MARCH
2018
EASTER IN VIENNA
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
EDITORIAL ANTHEA HANKEY
Welcome to the March edition of Highlights! I am currently in South Africa on holiday and wanted to share the photo of our beautiful and majestic country. We are truly blessed being able to see the wild in their natural habitat. Easter arrives early this year, providing much needed colour to dreary grey Vienna. Easter is always a happy time for me, with memories of seeing the excited smiles on my boys' faces when they find the hidden eggs in the garden. We warmly welcome new members, some of whom have expressed a keen interest in organising day trips outside of Vienna. Diana is proposing a trip to Schlosshof in the warmer months, and Nayiri is arranging a trip to Salzburg to watch a Shen Yun performance in April. A wonderful opportunity to venture outside of Vienna with lovely AWA ladies. We were very pleased to receive 7 nominations for Charities to support in 2018. The Charities were presented to our members who were given an opportunity to cast their vote. Once again, for the 3rd year running it has been the majority wish of our members to support Wiener Frauenhäuser. On the 12th February we presented the Frauenhäuser with vouchers as our 2017 donation. A gentle reminder that the Fundraising committee is collecting any unwanted clothing and accessories for ladies, men and children, for our upcoming Spring into Fashion for Charity event. This event was a huge success in 2016, and a great way to make space in your closets while donating to a good cause. As always, we would be delighted to hear from you should you wish to contribute towards the content of this wonderful magazine, whether in the form of photos or an article. It has been a pleasure serving you as Editor of the Highlights magazine for the past year, regrettably I will no longer be serving in this capacity due to other commitments. It was a very difficult decision as I truly enjoyed working on the Highlights edition.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Editorial 4
Board Members
5
Welcome to Vienna
6
Social Team: Who's Who?
7
President’s Message
8
Insider Report
9
Shen Yun in Salzburg
10-11 Clubhouse Activities 12-13 Calendar 14-15 Events: Tours, Trips & Socials 16
FAWCO / Members Review
17 Classifieds 18-19 Around Town 20 Recipes 21 Outreach 22
Meet a Member
23 Classifieds
HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 2018 Deadline for April Highlights submission: 5 March 2018. PROOFREADERS: Rose Marie Gatscha / Jane Webster / Lenka Peugniez Photos published in Highlights, including cover photos, are often images sent to us by members. We are always eager to receive photos from AWA events to add to Highlights. Please forward your images to awahighlights@gmail.com. Highlights is a publication of the AWA of Vienna. Highlights is published monthly from October to June and is sent to all members of the AWA. All inquiries should be addressed to: AWA Vienna Attn: Highlights Editor, Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Vienna All rights to the printed material in Highlights, including advertising and the cover painting/photo, revert to the contributors following publication. Highlights is printed on chlorine-free paper. ZVR-Zahl 327744193 Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: AWA Vienna, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Offenlegung/Herausgeber: A. Hankey, Wollergasse 4, 1190 Wien. Diese Zeitschrift dient dem Zweck, Freunde der American Women’s Association über Aktivitäten der Organisation zu informieren.
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT Sheila Hargreaves sheilahargreaves@a1.net 0676 755 9804
VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS Helene Gressenbauer-Rรถsner awa@awavienna.com (01) 966 2925
VICE PRESIDENT CHARITY FUNDRAISING Anthea Hankey AWAVPFundraising@gmail.com 0677 6162 6545
SECRETARY Stephanie Jepsen awa@awavienna.com (01) 966 2925
TREASURER Jillanne Gabler awa@awavienna.com (01) 966 2925
FAWCO REPRESENTATIVE Laurie Richardson lrichardsonvienna@gmail.com 0676 972 4939
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Sara Sba AWAViennaMembership@gmail.com (01) 966 2925
ADVERTISING MANAGER Nadia Di Paola awahighlightsads@gmail.com (01) 966 2925
PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNITY LIAISON CHAIR Rocelyn Kielnhofer AWAVienna.PublicRelations@gmail.com 0664 4586 685
LIVING IN VIENNA EDITOR & BUSINESS MANAGER Teddie Weyr awa@awavienna.com (01) 966 2925
WEBSITE MANAGER
WEEKLY COFFEE CO-CHAIRS
Marina Hornasek m.hornasek.adamse@gmail.com 0660 572 1971
HIGHLIGHTS' TEAM EDITOR Anthea Hankey awahighlights@gmail.com 0677 6162 6545
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Susan Mikes awahighlights@gmail.com 0699 1402 5299
Gerda Moes gerdamz@gmail.com 0676 387 2450 OFFICE MANAGERS
Ivy Melchor
Erin Silangil
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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NEW MEMBERS
WELCOME TO VIENNA
BE PART OF A FRIENDLY COMMUNITY OF WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD. The International Women's Club of Vienna (AWA) is an organization whose English-speaking members hail from all over the world. From our earliest beginnings 90 years ago, AWA has developed and grown, together with the City of Vienna, into a rich, diverse, cosmopolitan, international community. Our Clubhouse, in the heart of Vienna, offers members a variety of activities from conversation classes in German, French, English and Russian to Mahjong, Bridge, Book Club, and Crafting. Tours of museums and art galleries plus exciting behind the scenes visits to Schlumberger, Lobmeyr Glass Museum, and Ottakringer Brewery, to name a few, enable our members to experience up close what is special about Vienna. Socializing at regularly scheduled lunches, dinners, and cocktail hours offers members the opportunity to enjoy camaraderie and build friendships while experiencing new venues in town. As a non-profit community, one of AWA Vienna’s gratifying concerns is to raise funds for those in need. Our fundraising team organizes programs and events for the enjoyment of members, their friends, and family that allow us to offer support to disadvantaged women and children.
Alexandra Salehi-Vogler
Christine Figueiredo
Antonia Zane
Olga Schmidt
AWA M E M B E R S H I P HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER!
Membership forms can be obtained via our website, by email from awa@awavienna.com or from the office.
