We present ourselves

First Vice President

The First Vice President is a member of the Board and therefore also member of the executive Board. She is elected for the duration of one club year.
The first presidency must alternate between a German and a non-German member on a yearly basis. If the President is German, the First Vice President shall be non-German, and vice-versa.
At the same time the First Vice President is always also the chairperson of the Elisabeth-Norgall-Prize Committee. The Prize is awarded yearly in March.
Should the President become unable to fulfill her duties, her place is taken by the First Vice President and she assumes all other duties of the President.
(Nena von Stein-Lausnitz)

2. Vice President

At the beginning of our club year 2010 I was appointed as 2nd Vice President associated with the responsibility as chairperson of the Admission Committee of New Members. According to our Constitution this committee consists of the chairperson, of the German and the non-German chairperson of the Standing Committee Membership, of a former German and a former non-German chairperson of the Standing Committee Membership, and of a longstanding German and long standing non-German member. This committee has the task to recommend new members to the General Board for admission according to Para. 4 (membership) of our Constitution.
The task of the 2nd Vice President is to invite the candidates to an information tee after the Admission Committee has deliberated on the application in a previous meeting. A place for the information tee must be identified and ordered. After the information tee’s introduction the applicants can become acquainted with each other while having a snack in a relaxed atmosphere. This meeting takes place normally two times or possibly three times a year. After the Board has approved the admittance the new members get their membership confirmation, our Constitution, the membership list, the current issue of the Club Notes as well as the invitation to the next Regular Meeting to become introduced officially.
This year 24 ladies were allowed to join our club: There is one lady from each of the countries Egypt, China, England, Greek, Colombia, Kuwait, Moldova, Austria, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and USA; 12 ladies are from Germany - an indication for the attractiveness of our international friendship club.
(Sabine Schwarz)

Recording Secretary

The Recording Secretary is responsible for all minutes of the club. She writes the minutes for all meetings of the executive and the general board. Similarly, she documents the proceedings of the membership meeting in September and of the general assembly in May with the election of the new board. Beyond that, she is responsible for the minutes of the election of the Norgall Prize Winner.
All minutes are initially sent to the president and the parliamentarian. The respective group approves the minutes at the subsequent meeting. All minutes are archived in the club´s folder. Beyond that, the president and the parliamentarian receive a copy of all the minutes. In order to assure a sufficient quorum for each meeting, lists of attendance are prepared and kept for all meetings. Finally, reservation of an adequate room for the meetings of the executive and the general board are part of the recording secretary´s responsibility.
(Astrid Latta)

Corresponding Secretary

The corresponding secretary is responsible for preparing and printing the Club Notes in a timely manner. She collects all contributions from various board members, chairpersons and club members and after revision puts them together in a unified form. She is also responsible for the official club correspondence as long as it does not fall within the sphere of responsibility of other board members.
(Ulrike Lapper)

Treasurer

The treasurer has the task of collecting membership fees as well as administrating the club’s funds. She is responsible for setting the club’s annual budget containing proceeds and expenditures during the current year and the estimated profit or loss.
Furthermore, the treasurer also has to prepare the supplementary budget on an
annual basis. She is obliged to maintain a record of all of the club’s cash receipts and disbursements and settle any outstanding bills of the IWC. A further task of the treasurer is to issue donation receipts for membership fees and donations to the club. She will be actively involved in the organisation of the Xmas Tea as well as the annual IWC ball. Once the club year is terminated, a financial audit will be conducted.
For further details please consult the IWC’s bylaws.
(Sigrid Volk)

Deputy Treasurer

The deputy treasurer is responsible for administering the financial issues in relation to the Regular Meeting, Board meeting, Xmas Tea and Ball and therefore works closely with the Special Events team.
(Sigrid Volk)

