2011 Chapter Reports Midwest Region - American Association of ...

2011 Chapter Reports
Midwest Region
015 Northern Illinois
In February, our chapter co‐hosted, along with the Wisconsin chapter, our annual German
Immersion Weekend at Wonderland Camp and Conference Center in Camp Lake, Wisconsin.
We hosted rapper Doppel U (Christian Weirich) who gave a live performance and a presentation
of his work with rap and kids using classical texts by Goethe and Schiller. Other presenters
included Ninja Nagel and John Stark, who presented methods of working with these texts in the
classroom.
In conjunction with Northwestern University and the Wisconsin AATG, we were able to sponsor
a series of Doppel U concerts for students in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin at the end of
February. There were 5 concerts in various locations. We are grateful to John Paluch for all his
efforts in coordinating and organizing these events.
Our spring workshop took place April 9, 2011 at the Goethe Institut in Chicago. The theme was
“Strategies for Engaging Students” and was organized as a teacher share.
Presenters:
• Roma Schulz (Goethe Institut‐Chicago): Rechtschreibung mit Spaß
• Kathy Betterman (Naperville Community Unit School District 203): Präpositionen und
Rap!
• John Stark (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy): Das Sonnensystem für
Anfänger
• Veronika Roth (UIC) Warm‐Ups and Closings: Efficient and Fun Ways to Start and End
Each Class
• Craig Kohl (Wilton School, Iowa): Swiss Cuisine of the German Speaking Cantons ‐
Creating a Cross‐Curricular Unit
Our May Awards Ceremony was held May 1, 2011 at College of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, IL. We
had approximately 150 attendees, including students, parents, and teachers. We awarded 2
study trips, one from AATG Headquarters and one sponsored by our chapter. We also awarded
2 scholarships to Concordia (one funded by our chapter, one by the Swiss Benevolent Society), a
scholarship to a student immersion weekend organized by chapter member Josef Neumeyer, 3
GLOW awards and book prizes.
Our Fall meeting: took place September 24, 2011 at College of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, IL. With
the implementation of the new AP format, we felt our meeting would be best spent on that
topic. The title of the workshop was “The New German AP Exam”. Presenters were Ninja Nagel
(Barrington High School), Katharina Barbe (Northern Illinois University), Friedemann Stuebing
(Northern Illinois University), and John Stark (Illinois Math and Science Academy) . The
presenters spent the morning session covering the new thematic format of the test and
arranged station work where participants could experience the free response portions of the
exam. The afternoon was spent in small groups where participants worked on writing multiple
choice questions, implementing AP themes in all levels, and starting new AP syllabi.

Overall we had a very successful year, and we look forward to a great 2012!
Submitted by: Karen Calvert, Chapter President
016 Southern Illinois
The Southern Illinois Chapter held its annual spring meeting on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Illinois
State University in Bloomington‐Normal, Illinois. The business meeting was followed by an
exciting afternoon program on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. Prof. Karl Otto (University
of Pennsylvania, Emeritus) led an informative question‐and‐answer session devoted to the OPI.
Chapter members Christiane Eydt‐Beebe (Eastern Illinois University) and Cori Crane (University
of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign) followed with short presentations on preparing students for
reaching advanced levels of oral proficiency.
In fall, several AATG members from Central and Southern Illinois took part in state and national
foreign language teaching conferences. For the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages (ICTFL) held in Tinley Park on October 22, 2011, chapter member Eric Koeppel
(Springfield High School) helped to organize sessions on German language teaching and led a
hands‐on workshop on developing critical thinking skills in FL high school instruction. Christiane
Eydt‐Beebe organized a roundtable discussion on new NCATE requirements for FL teacher
candidates concerning the OPI, involving fellow chapter members Cori Crane and Belinda
Carsten‐Wickham (Southern Illinois University) as respondents. Also presenting at ICTFL were
Cori Crane and Jackie Sterling (University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign) with their talk on
teaching emotional language in the FL classroom.
The very popular biannual “Deutscher Tag” took place on November 5, 2011 in Springfield, IL.