Theresa Kern
Annual fees are currently €96 for members under 65 years, €84 for over 65s, €125 for family membership, and €48 for members no longer residing in Austria. Fees can be paid in cash or by bank transfer. Potential members are most welcome to attend a couple of events to meet some current members before joining. BANK INFORMATION: Bankhaus Krentschker & Co. Aktiengesellschaft IBAN AT59 1952 0018 0009 2361 BIC: KRECAT2GXXX AWA VIENNA OFFICE & CLUBHOUSE: Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien T: (01) 966 29 25 E-mail: awa@awavienna.com www.awavienna.com
OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 10:00-16:00 Friday closed OFFICE MANAGERS: Ivy Melchor & Erin Silangil
Olga Boemeke
Katie Graham
Anne Lugmayr
Renate Andreatta
Deborah Danielson
Gundega Vavere-Mikute
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
AWA S O C I A L T E A M WHO'S WHO? Gerda Moes Heike Little Marina Hornasek Phyllis Wieser Sheila Hargreaves Dorothea Blumenfeld Maria Ciliberti Sandy Shaffer Bible Study
Dagmar ร ttl Integrrative Breathing Polarobic
Vera Saunders
Renee Lichtenstein
Seniors' Afternoon Tea Party
Let's go to the Movies
Sandra Reindl-Schweighofer AWA Singing Group
Film Night
Ida Vickers
Mary Wagener Book Discussion Group
Evening Art Tours
Franรงoise Delannoy
Teresa Benet
Italian Conversation Tours & Luncheon
Spanish Conversation
Andrea Melchiorre
Rocelyn Kielnhofer
Urte Paulus
German Conversation
Tennis/Golf/Canasta
Creative Writing & Hula
Lini Stangl
Stephanie Barrett Baby & Toddle playgroup
Irene Schlegelmilch
Happy Hour
AWA Singing Group
Nadia Di Paola
Brisk Walk
Samantha Day
Donna Scharpf
Adv. Beginners' German
Sonja Reiterer
Kristina Musil Ladies' Wine Evening
Leslie Hof
English Conversation
French Conversation
Annick Gauthier
Robert Blaukopf
Ladies' Dining Experience
MAWA (Men of AWA)
Nayiri Asvazadurian
Mona Angel
Falun Gong
Adv. Beginners' German
Monika Sautner Beginners' German
Outreach Team
Anthea Hankey Afterwork Mingle
Ivy Melchor Yoga
Lee Goodel Games Galore
Michaelerplatz 6, A-1010 Wien Tel.: +43-(0)1-533 80 32 Fax.: +43-(0)1-535 49 20 office@loden-plankl.at www.loden-plankl.at Clothes of Loden and traditional Austrian style The family-run business pays highest attention to customer service and specialized knowledge
Sheila Hargreaves
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE S H E I L A H A R G R E AV E S
A F E W M E M O R I E S O F A N A R M Y B R AT
My father was imprisoned by the Japanese during WW2 and he came back with what we now know as PTSD. He sat cross legged, wearing a dhoti and a sword across his lap, for over a year. Immediately after I was born in Devon, we moved to post-war Vienna, and then to Krumpendorf, on the edge of the Wörthersee in Kärnten. My only memory is playing on our beach with my baby brother and seeing him face down in the water, drowned, and the image of my mother’s white shoes running down the garden. Our next stop was Scotland, Edinburgh, then Perth, with a new tiny television to watch the Coronation in 1952. In Egypt, before Britain was kicked out, we lived in an army base, isolated from the Egyptians, on what is called a ‘patch’, with the bed legs in cans of paraffin to stop the cockroaches coming up on the bed. We had a servant who lived in a tent. My brother and I once got into trouble for sliding down the tent, spanking being the remedy! Each day an army ‘two-ton' truck would take us to school, but one day, my friends and I walked home through fields lined with irrigation channels. The parental rage was impressive with threats of rabies, and injections in the stomach for over a month. Malta was very different. The army base, St Andrew’s, was an ideal play area and my ‘gang’ played for hours, while my new little brother, much to my disgust, followed us around. Here, I was thrown out of the Brownies’ pack for being naughty! Oops! The next posting was, briefly, Cyprus, hot and dusty but the Troodos Mountains is a lovely cool memory, riding a donkey through the woods. Back in the UK, on a patch in Shropshire, where we once moved just next door, following my father’s promotion, there was a set of swings which we could swing to the horizontal and then jump off. There was a wood with swampy paths and dead trees, a child’s paradise. Finally, in my teens, we moved to Borden, in Hampshire, for my Father's last posting. Again we lived on an army base, surrounded by army families, with guards at the gate controlling entry, curry lunches in the Officer’s Mess after Church, and my father telling me that I should marry an army officer!! Fat chance! I was kicked out of the Girl Guides too!
EASTER IN AUSTRIA CONTRIBUTED BY MARIA LOUKA
Ash Wednesday ends frisky carnival season and introduces 40 days of fasting which precede Easter. The actual date of Easter varies every year, depending on the date of the first day of Spring and on the full moon: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring. Sounds complicated? Check the date in your calendar! Palm Sunday introduces Holy Week ('Karwoche'). Twigs of sallow ('Palmkatzerln') are taken to church and blessed to commemorate the public appearance of Jesus in Jerusalem. Easter fires are lit during the night before Easter Sunday. People meet around the fire to sing and dance. The more agile and adventurous actually jump over the fire. On Easter Sunday fasting comes to an official end. What an excellent excuse for a traditional Easter brunch with sweet bread ('Osterpinze'), cold meat, coloured eggs and horseradish! As a tradition for the children, colourful Easter eggs (decorative and yummy), sweets and small presents are hidden in the house or - if the weather allows - in the garden by a mythological Easter bunny. There's also a delicious pastry in the form of a lamb ('Osterlamm'), which is traditionally given to children by their godfather or godmother. For decorative Easter eggs we paint, colour or glitter eggs, after their contents have been carefully blown out. Afterwards, we hang them in windows, on plants or foliating twigs of sallow. In Austria it is very common to use ferns and small flowers as patterns.
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INSIDER REPORT T R I G L AV N AT I O N A L PA R K , S L O V E N I A
CONTRIBUTED BY CHRISTINE DIERICKX
My husband and I have this goal—by the time we move back to the states— to visit each of Austria’s bordering countries. Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland: All close enough or have enough allure to check off the list relatively easily. A little more challenging? Liechtenstein and Slovenia. Liechtenstein still eludes us, but let me tell you about Slovenia, one of Europe’s best kept secrets. We booked a hut in Triglav National Park (€60/ night), rented a car, and drove to the park’s info center in Bled, about a 4-hour drive (or 5 hours if you drive slowly like me) where we were told we must stop to get directions to our hut. I pictured a park employee showing us a map of all the huts, circling ours, and tracing the way. Oh no: Tomaž—the nicest park ranger you will ever meet—hopped in his pickup truck and told us to follow him into the mountains. Along the 45-minute trek, he pointed out the last spot to buy provisions, stopped at junctures to orient us, and spoke of his pride for Triglav, Slovenia’s tallest mountain. Upon arrival to our hut, he showed us around, demonstrated how to chop wood for the stove, and pointed out the best spots in the park on our map. And I’ll mention now that 2 days into our stay, he dropped by to make sure we were OK, as he promised he would. My husband and I were also thrilled with our chosen destination. Triglav National Park lies in the midst of Slovenia’s Julian Alps and rivals some of our national parks back home in the states. We hiked a short distance to the 80-meter Savica Waterfall, kayaked in Lake Bohinjsko, ambled up and down a few gorge hikes, abandoned an attempt to summit Mount Mostnice (but still got amazing views), learned a lot about peat bogs, drove very slowly around curvy, narrow park roads, and chopped a lot of wood. We’re lazy hut dwellers and ate lunches and dinners in the little dorfs that dot the park. I suppose no trip to the area would be complete without a visit to the town of Lake Bled. While we didn’t make it to the little island in the middle of the lake, we paid the €10 entry fee for Bled Castle, which affords you not only a superb museum, but a spacious terrace where you can enjoy a glass of inexpensive wine overlooking the lake from 130 meters above.
