WAC on Track September, 2012

Volume 17, Issue 5 September 2012

Women’s Activity ClubWinterthurerstrasse 18

8610 Uster043 305 9250

www.wac.ch

The Club is a multifunctional organization whose purpose is to meet the social, educational, and personal needs of its members.

The Club is designed to encourage international

friendship, support, and sharing.

WAC ON TRACK

http://www.wac.ch

http://www.wac.ch


WAC Board of DirectorsGood communication between the

board members and the membership of the WAC is important for the

continued growth and improvement of the club. If you have any concerns

or questions, please feel free to contact us.

President Carol Conzelmann044 940 02 [email protected]

Vice PresidentStephanie [email protected]

SecretarySusan Junodsusan [email protected]

TreasurerLeong See [email protected]

Activities ChairpersonHeike [email protected]

Special Events ChairpersonKalpana [email protected]

Marketing ChairpersonAngie Menendez 079 258 53 [email protected]

Membership ChairpersonSusan [email protected]

WAC OfficeHours: MWF 9:15-12:15

Club Office ManagerJennifer Langkjaer

043 305 [email protected]

Learning Tree SchoolHours: Mon.- Thurs. 9:00-12:00

School DirectorIda Imbach

043 305 [email protected]

[email protected]

Editor’s Note Stacy Streuli

Dear WAC members,

It’s been a great summer holiday, and while I’m sad to see the summer wind down, I do find myself getting excited about the school year ahead. We mostly spent our holiday working on our house and garden, but we did manage to get to an open-air concert festival, have a visitor from America, participate in the annual Limmat Swim in Zürich, do lots of swimming at the local Badi, and spend time with friends!

We have a lot of new and exciting events coming up at the WAC, all made possible through the generous support of our members who volunteer. Without volunteers, our club would not run!

We are desperately seeking volunteers to run our playgroups as well as needing a new playgroup coordinator. If you regularly attend playgroup, then you already know how to do it! And even if you don’t, it’s fun and easy, and we are happy to help you learn! I’ve been a playgroup coordinator, as have many WAC members at one time or another. Give it a try!

For those with kids going back to school, or starting school for the first time - how about making a no-sew DIY pencil case?

Complete instructions can be found here:http://innerchildfun.com/2009/09/diy-no-sew-pencil-case.html

Happy September everyone!Stacy

Advertising RatesFull page ad: 150 Sfr.

Half page ad: 80 Sfr.Quarter page ad: 50 Sfr.Inserts: 150 Sfr.Classifieds: Members: 10 Sfr. Non Members 30 Sfr.

WAC Notice board : (one month / max. size A5 / members: free. Please contact office for further information.)

“WAC on Track” Deadlines and ContributionsIf you have a story to share, a fun experience, a recommendation, a joke, or anything else

you’d like to share with other members, please email it to: [email protected].

DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER 2012 ISSUE: 20 SEPTEMBER

mailto:[email protected]






















http://innerchildfun.com/2009/09/diy-no-sew-pencil-case.html

http://innerchildfun.com/2009/09/diy-no-sew-pencil-case.html




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President’s Note Carol Conzelmann

Dear WAC friends,

Welcome back to the WAC! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and are ready to launch into a new school year. We had a busy summer – one week in England with my family, a week in Tessin with my husband’s family, and a week in Valais with the marmots – so tame you can feed them by hand!

I hope you’ll all find the WAC to be bright and welcoming, with some welcome balloons and a banner set up by my fellow board members Stephanie and Angie. We want to extend a very warm welcome our new WAC members who have joined us from July, and of course as always it’s great to see many familiar faces as we return to the WAC. We also hope you like the finishing touches to the refurbishment of our clubroom, including the demise of our old and very well worn sofa – thank you to Jess Bachofen for helping us to get rid of it! It has been replaced by some leather chairs, and great new pictures which we hope encourage you to enjoy coffee and cake with friends!

