55 Years of ZIWC

How ZIWC celebrated their Anniversaries over the years… by Saakje
Daalhuijsen

It was a tradition for past presidents to organise a party event in
the anniversary year. Additionally the Board would organise small
events to celebrate each milestone. The 40th anniversary celebration
was the last event the past presidents organised, they felt it was
time that a younger generation took over. For subsequent anniversaries
a committee was formed with regular members. For all those special
anniversaries, our members were duly invited with beautiful printed
invitations. After the 35th anniversary we had ‘ladies only’ parties.
Only on special events like the Christmas Golden Gala Ball during the
50th anniversary year in the Casino in Zug, were husbands and partners
also welcome to celebrate. Original invitations are kept in the ZIWC
Archive.
From the archives…
1972 – 5 years: The first five years of the Club was up-and-down in
terms of membership, I cannot find any festivities in the archive for
the first anniversary celebration.
1977 – 10 years: Celebrated with a dinner-dance party in Hotel Rössli
in Steinhausen. ‘Theatre’ entertainment was provided, written and
performed by former Board Members. Husbands and partners were invited.
1982 – 15 years: Celebrated at the Saal Heinrich Von Hünenberg. Past
presidents dressed in their bathing suits and net stockings, performed
a dance to strip music and jumped out of a huge birthday cake made of
styrofoam. Despite some objections from some past presidents at the
‘costume’ choice, everybody participated in the end. All past
presidents wore white dresses throughout the evening. Husbands and
partners were invited.
1987 – 20 years: Located at Schloss Lenzburg. Past presidents wore
period costumes through the whole evening, in keeping with the castle
theme, danced a ‘minuet’ together with their husbands, also in
matching costumes. The costumes were rented from the Opera House in
Zürich.
1992 – 25 years: Celebrated at the Magic Casino Degersheim. Husbands
and partners were invited, and a quiz was organised for the long bus
journey there. The hotel, the museum and the magic show provided all
the entertainment required. All past presidents were in attendance.
Each President was head of a table and silver top hats with the year
on it were placed as centrepieces, fitting for this silver
anniversary.
1997 – 30 years: Held at Park Hotel Vitznau. An elegant luncheon was
held for ladies. Buses to Küssnacht am Rigi were organised and a
beautiful party boat was ready and waiting for boarding. An Apéro was
served during the boat’s trip to Vitznau. The present past presidents
lined up in front to introduce the event and a few of them gave a
small performance, dressed in some Swiss farmer’s shirts and hats.
2002 – 35 years: Held at Hotel Fürigen in Fürigen, above the lake of
Lucerne. Buses are organised to make the trip to the restaurant
through the scenic route of the Axenstrasse. Performance artists Fun
fact: ‘Servös Nervös’ were hired to be funny waitresses who reminisced
over the previous 35 years.
2007 – 40 years: Held at the Palace Hotel Lucerne, a ladies only
event. Past presidents represented Club activities such as Contact
Coffee, Gardening, Golf, Party and Culture through the art of
pantomime. A rendition of ‘Wouldn’t it be loverly’ from the musical
‘My Fair Lady’ was sung by a young girl accompanied on the piano by a
Member. The song had new lyrics, telling the story of a newcomer
arriving in Zug looking for friends and finding ZIWC. The My Fair Lady
theme was extended to the dress code, all ladies wore hats of all
sizes, all colours, all styles, it was great fun. One member was even
dressed as Eliza Doolittle.
A halloween party for kids was organised later in the year and ZIWC
made a book donation to Zug Library
2012 – 45 years: Sapphire Anniversary Party Lunch held at the Flora
Alpina Restaurant, Vitznau. Club Members enjoyed participating in a
quiz about ZIWC. All ladies received a beautiful umbrella with the
Club logo as a gift. After the apéro in the restaurant we had to make
a short walk to the party-tent, but this Saturday it was raining cats
and dogs. So we were able to make very good use of our party gift! A
total of 22 past presidents attended.
2017 – 50 years: This was a bumper celebratory year. It started the
December before with a Venetian Masquerade Ball, located at the
Seeburg Hotel, Lucerne. Members and partners/husbands invited. DJ
entertainment was provided during the evening and an opera singer
performed after the Apero. Masks were provided by the Club. It was a
very elegant evening with the ladies and gentlemen beautifully dressed
in style.
In June 2017 a Mexican family party was organised at the Enikenhof
Barn in Cham With a Mexican buffet, a colourful party with a bouncy
castle and balloons and entertainment for kids this was fun for the
whole family!
In September an anniversary lunch was also held at Wasserschloss
Wyher in Ettiswil LU – For ladies only, the theme was ‘50 Sparkling
years with ZIWC’. Entertainment was provided by Rachel Diva, a singing
and special dance performance. Members too performed funny sketches
about their experiences as being newcomers in Switzerland.
A ‘Founders’ Fondue evening was held, as a special event to thank our
founder Jeanie Seifert.
We closed the 50th.Anniversary Year with the “Golden Anniversary
Ball” at the Theatre Casino, Zug in December. Husbands, partners and
friends were welcome to join for an evening with dinner and dancing.
DJ entertainment was provided and Members danced to lively music and
enjoyed a wonderful dinner.