Club Notes

How do your Club Notes arrive in your letterbox every month? The answer is simple: you have a reliable postman who takes care of that. But what happens before that? What needs to be done in order for the postman to deliver the letter to you? Until a short while ago we never really thought about that either but now we are experts in “postage”.
Around the middle of each month the Club Notes are ready for collection in Offenbach, around 500 copies. Sometimes there are additional inserts such as invitations, membership list, etc.
After collecting all of the above we have the nice job of stuffing and sealing the envelopes. There is an address list sorted by postcodes on my computer. This address list needs to be updated every month with the membership changes in our club. There is a second file for the ladies who read the electronic version of the CN but still need to receive invitations and membership lists the traditional way: in an envelope delivered by the postman.
How the address arrives from my computer on the address label on the envelope is my husband’s well-kept secret. Sticking the address labels onto the envelopes is easy, but please do not cause any disarrangement now! The post office needs to have the letters sorted neatly by postcode.
The letters have to be bundled according to the first two numbers of the post code and laced up with a piece of string – just like a proper packet. On top of each bundle a green sheet of paper called “Bundaufschriftzettel” labeled with the postcode and the number of letters in the bundle needs to be attached. Even if we only send out a single letter to a postal area, it still needs to be packed into a bundle and labeled with the green paper. This is not yet the end of the formalities though, as the complete delivery needs to be registered electronically in the internet portal of the postal service. We have managed to register all the Club Notes so far – be it luck, practice or just the plain self-belief that everything will work out right…
Our delivery completely fills up my car to the roof top and weighs between 50kg and 100kg. With the promise that everything is in correct order, we leave our letters with the nice lady at the post office hoping that the next large post van will pick it up. At this point we lose track of the Club Notes until each one reappears in one of your letterboxes a couple of days later. So far we have not heard of any of them going missing on the way.
(Brigitte Merkel Gioconda Lopez de Wölfel)

Interest Group "Cucina italiana"

Our group was founded in June 1990. The first meeting was held in September, at that time there were twelve ladies, so we celebrate our 20th Anniversary this year.

We meet once a month at each other lady of the group and then we cook all together. Our group includes nine Ladies, six German, a Filipina, a Hungarian and myself - an Italian - as chairperson.

We have every time a lot of fun at our meetings. At the beginning we were cooking a two course meal; today it turns almost into a four-course menu. We try recipes from all regions of Italy and we had in the 20 years of our existence, only twice the same recipe.

Our 10th Anniversary, we have celebrated in Tuscany and have taken part in a cooking class there. At our 20th Anniversary, we had an excellent lunch at a very good Italian restaurant, where I was crowned from my ladies, who are now very good cooks, with a head chef hat.

We now look forward to stay together for many more years. Buon Appetito!

Chairperson:
Roberta Vannucci Stribning
Tel. 069 – 62 36 58

Hospitality

We the Hospitality ladies, 2 Chairpersons and a Working Group, welcome Members and guests at the monthly meeting, organise seating plans and the reservation of places, take care of participants at the monthly meetings and are available to answer questions and fulfil wishes if possible.

Further tasks in the Club year are:

1. Honouring long-standing Members in October and February.
2. Inviting the sponsors of new Members to the Meeting when they are presented
3. Being on duty at the Christmas Tea
4. Organising the Local Get-together in May
5. Planning the Joint Board Meeting (the meeting of the "old and new" Boards at the end of the Club year)

We look forward to welcoming hopefully many Members to the Meetings in this Club year and are always willing to answer questions.

Chairpersons
Christa Gessner
Yumiko Wiesheu

Programm Committee

Efthymia Tomtsi, Susan Held and Elena Vonofakou the ladies from the Program Committee would like to tell you about our work on the Committee.

Our responsibilities include planning our regular meetings with a variety of presentations from all walks of life. This is to show the international and multicultural character of our Club. However, this is only the first step, because after the initial idea comes the implementation: consultation with the President to source speakers for the topics, the ideal location to host the event, technical facilities and, of course, also to decide on the menu. We give the information to the Corresponding Secretary and the Reservation Committee in order to be published in the Club Notes.

Additionally, the Decoration Committee has to be informed on the topic and the number of attendees. On the day of the regular meeting the program of the day is ready and the Hospitality Committee receives the guest list from us in order to do the seating plan.

During the regular meetings other Club events also take place ie. long term members are honoured, the introduction and welcoming of new members, new board members presentation, all members general meetings etc. All these programs are part of our annual planing.

As you see being a member of the Programm Committee is a responsible and worthwhile position and we are always grateful for your understanding and constructive criticism.

Bridge am Dornbusch

The Interest Group „Bridge am Dornbusch“ was founded by Mrs. Paula Brathun 23 years ago. Due to her serious illness a couple of years ago she was much to our deepest regret no longer able to organize the bridge afternoons. I was willing to take over so that the group could continue.

We very much enjoy playing bridge in a friendly atmosphere twice a month; the second and fourth Thursday at 3 p.m. at Café Christine, Eschersheimer Landstraße 319.

New bridge players are always welcome. If you are interested please contact the chairperson.