Playgroups are a very important part of our offer at the WAC, it’s the place where many of us first make other ‘mom friends’ and our little ones have their first social experiences. Sadly our Playgroup Chairperson, Danna, has decided to step down from her WAC job. Thanks Danna for all your hard work! Danna will continue to run the Thursday playgroup, Little Rascals, together with Yael. However we are in urgent need of a new Playgroup Chairperson to co-ordinate our playgroups. The job entails finding and supporting Playgroup Leaders, writing for the WOT and ensuring that supplies and toys for the Playgroups are available. Benefits include free WAC membership and a chance to meet lots of new people. If you’re interested, please contact our Business Board Member, Heike at [email protected]. We also need Playgroup leaders for Tuesday & Friday mornings, and for Monday or Tuesday afternoon. I ran a playgroup for over a year and can promise that it is a lot of fun. I made many friends and had the satisfaction of seeing a lot of happy faces every week. Again, if you think you’d be up for an interesting challenge, please contact Heike who will be happy to provide further information plus support in the job.

There’s a lot going on at the WAC over the coming months, so please have a good read of the WAC on Track and start putting some dates in your diary!

Bye for now,

Carol

COM Corner Jennifer Langkjaer

Welcome to our new members. To keep up with the latest WAC and Learning Tree School information, join our Facebook Group: The WAC.https://www.facebook.com/groups/55979857718/



https://www.facebook.com/groups/55979857718/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/55979857718/

LTC School News Ida Imbach


Welcome Back!

We hope you all had a nice summer!

It’s so nice to see all the familiar faces and all the newcomers! Together with all the teachers, we welcome you to our ’new’ school year. We extend a very special warm welcome to all the newcomers in our school.

This school year we have added an ESL4 Class and a Reading and Writing VI Class. We have incorporated the ESL1 and ESL2 classes into one class on Fridays.

Some of our Reading and Writing Classes are full and have a waiting list so we may be opening new classes soon. As soon as we have the new classes, we will post it on the WAC on Track and in our website.

Would you like to know more? Well, the teachers and I will be here on Wednesday, September 26 for an information evening. You will meet the teachers and get to see the classrooms and resources that we will be using. We will let you know what our plans are for the year ahead. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We are also continuing with our successful Lunch Club. It runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are still spaces available and if you are interested, please contact Jennifer at [email protected] or me. If there is enough interest, we may open a Friday group. Please let us know if this would suit you.

Kristina Linkomo will continue to run our PTA (Parent- Teacher Association). She is now looking for class reps and if anyone is interested, please contact either of us ([email protected]). If you would like to help in any other way, please let us know.

So, we wish you all a fun year with us at the LTCS – a happy place to learn!

Interiors/Exteriors Pamela Stankay

Hello WAC members! Interior/Exteriors is seeking volunteers to help with:

• Tea towel laundry (weekly)

• Recycling (weekly)

• Gardening – help either with knowledge or labor

• Individuals who would be willing to help on one-off big projects, but don’t want to make a weekly commitment

I would also like to ask for people with any special experience to step up and either write an article or consider hosting an evening class. Personally I would be interested in woodworking basics and painting techniques. I would also like information on how to help children understand handicaps. What I have read so far says, “Give an age-appropriate answer.” Some actual examples would be very helpful.

If you can help with any of the above, please contact Pamela at: [email protected]








Activities at the WAC for Kids and AdultsContact Jennifer [email protected] for enrollment forms and

information

Dear WAC Members,

Welcome back! I hope you spent a wonderful summer here at home or abroad and are now looking forward to many events and new classes coming up at the WAC. Let me give you a brief overview:

Movie nightMadagascar III will be released mid October and we hope to have it within a few days after the release date. At the moment we have planned our movie night with Madagascar III for the Friday right after the fall vacation. We will confirm the date in the next issue of the WOT. HalloweenThe highlight of the season will be our Halloween party on November 4th. The special events team has been working for quite some weeks already to make this event as special and halloweenish as in the past. We will have a disco and are still looking for a DJ. If you are interested to be our Halloween DJ please send an email to [email protected].

