On behalf of The E.O.U.V., our President, Bryan Hibjan, and the Executive team, we would like to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone who joined us for the 61st North American Gottscheer Treffen.
Friday, July 4th - Sunday, July 6th • 2025
It was a weekend filled with memories, laughter, and, above all, family. From the first warm greetings at the meet-and-greet on Friday evening to the passing of the Treffen flag, every moment reminded us of what truly matters – our legacy, traditions, and each other.
We kicked off the weekend on Friday evening with a warm welcome as our guests arrived, greeted by smiles and good cheer. The choir room and deck patio were alive with conversation and laughter, as everyone enjoyed a generous potluck buffet and the bar was kept lively by our wonderful bartenders - Herb Bauer, Paul Fissel and Erich Kinkopf.
The main event on Saturday evening was beautiful to behold. From the cocktail hour which highlighted a magnificent charcuterie board created by Zach Marcus and the Events Team to the serenading by the Gottscheer Blaskapelle. The hall was transformed to reflect the “Lantern Festival” theme of this year’s Treffen and in the essence of the gifts and President’s awards. With the one hundred and seventeen votive candles suspended from the ceiling representing the villages of Gottschee, the sixty one stars dancing from the chandeliers representing the sixty one years of Treffen anniversaries, the seven evergreen trees on stage representing the seven clubs that have held Treffens in the past, the weaved lace backdrop on stage representing the mountains of Gottschee and the four bouquets of white edelweiss symbolizing the recent Vereins hosting Treffens. A special thank you to Heather Hibjan Marcus for her incredible vision and dedication to making this night truly magical. Festivities began with the procession of the Country and Verein flags and the playing of the National Anthems by the Gottscheer Blaskapelle.
We were then treated to a heartfelt welcome from President Bryan Hibjan, followed by a touching speech from his daughter, Heather Hibjan Marcus. She spoke with such emotion about the significance of the Treffens in her life and how they have shaped lasting memories. Her words resonated deeply with everyone in the room. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of peach-glazed pork roast and stuffed cabbage, thanks to our amazing chefs, Norma Chuno and Jay Siringer, and the entire kitchen staff.
Following dinner we were treated to the traditional “Milwaukee” Cake Walk parade featuring seventeen tortes and cakes. Thank you Melanie Hibjan Adler for organizing and keeping this tradition alive and thank you to all the ladies who participated in the parade.
Presentation of Awards
The President’s awards were presented with gratitude to Dietmar Bisselli of Kitchener, Sonja Juran Kuzela of New York, Ursula Wengler representing Peter Graf of Toronto and Dr. Tono Hoenigman on behalf of Graz / Klagenfurt.
A heartfelt thank you to our Verein Presidents and Representatives for their kind words—they mean so much to us. We were also honored to hear from Anya Morick, a Special Representative from Slovenia, who encouraged everyone to visit Gottschee and reconnect with their roots. She shared her efforts to help restore one of the churches in Gottschee and we are grateful for her dedication.
For Love and Memory
Entertainment for the evening was provided by The Gottscheer Tanz und Spielkreis who enjoyed performing a number of traditional Austrian folks dances. A moment of silence and a lighting of the lanterns was held in memory of all those who have passed on and can no longer bless us with their presence. We placed the lanterns along the entrance and walkways around The Club.
The evening closed out with the music of Fred Zwich orchestra.
Wir sind eine große familie!
Our Sunday celebrations began with Mass held in the main hall where the Gottscheer Heimatchor and members of the New York choir sang, followed by a procession to the chapel for a brief memorial service as the Blaskapelle played “Ich hatt einen Kameraden”. Our Annual Independence Day Picnic commenced following the memorial service at the chapel. The grounds looked well-manicured and the pavilion was decorated for the day’s festivities. The Gottscheer Blaskapelle played and the Gottscheer Tanz und Spielkreis performed. It was quite hot but many found a cool place in the shade of the linden and maple trees on the grounds. The children didn’t mind the heat as they played games and had fun in the playground and bounce house - thank you Chris Koenig for setting that up for us. Our Treffen celebration concluded with the passing of the Treffen flag to the New York Verein for the 2026 Treffen.
There truly aren’t enough words to express the depth of our appreciation for everyone who attended and for those who worked so hard to make this weekend truly unforgettable. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Treffen Committee chairs, Anita Kawaters and Eric Eiermann, as well as the entire committee, for your dedication and tireless efforts. Your kindness and generosity made this weekend even more special.
A special thank you to the Hibjan, Marcus, and Adler decorating teams for transforming the grounds into something so beautiful. We are so grateful to our Krapfen and strudel makers—Pete Hoge, Paula Mularcik, Marianne Friend, Moni Giebel, Norma Chunyo, Dorothy Kusold, Frieda Verderber, Alexis Shannon, Herb Mausser, and Margit Grajzl—for filling the weekend with warmth and delicious desserts.
To our wonderful chefs, Norma Chunyo and Jay Siringer, thank you for your culinary magic. A big shout-out to our event managers, Zach Marcus and Valerie Siringer, and their amazing staff for keeping everything running smoothly. And of course, our fantastic bartenders and volunteers—your energy, generosity, and support made all the difference.
Each and every one of you is truly remarkable, and we’re blessed to have you as part of our club. Your energy, kindness, and the love you shared made this weekend truly unforgettable. Thank you for being part of something so special and for making this weekend one to remember!
Favors
This image was created as a symbolic representation of our Gottscheer Treffens and we had it printed on stone coasters as our gift to everyone that attended the Treffen on Saturday evening.
The mountain, represents our foundation – Gottschee. In the sky, there are 61 stars – one for every cherished Treffen. Then there are 7 evergreens, one for each location that has ever hosted one of our celebrations – and last but not least 4 edelweiss – one for each of the remaining locations where Treffens are held today.
We ordered extra favors for the members and friends who weren’t able to join us on Saturday night but still want one. They can be purchased for $5 and we will have them available at all of the remaining club events this year. If you are interested in purchasing one, please let Mary Ann Hibjan know at (216) 403-9174 or teafan57@gmail.com. Thank you!
