Relax Swiss Club, the Home for All Nationalities
Nov | Dec
2018 SWISS EXPAT INTERESTS Report on the Congress of the Swiss Living Abroad
OKTOBERFESTIVITIES! Oh, What a Party!
NEW FACES Who’s Who at the Swiss Embassy
NEW STARS RISING All Hail the German-Swiss All Stars!
EVENTFUL YEAR-END Trips, Classes, Movies, Events and More
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Inside this Issue SWISS CLUB 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 10 11
A Note from the Editor Club Management, Staff and Reservations A Word from the Committee Meet Your New Members Welcomes and Farewells A Word from the Committee Swiss Club Redevelopment Update Opening Hours A Message from the General Manager
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Best. Oktoberfest. Ever.
Seasonal Specials
DINING
12 Seasonal Specials 13 On the Wine List
EVENTS
15 Eventful November and December 17 Pool Party Makes a Splash! 18 Best. Oktoberfest. Ever.
SPORTS 22 22 23 24 25 27
Spo(r)t On!: Love Card Games? Active Fitness: Your Year-end Fitness Blitz The German-Swiss All Stars Are Born A Weekend of Glorious Golf German-Swiss Golf Club Competition Schedule An Inclusive, Intensive Two Months of Tennis
INTEREST
28 Welcome, Newcomers! 30 The Soul of the SSiS: Our Rain Tree 32 Congress of the Swiss Living Abroad in Visp/Vallais 34 Meet a Member: The Art of Living Fully with Bernd and Nany Gotze 35 The Colours of Christmas 36 Meet a Staffer: Apple’s Fresh Approach 37 Fitness, Friends, Fun! Programme of Activities in November and December
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Congress of the Swiss Living Abroad in Visp/Vallais
A Weekend of Glorious Golf
A Note from the Editor Dear Members and Readers, Wow, another year is almost over (and where has the time gone?) We all say it with monotonous regularity year after year, but somehow the passage of time itself seems to be continuously picking up speed. It could have something to do with our over-informed lives – with so many demands on our time streaming in from all directions, including the alerts on our mobile devices and our never-empty inboxes. I personally think that it makes the time spent with family and friends all the more meaningful. In my time as Editor of your magazine, which is verging on three years, I have never witnessed such an eventful year. What really makes me smile is the new that for the first time in a long time, Membership has taken a great leap forward. Congratulations to all involved in the phenomenally successful Swiss National Day Membership Promotion, and a warm welcome to all new Members. On behalf of the editorial team, I hope that you love every moment at the Swiss Club and greatly enjoy reading your Club magazine, including this very issue of ‘Relax’. Season’s greetings – and happy reading! Yours,
Suzanne Lauridsen Editor, Relax RELAX is edited and designed by SPEcial Pte Ltd. Suzanne, Copy
E: suzy@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9820 9520
Edwin, Art
E: edwin@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 8500 2975
Pam, Liaison
E: pam@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9871 0666
Trick, Art
E: trick@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 8511 5746
swissclub.org.sg MCI (P) No. 057/02/2018
/swissclubsingapore
@swissclubsingapore
@SwissClubSing
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CLUB MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND RESERVATIONS CLUB
FOOD, BEVERAGE & EVENTS
Carsten Kjeldmann, General Manager E: carsten.kjeldmann@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9421
Aaron Lim, Deputy General Manager E: aaron.lim@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9457
MEMBERSHIP
Adrian Vogt, Executive Chef E: adrian.vogt@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9428
Serene Yee, Member Relations Manager E: serene.yee@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9426 FINANCE
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Lydia Zhai, Chief Accountant E: lydia.zhai@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9450
Paulina Halim, Marketing & Communications Manager E: paulina.halim@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9430
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE
SPORTS & RECREATION
Mohamed Aslam Bin Mohamed Omar, Facilities & Maintenance Manager E: mohd.aslam@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6491 9455
Haresh Kumar, Sports & Recreation Manager E: haresh.kumar@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9438
Kumar Samy, Grounds & Housekeeping Manager E: samy.kumar@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9451
ADMIN & HR
THE GUESTHOUSE ROOM RESERVATIONS E: theguesthouse@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9420
COMMITTEE
Apple Chew, Administration & Human Resources Manager E: chinphing.chew@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9422 DINING RESERVATIONS W: www.swissclub.org.sg/restaurants T: 6591 9420 F: 6591 9452
MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Rolf Gerber President E: president@swissclub.org.sg or rolf.gerber@swissclub.org.sg
Adrian Jacklowsky Deputy President E: deputypres@swissclub.org.sg or adrian.jacklowsky@swissclub.org.sg
Thomas Vonrueti Treasurer E: treasurer@swissclub.org.sg or Thomas.vonrueti@swissclub.org.sg
Michael Bell Secretary E: secretary@swissclub.org.sg or michael.bell@swissclub.org.sg
Mel Koehler Sports E: mel.koehler@swissclub.org.sg Adrian Luedi Sports E: Adrian.luedi@swissclub.org.sg Caroline Steger F&B, Guesthouse E: caroline.steger@swissclub.org.sg Celine Foelmli-Maury F&B, Guesthouse E: celine.foelmli@swissclub.org.sg Robbie Hills Marketing/Members Relations E: robbie.hills@swissclub.org.sg Pooja Agarwal Marketing/Members Relations E: pooja.agarwal@swissclub.org.sg William Forwood Property & Masterplan E: william.forwood@swissclub.org.sg
Meet Santa
Pavilion, 9 December 2018 11:00 - 17:00 $68.00 (Member) | $78.00 (Guest) $48.00 (Children 5-12 y/o) inclusive of Buffet Lunch & Family Christmas Grittibanz Baking Class
Meet the Santa Session 15:00 - 17:00 Limited to 35 Children, priority given for children who join the buffet. (*)
Additional:
DIY Gingerbread House Making $25.00 per set | 14:00 - 15:00
Further information, events@swissclub.org.sg | 65919420
How to Include Your Child Register your child together with a gift for your child and a brief note to Santa at http://bit.ly/SCSanta2018 Gifts are numbered according to the time a registration is received. Children will be called up in this order. The earlier you submit your gift, the earlier your child will be called up. Please do not paste the note for Santa on the gift as we need to file it separately for Santa to use in his conversation with your child.
The gift must be wrapped and marked with the name of your child and your Membership number. Please pass the wrapped gift at the Guesthouse reception. Lengthy messages will be summarised due to time constraints. Optional: Your child may prepare a performance or presentation especially for Santa, not exceeding 2 minutes in length. For example, a poetry reading, a song, a dance, or a ‘show and tell’ session.
35 . nly te i o Lim dren ne r il li ch ate mbe D ce e 1D o dt
*Terms and conditions apply.
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Meet Your New Members We take this opportunity to introduce you to our three new Committee Members. On behalf of the Swiss Club, we extend our sincere gratitude to those involved. The efforts of the Committee are instrumental in the ongoing improvements that make our Club the most sought-after family Club in Singapore. Your New Treasurer,
THOMAS VONRUETI A Swiss national, Thomas has been a Member of the Swiss Club since 2004. Since January 2016, he has been Chief Commercial Officer at Singapore Life, where he is in charge of distribution and product management. Thomas moved to Singapore in 2008 as CEO of Swiss Life Singapore, where he was tasked with building up the first operation of Swiss Life outside of Europe. In 2013, he became a member of the executive Team of Zurich Life in Singapore before moving over to Singapore Life. Thomas is married and the father of two daughters.
Your New Committee Member,
CELINE FOELMLI-MAURY A fellow Swiss national, Celine joined the Swiss Club in 2004, two years after her arrival in Singapore in 2002. She has a background in fashion design and multimedia design, and recently completed her Yoga teaching certification. Celine is well qualified to serve on the F&B Sub-committee for a number of reasons. As a self-professed gourmand and the mother of a son and a daughter, she understands the importance of providing plenty of healthy and tasty items on our Club menus.