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME EVENT
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
9
Sunday Service: 11:15 Rev. Matthew A. Laferty Sechshauser Straße 56, 1150 Vienna tel: +43 1 895 8175 office@esumc.at I www.esumc.at U4/U6 Längenfeldgasse or 57A Grimmgasse A friendly, caring community with many different nations, cultures, and traditions. Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors We offer: - a place for worship, study, growth - an opportunity to find your own ministry - a chance to feel at home - toddler care - a wonderful and fun Sunday School - five choirs and special music - active groups for families, men, women, young adults, prayer and others.
The English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna Fancy a Trip to Salzburg, visiting the Shen Yun performance in the "Festspielhaus Salzburg"? Nayiri is planning the trip on the 16th or 17th April, 1-night stay in a Hotel. SHEN YUN Shen Yun is an experience at once exciting, inspiring, and breathtakingly beautiful. The performance is steeped in a classical aesthetic and virtues forged over five millennia of civilization. This is art that uplifts and transcends. This season, it’s your turn to discover Shen Yun. China was once known as the “Land of the Divine,” its ancient culture was said to be inspired by the heavens. Shen Yun now brings this lost world back to life. We invite you on an immersive journey to the distant past and realms even beyond the visible world. We’ve combined the incredibly expressive art form of classical Chinese dance, gorgeous orchestral works, brilliant costumes, and innovative effects to bring you an unparalleled theatrical experience. Please contact Nayiri Asvazadurian /0650 610 45 45 /n.asvazadurian@gmail.com) or call the AWA office as soon as possible for Hotel reservation and Tickets for Shen Yun. Deadline for registration is 8 March.
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES
/ LANGUAGES / ITALIAN CONVERSATION /Monthly Monday at 13:00, 12 & 19 March. Nadia Di Paola /0678 1252229 FLUENT SPANISH CONVERSATION /Weekly Mondays at 12:30, excluding 19 March. Teresa Benet /ftmirella@yahoo.com BEGINNER’S SPANISH CONVERSATION /Weekly Mondays at 13:30, excluding 19 March. Teresa Benet /ftmirella@yahoo.com
AMERICAN MAHJONG /Weekly Tuesdays at 13:00. If you are already familiar with the fun of playing or are interested in learning a really fun game, join this group. NEW CANASTA /Weekly Wednesdays at 13:00, 7 & 21 March. This is a card game from the Rummy family and great fun to play! Join Rocelyn and play! Rocelyn Kielnhofer /kielnhoferr@gmail.com /0664 4586685 GAMES GALORE /Weekly Thursdays at 10:00. The Scrabble Group has extended its repertoire to include Rummikub, a numbers game, Banana, a fast paced word game and Boggle. Come and try your luck. Lee Goodell /0650 548 9596 /leegoodellusa@yahoo.com COMPUTER SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS /VACANCY!! For those of you who are unfamiliar with computers and what they can do for you, we need a new volunteer to provide occasional support.
BEGINNERS’GERMAN GRAMMAR /Weekly Tuesdays at 10:30. (Absolute beginners are recommended to join in September.) Monika Sautner leads this grammar session. NEW GERMAN CONVERSATION A1 /Weekly Tuesdays at 12:00. Small group, maximum 5 ladies, please reserve. andrea.s.melchiorre@t-online.de /01 876 2041 ADVANCED BEGINNERS’GERMAN CONVERSATION /Weekly Tuesdays at 10:30. Mona or Sonia lead this friendly German conversation group. FLUENT GERMAN CONVERSATION /Weekly Wednesdays, assembling after Weekly Coffee, fluent German speakers take lunch in different local restaurants. FLUENT FRENCH CONVERSATION Wednesday at 12:00, 21 March with Françoise Delannoy. ENGLISH CONVERSATION FOR LEARNERS /Weekly Thursdays at 13:00, excluding 22 March. Leslie Hoff /0680 307 2911 /leslie.hoff58@gmail.com
/ HOBBIES / AWA BABYAND TODDLER GROUP /Weekly Mondays from 15:00 - 16:30. Stephanie Barrett will be playing her guitar for songs such as The Wheels on the Bus, in English. The sessions are great fun, attracting babies and toddlers up to two years old!
CRAFTING / KNITTING GROUP /Weekly Tuesday afternoons from 13:30. Join us for a weekly gathering at the clubhouse. Bring your current projects and we’ll work on our pieces, getting help when we’re stuck, and accolades when we complete beautiful projects!
/ CULTURE / COFFEE AND CRIME /Monthly Monday from 10:30 - 12:00, 12 March. Join the lovers of crime novels in the Clubhouse to discuss the book, The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza; book 1 in the series featuring Detective Erika Foster. Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one. When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation. BIBLE STUDY /Weekly Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00, with Sandy Shaffer who is an expert leader of women’s Bible Study Groups. From March to early June,the group will be looking at the letters of the Apostle John. The title of the study is Putting Love in Action. Newcomers are welcome any time. Sandy Shaffer /02243 287 01 /sshaffer@entrust4.org CREATIVE WRITING (BI-LINGUAL) /Monthly Wednesday at 13:00, 21 March. Urte has created her own poems and rhymes and has benefitted from sharing her work with others, receiving valuable feedback. She would love to have either expert, not quite there yet, or novice writers of all genres to join a support group with members sharing their expertise, offering advice or feedback and learning writing techniques! Join her to support each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Sign up by >> Monday, 19 March. Urte Paulus /0676 676 5829 /urte.paulus@gmx.at
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES & OFFSITE
PROSECCO AND POPCORN FILM NIGHT IN THE CLUBHOUSE /Monthly The next date will be in April. Join Irene for Prosecco, popcorn and a newly released film in the comfy sofas at the Clubhouse. The title will be published in the Weekly News.
