| The Danube Swabian Foundation of the U.S.A., Inc. Die Donauschwaebische Stiftung der USA, Inc. |
| November 2013 Liebe Landsleut, As Chairman of the Danube Swabian Foundation I once again write to you on behalf of our future. Please include our foundation on your gift list for 2013. Our future depends on your generosity! The young Donauschwaben in our clubs rely on financial support not only from their local clubs, but also from our foundation. They learn German in our language schools, dance traditional dances and sing traditional songs in our ”Kinder-and Jugendgruppen,” play traditional music in our “Blaskapellen,” play “Fussball” in our soccer clubs, and raise a new generation of “Schwowe” in cities across this great country. Donauschwaben that settled the fertile Pannonian region in the 1700’s placed the cornerstone of our culture. In the years that followed, other Donauschwaben continued the construction process in the cities and villages of our “Heimat.” The mid-twentieth century saw yet another move for our people: a move into our new “Heimat” in the USA. A culture that took over two hundred fifty years to develop(about 12 generations) is now entering a new phase of its evolution. Our people now live outside the friendly environs of their villages. This new lifestyle demands greater funding to support our clubs’ cultural programs. We need your support in the following ways: 1) Encourage your family’s participation in activities at your club. 2) Explain your family history to your children and their offspring. 3) Try to speak German and “Schwowisch” with your family. 4) Give financial support to your local club, especially for youth activities. 5) Make a donation to the Danube Swabian Foundation annually. In closing, I ask you to pray for those that set such a wonderful example. I lost my own father less than a year ago and I remember him daily in the following words: “ Was bleibt ist die Liebe, und die Erinnerung an unser schönes gemeinsames Leben!” Let’s leave our children similar memories of us and our generation. Frohe Weihnachten! Robert F. Filippi President, Landesverband der Donauschwaben Chairman, Danube Swabian Foundation |