STUTTGART, Germany -- Looking for ways to be part of the local community' Want to practice your German, make new friends or learn about a new skill in a different country'

Here's just a handful of the many ways Americans can join in.

Friendship

The U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Outreach Kontakt Club is a German and American friendship organization.

"Germans and Americans [come] together to exchange ideas and build friendships," said Birgit Thompson, the USAG Stuttgart liaison to the Kontakt Club.

Monthly activities include a "Stammtisch," or dinner reservation, where club meets to talk (in German and English) over a meal.

Cpl. Christopher Altman, a 554th Military Police Company Soldier stationed in Stuttgart, recently started attending Kontakt Club activities with his wife, Janet.

"You start talking ... before you know it, you're facebooking like crazy," he said.

The club also takes field trips to local museums, fests and markets, and organizes group activities such as baking cookies together for Christmas, Thompson said.

For more information, visit www. kontakt-club-stuttgart.de.

Quilting

The Black Forest Quilt Guild provides a place for Stuttgart residents of all nationalities to socialize, quilt, and share their expertise with a needle and thread.

The guild meets on the fourth Friday of every month at Panzer Hall (the old firehouse), on Waldbergstrasse, just outside of Panzer Kaserne. The next meeting is set for Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m.

It's an easy way for newcomers to the Stuttgart military community to make friends, said Deb Miner, the guild's American president. "One of the greatest things is, if you're already a quilter, you can plug into the community."

Meetings include guest speakers, refreshments, "show and tell" and raffles.

"It's really a fun way to meet people who live here in Stuttgart who have the same hobby as I do," said Aby Dolinger, an American member.

Guild members also visit quilting shows throughout Europe and go on retreats.

"You don't have to be an expert quilter to join," Dolinger added.

For more information, visit www.blackforestquilters.com.

Singing

The Stuttgart German-American Community Chorus was founded in 1977 by singers in USAG Stuttgart who wanted to perform Handel's "Messiah" for Christmas. German singers were invited, and the result was the German-American Community Chorus, according to the website.

"The whole purpose and grounding for this was to provide entertainment to the American military community for people who would not regularly go downtown to hear a concert," said Thomas Carter, the chorus' director for the past 23 years and a member of the Stuttgart military community. "It's also to promote German-American relations."

Today, the chorus is still made up of members with many nationalities, Carter added. He directs in both English and German.

The chorus performs several concerts each year, both inside USAG Stuttgart and in the greater Stuttgart area. They also sing a variety of works in many languages. The upcoming Advent Concert, set for Nov. 28 at the Leonhardskirche Stuttgart, will feature the German language "BAfAPhmische Hirtenmesse," by Jakub Jan Ryba, and the English "Christmas Carols," by John Rutter.

"We go from masses to musicals and spirituals," Carter said.

The chorus meets every Monday night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Stuttgart-MAfA1/4nster Vereisheim (club house).

Singers of all skill levels are welcome.

For more information, call Carter at 0141-835-0359, or visit www.sgacc.de/usmenu.html.

Public speaking

Studies show that the one thing people fear the most is public speaking.

For the rare breed who enjoys it - or for those who need to improve their oratory skills - the Stuttgart International Toastmasters Club may be the perfect venue.

The Toastmaster process takes the fear out of public speaking, according to long-time member Dr. Howard Krout, USAG Stuttgart's Employee Assistance Program coordinator.

Members prepare and deliver speeches in front of the club, and receive almost-immediate feedback on how they can improve their presentation skills. "Once you get started, you'll find it's not nearly as intimidating," Krout said.

The club normally meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at the IBM Klub BAfAPblingen.

Meetings and speeches are conducted in English. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16, at 7:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.toastmasters-stuttgart.com.

'Happy Wanderer'

The Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club offers its members fresh air, fitness and friendship through walking events all over Europe.

The membership of the oldest continuously-operating German-American wandering club includes approximately 40 Germans and 60 Americans, according to club officials.

Members can participate in five, 10 and 20 kilometer walks all year long, if they desire.

"It's great exercise," said Larry Pettaway, who works for the U.S. European Command. "I normally do the 10K. I'm working my way up to the 20."

He appreciates walking because it is something his family can share together. Pettaway, his wife and grandson go to as many weekend events as his work schedule will allow.

