Submitted photo Turner Ladies Viva Bowen, left, and Laverna Bernanek, right, were honored for 25 years of service at the Turner Hall Stiftungsfest lunch Sunday. Jeanette Domeier and Joanie Gleisner were not pictured. Domeier was honored for 50 years of service and Gleisner for 25 years.

NEW ULM — Four New Ulm Turner Ladies were honored for their longevity to the organization at the Stiftungsfest lunch at Turner Hall Sunday.

Jeanette Domeier was honored for 50 years of service. Honorees for 25 years of service were presented to Joanie Gleisner, Laverna Beranek and Viva Bowen. Domeier and Gleisner were not able to attend the lunch.

“Jeanette has helped with many events and is the Smear Kuchen (German Coffee Cake) Queen. She helps with event setup and is a joy to work with,” said Turner Ladies President Gloria Blume.

“Always dependable, Joanie worked in many areas of Turner Ladies events including projects keeping things clean and painted,” Blume said of Gleisner. “She worked almost every Sunday when the Turner Ladies hosted bingo. She supplied the November meeting with the best taco salad.”

Beranek was a Turner Hall waitress and bartender in the 1950s. With four small children at home, she worked evenings.

“She could not become a Turner Lady because she was employed by Turner. When she quit Turner, her best friend Flora Dolly got her to join the society. She later worked at 3M, rejoined after retiring at 3M, and has been an asset ever since.”

Bowen was described as a very quiet lady who joined Turner Hall to make new friends.

“She helped in many areas and was happy to help when and where needed,” Blume said.

Blume presented a $5,000 check towards the Turner Ladies $25,000 pledge for the Turner Hall Capital Campaign.

After lunch, New Ulm Turnverein members watched a video of the International Deutsches Turnfest in Leipzig, Germany. The event included gymnastics exhibitions and other athletic events including running races.

New Ulm Turnvereine Executive Director Andrea Boettger urged members to consider changing the membership process so social members become members of the national verein membership.

“I’ve talked to several board members and volunteers about some of the benefits of automatically making our social members also members of the American Turners and the national verein,” Boettger said. “It’s about showing our sense of community and connecting us with the bigger Turner picture. I think we should have an obligation to be a part of this, showing people what New Ulm can do to and becoming a bigger and better Turner Hall. I think the benefits will come back to us.”

Boettger said she recently learned that New Ulm hosted a national Turner festival about 50 years ago.

“I hope you will consider continuing your social membership and getting communications from the American Turners to learn what’s going on,” Boettger said. “I’d love to send a golf and cultural team. I know we have so much talent in this town. I’d love to have more representation than just a square on a quilt and a picture of our rathskeller.”

The American Turners 55th National Festival in Fort Wayne, Ind. included 4 days of Turner competition in gymnastics, volleyball, pickle ball, golf, cultural teams, track & field, swimming, mass and model drills.

Historian and author Dan Hoisington said he’s been serving on the American Turners National Council.

“They love New Ulm. They were here five years ago for a national council meeting. They’d love to come back,” Hoisington said. “Where we are as a club right now and where the national Turners are, we could have a really big impact if we want to get involved. In terms of expanding our athletics, we’re in the right spot for that. With all the work Andrea has put in on the new Turner Gymnastics Academy, this is really an exciting time.”

Hoisington said national Turner festivals happen every four years. The next one is set for Louisville, Ky in 2023.

“We could host a national festival in 2027 with our new facility,” Hoisington said. “Andrea has been very good about sending out membership cards. We’ve gotten several grants in. We just got an $1,800 grant from the American Turners for our gymnastics program.”

Hoisington said New Ulm Turner Hall is part of the Wisconsin District.

“They’d love to have a New Ulm Turner Gymnastics team compete with Wisconsin teams in Madison and Milwaukee teams. I think hosting a district meeting would be a fun thing to do,” Hoisington said. “Milwaukee has a wonderful men’s choir. I think our Concord Singers could create a battle of men’s choirs at some point in time.”

The New Ulm Turnvereine, Inc. is a non-profit organization organized in 1856. Monthly meetings open to all verein members, are held at 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Social members are invited to join as verein members.

The Turner Hall Rathskeller, the oldest bar in Minnesota, is open daily from 11 a.m to closing. Food is served Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call the Turner Hall information office at 507-354-2022 or visit newulmturnerhall.org

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.