The German American National Congress, also known as DANK (Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress), is the largest organization of Americans of German descent.  It has some 30 chapters and over 100 associated member societies from coast to coast.

The organization seeks to bring together Americans of German descent in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels.  These were the primary reasons why the German American National Congress was founded in 1959, and they are still among the organization's primary objectives today.

In addition to its cultural pursuits, DANK maintains close relationships with our governmental and civic bodies, including the White House, federal, state and municipal agencies, as well as the German Embassy in Washington, consulates and other German organizations with cultural, education and commercial agendas.

In 1987 DANK was instrumental in the adoption of the Congressional resolutions declaring October 6th German American Day, which has been observed since then on a national level.

Together with the Steuben Society of America and the United German American Committee of the U.S.A., the German American Joint Action Committee (GAJAC) was formed to promote this historic event.

Leaders of the German American National Congress have been frequently invited to the White House by US presidents, as well as to functions by high ranking German government officials.

The German American National Congress publishes a bi-monthly bilingual newspaper, the German American Journal, with news and activity reports for its members and friends. It is the voice of the organization and has a national distribution.

Here are some of the other objectives and activities of DANK:

• Fosters friendship between the United States and Germany
• Promotes a positive image of Germans among Americans.
• Establishes exchange programs and cross-cultural activities among young Germans and Americans.
• Conducts language schools for children as well as for adults.
• Encourages and supports German language and culture studies in public schools, colleges and universities.
• Facilitates genealogy research of German ancestry.

DANK chapters engage in many cultural and social activities of particular interest to its members, e.g. German American Day, Steuben Parades, German Fests, picnics, dances, Karneval and Christmas celebrations.

DANK also interacts with other ethnic societies in joint cultural programs.

As the nation's largest German American organization it has become a uniting force for our country's largest ethnic community and a strong voice in representing its interests.