The event, which was organized by Vicki Oldani, Eric Koeppel, and Torsten Schweickart, was
another big success with fun activities organized for high school learners of German including a
Kaffeeklatsch, games, songs, dances, crafts and a dinner. The event was co‐sponsored by
Springfield Southeast High School, Springfield High School, Lanphier High School, and DANK.
Our annual spring meeting is scheduled to take place April 28, 2012 in Urbana‐Champaign. The
afternoon program will consist of a hands‐on workshop on the Common European Framework
of Reference with Dr. Dagmar Schalliol from Langenscheidt Educational Services serving as
presenter.
Submitted by Cori Crane, Chapter President
019 Kansas
• Revamping the culture quiz for the Schülerkongress into a team effort in the form of an
awesome power point presentation (that we could share with other chapters....)
refining it this year and putting it into use in 2012 with great input from Anke Wells and
others.
• Implementing a video contest for Schülerkongress (the details of which we could share
with other chapters...)

• Holding Schülerkongress at the University of Kansas under the leadership of Chris Hanks
and Meagan Meneley with selections of poetry, prose, spelling bee, poster contest,
culture quiz, and video submissions with over 300 student participants from levels 1 ‐ 5
who also had the opportunity to practice their language skills in proficiency interviews
and with native speakers throughout the event
• Conducting interviews during Schülerkongress 2011 with 2 candidates from 2 schools for
Germany trips in conjunction with the German National Exam (interviews conducted by
Anke Wells, Nanette Bergen, Elke Lorenz). One student from Abilene High School
(teacher Meagan Meneley) received a scholarship for the trip.
• Having an awesome Deutsches Wochenende in September with Roma Schulz, Goethe
Institut Chicago, on "Fächerübergreifender Unterricht with about 30 participants
• Creating a new office of "membership" held by Meagan Meneley
• Having good representation at the KSWLA conference in Wichita with Meagan Meneley
and Elke Lorenz presenting on the Euro (general session), Nanette Bergen talking about
the use of technology in the classroom (KATG session), and Elke speaking on Märchen
(general session)
• We have great support from the KSDE World Languages Consultant, Phyllis Farrar
• Several of us were involved in the development of the World Languages Standards for
German Novice Low, Mid, High and Intermediate Low, Mid, High (Nan Bergen, Meagan
Meneley and Elke Lorenz and others)
• Elke Lorenz presented at ACTFL on Art in the class room as part of the 2010 nomination
for "Best in Kansas"
• We conferenced via e‐mail on numerous occasions
• We started to plan Deutsches Wochenende 2012 that will take place at Kansas State
University on the weekend of September 21 with Reinhart Zachau from the University of
the South in Tennessee holding sessions on Berlin, about which he published a book and
presented extensively at the national and international level.
• Meagan Meneley and Elke Lorenz are active as Goethe Institute Trainers
• Some of us serve on the World Languages Advisory Council
Submitted by Deborah Wadman, Chapter President
027 Minnesota
Winter‐Spring 2011‐ Participation in AATG testing program, with an awards banquet hosted at
St. John’s University.
April 2011‐ Spring meeting with featured guest, Author Eugen Ruge, who read from his novel
and participated in a Q & A session for MNAATG members
July 31, 2011‐ Participated in a joint board meeting at the German American Institute with
representatives from the German American Chamber of Commerce, the Twin Cities German
Immersion School, the German American Institute, and other Twin Cities German groups
October 20, 2011‐ Annual Fall Meeting, including election of officers, updating of constitution to
reflect changes in AATG and awarding of the German Teacher of the Year prize

Ongoing throughout the year: Daily Infoblatt and periodic announcement regarding local events
and job opportunities sent out by Paul Schons; preparation for Deutschfest (which took place
this year on March 13)
Submitted by Jae Cody, Chapter President
029 Missouri
January: (MO‐AATG's Chapter Project for 2011):
Instructor's Day ‐ Christian Martin ‐ Politics and Economics in Germany
The Missouri‐AATG was able to offer its members a captivating Chapter Project,
"Deutschlands europolitische Wirkung." In accordance with the efforts of the Missouri AATG to
maintain a useful dialogue on contemporary topics of interest and importance in Germany and
the United States, Missouri‐AATG and Washington University in Saint Louis sponsored this event.
