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

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.