Chairperson: Astrid Bosselmann Tel. 069 – 52 36 74

Reservation - Who we are and what we do

Our team consists of 18 ladies. 4 of us will gladly accept your registration for regular meetings by phone, fax or e-mail. We need your registration a few days before the meeting date, as the number of meals needs to be communicated ahead of time to the caterer and we also have to pass on this information to the ladies of other teams (e.g. Programme, Hospitality, Decoration) in order for them to plan the number of tables and seating arrangements for certain people such as senior members, new members, speakers and such. In addition, personalised cards holding your name need to be printed. You can register or cancel your registration with one of the chairpersons at a later point in time and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes to avoid any costs at your end, should you not be able to make it to the meeting.

On the day of a meeting 4 of us will be seated at a table near the entrance with alphabetical lists of all participants. You will pay for the meeting and pick up your name card there. Unfortunately our job is not finished until all participants have arrived and paid for their participation. We therefore appreciate your being punctual, as otherwise we miss part of the lecture or programme. Working in our team is a lot of fun and an opportunity to get to know many members of the club by name and personally. The ability to use a computer does help. In case you are interested to become part of our team, please contact one of us.

Your chairpersons Annette Haag and Katrin Birck

English Conversation Group IVa

In November 1986, on the occasion of an English Theater performance at one of our meetings at the Frankfurter Hof, Frau Mathilda Witting asked me if I would take over as Chairperson of her English group as Frau von Gleichen, the former Chairperson, had left the club. I agreed to do so, and for a period of over five years our group also arranged regular visits to the English Theater in Frankfurt. (There were usually between 15 and 18 theatregoers at that time.) At present there are eight of us in the group and as we meet in a café the number has to be limited.

Besides reading and discussing articles of current interest we also do exercises on idioms and vocabulary. As a result of globalisation we are constantly encountering new words and expressions.

We have spent many happy hours together over the years, and still enjoy our regular meetings at Café Christine, Frankfurt-Dornbusch, on the first and third Wednesday in the month.

Chairperson: Diana Kröll Tel. 06103 – 6 77 49

The English-American Literature Group

The purpose of our group is to read and discuss classical as well as current American and English literature. We have been active for many years. The current chairperson took over from Mrs Hudson, the wife of the English Consul-General, in 1982.

We meet monthly in the afternoon on pre-arranged dates. Following our literary discussion we enjoy coffee and cake.

Possible new participants who might be interested please contact the chairperson.

Annamaria Weckerling Tel.069 - 68 32 81

SPECIAL EVENTS…the name is self-explanatory…it’s something special!!!

This group within the IWC is in charge of three projects: presenting a Ball, organising the Christmas Tea and last but not least organising the Friendship Ball.

At the beginning of the club year the new chairpersons put a team together. The special events working group has more or less existed in its present form for quite a long time and is a highly professional team. Naturally every now and then someone leaves the team and new people join. The working group meets on a monthly basis in order to discuss and plan the "projects" and minutes are taken.

Before the actual work begins we have to find a ball project, a location and entertainment/band for the event. At a regular meeting the project is presented to the members, ideally by the patron. Special events are responsible for the contracts with the hotel, musicians and any entertainers for the evening.

For the Christmas Tea we try to find musical entertainment appropriate to the festive season. In addition an extremely “professional” team is in charge of registration and the catering – many helping hands are needed!

Another duty of the special events team is the printing of the invitations to both the Christmas Tea and the Ball, the begging letters on behalf of the president and the patron for donations to the Ball and notices in the Club Notes.

There are many other smaller details which have to be attended to, far too many to mention here but one thing is sure, working with special events is never boring and very rewarding.

We wish all those who take on this responsibility in future lots of ideas, fantasy, enthusiasm and above all time. A close small network is invaluable. Have fun!

Sponsoring Group of Senior Members

We are responsible for the Sponsoring Group of Senior Members for 2010/11.

One of our duties is to liaise with reservations and hospitality to ensure that our senior members are cared for at meetings and have a seat reservation. Another pleasant task is congratulating them on their birthdays and sending them all best wishes from the IWC.

Helga Knijnenburg (NL) (eft)
Helgard Koblischek (D) (right)

Friendship

At the beginning of the Club year we are given the names of the ladies who will be celebrating a special birthday. We congratulate these ladies on their birthdays and present them with a bouquet of flowers or send them a small book. On the occasion of a member's wedding or a birth in the family we also send our congratulations together with flowers.

When we are informed by our Club members that another member has been taken ill, we either ring her or visit her in hospital or at home (if she so wishes). We take along some flowers, a book or some confectionery on behalf of the Club. On the demise of one of our members we send our condolences to the family and, if possible, attend the funeral. In the latter case we take along a floral tribute on behalf of the Club. An obituary appears in the Club Notes.