It was held at Washington University in January of 2011, and attended by members from all over
the state.
How did this event come about? When Missouri‐AATG met in the Spring of 2010, we asked our
members what kind of topics they would most like to learn about, and their responses led us to
invite Dr. Christian Martin, who was at that time Visiting Assistant Professor at Northwestern
University in German and Political Science, as well as serving as the local representative of the
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). His research interests include international
political economy, processes of policy diffusion, and agent‐based modeling of social phenomena.
He is also the author of the book “Die doppelte Transformation”. We feel very fortunate that he
accepted our invitation.
To advertise the event, we created a flyer we hoped would be catchy, and entitled it:
GERMAN POLITICS & ECONOMICS 101
Since we were hoping to serve the needs of a diverse audience, we asked Dr. Martin to speak
primarily in English but to add, where possible, German vocabulary which might be employed in
classroom lessons on these topics. He did so, as well as provided his entire power point for all
who attended.
Though I have already mentioned two titles for the event, Dr. Martin entitled his talk: "Politics,
Monetary Policies and Economic Performance (and why all this matters to students and
teachers of German)."
Dr. Martin shared with us intricate details and analyses of some very complex topics, and did
indeed help break them down into information that we could all understand. He began with the
idea of Germany being "the sick man of Europe" with sluggish growth and high unemployment,
which then emerged from the financial crisis of 2008 as an economic powerhouse. He spoke of
"two types of capitalism: 'Liberal Market Economies' and 'Coordinated Market Economies'," of
which the U.S. and U.K. belong to the former, and Germany and countries of continental Europe
to the latter. He told us how a climate of compromise is the hallmark of German labor relations
and policy‐making. Near the end of his talk he explained how the Euro was first and foremost a

political project, intended to encourage and strengthen European integration. Finally, he gave a
very succinct explanation of the debt crisis in Greece. Dr. Martin graciously answered many
questions after his very eloquent talk.
I hope you will all have the opportunity to hear him speak one day, and would like to leave you
with this:
Why do these topics matter to teachers and students of German? According to Dr. Martin:
•Modern Germany is a (relatively) diverse country, open to the world
•Without Germany, there would be no European integration
•Germany is the most important economy in Europe
March: German Day at Washington University March 31 st , 2011: All German teachers from
Missouri and Illinois and their students were invited. The event was an overwhelming success,
drawing approximately 729 students from 24 high schools (79 more students than in 2010). The
event had much positive feedback. Students competed in contests including: Skit, Video, Poster,
Schnitzeljagd, Spelling Bee (Beginning & Advanced), Declamation and several others. The topic
was, "Deutsche Erfindungen in Kunst, Wissenschaft und Technik".
April: Two events at UMSL April 8 & April 9 ‐ sponsored by the German Culture Center &
coordinated by Larry Marsh, presented in cooperation with Missouri AATG: Topic: Learning and
Teaching about the New Federal States. A teacher workshop was held in German on Friday April
8th, and a general seminar, open to the public, was presented in English on Saturday morning,
April 9th. Students were invited to the Saturday event. The presenters live and work in
Brandenburg and their program included information on culture and travel in the former East,
plus snacks and musical entertainment. Both sessions were offered free of charge.
June: Membership Drive announced & flyers sent out to all current members. (See attached
flyers)
September: MO‐AATG meeting held in conjunction with Workshop for German Teachers at the
University of Saint Louis (UMSL): Professor Robert DiDonato. Friday September 23rd, 4 p.m.‐9
p.m. Topic: Combining Language and Cultural Competence in German. 35 area teachers
attended.
October: MO‐AATG Meeting at Annual FLAM Conference (Foreign Language Association of
Missouri).
