S E P T 2 0 2 0 THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CLUB OF VIENNA President's Message ear All, H I G H L I G H T S Editor-in-Chief Virginia Sheridan/[email protected] Welcome back after the long break! What a summer it has been Design Editor D Angie Trask/[email protected] - the weather fluctuating almost daily (as did the number of new Assistant Editor COVID-19 cases in Austria), and borders reopening and then closing Sheila Hargreaves/[email protected] seemingly overnight. It all led to a rather different and sometimes Proofreaders challenging summer. For example, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we Adelaide Teixeira, Joanna Czechowska were not able to attend our son’s wedding (only one guest allowed Advertising Manager Margarita Randl/[email protected] and they diplomatically chose the photographer). A happy event with Online Design/Membership unique photos (the couple in face masks) and a great story to tell the Erin Silangil/[email protected] grandchildren one day. As I’ve heard from many members, the restrictions particularly affected O F F I C E & C L U B H O U S E normally busy summer travel schedules. (The Highlights team has Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien taken note of this and has included several 'armchair travel' stories to (01) 966 29 25/[email protected] scratch that itch and provide ideas for the future). We had pre-Corona www.awavienna.com plans to go Down Under to Australia and beyond, but instead ventured Office Managers: Erin Silangil & Naira Mazzini Office Hours: Mon-Thu 10:00-16:00/Fri Closed only as far as the Mondsee in Upper Austria and Köln (Cologne) in Bank Info: AT59 1952 0018 0009 2361 Germany. Wonderful to visit family and old friends, and to spend some relaxing days in the stunning Salzkammergut. 2 0 2 0 B O A R D Although our offices were officially closed, the AWA managed to have Honorary President Alexis Traina a busy summer. Several activities, such as German, French and yoga, President Irene Schlegelmilch, continued online. When the weather allowed, we met up in person for [email protected] the Tuesday walks, weekly coffee at Cafe Sluka, and picnics in parks. Vice President/Events Sheila Hargreaves, Many thanks to all our dedicated activity hosts! A very special thank [email protected] Co-Vice Presidents, Charity Fundraising you to our Spontaneous Group leader, Urte, for her boundless energy Joanna Loizou, Erin Silangil and creativity in organising a wide variety of summer events: stand-up [email protected] paddleboarding, Augarten walk and quiz, croquet, and 80s party, to Treasurer Jillanne Gabler name a few! [email protected] Secretary Susan Cole On 1 September, our cosy Clubhouse reopens and our first in-house [email protected] activities in six months are due to take place. Of course, because of Weekly Coffee Gerda Moes 0676 387 2450/[email protected] the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we need to be cautious and to make Internal Communications Urte Paulus special provisions. Our Clubhouse improvement project, Hygiene and 0676 676 5829/[email protected] Safety, is now complete. Soon we hope to begin our next exciting External Communications Elizabeth Thomas project, Space Optimisation. Thank you for your generous support! [email protected] Highlights Editor Virginia Sheridan Pop in for a coffee and check out our ‘new look’ Clubhouse. Please [email protected] read more about this on page 22. Highlights Design Editor Angie Trask [email protected] September is a busy and exciting month, with a full and varied Marketing/Advertising Margarita Randl programme. All members are invited to kick off the new session at [email protected] our Newcomers Party in the Park on 4 September. The charity team Membership Sara has planned an exciting outing with a beekeeper, preceded by an [email protected] informative online talk about native bees. Want to learn to dance the Webmanager/FAWCO Rep Beverly Bachmayer 0664 7360 7487/[email protected] Samba? Mark your calendar for 5 September, then add in 8 October _______________________________________ for the rescheduled Ambassador’s Coffee. Highlights is published by AWA Vienna on a monthly basis from I have really missed seeing you all these past months, and look September to June, and is sent to all members. All inquiries should be addressed to: AWA Vienna forward to reconnecting at many happy in-person events. Attn: Highlights Editor, Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Vienna All rights to printed material, photos and advertising in See you soon! Highlights revert to contributors after publication. Printed on chlorine-free paper. ZVR-Zahl 327744193 Irene Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: AWA Vienna, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Offenlegung/Herausgeber: Cover photo: A hot summer day, an active AWA outing! Posing for a photo near Breitenbrunn, Irene Schlegelmilch, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien Lake Neusiedl, on the B10 bike path: Melanie and Urte (hanging), Joanna, Martine, Donna, Erin, Diese Zeitschrift dient dem Zweck, Freunde der American Elizabeth flanked by Abra (her daughter) and Maikael (her husband), plus Connie (partially hidden), Women’s Association über Aktivitäten der Helene (at the back), and trip organiser Irene. Turn the pages to read more about this trip, plus Organisation zu informieren. cycling in Vienna and beyond! 