Berlin International Women’s Club e.V.

The BIWC Celebrated their 15 th Anniversary!

1992 to 2007
Happy Birthday, BIWC!

The BIWC is fifteen years old, and we celebrated with a great Birthday Party at “H.H. Müller”.  This is a smart new restaurant by the Landwehrkanal, right in the middle of a former traditional working class district, Kreuzberg.  The building complex was once a power station, supplying the many small workshops in the backyards of the long rows of blocks of flats that line the crowded streets in the area.  The complex has now been converted into modern offices and ateliers and this smart, spacious restaurant, where the former huge machine room was just the right venue for our purposes.

The wonderful party started in the basement cocktail lounge.  The big room gradually filled up with the more than 200 members and their partners and guests.  It was a large turnout!  This was an exciting occasion to see old faces again and to meet new ones, to enjoy the many encounters and to talk and communicate no end!  There was this constant high-level murmur of voices and lively chit-chat – and that in many languages!  The piano player did his best, but he had little chance to make himself heard!

The time passed much too quickly, and soon we were ushered up to the large marvellously decorated dining hall for the official part of the evening, which was opened by our current President, Pat Arlig, with her welcoming speech.  Pat read us a message from the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, in which he congratulated the BIWC for its achievements in the integration of "new arrivals from all over the world" into Berlin.  He praised our unique institution, which is forming an increasingly important part in Berlin’s international life.

The programme carried on with Patricia Holtzmann’s delightful performance – what a treat!  She is a gifted professional opera singer, and with her beautiful, expressive voice and temperament she sang for us her stirring “Unexpected Song” and then “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret, and then, “New York, New York”.

During the course of the evening we had the pleasure of listening to Debra Engler.  She, together with Sharon Müller, is the founder of our Club.  Sharon now lives in South Africa.  Debra talked to us about the early days and the concept they had worked out for the new club.  They had investigated the local scene and come to the conclusion that what Berlin did not have was an international club where women of all cultures and nations could meet.  This concept created a stable basis for the Club’s development and it still provides an ever-changing and increasing treasure of talents and abilities, which can be shared among all of us.

We saw two lovely performances by Franzl’s Musical Revue Dance Group.  First they presented a showgirl number to Robby Williams’ “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head”, and later the Russian “Kalinka”.  Both presentations were wonderful.  Both were also Franzl’s own choreography. 

We had a delicious three-course dinner with all the trimmings, and the catering was excellent.  There was a large screen high up on the wall at one end of the hall.  Here we watched the fascinating video show of past Club events, which went by much too quickly to see all the details.  At the same time, we were busily buying tickets for the raffle.  The prizes sounded very attractive.  The proceeds will benefit and support the Björn Schultz Foundation.  At last the prizes were drawn.  It was all very exciting, and there were many thrilled outcries of surprise by those who won.

I had to leave after the raffle draw, but I know that the party carried on until 2 o’clock in the morning, so the announced midnight soup must have had its grateful consumers!  I am sure everybody had a great time, and I would like to thank the organisers:  Sarah Pihl and her team, as well as the many other volunteers behind-the-scenes for all their work and efforts.  They made this enchanting evening possible and so enjoyable.

15 years:  the Club has truly become an important part of Berlin’s international community.  We are a turntable of nations and languages – of professions, cultures and ways of life.  The BIWC is right place for the new generation of “global nomads”:  those women who are at home in many parts of the world – and in Berlin.

Well done, BIWC!  Let us prepare for the next five and ten years of inspiring and enriching Club life!  I look forward to our next big Birthday Party! 

Perhaps when we are 18 and become of age?

 - Angelika Fahron (German)