December: Informal gathering for German instructors and graduate students to meet and speak
German: "Drink doch eene met" at Schlafly's Taproom December 9, 2011, 6‐9 p.m.
Submitted by Kimberly AdyMcDonald, Chapter President

031 Nebraska
“Märchenwelt,” the theme of the 2011 Nebraska Association of Students of German
(NASG) Convention, brought about 300 students from schools all over Nebraska to
Platteview Junior/Senior High School in Platteview, Nebraska on March 26. Students
participated in non‐competitive sessions as well as competitions. The 2012 NASG
convention will be held on April 28, 2012 at Westside Middle School in Omaha. The
theme will be “Schokolade und Schlösser,” which will allow for plenty of creativity in
designing the sessions and activities.
On April 30, NATG held its spring workshop in conjunction with an awards tea that
celebrated the successes of Nebraska high achieving students on the AATG national
exams. At the spring workshop, Nebraska teachers gained ideas on how to implement a
GAPP program in their schools from NATG members Kellye Deane (Gretna High
School) and Pat Branson (Bellevue East High School) in a presentation entitled “Bridge
the GAPP with the German‐American Partnership Program.”
Arthur Beckman continues to serve as the NATG Testing Chairperson. 380
Nebraska students took the exam; 52 of these students scored in the 70th percentile or
higher. Their efforts were recognized at the Awards Tea, which followed NATG’s spring
workshop. The students’ teachers, family members, and school administrators were in
attendance.
NATG members Pam Hoover and Anna Jamrog served on a nominating committee
to nominate candidates for the offices of President‐Elect and Secretary/Treasurer. After
a vote by NATG members, Michael Bendorf was selected as President‐Elect, and he
took office in January 2012. Ginger Starks‐Yoble was re‐elected Secretary/Treasurer.
On October 14, three NATG members: Megan Van Alstine (graduate assistant,
University of Nebraska‐Lincoln,) Wendy Langer (Millard West High School, Omaha) and
Ginger Starks‐Yoble (Westside Middle School) shared student‐centered approaches to
teaching some tricky grammar topics. Participants walked away having met new
colleagues and with several fresh tips for their teaching toolboxes.
On October 15 at the annual Nebraska International Languages Association
Conference, held this year at Creighton University in Omaha, four of the sixteen
sessions were specifically for German teachers and presented by NATG members: Pat
Branson presented “Web 2.0 Examples for YOUR German Classroom,” Ginger Starks‐
Yoble presented “German Cultures and Communities of Berlin,” Pam Hoover presented
“Multiple Intelligences for the German Classroom,” and Diane Wulf and Wendy Brennan
presented “Echte Literatur im Deutschunterricht: Es kann Spaß machen!” Also at the
NILA conference, NATG members Pat Branson, Wendy Brennan, Volker Langeheine,
and Diane Wulf received STAR (Study, Travel, Achievement, and Recognition) awards,
while Ginger Starks‐Yoble received NILA’s Young Educator Award, and Gerda Bailey of
Gerda’s German Bakery in Omaha was honored with NILA’s Pro Lingua Award in
recognition of her decades of support to students and teachers of German in Nebraska.
In November, several NATG members travelled to Denver for the annual ACTFL
conference, where Wendy Brennan presented part of a presentation titled “Kunst im
Unterricht.” Pam Hoover was honored with the ISE Language Matters Award, while

Wendy Brennan was honored as the K‐8 Outstanding German Educator of the Year.
For its 2012 chapter project, the NATG will hold a summer workshop on how to use
Web 2.0 tools in the German classroom. Participants can expect to create materials to
take with them back to school. Date and location are TBD, but all are welcome! We
would love to see members of other chapters at our summer workshop.
The NATG Stammtisch continues monthly through the organization of Wendy
Brennan. 10 to 20 members have gathered in various locations around Omaha once a
month to keep in touch and enjoy each other’s company.
The NATG website continues to be maintained by Pat Branson, who posts up‐todate
information and takes and posts pictures of NATG events. Visit the website at
http://members.cox.net/aatgnebraska/
Submitted by Wendy Brennan, Outgoing Chapter President.