In memory of Mrs Norgall:
We tend the grave of Mrs Norgall on her birthday on 10 March, and on the day she died, 31 August. The President usually joins us on these occasions.

Welfare Projects:
In the February Club Notes we appeal to our members to send Friendship their suggestions regarding German and non-German welfare projects. These organisations have to be recognised charitable bodies. After considering all suggestions in March, Friendship prepares a resume of at least three projects in each category to present to the Board in April. The Board then chooses two projects in each category, short descriptions of which are then published in both German and English in the Club Notes in May.

Chairpersons:
Gabriele Adlfinger
Ludmilla Wilkening

Cooking Five Continents

Our cooking group has existed for over 35 years. It was founded by Mrs Gerda von Slatow, President in 1977 - 1978 (see photograph).

We cook international recipes, but also use our own ideas. After each meeting a detailed recipe is given to each participant. This way, our members can cook any recipe they like. Moreover, we also enjoy the international cuisine in several gourmet temples in Germany as well as abroad.

Chairperson : Elisabeth Vennekens Tel. 069 – 59 29 8159 29 81

"Wir kochen international"

In the autumn of 2003 we took over the Interest Group "Wir kochen international" which was founded by Ursula Menze and Gabriele Adlfinger in 1995. At present our group consists of 12 ladies: 3 Germans, 1 Egyptian, 1 from Ethiopia, 1 Belgian, 1 Dutch, 1 Japanese, 1 Pakistani, 1 Swiss, 1 Turkish lady and last but not least one lady from Vietnam.

We meet once a month as often as we can at the home of one of the ladies and cook following international recipes as well as from our own ideas. At these meetings we not only enjoy the food but also the conversation and exchange about our varying cultural backgrounds.

A special highlight is the meeting every few months when we are joined by our husbands. Each member brings something to eat and we enjoy a sociable evening together.

Chairpersons:
Seyhan Azak Tel. 06103 - 4 38 78
Ellen Steinfelder Tel. 06182 - 2 75 08

Hohenwald Senior Citizen’s Home

On the second Monday of each month, with the exception of July and August, we organise some kind of entertainment at the Hohenwald Senior Citizen’s Home.

The residents particularly appreciate musical events but also enjoy film shows about other countries and are very interested in different cultures and customs. The high point of the year is the annual summer bus outing to destinations such as the Frankfurt Zoo, the Gerbermühle or Bad Nauheim.

For the ladies in our working group, namely Dr. Jana Beer-Schulz, Denise Gear, Dr. Eva-Maria Gersch, Karin Johannsmann, Hetty Nissen, Barbara Schmidt-Hansberg and Brigitte Werner, it goes without saying that they personally collect the residents from their rooms, chat with them and then go back with them when all is over.

Not only do the working group enjoy their social work with the residents but it is highly regarded by those who run the home.

Chairpersons:
Kaja Janssen
Rosemarie Schroeter

40 Years Garden Group "Flowers and Gardens"

We met for the first time in September 1971 at the home of Hannelore Schuller. What did we have in common – our interest in gardening.
Now 40 years have passed and we have done so much. We travelled to England, Holland and in the South, we’ve visited German garden shows, parks (Wolfsgarten and Palmengarten), trimmed trees and roses. We attempted Ikebana, water colours and so on, and so on……
Once a year, one of us takes it in turn to organise the programme. Over the years a friendship has developed which we hope will go on for a long time to come.

Chairpersons:
Hannelore Schuller Tel. 069 – 68 49 40
Herta Wegenast Tel. 06128 – 95 10 97

Garden Group "It greens so green"

We are still a "young" group: we meet regularly on the last Tuesday of each month since September 2010. Garden groups already exist, however, we wanted to offer an open group. We were able to get ladies of the interest group “Flowers and Gardens” to be our”sponsors”. They informed us about their almost 40 years of experience and inspired us to develop a wonderful programme. Since then we heard a speech at the Palmengarten, learnt a lot about Hermann Hesse and his love for his garden, we got to know herbs and spices from Vietnam and Cambodia which were brought back and we will learn about ”City Green - The Green City”. In preparation are speeches about Sybilla Merian and tulips. When it gets warmer we will have excursions to Seligenstadt and the river Rhine. A visit to the Possmann Company is also planned.

We are a dedicated core group of approx 10 – 12 ladies, but we enjoy others with an interest joining us. A good exchange of thoughts with coffee and cake always makes for a wonderful afternoon.

Chairpersons:
Ute Grasse Tel .069 - 83 36 50
Helga Anna Ruschel Tel. 06135 – 40 73