/ HEALTH & SPORT / FAMILY HIKE The next Hike will be in the spring! AWA contact is Heike Little /heikesav@aol.com BRISK WALK Details published in the Weekly News. AWA contact is Lini Stangl /0664 179 7031 / linilondon@yahoo.com YOGA /Weekly Wednesdays from 09:30 to 10:30. Ivy continues her Yoga for a maximum of four members to improve flexibility and posture. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Yoga mats are needed. INTEGRATIVE BREATHING /Monthly Thursday from 14:00 to 15:30, 22 March. On the last Thursday of every month, Dagmar will lead this activity of integrative breathing which is a tool to reduce stress, open blockages, increase energy, deal with anger, discover our potential and live with passion. Bring a blanket and loose clothing. No perfume please and not advised for asthmatics or those taking medication. Maximum four ladies. AWA contact is Dagmar Öttl /dagmar.ottl@yahoo.de /0650 611 9176 POLAROBIC /Fortnightly Thursdays from 14:00 to 15:30, on 1, 8 & 15 March. If you prefer to have a good workout without overexerting yourself, Polarobic is just the right exercise programme for you. It is a gentle yet effective way to work and enjoy your body from head to toe. Maximum four ladies. AWA contact is Dagmar Öttl /dagmar.ottl@yahoo.de/ 0650 611 9176 FALUN GONG /Weekly Wednesdays from 15:00 to 16:00 or 17:00 to 18:00 in the Clubhouse. Learn the four Falun Gong gentle exercises and sitting meditation that helps you to improve both physical and mental health, to reduce and relieve stress and to feel more energetic. AWA contact is Nayiri Asvazadurian /0650 610 4545 /n.asvazadurian@gmail.com HULA /Monthly Monday from 10:00 to 12:00, 12 March. This new activity, a Hawaiian native dance, tells a story in pantomime with easy step combinations and arm movements. Each session will add new choreography. Please bring a longish skirt, dress or a scarf for your hips, and a lei (Hawaiian flower wreath) or flowers in your hair. AWA Contact is Urte Paulus /0676 6765829 /urte.paulus@gmx.at NEW SOCIALTENNIS /Weekly Thursday mornings, time by arrangement. Dress in your sports kit, tie your shoes, grab your racket and head towards the indoor court. Laugh,
move, run, jump! Good friends and great moves will warm up your mood. Enjoy a chat, cup of tea/ coffee after the game. Reservation required to guarantee the time and court. AWA contact is Rocelyn Kielnhofer /kielnhoferr@gmail.com /0664 458 6685. NEW SOCIAL GOLF/ times to be arranged Who says you cannot hit the ball in winter? Golf is an all year round sport whether you are at the driving range, practicing your putting or chipping into a bunker to improve your golf shots. As the Spring is coming along soon and finally the summer sunshine, let’s start rolling the ball and plan when the next tee off is. Handicap is not a hindrance it’s just part of the game. AWA contact is Rocelyn Kielnhofer /kielnhoferr@gmail.com /0664 458 6685.
/ LIFESTYLE / NEW VENUE WEEKLY COFFEE /Weekly Wednesdays from 10:00 - 12:00 at Café Sluka, Weihburggasse entrance (just past the new Apple Store in Kartner strasse) in the first room on the right. Hosts are: Gerda, 0676 387 2450, Marina, 0660 572 1971, Lini, 0664 179 7031, and Helena, 0676 331 8626.
/ OFFSITE CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES / BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP /Monthly Tuesday at 13:00, 13 March. This month’s book is Conversations with Friends by the Irish writer Sally Rooney. This book describes in fascinating detail the mainly romantic activities of several contemporary Dubliners from the perspective of an aware student of literature. The conversations are witty and intelligent; the 21st century characters both appealing and annoying. In April, we will discuss Something Will Happen, You'll See by the Greek author Christos Ikonomou. AWA contact is Mary Wagener /01 489 86 87 /0676 7443470 /mary.l.wagener@gmail.com SINGING GROUP /Weekly Fridays from 11:30 - 13:00 Come out of the winter doldrums with a song: sing with the AWA choir. Friendly singers (and non-singers) meet once a week, coached by kind and patient Sandra Schweighofer, and through laughter and a few squawks here and there, we sing our way to something beautiful. Lovely songs (folk, seasonal, and songs from musicals) and the joy of having done it together create quite an experience! Please join us! So, the more the merrier! For further information please contact Donna /donnascharpf@yahoo.com or Sandra /legoblet.wine@gmail.com LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES Monday, March 5. Please see the Weekly News and Facebook for details of the time and the film. Renee Lichtenstein /0664 868 6186 /reneelichtenstein@hotmail.com
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
MARCH CALENDAR MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
10:30 Tour of the wine Cellars of Hofburg 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Conversation 15:00-16:30 Clubhouse Baby &Toddler Group 15:30 Seniors’ Afternoon Tea Party
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10:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ German Grammar 10:30 Clubhouse Advanced Beginners’ German 12:00 Clubhouse German A1 Conversation 13:00 Clubhouse Mahjong 13:30 Clubhouse Crafting
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12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 10:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ German 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Grammar Conversation 10:30 Clubhouse Advanced Beginners’ 15:00-16:30 Clubhouse Baby & ToddlerGerman Group 12:00 Clubhouse German A1 17:00 Happy Hour Cocktails at the Conversation Marriott 13:00 Clubhouse Mahjong 13:30 Clubhouse Crafting TBA Let’s Go to the Movies
5
10:30-12:00 Clubhouse Mindfulness 13:00 Clubhouse Italian Conversation 15:00-16:30 Clubhouse Baby & Toddler Group
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09:30 Clubhouse Yoga with Ivy 10:00-12:00 Weekly Coffee Café Sluka 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 13:00 Clubhouse Canasta 15:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong 17:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong
7 09:30 Clubhouse Yoga with Ivy 10:00-12:00 Weekly Coffee Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 12:30 Clubhouse AWA Board Meeting 15:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong 17:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong 19:00 Ladies’ Dining Experience
13 10:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ German Grammar 10:30 Clubhouse Advanced Beginners’ German 12:00 Clubhouse German A1 Conversation 13:00 Clubhouse Mahjong 13:30 Clubhouse Crafting 17:30 Afterwork Mingle
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CLOCKS SPRING FORWARD
14 09:30 Clubhouse Yoga with Ivy 10:00-12:00 Weekly Coffee Café Sluka 12:00 Clubhouse Fluent French Conversation 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 13:00 Clubhouse Canasta 13:00 Clubhouse Bilingual Creative Writing 15:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong 17:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong
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18:00 MAWA Dinner Night
AWA Clubhouse closed until Monday 9 April
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28
6
10:30 Clubhouse 10:00-11:30 Clubhouse Hula Beginners’ German Grammar 10:30 Clubhouse Coffee and Crime 10:30 Clubhouse Advanced Beginners’ Book Club German 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish 12:00 Clubhouse German A1 Conversation Conversation 13:00 Clubhouse Italian Conversation 13:00 Book Discussion Group 15:00-16:30 Clubhouse Baby & Toddler 13:00 Clubhouse Mahjong 13:30 Clubhouse Crafting Group