042 North Dakota
In the spring we traveled to Grand Forks where we began constitution revisions. We had the
chance to discuss new textbooks and view samples from several companies. The group also
discussed travel abroad and different policies around the state. We shared current travel
documents to serve as a model in other schools.
In the fall we held our meeting with FLAND – Foreign Language Association of North Dakota in
Bismarck. Amy Haney came and taught us many new strategies and games to use in the
classroom. Her expertise inspired us for the following school year. During the German meeting
we discussed participation in the state. As a group we found the most valuable part about being
an organization is to get together with fellow colleagues and discuss topics that we can’t
normally with other teachers. We appreciate the opportunity to share ideas and materials with
each other. We also adopted a new, revised constitution which meets all requirements set by
AATG. A couple of us have recently attended sessions available through the Goethe Institute
and encourage others to take the opportunity to do the same. We valued our time together and
appreciated the chance we had to share experiences and educational tools.
Submitted by Martina Dvorak
051 South Dakota
The South Dakota Chapter of the AATG held their annual meeting in conjunction with the South
Dakota World Language Association (SDWLA) Fall Conference at Black Hills State University in
Spearfish, SD, from September 30 to October 1, 2011. The focus of the conference was
collaboration and articulation in language curricula from K‐16. The SD AATG focused on online
and computer resources for German instruction. Ginny Lewis, Associate Professor of German at
Northern State University, presented a workshop on resources for teaching German online.

Also discussed was hosting German students from abroad and using them as resources to our
learners of German in the schools and community. Increasing awareness around the state to
promote the hosting of German exchange students was considered.
German education has suffered a few blows in the wake of declining education funding at the
state level. One casualty is the German program at Central High School in Aberdeen. Northern
State University is increasing access to online German courses in response, but this is not a real
answer to the lack of a German teacher at the high school. Northern will begin offering its
German Minor online in an effort to increase access to college‐level German instruction
statewide. Efforts to buck the troubling trend of program loss are needed. On the positive side,
Northern has emulated work in the area of after‐school language programs that has taken place
in Brookings, SD. Aberdeen now also has an after‐school language program that is being held on
the Northern State campus. Currently ten children are learning German after school in this
relatively new program, which also offers instruction in Spanish, French, Chinese, and Russian.
Other efforts to promote German around the state are taking place. International festivals are
occurring on college campuses on both sides of the State and they actively involve high school
students in German. Also, Northern State University is growing its special archives collection of
Germans‐from‐Russian heritage documents and involving students in their transcription,
translation, and dissemination via the Internet. The Anne Roesch Larson document collection
can be viewed and studied at this link:
http://digitalcollections.northern.edu/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fsdgfr
Lastly, new officers were elected for the SD AATG: Ginny Lewis of Northern State University will
serve as President, and Michelle Ortmeier of Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, will serve as
Treasurer. Many, many thanks to Elke Kuegle and Jason Owens for their past service! And
thanks also to Carol Leibiger, who will continue on as our Testing Chair. The next SD AATG
meeting and South Dakota World Language Conference will take place in Pierre, SD, in October
2012.
Submitted by: Ginny Lewis, Chapter President
060 Wisconsin
January
Statewide nearly 900 students of German competed in the AATG National Exam and 440
students contributed essays for the Deutscher Sprach‐ und Schulverein essay competition. The
awards presentation to winners of the AATG and DSSV exams was held May 1 at Marquette
University HS; Gina Richter from Wauwatosa West High School (DSSV Trip Award) and
Alexander Feuling from Muskego High School (AATG Award) Mukwonago.. The award
presenters were chapter past‐president John Pustejovsky from Marquette University together
with the chapter testing chair, Michael Koch of Carroll University. Wisconsin is grateful to the
DSSV for its generous support of German programs throughout the state.