Your New Committee Member,
ADRIAN LUEDI Adrian is a Swiss national and a long-standing Member of the Swiss Club for over 20 years. He is currently Managing Director and Senior Relationship Manager for LGT Private Banking, Asia Pacific, where he is responsible for managing relationships with private banking clients in Asia and Europe. Prior to joining LGT, Adrian was Managing Director at UBS AG in Zurich. He joined Swiss Bank Corporation in 1984, and from 1988 to 2000 was based in Asia Pacific, residing in Melbourne, Hong Kong and Singapore. Adrian holds a Master’s degree in International relations from St. Gallen University in Switzerland. He is married with a grownup daughter.
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Christmas Light Up E FRE ON I ISS M AD
Enjoy Special Christmas Movie night
Christmas Brunch
25 December 2018, 11:00 - 15:00 Member $75 | Guest $85 Children $35 (5-12 years old)
Free Flow Champagne, Tiger Beer, Red / White Wine $55
Register http://bit.ly/SCXmasbrunch2018 Further information: events@swissclub.org.sg | 65919420
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The Swiss Club welcomes: Name Sacha & Geraldine Ernst Barbara Gonzenbach & Nikolas Stuerchler-Gonzenbach Mikolaj Huras Muenire E Kiamiloglou Philipp & Andrea-Suzan Kindt Regula Leuenberger Marcel & Marina Mehli Jonathan Selvadoray & Christine Cappi-Selvadoray Patrick O Stillhart & Gemma Colls Gassol-Stillhart Stefan & Alicia Altorfer-Ong Nancy & Michael Eves Michel Hofstetter & Hofstetter-Tran Lien-Phuong Mark Rohner & Rohner-Lim Mei Yoong Alicia Petra & Albert Tan-Lienhart Ang Beng Kean Brian & Ang-Ng Sue Khion Helen Johannes Benigni Manism Chhalani & Vaishali Rastogi-Chhalani Cho Hyun Moon Chris & Cho-Yi Yeojin Federico & Veronique D’Inca Hugues & Caroline DePins Olivier & Anne Dhonte Gael McLennan & Paul Drakeford Benoit & Lydia Fulton Olivier & Laetitia Gerhardt Dirk & Alexandra Gradehand Carlos Haeuser & Brigitte Axtner-Haeuser Yasser Helmy & Mona El-Mahdi Peggi Herrdum Nicholas & Lucie Hulme Ross & Pauline Howard Claus Juergen Herbert Karthe Romain & Caroline Le Roy De La Tournelle Pierre-Francois Lemonnier & Stephanie Nussmann-Lemonnier Cindy Lim & Camillus Yang Lim Kay Kiat & Nicola Ngiam
Type of Membership Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate
Eunice Ong Marc & Cathy Philipp Matthias & Kerstin Reinhold Shaun & Hrisanthi Ryan Georgy Stolyarov Thomas & Emily Taberner Ulrika & Mathias Torstensson Knut Unger & Unger-Phan Thi Thuy Trang Ville Vaeaetaejae & Barbara Zamora-Vaeaetaejae Wong Kar Kean & Tan Puay Hwa Xu Juan Xue Yan & Shaw Chai Li Howard Yong Ming Jun & Tan Yen Phing Adeline Jing Zhang & Timmy Iskak Shaw Nicola Jacqueline & Lim Lu-Yi Louis
Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Transferable
Stephan Amling & Katrin Kasel-Amling Jean-Remi Bernard & Anika Grant-Bernard Wilfred & Niseth Boerrigter Alexandre Bouchardy & Murielle Henchoz-Bouchardy Simon Brown & Tracey Veivers-Brown Jean-Francois Hery & Stephanie Ancel-Hery Lisa & Maxime Klatten Oliver & Yulia Kunze Jorgen & Malene Lundgaard Carolyn & Brian Milligan Andre Karl & Veronica Philomena Misso Ariane & Joern Morgenroth Kilian Patrick & Nicola Stroma Murray Cedric Parent & Ana Lopez Guerrero-Parent Francesco Pasquetti & Emanuela Cattaneo-Pasquetti Xavier Pavon Gelices & Ana Soledad Carcia Recio Emily & Tom Pullin Nicolas Quiles Melero Tom & Jacqueline Roche
Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term Term
The Swiss Club welcomes back: Name
Associate Associate
Robert & Selina Boyd Andrew Bryant
Name
Type of Membership
Mathieu Aste & Nadine Bagnoud-Aste Thomas Daetwyler Ivan Ferraroni Alex & Carole Aupoix Henrik & Karen Christiansen Cedric & Agnes Chupin Munish Dhall & Abhilasha Mahan-Dhall Misrab Musa Faizullah Khan Andrea Holzmann-Zaouchi Peter Leible & Staphanie Klinder-Leible Lionel & Stephanie Lemaire Halimah Shukor-Marcus
Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate
Fernando Miquelarena & Daniela Fernandez-Miquelarena Jonathan & Genevieve Wright Markus & Susanne Boehme Dominic Hernon & Hernon-Tan Chee Leng Amelia Thomas & Christine Peter Pierre Veyres & Laure Affoue Kouakou-Veyres Frank & Silke Beermann Lazarevic Jasna & Fricker Manuel Nicolette Manson-Engelbrecht James & Gemma Moffatt
Type of Membership Associate Associate
The Swiss Club farewells: Associate Associate Associate Transferable Associate Transferable Associate Transferable Associate Transferable Term Term Term Term
S W I S S
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A Word from the
Committee Dear Members,
“
We much appreciate the unanimous positive vote on a most important agenda – making the Club an even more attractive venue to enjoy our lives together with family and friends.
Welcome to the start of the festive season. I look forward to meeting you at the Club, and will introduce myself here first. Reviewing luxury Swiss watches makes me privy to the targeted marketing involved in this highly competitive industry, and to the unique relationship between the watchmakers and collectors.
Membership promotion, a 20 percent discount is being offered under the ‘Oktoberfest Special’ campaign for Lifetime and Term Membership during November and December. A big thank you from the Committee for your support during the AGM. We much appreciate the unanimous positive vote on a most important agenda – making the Club an even more attractive venue to enjoy our lives together with family and friends.
Thus, it’s only natural that the role assigned to me within the Swiss Club Committee is one close to my heart – Marketing and Members’ Relations. Together with Robbie Hills, I am also part of a special sub-committee that has been meeting regularly over the past year.
The committee, sub-committees, management and Club employees have played an integral part by providing input and exchanging ideas with the architects over the past year. The successful ‘Plan’ was presented to our Club Members during the AGM.
The upcoming two to three months are going to be exciting for us. As we look forward to the new year and plan the 2019 calendar of events, we aim to ensure that there are plenty of events held throughout the year and that enough advance notice is given to Members. We also plan to undertake a trial of a new Wi-Fi system to help better communicate with Members.
William Forwood, Chairman of the Property SubCommittee, has provided information on the approvals on redevelopment on the following page.
Additionally, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme will be introduced, though this is still in its early stages. To increase the usage of the Club to its full potential, membership of relevant business chambers would help focus on potential new Members. And, in line with the redevelopment of the Club, planning has started on external and internal marketing requirements. New marketing initiatives include sourcing for overseas Reciprocal Clubs and one other affiliated Club in Singapore, and adding golf and additional value to our membership. We are also seeking partnerships from a different vendor mix such as lifestyle, health and logistics, and are aiming to revamp our website and newsletter design. Building on the success of the enrolment of 128 new Members under the Swiss National Day 2018
I hope you will be as keen to attend as I am excited to keep you abreast of the forthcoming Club activities. Our November and December event line-up has something stimulating for all age groups and interests. It includes a cupcake decorating class for the little ones, educational weekend trips to the Science Centre and Air Force Museum, exciting movie nights, a health talk on overcoming diabetes, and a scintillating wine and cheese evening. Don’t forget the Christmas Light Up on 2 December and Meet Santa on 9 December, followed by an especially scrumptious Christmas Brunch on 25 December. All in all, I look forward to a wonderful festive time at the Swiss Club. For those planning to be away for Christmas, we wish you safe travels. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all our Members. Yours Sincerely,
P. Agarwal
Pooja Agarwal pooja.agarwal@swissclub.org.sg
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Swiss Club Redevelopment Update by William Forwood The voting Members unanimously approved the Club refurbishment and pool tiling upgrade at the AGM on 24 September 2018. The architects Zarch Collaborative Pte Ltd are now progressing with the design, based on the concepts presented to Members. The design will include upgrading the Pergola, Tandoor, Jungle Bar, kitchens, washrooms and kids’ room and the tiling of the leisure pool. Regular progress meetings are now being held. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) submission plans are to be submitted within 2018. Onsite works will commence by June/July 2019 and are likely to be split into two phases.
