MEISSEN PORCELAIN 
Technical & Artistic issues in the first half of the 18^th century 

A Lecture with slides by CLAUS BOLTZ 
based on research carried out mainly in Dresden and the Meißen factory archives. 

Friday, 19^th January at 7.00p.m. at Messina Palace 

Mr Boltz’s research has been published in the authorative magazine KERAMOS.  This lecture has already been delivered by Mr Boltz in Sevres (France) in 2005 and in London (in 2006).  
The lecture will be in English.  
Members of the German-Maltese Circle and all those interested are welcome to attend.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

AGENDA:         
(a)  Reading of minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
(b)  Address by the President;
(c)  General Secretary's Annual Administrative Report;
(d)  Treasurer's Statement of Accounts;
(e)  Election of Committee;
(f)   Motions;
(g)  Election of Corporate Members’ representative. 

Nominations - on the prescribed form available from the Circle’s office - of eligible members willing to contest the election for the posts of President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member or Corporate Members’ Representative are to reach the Secretary by not later than 6.30p.m. of Wednesday, 24^th January.   

Motions for discussion during the AGM, duly signed by the proposer and a seconder are also to reach the Secretary by the above-mentioned date and time.  All motions received will be displayed on the Circle’s Noticeboard.

Nachdenkliches zum Jahreswechsel von Günter Schlichte

Ein neues Blatt in unserem Zeitkalender wird aufgeschlagen, die Überschrift zeigt das Jahr 2007.  -  Wie schnell ist doch das vergangene Jahr wieder vergangen. Es scheint, als wäre es erst vor kurzem gewesen, dass wir darüber nachdachten, was uns wohl das so leicht zu schreibende Jahr 2006 an Überraschungen bringen mag. Wir hatten Wünsche und Hoffnungen, am Anfang eines neuen Jahres denken wir besonders gern darüber nach, es ist scheinbar immer gleich. Aber unsere Wünsche und Vorstellungen werden geprägt von  Vergangenheit und  Gegenwart, sie ändern sich somit von Jahr zu Jahr.  Ein konstanter Wunsch ist in aller Regel eine gute Gesundheit, wir wissen, wie wichtig sie für uns und unsere Pläne ist. Je selbstverständlicher sie uns begleitet, je weniger denken wir allerdings darüber nach.  Der Zeitkalender gibt uns den Rahmen für unsere Handlungen. Er zwingt uns in gewisser Weise ein, wir leben nach ihm und mit ihm, doch wir haben Einfluss darauf, wie wir die Zeit in diesem vorgegebenen Kalender nutzen. Das hilft uns, nicht planlos zu leben, uns nicht einfach treiben zu lassen.  

Im Rückblick stellen wir dankbar fest, dass wir in Zentraleuropa schon über 60 Jahre in Frieden leben konnten. Die junge Generation kann gar nicht ermessen, was es für uns und unsere Entwicklung bedeutet. Das hässliche Gesicht des Krieges wird jungen Menschen erst bewusst, wenn sie in Krisenregionen Dienst tun, gleich ob als Entwicklungshelfer oder mit der Waffe in der Hand. Wir wissen, dass kriegerische Auseinandersetzungen selten dem Frieden dienen, trotzdem lassen sie sich anscheinend nicht verhindern. Wir wissen auch, dass in manchen Ländern verfügbare Mittel nicht zum Wohle der Bürger, sondern zur Bereicherung Einzelner eingesetzt werden. Das macht es schwer, die Not der Leidtragenden zu lindern und Spendenaufrufen gern zu folgen. -  Globales Denken wird immer mehr von uns erwartet, wir erleben die globale Welt bei unseren Einkäufen und freuen uns über günstige Preise. Wir machen uns wenig Gedanken darüber, unter welchen Umständen die Waren entstanden. Es liegt an uns, Wege zu finden, besser als andere zu sein und dabei nicht den materiellen Erfolg allein zu suchen, sondern auch für menschliche Wärme zu sorgen, ohne die unser Leben wenig Spaß macht.  

Wieder liegt ein neues Jahr vor uns, wieder haben wir viele Erwartungen und Wünsche. Freuen wir uns über das Erreichte. Wir müssen es sichern, damit wir uns länger daran freuen können. Das neue Jahr wird uns vor neue Aufgaben stellen, die uns herausfordern. Das ist auch gut so. Es hilft uns, auch wenn es uns manchmal schwer fällt, es zu glauben.      

