The German Benevolent Society of Ottawa celebrated
the 50th year of its existence in 2005. It has slightly more than
300 members.
The German Benevolent Society of Ottawa
celebrated the 50th year of its existence in 2005. It has slightly
more than 300 members.
The Society is a registered charity
and, as such, is required by law to distribute at least 80% of its
revenues for charitable purposes. Its revenue is composed of membership
fees and donations. These support the charitable work and donations
made by it and pay for expenses associated with its social and cultural
activities.
We support financially German institutions
and organizations in Ottawa (the German- language school, the two
German-language churches, the German choirs), make donations to other
charitable organizations and aid individuals and families in need.
The Society also assumes the tuition expenses of students of the German
school from low-income families and awards monetary prizes to students
of high achievement. Beginning in 2009 it will sponsor a poetry and
short story competition with the aim of promoting creative writing
in German among young people.
In its early years, the Society`s
mission was to aid German-speaking immigrants in integrating into
Canadian society. Since then the immigrants of the fifties and sixties
have reached the age of senior citizens.
It is not surprising, therefore, that
at this period in its history one area of concentration for the Society`s
benevolent work is the support of seniors, that is, visitations to
elderly singles and/or sickly German-speaking residents of Ottawa.
This task is performed by a group of volunteers who, at any given
time, will have approximately thirty names on their visitation list.
A second area of concentration is
the preservation of the German language, German customs and the culture
of German-speaking countries. With the exception of the summer months
we hold monthly get-togethers -- sometimes twice a month -- where
coffee and pastry is served. Music, singing, videos about regions
and cities as well as lectures, films and literary discussions make
up the social program. Meetings also serve to inform members about
topics which are of importance to seniors.
Twice yearly we organize bus-excursions
to destinations in the region around Ottawa. Members are offered reduced
prices for these excursions. Three times yearly the Benevolent Society
puts out a newsletter which informs members about events and topics
of interest, be it income tax or pension matters or dangers senior
citizens should be aware of.