OPENING HOURS CLUB PREMISES
THE GUESTHOUSE/RECEPTION
Daily: 07:00 – Midnight
T: 6591 9420 Daily: 10:00 – 20:00
DINING OUTLETS ARBENZ T: 6591 9424 Closed on Mon and Tue Lunch: Wed – Sun, 12:00 – 15:00 (Last orders: 14:30) Dinner: Wed – Sun, 18:30 – 23:00 (Last orders: 22:00)
For restaurant reservations, please call 6591 9420 between 10:00 – 20:00. After office hours, please call 6591 9431. Online restaurant reservations www.swissclub.org.sg/ restaurants
PERGOLA T: 6591 9431 Mon – Sun: 08:00 – 23:00 (breakfast buffet from 08:00, à la carte breakfast from 09:00) (Last food order: 21:45; Last beverage order: 22:30)
Dress Code: Smart attire (E.g.: polo shirt, short or long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, closed shoes) Lunch Sat and All Day Sun: Casual attire (no singlets, slippers, sports attire or swimsuits)
TANDOORI CORNER T: 6591 9431 Mon – Tue: Closed Lunch: Wed – Sun, 11:30 – 15:00 (Last order: 14:30) Dinner: Wed – Sun, 18:00 – 21:45 (Last order: 21:30) JUNGLE BAR Fri – Sun: 10:00 – 22:00 Mon – Thu: Closed (open for banquet and sport events only) (Last food order: 21:45; Last beverage order: 22:00)
SPORTS FACILITIES Daily Tennis/Padel Court Football Field Leisure Pool Gym Multicourt
07:00 – 23:00 07:00 – 22:30* 07:00 – 22:00 07:00 – 22:30 07:00 – 23:00*
Mon – Fri Lap Pool Sports Hall
06:00 – 22:00 18:00 – 22:00
*Can be booked for exclusive usage
Weekends, Public and GESS School Holidays Lap Pool 07:00 – 22:00 Sports Hall 07:00 – 22:00**
Outlet opening hours are subject to changes. **Fees apply for usage of Sports Hall. Prior booking is required.
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A Message from the
General Manager Dear Members,
“
May I take this opportunity to wish all Members and their families, including my fellow colleagues, a fantastic couple of months ahead, a blessed Christmas season and a healthy start to 2019.
Though it’s hard to imagine, with this issue of ‘Relax’ we will be bidding farewell to 2018 in barely two months. I hope that everyone has had a fulfilling year and enjoyed the many offerings and activities made available at the Club. On behalf of the Committee, Management and Club staff, thank you for your fantastic support. Allow me to step back in time and provide you with a quick summary of what in my opinion was an extraordinary September for the Club. 1. The Swiss National Day Membership Promotion, which ended on 15 September, welcomed 128 new Members (plus 110 children) to the Club. Consequently, our Membership base grew substantially for the first time in approximately three years. This not only positively impacts us financially, but more importantly brings buzz and excitement to the Club and establishes the Swiss Club as ‘the’ unrivalled family Club in Singapore. 2. Thereafter the Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 24 September. A lot of Members have since asked me whether the proposed upgrading and redevelopment was approved and if so, when would it commence. Yes, the redevelopment was unanimously agreed upon, including the tiling of the leisure swimming pool. The project is scheduled to commence in June 2019. Once again, thank you for your confidence and support. Updates will be displayed at the Club and in our weekly newsletters. William Forwood has provided more details on the previous page in A Word from the Committee. 3. As the dust settled, we once again recorded a successful Swiss Cub Oktoberfest with a positive net result. This cultural extravaganza is only possible with the support of our Members, corporate sponsors, the neighbourhood community and government authorities. We thank everyone for their support. The dates for next year and our Special 20th Anniversary Oktoberfest celebration will be released at the beginning of the new year. With Yuletide festivities knocking on the door, it won’t be long before Santa once again visits the Club and meets
all our good boys and girls. No doubt he will be treated to amazing stories and heart-warming performances from the children as he hands out pre-Christmas goodies. Mark your diary for both our Christmas Tree Light Up on 2 December and Meet Santa on 9 December, both of which are wonderful family events that provide perfect opportunities to mingle with your fellow Members. You will surely have noticed new menus both at the Pergola Café and Arbenz together with the seasonal Christmas specials and take-away festive options available. As we get into the spirit of Yuletide and the many activities on offer, we will once again circulate our bi-annual Pulse survey to get a feel of “how we are doing”. Your support and constructive feedback is greatly appreciated as it helps us improve on what we do well and evaluate our shortcomings for further improvements. This ensures that the Club remains a destination for social and business enjoyment at all times. Lastly, a gentle reminder and possibly a few resolutions for the New Year. The 2019 car decal can be collected at the Guesthouse reception from 10 November 2018 till 31 March 2019. Please assist us in reducing raising utility costs by turning off lights after tennis and football activities, and keep the environment in mind by confining pool towel usage to a maximum of one or two towels per person. Wear appropriate clothing for dining and sports out of consideration for other Members, including correct footwear while playing sports to protect the durability and playability of our surfaces. May I take this opportunity to wish all Members and their families, including my fellow colleagues, a fantastic couple of months ahead, a blessed Christmas season and a healthy start to 2019. Season’s Greetings – and see you at the Club!
Carsten Kjeldmann General Manager carsten.kjeldmann@swissclub.org.sg “Swiss Club, The Home for all Nationalities”
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SEASONA L SPECIA LS NOVEMBER
1 to 15 November 2018: Mussels on Parade Pergola Mussels, 400g, served with French fries and your choice of: White Wine Butter Sauce $19.00 Light Green Curry Sauce $19.00 Tomato Garlic Broth $19.00 16 to 30 November 2018: Tandoori Delights Chicken Korma $16.50 Nilgiri Chicken $16.50 Potato Brinjal Masala $13.50 DECEMBER
1 to 31 December 2018: Merry Christmas Menu Pergola Smoked Seafood Delights Gravlax, Smoked Mackerel, Smoked Tuna Saku, Honey Mustard and Horseradish Cream $18.50 Winter Salad Smoked Duck, Cranberries, Walnuts, Baby Spinach, Caramelised Apple, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Grilled Baby Romaine and Maple Sesame Dressing $16.50 Gammon Ham with Cider Jus, Sweet Potato Mash with Christmas Spices and Red Cabbage $19.50 Terms and conditions apply. Pictures for illustration purposes only.
Thursday, 8 November 2018 Chef Eugenia Ong, Table at 7 Indonesian-born Eugenia has been an active player in the local food and beverage industry for the past 30 years. "I have proven that Indonesian cuisine can be as intricate and fine as European cuisine." RSVP to events@swissclub.org.sg | 65919420
ON THE W INE LIST November Valdubon Verdejo 2016
Garbo Negre Semi Crianza 2017
$65 per bottle $14 per 150ml glass
$65 per bottle $14 per 150ml glass
Aromas of white flower petals, aniseed, fennel, mineral touches, vegetal nuances, vanilla and coconut. On the palate, it is lively, filled with white fruits and good acidity.
Intense aromas of red and black fruits with toasted and roasted aromas and spices. An excellent tannic structure on the palate that perfectly balances its alcohol content and acidity.
E, HOM T A K E S AV O U R ! D N A S AV E
Valdubon Verdejo 2016
Garbo Negre Semi Crianza 2017
Mixed Case
Take home
Take home
Take home
6 bottles @ $270 $45 per bottle
6 bottles @ $282 $47 per bottle
3 bottles of white & 3 bottles of red @ $276 Terms and conditions apply.
December Anna’s Way Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Anna’s Way Pinot Noir 2016
$65 per bottle $14 per 150ml glass
$65 per bottle $14 per 150ml glass
Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc characters with passionfruit, melon, gooseberry, citrus, and nettle characters. The palate is fresh and juicy with loads of flavour, tangy acidity and a lingering finish.
