HOLIDAY GIVING TREE FOR FRAUEN HELFEN FRAUEN 2023

In keeping with one of our favorite annual traditions, the IWCS is once again supporting Frauen helfen Frauen e.V. by creating a virtual Holiday Gift Tree for its residents this December.

Every year our members buy gifts for the women and children living in the Frauenhaus to bring them some extra holiday joy!

HOW TO SIGN UP & TAKE PART

1️⃣If you would like to participate, please RSVP in Sandra’s private Facebook event in the members’ group. If you are not on Facebook, you can reply to the email with the current newsletter. Let her know if you would like to buy a gift for a woman or a child.

You will be assigned an anonymous person from the list and given any information that was shared about them such as age or gender, along with any specific wishes that person might have. If no wishes were given, you’ll have to be creative!

2️⃣ Then buy a gift valued between €15-20 and try to keep in mind that the shelter residents come from all cultures and nations and many of the families might not yet have strong German skills or even celebrate Christmas.

It is possible that some of the children’s wishes are a little more expensive, so please let Sandra know if you are willing to spend more than €20.

3️⃣ You will need to wrap the gift and add a tag with the age/gender you were given (e.g. “woman age 30” or “girl age 4”). Because we have no names, this information helps the staff at the shelter identify who it is for.

4️⃣ And finally, you need to get the finished gift to Sandra, who will be taking them all to the shelter in mid-December for their holiday party.

HOW TO GET THE GIFTS TO SANDRA

You can:

🎁drop the finished gift off at Sandra’s house in Stuttgart-Zazenhausen

🎁mail them to her home address

🎁buy something online and pay to have it gift wrapped and sent to Sandra – let her know what is coming so she can tag it for you

🎁 or bring it along to the Members Only Holiday Dinner on December 13th or at any other event Sandra is attending before then.

Thank you to all of our members for your continuing enthusiasm for this project every year!

CALL TO ACTION: FINGER FOOD NEEDED FOR THE FRAUENHAUS!


Frauen helfen Frauen is celebrating their 40th Anniversary and needs our help!

They have asked our members to prepare some finger food for their anniversary celebration on Friday, November 10th.

Approximately 100 guests are expected to attend the party that evening and there should be enough food for each to have about 6 pieces. Therefore, we need a lot of helpers!

You will be asked to provide an ingredient card along with each dish to help those with dietary restrictions. Each volunteer will be assigned a specific time on the afternoon/evening of the event to drop off her donations (which will take place at the Württembergischer Kunstverein on Schlossplatz).

If you can help make their party a success by donating some yummy nibbles, please contact Kim via the email address found in the October newsletter or in the private Facebook event associated with this Call To Action.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

STUTTGART-WEST STAEFFELE (STEPS) WALKING TOUR

This event is for members +1 guest
WEDNESDAY, septEMber 27th at 16:30 (after work til sunset)
MEETING POINT: marienplatz, zahnradbahn haltestelle
Your host: emily born
Prepayment deadline: tUESDAY, september 26th

Have you ever noticed the “Staeffele” or steps up through the hills and vineyards in Stuttgart? In September, our good friend Petra Rentschler will take us on a guided tour of some Staeffele on the west side of town.

We will meet at 16:30 at the Zahnradbahn Haltestelle on Marienplatz. Petra will walk us up to the Karlshöhe where we will be rewarded with a wonderful view of Stuttgart- Süd. We will see old villas and a beautiful art nouveau fountain there and then go a bit further up Hasenbergsteige to look down on Stuttgart-West. On the way back down we will see the grand mansions of the titans of Swabian industry and will end up at  Feuersee. 

This two and a half hour tour stretches from after work until sundown at 19:00. Please wear study walking shoes as there will of course be plenty of stairs! Dress for the weather as the tour will take place even in the rain or cold. We will hopefully see some gorgeous fall colors during our travels.

Babies in carriers are welcome to come along at no extra charge but please note that the tour is NOT wheelchair- or stroller-friendly.

THIS IS A +1 EVENT, WHICH MEANS:

  • Any IWCS member plus one guest are welcome to attend.
  • Your +1 can be a partner, spouse, older child, or friend.
  • You and your guest each pay the member cost listed below.

The cost of this event is €10 per person, paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen. Twenty (25) spaces are available for this tour.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact Emily at the email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer the  €10 per person to the IWCS bank account no later than September 26th. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the hosts so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place.

FRAUEN POWER WALKING TOUR (MEMBERS +1 EVENT)

This event is for members +1 guest
tHURSDAY, jUNE 22ND AT 9:45
MEETING POINT: iN FRONT OF THE sTUTTGART oPERA hOUSE,
Oberer Schloßgarten 6, 70173 Stuttgart-mITTE
Nearest stations: hAUPTBAHNHOF & sCHLOSSPLATZ
Your hosts: Heather & Angela
Prepayment deadline: tHURSDAY, jUNE 15TH

Female power has existed in Stuttgart for several centuries, despite often being in the shadow of powerful men. On this walking tour in English, we will learn about the local women who achieved great things, from Queens Olga and Katharina through those who fought for equal rights.