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09:30 Clubhouse Yoga with Ivy 10:00-12:00 Weekly Coffee Café Sluka 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 15:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong 17:00 Clubhouse Falun Gong
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
MARCH CALENDAR
THURSDAY
10:00 Clubhouse Games Galore 10:00 Clubhouse Bible Study 13:00 Clubhouse English Conversation for Learners 14:00 Clubhouse Polarobics 19:00 Ladies’ Wine Evening
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
11:30 Singing Group
2
1 10:00 Clubhouse Games Galore 10:00 Clubhouse Bible Study 13:00 Clubhouse English Conversation for Learners 14:00 Clubhouse Polarobics 18:00 GM Opera Night at the Expat Center
SATURDAY
3
4
17
18
24
25
10:00 Clubhouse President’s Coffee 11:30 Singing Group 14:00 Behind the Scenes Tour of Demel Museum 18:00 Art in the Evening
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8
11:30 Singing Group 10:30 Behind the Scenes Tour of ORF - Backstage 12:30 Monthly Luncheon
10:00 Clubhouse Games Galore 10:00 Clubhouse Bible Study 13:00 Seniors’ Luncheon 13:00 Clubhouse English Conversation for Learners 14:00 Clubhouse Polarobics
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16
10:00 Clubhouse President’s 10:00 Clubhouse Games Galore coffee 10:00 Clubhouse Bible Study 14:00 Clubhouse Integrative Breathing 11:30 Singing Group
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23 GOOD FRIDAY
EASTER SUNDAY
Not a public holiday
VIS 26 Mar to 4 April AIS 2 to 6 April
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1
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
EVENTS TOURS / TRIPS / SOCIALS
LADIES’WINE EVENING Thursday, 1 March at 19:00. SÜDAFRIKA BAR, Tiefer Graben 7, 1010.
Back to the Weinplateau to enjoy another evening with friends for a wine or two and conversation in central Vienna! Friends welcome. Save the date 5 April with the venue TBC. SIGN UP BY >> Tuesday, 27 February AWA contact is Kristina Musil /0650 3219146 HAPPY HOUR COCKTAILS AT THE MARRIOTT Monday, 5 March from 17:00 - 19:00. CASCADE BAR, Parkring 12a, 1010. Come and sample cocktails at ‘two for the price of one’ with the buffet costing only €5 for as much as you can eat! All members and friends welcome. SIGN UP BY >> Noon on Monday, 5 March awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Samantha Day /0676 3344837 GENERAL MEETING Thursday, 8 March at 18:00. EXPATCENTER, Schmerlingplatz 3, 1010. Erin Silangil and Sebastian Peissl have volunteered to sing for us again after their
fantastic AWA debut at the Christmas party in December. Join us for a glass or two of Sekt before their performance and, if we are lucky, we may get to sing a chorus or two!! SIGN UP BY >> Monday, 5 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Sheila Hargreaves /0676 755 9804 PRESIDENT’S COFFEE Friday, 9 March from 10:00 - 12:00. AWA CLUBHOUSE, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010. No need to sign up, just drop in! Newcomers or potential members are very welcome.
BEHIND THE SCENES Friday, 9 March at 14:00. TOUR OF THE DEMEL MUSEUM, Pressgasse 25, 1040. Numbers are limited as the museum is small, but the guide is recommended as the best!! The confectionery artwork is delightful and the pastry
chefs in the ‘Show Bakery’ are wonderfully skilled. Cost will be €9 including a tasting. Spouses and friends welcome. SIGN UP BY >> Tuesday, 6 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Sheila Hargreaves /0676 755 9804 ART IN THE EVENING Friday, 9 March at 18:00. WELT MUSEUM WIEN, Heldenplatz, 1010. American Artist, Rajkamal Kahlon - STAYING WITH TROUBLE Her exhibition shows how the representation of late 19th and early 20th century ethnographic portrait photographs was often based on constructions of the "savage" or "primitive", an idea that dominates most ethnographic museums today! Ida will act as guide! Tickets cost €12/€9 for seniors. Friends and spouses are welcome. (Save the date for Hundertwasserhaus on the 13 April at 15:00). SIGN UP BY >> Tuesday, 6 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Ida Vickers /0699 1700 5573 MAWA (MEN OFAWA) COFFEE Wednesday, 14 March at 10:30. CAFÉ ALT WIEN, Bäckerstrasse 9, 1010. Join the MAWA group for coffee, conversation and newspapers! AWA contact is robert.blaukopf@gmail.com LADIES’DINING EXPERIENCE Wednesday, 14 March at 19:00. REBHUHN, Berggasse 24, 1090. Join Annick at this charming restaurant which offers a range of Austrian dishes such as Tafelspitz, Backhenderl or Schnitzel and has been open since 1908, in the Servietten District. Please contact Annick directly by Friday, 9 March. Friends welcome. AWA contact is Annick Gauthier /europolitan@chello.at /0699 1968 8173
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EVENTS TOURS / TRIPS / SOCIALS
SENIORS’LUNCHEON Thursday, 15 March 13:00. INIGO, Bäckerstrasse 18, 1010. This Caritas managed restaurant employs longterm unemployed people and retrains them as chefs and wait staff. The menus are interesting and offer vegetarian or meat dishes for lunch. Please contact Phyllis directly by Wednesday, 14 March. AWA Contact is Phyllis Wieser /01 3208418 /phyllis.wieser@aon.at
BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Friday, 16 March at 10:30. BACKSTAGE TOUR OF ORF, Würzburggasse 30, 1136. This is the first time AWA has visited the ORF buildings, but it has been recommended as very interesting and unusual. The tour will take about 90 minutes. Cost is €15 and spouses and friends are most welcome. SIGN UP BY >> Monday, 12 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Sheila Hargreaves /0676 755 9804 MONTHLY LUNCHEON Friday, 16 March at 13:00. RESTAURANT DIE HALLE, Museumsplatz 1,Museumsquartier, 1070. The trendy HALLE café-restaurant was opened in May 2001, located between the Mumok
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and Leopold Museums, serving tasty and unpretentious food. There are vegetarian and meat alternatives in the lunch menu. SIGN UP BY >> Wednesday, 14 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Nadia Di Paola /0678 1252229 MINDFULNESS WORKSHOP Monday, 19 March 10.30–12.00 at CLUBHOUSE Everybody has their own life story that made us who we are. We all find our own stressful beliefs—about life, people, or ourselves that influence our decisions, well-being and health. Join Andreja Kanduc, mental trainer, who will introduce us to a special method -The Work, developed by Katie Byron. The Work will help you to identify some thoughts that can limit your potential. It is a simple process, that requires nothing more than a pen, paper, and an open mind. If you have this, we invite you to join us and learn an easy way to self-help. SIGN UP BY >> Friday, 16 March. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Nadia Di Paola /0678 1252229 PRESIDENT’S COFFEE Friday, 23 March from 10:00 - 12:00. AWA CLUBHOUSE, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010. No need to sign up, just drop in! Newcomers or potential members are very welcome. AWA contact is Sheila Hargreaves /0676 755 9804 MAWA (MEN OFAWA) GATHERING Wednesday, 28 March at 18:00 MAWA (Men of AWA) the group for spouses of AWA members. Monthly meetings at varying locations for food and conversation. Join them for a congenial evening! New members are especially encouraged! Contact Robert Blaukopf at robert. blaukopf@gmail.com for details of this MAWA event or to be added to the mailing list.