3 Lunch at Purbach, August Lake Neusiedl Cycling Trip Evening Quiz in the Stadtpark Trivial Pursuit in the Park Alte Donau Swimming Wine Night Summer in the City (and Beyond) Train to Lake Neusiedl Croquet Quiz at Augarten Picnic in Stadtpark Lighthouse at Podersdorf, July Lake Neusiedl Cycling Trip 4 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS MEMBERS CHARMAINE PEDUZZI WAGES ALICIA ALTMUELLER Nationality? Italian descent. Lived? Grew Where from? Born and raised in New up in Ohio, lived 25 years in Atlanta, then York, lived in North Carolina for 14 years, San Francisco, Arizona and Vienna. In and now living in Zürich, Switzerland, with Vienna? Two months so far, in Margareten. my Austrian husband and our two teen Favourite food? Pasta, Schnitzel. Recent daughters. And in Vienna? We have an book? Currently reading Murmur of Bees apartment in the 17th district, just around by Sofia Segobia, City of Girls by Elisabeth Gilbert, and the corner from Yppenplatz! Our oldest daughter starts The Rosie Project by Graeme Simision. Where else at Universität Wien this fall, giving me a perfect excuse have you lived? In the US, I lived in Ohio, Atlanta, San to come to Vienna even more. Favourite food or meal? Francisco and Arizona. Internationally: Cyprus and the Farmer's Market veggies. What inspires you? Nature. South of France. What inspires you? Food. I enjoy Individuals that change the world for the better. Past jobs cooking, and had a great time during Covid sending dinner or hobbies? My work has always been in community photos to family members. It became quite a competition! organising around human rights, environmental issues, Pets? Our 6-year-old Maltese is our pampered princess. and technology access. In Zürich, I am the president of a Career? I am a health insurance broker specialising in small non-profit called Zharity, that provides opportunities Medicare plans for Americans 65+. Previously a registered for the community to do good, have fun and connect. In investment advisor. Other hobbies? I love to play internet my free time I write, walk, and work on my German. I love Backgammon and have enjoyed gardening. Fun fact? to cook, but rarely end up following the whole recipe - I am willing to pack up and move in a flash, and would which can lead to "interesting” meals. welcome a digital-nomad-style life. Top of your bucket list? Travel! Remembering Departed Members Nancy Christian 1930-2020 basketball when the announcement was made that President Roosevelt had died. “It stopped play. We all fell Nancy Morrow silent and were sad.” Christian, a former AWA Highlights editor Nancy studied art at college in Colorado (where she was and long-time resident nominated Most Beautiful Freshman) and married a law of Austria, passed student (for a short time, the first of four marriages!). She away earlier this year raised three children largely as a single mother, all the surrounded by friends while working in the state legislature, as a photojournalist and family. She was at the San Fernando Valley Sun newspaper (covering 90 years old. Her politics and city hall), and creating her art. Years of daughter, Josephine, travelling followed to destinations such as India, Uganda, provides an overview and Kenya. She eventually settled in Altenberg, Austria, of her life well-lived, for those who knew (or wish they with husband #4. knew) Nancy. Nancy exhibited her marvellous paintings for 10 years Nancy was born in Texas “at cocktail hour,” as her mother with the Verein Veritas in Vienna and Budapest, ran a always said. A birthday gift when she was four, a cocker dog pension, spoke four languages, was editor of the spaniel named Patsy, ignited a lifelong love of dogs. In AWA Highlights magazine, worked at both UNIDO (UN later years Nancy owned a Grosspudel, Dusty, who won Industrial Development Organisation) and UNWRA many awards at various dog shows. (UNRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), and gave English lessons to children. She lived a privileged childhood in a large home with six servants. Annoyed by being driven to school by the Although Nancy struggled, especially in later years due chauffeur, she nagged her parents to let her ride the to COPD and a weakening heart, she never gave up! Her school bus instead. Nancy loved the school chorus, art home and kitchen were always open to friends, family, and music lessons, and sports.