Monthly Meetings

The 2010 ZIWA AGM was attended by 114 members who enjoyed the hospitality of the Baur au Lac in central Zürich. After coffee and gipfeli, the members were invited to take their places in the meeting room and the AGM got underway promptly. The minutes of last year's AGM were approved unanimously, and then the President Christine Gilbert made her report. Christine mentioned the many achievements of the past year, including an increase in the number of members to 774 in March, the successful launch of the Member Care group who have answered the needs of members more than 35 times in the past year, and staying within the planned budget during another difficult year. There are currently 77 Interest Groups, with 6 new ones starting in the past year and 2 more in the pipeline. The ReachOut volunteering initiative launched last year has been successful and is gaining publicity outside ZIWA with some activities being reported in Swiss newspapers, and the ZIWA Cookbooks continued to bring in revenue for the women's refuge charity. After the President's Report was approved by the members, Treasurer Rita Jansen presented her report. Revenues have increased due to the increase in membership numbers and expenses were stable which meant that the goal of staying within the agreed budget was achieved.

Frances then handed over to Vreni Riedler, Chairman of the Nominations Committee. The outgoing Board Members, Christine Gilbert, Francesca Wels, Helen Pulm, Julia Holmes, Frances Reincke and Chip Efthymiades were all thanked for their hard work and dedication over the past two years and presented with a certificate. All had agreed that instead of receiving a small gift as a token of thanks from the membership they would like a donation made to the charity of their choice.


Then the seven candidates for the forthcoming Executive Board 2010-2011 were presented: only one, Rita Jansen as Treasurer, was standing for a second year of office, the other candidates being Zorina Wehrli-Auayang as President, Nérida Damas-Zobrist as Director Monthly Meetings, Michele Papke as Secretary, and Carmel Dillon and Kristen Engle as Directors without Portfolio. Julia Newton was standing for Director of Interest Groups but unfortunately could not be present due to a pre-arranged holiday. After the ballot papers had been counted all seven candidates were declared to have been elected by an overwhelming majority.

The morning's business complete, an apero was served followed by a delicious three-course lunch and everyone had time to chat with old and new friends and congratulate the new Board members.