Vibrant fruit characters that Marlborough is famous for. Good depth of flavour, sweet fruit on the palate, hints of earthy complexity, and fine tannins.
E, HOM T A K E S AV O U R ! D AN S AV E
Anna’s Way Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Anna’s Way Pinot Noir 2016
Mixed Case
Take home
Take home
3 bottles of white & 3 bottles of red @ $276
6 bottles @ $270 $45 per bottle
6 bottles @ $282 $47 per bottle
Take home
Terms and conditions apply.
SWISS CLUB
Christmas Take Away Order form available at the Guesthouse Reception, Arbenz, Pergola and online FOR MORE INFORMATION
Email: recept@swissclub.org.sg Call: 65919420 Terms and conditions apply. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Corporate Dinner? Family Event? We have the perfect venue for every occasion. Contact us! Call 65919420 Email events@swissclub.org.sg
Celebrate with us!
l u f t n e r v e E b m e c e D d n a er b m e v o N rating Class Cupcake Deco
ordinary cupcake Learn how to turn an at yummy fun! into a work of art. Wh er Saturday 3 Novemb Date: m Time: 2pm to 4p Venue: Pavilion $10 (Member) Fee:
Sponge Stamping Class
There’s an art to entertaining the kids – and this is it! Your children will be enthralled by the process and delighted by the results of this fun, hands-on medium. Date: Saturday 10 November Time: 2pm to 4pm Venue: Pavilion Fee: $10 (Member) $15 (Guest)
rkshop TÉ Beauty Wyoa R O C E D d n a jo en Ladies’ Lunch lgence as you ternoon of indu from the
af auty tips Join us for an le picking up be hi w h nc lu us sumptuo rts. DECORTÉ expe 2018 13 November 12 & Tuesday y da on M Date: 0am to 1.30pm Time: 10.3 $35 (Member) Fee: $45 (Guest) Lounge h Buffet, Venue: Rifle Tea, Mini Lunc & ee ff est Co e m co tinguished Gu Includes: Wel kshop with Dis or eveloper W D d re ca an in g Sk of Engineerin r to ec ir Dobashi, D , to . Nai e & Mr Osamu m so po Speakers: Mr N Li e ur oist of DECORTÉ M tist se makeup ar ne pa Ja SÉ KO
A High-flying Saturday
at the Air Force Museum Discover the fascinating history of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) with guide d tours and hands-on exhibitions. Date: Saturday 15 Decembe r Time: 9.30am to 12. 30pm Venue: Air Force Mu seum Fee: $10.00 (Member) $12.00 (Guest) Includes: Drinks and lig ht snack and 2-way tra nsport between Swiss Club and Air Fo rce Museum Note: Children below 10 years of age requir e an accompanying adu Activity is limited to a lt. minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 40 people.
Register by: Sunday 2 December
Health Talk: Natural Ways to Overco me
Diabetes Is your blood sugar level bouncing up and down even with medication? Are you worried about the itches and change of skin colour on your feet? Highly qual ified speaker Corrine Tan, who holds a Diploma in Institute of Nutritional Leadership, USA, has helped many to understand that this common dietary disease can be prevented and impr oved by eating right. Come and learn the healing secrets of natu ral foods. Date: Wednesday 7 November Time: 7.30pm to 8.30pm Venue: Rifle Lounge Fee: $16 (Member) $20 (Guest)
entre! e Science tsCLight th t a y a d r or Crackit ding Satu A Brain-buil Centre and behold Profess d xhibition an
ence Eye E Visit the Sci izons with The Mind’s lore new hor ie! irror Maze & p M ex ic e, st or ta n m Fa hat’s e Mov Up-Close. W or Fulldom Butterflies ome Movie d ll u F D 3 e eatr an Omni-Th November Saturday 17 Date: am to 3pm Time: 11 ence Centre Venue: Sci hild) t between ay transpor $30 (C w 2k, ac Fee: sn ht rinks and lig cience Centre Includes: D dS an b lu C s t. is Sw panying adul
com require an ac 40 people. years of age 10 maximum of a w d lo an be n le re op ild pe Ch 30 e: of ot N imum ited to a min Activity is lim
November Saturday 3 y: b r te is eg R
Wine and Cheese Evening
More than 100 labels of wines, liquors, beers, bre ads and cheeses from around the world will be availab le for sale and for sampling. Sp ecial prices start from $20 . Come and stock up for the festive season! Date: Friday 30 November Time: 6pm to 11pm Venue: Rifle Lounge Fee: $25.00 (Member) $35.00 (Guest) Includes: Mini buffet din ner
SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIES Screening
• Dumbo (10 Nov) • Despicable Me (24 Nov) • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (8 Dec)
Venue: The Lawn
The American Drama Group Europe presents TNT theatre Britain in
Macbeth by William Shakespeare november 1, november 2,
2018
Directed by Paul Stebbings - Musical Director Paul Flush - Producer Grantly Marshall
Francaise 8pm Alliance Singapore 1 Sarkies Road 8pm Tel. 673 78 422 Singapore 258130
Tickets available at adg-europe.eventbrite.com or at Alliance FraNcaise adg-europe.com or mwoker@hotmail.com for further information
E V E N T S
y t r a P l o o P Makes a Splash!
On Sunday 19 August, the Swiss Club held its first-ever pool party from 11am to 3pm. With around 200 Members and 20 non-members in attendance, it made quite a splash. A BUOYANT MOOD With a packed programme of land- and water-based activities, the party-goers had a fantastic time. Highlights included a giant inflatable, lively music spun by DJ Biggie Bobos and free-flow popcorn and candy floss for two hours.
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With a packed programme of land- and water-based activities, the party-goers had a fantastic time.
A series of friendly contests appealed to our young guests’ competitive spirit. They included (strictly non-alcoholic) shandy pong, outsized board games conducted by School of Football Asia at The Lawn, and a high-flying diving competition organised by aquaDucks. Winners were rewarded with token prizes of ice cream, Rivella soft drinks and F&B vouchers. A PARTY MENU To fuel the fun, a special poolside menu was available throughout the day. It included ever-popular Raclette, spiral-shaped ‘Snail Sausages’, burgers, nachos and soft shell tacos. Attractive beverage promotions included buckets of ice-cold Corona and Peroni and lime and strawberry Margaritas. Look out for the details of the Club’s next pool party and look forward to another day of free-flow fun!
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E V E N T S
Best. Oktober Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. The consensus – this year’s Oktoberfest was the best in living memory. Why? Let the partygoers tell you. We got it straight from the party animals’ mouths…
Alcohol!... Alcohol! Lidia
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rfest. Ever. A big thank you to my friend Chris, who is a Member of the Swiss Club. Without him, I wouldn’t know about this Oktoberfest! Aileen Tan
Oktoberfest by Numbers
10,255 Number of Tickets Sold 150 Number of Part-time Staff 36 Number of Beer Taps 20,000 Number of Litres
of Beer Served
This is my first time as I’m a new Member... I LOVE IT! Nancy
Love the bratwurst and community spirit! Tanya
Beer and more beer! Angeline and Bernice
Love the whole spirit, atmosphere and camaraderie! Sophia Yeoh
Great atmosphere! This is my first time here after so many years in Singapore. GĂźnter Schierhuber
s u o l Fabu pen p o h c FrĂźhs day Sun Last night was fun. Today with my son is a different kind of fun altogether! Eli
Food and beverages! Strasser Family
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SPO RT O N!
Love Card Games? Many of the popular playing card games in Switzerland, especially in the German speaking cantons, belong to the Jass group. DID YOU KNOW? Jass card games are played with special Swiss cards, which are known as Jass Karten (Jass cards).
Join Swiss Club’s Jass Players on 7 December 2018
Jass has become so popular in Switzerland that the verb “jassen” has come to mean “playing any card game with the Swiss playing cards”.
INTERESTED IN PLAYING?
Swiss Jass games have a number of features including the rank and values of the cards and the trick-taking rules.
