This year’s “Picnic” in the wine museum of Moschendorf was especially dedicated to “Miss Burgenland New York”, Danielle Seier. She and her relatives were welcomed by President Dr. Walter Dujmovits and the host to the ceremony, Eduard Nicka. The picnic was well attended, although the day was very hot. The longer the afternoon, more and more people came to the wine museum in order to have fun with music and Uhudler. There are pictures of the picnic in this edition of the newspaper.

Two days later the “Burgenländische Gemeinschaft” celebrated a special day for “Miss Burgenland New York”, as usual. She and her relatives as well as Burgenland emigrants to Australia and members of the board of the “Burgenländische Gemeinschaft”, about 25 people all together, went to Eisenstadt to meet the highest representatives of the Burgenland politics and the Catholic church in the country. Initially the group was brought into the conference hall of the Landtag of Burgenland, where a wonderful movie about Burgenland and the tasks of its politics were shown. When Governor Hans Niessl and Verena Dunst, member of the provincial government, welcomed the group, President Walter Dujmovits was referring in his speech that emigrants from three continents (USA, Australia, South Africa) were among the delegation. Governor Niessl thanked the members of the “Burgenländische Gemeinschaft” for their work for the Burgenländers abroad, recalling Burgenland Government´s trip to North America last spring.

After a short sightseeing tour of Eisenstadt, the group was welcomed by Dr. Ägidius Zsifkovics, bishop of the Diocesis of Eisenstadt. It was a very cordial meeting with the bishop. He welcomed the group in the chapel of the bishop’s residence and after a prayer invited them to strudel and drinks. Bishop Zsifkovics showed great interest in the stories and experiences of the members of the small delegation. A native Südburgenländer (he grew up in Hackerberg), he certainly knows the history of Burgenland emigration to America. At the end of the very friendly and warm welcome Bishop Zsifkovics proposed in good Burgenland tradition to sing one song at least together. Finally he added: “Wenn ihr das nächste Mal wiederkommt, werden wir auch noch tanzen” (“When you come again to visit me we´ll dance moreover”). The group then visited the small Cathedral of Eisenstadt commemorating Bishop Dr. Stefan Lászlo at his grave, who had visited the Burgenländers in America several times. The Government of Burgenland invited the group to Kleinhöflein (part of Eisenstadt) for lunch. Afterwards the participants of the “Eisenstadt excursion” returned to Southern Burgenland bringing the exciting day to its end with the christening of the wine.

The “Burgenländische Gemeinschaft” would like to thank Governor Hans Niessl and Bishop Dr. Ägidius Zsifkovics for offering their respect to the delegation of Burgenland emigrants. It was a wonderful day.

Walter Dujmovits jun.