English language is set to get a German upgrade by Honor Mahony

While in Germany you can attend 'ein Meeting' that is 'gemanaget' by someone else using your "down-geloadete" information from the internet.  After that you might need to rush to the airport for 'das Einchecken' before taking off in a plane with a 'stewardess' on it.

German is peppered with English words either accepted wholly into the language of Goethe or Germanified such as 'gestylt' - as in "Der Typ ist total gestylt" - that bloke is totally done up. The result is 'Denglisch' and has left some language purists crying into their coffee cups.

The language flow the other way has not been so extreme however.  English has happily assumed Zeitgeist, Schadenfreude and Kindergarten and there seems to be a creeping use of 'über' to describe 'very' or 'extremely' as in 'überhappy' but the list is relatively short by comparison.

Now the Goethe Institute may be the cause of another German word entering everyday English.  It held a competition to find the word that would most benefit the English language.  The winner, announced on the 8^th December is 'Fachidiot' - with the person nominating it saying it could be clumsily translated by "Idiot of your own subject".  Elaborating she said that "one-track specialist" was not quite right because "a specialist is nobody you would call an idiot. A one-track specialist is somebody who knows a lot about a particular field; a Fachidiot as well".   "The difference is that a one-track specialist still notices what is going on around him, in the world which has nothing to do with university.  A Fachidiot simply does not, or not anymore".  Whether Fachidiot migrates over to English remains to be seen but it beat some other fabulous German words including 'Kummerspeck' – literally 'grief bacon' but meaning 'excessive weight gain caused by emotion-related over-eating'.

Other words were 'Ohrwurm' – literally earworm – but meaning a catchy tune; 'Quatsch' meaning something like nonsense; and 'Eklärungsnot' – being in need of an explanation.  The runners up were 'Backpfeifengesicht' – meaning a face that makes you want to slap it - and 'Torschlusspanik' – the panic you get when you are rushing for something and think you are not going to make it. 

© EUobserver.com 2006

Maria Gauci
Programme Manager, EU Paying Authority, Ministry of Finance
Coordinator for the German-Maltese Circle in Gozo
Interviewed by Ingrid B. Kidder

Maria Gauci could be called “a self-made Gozitan woman”. So far she has created a remarkable career for herself and – judging by all signs – will continue to do so.  I met her for the first time as an eager coordinator for the German-Maltese Circle in Gozo, and naturally wondered what her motives and drive were for promoting the German language and culture on the sister island. And she told me her story: 

Maria was born in Fontana, a small village on the outskirts of Victoria. Resources for children were limited at the time; however, swimming at Xlendi was a favourite pastime of the family with altogether seven siblings. She finished school with O-Levels and thereafter completed a course to become a State Registered Nurse. She started working at a large factory in Gozo as a nurse and Personnel Officer with responsibilities including carrying out ability (psychological and dexterity) tests for people applying for work.  

Since her marriage to a Gozitan from Victoria, she has been living two streets away from her parents’ house, also in Victoria. The couple has one son and two daughters. As soon as all children had started schooling, she took up working again as a Media Officer in the prevention team of “OASI” (Organisation Anti Drugs Solidarity Initiative). She contributed to the organisation’s magazine “Il-Palma” and concurrently she was an ardent promoter of OASI’s cause by writing also for other publications and taking part in radio programmes, speaking in favour of a healthy life-style together with medical doctors, psychologists and other specialists. She also carried out interviews and features for Ghawdex Illum – a  programme on Gozo aired on PBS TV. In the programmes for the Diocese’s News of Gozo she included items about the cultural characteristics and traditions of Gozitan villages, and in cooperation with medical doctors she gave information about healthy living.  

In 1996 Maria got involved with SEDQA - the national anti-drug agency, teaching parents, youths and children active communication skills, coping skills, and she acted as SEDQA’s Prevention Programme Coordinator for Gozo.  But this was not enough for her. For five years she attended classes in sociology and philosophy at the University of Malta, a course which she successfully completed with a B.A. degree.   She eventually joined the Public Service at the EU Affairs Directorate, Ministry of Finance, passing her exams as “Principal” in 2003. She followed a course in environmental studies as well as international relations achieving her Masters’ Degree in “Islands and Small States Studies” in November 2006, after which she was promoted to the position of EU Programme Manager for local projects within the same Ministry of Finance. 