RENOVATED ROWHOUSE for RENT
as of February 1, 2018. In Vienna’s 19th District Sieveringer Straße 180 m² plus garage and basement playroom: Includes 4-5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, fireplace, small southern garden and excellent public transportation connections in front of the house! 39A bus >39 tram, U4, U6 and S45. American International School nearby. Email: carolyn_pachinger@yahoo.com Call iPhone: 0043 (0)699 11166886
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FA W C O CONTRIBUTED BY LAURIE RICHARDSON
lrichardsonvienna@gmail.com
FAWCO Interim Meeting in The Hague, March 23 – 25, 2018 FAWCO's 2018 conference will be in The Hague, a fascinating city, just a quick trip from Vienna. There will be pre- and post-conference tours and opportunities to learn about FAWCO, make friends, and network with other dynamic and committed women. For details, check out the FAWCO website (www.fawco.org) and contact me for more information. UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, March 12 – 23, 2018 AWA Vienna member Bev Bachmayer will be joining me at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March. Though the deadline to register for the UN events has passed, you can still participate in the NGO Forum, a gathering of thousands of women's rights activists from all over the world, taking place in parallel to the UN Commission. Let me know if you're interested!
AWA TO U R REVIEW BY MARIA SCHMIDINGER
We had a very warm welcome by the new general manager of the Imperial Riding school Renaissance Vienna Hotel, Thomas, before starting off on a tour of the premises with Lisa, our friendly guide. This historic site was constructed in the mid-19th century as a military riding school, with the stables on the ground floor and the military living quarters located above them, and with a canal planned where the S-Bahn trains now run alongside the back garden. After WWI, it became a huge cinema, housing thousands of visitors, with a Charlie Chaplin comedy being the first movie shown. After WWII and till the 60s, it was a post office garage and repair shop. The hotel construction began 1988 and it is currently a member of the Marriott group, which expanded and renovated the site on 2013. We were led to sniff the enticing smells of the breakfast buffet, smile at the innovative "hangover station", admire the garden which hosts regular Urban City Garden events (DJs and drinks, sounds like fun), visit some rooms in different categories, and view the Executive Lounge before heading for the meeting rooms, where a yummy break buffet was prepared for us, including tiny AWA Vienna signs for the cakes. On such occasions, one appreciates the fascinating past which surrounds us in everyday life.
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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www.studyacademyvienna.com
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MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
AROUND TOWN
C O N T R I B U T E D B Y B E V E R LY B A C H M E Y E R
Easter is early this year, and the Easter Markets open beginning in mid-March but there is also a preview of many more activities for you in March, follow this link for more details. It is safe to open! https://www.wien.info/media/files/programmvorschau-maerz-2018.pdf
EXHIBITIONS AND FESTIVALS KALVARIENBERG FESTIVAL /www.kalvarienbergfest.at March 14 to April 1, 2018. Mo-Fr 10.00-18.00, Sa & Su 9.00-18.00. Live music Fr-Su from 16.30. EASTER FESTIVAL at the Prater /http://www.praterwien.com RUNDUMADUM AROUND VIENNA – Hiking around Vienna. This 120km walk around Vienna has been planned for short walks with public transport links at the beginning and end of each section. Interesting and cleverly planned by Stadt Wien. /https://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/wald/freizeit/ wandern/rundumadum/
EASTER MARKETS SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE EASTER MARKET /www.ostermarkt.co.at 17 March to 2 April. OLD VIENNESE EASTER MARKET /www.altwiener-markt.at 16 March to 2 April. AM HOF EASTER MARKET
KEITH HARING: The Alphabet from 16 March. /www.albertina.at ICH DENKE JA GARNICHTS, ICH SAGE ES JA NUR. ÖDÖN VON HORVÁTH UND DAS THEATER from 15 March. Erotic, Economy and Politics. /www.theatermuseum.at ART INTO LIFE, Avantgarde works. /www.mumok.at A NEW LOOK: THE PERMANENT COLLECTION REDISPLAYED from 1 March in the Upper Belvedere. /www.belvedere.at YDESSA HENDELES: DEATH TO PIGS from 28 February to 27 May. /www.kunsthallewien.at
VIENNA BALL SEASON- THE HIGHLIGHTS March 2018: 10 - Technoball 10 - Dorner Ball 17 - Ball des Sports Internationaler Wiener Filmball April 2018: 14 - Polnischer Frühlingsball /www.ostermarkt-hof.at 17 March to 2 April. SCHLOSSHOF EASTER MARKET /www.schlosshof.at Open weekends of 17 March to 1 April.
ART EXHIBITIONS AND MUSEUMS ELINA BROTHERUS from 13 March /www.kunsthauswien.com DAS WIENER AQUARELL until 13 May. MARTHA JUNGWIRTH from 2 March.
