We are a place where people can meet, relax, further their education, pursue their hobbies, discover, and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings or celebrate festivals. We want people to feel at home here—all ages and genders, whether able-bodied or disabled, all denominations and all political views.
Organized as a non-profit foundation and association, we are not primarily profit-oriented. Our three houses and the many different rooms are modest and designed for optimum practicality. We want you to feel at home with us. And at prices that people with a smaller budget can also afford. And we have been doing this for over seventy years.
Confirmation of our commitment to you is evident in the many groups, organizations, and families who enjoy returning to us again and again.
Since January 1, 2016, the former Schaffhausen Reformed Homestead has been run as the “Stiftung Begegnungszentrum Rüdlingen” (Foundation Community Center Rüdlingen). The foundation’s purpose is to continue to run the Community Center as a non-profit, denominationally and politically neutral institution, as a place where people can meet, relax, further their education, cultivate hobbies, explore nature, and celebrate special events. We appeal to people of all ages with a wide range of interests, offering also accommodations for the handicapped.
The purpose of the reorganization as a foundation is to guarantee broader financial support for the Center and to enable planning for the future.
The Board currently consists of five members, who all work pro bono, and who have backgrounds in business, town council work, and agriculture. The Board president is Dr. iur. Markus Wirth.
A board subcommittee, responsible for operations, is led by Katharina Leutenegger (kaety.leutenegger@begegnungszentrum.ch)
The Board Members
President
Dr. Markus Wirth ist Stiftungsratspräsident seit Gründung der Stiftung im Jahr 2015. Er war langjährig tätig als Wirtschaftsanwalt in einer Zürcher Grosskanzlei, zuletzt hauptsächlich als Schiedsrichter in internationalen Handelsstreitigkeiten. Seit Ende 2022 befindet er sich im (Un)Ruhestand.
Vice-President
Seit mehr als 40 Jahren in Rüdlingen ansässig engagiert sich die ehemalige langjährige Gemeindepräsidentin seit vielen Jahren als Vereinspräsidentin für das Begegnungszentrum, seit der Gründung der Stiftung amtiert sie als Vizepräsidentin.
Board Member
Die Gemeinderätin von Rüdlingen ist seit 2021 Mitglied des Stiftungsrats. Die medizinische Praxisassistentin arbeitet als Disponentin in einer Praxis für Radiologie in Bülach.
Board Member
Christine Ahrend ist seit 2016 Mitglied des Stiftungsrats. Die diplomierte Betriebswirtin mit jahrelanger Erfahrung in Marketing und Kommunikation ist Leiterin Fundraising bei der Gewässerschutzorganisation Aqua Viva.
Board Member
Peter Matzinger ist seit 2022 im Stiftungsrat und im Ausschuss. Zusammen mit seiner Frau bewirtschaftet er in Rüdlingen einen grossen Landwirtschaftsbetrieb. Sie haben zwei Kinder.
Board Member
Gabriela Marghitola lebt seit 1994 mit ihrer Familie in Rüdlingen und war in dieser Zeit in verschiedenen kommunalen Ämtern aktiv. Nebst ihrer früheren Tätigkeit als Rahmenvergolderin verfügt sie über Erfahrungen in Bildungs- und Kulturprozessen.
Our charitable Foundation depends on the commitment of as many volunteers as possible. Joined under the umbrella of an association, they are strong supporters and patrons of the Foundation.
You too can become a member of the Friends Association, which currently consists of some 250 members. In doing so, you will demonstrate your care for the idea of preserving and promoting a place that gives everyone a gathering space for shared community, laughter, happiness and contemplation, for active relaxation, and peaceful enjoyment.
You are most welcome to join our own events and also enjoy small benefits. We would gladly receive your shared conviction!
Treasurer
Actuary
New association members are always welcome. Members benefit from event discounts.
Single Member
CHF 50
Family
CHF 100
Communities & Businesses
CHF 250 (or Church Parish: CHF 1.00 per member)
Of course, Association membership is not for everyone. If it isn’t for you, but you wish to support us, you can donate at any time as a general benefactor. Or you can become a godmother or godfather providing donations for a specific project. Without ongoing donations and investments, we would be unable sustain our founding purpose, which is to support the Community Center. Therefore we are very grateful for your donation or your “godparenting.”
Our bank information: Post Account Number: 82-3780-6 / IBAN: CH62 0900 0000 8200 3780 6
The Community Center owes its existence to many committed people, initially mainly from church circles. Many individuals volunteered their time and energy, both in the Center’s construction and its operation. Volunteers took on stand-by duties, helped with the guest reception, cooked, and took care of housekeeping and grounds maintenance. Since the 1980s, the Center has been run professionally by a management team, supported by a team of part-time employees.
The Center was always run on a non-profit basis and mainly financed by contributions from the Reformed Churches of Schaffhausen and Zurich. The operating deficit was borne by the Association. When the Reformed Church withdrew its sponsorship, the Association was compelled to run the business with economic thinking, to be able to continue its non-profit accommodation of youth and handicapped people.
In December 2015, the Association established an independent, politically and denominationally neutral foundation, to which the properties of the meeting center and its operation were transferred in May 2016. The association continues to exist, providing material and non-material support of the foundation.
The aim of the reorganization is to create the conditions for broader financial support of the Community Center, to secure the existing active members in the long term and to ensure stable management relationships so that future-oriented planning can be made.
Here you find links to our regional partners and sponsors:
Have we aroused your interest in the Community Center and convinced you to become a supporter?
We would like to thank you in advance for your support.
You can transfer the desired amount to the following IBAN:
CH62 0900 0000 8200 3780 6
Have we aroused your interest in our Community Center? Would you like to ask about arranging an event with us, booking an overnight stay, and/or otherwise availing yourself of our offers?
Then send us this form. We look forward to meeting you!
Have we aroused your interest in the Community Center and convinced you to become a supporter?
We look forward to meeting you and thank you now for your support!
With this declaration, you agree to become a member of the Association and to pay the annual membership dues punctually each year (single member CHF 50.00, family CHF 100.00), using the following IBAN:
CH62 0900 0000 8200 3780 6
EN 
DE