P.O. # 362, Ingomar, PA 15127

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Annual Membership Meeting Annual Membership Meeting and Wine and Cheese Reception at 7:00 p.m. at Father Ryan Arts Center, 420 Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15236, (412)771-3052. Meeting includes election of Directors to replace those four whose terms are expiring in November. Further information and ballots have been mailed to all members.
2012 Debutante Ball Save the date! The Austrian American Cultural Society will present the 2012 debutantes at a Ball to be held at The Priory on Saturday, March 31, 2012, with cocktails at 5:00 P. M. and dinner at 6:00 P. M. Music for dancing by The Barons. Seating is limited to 250 guests and tickets are $80.00/person. Invitations will be mailed in the middle of February. For more information concerning the Ball or a request to be put on the invitation list, please contact Mrs. Jackie Dorfner at 412-257-7574 or at dorfner24@comcast.net. For information concerning debutantes, please contact Mrs. Helen Semethy at 412-242-9705 or at Semethyh@gmail.com. The Society promises you an evening to remember!

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Who is AACS?

The Austrian American Cultural Society (AACS) is a non-profit organization of Americans and Americans of Austrian ancestry residing in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, and others dedicated to the promotion of Austrian culture.

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What does AACS do?

In accordance with the Society's by-laws, the Purpose of the Society is to

~ "create and foster among its members a genuine love for Austrian culture and customs by establishing an Austrian Room among the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh in compliance with the rules of the Nationality Rooms Program of the University of Pittsburgh," [task completed]
~ "sponsor cultural programs which represent authentic aspects of Austria's cultural heritage," [ongoing]
~ "and to provide scholarship funds for studies in Austria..." [ongoing]

To these ends, the AACS participates in several annual activities designed to promote and preserve Austrian culture in the United States. Among these are

- the annual Viennese Ball, patterned after the Opernball held each year in February in the State Opera House (Staatsoper) in Vienna, Austria, bringing the elegance of old world Vienna to the Pittsburgh area, recently including the presentation of debutantes along with their escorts

- the creation and maintaining of the Austrian Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh.

- the sponsorship of the Austrian Room Scholarship/Endowment Fund at the University of Pittsburgh, providing educational scholarships (usually two) to local Pittsburgh college students for summer study in Vienna in their chosen fields

- participation in the Gedenkgottesdienst, a Thanksgiving and Memorial service in German held at a local church in memory of the deceased members of the German Clubs of Greater Pittsburgh

­- a general Membership/Dinner Meeting held in the Spring of each year

- an annual Christmas Dinner/Party, including Austrian Christmas traditions, readings, and the singing of carols in German, usually held in the Ratskeller of the Teutonia Maennerchor

- an annual Membership meeting and Election of the AACS Board of Directors, followed by the sharing of a wide selection of wines, cheeses, pastries, etc.

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2009 AACS OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Robert J. Tate - President
Betty McDermott - Vice President
George Mandl - Treasurer
Irene Rosati - Secretary

Anne-Carol Tawoda - Chair, Austrian Room
Robert Tate - Chair, 2011 Austrian Ball
Bill and Jackie Dorfner, Bill and Helen Semethy - Co-Chairs, 2012 Debutante Ball
Anna Kresh - Webmaster/Membership Secretary
Betty McDermott - Friendship Secretary

Dr. Ivo Fischer, Bregenz, Austria - Founder and Honorary President
Edgar Braun - Pittsburgh Honorary Consul of the Republic of Austria
Peter Brezovszky, Consul General of Austria in New York, October 1, 2009,
(Dr. Brigitta Blaha was transferred to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna)

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AACS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

~ ~ terms expire November 2011 ~ ~
Elizabeth Krobot, Irene Rosati, Anne-Carol Tawoda, Frank Weiss

~ ~ terms expire November 2012 ~ ~
Edgar Braun, Betty McDermott, David McDermott, Celeste Parrendo

~ ~ terms expire November 2013 ~ ~
Robert Tate, Helen Semethy, and Beth Fleming

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History of the Society
History of the AACS - detailed history of the Society, courtesy of Joseph Pandl
AACS Past Officers and Chairs - list of past AACS officers, chairpersons, support staff

Because the history of the AACS is so intertwined with the history of the Austrian Nationality Room, see also:
History of the Austrian Room. - as printed in Austrian Room Dedication booklet, June 9, 1996
People Who Created the Austrian Room - as printed in Austrian Room Dedication booklet, June 9, 1996

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Membership Information
Membership in AACS is open to any person interested in
supporting the purpose of the corporation, and in
participating in the Society's activities, and
who is at least 21 years of age.
Membership dues of $15 for individuals, or $20 for couples, are due each year by the end of January.
For more information about membership, please contact Webmaster
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For questions or comments, contact: Webmaster

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