Holiday Greetings to all,

As we reflect during this holiday season we are reminded of all the blessings bestowed upon us this year. 2008 has brought us both joy and sorrow. Some of the joyful moments include a fruitful April Bundes Music Committee meeting in Utica, followed by Spring concerts and Anniversary Banquets held throughout the state. Sprinkled through the summer were Gartenfests, Weinfests, and Oktoberfests! The Fall season started with the Annual Convention in Buffalo in October and continued with another round of concerts and Christmas events. Congratulations to all who held celebrations of our German heritage, culture, and traditions.

We've accomplished much this year but there's plenty of work ahead. Following the example of our immigrant forbearers and founders who knew that nothing worthwhile is easy, we too worked hard to keep their traditions alive and sing for the pure joy in our hearts as they did. Plans are well under way for a fabulous Sängerfest in Utica next June. We are still looking for a site for our October 2009 Convention, however the Nominating Committee is complete. Vielen Dank to Helga Nowak-Razey (Poughkeepsie), Erica Cole (Buffalo), and Christa Pohlmann (Troy) for accepting this assignment.

We've completed our work in updating our Constitution and By-Laws to reflect our current makeup, organization, and operational procedures. Now we can continue our quest toward incorporation and 501c3 Not-for-Profit certification. These goals will not only help us endure, but give us the ability to support and sustain local choruses in promoting and preserving our heritage in music and song in declining German communities throughout the state.

Since October I've traveled to Buffalo, Troy, Binghamton, Poughkeepsie, Utica, Syracuse, and of course Kingston. I've enjoyed meeting many of you and was delighted with your choral performances. In closing, Linda and I are especially grateful for all the warm hospitality and friendship extended to us throughout the year.

May this holiday season of holy joy, touch your hearts and bring peace to your souls. Zum bevorstehenden Weihnachtsfest senden wir Euch die besten Glück und Segenswünsche. Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr gefüllt mit Hoffnung, Friede, und Heiterkeit. To the pending Christmas celebration we send you wishes of best luck and blessings. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with hope, peace, and serenity.

Mit freundlichen Sängergrüßen und Kameradschaft,
verbleiben ich Euer Sängerbruder und Freund,

Hermann Alfons Koelmel