President’s Letter 2011-2012

Whether your passion is gardening, civic affairs, historic preservation, singing, or just plain having a good time with friends and neighbors, membership in the German Village Society provides opportunities for all who live in this unique place.  As your president for the 2011-2012 year, I am witnessing  the important and fun things that GVS does up close. And if you were in my shoes, you would share my awe with  the  spirit that makes it all go!  So let’s spend a day together in  the Village.  Take a left turn with me when entering the Meeting House and say hello to the  volunteers who man our  Visitors Center!  These folks are the face of German Village to the  busloads of  people who come from long distances to experience  this great place. Their warmth lights up the room!

Now, let’s enter the office, which is abuzz with activity. Volunteer Bob Jackson on any given day might be finalizing plans for publication of the membership directory (an extremely useful publication for keeping track of your friends and neighbors) or managing the Neighbors 4 Neighbors contact list so that members stay in the know.  Hardworking Russ Arledge is on the computer setting up one of the countless meetings we have at the aptly named Meeting House.  Our new director, Shiloh Todorov, is in the office, too. It takes just a brief conversation with Shiloh before you conclude that she is a dynamic leader who is destined to do great things for German Village.

If it’s the third Thursday of the month, you and I will attend the Police Luncheon, where the officers of the 1th Precinct bring us up to date on their activities, and discuss how we as residents can partner with them to prevent crime. After this informative lunch, why don’t you and I walk down to Schiller Park, where one of the many gardening groups under the GVS umbrella is working to coax the last bit of color out of this season’s flowers!  After this visual treat, let’s go home and turn our respective computers online to review GVS’s weekly electronic newsletter: “Neighbors For Neighbors.”  What events are coming up? What missing dogs should we be on the lookout for?

How about we check out what’s happening at the Meeting House in the evening? Open the door and we immediately hear the wonderful sounds of the Village Singers practicing upstairs in Brent Warner Fest Hall for its annual Christmas concert. The Scheurer Room has a committee meeting in session. Tonight it’s the Streetscape Committee; it is forming plans which GVS will ultimately submit to the City of Columbus regarding long-term improvements for Third Street, the primary commercial area of German Village. If we had been here last night together, we would have seen the Long-Range Planning Committee in action. That committee is presently considering an ambitious project called “Aging in Place,” which could provide needed services to our senior citizens. Tomorrow night, the Historic Preservation Committee will be congregating.

Fun? In October, it’s the Monster Bash, where adult Halloween revelers visit our houses for adult beverages to trick or treat! June is Haus and Garten Tour, which is the biggest one on the calendar and our primary fund raiser (and fun raiser). Later in the summer, the GVS plays a game of pre-1890s baseball against the Ohio Muffins in Schiller Park next summer.

Well, you get the idea!  And that’s just a snapshot of what goes on here. GVS really has something for everybody. From my perspective, you haven’t really experienced German Village until you join and get involved in GVS. I recommend that if you haven’t joined yet; give it a shot. It’s not expensive.  I invite new members and old to come see Shiloh to discuss your interests.   She will help steer you in the right direction. I know you will find GVS membership to be rewarding, and I bet you will make lots of great friends.

~Bill Case
President – German Village Society Board of Trustees
October 2011

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