CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ask any German living in Charlotte and they'll tell you the German community in the Queen City is strong.
"I lived in other states; Arizona, California, in Washington and I have not found such a tight-knit German community than here," Bernd Losskarn said. "Honestly, it's incredible. The people know each other."
Another German Charlottean, Hans Hilgenstock, said it's just more fun to come together with friends who share a common interest. And it goes far beyond those born in Germany.
"Very open, very inviting, very welcoming," Reinhard von Hennigs, the German Honorary Consul, said. "There are German culture clubs, there are German events."
One of those clubs is the Alemannia Society. Losskarn, the club's vice president, said the whole thing started 50 years ago as a way for Germans living in Charlotte to exchange information and have fun.
"Where is a good place to buy European bread, or where can we buy European sausages?" Losskarn said. "Or where can we get a German magazine, for that matter?"
Now, 50 years later, it's still thriving. The group doesn't meet monthly anymore, but Loskarn says they still have large gatherings every three months. That includes the annual membership meeting in February, a July picnic, a trip to wine country in October and a big Christmas bash in December.
It's $25 a year to join and everyone is welcome.
"You don't have to be German to join," Losskarn said. "Everybody who is interested in German culture and wants to be a part of some fun outings is more than welcome to join us. We don't have a certain political agenda, either."
The reason everyone is allowed to join? Losskarn says it's all in the name.
"It could mean, 'For all men,'" he said. "Allah man, Allah, 'all' man."
But you might want to brush up on your German before your first meeting.
"We speak the language whenever we can, of course, you know, everything is in German," Losskarn said.