To register your interest, please contact Michael Sutter or Nadine Breitenmoser at:
Article courtesy of Haresh Kumar, Swiss Club Sports & Recreation Manager
E: jass@swissclub.org.sg T: 9648 5077
Your Year-end Fitness Blitz It’s the holiday season, the weather is cooler and your schedule has probably freed up a little. Contrary to what you might think, it’s the best time of the year to keep in shape – or get into shape! RECIPE FOR FAST FITNESS Instead of allowing the holidays to hamper your fitness regime, why not amp it up? Daily training sessions of just 15 minutes would see you through. Put these moves together and stay in shape throughout the holiday season.
15-MINUTE TRAINING SESSIONS
1 2 3
• 30 seconds of squats – hold the last squat for 30 seconds • 30 pushups • 1 minute of planking
• Alternating leg lunges • Static squat for 30 seconds • 15 pull-ups • Crunches
• 30 seconds of high knees • 15 hip bridges • 30 seconds of side planks • 30 seconds of spider mountain climbers
End the year in great shape, and make some New Year’s fitness resolutions for 2019!
INTERESTED IN CLASSES OR 1-ON-1 TRAINING?
Article courtesy of Timothy Felix, Active Fitness Director
M: 9191 7475 E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg
Please contact Timothy Felix, Active Fitness Director at:
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S P O R T S
The German-Swiss
All Stars Are Born
For decades, the German All Stars and Swiss FC had been participating in Singapore’s most competitive amateur football league, the Cosmopolitan League. Once opponents, now the two teams play as one. TWO TEAMS BECOME ONE As always with teams largely made up of expatriates, the fortune of teams in the Cosmo League has historically been quite volatile. Swiss FC won the league three times in the 90s, but has fallen on harder times in the last few years. As the 2017/2018 Cosmo League season was exceptionally difficult, we were looking to merge with another team. After talking to a couple of teams, it quickly became clear that the best fit would be with the German All Stars. After a few rounds of discussion, we had a deal. We would merge the Cosmo League teams to form the German-Swiss All Stars, and allow the other Swiss players to play for the German mid-week and veterans’ teams. The Cosmo League team is managed by Quirin Regensburger, Michael Klemm and Heinz Braegger. OUR DEBUT GAME After a few weeks of joint preparation, including the Swiss Cup and the Windmill Cup, the rubber hit the road on 25 August 2018, when for the very first time a German-Swiss All Stars team lined up for a league game. The opponent was last year’s
Article and photos courtesy of Urs Brutsch
runner-up, the Gaelic Lions. From the start, we knew that this was going to be a very tough first game. (A bit like Unay Emery at Arsenal.) Coaches Quirin and Heinz prepared the team and, despite a bit of early pressure from the Lions, we quickly found a good balance. With both teams cancelling each other out, goal-scoring opportunities were pretty rare in the first half. After a motivating team talk during the break, GSAS looked even better in
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With about 25 minutes to go, GSAS broke the deadlock: massive work from Bastian K and a neat ball for Arnaud to slot home. 1:0 GSAS.
the second half, despite the scorching heat. With about 25 minutes to go, GSAS broke the deadlock: massive work from Bastian K and a neat ball for Arnaud to slot home. 1:0 GSAS.
MEN OF THE MATCH A few contenders for man of the match: Joe in goal was massive, Florian won 100% of the aerial duels and Bastian’s work rate in midfield was amazing! An excellent result in the first game against a very strong opponent augurs well for the rest of the season. With good training attendance and the same discipline as displayed in the opening game, the team should be able to aim for a place in the top half of the league table – a feat none of the original German and Swiss teams have achieved for a few years.
With Thanks to Our Sponsors Main sponsor:
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Gold Sponsors: Hubbis, Leonteq, Physioactive/ OrthoSports Silver Sponsors: Gehrmann, Expersoft
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S P O R T S
A Weekend of
Glorious Golf
German-Swiss Golf Club Annual Championship 2018 Over 20 keen golfers met over the weekend of 22 and 23 September to compete for the annual GSGC golf trophy. IDYLLIC SETTING FOR GOLFING In the idyllic settings of the Palm Resort Golf Club in Malaysia, the players showed off their best golfing skills, starting with the challenging Allamanda championship course on Saturday afternoon. A short rain- and thunder-affected delay at the start, gave way to a pleasant and a relatively cool Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the meticulous planning skills of the GSGC Golf Convenor, Joachim Hermann, the players were split up into two groups, which meant that all could finish by just after 6pm and enjoy a refreshing postgame drink before adjourning for a sumptuous buffet dinner at the terrace restaurant. The long day did not deter a small die-hard group to head back after dinner to the hotel’s bar for a nightcap or five! NEW DAY, NEW COURSE After an early breakfast on Sunday morning, the group headed back to the club to tackle the equally challenging Cempaka course on Sunday morning. Although it was a hot and sunny Sunday, the enthusiastic group tackled the Cempaka course challenges with the same gusto as they showed the day before at the Allamanda course. The moment that everybody had been waiting for came then after lunch. Prizes for different categories meant that pretty much everybody walked away with a prize for something! And the Winners Are… Here are the Club Championship results: Gross Results (Strokes) • Michael Leutwyler (189) • Barbara Lizana-Allende (199) • Christine Bokhari (202) Net Results (Stableford) • Adrian Leudi (70) • Roberto Lambauer (64) • Christine Bokhari (62) Congratulations to the two Champions, Michael Leutwyler (gross) and Adrian Luedi (net)! A really good time was had by all! Article and photos courtesy of Salman Bokhari
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Golf is like a love affair. If you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun; if you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart. Arthur Daley American Sports Journalist
German-Swiss Golf Club
COMPETITION SCHEDULE NOVEMBER MEDAL Date
Saturday 24 November 2018
Tee-off commences
10am
Venue
Palmsprings Batam
Format
Stableford
Registration by
19 November 2018
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DECEMBER MEDAL Date
Saturday 22 December 2018
Tee-off commences
2pm
Venue
Champions Golf Singapore
Format
Fun Tournament, 9 Holes
Registration by
19 December 2018
INTERESTED IN PLAYING GOLF? If you would like to join our golfing group, take part in or register for one of the competitions, or find out more, please contact Joachim Herrmann, Golf Convenor at:
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An Inclusive, Intensive Two Months of Tennis September and October saw all Swiss Club teams playing and representing the Club all over Singapore. We had three ladies’ teams, one men’s team and six junior teams flying our flag. VICTORIOUS AND AMBITIOUS It is certainly heartening to see all of our players training well and improving their skills. The club and your coaching team are very proud of you.
October was also an opportunity for kids on holiday to play more tennis and lift their game at our tennis camp. Two hours of tennis practice everyday definitely pays off on the court.
Our WITS Ladies’ teams got off to a slow start but are now playing much better. This is the result of hard work and perseverance. Keep up the good work, girls! After a few campaigns and some great matches, our STA Men’s team, led by the legendary Captain Rudi, finally reached the semi-final. It was a hard battle and we eventually lost 1:2 against the future winning team. Well done, guys. Next time, let’s set our sights on the final!
SAVE THE DATES
The STA Ladies’ team performed exceptionally well and also reached the semi-final. They eventually lost 1:2 against the British Club, who later won the final. SPECIAL MENTION The most involved and dedicated players in our team were: Corinna Gorriz, Aurore Levard, Gabriela Henrichwark, Carola Donikian, Ulrika Torstensson, Alexia Malpel, Marika Poquet, Theda Haushofer, Caroline Steger, Guyu Syhr and Cornelia Horat Rothlin. All of our players showed the Swiss Club team spirit in supporting each other despite being in different WITS teams or unable to participate in the WITS tournament. We all had a lot of fun, which was of course sweetened by our success.
Sunday 25 November and Sunday 2 December 2018 The Swiss Club Junior teams will compete in a new interclub league comprising the Tanglin Club, British Club, Hollandse Club and of course the Swiss Club. Thanks for your huge effort in creating this league, Aileen. Well done! Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November 2018 The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Doubles Swiss Club Championship is back again. Hurry up and register before the deadline, which is a week prior to the start of the competition. A dinner will be held for all tournament participants. Monday 7 January 2019 Please take note that our junior programme will pause for a Christmas break. Last training day for 2018 will be Saturday 15 December and we will resume on Monday 7 January 2019. Saturday 12 January 2019 Looking further ahead, we will be holding a Welcome Back Social on Saturday 12 January 2019 from 4pm to 6pm.
