subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Jul 23 2008 
Breaking News:  Coming Soon.....Fred T. Morgan "Come To The Lobby"  July 11, 2008 10:55 am

Published: April 28, 2008 11:38 am    print this story   email this story  

Club members have common bond: Germany

By Jo Anne Efird, Lifestyles Editor

Sunday, April 27, 2008 They meet once a month at the Stanly County Senior Center, but they are not a center-sponsored group.

However, some of them do participate in other projects at the center and the center agreed to provide them a meeting place.

As a club, they have no agenda, no programs, no projects.

They just talk.

But hearing them quickly reveals the purpose of the club, or at least its focus.

They speak German.

They include German women and/or men who married Americans, German men and women who have moved here, possibly those who spent time in Germany and became fluent in the language, anyone who wishes to preserve the German language locally and speak with others in their native, or adopted, tongue.

Olga Throneburg, who is president, said they call themselves Stammtisch, which she says in German literally means “board on a stump,” bringing to mind a group gathered around an improvised table to talk about everything and nothing, whatever comes to mind.

They share German newspapers and magazines and stories about events in their native land, both recent and from their childhood.

They share the camaraderie of those who settled and became citizens of a land far from home and want to keep alive a little part of the heritage they left behind.

They reminisce and talk about old times. They discuss the amount of rebuilding in today’s Germany.

Hanna Smith and husband, Bill, moved here from Virginia Beach. There are German neighborhoods there.

They didn’t know anybody here.

Smith said her most memorable experience was when the Berlin Wall came down.

“East Germany was 20 years behind the West,” she said.

Berlin became the capital of Germany when it was reunited and in 1999 the German Parliament met for the first time.

Smith said East and West Germany are completely different.

“Where I grew up the border wasn’t very far away.” she said.

There is a lot of foot traffic, bridges, street cars, she said.

The club started out with eight or nine members; now more than four is a good meeting, according to Throneburg. There are usually three or four at a meeting. The day The SNAP visited, there were only three, Smith, Throneburg and Ray Schweiber.

“We are really Americans,” Throneburg said.

“We came to this country and this is our home now. I have been in America since 1955 and enjoy life here.”

When she came here her husband told her, “When you want to go home and we have the money you always can go home.”

The club has been meeting two years and would welcome others to join them.

They are always looking for new people to join.

Anyone who is German, who has spent time in Germany and wants to speak German “just come.”

“We would love to have more members,” Smith said.

Stammtisch meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Senior Center.



Contact Jo Anne Efird at (704) 982-2121 ext. 20.

print this story   email this story  



Photos


Members of Stammtisch enjoy pretzels with their guests and friends at a recent meeting. From left are, Erica Benjamin, Bill Smith, Ray Schweiber, Olga Throneburg and Hanna Smith. None/ (Click for larger image)

monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

DELIVERY DRIVER.
1500 stores and growing. Aaron's seeks a full time driver for its Albemarle location. $9/hr. base + stop pay and full be...>MORE

CAREER OPPORTUNITY
QA/Shipping/Inventory Control. Qualified candidate will be responsible for International World Shipping, Incoming and Ou...>MORE

HELP WANTED EXPERIENCED
Electrician/Controls Technician AC & DC Power and control wiring. VFD drives installation and maintenance, PLC controls ...>MORE

OUTSIDE ADVERTISING SALES
Are you a talented, dynamic, aggressive advertising or business-to-business sales professional? Are you a skilled closer...>MORE

YOUTH/ADULT CARE MANAGEMENT
is seeking qualified Professionals in Stanly and Union Counties to work in the Community Support Unit. Please contact us...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

MOVING! MUST SALE!
2001 Dodge Stratus, 154,000 Miles, $2,500. 1997 Ford F-150 4x4, 93,000 Miles, $2,000. Or make offer on both. All run and...>MORE

DARK BLUE 1995 CHEVY TRUCK
Silverado, Extended Cab, 4x4, Z71, 189,900 miles. Good condition. $4800. Call 704-463-7001....>MORE

FOR SALE 2005 KIA SEDONA VAN
7 passenger, silver, V-6, 3.5 4 speed, auto, air conditioning (front and rear), radio (am/fm with cd), roof rack. Excell...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

1/2 ACRE TREE LOT
For Sale. Spring Street, Richfield. City water and sewer. Trash pickup included. 704-463-0761....>MORE

DRIVERS:
Time's Wasting. TT/OTR drivers needed. Great starting pay and assigned trucks. Paid orientation and vacation. Excellent ...>MORE

NICE FURNISHED 2 BEDROOM 1 BATH MOBILE HOME
in Albemarle. $450/month. 704-888-8993....>MORE

