AASTirol

From the mid-1950’s to the mid-1990’s, the AAS Tirol built an active community of interested members led for many years by chapter President Mansbart, followed by Konsul Manfred Swarovski, who was also a generous benefactor. Together with distinguished board members, and assisted by a salaried office manager, Susi Oberegger, they provided a thriving cultural meeting point first in the Palais Trapp on Maria-Theresienstr., then in the Seilergasse 13.  From adult English language courses and children’s English-language play groups, to music and art events, literature and film evenings, lectures and discussions on historical and current topics, to day excursions and celebration of traditional holidays, the AAS Tirol offered a broad spectrum of activities.  A film and literature library was accessible to members and non-members alike for material to check-out and use at home. Clubrooms provided space for language courses and events, as well as informal chats over coffee.

The death of Manfred Swarovski in 1995 and subsequent loss of sponsorship marked a caesura, ushering in a difficult period of transition.  The loss of President Swarovski prompted a departure of the remaining board members and the financial sponsorship supporting the office director was no longer available. For several months, members volunteered on a rotating basis to keep the clubrooms open and some activities continuing, but a restart in 1996 under new leadership was needed, and it was no small undertaking to follow in the footsteps of Mansbart, Swarovski and co. At the urging of former board member Graf Johannes Trapp, Frau H. Christiana Beauchamp took the helm as president, elected along with an all new board. Activities continued. A cooperative agreement established 1999 with the University of New Orleans, represented in Innsbruck by Dr. Margaret Davidson, secured some organizational and modest financial assistance. During this time, and in addition to regular society events, President Beauchamp managed with great personal effort to organize and execute a gala evening for 200 guests on 30 June 2000 in the Great Hall of the New Tirolean Parliament, to commemorate 50 years of both the Marshall Plan in Austria and the Austro-American Society in Tirol. Special guests among many others were the featured keynote speaker Marcel Pravy, representatives from the US Embassy, Intendant Brigitte Fassbaender and singers/dancers from the Tiroler Landestheater.

Just as things were again in full swing and President Beauchamp with our landlady Mayor Hilde Zach were undertaking renovations in the clubrooms, news came from Vienna to AAS branch chapters that annual subsidy reductions were pending. These reductions, implemented in January 2002, were drastic. It was no longer feasible to maintain the Seilergasse 13 clubrooms.  Despite strong membership levels, we had to give up our much-cherished facilities. Since 15 September 2002 our chapter has been operating virtually, with activities taking place at a myriad of venues.

Christiana Beauchamp led us through this difficult time of transition, before moving temporarily to Switzerland. Dr. Robert Tennyson succeeded her as President in 2004, until he moved back to the U.S. in 2011.  Dr. Margaret Davidson, who had been serving on the board since 1999, succeeded Bob Tennyson, but stepped down as President in 2014 due to other work obligations.  She was followed by Thomas Niedermeyer, who resigned effective January 2017, and Vice-President Michael Ladstätter served as Acting President until the next General Meeting elections in 2018, continuing as Vice-President and Treasurer with Margaret Davidson again as President from May 2018.  In October 2025, they and several long-serving board members stepped down together, making way for younger leadership.  Our newly elected President Erica Alves and other board members introduce themselves in the section “About Us”. Thanks to all the members, friends and benefactors from its inception, the Austro-American Society Tirol celebrated 75 years during 2024-2025, and we are hard at work building towards our full century mark! Photos from some of our many events over the decades are viewable in the Past Events section on this site.