A HISTORY OF THE AUSTRIAN AMERICAN
CULTURAL SOCIETY OF PITTSBURGH
History of the Austrian American Cultural Society
from its inception through the year 2004.
Timeline
1950-1952 An Idea is Born
1978 Dr. Ivo Fischer - Why No Austrian Room?
1979 An Austrian Concert
~~~ The Society is Formed
1980 The Inaugural Meeting of the
Society
1981-1984 The Early Years
1985 First Annual Christmas Open
House
1986 First Viennese Ball in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Shannopin Country Club)
1987 Second Viennese Ball (Ballroom
of the Westin William Penn Hotel)
~~~ Incorporation
~~~ Invitation to establish an Austrian
Nationality Classroom
~~~ The Formation and
Growth of the Society
1988 Third Austrian Ball
~~~ Initial Design of Nationality Classroom
1989 Fourth Austrian Ball
1990 Fifth Austrian Ball
~~~ "Vienna in Concert" Exhibit
~~~ The Austrian Room Project Begins
1991 Sixth Austrian Ball
1992 Seventh Austrian Ball
~~~ "PBS Kitchen Show" on WQEX
1993 Eighth Austrian Ball
~~~ An Anonymous Donation to Austrian Room Fund
1994 Ninth Austrian Ball
~~~ Plans for Austrian Room Ceiling Murals
(recreations from Haydnsaal)
1995 Tenth Austrian Ball
~~~ Fall Music Programs
1996 Eleventh (Millennium Year) Austrian
Ball
~~~ First Society Picnic
~~~ Austrian Room is
Dedicated
1997 Twelfth Austrian Ball
~~~ Honorary Austrian Consul is Appointed
~~~ Scholarship
Endowment Fund is Created
~~~ First Annual Student Scholarship is Bestowed
1998 Thirteenth Austrian Ball
~~~ Revision of By-laws
1999 Fourteenth Austrian Ball
(Greentree Marriott)
~~~ Two Student Scholarships Awarded
2000 Fifteenth Austrian Ball
(Sheraton Hotel, Station Square)
2001 Sixteenth Austrian Ball
(Sheraton Hotel, Station Square)
2002 Seventeenth Austrian Ball (Grand
Foyer, Carnegie Music Hall)
~~~ First Debutante Ball
2003 Eighteenth Austrian Ball (Grand
Hall at the Priory)
2004 Nineteenth Austrian Ball (Grand
Hall at the Priory) - Silver Anniversary
~~~ Creation of AACS
Internet Web Site
~~~ First AACS-sponsored Program on WQED FM
2005 Twentieth Austrian Ball (Grand Hall at the Priory)
2006 Twenty-first Austrian Ball (Grand Hall at the Priory)
==============================================
1950-1952 An Idea is Born
The
earliest known interest in creating an Austrian Nationality Classroom at the
University of Pittsburgh was expressed by Walter Sobotka, a Pitt Professor, who
practiced architecture in Austria. In 1950 he met with Austrian President Karl
Renner to enlist government support, but the proposal never moved forward. The
Society has been told that Professor Sobotka’s 1952 Christmas card had a sketch
depicting a Baroque room with ceiling murals, a crystal chandelier and a
ceramic Kachelofen (room heater).
1978 Dr. Ivo Fischer - Why No Austrian Room?
Approximately
27 years later, Professor and Dr. Ivo Fischer was working at the University and
Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. He admired the then-existing Nationality
Classrooms and wondered why Austria was not among them.
In
April of 1979 an Austrian musical group, Konzastante Schrammel Quartet, was
touring the U.S. and contacted the University for an Austrian sponsor for the
event. At that time no such organized group existed and Dr. Fischer was
contacted. Through his professional work in his home city, Bregenz, Austria, he
was acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Rainer Jezek, a couple now living in
Pittsburgh, and asked if they could interest some Austrian friends to present
the concert. They rented Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland and attracted a small
enthusiastic audience who thoroughly enjoyed the music that was typical of
Austrian Culture. Financially they made a profit of only $28.15; however, the
event sparked the interest of the Pittsburgh Austrian Community. Some of the
attendees (Betty and John McDermott, Agnes Gerger, Mr. and Mrs. Rainer Jezek,
Dolores and Frank Stehr, Anthony Bouvier, and a woman known only as Ramona),
agreed to meet several weeks later at the Teutonia Maennerchor Club (a Germanic
Social Club in Pittsburgh). Organizational discussions of bylaws, dues, and an
election of officers took place, resulting in Rainer Jezek, President
(1979-1983); Dolores Stehr, Treasurer; and Betty McDermott, Recording
Secretary. This meeting was the birth of the Austrian American Cultural Society
in Pittsburgh.
