One of the benefits of being a Soroptimist is having a massive family of sisters all over the world strengthened by Friendship Links between Clubs. SI St Albans and District has four Friendship Links – click on this page to find out more www.sigbi.org/st-albans/about-our-club/club-friendship-links/
This lovely “travelogue” below, by our Member Jean Eaton, is about the Club’s recent visit to our Friendship Link in Muenster www.soroptimist-international-muenster.de :
Four St Albans Soroptimists – Sarah Lichman, Janet Audley-Charles, Janet Tansley and I – plus three husbands piled into a taxi to Luton and after a short flight delay it wasn’t long before we were being met at Dortmund by Muenster Soroptimists Irmgard Klotz and Olga Felix.
Later we met at the lovely home of Sabine Schiller-Lerg for drinks and a buffet supper. It was great to be in her lovely garden and later in the evening in her home. Lots of drink food laughter and chat (not necessarily in that order!)
We St Albans ladies were each given a Muenster folding bag to tuck away in case we did any shopping!
The next morning we all met by the City Museum, along with three lovely ladies from Groningen-West in the Netherlands (another of Muenster’s friendship links). Axel, Sylvia Vornhecke’s husband ably acted as guide and took us around part of the city. We then spent a short time in the City Museum before going on to St Pauls Cathedral to see the famous 1540 astronomical clock. It was now time to go on an open topped sightseeing bus around the city with and English commentary.
Time now for us to enjoy a well earned lunch!
After lunch some us went to the Picasso Museum. This had other artists beside Picasso, it was well put together and triggered a lot of discussion about the various art forms. There was now a choice of shopping or a relaxing cuppa and cake at Martina’s home and the latter got the vote.
Later that evening a splendid buffet supper was at the home Sylvia and Axel Vornhecke. One of their projects, led by Muenster Soroptimist Gudula Rosa, is to sponsor a young girl musician who gave a superb short concert accompanied by Gudula using various size/type recorders.
Later, it was great to be sitting outside and later watching the sky incredibly lit up with a spectacular lightning display!
Sunday morning, having packed, we were taken to and guided round the Haus Rauschlaus the lovely home of poet Annette von Drost-Huschoff.
Off then to Burg Hulshoff, a beautiful moated castle where we had lunch before heading back to Dortmund airport.
It was a super weekend with lots of laughter and good friendship. I am already beginning to think of places we can take them in two years’ time when I hope they will be able to visit us.
Thanks to Jean for this – reading it will make many of our Members wish they had been able to come along and as Jean says we can return their hospitality in 2021 when we hope some Muenster Soroptimists will come and visit us. Friendship Links are a wonderful way to fulfill one of the founding Soroptimist objectives to increase international goodwill and understanding.