Report from NYSAFLT conference, Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY, October 9-12, 2009

The CNY chapter of AATG had a very visible presence at the 92nd annual NYSAFLT conference with several awards, most notable of which, John LaLande II, Professor of German and Chair of the Dept. of Modern Languages at SUNY Oswego was awarded the Anthony J. Papalia Award. This is an annual award given to a NYSAFLT member who has published an outstanding article in a state or national foreign language education publication. John's article in the 2008 "Die Unterrichtspraxis" was titled "German Castles, Customs and Culture: Introducing a New Approach to the Undergraduate Culture Course."

Fellow SUNY Oswego German department professor, Ana Djukic-Cocks won the NYSAFLT Cultural Award to travel to Germany this summer through the Goethe Institute.

Additionally, CNY German studies supporters, The German American Society of Central New York was awarded the Senator Paul Simon NYS Friend of Foreign Language Award, "given to a person who is not a teacher of a foreign language, but who has been a champion of our cause." Society member Sally Frenza took to the stage to accept the award for the organization which has been instrumental in promoting German language learning in secondary schools by providing multiple scholarships to graduating seniors who have studied German, treating area students to their annual Student Night Dinner, and supporting many of our area cultural events (such as Uwe Kind's March 2008 concert) with generous underwriting. Area students relish the opportunity to "pay back" the German American Society by volunteering at the Syracuse Oktoberfest.

Lastly, following his successful concert last spring at Fayetteville-Manlius High School with over 300 local German students attending, Uwe Kind was also awarded the NYSAFLT Culture through the Arts Award. Uwe shares the company of George Balanchine, the first recipient of this award in 1967, which "honors a person who has spread the message of language and culture through the arts." Uwe is continuing to travel the world promoting the learning of German (as well as Spanish, Japanese and French.) New songs and dances are currently in the works and he hopes to have them out in the coming months. Awards banquet attendees were treated to a lively series of classic Uwe Lieder, including the middle school favorite, "Wackel mit dem Po." Never before had the traditionally formal dinner broken out into such an enthusiastic and vigorous dance!