On
May 25, 1980 the founding members assembled approximately 150 first and second
generation Austrians in the Stephen Foster Memorial Hall at Pitt to inform them
of the new society and the concept of an Austrian Nationality Class Room.
Before the afternoon was over, 35 families paid dues and became members. Prior
to his return to Bregenz, Austria, Dr. Fischer selected room #326 CL, accommodating
25 to 35 students, to become the Austrian Room. He also opened a building fund
account with his $100.00 donation.
1981-1984 The Early Years
The
society began sponsoring various fund-raising events at Pitt facilities, the
Teutonia Club, and other locations. In 1982 the society sponsored a choral
concert at the David L. Lawrence Hall on the Oakland campus for a singing group
from Andorf, Austria. Society members housed the singers. The annual Austrian
Christmas Party at the Teutonia included children and grandchildren, Gluehwein,
tea sandwiches, Christmas cookies, a gospel reading in both English and
Austrian, and Stille Nacht and other carols sung by candlelight. The highlight
of the evening was the appearance of St. Nicolaus (John McDermott) giving candy
goodies to the children, followed by a fierce Krampus (portrayed by various
members) carrying a large stick and a piece of coal as he grunts and rattles
his chains.
The
selling of coffee, non-alcoholic punch and famous Austrian pastries created by
first-class Austrian-trained Baker and member, George Mandl, and other society
members took place at the first annual Christmas Open House (1985) in the
Commons Room of the University of Pittsburgh. Each year, prior to the
completion of our room, the marketing of our tasty confections improved and
evolved into a typical outdoor Viennese Coffee House Café complete with a
flowered white fence, lighted street lampposts, tables, chairs and strolling
musicians and singers of authentic Austrian Folk Songs. This outdoor Café theme
was excellently constructed and carried out by members Paul and Marge Pfingstl
and Dolores and Franz Stehr. Several
concerts and events arranged by members and Professional Pianist Sylvia Hayes
included raffles of Ski merchandise donated by Willi’s Ski Shop, and in
February of 1985 Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky was entertained at Pitt and
informed of our Austrian Room undertaking.
1986 First Viennese Ball in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania (Shannopin Country Club)
Upon return from an Austrian Ball in the eastern Pennsylvania area of Pottstown, members Betty and John McDermott, and Betty’s Austrian born mother Agnes Gerger, it was Betty who suggested that the fledgling society should consider having a Viennese type Austrian Ball. The officers and members accepted her suggestion, thus the First Austrian Ball in Pittsburgh was held on May 8, 1986 at the Shannopin Country Club with 131 attendees. Betty was named Chairman and because of her exceptional ideas and ability this resulted in her chairing eleven successive Balls (1986-1996). In the fall of 1986, President Ed Kepes (1984-1988), appointed Joe Pandl as the General Chairman of the Austrian Room Committee. At that time the Austrian Room Fund had a total of $8,000. Chairman Pandl selected for his Co-Chair, long time Treasurer Dolores Stehr and an open-ended committee consisting of certain society members and the eleven members of the Board of Directors as elected each year.
1987 Second Viennese Ball (Ballroom, Westin
William Penn Hotel)
Incorporation
Invitation to establish an Austrian Nationality Classroom
The Formation and Growth of the
Society
Ball
Chairman Betty McDermott and her Committee decided that the 1987 Ball should be
moved to the larger, more Austrian, main Ballroom of the Westin William Penn
Hotel. It is noteworthy that the hallmark of the balls organized by Betty and
her committee is evident in the escorts taking attendees to there tables, a
Viennese type Grand March, a cocktail and dinner hour string ensemble, a dance
orchestra, a waltz contest, a Gourmet menu, desirable table favors (many
created by Agnes Gerger), distinctive door and raffle prizes (donated by
members or solicited by Julius and Peggy Wailand), exquisite stage and table
floral arrangements created by Franz and Dolores Stehr and Paul and Marge
Pfingstl (in later years these were selected and ordered from florists by
Bernadette Miller and Claire Pandl), and finally, Austrian informative books
and brochures obtained by Joe Pandl from the Austrian Tourist Office and made
available in the decorated entrance foyer. His Excellency Ambassador Friedrich
Hoess and his wife were honored guests at the1987 ball that had over 350
attendees. Freelance Artist Pamela Remele Ambrass provided the first
preliminary concept of the proposed Austrian Nationality Room.