Article and photos courtesy of Pierre de Capdeville, 40XV Tennis Director, Swiss Club
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Lifetime Membership & Term Membership (12 months)
If you like, prepare a 2-min performance to showcase to Santa. Every child will be given 2 minutes maximum Valid till 24 December 2018. Terms & conditions apply. Contact: membership@swissclub.org.sg | 65919420
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Applicable for stays 7 nights (Quote LSS1) 14 nights (Quote LSS2) 28 nights (Quote LSS3) Terms & Conditions apply. Further information, recept@swissclub.org.sg
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Welcome, Newcomers!
Throughout the year, the diplomatic team of the Embassy that covers politics, finance, trade, culture and science has undergone some major changes in personnel. NEW CULTURE AND PROJECT OFFICER Marion Bjertnes Stähli, the Culture and Project Officer, became part of the diplomatic team at the end of March. She joined after eleven years in a senior position in real estate in Singapore. She is responsible for identifying and organising public diplomatic events in the field of culture and sports. NEW TRADE OFFICER Kenneth Teo He Jie joined the team as Trade Officer in the Swiss Business Hub ASEAN of the Embassy of Switzerland this spring. His responsibilities include the promotion of commercial relations between Switzerland and the Association of South East Asian Nations. NEW HEADS OF MISSION Nikolas Stürchler Gonzenbach, former Head of International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Justice Section at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and his wife Barbara Gonzenbach, former Head of Regional Cooperation South Asia at the Swiss FDFA, act jointly as new Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy. They took over the leadership and management of the diplomatic team in August. Both are career diplomats with the FDFA, with previous postings in Bern and New York. They have worked on a wide range of issues, including multilateral affairs, international law, human resources management and Asian affairs.
NEW HEAD AND DEPUTY OF CONSULAR SERVICES Finally yet importantly, we are happy to welcome our new Head of Consular Services and Deputy of the Consul Ralph Steinegger, Regula Leuenberger. She joined the Embassy team at the beginning of August from her previous posting in Madrid. Before that, she had postings in Islamabad, Chicago, Bogotà and Montréal.
NEW SCIENCE OFFICER Employed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Samuel Cobbi has joined the Embassy as Science Officer as of March. Prior to coming to Singapore, he was working at the Swiss Embassy in Manila as Diplomatic Affairs Officer.
As a new team, we are truly dedicated to further strengthening the extraordinarily well established multidimensional ties between Switzerland and Singapore and enhance cooperation in all sectors. We feel privileged to be in the ‘Lion City’ and are looking forward to the years ahead!
Article and photos courtesy of the Embassy of Switzerland
FAMILIAR FACES Furthermore, we are very glad to be able to count on the Team Assistant Roslinda Mohamed Taib, the institutional memory of the team who became a member of the Embassy five years ago, and our academic intern Nicolas Zumsteg, who arrived in September.
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The Soul of the SSiS:
NEWS FROM THE
Our Rain Tree When the Swiss School was founded in 1967 by Marie-Therese and Werner Kaufmann-Sialm, a special rain tree was planted in the middle of the campus. Fifty years on, that small sapling is now a towering tree. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAIN TREE Today our rain tree stands at an impressive height and has just celebrated its 50th birthday. It is a fitting reminder of how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown, with our roots firmly planted in Singapore and a far-reaching global outlook. A MOST PUNCTUAL TREE Native to Singapore, rain trees are also called Pukul Lima in Malay, which means ‘five o’clock’. This is due to the fact that the leaves fold up just before evening. Hence rain trees were traditionally used as a primitive way of telling the time in the old days, as sunset in Singapore used to be at 5pm prior to various time changes starting from the year 1905. The leaves also close just before it rains, hence its name the Rain Tree.
THANK YOU, RAIN TREE Over the years, our rain tree has not only provided us with plenty of shade under its thick foliage, but also served as a natural playground for our students. Our affinity with the tree has grown and evolved over the course of its lifetime. In the past, children used to love climbing up the tree during break times. Even though its branches are way too high today to safely climb today, our students still enjoy hanging around under its branches to meet, eat, chat and play. One cannot deny that the tree adds a sense of majesty to our open courtyard. We hope to preserve her for everyone to enjoy her grandeur for many more years to come.
Article courtesy of Charlene Chen, Marketing & Communications Representative, SSiS Photo courtesy of Camilla Businger
YYO OU URR PPEERRFFEECCTT EESSCCAAPPEE* * Step Breathe in in thethe crisp ocean air air andand Step away awayfrom fromyour youreveryday, everyday,onto ontoour oursun-kissed sun-kissedshores. shores. Breathe crisp ocean immerse here, washed away by by languid waves. immerseyourself yourselfininaagreen greenoasis oasisofofcalm. calm.Times Timesslows slowsdown down here, washed away languid waves. Embark on your journey to tranquillity. Embark on your journey to tranquillity. *A*A55-minute ride from Singapore 55-minuteferry ferry ride from Singapore
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Congress of the Swiss Living Abroad in Visp/Vallais Once again I had the pleasure of getting to know a new place in my home country and attending the Congress of the Swiss living abroad. A CHARMING SETTING Visp is a charming little town one hour’s train ride from Berne, and if you take another train you can see the famous Matterhorn an hour later. We did just that to conclude the gathering on Sunday and enjoyed beautiful sunshine and a folklore festival which happened to be taking place that weekend in Zermatt. On Thursday, the committee of the organisation of the Swiss living abroad met in order to prepare for the council meeting the following day. We had a lot of requests from delegates to think about ways to make our council better known abroad and in Switzerland. In National Day speeches, the Swiss all over the world are often addressed as ambassadors for their home country but not many Swiss know that we have a kind of parliament representing our interests abroad. A FULL AGENDA On Friday, the council met to discuss a long agenda of topics. Next year ASO/OSE will take over the responsibility of the ‘revue’, so we had to approve that part of our budget. The biggest cost is still postage – so we should encourage once more our compatriots to opt for the electronic version or the app instead of the printed edition. We also agreed on launching another petition for E-Voting. It was approved almost unanimously and everyone can sign this petition. It is easily done and I encourage you all to sign it. There are still a large number of Swiss citizens receiving their voting papers too late to send them back in time to have their voice counted. www.evoting2021.ch We do hope to get a large number of signatures and will present the petition to the government after our November board meeting. REMEMBERING SWISS VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST Another topic which was widely covered by the press was the council’s decision to erect a sign for the forgotten Swiss victims of the Holocaust. Almost every country has places of remembrance for victims of WW2 and the 1000 Swiss who were interned in concentration camps seem to have been forgotten. Most of them were Swiss living abroad and
I N T E R E S T
some of our council members have some sad family stories. The Department of Foreign affairs (their history research division) agreed a few months ago to support this idea. For the time being there is no specific plan, so I’ll update you once I have more to share. UPCOMING VOTING In September, Switzerland will have to vote for or against the “Selbstbestimmungsinitiative/Initiative pour l’autodetermination” and we heard a contradictory debate about this motion. The council agreed with a huge majority that this motion should be rejected and encourages everyone to vote ‘no’. We usually do not publish recommendations on accepting or rejecting initiatives. However, if Swiss abroad could suffer from the consequences and a decision can be taken at a council meeting, we do. In the event that there is less than a 10 percent difference between ‘no’ and ‘yes’ votes, the recommendation will not be published. On this occasion, the decision to vote ‘no’ was almost unanimous. ONGOING ISSUES The ongoing problems of bank accounts, health insurance and social security remain on our agenda – with some having been on it for more than a decade. ASO/OSE has published ‘factsheets’ on our website on all of these topics and they are updated regularly. If you are interested, you can access these: http://aso.ch/de/politik/politische-themen http://aso.ch/fr/politique/themes-politiques You might find answers to your problems. If not, there is still the possibility to address your issues directly. Two banks had information booths at the Congress – the banque cantonale Geneva and Zuercher Kantonalbank. Both are open to clients residing abroad but due to American laws and regulations they are not allowed to hold accounts for Swiss citizens living in the USA.
