10 Special events
Since the early years of AOVET Courses in Davos, one event remains a special tradition even today: the AOVET fondue party! It was Geri Kása’s original idea to create an event where the faculty and the course participants could get to know each other a little better. The fondue party was a great success from the beginning (Figs 60 and 61). When Jörg Auer and Monika Gutscher took over the reins of the AOVET Center, this tradition was continued and expanded over the years. Some AO Foundation members, AO Research Institute staff, AO Foundation staff, Synbone staff, and friends of AOVET were invited to the AOVET fondue party. Another tradition gradually developed where Jörg Auer presented fun gifts to selected participants (Fig 62). Every year the AOVET fondue party is always held on the evening of the first course day. Traditionally, the AO Foundation President participates, Chris van der Werken called the AOVET fondue party the “real”, official opening of the Davos Courses, a self-explanatory and justified expression. In 1999, the 30-year AOVET Jubilee was celebrated with a special dinner at the Hotel Flüela (Fig 63). During the evening, Björn von Salis, Feri and Geri Kása, and Dieter Prieur were honored as Honorary AOVET Members. In 2009, a similar party was held to celebrate 40 years of AOVET.
Fig 60 Geri Kása (left) who introduced the AOVET Fondue Party during the Davos AOVET Courses, at one of the first such events. Joining her are Ortrun Pohler (middle) and Fridolin Séquin (right).
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