History of Volkssporting in the US
Formation of the AVA and early history
Volkssporting in the US
Volkssporting made its debut in the United States on June 12-13, 1976 in Fredericksburg, Texas, as part of the celebration of the Bicentennial of American Independence. The Rev. Mr. Kenn Knopp, a Catholic deacon from Fredericksburg, TX, was introduced to Volkssporting during a visit with family in Germany. Realizing the potential health benefits of the sport, as well as a great venue to showcase the German roots of Fredericksburg, Rev. Knopp thought it would be an ideal tie-in with the local Bicentennial celebration and brought the proposal before the members of the Fredericksburg Bicentennial committee in charge of heritage. The Rev. Knopp contacted the IVV President, Mr. Gunther Hartmetz and “got the ball rolling”.
The Rev. Knopp put a notice in the local paper that a Volkssport club was organizing and a Volkssport festival was being planned for the community. A small group of people responded to the ad. The club was named Volkssportverein Fredericksburg keeping the Germanic Influence alive. Cliff Hahne was its’ first president. On April 20, 1976, the International Peoples’ Sports-United States of America (IPS-USA) was incorporated in Texas. The IVV accepted it as the national organization of Volkssporting in the United States with associate member status on April 30, 1976 and gave it the authority to serve as the regulatory body to oversee the development of additional walk fests and walk organizations in Texas as well as the other states.
With the success of two Volkssport events to their credit, Rev. Knopp created The American Wanderer (TAW), the first Volkssport newsletter in the United States. The first Issue was published in January 1978. Later that year interested individuals from Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, and California held an organizational meeting in Fredricksburg to plan for the IPS-USA becoming a full member of the IVV and a constitutional convention.
The first national convention of volkssporters in the U.S.A. met June 15-17, 1979 and
1) ratified a constitution,
2) elected national officers,
3) adopted a name change to The American Volkssport Association (AVA), and
4) fulfilled the requirements to become a member nation of the IVV.
By the year 1981 the AVA saw exceptional growth from approximately 17 clubs at the first convention to 80 clubs two years later at the second convention with 150 events sanctioned. Volkssporting in the United States has continued to grow and prosper. In 1989 the number of clubs had grown to 600. Total participation across the U.S.A. in 1990 was 497,292 in 1,757 events (TAW, Mar/Apr '90)
Note: History taken from “History of Volkssporting in the U.S.A. 1976-1989” by Charlene Agne-Traub, Ph.D., CHES AVA Historian.