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A group of younger delegates made a motion to work towards a direct representation of Swiss living abroad in the National Parliament.
REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF OUR OWN CANTON A group of younger delegates made a motion to work towards a direct representation of Swiss living abroad in the National Parliament. While this sounds like a very appealing idea, its realisation may take generations. First it would be necessary to change our national constitution to create a new canton for citizens living abroad. This would be the third-largest canton if you count its population, but it would have no territory. Then all 28 cantonal constitutions would have to be changed as well, since we all vote in our canton of origin or our last home canton in Switzerland.
Article and photos courtesy of Sabine Silberstein
UPCOMING ELECTIONS Next year we have elections in Switzerland – with the current situation we can hope that a large number of parliamentarians support our issues. The parliamentarian group defending the interests of the Swiss abroad has more than 90 members and some of them are part of our council. If we had our own members of parliament coming to the sessions from several countries, the other members of parliament might concentrate more on topics closer to their heart so a direct representation might even turn out counterproductive. No substantial decision was taken by our council but a majority agreed that this group should continue working on this topic and update us at another meeting. On this note it was agreed that next year the Congress should be a bit more substantial and organize a political panel discussion in the morning instead of a more social touristic guided tour of the place of the meeting. OUR VIRTUAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT Did you know that we have a Youth Parliament of the Swiss abroad? They are a virtual group of youngsters from all around the globe and can be followed online www.YPSA.ch. They proudly presented their new website to us. LOOKING AHEAD Next year’s Congress will take place in Montreux with the theme of ‘the world of tomorrow’. It will take place from 16 to 18 August 2019. Please mark your diaries! On Saturday, the actual congress took place. In the morning we had the option of a walking tour of Visp or other excursions. The afternoon was themed ‘Switzerland without Europe – Europe without Switzerland’. When we decided on this theme, we were not aware how extensively this theme would be dominating the media this month. We listened to talks by state secretary Roberto Balzaretti – the one in charge of Swiss/EU negotiations, Michale Matthiessen – Ambassador of the EU for Switzerland and last but not least, Sebastian Ramspeck – Correspondent in Brussels for SRF (Swiss TV). These interesting talks were followed by a round table discussion. The congress concluded with a social dinner and an excursion to the Gornergrat on Sunday with a raclette lunch.
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I N T E R E S T M E E T
A
M E M B E R
The Art of Living Fully with Bernd and Nany Gotze
Members of the Swiss Club for twenty years and counting, Bernd and Nany Gotze joined the Swiss Club a year after their arrival in 1996. LAW, MUSIC, TRAVEL, LITERATURE, ART Bernd, a German-trained lawyer, became the Honorary Legal Counsel of the Swiss Embassy by dint of a close personal connection with the then-Ambassador Raymond Loretan. He remains the Embassy’s Honorary Legal Counsel to this day. Nany is a private music teacher. They have a daughter in her midthirties, a Swiss son-in-law and a two-year-old grandson who live in Zurich. This accomplished couple lead a full to overflowing life. They both love the opportunities to travel throughout Asia that living in Singapore brings. Bernd enjoys reading as well as authoring books; he also enjoys appreciating art and creating it. Similarly, Nany loves music – both listening to it and making it. She sings in choirs, and plays the handbells and ukulele along with the piano. The fit-looking couple remain physically active and take pleasure in their regular Saturday morning walks around the island – to nature reserves, the Botanic Gardens, the Barrage, and both the East and West Coast.
CLUBS PLUS In addition to the Swiss Club, Bernd is a Rotarian and Nany is a Member of the Inner Wheel Club, a worldwide women’s organisation started by a Rotarian spouse in 1926. We asked the Gotzes what they enjoy most about the Swiss Club, which until recently was within walking distance of their home.
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We love the fact that the Swiss Club is situated in lush tropical settings. It’s the best possible place for hosting guests. Nany Gotze
“We love the fact that the Swiss Club is situated in lush tropical settings. It’s the best possible place for hosting guests,” said Nany. “We normally dine in Pergola or Arbenz but also occasionally rent the function rooms for events.”
FAVOURITE INDULGENCES When asked to cite their favourite items on the Swiss Club menu, Nany shared that they enjoy the raclette, the rösti and the meatloaf. However, the Schuemli Fluemli – hot coffee with cream and schnapps, is their favourite indulgence of all. FONDEST MEMORIES Obviously, a lot of memories accumulate over twenty years of Club life. Nany shared some highlights. “We have fond memories of every Swiss National Day and some Oktoberfests,” reminisced Nany. “But seeing the faces of some longserving wait staff like Margaret, Kumar, Yusri and Kamil, who can recall the time when our daughter was a student in the German School next door and sometimes ate her lunch there, brings back the fondest memories of all.” No doubt the friendly faces of Bernd and Nany Gotze trigger equally fond memories among our long-serving Club staff.
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I N T E R E S T
The Colours of
Just like Santa’s red satin and white fur-trimmed suit, our heritage Clubhouse is resplendent in red and white – a patriotic nod to the Swiss flag. Throw in hectares of lush green jungle, and you have all the colours of Christmas, all year round. SEE RED (AND GREEN) Why do you see red and green everywhere you look during the holiday season? Good question. We dug around in the annals of history and unearthed some interesting facts. JOLLY HOLLY The Christmas colour scheme of red and green can be traced back to the ancient Celts, who decked their homes with holly plants during the winter solstice celebrations, a pagan celebration which morphed into Christmas after the Romans embraced Christianity. These hardy plants with their pretty red berries bloomed persistently throughout the dead of winter, and were thought to bring good luck and protection to their occupants.
CHURCH DECOR The red and green trend continued into the 14th century. In Christian churches throughout Europe, the artwork on rood screens – the painted partitions that divided the nave where the congregations at from the choir or chancel where the clergy sat, were dominated by shades of red and green. Surviving examples show beautiful paintings of saints, local donors, merchants and serfs. Most were sadly destroyed during the Reformation that swept through Europe in the 16th century. In the 19th century, a Gothic Revival occurred in Victorian society – a kind of love affair with all things medieval, including the red and white rood screens. Many people mistakenly assumed that the Victorians ‘invented’ the red and green colour scheme of Christmas, whereas in fact they merely revived it.
THAT SODA AD Though the groundwork, or rather the paintwork, was laid centuries ago, the moment that truly inked red and green onto the canvas of Christmas was when the soda titan Coca-Cola hired a Michiganborn illustrator called Haddon Sundblom to draw Santa Claus. Until then, Santa was usually depicted as a scrawny old fellow in robes of various colours. Sundblom fattened him up and dressed him in his splendid red and white suit. Clearly, it was no coincidence that the colours echoed those of the Coke logo. The ads were so popular that Sundblom’s Santa came to be regarded as the ‘real’ Santa. PHOTO OPPS ABOUND Now we’ve established that our Clubhouse and verdant grounds are decked out in the true colours of Christmas, why not take your holiday snaps at the Swiss Club?
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Apple’s M E E T
A
S T A F F E R
Fresh Approach
Apple Chew (Chin Phing) has been the Administration and HR Manager at the Swiss Club since November 2017. Not only has she made positive changes, but her positivity rubs off on all those around her. FROM BEER TO HERE Formerly with Carlsberg, Apple relishes caring for a smaller head count and covering a much broader spectrum of duties than she did at her previous workplace. At the Swiss Club, she is responsible for everything from recruitment and training to staff retention, payroll and CPF. She also patiently listens to any grievances that arise, always aiming for an amicable resolution and a win-win situation. Despite working at the Club for under a year, Apple has already changed the
performance appraisal system, believing in the importance of valuing people and presenting them with career paths to self-improvement. As you’d expect from the head of human resources, Apple really values her colleagues. “They’re a really fun bunch of people, and there’s a great family feeling here,” she said. MOTHER, WIFE, NATURE-LOVER Apple is married to an engineer, with whom she has a seven-year-old son. By her own admission, she laps up the cuddles while she can, as she
philosophically predicts a time when her son will outgrow them. When we asked Apple what she felt was most special about the Club, she said, “The Swiss Club is more than just restaurants and sports facilities, excellent as they are. It’s Nature that is the most important part of this Club.” Healthy by name and healthy in her eating habits, Apple cites the Omega-3 Salad with avocado and salmon as her favourite dish at the Swiss Club. When pressed for a message to Members, she had just three words: “Come more often!”