Christmas partyThe WAC Christmas party will be held on December 9th. Please get in touch with Kalpana if you want to help with the preparations.

New Classes•( We will have a one time Indian food cooking class at the end of September. •( We start monthly arts and crafts workshops for children 4+ starting in October. •( We will have a „Christmas baking“ class for children 4+ at the beginning of December.

The registration sheets will be up on the news board by the end of August.

Still in planningAndrea Hurley, a WAC member, has suggested to have Swiss German classes at the WAC. Yael Bermano is currently looking into setting up this class. Please let Yael know if you are interested in attending the class or know a teacher interested in teaching the class: [email protected]

PlaygroupsIn addition to the very popular Thursday playgroup we would like to offer one or two more playgroups. If you are interested in running a playgroup please get in touch with me: [email protected]

Playgroup ChairpersonDanna Levy Hoffmann has managed the playgroups so far but wants to resign due to personal and professional reasons. If you are interested in taking over the playgroup chair or want to know more about the work involved with it please get in touch with me: [email protected].

And last but not leastWe always appreciate new ideas for classes, workshops and events.... Thanks for getting in touch with Kalpana, Yael or me.

Have a great start in a new school year.Heike














Refund From Your Health Insurance

Did you know, your health insurance will often refund some, or a big part, of various health/exercise classes you do? Depending on your particular health

insurance, and the extra benefits you have signed up for, they may refund part or nearly the entire course.

E.g. my health insurance pays half of my annual fitness subscription.

I heard from another WAC member, that she sent in a confirmation of the WAC’s Zumba class that she attends, and her insurance refunded a big portion of the course!

Also, if you sign your kids up for a Soccer club or Turnverein, or even swimming classes, it is worth investigating if your insurance refunds something. Even the annual pass for the Hallenbad can be refundable.

You will need a confirmation that you have paid the course, include a copy of the receipt, and send it to your insurance and see what happens. It is always good to receive some money back!

Take careSharon

Sharon’s Tips

Wetsch du Schwiizertüütsch lähre? Would You like to learn to speak Swiss-German?

Sometimes it can feel very frustrating to be learning High-German and yet still not be able to understand what the people around you are saying!

The WAC would like to offer a Swiss-German class, and needs to know if you are interested in participating!

If you have interest in learning Schwiitzertüütch, please send an email to Yael Bermano. [email protected]




Dear WAC Members,

Welcome Back! Hope you all had a great summer. Thanks to a great group of volunteers, the WAC Library will be open again this year for many of the same hours as last year. Thank you everyone! (See Library Schedule for exact times.)

Our September New DVD Releases include: War Horse, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Hunger Games, Mirror Mirror, Avengers Assemble, and The Pirates & Band of Misfits. (See movie flyers for exact release dates from the seller.) During my trip to the US, I picked up three more American Girl DVD’s (family drama with a historical bent), six “Where on Earth is Carmen San Diego” DVD’s (children’s cartoon series that teaches about geography & culture in a fun way) & a “Who Was King Tut?” book. Also a big “Thank You” to Nancy Dodds & her family for donating the book, War Horse and its sequel: so now you can see the movie & read the great book that it is based on.

Have a great start to this new school year! If you ever need a volunteer job, the library is always seeking to expand its hours. Commitment is about 1 hour/week. E-mail me at [email protected] or just let the WAC Office know & they will let me know.

Warm Regards,

J Judy

LIBRARY NEWSJudy Burckhardt

In June the Readers Gone WACky met to discuss The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The Paris Wife is a fictionalized account of Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest

Hemingway. The story begins in Chicago in 1920 when they first meet. Hadley seems headed to become an old maid, while Ernest is full of energy and writerly ambitions. After a whirlwind romance and wedding they set off for the glamorous city of Paris.