Regular postings were made during the year by the chapter president, beginning in January. In
these postings AATG members were encouraged to propose a workshop or 1‐hour session on
any aspect of their teaching experience for the 2011 WAFLT conference in November in

Appleton. Solicitations for immersion workshops, presenters and sessions for the Central States
Conference, being held in Milwaukee during March 2012 began this month. Upcoming events,
opportunities for professional development and student study abroad offerings were also
announced. Additionally, updates were made throughout the year to our chapter’s web site
http://wisconsin.aatg.org/Home.html
February
The 2011 Northern Illinois/Wisconsin Immersion Weekend entitled, “Lyrik und Musik:
Fantasiereicher und erfolgreicher Unterricht” featured Christian Weirich, aka Doppel‐U.
Christian demonstrated how classical poetry set to the beat and rhythm of rap music can aid
students understanding of lyrics and text which are over 200 years old and relate their messages
and application in today’s society. Held February 18‐20 at Camp Wonderland, the weekend was
a great success. Fifty teachers and participants attended. Funding was provided by the Goethe
Institut, the two sponsoring chapters, and participant fees.
UWSP held its first ever regional speaking contest on Saturday, February 19 th . A dozen students
participated at the event. UWSP plans to continue hosting this regional speaking contest for
students in Central Wisconsin in 2012 and is hoping for greater participation. (Contact : Thomas
Leek Thomas.Leek@uwsp.edu)
Chapter Vice‐President attended the February 12 th WAFLT Winter Workshop Get Your “A”
Game Together: Advocacy, Assessment and Articulation for the 21 st Century at UW‐Milwaukee.
The first of three Doppel‐U concerts was held on February 28 th at Nicolet High School with an
attendance of nearly 400 students.
March
The next two Doppel‐U concerts were held on March 1 st at the Milwaukee School of Languages
and on March 3 rd at Aschwaubenon High School (Green Bay are). Approximately 600 middle and
high school students attended concerts at these two sites.
The 2 nd regional German pronunciation contest was held at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee
(Contact Sabine Beirold, sabinebeirold@yahoo.com). Top winners moved on to the state
contest, held on Saturday,April 2 nd at Marquette University. Organization was superb, thanks to
the efforts of Sabine Beirold (Rufus King) and Mark Wagner (Nicolet), with support from a great
team of judges. Contest materials are always posted at the following website:
http://www.germanatking.com/speakingcontest/
UW‐Whitewater’s seventh annual Language Day took place on Friday, March 11 th 2011.
Activities included T‐shirt design, posters, poetry recitation, conversation, videos, and skits.
Foreign films, campus tours and culturally specific foods were also available for the participants.
Information (including competition rules, etc.) is regularly posted at:
http://facstaff.uww.edu/langem/languageday.html
April

German Day at UW‐Madison on Thursday April 7 th had as its motto “ Hebt das D‐A‐CH. Over 800
students from 42 high and middle schools were in attendance. Information (including
competition rules, etc.) is regularly posted at: http://german.lss.wisc.edu/day/Germanday.htm
May
Chapter past‐president, John Pustejovsky, and chapter testing chair , Michael Koch, presented
awards on Sunday, May 1 at Marquette University HS to winners of the AATG and DSSV exam.
This year’s student trip award winners were Gina Richter from Wauwatosa West High School
(DSSV Trip Award) and Alexander Feuling from Muskego High School (AATG Award). Wisconsin is
grateful to the DSSV for its generous support of German programs throughout the state. Also, at
this ceremony Andrew Richardson from Brookfield Academy was honoured with the Duden
Award as its Outstanding German Teacher.
The WI‐AATG assisted with the sponsorship of an interactive exhibit of Frauenfussball held at
the Northwest Masonic Center May 16 ‐27 th It was attended by over 100 German language
elementary and middle school students mainly from the Milwaukee area. The exhibit was also
displayed at Milwaukee’s German Fest July 28 th ‐31 st . Thanks to chapter member, Siggi Piwek,
for organizing and holding this event.
