AELPLER GRUPPE SWISS CLUB Founded 1925 NEWSLETTER www.swissparknewark.com Swiss owned and operated since 1935 Volume XXVIII Issue 1, January - March 20 20 Fondue & Jass Party President’s Message th February 9 2020 By Arnold Ambiel Jass check-in 12:30 Dear Members, Fondue dinner 4 p.m. Send in your reservations (flyer inside) 2020 marks the 95th Anniversary of the Aelpler Swiss Club and the 85th Anniversary of our Swiss Hall in Newark. We’ll celebrate this throughout the year, including our Sept 5th Championship Schwingfest. Look for the Schwingfest program book ad that will be coming out shortly. Our Metzgete was well attended in November. The new date increased attendance by 20%. I want to thank Ernst and Marie Hofmann for the wonderful meals they prepared for Metzgete NEW for 2020 - Group Hikes and Christmas Party. South Bay Hike March 22 We hope everyone enjoyed our Members Christmas Party. It is East Bay Hike June 28 always a fun time and the best way to connect with our members. The board is looking for ways to improve the party in North Bay Hike September 27 2020. If you have any ideas or would like to work on this year’s Christmas Party please contact me at the number below. See Aelpler Gruppe website for further information as it gets closer to hiking date Our annual Jass and Fondue event is on Sunday, February 9th. What better way to spend a cold Sunday afternoon than with Jass, Kaffee Fertig and Fondue. Want to learn how to make Fondue? Call me. Folklore Event th Our Board and Committees continue to work on future options April 18 for the Aelpler Gruppe. Everywhere I go up and down California with the Swiss Benevolent Society the question comes up. Swiss care about the Aelpler Gruppe. More at our Semi-Annual Meeting in May. 12:00 noon – see flyer inside This month we also launch our new website. Thanks to Pat Wipfli Schaffarczyk for all the work she put in creating this. And now is time to renew your social membership. Look for the Mark your calendars - Sunday, May 3rd renewal in your mailbox this month. Semi-Annual members meeting New Trivia Question: What Swiss fondue cheese is named after 2:00 p.m. its own castle? Call/text me at 510-936-2523 with the answer. We’ll draw the winner from the first four received. Walt Haslemann is the last winner by coin toss from three correct answers. He receives two tickets to our Jass/Fondue Night in February. Look for the answer to the last question inside. Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club Facebook page Ich wünsche euch alles Gute, www.facebook.com/aelplergruppeswissclub Arnold Aelpler Gruppe Christmas Dinner Our annual Christmas Dinner, held on December 7th, was a nice event filled with family and friends enjoying Christmas cheer. We wish to thank outgoing Aelpler Gruppe Board members Agnes Reed and Christine Ciardella for their many years of service to the Board of Directors and to the club! We also welcome new Board member, Michelle Ott, as Assistant Treasurer. Many members came forward to decorate the hall for the dinner and then helped to clean-up at the end of a wonderful evening of visiting with friends and family, sharing a great meal, enjoying the delight of the children as Santa took the stage, and ending with many home baked Swiss Christmas cookies. We thank the many members for their generous donations towards the purchase of children’s gifts, supporting the club through their purchase of raffle tickets and bringing the many lovely prizes. Thank you to Ernst & Maria Hofmann, our wonderful chefs, for a delicious Christmas dinner. Our President, Arnold Ambiel, did an outstanding job as MC for the evening. Membership – Please welcome our new Social We thank the many volunteers who came forward to help Members: with our Christmas dinner! Our club is stronger with lots of helping hands. Christina Hofmann Dixie Rohrman Reed Kappen Grant Kappen Thank you to Pat Schaffarczyk and Tom Coroneos for Paris Swegan (Imholz) taking many wonderful photos during the evening. They are available to view here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IkO_JLJLqCMzAn HDowUvJZvmVXrzI8r2 Aelpler Gruppe launched our new website! Take a look and view upcoming events along with information on becoming a club member, past newsletters, and plenty of event photos. Thank you to Pat Wipfli Schaffarczyk for all the work she put in creating our new website. She spent months working with our web developer to produce a new look with new content. Thank you again Pat! Metzgete – November 2019 Swiss Night at the San Jose Sharks Hockey game Thank you to all who came out to enjoy Metzgete with the Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club. We had a fun night of delicious A wonderful, large group of Swiss came together to watch a food and music and dancing. San Jose Sharks game and