Traditional German dancing may be displayed Oct. 2-4 when the DANK convention is here.

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GERMAN FEST SET: German-American National Congress Convention Here Oct. 2-4

March 7, 2015
By: Dave Rogers

Expect to see colorful German dress and perhaps dancing in the streets of Bay City next Oct. 2-4.

Local DANK president Monte Oswald has announced the national convention of the German-American National Congress (DANK) will be held here.

Linda Forster, publicity chair of the Bay City chapter of the German American National Congress (DANK) said the convention headquarters will be the DoubleTree Hotel-Bay City Riverfront.

The German American National Congress, also known as DANK (Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress), is the largest organization of Americans of Germanic descent.

The organization has numerous chapters and a network of Associate Member societies with membership spanning across the U.S.

The national organization seeks to bring together Germanic-Americans in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels.

These were the primary reasons that DANK was founded in 1959, and they are still among the organization's primary objectives today, said Ms. Forster.

German-Americans met last October 6th to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Proclamation of the German-American Day by President Reagan in 1987.

The German-American Day is celebrated every year at the German-American Friendship Garden, which is part of the Washington Mall between the White House and the Washington Monument. On every 6th of October, German-Americans and Americans alike assemble there to celebrate their history and heritage.

The local group meets monthly at the Stein Haus, with all persons of German descent invited, according to Tom Bork.

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