were now:
ARTHUR F. MAASCH, President
HANS R, SCHACKE, Vice-President
JOHN F, GOODSON, Secretary
Others:
W. COADY; D. LOWELL; G. BRINKOP; PAUL FRITZ; B. RUETH; W. CLEMNTS and FRANK BARTON; Valley Business Men all striving not to make this only a social club for German-Americans or Americans of German Heritage, but also finding ways to add something to the local community.
The chosen emblem of the Fidelitas Club of Phoenix consist of the City emblem of Phoenix and that of Karlsruhe combined, i.e., the rising Phoenix Bird holding the emblem of the city of Karlsruhe, a knight's shield with the inscription "FIDELITAS" in it, to this was added the inscription KA-GE, Phoenix, Arizona.
The KA-GE FIDELITAS Club also wanted to contribute to the improvement of the than excisting friendly ties between the Sister Cities, Phoenix and Karlsruhe, a frienship-pact initiated by than Phoenix City Mayor "GRAHAM" and Karlsruhe's Oberbuergermeister "KLOTZ" on May 18th 1965.
Finally a non-profit corporation was officially founded:
The "KA-GE FIDELITAS FOUNDATION" was Incorporated and published on Dec. 10,17,24 and 31, 1968 and on January 7th and 14th of 1969.
For the next five years, until 1974, when Mr. Maasch had to leave for Germany, this Foundation brought not only alot of joyous parties to the Valley, but also contributed to many worth-while causes.
Mr. Maasch is also the recipient of
FOUR KEYS to the City of Phoenix given to him by:
Phoenix Mayor "GRAHAM"
Phoenix Mayor "DRIGGS"
Phoenix Mayor "BARROW"
He was also honored by the visit of
German SPD-BundestagsabgeordneterPETER CORTERIER
also by the visits to many of the functions by presiding Dignitaries from local and State Governments.
The first GRAND party was held in the old
WESTWARD HO HOTEL
in 1969 Other parties were held at the old J.C.-Hall and at the RAMADA INN GRAND BALLROOM.
"VATER RHEIN",
as Art Maasch was lovingly called during those days, had his hands full, and still until his day of death on June 24th 2003 (at 81 years of age) you could hear him humming:
JA, SO EIN TAG, SO WUNDERSCHOEN, WIE HEUTE, JA SO EIN TAG, DER DUERFTE NIE VERGEH'N!
His wife of 55 years and his two daughters sang this song to him on his deathbed and he visibly enjoyed it!
At the Ramada Inn Grand Ball Room, Mayor GRAHAM is escorded to the Podium of the "ELEVEN", by two page girls.
YEAR 1970
Reading of the Proclamation for the beginning of the Mardigras-Season 1971. Afterwards Mayor DRIGGS honored President ARTHUR F. MAASCH with the KEY to the City of Phoenix.From left to right:
Hans Schacke, Vice-President
Arthur F. Maasch, President
Foreground:
Mayor DRIGGS
1974 RAMADA INN GRAND BALLROOM
The famous ELEVEN with ARTHUR F. MAASCH presiding!
WITH TWO PAGE GIRLS - 1974 RAMADA INN GRAND BALLROOM
Last of the Grand Parties before Arthur F. Maasch
left for Germany.
KARNEVAL - MARDIGRAS - FASNET - FASCHING - FASTNACHT!WORLDWIDE
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit,
Der
Gemuetlichkeit! |
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Karneval or Mardigras season starts on November 11 and ends on Ash Wednesday.
Webster calls it: A Time of Festivity and Merrymaking.
During medieval times when Kings, Barons, Fuersten, Lords, Counts, Marquis and Landgrafen ruled little Kingdoms and Provinces with high taxes and other cruelties, commom people transformed what is weatherwise a rather dull period into a fun season; Karneval sessions, fancy dress balls, KARNEVAL, a sort of way to kind of "live it up".
They formed a mock government; selected a Prince and Princess, a Court-Marshall, ELEVEN Advisers and an all female prince Guard to rule during Mardigras season.
Royalty became the target of their ridicule.
They made fun of current political events.
Masquerade parties, dancing and drinking went on and on. The inns and streets were filled with people having fun. Even the Bluebloods thought it was so much fun they held masquerade parties in their courts. However their parties were rather stiff and soon lost popularity.
But in the Cities and Villages along the RHEIN-River and in the SCHWARZWALD (Blackforest) it became a tradition and are still today very popular annual events.
KOELN (Cologne), MAINZ, KARLSRUHE are in line with RIO DE JANEIRO, TRINIDAD and NEW ORLEANS. All well known centers for these fun-filled festivities.
Still today in the USA you'll find German Social Clubs visiting each other with their Karneval Groups and they have a great time.
CHECK OUT SOME GREAT WEBSITES:
And now come and visit FAIRYLAND!
Comment? Question? Here is your chance!