14 - Dance against Cancer Frühlingsball 21 - Ball der Wiener Sängerknaben
THEATRES, MUSICALS AND CONCERTS THE ENGLISH THEATRE, 5 -20 March. Dogfight by Peter Duncan, music and lyrics by Behj Pasek & Justin Paul. /www.englishtheatre.at RAIMUND THEATRE, until June. Jesus Christ Superstar 2018- an early work by Andrew Lloyd Webber. /www.musicalvienna.at
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AROUND TOWN
C O N T R I B U T E D B Y B E V E R LY B A C H M E Y E R
RONACHER THEATRE, until 18 March. Tanz der Vampires. /www.musicalvienna.at OPENHOUSE THEATRE 3-24 March, Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Robert G. Neumayr. Theatre Spielraum, Kaiserstrasse 46, 1070. /www.openhousetheatre.at RABENHOFTHEATRE. A varied program of all genres. /www.rabenhoftheater.com DRACHENGASSE THEATRE. A mainstream and avant-garde theatre. /www.drachengasse.at HAYDNKINO FILMS /www.haydnkino.at Satellite live screening Carmen, 6 March Julius Caesar, 22 March Macbeth, 4 April Macbeth, 10 May
Hair 8 April Afrika! Afrika! Extravaganza 12 April to 01 May Star Wars in Concert 14 April Imagine Dragons EVOLVE Tour 15 April Bob Dylan 16 April Ehrlich Brothers Faszination 23 April MUSEUMSQUARTIER /www.mqw.at/en Ballet Revolucion will be performed at Halle E+G from 20 March to 25 March VIENNA BOYS' CHOIR. Holy Mass in the Hofmusikkapelle on Sundays 4, 11,18, and 25 March in the Hofburg. /www.wienersaengerknaben.at
STADTHALLE WIEN /www.stadthalle.com Abba Gold 12 March 12 Tenors Live 15 March Masters of Dirt 16-18 March Night of the Musicals 23 March Metallica 31 March Lord of the Dance 31 March to 1 April
12 Tenors Live
FRAUENHÄUSER IN AUSTRIA CONTRIBUTED BY MARIA LOUKA
The women shelter movement in Austria dates back 40 years. The first shelter opened on 01 November 1978 and today there are 30 shelters where women experiencing violence from their husbands or partners can find accommodation together with their children. Before the 70s home violence was a taboo subject in Austria, considered as an internal family matter. After the second wave of the “women rights” movement in the late 60s, this subject started being discussed openly and the first shelter opened in London in 1971 by Erin Pizzey. In Vienna in autumn 1977 a group of young social workers started working on the concept of opening a shelter here. Politician and feminist Johanna Dohnal (1939- 2010) who was then working for the local council supported the birth of the association “social help for endangered women and children” in January 1978. With the financial help of the local council the first Frauenhaus was opened on 01 November 1978 and was filled to capacity soon afterwards. In February 1980 the second house of Vienna opened. And in December 1981 additional homes opened in Graz and in Innsbruck. Today there are 30 shelters in this country with a significant social contribution. Our club is currently supporting the Wiener Frauenhäuser under the kind charitable initiative of Anthea Hankey and the Outreach Team. These shelters are open for violence victims independent of their nationality, income or religion. They are all connected under the association “Autonomous Austrian Women Shelter”. In 2016, 1588 ladies and 1673 kids were cared for. For women who prefer not to live in a shelter there is the option of anonymous consultation and help at Amerlingstrasse 1, 1060 Vienna and since 2005 an immediate help hotline under Tel. 05 77 22.
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PENNE ALLA MARZIA
CONTRIBUTED BY MARZIA SCHMIEDLECHNER
Cooking means many things to different people! Some would call it art, but I call it culture. Italian cuisine is prepared in kitchens around the world, though what defines traditional Italian cooking varies within Italy itself. Each region has its own specialty based on the products that are available in their unique geographic locations. Italians with a close proximity to the sea, like in Naples and Sicily, have a simple style using fresh and light ingredients including olive oil, vegetables, and fish. While Italian culture surrounding the mountains, like in Milan and Turin, rely on heavier more robust fare. These include risotto, polenta, pork, and filled pasta. Also, northern regions see a great influence from their bordering countries. In spite of these regional differences, certain underlying principals can be found in homes and restaurants around Italy. Central to all Italian food and culture is a shared love for wine not only for drinking, but for use in the kitchen. Kitchen tables around Italy serve a greater purpose than providing sustenance, they facilitate a time for friends and family to be surrounded with great food, wine, and company. Meals during special occasions, like Christmas, can last for hours, often with 4-5 courses. They keep going as long as the wine is flowing! For many years I have given cooking lessons in Ukraine with my friend who is still teaching in Italy. For one of our classes I came up with this dish, which my friend affectionately titled, “Penne alla Marzia“. It is a blend of pesto and vegetables topped with pecorino cheese. I hope to give lessons again and share in more detail my knowledge of the Italian traditions of cooking. Please enjoy Penne alla Marzia!
Penne Alla Marzia Ingredients:
Ingredients for Pesto:
500g penne three colours
80gr of fresh basil
2 or 3 large eggplants
50gr grated Parmigiano cheese
About 300gr cherry tomatoes
30gr grated Pecorino (goat hard cheese)
Pesto sauce
30gr pine nuts
Olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, salt
Optional Mozzarella di bufala
1/4 cup (125ml) olive oil
Pesto sauce: Place washed basil leaves, pine nuts, peeled garlic and salt in food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until mixture is finely chopped and smooth. With processor still going add oil in a thin stream. Process a further second, add cheeses and mix until combined. (Blender can be used) Stop blender and scrape down occasionally. Preparation of the Penne sauce: Wash and cut eggplants in cubes, place in a sifter and add salt. Place something heavy on top of the eggplants in order to get rid of the bitterness, leave at least 30 minutes. Rinse the eggplants and place on kitchen roll paper to dry. Heat oil in a big pan (as you will later put the penne in it), add eggplants. Cook over medium, heat until the eggplant is a light golden brown. Cut and slightly cook cherry tomatoes, add to the eggplant. While the eggplant is cooking, add penne to a large saucepan of boiling salted water, boil rapidly uncovered for about 10 minutes. Drain and add the penne to the eggplants and cherry tomatoes, add pesto and combine together for 1 minute. Optional is the bufala mozzarella,which you can cut in cubes and add once the penne is ready. Serve when it’s hot and parmigiano should be seved with the penne.