Also,
in 1987, President Kepes and the Board of Directors completed the process of
incorporating the Austrian American Cultural Society and received approval from
the IRS as a charitable organization. The society began interacting with other
ethnic groups and events in the community and Chancellor Wesley W. Posvar of
the University of Pittsburgh issued a formal invitation for the Society to
build an Austrian Nationality Classroom. This same year the Society presented
the University of Pittsburgh a $5000 Deed of Trust essential to formalize and
reserve room 326CL for that purpose.
Monthly
membership meetings were held in various locations such as the Teutonia Club,
various restaurants and bars thru the efforts of Paul, Marge and Isabelle
Pfingstl, and at the University of Pittsburgh. At one such meeting Chairman
Pandl presented his overall plans to the Officers and Members as follows:
1) Establish
an appropriate and member acceptable Architectural style:
To achieve this Chairman Pandl researched and
assembled a large number of color photo slides of various styles of Austrian
Architecture, including the more modernistic “Jugenstill” style, which at that
time was favored by a small element of the society. These slide presentations
took place at several consecutive meetings with informative comments,
discussions and questions and answers, and eventually it was possible for a
membership vote to be taken. The decision was that the room should be a Baroque
composite of the Haydnsaal in the Schloss Esterhazy and the Imperial Dining
Room in the Hofburg Palace.
2) Locate
and enlist the services of a Design Architect:
Board member Henry Pahl developed and mailed very
detailed informational brochures to Architects and their professional
organizations in the U.S. and Austria. Soon after we received an inquiry from
respected Viennese Architect Dipl. Ing. Franz Gerhard Schnoegass. After review of his dossier and discussions
with University Representatives, he was selected as our Design Architect. We
were doubly fortunate to have his wife Elfrieda (Elfie), a Historian and
Teacher, to volunteer her services to verify the historical requirements of
Pitt’s Nationality Room Office.
3) Design
Architect to develop initial renditions of the Austrian Room and an estimated
cost for completion of our room.
4) Create a
more positive image for the General Public and potential donors of Austria as
the
“Land of
Music” and Austrian Culture:
Chairman Pandl researched over 300 Composers from
the Austro-Hungarian Empire and based upon this data, he requested and received
approval from the Membership and the Board of Directors to revise the Society’s
stationery to incorporate the names of thirty-nine representative composers
along the left and right borders including their dates and home Provinces.
a) This
data was also incorporated in fund-raising brochures and letters.
b) Additionally,
with the help of the Membership, a framed easel-size identity board showing the
names and colorful coats of arms of the nine existing provinces was created for
display at the entrance of the Society’s sponsored events.
5)
Fund Raising:
a) Members
and Individuals ($5.00 to $1000.00)
b) Austrian
Balls and other social events (Ball profit / Contributions / Raffles)
c) Corporations,
Companies, Foundations, Matching Funds and Individuals ($100.00 to $25,000.00)
6)
Services of an Architect of Record
Recommended by Dolores and
Franz Stehr, the services of Viennese-born
Gunther
Kaier were volunteered.
7)
Develop Construction Blue Prints and necessary detailed data:
Design Architect Gerhard Schnoegass and Architect of
Record Gunther Kaier and University of
Pittsburgh Architects.
8)
General Contractor
Gunther Kaier, Maxine Bruhns (Nationality Rooms Program
Director) and other University representatives
9)
Dedication Events
Initial Design of Nationality Classroom
Hi s Excellency Austrian Ambassador Friedrich Hoess and Clair Hoess were honored guests at the Third Annual Austrian Ball in 1988. Entertainment was provided by the North Hills Dance Studio featuring Frank and Marie Bulik, Linda McKees and Jim Page. Also in this year Frau Magister Katharina Zablatnik accompanied the Austro-Slovenian singing group, the Octet Suha from Klagenfurt, Carthinia, to perform for our Society. Frau Zablatnik also brought a number of excellent Austrian books donated by various government officials.
