...at the 11:30 AM Catholic Mass on Sunday, July 6 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1505 Ballentine, Port Huron, MI. Traditional liturgical music will performed by members of the St. Stephan's Orchestra from Germany and will feature brass players and the rest of the orchestra acting as the choir.
St. Stefan orchestra members should be on site by 10:40 AM for setup and warmup.
The full orchestra will also be performing at Port Huron Northern High School
Sunday evening, 6 PM. Doors will open at about 5:30 PM.
Performance is free.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Thank you's
Thank you to the following people and organizations for their help with
supporting the hosting project:
Jim Langolf
Dave and Denise Brooks
Paul Miller and WPHM
Paul Miller and WPHM
Hosts:
Yvonne Boone & Bob Hicks
Susan Cook
Mary Faley
Jim Frank
Pat & Terry Griffin
Mark Hoover
Curt, Cristy
Brian & Teresa Jex
Jim Langolf
John & Lonnie Sharkey
Chris and Michelle Berberian
Gail Nawrock
Shawn & Tom O'Grady
Patti Riley
Jen & Rich Pond
Helen Ruffing
Jen Douglas
Jennifer Senkmajer
Thelma (Yeri) & Charles Shafer
Jennifer Wallisch
Sharon Wilton
Carolyn Wolf
...and many other community members (more names coming)!
need more info on the hosting project?
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Updated information
Potluck is listed in an updated pdf as being in PHN cafeteria (may not have sent you the update - sorry). Families are signing up for food to bring when they pick their guests up.
Thank you so much for offering to host our German orchestra guests. We genuinely hope your experience is memorable for you and your guests. Your hospitality makes this trip more affordable for these kids and their chaperones!
1) Our guests are from Neuss, Germany, which is on the west bank of the Rhine, in northwest Germany. PLEASE CHECK THE PAPER WE GIVE YOU FOR EACH GUEST. SOME MAY HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY OR OTHER SITUATION ABOUT WHICH YOU NEED TO KNOW (bee allergy, etc).
2) Over 30% of our guests this year listed themselves as vegetarians. This means many of us have guests that may require some accommodations for meals. Our experience last year was that MANY of those listed as vegetarians wanted more salad, less meat (not a completely meat-free diet). We encourage you to plan your first meal with some options (ie., taco night with beans and rice available, a pasta dish with some of your sauce containing meat and other sauce just tomato sauce, etc). Once you talk with your guests, they can better tell you their needs. Having hosted these travelers several times in the past, most are pretty flexible. I am buying black bean burgers from Gordon’s and would be happy to share some with you if you plan to do a grill night. Just let me know what you need so you don’t have to buy a whole box of them.
3) Check in with your guests about sight seeing... some want a little down time. Others are raring to go! Last year, many of the kids wanted to visit the mall. Clothing is less expensive here, and there are only 2 Hollisters in Germany, with lines that are hours long. Lots loved the diversity of Meijer. Seeing the freighters on the boardwalk was also a big hit.
4) As a ‘heads up”, last year some of the guests gave small gifts to their host families on the last day. You do NOT have to purchase anything. Your home and provision of meals is a gift in itself. If you choose to give a small gift, post cards from the area, a candy treat for the trip, or other small items are appropriate. (Last year, many of the girls were fascinated with the wide variety of duct tape, so we gave our guest a couple rolls of duct tape.) Remember, they have little room to carry extra items!
5) If you get stuck trying to communicate with your guest and have internet access, go to “google translate”. You can type in English and ask it to translate to German. It will even speak it for you! Most have learned English in school. In Germany, instruction in English starts around 7th or 8th grade.
6) Consider asking your guests if they need a load of laundry done. They tend to not want to bother you, but some would LOVE to have their favorite hoodie freshened up!
Picnic is at Lakeside Beach. Rankin Meats is donating 400 hot dogs, and a host family is trying to get buns donated. Our family will do condiments, we will use a gift card for paper products, and families are bringing chips and pop
Changes- Erick will put the new itinerary and stuff on the blog in a few minutes. Been NON-STOP today!!!!!
I am attaching the new note sent to all families who have provided email address. Plan to print hard copies for everyone for Friday.
Thank you so much for offering to host our German orchestra guests. We genuinely hope your experience is memorable for you and your guests. Your hospitality makes this trip more affordable for these kids and their chaperones!
1) Our guests are from Neuss, Germany, which is on the west bank of the Rhine, in northwest Germany. PLEASE CHECK THE PAPER WE GIVE YOU FOR EACH GUEST. SOME MAY HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY OR OTHER SITUATION ABOUT WHICH YOU NEED TO KNOW (bee allergy, etc).