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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OUTREACH
REVIEW BY KERI JOHNSTON
February 12th, the week of Valentine's Day and Fasching among other things, was the date set for this year's "Cocktails for Charity" event. Despite the chilly, wet weather and busy week the event was sold out! It was nice to come into the warm venue and be greeted by the creative cocktail makers offering a special tequila punch with fresh citrus fruit as well as a full bar of other possibilities. The entrance fee of €12 included 2 cocktails of your choice and a splendid array of sweet and savory snacks. There was also a 50/50 raffle that earned one lucky lady €185. Mrs. Hlavac once again gave us moving speech detailing the difficult choices that physically and emotionally abused women must make to leave their abusive husbands, fathers, etc. and make a new life. It is a journey fraught with many pitfalls and often results in the women returning to their abusive situations several times before finally getting free Donations are used for German language courses, psychotherapy for women and especially children and new documents as these are often destroyed by controlling husbands and fathers. Money is also sought for languages not typically used in the shelters as migrants come from farther away. The women are now referred to as "survivors" instead of "victims" -- acknowledging that they have a will to survive their situations and find a better place. The women's shelter is the first step. A new program is now being set up to provide social network groups after the women leave the shelter so that the women can support each other. When they leave their abusive relationships, they are treated by their family/culture as outcasts and it can be devastatingly lonely. So much so that some women return to the violence. These groups help the women to make new connections. She also praised the Frauenhauser staff who are often placed in very risky situations for just doing their jobs. Vouchers totalling €3750 were presented to Verein Wiener Frauenhauser as the AWA’s 2017 donation. We also were treated to an animated duet by Erin and Sebastien from Mozart's Don Giovanni -- including Sebastien sweeping Erin off her feet at the end! So romantic and perfect for Valentine's week. We also were privileged to see a hula dance by Urte. The lilting melody, colorful flowery costume and artful movements took us all away from cloudy Vienna to sunny Hawaii. The finale to the evening were two a cappella songs by our Brazilien friend Alejandro. She chose Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" and Dindi a classic bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Anthea Hankey announced the results of the election for 2018's charity and amazingly enough it was once again the women's shelter. Though there were many causes put forward I think the women's shelter remains near and dear to our hearts. Many thanks the Outreach Committee for a lovely evening. I think the sold-out crowd was made to feel more than welcome and well cared for. All in all, a fun fundraiser.
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MEET KIRSTEN H. DETRICK
In 2016, my career in the bio-pharmaceuticals industry brought me to Vienna. As Managing Director of Central Europe and Austria for my Japanese-headquartered firm, I am responsible for various businesses with nearly 700 employees, juggling this role with that of wife to Herb and mother to our son Hadley (18) and daughter Lucie (15). Here are eight lessons I’ve learned that might be of interest to other women of the 21st century. Pursue your passions. My interests are diverse. Chemistry and Creative Writing are disciplines with little overlap, but I centered university studies around them and have never regretted the decision. Despite their divergence, each activity brings great pleasure and satisfies my intellectual needs in different ways. Although I am not a scientist, I still apply logic and analytical rigor at work. One day, I’ll write my 1,000 page novel, but until then, I communicate creatively in writing at the office. Reach for the improbable. In 1990, I had 6 months between the end of my job as a health care consultant and the start of business school. My dad encouraged me to seek a health policy job in Washington, D.C. My chance of landing this kind of a role was somewhere between remote and impossible. To prove how crazy Dad was, I wrote letters to ~ 400 politicians, then wore out a pair of shoes walking around Capitol Hill, cold-calling Senate and Congressional offices to present myself and my credentials. To my astonishment, I received several offers, and ended up working for the Senate Majority Leader. Practice humility. During business school, I developed a love of marketing, a discipline I had never heard of before starting my MBA program. Desperate to find any kind of a job in the packaged goods sector, I applied to dozens of companies and eventually landed a job with a major pharmaceutical/consumer products corporation, working on an antiperspirant/deodorant brand. Marketing deodorant is far from glamorous, but it formed the foundation of my business career, by introducing me to strategic fundamentals and business basics. Take the road less travelled. In 1992, I was thinking about traveling in Europe for a month with friends, even though I had been there several times before. My parents encouraged me instead to visit Japan and China, even though doing so would require solo travel. I decided to give it a try and years later, this experience opened doors for me professionally and personally. Accept imperfection. When my husband and I were building our family, we both held fast-paced, stressful jobs. Finding good child care was a challenge, mostly because we wanted Mary Poppins for our nanny (it turned out she was already employed). We “settled” for day care and it was a spectacularly positive decision. My children learned socialization skills, made friends, and enjoyed every minute of the day. Keeping a perspective on what’s essential vs what is “nice to have” has been critical in allowing me to successfully juggle work and family obligations. As a wise colleague and mother of older children counselled me: “…although you might miss the time when your son eats his first Cheerio, there will be thousands more to follow – and you will enjoy them just as much.” Her lesson taught me to shift my focus from moments missed, to moments shared. Accentuate the positive. In 2013, after a difficult product launch resulted in numerous job losses at my company, I was moved to a part of the firm considered to be “dead-end.” At the same time my career was derailing, my parents’ health began to fail precipitously – a “perfect storm” of problems. Ironically, being out of the corporate spotlight enabled me to throttle back on work…which, in turn, gave me time to be fully attentive to my parents’ urgent healthcare needs. Today, with them both gone, I realize that my 18 months of career deflation was actually a priceless opportunity for more time with my parents. Trust your children. We moved our then 13- and 10- year old children from California to Zurich in 2013. Although a transatlantic move was challenging, the kids integrated cheerfully and grew to love Switzerland. Three years later, I was given the opportunity to have full P&L responsibility in Austria. I asked my son, at that time a rising high school junior, how he would feel about moving in his 3rd year of high school. In response, he said “Well, it sounds like a good career move for you, Mom, so I think we should go.” Both kids looked at the opportunity as an adventure, not a burden. Nearly 2 years later, they adore their newly adopted hometown of Vienna and have demonstrated resilience, tenacity and optimism in re-adjusting to a new city. “ABCD” - Always be chasing dreams. After a first year spent acclimating to my work and helping my family settle in to Vienna, I am once again pursuing new personal goals. For example, I ran for the Executive Board of the American International School in Vienna last year and was subsequently asked to become Chairperson. I take weekly German lessons in a quest to improve my conversational skills. I continue to volunteer as a guest speaker at a variety of venues focusing on women in business. And yes… I’m still chasing the elusive dream of publishing my great 21st century novel.
MARCH / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018
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