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Feb.22 Cocktail at Mont-Cervin, about 40 participants. Dany Lauber, Vice-President, welcomes us and excuses the absence of our President. He announces the good news that all ski lifts and cable cars of Zermatt have merged under the name of Bergbahnen Zermatt AG, except the Gornergrat train. Their common accounts will be settled end of juin, retroactively on 1.1.2002

Feb.23 Meeting at 09:30 at the Matterhornbahnen. All are optimistic, despite the strong wind announced higher up. In fact, no ski lift is running above Trockener Steg. We changed the initial plans, which were to have lunch at the Gandegg, and all skied down to the Silvana in Furri, for cocktail and lunch.

Hugo, Francis, Michel and Evelyne

Isabelle, Michel

René, Hugo

Miggi, Michel

Urs, Hugo, Benedikt, Miggi. What should we do ?

A look at the unleashed elements

Inmidst the storm

Id.

Storm seen from Furri

Daniel, Miggi, Alex, Benedikt

Evelyne, Francis, Michel

Our gentle Guides: Benedikt, Daniel, Miggi, Hugo

Feb.24 At the initiative of Pierre Biraben, author of the following pictures, several Yetis met for lunch at Franz and Heidi's in Findeln.

. Christian, Nicole, Oliver, Alain, René, Isabelle, Urs	Sonia, Berto, Flo, Alex, Peter, Ernst	Id., plus Peter and Uschi, Guergana de Camaret et sa fille Alexandra	Behind: Hansjosi,in front: Alex, Peter K., Peter S., Ernst
Nicole, Oliver, Alain,René, Isabelle, Urs, Natalie, Magali, Richard	Sacha and Bech, Gigi from Engelberg	Sonia, Berto, Flo, Ernst	Findeln-Chapel, picture from another day
She really went for it, that day !	Twice Nat spilled red wine on the white trousers of Alain !	Berto, Bech	Berto, Bech, Ernst
A revealing picture of February 2002	Roberto, Laurence on Whitsunday	Happy, our friend from Biarritz	Hermann-Josef, in the uniform of one of his 4 orchestras

Who among the Yetis did not have the good luck to appreciate Ernst Zaugg's hospitality, on the top of Winkelmatten ? It is the "hotel" with the highest occupation rate in Zermatt. This winter 2002, we have been favourably surprised by new savours, thanks to Shane. We couldn't resist to publish a picture of the solemn moment of announcing the next dish.

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Crossing of April 16: Stockhorn- Monte-Rosa hut. Start in Zermatt 08:00, arrival at the hut 11:15. Hermann-Josef Biner lead Hélène, Ernst, Philippe et Urs.

Despite all his efforts, Ernst did not find the hidden egg....

Ernst and Hélène

Hélène, Ernst and Philippe Renouard on top of the Stockhorn

Philippe and Hermann-Josef before the rocky part

Relaxing at the Monte Rosa hut, in the back Castor and Pollux

Philippe and Hélène

Still sitting at the table, 12:30. We waited for Michel et Evelyne Erb, who went by helicopter to the Monte Rosa

We could profit from exceptionnally nice weather conditions: ideal temperature, and just that discreet presence of small clouds to make the pictures look more natural.

Friday Aug. 16 a group of 26 Yetis went to the Kin hut (2'584m) to spend the evening and the night there. 13 among them gathered at 09.00 at the taxi station Spiess to walk up, guided by Beni Graven and Rolf Regli. Sandra Godat and Evi Graven joined them for a quick visit to the Kin site. 5 other Yetis took the same path, but left Zermatt at 15:00 only.

2 minibus brought the "marchers" to the junction of the Täschalp road and the Europaweg. From there, it took them about 4 hours to reach the Kin hut. On their way, they saw the privat turbine that supplies the hut with high tension electricity.

At 16:30 a helicopter left Zermatt with Marianna Lauber, Christine Gentinetta, Roberto Seiler (who arrived in Zermatt 3 hours earlier directly from Sao Paulo)and Max Menning. A net attached to the heli contained 6 cases of wine and the foodstuff prepared by Max. As soon as the helicopter had deposited his load at the Kin hut, it took on board Evi, Sandra and Rolf to deposit them at the Salzgeberkurve, where 5 Yetis had been waiting impatiently for over an hour in precarious conditions. It flew them up to the hut within 3 minutes. At 17:00, Marianne and Christine left us to be flown back directly to Zermatt.

