At home in Bern and Birmingham
Switzerland was the last thing on Anne Häne’s mind when she started singing with a choir in South Carolina. However, it was through that choir that she met her husband, Bernard, who was born and raised in the Swiss capital of Bern. She ended up falling so in love with the country that she earned her dual citizenship this year and started the Swiss Club of Alabama.
The Hänes were married in 2000 and participated in Swiss American societies while living in South Carolina and Atlanta. When Bernard accepted a job at UAB, however, they were disappointed to find out that Alabama did not have a similar club. Anne decided to track down local Swiss families, but she did not have much luck until the Swiss Consulate in Atlanta called to check on the Hänes after the April 2011 tornadoes.
“I just thought that was the nicest thing I’d ever heard of,” Anne said.
Anne told the consulate about her mission, and they helped her get in touch with the Swiss population of Alabama, which numbers more than 200. Around 35 people came to the first meeting, and about 65 came to their Swiss Independence Day picnic in August 2011.
“We all got excited to find each other,” Anne said.
The Swiss Club of Alabama now has about 30 regular members who live all across the state. Many members can trace their family heritage back to Swiss cities from Arbon to Zurich. However, anyone with a Swiss friend or a general interest in the country is welcome to join.
“We call it ‘Swiss friends and friends of Swiss,’” Anne said.
As the president, Anne leads the club from her home off Dunnavant Valley Road, but the major events are held in different areas to ease the travel burden for members. Some of the events have included a chocolate tasting, a fondue dinner and an annual Christmas party featuring “Samichlaus” bearing gifts for the children.
The Hänes have made many friends through the club and also found Swiss connections in surprising places. When Bernard placed a Swiss bumper sticker on his car one day, a neighbor soon knocked on their door to tell the Hänes about her parents’ early years in Switzerland. The neighbor is now a club member.
“It’s just such a good thing and so much fun, and we’ve met so many nice people,” Anne said.
While she has enjoyed the taste of Swiss culture in Birmingham, Anne has also been captivated by her visits to her husband’s home country. It was the beautiful landscape, the great food and the warm welcome of her in-laws that made Anne decide to apply for dual citizenship. She has seen the Matterhorn, Lake Geneva and many other famous sights, but Anne’s favorite place is Bettmeralp, a tiny skiing village that Bernard’s family has visited since his childhood.
“It’s just a whole great, big, wonderful adventure to be connected to Switzerland like that,” Anne said. “It’s just so much fun to know people from other countries and to be involved. I just feel so accepted by the wonderful people I’ve met and Bernie’s family.”
To learn more, visit swissclubalabama.com.