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER
3 bedroom, 3 bath, 1.5 story, 1700-1800 sq. ft., 1 car garage. Woodrun Gated Community. Enjoy the privacy. Enjoy Lake Ti...>MORE

FOR RENT, 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATH DOUBLEWIDE
mobile home on beautiful, private lot. Large deck, South Stanly area. $500/month and references required. Call 704-438-1...>MORE

CLEARVIEW APARTMENTS
Norwood. Under new management. 1-2 bedroom apartments. Quiet neighborhood. Family oriented. References and deposit requi...>MORE

COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE
for rent in Oakboro. Ideal for office or small shops. Great business opportunity. 704-485-3712....>MORE

FOR SALE BY OWNER
Located in Woodrun Development in Mt. Gilead. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1300 sq. ft., 5 acres, community pool/tennis courts. Pr...>MORE

2 BEDROOM, 1 BATH DUPLEX
All appliances furnished. $600/month. Elmwood Avenue, off Salisbury Avenue. Call 704-467-1837 or www.springgardens.net....>MORE

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM
No payments until 2009. Complete land and home packages. No money down with your land. Bad credit accepted. Free informa...>MORE

3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS IN OAKBORO AREA.
$825/month. $1,000 deposit. References required. No pets! 704-485-8519....>MORE

FOR RENT IN STANFIELD
3 bedroom, 1 bath. Stove, dishwasher, air, gas heat, 2 car garage, $760/month. Call 864-350-3344....>MORE

HOUSE FOR RENT
1231 West Oakwood Ave. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, central heat and air. No pets. No smoking. $500/month. 980-581-1215....>MORE

3 BEDROOOM, 1 BATH HOUSE FOR RENT OR SALE.
Newly remodeled. Great location. Move in ready. $650 month plus deposit. Call 704-490-1652 or 704-201-0328....>MORE

BAYADA NURSES
a National Home Care Agency, has an immediate opening for Certified Nurse Assistants in Stanly and Montgomery Counties. ...>MORE

NEAR CHUCK MOREHEAD PARK
3 bedroom, 2 bath, single garage, lots of storage, nice neighborhood. References. No pets. $750/month, $750/deposit. 704...>MORE

POND STREET, ALBEMARLE
3 bedroom, 2 bath. Central heat with air. Furnished with stove and refrigerator. Washer/dryer hookup. Large yard, garage...>MORE

3 BEDROOM NORWOOD COTTAGE
Section 8 ok. Close to downtown shopping. 704-841-2211....>MORE

HOUSE FOR SALE, ENDY/CRYSTAL VILLAGE
Brick house,. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwoods, fenced yard, workshop or 3rd car garage. $220K. Call 704-983-1235 or 704-2...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Services

LET US HELP YOU PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIAL.
The Stanly News and Press Now Laminates! • Articles • Births • Birth Announcements • Engagements • Wedding Announcement...>MORE

DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO
care for your loved one? Good references and dependable. Call 704-463-7008....>MORE

YOU LIKE THAT PICTURE DON'T YOU?
Good! For only $2.00 now it can be yours to keep. Pictures must have been taken by Stanly News and Press staff. Call 704...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

20X20 CHAIN LINK DOG PEN
4 ft. high with gate. $350 or best offer. 704-322-7152....>MORE

SILVER TRUMPET FOR SALE
Used 1 band season. Paid $1,000. Will sell for $500. Includes case and accessories. Call 704-695-5224....>MORE

30 FT. ROUND ABOVE GROUND
swimming pool with accessories. Pump, auto pool cleaner, ladder, etc. $4,000. 704-474-9457....>MORE

MOVING! MUST SELL 3 VERY LOVING ADULT SCHITZU
under 2 years of age. $125 obo each. Call 704-465-7571....>MORE

1997 WAVE VENTURE WAVE RUNNER
Excellent condition, with trailer. Rebuilt. 3 seater, cover, 110 HP. $2250. 704-474-7615....>MORE

FREE KITTENS TO A GOOD HOME!
Male and Female. All colors! Call 1-704-475-0791. I can email or text you a picture! Can deliver to Albemarle....>MORE

FOR RENT-GARAGE & DISPLAY LOCATION.
High traffic area. 1624 E. Main Street. $700 month. References required. 704-638-5796....>MORE

WANTED: SOMEONE TO WORK ON JUKEBOX.
Seeburg, STD4 model. Introduced in early to mid 70's. Preferably someone from Stanly-Anson area. Call Pam 704-695-5224....>MORE

YAMAHA TTR230 DIRT BIKE
Exc. Cond. Not Ridden Much. Great Xmas Gift! $2300. 704-475-0275 or 704-826-8696....>MORE

FRIGIDAIRE FREEZER
14 Cu. Ft. Upright, excellent condition. $95. 704-983-3676. ...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc