German American National Congress

The German -American National Congress, THANKS abbreviated, founded in 1959 in Chicago. The aim of the " German American National Congress " is to bring together German and German American to German customs, to cultivate the German language and German culture to communicate and teach. The German -American National Congress does not see itself as a political organization, but this organization strives to represent German - American interests in the United States of America.

The organization has over 30 local chapters and more than 100 members associating the largest German - American organization in the United States. Strong commitment showed the German -American National Congress in 1987 with the introduction of the " German - American Day ", a national holiday on 6 October each year.

History

German companies and associations enjoyed before the Second World War a great reputation in the United States of America. With the rise of the Nazis and their terrible crimes against humanity, however, many Americans avoided contact with Germans and even schools banned the German language as the content. After the end of the war and the newly established flood of refugees into the U.S. due to expulsion and communist occupation were founded countless German clubs, such as vocal or cultural associations. The German Americans, however, it lacked a statewide organization that should represent the interests of the " German - Americans" across the U.S.. Leonard Enders finally took the initiative and mobilized other German Americans to finally call a nationwide organization to life. Finally, all Americans should with German roots have a chance to unite and jointly represented interests. On December 12, 1958, representatives of local German clubs, societies and other interested parties met in the " Danube Swabians Hall " in Chicago and it was decided the founding of the German American National Congress. The first General Assembly was held on 30 January 1959 in which the main goals and tasks for the organization were decided.

German American Journal

The bimonthly German American Journal is published by the German -American National Congress and sent to its members. For the first time the paper was published in 1959 with six pages in the first edition. In the early years, the organization published the largely German -language journal every three weeks. Around the turn of the century began to publish the newspaper mainly in the English language. In addition, also the page number has increased to 16 per issue, which one devotes one page of the German language and articles in German language ( contributions are parallel also printed in English) published. The focus of the German American Journal on the recent German - American Events, German food and entertainment news from the organization, as well as articles about German -American concerns.

Members of the German -American National Congress automatically receive the German American Journal with their membership. Non-members, the journal can purchase an annual subscription to a service charge of $ 15.00. In addition, the journal in selected German restaurants, bars, supermarkets or consulates located from.

The circulation of the journal in 2009 stood at an average of 3,500 copies per issue.

Organizational structure

The German -American National Congress organized in the main club ( THANKS National) and the more than 30 local chapters spread across the United States. The local chapters are divided into three regions, Region One, Region Two and Region Three, broken. The headquarters of this organization ( THANKS National) is located in the German dominated by Chicago's Lincoln Square - Chicago, in the state of Illinois.

Supervisory Board of the German American National Congress

List of local associations

Sources

• German -American Relations
• German in the United States
• Organization ( Chicago)
• Founded in 1959