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Legal services Company Incorporation Contract / Commercial Law Corporate Law / Merger & Acquisition Due diligence and transaction support Employment law Joint Ventures Private equity, venture capital Protection of intellectual property Tax structuring, tax advice Corporate services Accounting & Financial Reporting Business establishment Cash, fund & payment administration Company Secretarial Services Dissolution, deregistration Human resources & payroll administration Immigration and work permit matters Individual and corporate tax compliance
The shown locations are either Luther legal or corporate services offices and/or offices of our local co-operation partners.
Bangkok
10 offices in Germany
Shanghai
Delhi-Gurugram Yangon Kuala Lumpur
Singapore Luther LLP, 4 Battery Road, #25-01, Bank of China Building, Singapore 049908 Luther Corporate Services Pte Ltd, 25 International Business Park, #02-78/79 German Centre, Singapore 60991 Tel : +65 6408 8000, Fax : +65 6408 8001
Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt a. M., Delhi-Gurgaon, Hamburg, Hanover, Kuala Lumpur, Leipzig, London, Luxembourg, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, Stuttgart, Yangon
Jakarta Singapore
Sydney
Legal and Tax Advice | www.luther-lawfirm.com Corporate Services | www.luther-services.com
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I N T E R E S T
PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER Join in our regular activities and form binding friendships as you keep fit. We have something for all interests, ages and levels of fitness.
FOOTBALL FAMILY SOCIAL FOOTBALL Sun 15:00 – 16:30 (Sports Field) Sun 16:30 – 18:00 (Sports Field) SOCIAL FOOTBALL Mon 20:00 – 22:00 (Sports Field) Please register with Urs Lichtenberger (E: ulichtenberger@bluewin.ch) and Thomas Koechli (E: tkoechli@gmail.com) to get on the mailing list. An email is sent to Swiss Club members every Friday to get players registered for football on Monday.
TENNIS MEN’S SOCIAL Sat 15:00 – 18:00 (Courts 2, 3 & 4) Haresh Kumar at E: haresh.kumar@swissclub.org.sg or T: 6591 9438
SWIMMING aquaDucks E: swiss@aquaducks.com.sg M: 9487 5183 (weather update only) PARENT AND CHILD 30 mins sessions Mon – Fri 14:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool)
LADIES’ TEAM TRAININGS Courts 4 & 5
PRESCHOOL LTS 30 mins sessions
Mon 09:00 – 11:00 (WITS Team) Mon – Fri 14:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool) Tue 10:00 – 12:00 (WITS Team)
GSAS COSMO LEAGUE Tue 19:00 – 21:00 (Sports Field) Casual Kick Tue 21:00 – 22:30 (Sports Field) Rino Binder E: info@gas-sg.com (German All Stars) FOOTBALL TRAINING FOR KIDS Sat 09:00 – 10:30 (Sports Field) Open to all Players born between: 1 Jan 2011 to 31 Dec 2014 Open to Swiss Club Members and Non-Members. Olliver Marx E: info@cufa.com.sg W: www.cufa.com.sg M: 9821 3869
Fri 08:00 – 09:30 (STA Team) 10:00 – 12:00 (Ladies Group Training)
LEARN TO SWIM 30 mins sessions Mon – Fri 14:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool)
JUNIOR PROGRAMME Mon – Fri 16:00 – 19:00 Sat 08:00 – 12:00 • Parent/child and tiny tots programme • Junior introductory/ development programme • Junior intermediate/ advance programme
COMPETITION & DEVELOPMENT CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4 Mon 17:00 – 18:00
For times and dates, please see the 40XV display at the tennis courts.
CD2 Tue – Fri 17:00 – 18:00
FORTY-FIFTEEN (40XV) Tennis Director: Pierre Capdeville E: pierre@forty-fifteen.com
CD3, CD4 Tue – Fri 17:00 – 18:00
Please check the tennis noticeboard for courts allocation for coaching and social tennis. PADEL Padel Tennis Coach: Lucas de Miguel at E: lucas@forty-fifteen.com or M: 8344 5364 LADIES’ TENNIS LADDER Corinna Gorriz at E: corinna@gorriz.de or T: 8725 6761
CD1 Tue – Fri 17:00 – 18:00 Sat: 08:30 – 09:15 09:15 – 10:00
WATER POLO Mon 18:00 ADULTS’ TRAINING Fri 08:30 – 09:30 (Leisure Pool)
38 BASKETBALL Fri 18:00 – 19:30 9 – 12 years old (Multi Court) Please contact Noel Pollock at E: info@proformbasketball.com or T: 8448 5507 (Note: During rain, Basketball will be held at Indoor Sports Hall) BIKE RIDES ON SUNDAYS Please check Newsletter for more details. GOLF German-Swiss Golf Club Please contact Joachim Herrmann at E: germanswissgolfclub@gmail.com or T: 8121 8902 JASS 26 Oct, 7 Dec (Rifle Lounge) Please contact Michael Sutter or Nadine Breitenmoser at E: jass@swissclub.org.sg or T: 9648 5077 KARATE KYOKUSHIN KARATE Wed 17:00 – 18:00 4 years and above Parents are welcome to join class (Aerobics Studio) Please contact the instructor, Sensei Lai at E: ekl@caa.columbia.edu or T: 9185 0900 MAHJONG Mon 19:30 – 22:30 (Rifle Lounge)
I N T E R E S T
PARKOUR Thu 17:00 – 18:00 (Around Club)
SKAT Wed 20:00 – 23:00 (Jungle Bar)
Please contact Derrick at E: derrick@superfly.asia or T: 8511 5510
Please contact Hubert Nerlich at E: hubertnerlich@gmail.com or T: 6734 0034
(Note: Pre-registration is required for this class)
YOGA HATHA FLOW YOGA Thu 17:40 – 18:40, 18:45 – 19:45 (Pavilion)
PROFESSIONAL FITNESS SERVICES AQUA BIKING Wed 19:00 – 19:50 Sat 09:00 – 09:50 (Note: Pre-register to secure a bike for class) INDOOR CYCLING Fri 08:30 – 09:20 Please contact Kristel Heather 24 hours before class at E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg or T: 9696 6246
HATHA YOGA Sat 09:00 – 10:00 (Pavilion) Please contact Nadja Pizzo at E: yogawithnadja@gmail.com or T: 9145 4408 YIN YOGA Mon 08:30 – 09:30 (Pavilion)
BOOT CAMP Mon 18:00 – 18:45, 18:45 – 19:30 (Indoor Sports Hall)
Please contact Claudia Garati at E: yoga@garati.ch or T: 9855 5378
Thu 08:30 – 09:15 (Outside Gym)
SALON AND SPA SERVICES AVEDA SALON & SPA
KIDS FIT Sat 14:00 – 15:00 (Outside Gym) Please contact Jason Stanley 24 hours before class at E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg or T: 9026 3452
Please contact us at T: 6463 0400 or SMS: 9655 8165
PERSONAL TRAINING Please contact Timothy Felix at E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg by appointment only
Please contact Jill Boschung at E: jillbos@yahoo.com or T: 9022 4605
PILATES PILATES REHABILITATION Private Session Mon 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio)
MUAY THAI DUO Private Session Sat 11:00 – 12:00 (Aerobics Studio)
Please contact Melanie Wragg at E: info@islandwellness.sg or T: 9068 2619
Please contact Melanie Wragg at E: info@islandwellness.sg or T: 9068 2619
(Note: Pre-registration is required for this class)
(Note: Pre-registration is required for this class)
Please contact Claudia Garati at E: yoga@garati.ch or T: 9855 5378
PILATES MATWORK Wed 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio) Please contact Christabel Lim at E: christabel_lyh@hotmail.com or T: 9619 5820 (Note: Pre-registration is required for this class)
GOT A SUGGESTION? If you would like to suggest a new activity, please contact Haresh Kumar, Sports & Recreation Manager at: E: haresh.kumar@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9438