The couple enthusiastically joins in the wild life of Jazz Age Paris, filled with late nights, drinking, beautiful women, expatriate artists and big egos. Despite a deep love, the two find it increasingly difficult to build a stable family life, especially after the birth of their son. Although Hadley was an accomplished musician, she puts aside her talents to become “a literary wife” as Hemingway’s career takes off. Eventually, their marriage unravels when a close friend takes advantage of her intimate position in Hemingway’s life. Although both Hadley and Ernest had subsequent marriages, the book suggests that their deep love for each other was mutual and continued, although unspoken, until the end of Hemingway’s life.

Members enjoyed The Paris Wife as an entertaining and easy read. In particular the descriptions of time, place and characters, including many important artists of the time, were fascinating. Book club members discussed the life style of the times (especially in regards to drinking, child rearing, divorce and monogamy) as compared to today. Readers found Hadley a sympathetic character with a true voice, but some questioned her motivations and actions.

Hemingway was writing The Sun Also Rises during the time span of The Paris Wife. Some members read or re-read Hemingway’s novel to bring further information to the discussion. It was difficult to find actual overlaps in the two books, but the period descriptions were complementary. It was interesting to note that the writing style of each novel was entirely different: one lyrical, the other stark.

All in all, the Readers Gone WACky highly recommend The Paris Wife as a fine historical, literary and easy read.

On September 5th book club members will discuss by Erin Morgenstern. In October the club will review The Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. Meetings are held on Wednesday evenings at 20:00 in the lounge. NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!!!! Please contact Alice Knöpfel (044 912 2326 [email protected]) for more information.

Readers Gone WACky






Mexican Ladies

Night In

Opening Day of Pumpkin Season at Jucker Farm!

On September 2nd the pumpkin season begins! Beginning with a opening day festival, including the “Pumpkin Olympics” with special prizes, the annual pumpkin exhibition will be revealed. There will be pumpkin carving, and pumpkin foods to try: pumpkin soup, pumpkin burgers, pumpkin fries and many more!

Jucker Farm suggests public transportation as parking can fill up quickly, and there will be buses running from the Aathal train station on Wednesday, Saturdays, and Sundays starting Sept 1st. You must buy a bus ticket or have a valid zone ticket. Details and information (in German) can be found at http://www.juckerfarmart.ch

Potluck dinner September 13th, 7.30 pm at the WAC

Enjoy an evening with nice food and good friends at the

WAC!!

Enter your name and dish into the doodle!

h"p://doodle.com/kgr2d23pt579fin78(I can e-mail the link to you as well! [email protected])

P.S. Zumba Ladies: We will only start dinner once you are ready with your dancing. Therefore it works for you too!!

8

http://www.juckerfarmart.ch

http://www.juckerfarmart.ch


Treat Yourself With a Nice Massage – And Save

Do you need stress relief?

Are you feeling tired?

Does your body need a treat?

Are you looking for a professional, effective massage in Uster?

My services help you to become more relaxed and healthy, so that your family life and work is more enjoyable and happy. Currently I offer Classic/Swedish massage, Feet reflexology, Lymph drainage and Fat burning massage. Scheduling is easy by calling or texting. You can enjoy your massage in a very nice newly opening beauty salon called DIVA makeup, in the Uschter77 shopping mall.

Right now I offer you a 50% discount for your massagetherapy, if you book your appointment for the period of September 1-15, 2012.

If you would like to get more written information, please send me an e-mail.

Maria Kralj 076-400-6727 [email protected]

NEW! CHILD CARE DROP-OFF SERVICE AT THE WAC!

DO YOU NEED SOME TIME WITHOUT THE KIDS? BRING THEM TO THE WAC ON TUESDAYS FROM 10-11:30 FOR

SUPERVISED CHILDCARE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE WAC!




Mothering Mattersis a non-profit, bi-monthly journal

for English- speaking parents living in Switzerland with articles and information on child-rearing topics, suggestions and practical

tips for child-related activities.