Marianne and Christine on departure for Zermatt	Alain Boucheron, the most occupied man of the day...	in front of some of his excellent bottles....	which he had offered generously. Thank you, Alain.
Group picture		Ernst finds flora wherever he stas
		Average: 1 bottle + p.p.	Guergana de Camaret, a new sunray in the Yeti-Club
Champagne baptism...	for Pierre Biraben. The moment to feel like Schumi !
	The newly married, Charles and Pauline d'Aumale
	Sunset atmosphere	Francis and his harem	Coziness of a 3 star place
The hard core in solid furniture	Viktor and Max at millefeuilles time	Sunrise surprise: fresh homemade pastry	Back: Zermatt wakes up.. Near:bottles in the cooler
Speech of Urs: shorter is impossible	An attentive public	Natalie, Isabelle, Albert	What does she mijote ?
The day comes up	magnificent	François, Guergana, Danièle, early risers	The Pont's leave us
Ernst and Guergana walk down	The first group preparing to board the helicopter	A last look on the Täschhorn	The helicopter arrives
The pilot must let the rotors run, so as not to touch the rock with a blade	We dive steeply, and look forward to nice shower at home

About 45 Yetis gathered at Findeln for the traditional lunch, and a special occasion today was the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Daniel Lauber, our Vice-President.

The jubilee Daniel Lauber, who offered a sumptuous aperitif	The speech of Roberto Seiler, our President	Presentation of the gift, candelabra fixed on game trophies, an original idea of Florence (right side)	The touching words by Daniel
The touched public	Marianna: what is in the packet ?	4 hands united to give light	...lit by part of the hard core...
... and which Daniel succeeds in blowing out.	The way we like them	Catherine, Guy, Nicole, Christian, René	Pierre, Evi, Beni
Danièle	Isabelle, Catherine, Natalie, Marianna	The young Francis Schweri charming Nicole, René and Isabelle

Some Yetis met at the very nice hous built in 2001 by Hermann on land that belongs to his family since the 16th century only a few meters away from the Ste-Barbara chapel in the hamlet of Zum See.

Rolf, Kevin, Mathis, Magali, Richard. Mathis (13) climbed this morning upto 300 meters from the top of the Breithorn. Bravo !	Magali, maman of Mathis	...alone in the world	Kevin de Tscharner
Richard, Hermann, Rolf, Kevin, Magali, Edilberto having drinks	Pastoral view of the site. Back: Sonia near the chapel	Hermann,showing one more of his talents	Waiting for the feast
Sonia grilling corn....	...while Aurelia surprises us with her homemade ratatouille

Dec. 27th Minutes of the General Assembly of the Yeti-Club Zermatt, held in the Seilerhaus

Our President, Roberto Seiler, being absent, our Vice-President, Daniel Lauber, presided over the discussions.

Annual accounts: Commented upon by our secretary/cashier Christine Gentinetta and certified correct by our auditors, the accounts for 2002 were approved by the Assembly, and discharge was given to the Committee.

Budget 2003: It has been approved by the Assembly. In a later discussion, a further expense for the support of the opposition to the Marti Parliamentary Initiative has been added to the budget, which is now approximately balanced. Christine Gentinetta informed the Assembly that our budgets from 2004 onwards will have a surplus of receipts of approximately CHF 30'000.00 per year, owing to the fact that during 2003 we make the last direct pension payments to the older Guides.

Insurance for legal assistance (DAS) : The coverage of the Guides can be extended from Europe only to the whole World, at a cost of CHF 10.00 per Guide and year, total approximately CHF 700.00 per year. Moreover, the Club offers a yearly support of CHF 50.00 to each Guide who wishes to extend the coverage of legal risks to his family and to his extra-professional activities, in the framework of a policy offered by DAS with a special rebate of 25 %. These expenses have been approved by the Assembly.

Income loss insurance (accidents) : the General Assembly of 2001 charged the Committee to study means to insure Guides for a daily income during the grace period imposed by insurance companies in case of working incapacity due to accident or sickness. The result was that the insurance premiums were so high, and the probabilities of abuse so evident, that the Club had to renounce to insure that risk. However, as in the past, the Club is ready to help with cash payments or interest-free loans in cases of hardship that it is informed about by the Guides' Association.

