In the spring of 1977 nine Swiss females banded together to form a Volleyball group. Had any of us known that those 10 lessons at DR C.Safran School would lead to the foundation of what has become known as the Swiss Canadian Volleyball Club, we would undoubtedly have taken a team picture…instead the oldest “document” in our archive is a receipt for a bowling outing on January 19th 1978.

Socializing with one another besides playing Volleyball has always been an integral part of the group; back then some of us had very young children and we fondly remember our get-togethers at someone’s house, at Stanley Park or the two children’s camps the Swiss Club organized which some of us took part in. . Our first team picture was taken in the fall of 1979 by which time our team had developed into a co-ed group.

As our pictures illustrate, besides playing Volleyball we also engaged in other activities, organized picnics and tournaments and still to this day meet once a year for a Raclette evening at someone’s house and more recently have added an annual Potluck Barbecue to windup a season.

Renting a gym for our Monday night play began at a cost of less than $4/hr but has increased over the years to the current rate of $ 65.- per night! Although we are self supporting now, financing has been a hardship in the Seventies and Eighties. Thanks to the support of the Swiss Club we were never forced to abandon our cause. In the Nineties came the opportunity to fundraise through volunteering at the Swiss tent in Spruce Meadows and starting in 1995 the ladies of the Dance group extended an invitation to help them put on the Fondue Dance. In 2002 and 2003 we organized the festivities on Swiss National Day (August 1st). We all thoroughly enjoyed working on the event and are proud to have had the opportunity to support the Swiss Clubs of Calgary. We value the times they have been able to help us in the past. In 2005 we organized our first Raclette/Games evening. We had a tremendous turnout. Swiss and Canadians alike enjoyed great food and had fun playing an assortment of games and quizzes. We have organized this event annually ever since but have decided to give it a rest in 2012.

This report would not be complete without mentioning our founding members. It is only thanks to a letter that had been sent to the Swiss Club that many years ago (and which was signed by everyone in the group) that we could establish who the 9 original founders of the (all girl’s) Swiss Volleyball group were: Rosmarie Büchel, Silvia Lüscher, Liselotte Müller, Elsbeth Peterer, Rosmarie & Anita Röll, Trudi Vogt, Susan Watson and Li Zahnd.

Currently our Club consists of anywhere between 16 and 18 players between the ages of 25 and 65. Our goal is to play a high level of recreational play. The fact that Monday night’s attendance is usually 80% or better goes to show how much fun we’re having. Another positive sign that after some trying years we now have a strong foundation is the fact that our members have been with us for an average of 12 years. Although we have plenty of regulars at this point, we always welcome Swiss players who are in Calgary for a year or two and are looking to play on a short term basis.

Talking about such players, it was in the summer of 2010 when 14 of us traveled to the Bernese Oberland and reunited with former players who had returned to Switzerland. A Friendship VB game was organized, followed by a Barbecue and some socializing at the Naturfreundehaus in Beatenberg which was our home for 10 days. We were very lucky to be taken care of by friends of Elsbeth, the weather was great and a memorable time was had by all.