A year’s subscription costs SFr. 33.

For more information, or to subscribe, go to

www.mmjournal.com

THE WAC DAY EXCURSIONS BOOK

For all those excursions around Zurich and beyond, don’t forget the

revised WAC Excursion Book, listing great days out in and around the

Zurich area.

Available from the office or library for just 15 SFr.

Lunch Club

A Two Hour Supervised Lunch Break for you and your kids! Mon-Tues-Thurs 11:45-13:45

Cost: 15chf per child/per day, payable monthly in advance to the office.

Parents are responsible for their own child’s sack lunch.

Please fill in a registration form at the WAC or wee our website for more info.

http://www.mmjournal.com

http://www.mmjournal.com


Girls Club is now accepting new members. Any interested girls ages 5 and older please email Jana Parkin at

[email protected]. Girls club is a great way to meet some English speaking friends while having fun singing, crafting, and learning new things! We meet once a month on a Saturday morning. Our long running program encourages fair play, self sufficiency, and kindness to others. Come join us!

Girl’s ClubJana Parkin

Invitation to all WAC members to join the new

WAC DINNER CLUBDo you fancy an evening out in a restaurant with other WAC mums? Are you new to the WAC? Do you have a baby or young children and wish to chat and socialise with others in the same situation as you?

Do you have older children at school and want to meet other mums and swap experiences?

Then the WAC Dinner Club is for you!

The aim of the club is to socialise and have fun. We will go out together and try out restaurants in different locations every few weeks.

We’ll have our first dinner in a local restaurant in Uster. We’ll add an exotic twist to the evening by going to a Chinese restaurant where our very own Sima Xie has kindly agreed to be there and guide us through the menu and give us the low down on what’s real Chinese food and what’s not!

The date will be confirmed soon and be posted on the WAC website www.wac.ch and a sign up sheet will be placed on the notice board. You can also sign up via email.

Are you interested, does this sound like your kind of thing?

Please email me to let me know your thoughts or suggestions or simply to register your interest.

Susan Junod (WAC Secretary) [email protected]



http://www.wac.ch

http://www.wac.ch




PLAYGROUPS

Disclaimer: Members, their families and guests are reminded that participation in WAC activities is entirely on their own discretion and/or risk. Neither the Women’s Activity Club nor its representatives shall be held responsible for damage, injury or loss incurred by the use of

Club property or participation in club events.

Zoom Zoom Zoom ! • Lots of singing, dancing, and moving• Story time or theme discussion• Bilingual-English with beginning German

introduction• For kids aged 1-3 and their care givers

• Now Enrolling!If you are interested in attending on a

regularbasis please contact Jana Parkin

[email protected]

Every Tuesday starting at 9:30-11:15

Hi everyone!Well, another school year just begun and we're looking for new fresh faces to run some playgroups at the WAC. The job is easy and fun! Please contact our office or Yael ([email protected]) for more information.

Hope everyone enjoyed the summer, and see you Thursdays!Danna

Playgroup�� News�� Danna�� Levy�� Hoffmann

Yael





Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

110-11:30 Ballet and Tap

2 310-11:30 A1 German Class with childcare11:45-1:45pm Lunch Club4:15pm Ballet6:30pm Belly Dancing

410:00-11:30 A2 German with childcare11:45-1:45pm Lunch Club

58:00pm Readers Gone WACky

69:30-11:30am Playgroup11:45-1:45pm Lunch Club4:15pm Zumba Kids7:00pm Zumba

74:00pm Ballet

810:00am Ballet and Tap



12 139:30-11:30am Playgroup11:45-1:45pm Lunch Club4:15pm Zumba Kids7:00pm Zumba7:30pm Ladies Night In: Mexican!

144:00pm Ballet




197:30pm Craft Evening


214:00pm Ballet




267:00pm LTCS Info Evening


284:00pm Ballet

29


September

FALL BREAK

WAC on Track September, 2012

Documents

Transcript of WAC on Track September, 2012