On
July 31, 1988 Design Architect Schnoegass made a two-day visit to Pittsburgh
and he presented his initial rendition of our proposed room to be completed at
an estimated cost of $250,000. During this visit he inspected the Nationality
Classrooms and room 326 CL previously reserved for our room. After viewing
other available rooms, he selected room 314 CL as best suited for our Austrian
Nationality Classroom.
1989 Fourth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William
Penn Hotel)
Michael
Baronyak was the Society President in 1989. That year the honored guests for
the Fourth Annual Austrian Ball were Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh William J.
Winter, Design Architect Schnoegass and Teacher and Historian Elfrieda
Schnoegass from Vienna. Sopranos Christiane Majeski and Mitzi Wolfrum,
accompanied by Pianist Sylvia Sconza Hayes, provided the entertainment.
1990 Fifth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William
Penn Hotel)
"Vienna in Concert" Exhibit
The Austrian Room Project Begins
In
January of 1990, the Society sponsored a two-month “Vienna in Concert” exhibit
from Austria at the Carnegie Music Hall. Society members worked as
informational and display attendants and provided information about our Society
and the Austrian Room Project. Arliss Sturges, Vice President, became President
for the unexpired term of Michael Baronyak and continued on as President for
seven years (1990-1996) during this important Room Project period. Member
George Biber composed a song and lyrics especially for our Society entitled
“Beautiful Austria”. And member
Professor and Doctor Peter Safar, Director of the International Resuscitation
Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh, was the honored speaker at the
Fifth Annual Ball.
1991 Sixth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William
Penn Hotel)
Members
Dr. Joseph Novak, Chief of Staff at St Francis Hospital, and his wife Heidi
were honored guests at the Sixth Annual Ball in 1991. Upon Dr. Novak’s
retirement from St. Francis, Room Chairman Pandl enlisted his service as a
second Room Committee Co-chairman with our capable Treasurer and Co-chairman
Dolores Stehr. The Society was fortunate to obtain the services of Dr. Novak
who, with his numerous friends and contacts in the medical profession and the
Opera and Symphony Societies, was an asset performing an exceptional job of
fund-raising. Listed for the first time in the ball program were Honorary
Members Dr. Ivo Fischer, Founder and Honorary President; Dip. Ing. Franz
Gerhard Schnoegass, Design Architect; and Elfrieda Schnoegass, Teacher and
Historian.
1992 Seventh Austrian Ball
(Ballroom, Westin William Penn Hotel)
"PBS Kitchen Show" on WQEX
1992
was the year of the Seventh Austrian Ball and Edgar Braun, Vice President and
International General Manger of Arus Andritz-Ruthner, was the featured speaker
and guest of honor with his wife Gina. Music and dancing entertainment, the
Grand March, as well as a Waltz Contest and table favors were an important part
of this annual function. Also in 1992, member Heide Novak and Claire Pandl
appeared on WQEX, the “PBS KITCHEN SHOW”, preparing an Austrian Dinner
consisting of a Veal Roast with Mushrooms, Salad with Wine Crème, Spaetzel, and
Ox Tail Soup. Members of the society manned the telephones at WQEX answering
questions, promoting our Austrian American Cultural Society and soliciting
contributions for the Room Fund. On November 24th member Edgar Braun was
awarded the Gold Medal of the Austrian Republic for efforts toward the
advancement of Austrian Industrial Technology.
1993 Eighth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William
Penn Hotel)
An Anonymous Donation to the Austrian Room Fund
The
Eighth Annual Austrian Ball in 1993 featured our perennials: Master of
Ceremonies, Franz Stehr, Ball Chairman Betty McDermott, President Arliss
Sturges, Austrian Room Chairman Joe Pandl and honored guests Attorney Joseph
Fisher, Judge Advocate and Director, and his wife Helen. Attorney Fisher was
our featured speaker. During this year, as a result of several contacts and
phone conversations by Austrian Room Chairman Pandl suggesting a potential
anonymous donor to Austrian Ambassador Helmut Tuerk, on September 20, 1993 the
Ambassador personally delivered a check for $25,000, which was the largest
single contribution our Austrian Room Fund ever received.
