ALLIANCE OF GERMANIC SOCIETIES OF PITTSBURGH
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Mission Statement
PURPOSE The Alliance of Germanic Societies of Pittsburgh (hereafter referred to as the Alliance) is an unincorporated voluntary association formed for the following purposes: (A) To foster understanding and co-operation among the Constituent Germanic Societies (referred to as “Constituent Societies”) of Pittsburgh and its environs. (B) To help foster the expression of cultural and educational dimensions of ethnicity within each of the Constituent Germanic Societies. (C) To convey to the Pittsburgh community at-large the importance of the expression of ethnicity so that the fabric of society in our city can be enriched by the contributions of the Alliance’s Constituent groups Societies. (D) To provide support and assistance for Pittsburgh area Buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, or other buildings worthy for their Germanic heritage. This may include grants for maintenance of such buildings, contents and grounds or historic markers. We may accept contributions for this purpose with designation for a fund for such building or buildings.
About This Cause
We are an "umbrella organization " for support of many organizations which reflect Germanic speaking countries culture - song, dance , cameraderie, customs and traditions. The Alliance of Germanic Societies of Pittsburgh 2024 APPLICATION INFORMATION REV 72 We are a 501c3 “Ethnic Heritage organization” which reaches out to the Pittsburgh community at large to encourage and stress the importance of ethnicity and heritage. All of this to show the importance of heritage in our diverse society. None of our officers or volunteers are paid or receive any other emolument. Our By Laws refer to “Constituent Societies” - meaning those Societies that are in our membership and representing culture from German-speaking countries – German, Austria and Switzerland. We are comprised of eighteen independent organizations which all contribute to preserving, performing, educating or illustrating Germanic cultural heritage. This includes : Nationality rooms (3) - located in the University of Pittsburgh “Cathedral of Learning”, a National Register building, these are active classrooms constructed and maintained by three of our member societies. These were Million Dollar installations and are carefully themed to represent each Nation and its history with all furnishings, design and construction –They are the German Room, The Austrian Room and the Swiss Room. These Rooms are considered “cultural Treasures” and Pitt allows them to be visited by sightseers throughout the year and has several events as “open Houses” during the year, especially at Holidays. Our members assist in these events and are available to aid or perform for special events. They also oversee maintenance issues in the rooms . Singing Societies (4) It includes four singing groups which perform folk and formal songs in German language and Dialects. The oldest is Teutonia Männerchor singing in Deutschtown (Pittsburgh’s Northside ) since 1854 ( one of the oldest in our Country) . Teutonia also has a women’s chorus – Damenchor, there is a Swiss Singing Society Schweizer Männerchor Helvetia of Allegheny City and the Bloomfield Liedertafel Mixed Chorus. All of these groups perform in a Spring and Fall Concert available to the public at no cost. They also perform within the region for other singing clubs, and also at National and International Sangerfests which are typically at no cost to the public. This year the Swiss group hosted over 500 singers from the U.S. and Canada in Pittsburgh for the Nord Amerikanischer Sangerfest - free to the public at the Soldiers and Sailors Hall. These groups have also performed at the Veterans home and Senior Citizen homes. Dance Groups (2) It includes two ethnic dance groups performing traditional dances from the three countries . They are the Alpen Schuplattlers and the Lustigen Isarthaler each representing a separate area style of folk dances . Both groups dance for public performances for the Teutonia Männerchor and at fairs and events, either pro bono or at a modest fee. Clubhouses (2) We have two clubhouses in our membership and each have long and notable history – both are among the oldest continuing clubs In the U.S. . The larger club is located in the Northside neighborhood of Deutschtown (so named because of the many immigrants who arrived from German speaking countries during the 1800’s ). Teutonia Männerchor is a club with more than 2,000 members and the clubhouse dates to 1888 and is on the National register of Historic Buildings. This club has many events that are open to the public and its membership is open to all with a modest annual fee. It hosts the free public concerts each spring and fall, it is on the annual “Open Doors Pittsburgh” tour, it has two Fests that are open to the public and a Christmas Market public event. The other clubhouse is the Bloomfield Liedertafel which has a membership in the hundreds and dates back to 1885. It is the home for the singing chorus of the same name . Other Constituent Societies in our membership (7) • Austrian American Cultural Society - social , heritage and educational society • DANK Pittsburgh Chapter; - social , heritage and educational society • Deutschtown United Football Club; in an amateur soccer league • Historic Harmony; - a Historic German Area North of Pittsburgh where the German “Harmonist Society “ emigrated for religious freedon in 1804. • Pittsburgh District Kinderchor, providing instruction in language and music • Pittsburgh District Nordamerikanischer Sängerbund – representing our city in national singing organizations • Swiss American Society of Pittsburgh; The above are special Germanic interest groups who have their own outreach to educate the public on the rich cultural heritage from the German speaking immigrants Some of the direct action that our Board has performed includes • We organize and hold the Annual German luncheon Honoring an Historic person of significance with Germanic heritage – for example John Roebling (engineering in Pittsburgh and the Brooklyn Bridge ) and Dr Starzl pioneer in transplants of UPMC . We also nominate a living person to be honored. The event is held at Teutonia in the Historic Germanic building. - the public is welcome – cost is partly underwritten by our group and by advertising in our program . • We provided technical, financial, planning and oversight assistance for the installation of a classic “Maibaum” on the grounds of the Landmark Teutonia building . The Maibaum (May Pole) is in the center of many towns in Germanic towns and Cities. Fifty feet or more in height, the “trappings” on the pole depict activities in the town . Often used in Ethnic Dances with an intricate dance around the pole. • Our Board helped in planning and direction for the Hosting of the Swiss Sangerfest held this Spring (2024) by the Schweizer Männerchor Helvetia of Allegheny City. This was an international Song fest with broad reach to the public in Pittsburgh and it spotlighted traditional Swiss folk song and Yodeling. • Our Board works with Meetings and communication to keep these ethnic groups apprised of what each is planning. We work to make sure that each group educates and entertains the public on Ethnic heritage .