Now, where does the German language come in? During her childhood German was seldom offered in Gozitan schools. However, she had heard some people talking in German to each other and liked the sound of it. Still at school she bought a “Teach Yourself German” book from her pocket money, and worked through it as best as she could. Much later - as a participant in a group seminar arranged by SEDQA at Akademie Klausenhof in Hamminkeln - she visited Germany for the first time and appreciated the language even more. Akademie Klausenhof is a catholic institution offering language courses, and personal development courses within the framework of youth exchanges. The initial contact to this institution was made in the early eighties on the initiative of the Bishop Emeritus for Gozo Nikol Cauchi.   

On her return from Germany she immediately joined a Beginners course which the German-Maltese Circle was organising in Gozo and passed her London O-Levels in 2003 with an “A” grade. And she proudly points out: “I sat for this O level exam fifteen days before my B.A. finals!”  Unfortunately for Maria, difficulties arose with the discontinuation in Gozo of the German language course beyond O level due to a substantial decrease in the number of students. This was Maria’s moment to really get involved. She narrates how she canvassed for more students of German language with the incentive of attending an EU funded seminar “Hoch 8” (a cultural exchange seminar between eight EU countries represented by youths) at Akademie Klausenhof. Happily stating: “With some persuasion I found a few students of the same level, and thus the language course could start again.” Since then she took a great interest in the affairs of the German-Maltese Circle in Gozo, and today acts as the Circle’s Coordinator in Victoria. In 2005 Maria was selected to attend a Goethe Institute scholarship open to personnel from EU Affairs Departments from 20 EU Member States and accession countries.   

“The study of the German Language is one of my hobbies. I love the language, the people and the country”, says Maria. She would like to deepen her linguistic knowledge, but time is a very rare commodity with her, as she also tries to include some physical exercises into her weekly program. Therefore, one thought takes a predominant place in her mind: “Life is made of time – and time is more expensive than money! If one loses time, one is wasting one’s life.”  

After a week of real living in Malta, after becoming members of the German-Maltese Circle, after a sad return to wet, cold, grey Hanover my wife Ira, our son Yan and I have only one chance to survive: memory! So, here is a little story. 
(Fotos: * Ira Thorsting) - With best regards - Jörns Thorsting 

Es war der Tag nach Nikolaus

Endlich auf Malta. Wir mussten uns wieder an die Wärme gewöhnen, das strahlende Licht, den Wind. An die freundlichen Menschen, an das Gefühl, wieder "zu Hause" zu sein. Wo kann man das besser als auf der Terrasse der Upper Barakka Gardens in Valletta, mit der traumhaften Aussicht über den großen Hafen und die Three Cities auf der anderen Seite? Direkt gegenüber Fort St. Angelo, wo die Malta-Ritter 1565 den Türken trotzten. Unter uns auf einer kleinen Bastion die Kanonen, mit denen täglich die Mittagszeit angekündigt wird. 

Ich fühlte mich als Herr der Insel und damit der ganzen Welt. Bestimmt hatte ich das Spielbein graziös vorgestellt, während ich mit großer Geste und vorragendem Bauch meinem Sohn erklärte, was es zu sehen gab. Doch da wurde ich unterbrochen. Von einer Hand, die zaghaft an meiner Hose zupfte. Hinter mir stand ein kleiner Junge. Etwa sieben Jahre alt, mit ziemlich ungepflegten Zähnen und einem schüchternen Lächeln. 

"Are you Ssnnna?"
"Pardon?"
"Are you Santa?" 

Neben mir gluckste jemand. Mein Weib hatte mich gewarnt, dass mein ziemlich langer weißer Bart Assoziationen wecken könnte. Ein schneller Blick hin und her, ein Grinsen, dann schaute ich wieder den Jungen an. Er meinte es offenbar ernst! Also:  "Did you recognize me? But, please, don`t tell anyone. I`m not on duty." 

Der Kleine ließ aber nicht locker: "Did you get my letter?" 

Au Backe, ich konnte ihm doch jetzt nicht versprechen, dass er alles bekommt, was auf dem Wunschzettel steht! Also durchwurschteln: 

"No, you must have been a little bit too late! But there is no problem. I will look after the letter the moment I am back at the North Pole. It´s still some weeks `til Christmas." 

Damit gab er sich zufrieden und hüpfte zu einem alten Herrn, der von einer Bank aus alles beobachtet hatte. Mein Weib schob mir unterdessen einen kleinen Schokoladen-Weihnachtsmann in die Hand, den sie aus den Tiefen ihrer Umhängetasche geholt hatte. Also hinterher. Der Junge erwartete mich schon, stellte mich gleich, stotternd vor Stolz, seinem Großvater vor und betrachtete das kleine Stückchen Schokolade, als hätte er das größte Geschenk seines Lebens bekommen. 

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