Plans for Austrian Room Ceiling Murals (recreations from
Haydnsaal)
1994, the year of the Ninth Annual Austrian Ball featured Consul General Walter and Mrs. Kalteis of Washington, D.C. and General Chairman Joseph and Claire Pandl as honored guests. As featured speaker, Joe Pandl announced that the Board of Directors had conferred Honorary Membership on Gunther Kaier, the Architect of Record for our Austrian Room, and that Artist Celeste Parrendo was selected to recreate the three ceiling murals from the Haydnsaal in the Castle of the Princes of Esterhazy in Eisenstadt, Austria. The other two artists evaluated and considered were Robert Loedding of Nashville, Tennessee and Robert Basil Gerwing of Robert Gerwing & Associates in Pittsburgh. Artist Parrendo was sent to Eisenstadt and met with Dr. Joseph and Heidi Novak to view, photograph and select the appropriate color combinations in order to reproduce the original three ceiling murals by Artist Carpoforo Tencalla (1632-1685).
1995 Tenth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William
Penn Hotel)
Fall Music Programs
The Tenth Ball in 1995 honored Edward and President Arliss Sturges who was the featured speaker. The first of several Fall Music Programs was instituted at the Hillman Auditorium in September and President Sturges announced that through contacts by Joe Pandl with the Mellon Family Foundation, on December 18, 1995 the Austrian Room Building Fund received a check for $20,000.
1996 Eleventh (Millennium
Year) Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin William Penn Hotel)
First Society Picnic
Austrian Room is Dedicated
1996
was Austria’s Millennium Year and the Society’s Eleventh Annual Ball. Honored
in the program by a “Hats Off” tribute for their special service were: Betty
and John McDermott, Agnes Gerger, Mitzi Wolfrum, George and Elizabeth Mandl,
Paul and Marge Pfingstl, Isabella Pfingstl, Dolores and Franz Stehr, Julius and
Peggy Wailand, Frank Grosschedl, and John Blaha. Special recognition was also
given to Heino and Dina Coelle, WPIT-German Hour; Marianne Rauer, WEDO-Zum
Blauen Bock; and Violet Ruparcich, WEDO-Songs of Beautiful Slovenia. In the
summer of 1996 President Arliss Sturges organized the first Society picnic.
After seven challenging years as President, Arliss Sturges decided to retire
and Vice President Joseph Novak became President to complete her term. With the
dedication of the Austrian Room scheduled for June 9, 1996 the Austrian Room
Committee completed arrangements together with Director Maxine Bruhns, and her
Nationality Room Programs Staff. The events of the day were: Blessing of the
Room by Bishop William Winter at 10:30 AM; Luncheon at the University Club;
Dedication of the Austrian Room in the Heinz Memorial Chapel; and a Reception
in the Commons Room of the University of Pittsburgh. Approximately 500 attended
this momentous occasion. At the Board of Directors Meeting on October 17, 1996,
with the room completed and dedicated, General Chairman Joe Pandl stepped down
and passed the Chairmanship of the Austrian Room Committee to Doctor Joseph
Novak who was responsible for raising significant funds for the Room. In his
comments Joe Pandl extended his sincerest appreciation for their support to
Co-Chairs Dolores Stehr and Dr. Novak, President for seven important years;
Arliss Sturges; Ball Chair Betty McDermott for 11 wonderful Austrian Balls,
Nationality Rooms Program Director and her entire staff, and all who had served
as Directors, Officers and every member from the day the Society was
formed.
