I really enjoy the moment when we all meet up again after not seeing each other since the last Conference. The hugs, the laughter and the chat!

I actually enjoyed it all. Wonderful venue, lovely surroundings, good facilities.

Evelyn Goodsell.

Twenty three DKG members from GB travelled to Steinbach in early August for the sixth European Regional Conference.  We went with different interests and levels of expectation and afterwards we all agreed that the conference had been excellent and that we all had many special moments to remember.  Thank you to the ladies in the red, silk scarves.

The Time Keepers, Lavinia and Unity!

With Birgit  Svensson who chaired the General Session.

From a 'First Timer'

Baden-Baden was my first Regional Conference and was a perfect conference for learning the ropes. I brought two guests - my husband who had been to two UK conferences and a friend who had spoken to Alpha chapter and was thinking about joining. We all enjoyed the whole conference experience. My guests stayed to all of the key note speakers, came on the trips and shared in the evening events. At each event they were made to feel welcome and their being made welcome helped me to feel relaxed. We stayed in the Sportschule and were glad to be able to be on site for easy access to all of the events and also for the ease of slipping back to the room if time allowed. For me I was particularly blessed by winning vouchers for the conference in New York next year. I feel really honoured to have got such a special prize so early on in my time as a conference goer. The whole conference experience was a real pleasure and all three of us gained both in knowledge and friendship. The hard work of the German team was clear in every aspect of the conference organisation and delivery and I would like to thank them all for making sure that DKG conferences are now well and truly on my agenda!

Dorcas Rogers

It was so good  to meet other members in a beautiful setting, and to enjoy such a range of speakers, workshops, tours and events.  I was just so impressed by the sheer variety of what was on offer.

 - Thank you Germany!

Diane Billam

Dorothy’s Dance Workshop epitomised the ethos of DKG.  Women from across Europe and the USA learning new skills and having such fun together and feeling a great sense of achievement when they had mastered steps and moves.   All of this orchestrated by a vibrant, determined foot tapping lady with a passion for dance. Dorothy demanded excellence and NEARLY got it! Everyone leaving this workshop felt uplifted because they had shared a special experience.  Carole Stirling

Highlights

European Parliament Building, round on the outside, oval inside!

Wonderful scenery, interesting houses.

Vines or every hillside - wine tasting session!

Diana Bell

The Rise, Fall and Revival in the Making of Figurative Art.

Riet Smits-Hoenderken  gave us a history of art concentrating on old masters. She also involved us in drawing.

     Did I hear that in Art from 1900 to 2000, the basic elements are not all together? 

I can look with new eyes?

It was one of the best workshops I have ever been to.

Unity Harvey

                     

After taking in the wonderful sights of Baden-Baden, what better way could there be to cool down?

Or is it a Rodin sculpture? 

Kathy Hodgson &

Harry Roberts

My magic moment was watching Jess try on her bargain Gucci sunglasses.

 She was transformed!

 Sandra Blacker

Dorothy and Jensi's annual height comparison!

Do you notice any change?

.

www.photographsbyjim.org  

After strolling through the beautiful riverside park to a champagne reception with the Mayor at the Badhaus in Baden Baden we followed the sounds of an orchestra playing and spent a happy hour on the terrace of the Kurhaus listening to an open air concert while indulging in ice cream and apple strudel – bliss! 

Joan Carroll

And then, as the sun was beginning to dip, Christa took us past the theatre to the new museum and back along the tranquil banks of the sparkling river which was running through the town.

   It really was a very special afternoon.

Gloria Redston

The afternoon exploring Baden-Baden was great and time to relax in such a lovely city.

Robbie Scahill

As we drove through Steinbach to the Sportschule, I was struck by the attractive village/town (was it "ein Dorf " or "ein Stadt" - difficult to tell) On our first visit Gloria and I enjoyed the delights of a bakery. Flowers everywhere, no litter within a much loved and cared for environment - I longed to explore further.

     The opportunity came and made it a really magical experience in the company of a group of Englanders. We climbed up a steep incline to gaze at the Rathaus, the Town Hall, marvel at the ironworking on the signs and endeavour to translate the historic inscriptions.