Pension plan : As from the spring of 2002, all Guides that pay themselves a part of the premiums for insurance of pensions are covered additionally by the Club for a capital payment, in case of death or when reaching the retirement age, of CHF 45'000.00 as compared to the prior level of CHF 30'000.00. The additional premium costs the Club around CHF 20'000.00 per year. Guides over 60 years old could not be included in this coverage, by technical limits. Today, there are 33 Guides who will benefit from this new coverage. The basic cost of premiums being CHF 26'000.00, the Club will in future pay approx. CHF 46'000.00 per year towards the pension plan. These premiums will diminish after 2004. It be recalled that the initial capital investment of the Club into the pension scheme was CHF 198'000.00, and that the direct pension payments to the elder Guides amounted to CHF 247'000.00. The Guides are free to fix their contribution to pension premiums, but must pay a minimum of CHF 1'200.00 per year out of their pocket. The Yeti-Club has no access to evidence as to how much each Guide pays above the minimum, but it can be computed that a young Guide entering now the pension scheme with minimum participation will reap over CHF 125'000.00 at maturity.

The decision of the Committee to conclude this additional coverage has been approved unanimously by the Assembly.

PS: When the Guide Charly Fux died accidentally last June, his widow received a relatively important sum within few days, under this pension scheme.

Information of Guides : The Committee has decided to update the Guides on the insurance coverage and the Club's other performances , via Benedikt Perren.

Winter meeting 2003 : Date: February 22^nd, 2003 . An Open ski competition will be organized that day in Zermatt, sponsored by Mr. Nick Morris for his champagne brand Palmer. All receipts will go the Yeti-Club.

Summer meeting 2003 : This meeting has been postponed by one week, to August 22/23, 2003.

Program for Aug. 22: Visite of the underground command unit of the Grande Dixence electrical network in Zmutt in the early afternoon, then dinner and night at the Gandegg hut.

Program for Aug. 23: Cocktail in Zum See at the house of Hermann-Josef Biner, then lunch at Max and Greti's in Zum See.

Elections : All members of the Committee agreed to another 4-year period of duty, and have been elected by applause.

Our auditor during 10 years, Beat Julen, having expressed his wish to retire, was given the expression of gratitude by the Assembly. Hans Syz from Zurich has been re-elected, and new auditors elected were Pierre Biraben of Geneva, and Daniel Godat of Zermatt (substitute).

Internet site of the Yeti-Club : In view of rendering our pages more attractive and of taking into account local customs of Zermatt, a commission for managing the site was created, composed of Hermann-Josef Biner, Beni Graven, Pierre Biraben and Urs Eschle. This commission has been accepted unanimously. Members are reminded that our URL is www.yeticlub.org , and that access to sensitive pages is possible with the ID "yetiyeti" and the password "Gandegg" (G upper case). The pages undergo a lifting now and will be carrying a large information on the Mountain Rescue Station of Zermatt. The re-opening of the site will take place as soon as the new commission has had time to work out an acceptable concept.

Banning of Heliskiing in Switzerland : Under the name of Initiative Marti, a new law will be presented to the Swiss Parliament in spring 2003, tending to ban heliskiing. This would be a disaster for the Zermatt Guides. Some members take position to this theme, among them Eveline Erb, Hans Syz, Daniel Godat, Hannes Keller and Benedikt Perren. Our Vice-President, who knows the wheels of State in this country, recommends that the Yeti-Club should not intervene directly, but should support the already existing bodies of opposition to the Marti Initiative by a donation of CHF 5'000.00 towards their logistical expenses. This recommendation was accepted unanimously and the expense entered in the budget for 2003.

Honours : Christine Gentinetta has been applauded by the Assembly for her tireless work in favour of the Yeti-Club and was kissed by our Vice-president as a stand-in for all those present.

Dinner : The Assembly was followed by a convivial dinner at the Brasserie of the hotel Mont-Cervin, now equipped with a splendid giant grill. Our thanks go to the Seiler family for arranging the meeting premises and for printing a very nice Yeti menu card.

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August 12/13 Hard excursions: crossing of the Riffelhorn via Furri an summer trail, and the Lost Valley via Fluhalp.Ernst Zaugg and friends	A motivated youth, well directed	Friends	First eating stop
	The beautiful Alexandra		Fluhalp, on the way to the Lost Valley.