1997 Twelfth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin
William Penn Hotel)
Honorary Austrian Consul in Appointed
Scholarship Endowment Fund is Created
First Annual Student Scholarship is Bestowed
Joe Pandl was elected as President (1997-1998). Co-Chairman for the Twelfth Annual Austrian Ball were Dr. Joe Novak, Heidi Novak, and Claire Pandl. Honored guests and speaker was Consul General Walter Greinert from New York and his lovely wife Hildegarde. In previous contacts between President Pandl and Consul General Greinert and his staff, the names of three qualified members were submitted as candidates for the important position of Honorary Austrian Consul for the Pittsburgh Area. At the Ball, the Consul General announced the selection of Edgar Braun to fill this position. He also announced and presented the Gold Medal of the Austria Republic to President Joe Pandl for his leadership as the General Chairman of the Austrian Room Committee of the University of Pittsburgh. After twelve years as Membership Secretary, Betty McDermott stepped down and the President appointed Bernadette Miller as the new Membership Secretary. August V. Miller was appointed as Insurance Advisor. The Board of Directors was asked to review the by-laws to insure that they were consistent with the current conditions of the Society. Austrian Room Chairman Dr. Novak began his efforts to create a satisfactory Scholarship Endowment Fund and initiated the first scholarship for a Pitt student to study in Austria. The awardee was Jason M. Hasker, age 19, from Weston, Pa. This first scholarship award was named to honor Joe Pandl. President Pandl instituted a society quarterly newsletter entitled “Information Communique” to keep the membership informed.
1998 Thirteenth Austrian Ball (Ballroom, Westin
William Penn Hotel)
Revision of By-laws
In 1998, Heidi Novak with Co-Chair Bernadette Miller chaired the Thirteenth Ball. Honored guest and speaker was the newly appointed Consul General Dr. Harold Miltner. President Joe Pandl introduced the first Wine Cheese Meeting at the November election Meeting. Joe and Edna DiPaolo and Claire Pandl chaired this meeting. Judge Advocate Joseph Fisher, Esq. announced that the by-laws had been reviewed by the Board, updated and approved. Austrian Room Chair, Dr. Novak, announced that Betty McDermott would chair the standing committee for the decorating of the Austrian Room for the Christmas Season. Mark A. Peters, working to be a Professor of Music, was the second Scholarship recipient to further his studies in Austria.
1999 Fourteenth Austrian Ball (Greentree Marriott)
Two Student Scholarships Awarded
The
Fourteenth Ball was held at the Greentree Marriott and was chaired by President
George Mandl (1999-2000) and his wife Elizabeth. Consul General Dr. Harold
Miltner as guest speaker. The third scholarship awardees were George Menz, 26,
majoring in International Relations, honoring Betty McDermott and Grayden
Provance, 21, majoring in Political Science and honoring Dolores Stehr. On
March 19, 1999, member Dr. Peter Safar, Distinguished Service Professor at the
Safar Center for Resuscitation Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh was
awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor, First Class, of the Republic of Austria by
Consul General Harold Miltner. Heidi and Joe Novak organized an Austrian Trip
for members and friends to visit Austria from late August to early September.
Following
their visit to the Austrian Nationality Class Room in August of 1999 Doctor
Peter and Maria Rabel of Jennersdorf in Burgenland, Austria (cousins of Joe and
Claire Pandl) together with a group of friends and associates had a “one of a
kind” hand-carved Christmas Nativity Scene created in 100 hours of work by
Gertrude Becker for the Christmas display in the Austrian Room. The Nativity
Scene is valued at approximately $4,000 and those involved in this generous
endeavor were: Doctor Peter and Maria Rabel and Family; Burgermeister Otto
Scheiber of Marz in the Province of Burgenland; Hofrat Mag. Hans Lunzer, who
provided the historical text; Mag. Ella Turk, who provided the English
translation; Demeter Kanez, the Sponsor Coordinator; and Gertrude Becker, the wood-carving artist.
2000 Fifteenth Austrian Ball (Sheraton Hotel,
Station Square)
The
fifteenth Austrian Ball in the year 2000 was held at the Sheraton Hotel in
Station Square with Arliss Sturges as Chairman and Heidi Novak as Co-Chairman.
The Graduate Scholarship honoring Joseph and Helen Fisher was awarded to
Jennifer M. Friedlander and was a communications Ph.D. candidate at Pitt while
the Undergraduate Scholarship honoring Isabella Pfingstl was awarded to Melissa
Haas majoring in music at Pitt. Dr. Reinhard Heinisch, Asst. Professor of
Political Studies at the U. of P., Johnstown provided an interesting lecture at
a luncheon at the University club entitled “Austria’s Journey from the Marshall
Plan to the Single European Currency”. Doctor Ivo Fischer, Founder and Honorary
President, was awarded the Gold Medal of the Austrian Republic for his
far-reaching activities.