There is also great camaraderie in the club, especially after a walk. "You get to break bread - have a wurst, share a glass of beer or a glass of wine. I've made some great German and American friends through the club," Pettaway said.

The Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at the GaststAfA$tte Schwarzbach in Vaihingen.

For more information, visit the website at www.sgawc.org.

History, culture

The 1948 Club allows Germans and Americans to meet and share their culture, history, language and customs.

"It's been a great experience," said Ann Reed, a EUCOM employee, and a club member since 1999.

The club, with 200 members - about 70 of them American - hosts a cultural outing each month.

"Last month we visited some World War II bunkers in Feuerbach. This month we're doing a country and western evening," Reed said.

Upcoming events include the Bad Cannstatt Volksfest (Sept. 25) and the Ludwigsburg pumpkin festival (Oct. 16). Dinners, wine tastings and visits to local points of interest are also on the calendar.

While the official language of the club is English, Reed said occasionally on an outing, a guide may speak only German, but someone in the club will serve as a translator. "We usually try to set up German and English tours so everyone can understand and participate."

Annual dues are Ac'A!60. Reed recommends interested parties attend a few outings before joining. "See if you like it, then join," she said.

For more information, visit the 1948 Club website at www.gac1948.de.

Sports

While the sports programs within USAG Stuttgart are top notch, budding athletes may desire a more competitive environment.

Nick and Matt Ashley did. They play football with Child, Youth and School Services. For basketball, however, they play on an under-14 team at BAfAPblingen's Hermann-Raiser-Halle.

"We've played with the Germans for two years," Nick, 11, said.

Last season, the boys' team made it to the Baden-WAfA1/4rttemberg state championships, placing fourth.

Playing with and against Germans is more challenging, according to Matt, 13, because they are focused on improving their skills. "We're the youngest on our team. It makes me push myself so much more," he said.

The brothers are very athletic, and their mother, Joanna, wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to excel at their athletic endeavors. "We decided to try what's in our neighborhood," she said.

They found there were no language barriers. "Lots of the kids spoke English. The coach spoke excellent English," Joanna said. The boys were also able to practice their German.

Athletes will find German sports clubs offer just about every sport imaginable, including American football and baseball. To find out what sport clubs are available in your area, visit your city's home page and search for "Vereine," then "sport."

Philanthropy

The German American Women's Club of Stuttgart promotes friendship and cultural understanding.

"We're a mixture of Germans, Americans and international women," said Laurie Menzel, the American president.

Through GAWC, women can become involved in special interest groups such as fitness, language, literature and culture.

They can also be a part of the Stuttgart military community's largest fundraiser, the Pfennig Bazaar, a giant flea market held each year in October.

"We raise money for German and American community groups," Menzel said. Last year the group raised more than Ac'A!107,000.

A side benefit to belonging to GAWC, according to Menzel, who has belonged to the club for eight years, is making connections with local Stuttgart women who are happy to explain how to use the train system or where to go for a good meal. And volunteering at the bazaar, she said, is a good way to meet women from the military community.

For those who are interested in joining, a welcome event is scheduled for Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in the Swabian Special Events Center on Patch Barracks. A Ac'A!15 fee includes lunch.

"You can learn about the club, our special interest groups and sign up to volunteer at the Pfennig Bazaar, Menzel said.

For more information on joining or volunteering, contact Menzel via e-mail at lmenzel@att.net.

Social, cultural

Navy Capt. Greg Stephens was looking to join an active group that offered a wide variety of social and cultural activities, such as concerts, museums, cycling trips and potluck dinners. He found what he was looking for in the Metropolitan Club Stuttgart.

"I've kicked tires on a bunch of organizations. This is a great one because of the quality of people and the variety of events," said Stephens, who is assigned to EUCOM.

The club, part of the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James F. Byrnes Institute, has approximately 50 members of all nationalities.

English is the official language, but thanks to its international membership "if you're aspiring to learn Korean, Hungarian or German, you can," Stephens said.

Members don't just show up for meetings, they help plan them. "I've co-sponsored a potluck dinner, and this fall will be sponsoring a tour to the Landwirtschaft in Hohenheim," he said.

In addition to the activities, the club holds a monthly meeting in downtown Stuttgart. For more information, visit www.metclub.de.