August
The executive board of Wisconsin AATG met in Wisconsin Rapids on August 9 th . At that meeting,
the board discussed changes to the chapter’s constitution which did not receive the required
number of votes for passage. The board agreed to put this item on the agenda for the 2011
annual meeting and to ask the membership to vote again on the proposed changes. Discussion
was also held on the inclusion of the dissolution clause, required by the IRS and the national
AATG office. It was agreed to add this to the by‐laws and present it at the annual business
meeting in November. The board also collaborated on a list of potential candidates for the
offices of Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary and compiled a preliminary agenda for the
annual meeting. The executive board accepted Karen Fowdy, retired German teacher from
Monroe High school, as its Membership Committee Chair. The board named Gerhard Fischer,
DPI World Languages Consultant, as its Distinguished Educator for 2011. The board also
launched its presence on Facebook as a way to reach out and communicate with teachers who
prefer this platform for networking and receiving information. Incoming president, Mark
Wagner, will monitor and update the page with information posted on the wiaatg listserv.
October
The first Student Immersion Weekend, organized by the Northern Illinois chapter and Concordia
Language Villages was held October 14 th and 15 th in Lake Geneva. The WI‐AATG assisted with the
promotion of the event among schools in the chapter. 68 students, mostly from the greater
Chicago area, participated in the weekend. Wauwatosa West represented the Wisconsin
chapter by sending four students. A longer weekend with more students from the Wisconsin
chapter is being planned for in 2013.
Voting for chapter officers began. On the ballot for Vice‐President were Tobias Barske, UWSP
and Siggi Piwek, Milwaukee School of Languages, Treasurer, Charles James, and Secretary, Sue
Marshall.

Michael Koch agreed to continue in his role as AATG Testing Chair and Joshua Brown, UW‐Eau
Claire, volunteered to serve as the chapter’s new web master.
November
The chapter held its business meeting during the annual WAFLT Fall conference in Appleton on
November 4 th . Approximately forty‐five members attended. Included on the agenda were:
treasurer’s report; remarks by DPI representative Gerhard Fischer; president’s report (chapter
sponsored workshops and sessions, updates: DSSV/AATG exam; introductions of Awards,
Membership, Testing Committee chairs along with the new webmaster, AATG membership
recruitment, information available at the WIAATG listserv and Facebook). New Business:
President Bobbette Leu‐Timmermann re‐introduced the proposed changes to the chapter’s
constitution to allow for non‐paper balloting, set name designation for the chapter (WI‐AATG)
and the board ratified by‐law changes and shared the need to have the proposed constitution
changes ratified. Also under new business, attendees were asked to continue support
(monetary and physical sponsorship) of the joint Northern Illinois‐Wisconsin AATG Immersion
Weekend. Results of the election were shared: Vice President Tobias Barske, Treasurer Charles
James, and Secretary Sue Marshall.
Announcements included: IL/WI Immersion Weekend in February;,UW‐German Day
information; State Pronunciation Contest; events at UW Whitewater, and UW Madison,
professional development opportunities through the NEH, WAFLT and AATG, Central States
Conference offerings for German teachers and WAFLT grant monies available to teachers.
Charles James presented the 2011 Wisconsin AATG Distinguished German Educator Award to
Gerhard Fischer, DPI World Languages Consultant. As the chapter’s guest speaker, Gerhard took
us back in time through his evolution as a German teacher to his role as a state language
consultant.
A raffle for door prizes was followed by adjournment
Later that evening Sy Kreilein, long standing AATG member, former AATG president and German
teacher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, was honoured as WAFLT’s
Distinguished Language Educator. Sy was commended for his long term achievement and
service to WAFLT and the world language teaching profession during WAFLT’s Award ceremony
on November 4 th .
December
Plans were finalized for the German language reception at the Central States Conference. The
reception, sponsored by the Goethe Institut, WI‐AATG and Marquette University, will be held on
Friday, March 9 2012 at Karl Ratzsch’s Restaurant in Milwaukee. Attendees will be treated to
fairy tale telling from Katharina Ritter and a German meal.
The chapter’s web site was revamped and updated.
Submitted by: Bobbette Leu‐Timmermann, Chapter President. Email: jimtim@charter.net