2001 Sixteenth Austrian Ball (Sheraton Hotel,
Station Square)
The
Sheraton Hotel in Station Square was the site of the 2001 ball (the sixteenth).
It was chaired by George Mandl. President Franz Josef Stehr (2001-2002)
introduced Melissa Haas, the year 2000 recipient of a Scholarship Award as the
special entertainment for the evening. Ms. Haas presented piano selections by
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Scholarship awards were granted to Kimberly honoring
Jane and John Davis and to Donald Killian, majoring in the German Language, and
honoring George and Elizabeth Mandl. The July/August/September newsletter
acknowledged the good work of our perennial Friendship Secretary Rita Lamm and
her husband who provided appropriate greeting card contact with members at
their personal expense. A program of distributing copies of our 1000 year
Austrian History brochures to various grade and high schools in the Pittsburgh
Area was also undertaken.
2002 Seventeenth Austrian Ball (Grand Foyer,
Carnegie Music Hall)
First Debutante Ball
Cynthia
Mustari was the Chairman of the Seventeenth ball in the Grand Foyer of the
Carnegie Music Hall, which was the first Debutante Ball. Chairman Mustari’s
very elegant and successful chairmanship can be attributed to attention to the
smallest of details and the comprehensive proposal that she presented to and
had approved by the Board of Directors. Music for the ball was presented by a
26 member symphonic orchestra. Seventeen Debutantes and their Escorts and two
Flower Girls took part. Assisting with the debutantes and the Polonaise were:
Dr. Joseph and Heidi Novak, Dolores Stehr, Karina Zoueva, Thomas Gilbert, and
Susan Tate. On Wednesday, June 19, 2002, Dr. Joseph Novak was the recipient of
“ The Decoration of Honor in Silver for Services to the Austrian Republic”.
On
May 16, 2002 member Frau Anna Kresh received the Gold Medal for Service from
the Provincial Governor, Hans Niessl of Burgenland. Vice President Sister Mary
Traupman was awarded a Pro Bono Award by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
2003 Eighteenth Austrian Ball (Grand Hall at the
Priory)
The eighteenth Austrian Ball at The Pittsburgh Grand Hall at the Priory was chaired by Franz and Dolores Stehr and once again was a Debutante Ball. The Debutante Committee included Dolores Stehr, Donna Hudson, Heidi Novak, Helen Semethy, and Anne-Carol Tawoda. President Robert Tate, Esq. (2003-2004) was the Orchestra Coordinator and Andrew Puechel and Anne-Carol Tawoda were the dance instructors. Wilhelm and Jackie Dorfner were the Court of Honor escorts and Matthew Hiser and Susan Tate portrayed Kaiser Franz Josef and Kaiserin Elizabeth (Sissi). Deputy Austrian Consul General Dr. Sigurd Pacher was the honored guest. The two Scholarships awarded this year were dedicated to the memory of Frank Grosschedl who was a very active member, officer and worker.
2004 Nineteenth Austrian Ball (Grand Hall at the
Priory)
Silver Anniversary
Creation of AACS Internet Web Site
First AACS-sponsored Program on WQED FM
President
Robert Tate, Esq. and Jane Tate chaired the Nineteenth Austrian Ball, The
Silver Anniversary Ball, on March 27, 2004. Honored guests included Dr. Heinz
Kunz, Consul of the Swiss Confederation; Consul Joseph Senko, Honorary Consul
of the Republic of Slovakia; and Honorary Austrian Consul Edgar Braun who was
the featured speaker. The ball was once again a Debutante Ball at the
Pittsburgh Grand Hall at the Priory involving the same Committee as in the 2003
ball. Member Anna Kresh performed an excellent job by establishing the Austrian
American Cultural Society Web Site on the Internet and two excellent programs
were organized and presented by President Robert Tate and Vice President Sister
Mary Traupman promoting our society with information and Austrian Music on WQED
FM.
2005 Twentieth Austrian Ball
(Grand Hall at the Priory)
2006 Twenty-first Austrian
Ball (Grand Hall at the Priory)