The German-American Club of the Carolinas was founded in 1975 to "form a group of Europeans and Americans with varied interests, one complementing the other, to provide social entertainment, promote better understanding, and be an asset to our community as a whole".

The Club enjoys a membership of about 140 members which is compiled of Germans, Austrians, Swiss, Americans, and natives from several other countries in Europe, the Middle and even the Far East. This diversity in culture provides for some interesting conversations at meetings and social gatherings.

Some of the events organized by the Club are borrowed from German traditions and are adapted to the American lifestyle, such as an international Mardi Gras, Easter Egg Hunt, May Dance, Solstice Celebration in collaboration with a German Club in North Carolina, an International Soccer Tournament, "Nikolausfeier" [where Santa Claus pays a visit to the children] and a "Stammtisch", a monthly get-together of members and those interested in meeting and interacting with Germans.

The Club has also held several educational seminars on Double Taxation and Dual Citizenship as well as Social Security, topics that are of interest mainly to the German population. Informing its members in form of seminars is considered a duty and responsibility, which it takes very seriously.

It is not always easy - this far away from the home country - to stay abreast of everything that is happening abroad. Contacts and resources that are available to the Board of Directors provide the necessary information and are then presented to the members of the Club.

One of the highlights of the year is the annual bi-lingual Christmas Eve Service at St. John's Church in Spartanburg. People from as far away as Tryon in North Carolina and Anderson, South Carolina (roughly one hour driving time) come to this service. The church can easily accommodate about 300 people, but many are standing in the back for lack of room. The proceeds are divided between Habitat for Humanity and St.John's Church, who happily call one of their houses "The German-American Club House" which was built and funded in part by the Club and with the help of other organizations in the Upstate.

"People come and people go", a natural occurrence in today's fast-paced world. This phenomenon is observed and experienced by the Club as well. Some of its members are here since its inauguration, some have moved on and new ones have arrived. Nevertheless, the Club is just as strong as it was over 30 years ago. Some of the events have changed, some ideas have changed, but the basic theme of interacting with our "neighbors" and the exchange and tolerance of cultural differences (past and present) remain.