2) Over 30% of our guests this year listed themselves as vegetarians. This means many of us have guests that may require some accommodations for meals. Our experience last year was that MANY of those listed as vegetarians wanted more salad, less meat (not a completely meat-free diet). We encourage you to plan your first meal with some options (ie., taco night with beans and rice available, a pasta dish with some of your sauce containing meat and other sauce just tomato sauce, etc). Once you talk with your guests, they can better tell you their needs. Having hosted these travelers several times in the past, most are pretty flexible. I am buying black bean burgers from Gordon’s and would be happy to share some with you if you plan to do a grill night. Just let me know what you need so you don’t have to buy a whole box of them.
3) Check in with your guests about sight seeing... some want a little down time. Others are raring to go! Last year, many of the kids wanted to visit the mall. Clothing is less expensive here, and there are only 2 Hollisters in Germany, with lines that are hours long. Lots loved the diversity of Meijer. Seeing the freighters on the boardwalk was also a big hit.
4) As a ‘heads up”, last year some of the guests gave small gifts to their host families on the last day. You do NOT have to purchase anything. Your home and provision of meals is a gift in itself. If you choose to give a small gift, post cards from the area, a candy treat for the trip, or other small items are appropriate. (Last year, many of the girls were fascinated with the wide variety of duct tape, so we gave our guest a couple rolls of duct tape.) Remember, they have little room to carry extra items!
5) If you get stuck trying to communicate with your guest and have internet access, go to “google translate”. You can type in English and ask it to translate to German. It will even speak it for you! Most have learned English in school. In Germany, instruction in English starts around 7th or 8th grade.
6) Consider asking your guests if they need a load of laundry done. They tend to not want to bother you, but some would LOVE to have their favorite hoodie freshened up!
The schedule (with a little more detail) is:
Fri, July 4
1:30 Pick up guests at Port Huron Northern,
1799 Krafft Road., Port Huron.
Dinner and remainder of evening is on your own
Sat, July 5
Full day on your own (Some families are thinking about going to Lighthouse Park for SandFest. Cost is $5 per person, though. Shopping or other sight seeing excursions are possible free options)
Bonfire at the Pond’s house any time after 8:00p.m. located at 5740 Metcalf, Grant Twp (large green house, half way between Vincent and Wildcat, a few miles north of Dorsey House) . Bring chairs, beverages and a snack to share.
Sun, July 6
Some orchestra members have asked to attend Catholic mass. St. Mary Parish (1505 Ballentine Street, Port Huron – near Sanborn Park) has Sunday mass at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Mass lasts about an hour. You could choose to drop your guests off, go have coffee and return to pick them up. There is a guest priest there this weekend. He is from Germany.
3:00, Orchestra members rehearse for concert.
6:00 p.m. concert at PHN Performing Arts Center
POTLUCK TO FOLLOW. Please plan to bring a dish to pass. (There will be a sign up sheet when you arrive to pick up your guests on Friday, also a warmer in the cafeteria)
Mon, July 7
1:00 Optional beach party at Lakeside Beach – Jim Rankin meats is donating 400 hot dogs, and one of our hosts is working to secure a donation of buns.
Bring a bag of chips or a 2-liter of pop to share.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A GRILL THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO COOK THE ‘DOGS’?
Tue, July 8
7:00 AM HOLIDAY COACH will arrive at PHN, 1799 Krafft Road, Port Huron, Michigan
Group board bus and prepare for departure to Niagara Falls.
Please send off with a bag lunch: Include food, snack, drink.
Dinner and remainder of evening is on your own
Sat, July 5
Full day on your own (Some families are thinking about going to Lighthouse Park for SandFest. Cost is $5 per person, though. Shopping or other sight seeing excursions are possible free options)
Bonfire at the Pond’s house any time after 8:00p.m. located at 5740 Metcalf, Grant Twp (large green house, half way between Vincent and Wildcat, a few miles north of Dorsey House) . Bring chairs, beverages and a snack to share.
Sun, July 6
Some orchestra members have asked to attend Catholic mass. St. Mary Parish (1505 Ballentine Street, Port Huron – near Sanborn Park) has Sunday mass at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Mass lasts about an hour. You could choose to drop your guests off, go have coffee and return to pick them up. There is a guest priest there this weekend. He is from Germany.
3:00, Orchestra members rehearse for concert.
6:00 p.m. concert at PHN Performing Arts Center
POTLUCK TO FOLLOW. Please plan to bring a dish to pass. (There will be a sign up sheet when you arrive to pick up your guests on Friday, also a warmer in the cafeteria)
Mon, July 7
1:00 Optional beach party at Lakeside Beach – Jim Rankin meats is donating 400 hot dogs, and one of our hosts is working to secure a donation of buns.
Bring a bag of chips or a 2-liter of pop to share.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A GRILL THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO COOK THE ‘DOGS’?
Tue, July 8
7:00 AM HOLIDAY COACH will arrive at PHN, 1799 Krafft Road, Port Huron, Michigan
Group board bus and prepare for departure to Niagara Falls.
Please send off with a bag lunch: Include food, snack, drink.
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