Our monthly Letter from The President.
Greetings, friends! Grüße, Freunde!
The first weekend of Oktoberfest is in the books, and what a fantastic start it was! With two more exciting weekends ahead, we still need plenty of helping hands to keep the tradition going strong.
Hosting Oktoberfest takes months of preparation, from scheduling volunteers and renting tents to ordering specialty beers, preparing authentic German food, and coordinating entertainment. Our volunteers are what make it all possible, and we invite you to be part of the fun.
Volunteer opportunities are available for the remaining Oktoberfest weekends on:
Friday, October 2 & 9, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday, October 3 & 10, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday hours are especially family-friendly and provide a great opportunity for guests of all ages to enjoy the festivities.
If you'd like to help make the final two weekends a success, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Todd Bogner, at [email protected]. You may also speak with any of the board officers or directors.
Whether you can help for a few hours or an entire shift, your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping keep our Oktoberfest tradition alive and thriving! 🍻
Please thank Manuela Hendrickson and Michael (Michi) Meile and volunteers for taking charge of the Kultur Abend (on Fridays) and Gasthaus Abend (at any 2nd and 4th Saturday) functions. These restaurant-style events have been bringing in many new folks into the club trying out our authentic German cuisine. Susanne Kern-McColley and crew will prepare meals for our Saturday dances and special functions. Check out the variety of menus posted at our club website germantampabay.com
In addition, also thank Entertainment Committee’s Susanne and husband Steve McColley for scheduling monthly 1st and 3rd Saturday dances.
Our Society, together with the Cultural Foundation, is continually exploring new ideas and opportunities to expand our reach while furthering one of our core objectives: promoting and preserving German-American culture. New members have offered ideas that The Board is considering, but it takes time to implement such new thinking, especially since most of our young members are still working to support their families. Different committees are diligently working together to create a monthly calendar of events which will raise funds to meet the costs of roof and air conditioners replacement and other assorted building updates.
Friends, our efforts to raise funds for the replacement of our club's roofs continue, and we appreciate your ongoing support. If you would like to contribute, please make your donation payable to the German American Society Cultural Foundation and note that it is for the Roof Replacement Fund. You can donate easily by clicking the Donate link on our homepage at GermanTB.com. Whether you choose to give $25, $50, $100, or any other amount, every contribution makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping keep our Society strong for years to come.
Please tell your friends that we are open to all and to the public!
Your President,
Rainer/Ray
September 28, 2026