We will meet at 9:45 in front of the Stuttgart Opera House for this 2.5 hour tour from Stuttgart Marketing. Babies in carriers or strollers are welcome to come along at no extra charge and the tour is wheelchair friendly.

THIS IS A +1 EVENT, WHICH MEANS:

  • Any IWCS member plus one guest are welcome to attend.
  • Your +1 can be a partner, spouse, teenage child (12+), or friend.
  • You and your guest each pay the member cost listed below.

The cost of this event is €10 per person, paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen. Twenty (20) spaces are available for this tour.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact Heather & Angela via the activities email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer the  €10 per person to the IWCS bank account no later than June 15th. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the hosts so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

“SHIFT” EXHIBIT AT THE KUNSTMUSEUM STUTTGART

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TOUR for members ONLY
FRIDAY, may 19TH AT 18:15
LOCATION: KUNSTMUSEUM sTUTTGART, Kleiner Schlossplatz 1, 70173 Stuttgart-Mitte
mEETING POINT: CASHIER’S OFFICE IN THE FOYER
Nearest stations: SCHLOSSPLATZ (u) OR HAUPTBAHNHOF (s)
Your host: EMILY BORN
Prepayment deadline: TUESDAY, may 16TH

Will you be in town for the long Fathers Day weekend in mid-May? If so, join host Emily Born at the Stuttgart Kunstmuseum on Friday night for a guided tour of their “Shift” exhibit during its closing weekend.

This exhibition was developed by the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart and the museum Marta Herford to explore artistic perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI or KI – Künstliche Intelligenz – in German). The title refers to the shift AI is expected to cause in the human community.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LOCATION

The Kunstmuseum is the gorgeous glass cube building right in the middle of Schlossplatz, a famous Stuttgart landmark that is often lit up at night with neon signs and adverts. We will meet inside the foyer at 18:15 for our 60 minute tour. Please note that bags and umbrellas larger than an A4 paper will need to be checked at the Garderobe.

The museum is open until 8:00 pm on Friday, so we will have about 30 minutes after the tour is over to check out the regular collection if we wish. Afterwards we can go for an optional drink or a bite to eat.

RESERVE YOUR TICKET NOW

The cost of this event is €10 per member, paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact Emily via the email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer the  €10 prepayment to the IWCS bank account no later than May 16th. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the host so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member to send in their place or we will add your pre-payment to our 2023 FHF donation collection.

MEMBERS ONLY CHARITY FUNDRAISER EVENT FOR FRAUEN HELFEN FRAUEN: B-I-N-G-O! (+1 EVENT)

Image by Christian Oehlenberg from Pixabay
This event is for members +1 GUEST
Thursday, May 25th starting at 18:30
Location: Adriana’s home in Degerloch
Nearest Train or Tram Stop: Waldau
Your hosts: Kim Jezek & Adriana Tilve
Prepayment deadline: Tuesday, May 23rd

Who doesn’t love a good game of bingo? Join us in May for the first official fundraising event organized by our new Charity Coordinator, Kim Jezek!

Your prepayment of €20 gets you:

  • A bingo card
  • Six rounds with prizes
  • Snacks and drinks provided by our restaurant sponsor, Enchilada Stuttgart
  • A fun evening with our members and their friends
  • And most importantly, that good feeling you get when helping others!

HOW TO RESERVE YOUR BINGO CARD

Any IWCS member is welcome to attend and bring one guest (partner, spouse, or friend 18+).

The cost of this event is €20 per person. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen.

Kim has 25 cards available, so let’s fill those spots up and make some money for the Frauenhaus!

Please bring some extra cash along for our donation box and don’t forget to ask your guest to do the same. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact Kim via the email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer your pre-payment(s) to the IWCS bank account no later than May 23rd. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the host so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place or the prepayment will be added to our 2023 FHF donation collection.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CANOE TOUR OF ESSLINGEN’S CANALS (PRIVATE +1 EVENT)

Image by David Mark from Pixabay
This event is for members +1 guest
Saturday, June 17th at 13:00
Location: NexTour Boathouse, Fabrikstr. 3/2, 73728 Esslingen am Neckar
Nearest S/U station: Esslingen am Neckar
Your host: Angela Weber
Prepayment deadline: Friday, May 5th

Join us in June for a canoe tour through Esslingen’s canals, where we will gain a new perspective and learn interesting facts about this old imperial city.

Up to 20 people* will cruise comfortably through the beautiful city in two canoes joined together – paddling is required, but nothing strenuous. The trained host on board is not only the helmsman but also our guide, full of stories and anecdotes. (*changed to maximum 10)

We will meet at 13:00 at the boat launch (behind the IHK building) for instructions and paperwork and the entire event will last approximately two and one half hours.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW BEFORE SIGNING UP

Every adult at this event must:

  • be able to swim in moving water
  • have good mobility on foot (no walking aids)
  • be able to understand verbal instructions in English
  • have a basic level of physical fitness for paddling and helping move the boats in and out of the water

Additionally, there will be no opportunity for toilet stops during the boat ride and drinking alcohol beforehand is not allowed.