cheer on two Swiss players, Timo Meier and Joe Thornton! We thank the Swiss- Our Metzgete was well attended in November. The new American Chamber of Commerce for setting this event up. date increased attendance by 20%. We want to thank Ernst So many Swiss and friends of Switzerland dressed in hats and Marie Hofmann for the wonderful meals they prepared and brought flags and Swiss decorations to really show our for Metzgete and our Christmas Party! We look forward to might. Almost 400 hundred of us were on the ice after the even more of you coming to our Metzgete this Fall. game to take a group photo! Lois Ulrich celebrating her birthday with family Julia & Josie Rosemary Ramsell celebrating her birthday -> Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club Social Membership Join the Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club! Your Annual $40 social membership entitles you to: Special member invitations to yearly events (Schwingfest, Fondue Night, Metzgete, etc). Christmas Party – Free to Social Members Subscription to newsletter To join; please send your name, email address, postal address, phone number and enclose a $40 check (paid after March 31st dues are $50.00) made payable to Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club and mail to: Rosmarie & Bill enjoying dancing greatly! Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club Attn: Membership 5911 Mowry Ave., Newark, CA 94560 Questions; please contact us at: [email protected] Phone: 510-936-2523 Aelpler Gruppe 2020 Calendar of Events Swiss Park 2020 Events 5911 Mowry Avenue, Newark 510-793-6272 www.facebook.com/aelplergruppeswissclub There are many other on-going events at Swiss Park. Feb 9 Jass Party 12:30 & Fondue Dinner 4 p.m. Please check the website for the current event listings at: March 22 South Bay Club Hike www.swissparknewark.com April 18 Folklore Event 12:00 noon May 3 Semi-Annual members meeting 2:00 p.m. Jan. 25 Crab Feed 6:00 p.m. June 14 United Swiss Societies Kid’s Camp 9 a.m. March St. Patrick’s Dinner & Dance (Sunday) 4 pm June 28 East Bay Club Hike Aug 1 United Swiss Societies – Swiss National Day 11:00 Sep 4 Dinner prior to Schwingfest 6:00 p.m. SJVSC, Ripon 2020 Calendar of Events Sep 5 Fall Schwingfest in Newark 11:00 a.m. www.sjvscriponswiss.com Sep 27 North Bay Club Hike Tony Berchtold, President Nov 1 Annual Member’s Meeting 2:00 p.m. Feb 8 Fasnacht,/ Roaring 20’s theme 6-11 p.m. Nov 7 Metzgete Dinner 6:00 p.m. Feb 16 Spring Jass Party Dec 5 Member’s Annual Christmas Dinner 6:00 pm March 14 Schwinger Dinner & Dance April 18 Swiss Echoes Spring Concert June 6 Spring Schwingfest July 25 Swiss Kids Camp & Members BBQ United Swiss Societies Aug 29 Fall Schwingfest Diane Wagner, President 510-582-0698 Oct 3 Oktoberfest www.unitedswissnorcal.org Oct 24 Fall Swiss Echoes Dinner & Concert Nov 8 Fall Jass Party Peninsula Swiss Club Dec 6 Swiss Echoes Christmas Dinner Contact: Sandra Scanferla-Eidam 408-348-6911 Dec 13 Children’s Christmas Party [email protected] www.peninsulaswissclub.com Swiss Consulate General West Coast Swiss Wrestling Association Pier 17, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94111 New Board: President – Arnold Ambiel, acting Phone: 415-788-2272 Vice President – Urs Gwerder www.eda.admin.ch/sanfrancisco Treasurer – Don Widmer, acting Secretary – Chris Schallberger, acting Contact information for Western US Swiss Clubs: Visit the Swiss Consulate General’s website: All West Coast Schwingfests are now online at https://www.eda.admin.ch/dam/countries/countries-content/united- http://schlussgang.ch/ states-of-america/en/112.0_CHclubsSF.pdf 2020 Schwingfest Dates: Swiss Rifle Club Events April 4 Imperial Valley – Holtville Contact John Burky at 510-996-8789 June 6 San Joaquin Valley Swiss Club – Ripon More information at: www.carmelgunclub.com June 13 Swiss Sportsman Club – Tacoma And www.feldschiessen.us June 20 San Diego Swiss Club – San Diego http://www.carmelgunclub.com/SWISS%20Matches.html July 4-5 Lewis Pacific Swiss Society – Frances, WA July 11 Portland Swiss Club – Portland Sierra Swiss Club Calendar July 18 Sierra Swiss Club – Truckee Contact: Urs Gwerder 530-587-8316 Aug 8-9 Swiss Sportsman Club – Tacoma http://sierraswissclub.homestead.com Aug 29 San Joaquin Valley Swiss Club – Ripon Sept 5 Championship - Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club - Pro Ticino Newark http://www.proticino.ch/ Sängerfest October 2019 Trivia question: “Who wrote Steiner 30th Pacific Coast Swiss Singing and Yodeling Festival Chilbi? Where is it celebrated every year? Los Angeles June 25 – 28, 2020 ww.swissfest2020.com Answer: Jost Ribary wrote Steiner Chilbi. It is celebrated in Steinen, Schwyz on the first weekend in October. A Chilbi is the Swiss equivalent of an annual fair mostly held in the fall season.