . . . . Graham/Wichita Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 940-549-1281 Embrey, Jim-FIC. . . . . . Highland Lakes 830-598-8156 Saathoff, Stacy . . . . . . . Hondo . . . . . . . 830-426-5825 Keith, Anna L. . . . . . . Houston . . . . . . 281-259-6337 Ziemnicki, Gerald . . . . Houston . . . . . . 713-622-9001 Craig, Valerie C. . . . . . Jourdanton . . . . 830-769-3128 Vick, Valerie M.. . . . . . Jourdanton . . . . 210-748-5598 Wiede, Lillian-FIC . . . . Jourdanton . . . . 830-769-3481 Swize, Russell . . . . . . . Karnes City . . . . 830-780-4053 Terp, Diane . . . . . . . . . Karnes City/Seguin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830-379-0170 Muehlstein, Mary . . . . Kerrville . . . . . . 830-896-5750 Netherton, Angela . . . . Kirby. . . . . . . . . 210-831-1293 Crisp, Tanya. . . . . . . . . La Coste . . . . . . 830-985-9230 Tanneberger, Sharon-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . La Vernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830-779-4641 Tanneberger, Marlin-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . . La Vernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830-779-4641 Behnke, April . . . . . . . Lubbock . . . . . . 806-797-3585 Bielke, Lorene-FIC . . . Marion . . . . . . 830-420-2380 Croley, Charles . . . . . . Maxwell . . . . . . 512-357-6638 Bosse, Carol-FIC . . . . . Needville . . . . . 979-793-4777 Carley, Becki . . . . . . . . New Braunfels . 361-550-9358 Gagliardi, Cecilia "CC" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Braunfels . 830-620-1060 Huebinger, Shirley . . . New Braunfels . 830-822-1942 Muehlstein, Rhonda-FIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Braunfels . 830-980-3162 Salge, Josh. . . . . . . . . . New Braunfels . 830-708-6611 Salge, Timothy . . . . . . New Braunfels . 830-625-4816 Janicek, Blake . . . . . . . Nixon-Smiley . . 830-582-1581

Gebert, Paula. . . . . . . . Orange Grove. . 361-384-2375 Dube, RaChelle. . . . . . Paige. . . . . . . . . 512-740-3518 Dubcak, Julius . . . . . . . Pflugerville . . . . 512-272-8393 Spencer, Sarah. . . . . . . Port Lavaca . . . . 361-552-9403 Walraven, Nancy Annette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Port Lavaca . . . . 361-552-9403 Witzsche, Ruth-FIC . . Priddy. . . . . . . . 325-966-3757 York, Judy Marie . . . . . Rockdale . . . . . 512-446-5914 Lamensky, Joyce . . . . . Rosenberg. . . . . 281-342-5174 Mattocks, Linda . . . . . . Round Top/Rutersville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979-278-3277 Halfmann, Kay F.. . . . . Rowena . . . . . . 325-442-4731 Abell, Philip A. . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-771-1213 Bailey, Ruth . . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-602-5147 Hess, Katherine . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-490-1520 Hoog, John . . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-226-8801 Irwin, Darlene . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-392-2649 Klabunde, Clif-FIC. . . . San Antonio . . . 830-980-4020 Lucero, Valentin . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-725-6535 McNeel, Jim . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-601-2097 Moya, Emma . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-344-3935 Saathoff, Doug . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-276-0361 Sterner, Greg . . . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-363-0373 Trejo, Veronica . . . . . . San Antonio . . . 210-710-0932 Kuhen, Janice . . . . . . . San Marcos. . . . 512-396-5337 Seifert, Mary K. . . . . . Schulenburg/Weimar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979-743-0312 Schwertner, Irene. . . . . Schwertner . . . . 254-527-4470 Griffin, Joanie . . . . . . . Sealy. . . . . . . . . 979-398-0706 Gonzales, Yolanda. . . . Seguin . . . . . . . 830-305-7445 Perkovich, Susan . . . . . Seguin . . . . . . . 830-303-3496 Roecker, Annette D.. . . Seguin . . . . . . . 830-832-0724 Ynfante, Tina B. . . . . . . Seguin . . . . . . . 210-859-1973 Gass, Gloria . . . . . . . . Spring Branch . 830-885-4405 Luensmann, Dorothy-FIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Hedwig . . . . 830-914-3160 Wiatrek, Ronald . . . . . Stockdale . . . . . 830-996-3005 Thigpen, Laura . . . . . . Victoria/Yoakum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361-676-8307 Koenig, Mary. . . . . . . . Yoakum . . . . . . 361-293-1743 Wolf, Judy . . . . . . . . . Yorktown . . . . . 361-564-2452

Page 40 – Hermann SonS newS – February 2016

www.hermannsons.org

Hermann Sons Future Club

Shining Stars

RYAN JOHN POLLOK is a member of La Vernia Lodge No. 180. He is in fourth grade. His favorite food is hamburgers and his favorite TV show is “Teen Titans Go!” Ryan has pet dogs, Jasmine, General and Pepper, and cats, Tinkerbell and Stanley. His activities include playing Minecraft on his PS4.

You can be a Shining Star too! Just send us a photo of yourself (that we can keep) and fill out this form and send to: HSFI – Laura Adams, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, TX 78297.

Sign up today to be a Shining Star!

CONNOR DAVID KOZMA is a member of Richland Lodge No. 107. He is in third grade. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite TV shows are “MythBusters” and “Monday Night Football.”

Connor has a pet dog, Bo, a rabbit, Trudy, and turtles, Oscar and Snappy. His activities include Cub Scouts, football and baseball.

CALI JO ERFURTH is a member of Macdona Lodge No. 198. She is in fifth grade. Her favorite food is a BLT sandwich and her favorite TV show is “Cops Reloaded.”

Cali has 14 cows, three pigs and four dogs. Her activities include track and softball.

Fill out the form below or a printable form is available at www.hermannsons.org

Presidents’ Day Word Scramble 1. eregog

4. nonlicl

7. sttsae

2. ntnhawsiog

5. rteiepnds

8. crmaeia

3. eba

6. dtnuei

9. rarefuyb

Groundhog Day Maze

10. aiohdyl

Valentine's Day Word Search

Help the groundhog find his way out!

Name: Birthday: Home Phone:

START

Daytime Phone: Address: City:

Zip:

E-mail Address: Grade in school: Favorite Food: Pets: Favorite TV Show:

Valetines

Notes

Celebrate

Chocolate

Activities:

Day

Love

February

Flowers

Hearts

Cupid

Fourteen

Gifts

Cards

Holiday

Candy

Sweet

It is OK with my parents that I am featured as a “Hermann’s Shining Star” in the Hermann Sons newspaper, website and any other advertising publications.

Parent’s Signature: I am a member of Certificate No.

Lodge No.

Answers on Pg. 16