This event will take place in all kinds of weather, rain or shine. The tour operator may cancel only in cases of bad water conditions or severe thunderstorms.

WHAT ELSE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EVENT

Dress for whatever the weather is on the day of the event, including proper shoes for boarding and de-boarding the canoe – no heels, some surface areas may be wet. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Backpacks, handbags, umbrellas and so on can be locked in the nexTour group locker before the journey. We can bring mobile phones & cameras along at our own risk, so do what you can to keep them safe and secure (for example with a strap or in a waterproof case).

All participants will be required to wear a life jacket for the duration of the boat ride and is responsible for their own safety and the safety of their minor child. The tour operator is not responsible for personal or property damage which may occur.

THIS IS A +1 EVENT, WHICH MEANS:

  • Any IWCS member is welcome to attend, plus one guest.
  • Your +1 can be a partner, spouse, child age 6 and up, or friend.
  • You and your guest each pay the member cost listed below.

The cost of this event is €20 per adult (14+) and 15 per child (6-13), paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen. Twenty (20) spaces are available for this tour.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact our activities team email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer your pre-payment(s) to the IWCS bank account no later than May 5th. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the host so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place.

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT: ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TOUR OF REUTLINGEN (+1 EVENT)

This event is for members +1 guest
WEDNESDAY, May 10th at 10:50
MEETING POINT: TOURIST OFFICE, Marktplatz 2, Reutlingen
Nearest stations: Reutlingen HAUPTBAHNHOF
Your host: DIANE WHITE
Prepayment deadline: MONDAY, MAY 1ST

Experience the contrast between tradition and modernity during a historical guided tour of Reutlingen, a city of 115,000 people to the south of Stuttgart.

As we stroll among the medieval half-timbered houses, Gothic church architecture and modern city architecture, you will discover many unique, interesting and curious things. With the “narrowest street in the world”, Reutlingen has secured a typically Swabian record in the Guinness Book of Records, which offers a glimpse into the city’s medieval past.

We will meet at 10:50 on the Reutlingen Marktplatz at the Tourist Information Office. After the 90-minute tour, we will have the option to visit a nearby cafe for refreshments (to be discussed in the Facebook event).

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LOCATION

Reutligen is not part of the Stuttgart transport network, so you will need to purchase a regional train ticket to get there. Talk to Diane for the best tips regarding train travel.

This tour is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs; babies in carriers or buggies can be brought along for free.

THIS IS A +1 EVENT, WHICH MEANS:

  • Any IWCS member plus one guest are welcome to attend.
  • Your +1 can be a partner, spouse, child of any age, or friend.
  • You and your guest each pay the member cost listed below.

The cost of this event is €5 per person, paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen. Twenty five (25) spaces are available for this tour.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact our activities team email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer the  €5 per person to the IWCS bank account no later than May 1st. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the host so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place.

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT: ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TOUR OF ESSLINGEN CITY CHURCH & CRYPT (+1 EVENT)

This event is for members +1 guest
sATURDAY, aPRIL 1ST AT 15:00
MEETING POINT: TOURIST oFFICE, mARKTPLATZ 16, 73728 ESSLINGEN AM NECKAR
Nearest stations: esslingen am neckar (S)
Your host: Heather Tehan
Prepayment deadline: Friday, March 24th

Join us for a afternoon with Esslingen expert Tom Hale for an English-language tour of the St. Dionys Parish Church and crypt. We will start at the exterior of the church for some background, then proceed inside the church Tom will show you the most important and historical aspects of the church and then we will finish with the special access into the Crypt with catacombs (spooky!!).

We will meet at 15:00 on the Esslingen Marktplatz at the Tourist Information Office. After the 90-minute tour, we will have the option of an early dinner together (to be discussed in the Facebook event).

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LOCATION

This tour requires a bit of walking and we will be underground where it can get chilly. The location is not appropriate for those who have claustrophobia.

Because of stairs, this event is not wheelchair or stroller-friendly. Babies worn in carriers can be brought along.

THIS IS A +1 EVENT, WHICH MEANS:

  • Any IWCS member plus one guest are welcome to attend.
  • Your +1 can be a partner, spouse, teenage child (13+), or friend.
  • You and your guest each pay the member cost listed below.

The cost of this event is €10 per person, paid in advance. The remainder of the tour costs will be sponsored by the IWCS and this is a Round Up For Charity event. All proceeds will benefit Frauen helfen Frauen. Twenty (20) spaces are available for this tour.

To reserve your spot, please RSVP in the private Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook, please contact Heather via the activities email address found in the newsletter.

To confirm your reservation, please transfer the  €10 per person to the IWCS bank account no later than March 24th. If you have any extenuating circumstances that keep you from getting the funds to us by that date, please speak directly with the host so we don’t assume you are no longer interested.

Prepayments are non-refundable after the payment deadline. Members who have to cancel at the last minute are welcome to find another member or guest to send in their place.