     Finally, we reached the Church with intricate granite patterned cobbles surrounding the whole area and seats to regain our breath. Evidence of a possible Norman antecedent was visible in the statue of a knight embedded on an outside wall. I met the priest, Dr Hoffman and learned something of the history and the sad tale of the enormous storks' nest above. The babies had been pushed out of the nest and crashed onto the cobbles.

     I was surprised and delighted to realise that my previous knowledge of German hadn't completely escaped me when conversing with the friendly inhabitants of Steinbach or trying to understand the written word. Thank you, Steinbach for my magical moments.

Mary Wardrop                           www.photographsbyjim.org

My magic moment had to be the lovely flute and piano recital at The Night on the Town in Baden Baden because it brought back such happy memories of listening to Peter play.

Carol Dawson

I think the flute and piano duo and also the folk band at the banquet count as highlights for me.
Gail Gladwin

The folk singers were 'Simply The Best'.  What Talent!

Sheila Roberts

Photographs by Jim.

www.photographsbyjim.org  

It was lovely to find at the Banquet that Vetterliswirtschaft were so stunningly good. Their lead singer and the whole group just took my breath away.  I was so glad that I had let Brigitte convince me that we must have them!

Kate York 

We heard that putting your head in the monkey's mouth (near the bridge at Heidelberg) would make you more intelligent. 

Lavinia hoping that it is true!

It rained but the ambience was sunshine,

With friends old and new

We cruised down the Rhine.

Castles and vineyards.

Stories and laughter.

Good food and wine.

I have brought home a picture book of memories for the cold winter months.

Lavinia Soul

Much as I enjoyed the social whirl of the conference, meeting old and new friends from many European countries, I also appreciated quieter moments alone to collect my thoughts. I discovered the country lanes that led from the back of the sportschule, between the sports fields and fruit orchards, to my hotel 15 minutes away.

This slightly longer route away from the main road took me past wonderful colourful, private gardens full of flowering hibiscus, dahlias, hydrangeas, marigolds and the trailing geraniums that lined the sunken stream. I also spent two
afternoons before the conference began sunbathing and taking a some what cool, but refreshing dip in the swimming pool attached to the college.
This was excellent preparation for concentrating on conference presentations. The highlights of these presentations for me were Professor Pfeiffer's explanation about the negative effects on learning of excessive media exposure for vulnerable boys and Brynhllder's description of the web-based language resource for teachers and students to support any language learning in Iceland.

Liz Day

Special moment - picking up a handful of mirabelles fresh fallen from the tree, with bloom and wonderful scent - delicious to eat. Sometimes, in a crowded conference agenda, it's important to step outside, take time to quietly reflect, and let nature help to provide a perspective.

Jess Curtis

The camaraderie and fun of eating at Romerkeller was amazing. Where else would one wait so long to be fed, while laughing all the way. It was unforgettable, and the food was brilliant, too.

Bettina Kulsdom

As a 'First Timer' I enjoyed the conference immensely and have many special moments to remember.  I thought the workshops were excellent and very much connected. I was especially pleased to meet the members from Estonia who showed us an amazing film of 37,000 Estonians singing together.  They really seemed to have a sense of primary identity, the subject of the workshop.  “If I forget the song and the language will I remember myself”

     I was also interested in the inspiring and valuable work at Tingvoll in Norway where every aspect of the curriculum seems to be connected to the local environment. 

Liz Malik

We returned from our very enjoyable cruise in early evening  having driven through a tremendous rain storm .  But.... where were we all to eat?  Many of the restaurants closed on a Tuesday.  We were short of ideas!   And then, at the very moment of need, Brigitte and Roland arrived to solve our dilemma. In two groups we were taken to two restaurants.  There were ten of us where I was: seven Brits and the three from HQ who I had planned to have dinner with before the storm.  It turned out to be a special evening.

Gloria Redston

 The Banquet     The Grand Finale

And thank you, Kate, our Regional Director, for all that you did towards making the conference such a success.

         www.photographsbyjim.org

The Last Word

An inspiration was the choosing of the venue, set amongst the vineyards surrounding Steinbach.  It was ideal in terms of location and conference facilities