Review on the 53rd Club Birthday, October 2001:

This years birthday celebration was FANTASTIC!. The event was held at the beautiful Schlossrestaurant of the Schwetzingen Castle, as you walked in through the gilded gates and along the incredible garden you knew the night was to be very special. The elegance continued as you entered the dining area which had been prepared and the tables decorated beautifully.

After a champagne reception, we were entertained by the musical group "Agua Viva". They were dressed in rococo period costumes with golds and soft teal, powdered wigs, and mannerisms to complete the atmosphere.

Several delicious selections were offered for dinner. Relishing our personal choices, were able to enjoy conversation with the people sitting at the table. Soon the room became animated and filled with laughing and companionship!

The after dinner entertainment was such a fun! The musical group was joined by a dance group "Danzatori Palatini" also dressed in rococo costumes. They showed us several minuets in various tempo's. Elegant and refined in every move, even the women with the side bustle gowns moved with confidence and ease. For the grand finale they invited the audience to join them! Confidence and ease went out the window - but we had a grand time following the leader into several configurations while doing the "beginners" minuet.

It was a pleasure to be involved with the Birthday celebration. The opportunity to visit and have an event in such a historical place is a thrill. To enjoy the new and continually developing friendship in the German-American Women's Club a satisfaction in its self. The evening was a huge success!

Reflections on the beginnings of the German-American Women's Club

Mrs. Fischer's speech held on 7. January 2004 at the HOCSC -GAWC meeting, PHV

It is said, that history repeats itself and I have very much that feeling now that we are trying to rebuild Irak and I compare it to the time in 1945 when we were trying to rebuild Germany.

This is long before any of you were born but I was a youngish woman at that time - you could say I am already an historical figure.

Back in 1945 after 6 years of devastating war it seemed the most reasonable thing to try to get the former enemies together.

At first the Americans had a policy of non-fraternization so that no contact between the nations was possible. Gradually rules relaxed and men's discussion groups met. One of the first was in September 1947 and one of the items on the agenda was to discuss the advisability of opening the club to women.

An American Military Government organized town proceedings very efficiently from the Town Hall. I personally experienced their efforts and they helped me to start the first school to be opened in Heidelberg after the war.

The Americans at that time knew how important it was to re-educate the young people who had been brought up only with the Nazi propaganda.

They began the G.Y.A. German Youth Activities. Their centre was in the Häusserstrasse and a number of German and American women worked here together.

We felt the need to meet regularly and so a club was founded on October 1948. A constitution was drawn up and the Americans with their club traditions based on Robert's Rules of Order were wonderful examples for us.

Article II stated that "The purpose of this club shall be to further German-American understanding: to promote friendship among women of all nations and to engage in charitable activities."

We have remained true to these principles - the only great change is that the dues are much higher now than they were then.

Our first meetings were held in the Green Room in the Stadthalle and the Americans who chaired the gatherings opened up by having us sing a hymn or say a club prayer - a good start to a meeting.

The Americans introduced us to a little social life. It was the time of cocktail parties - we all had to have hats and mink stoles - it was great fun. Ingrid has kindly supplied us with photos where you can see these fashions displayed.

We soon realised that getting together to drink coffee and chat was not enough. We needed to have a purpose - this was to be engaged in charitable activities - essential in those days when Germany had millions of destitute refugees.

In order to be charitable you need money. From 1952 - 1963 we held Christmas Fairs in the Stadthalle.

Later this changed to a completely different project, the Pfennig Bazaar, which has become a traditional Heidelberg annual institution.

The money from this helps us to donate to German and Americans organizations but above all to the exchange of German and American university students.

You will be hearing about the Club's activity groups from Dagmar but I would like to quote a little from an American friend, Peggy Westbrook, written on the occasion of our 50th anniversary in 1998.

"My first trip to Germany came in the summer of 1950 when my husband, a Major in the United States Army, was sent to USAREUR Headquarters in Heidelberg. It was also my first trip to Europe. I was looking forward to meeting German women, learning about their customs, culture and cuisine.

Fortunately for me, soon after arriving I learned about the German-American Women's Club. I decided it would be the way to meet German women who were also interested in meeting American women. About the same time, the first Sprachgruppen were beginning and I believe I was among those who were in the first group. Frau Gladys Fischer and Frau Gisela Freytag were among the first women I met in Heidelberg. The outcome of joining this group and becoming involved in the club's activities exceeded my expectations.

My husband and I met and became friends with a number of Heidelberg people. It was a sad day when the Fischers and Freytags came down to the hotel to see us off to the United States and there were tears all around as the bus pulled out with all of us singing "Muss' i denn ". This has been a wonderful friendship which has endured to the present, and many of the trips we made together are still vivid in our memories.

It is difficult to believe that almost fifty years have passed since I first became a member of the German-American Women's Club. I can't remember any other club that has given me so much pleasure. I hope it continues for as long as Americans are in Germany."

I will now close with this hope in mind and hope that you stay with us for many years helping to give stability to this small part of the world.

Gladys Fischer

Tennis

Abschied und Neuanfang/Farewell and New Beginning

Unser Tennisteam 2003/2004

Wendy/Gesa/Poly/Bärbel/Ingrid/Cari/Ingrid/Karin/Ulrike/Miriam/Inge/Leah Es fehlen: Christine/Karin/Romy/Ursula

The Heidelberg Literature Group visits St. Petersburg

What a wonderful city this “ Venice of the North” with its magnificent architecture and glistering waterways! St.Petersburg presented itself proudly in brilliant sunshine to our party of eleven from the Literature Group.

The idea of this trip was born when Raissa Zelenko presented Pushkins “ Eugen Onegin” and showed us slides of her home in St. Petersburg .

We took a well organized tour with really good guides Lara and Anne to see the main points of cultural interest and Raissa arranged all sorts of side programs and looked after us wonderfully. Many thanks Raissa!

Everything went perfectly and we were able to see many fantastic buildings “down town” – the Hermitage , Isaac Cathedral , the Russian Museum , the Admiralty , Peter and Paul Cathedral etc. A boat trip on the river Neva and many canals was an enjoying introduction to the layout of the city. On the outskirts we visited Catherine`s Palace with its newly reconstructed Amber Room and Peterhof – Peter 1 st ´s Palace and watergardens with hundreds of golden fountains.

A day trip to Nowgorod , Russia`s oldest city with its quiet white churches and monastery proved a welcome break from the golden dazzle of the city.

A must was of course the classical ballet and Raissa organized tickets for super performances of “ Nutcracker” and “ Swan Lake ”.

The impression of the city – wild taxi rides , the sound of monks singing, visions of golden buildings and wonderful works of art will remain long in our memories.

Gillian Göritz