As already announced in our Christmas newsletter, I would like to invite you to our next family day. Unfortunately, Hans is not yet fully recovered from his spinal surgery in January, which is why I have taken over the organization for him and am writing to you today. However, Hans will come to the family day and hopefully be fit again by then.
At the request of many members of our family association, a so-called "Interfamily Day" will take place from 03 - 05 October 2014. This time we will go on the traces of our Swiss ancestors to St. Gallen. Many of you will know that our great-great-grandfather, Franz Ludwig Zahn, was married to Anna née Schlatter. Our great-great-grandmother came from a long-established St. Gallen merchant family and was the daughter of Anna Schlatter-Bernet, who played an important role in the international network of the "revival movement" at the end of the 18th/beginning of the 19th century through her forceful correspondence. The line of our ancestors goes back to Vadian, the great Swiss reformer. With the visit to the Dreiländer Eck we combine an interesting excursion program, which should be attractive for you even beyond all piety. The old town of St. Gallen alone with its richly decorated house facades and the many preserved buildings is a sight to behold and invites you to stroll and linger. We also offer a guided tour of the famous HSG business school, which is one of the leading educational institutions in Europe and also has an important collection of modern art. This should be especially interesting for our younger family members. A children's program for the little ones will be organized after consultation with you, please contact us for that.
Of course, the conviviality should not come too short. For the welcome evening, Tori and Alfons have invited us all to their wonderful terrace apartment overlooking Lake Constance in Lochau. In addition to food, drink and conversation, there will be an opportunity (for volunteers only!) to listen to an introduction by Willi to the theological mysteries of our ancestors. For your convenience, bus transfers will be provided, which we have ordered especially for this evening as well. Especially because of the coordination for the transfers at the arrival and departure we ask for detailed information about your travel plans.
My thanks go especially to Tori and Friederike, who prepared the program for this family day together with me. Thanks to Tori's local knowledge we have the possibility to stay in a nice hotel (approx. 20 min. bus ride to St. Gallen, approx. 20 min. drive to Tori's), which - hopefully - will not overcharge you in price. Please note the registration deadline (15.06.2014 at the latest !). After the deadline it might be difficult to get a room there.
I only hope that as many of you as possible will register. I am looking forward to seeing you again in St. Gallen!
