President
Obwalden
Obwalden
John Britschgi
2009–2011, 2017–2024John is a third generation Valley Swiss and is a familiar face around the Swiss Club. He is serving his second year as president and has served as vice president, director and as a bartender when needed. He is the son of active club member Walt and and the late Linda Britschgi, husband of Stacy, and the father of Anne, Colt and Emma Rose and grandfather of Nocholas. John works as a zanjero for the IID.
Vice President
Obwalden
Obwalden
Alan Enz
2020–2024Alan joined the board as a director five years ago and is serving his second year as Vice Presdent. He is a fourth generation Swiss in the Imperial Valley. Alan comes from a long line of club members including: great grandparents Joe & Emma Enz, Sr.; great grandparents Clem & Marie Muller; grandparents Walter & Rosemary Enz Sr.; and parents Paul & Shirley Enz. He and his wife Marie reside in Holtville. Alan is proud of his family's involvement in the founding of the club and looks forward to his family's tradition of service to the Swiss Club of Imperial Valley. Alan farms with his father Paul in Holtville.
V.P. Special Projects
Obwalden
Obwalden
Braden Abatti
2023–2024Braden is our Vice Pesident in charge of Special Projects. Braden is the son of past president Ben Jr. and Judy Abatti.
Treasurer
Uri
Appenzell
Rose Mary Locher
2008–2024Rose served as a director for several years and is now serving her fourth year as treasurer. Rose is the daughter of Mary Jo (Bates) Locher and the late Werner R. Locher and Hedwig (Bingelli) Locher and John and Mary (Arnold) Smith, She was married to the late Micael D. Smith and has two two children, Derrick and Tori Smith. Rose works as a bookkeeper for West-Gro Farms, Inc. in El Centro.
Secretary
Aargau
Bern
Lynee' Pacheco
2024–Lynee' Pacheco is serving as the new secretary; she is a familiar face around the Swiss Club. She is the daughter of the late John and Rosemarie Von Flue. Her grandparents include Carl and Sophie Von Flue along with Werner and Emma Schmid. Lynee' is married to Jorge Pacheco who has served on the Swiss Club board as a director. They have two adult sons, John and Andrew. Lynee' is an Assistant Principal at Kennedy Middle School in El Centro. Lynee' looks forward to her new assingment and continued involvement at the Swiss Club of Imperial Valley.
Directors
Obwalden
Obwalden
Rick Buscaglia
2011–2024Rick is a director and a longtime member of the I.V. Swiss Club. Rick previously served as Vice Pesident in charge of Special Projects. He is the son of the late Martha Ming Morris. Rick is a 1st generation Imperial Valley Swiss and for many years was found behind the bar as a bartender for most of the functions held at the Club. Rick and his wife Georgia have three sons Ryan, Justin (Season), and Garen (Aimee). Rick is in charge of maintenance, construction, and repairs done to the club. Rick is retired from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and spends his free time with his grandchildren and tinkering with anything he can fix.
Obwalden
Obwalden
John Buscaglia
2012–2024John joined the board again as a Director after many years of volunteering behind the scenes. John is a first generation Valley Swiss. He is the son of the late Martha Ming Morris and the grandson of founding I.V. Swiss Club members, Theordore and Christine Ming. Johnny was raised right down the road from the I.V. Swiss Club and spent the majority of his childhood at the Club as his mother, Martha, was the treasurer/reporter for over 50 years. John has volunteered his time as a bartender and by cooking his famous beans for Swiss functions since most can remember! Johnny is married to Shirley, and has four adult children, Lagina, Macie, John, and David. Johnny is retired from Mario Saikhon Farms, but keeps very busy in his "leisure" time.
Zug
Schwyz
Margie Stacey
2016–2024Margie continues on as a as a Director after having served as treasurer for the club in the late 1980's. She is the daughter of the late Joe and Marguerite Muller. Joe served as meat chef for over six decades and Margie's husband, Bill, has continued in Joe's footsteps. Their children, Justin (Misty) and Samantha (Jeff) Williams are also active in the club. They have been blessed with granddaughters: Emily, Katie and Stacey, and grandson, Beau and Tyler.
Obwalden
Obwalden
Stacy Britschgi
2015–2024Stacy Britschgi has served several years on the board as she continues keeping her family's long history with the Swiss Club going as a director. She is a great granddaughter to K. & Marguerite Omlin, and grand daughter to Joe & Roberta Omlin. She is married to John Britschgi and they have three children Anne, Colt and Emma Rose and grandson Nicholas. They are all very much involved with the club. Stacey is also in charge of the kitchen.
Appenzell
Appenzell
Paul Leimgruber
2023–2024Paul is serving his second year on the board. He is a fourth generation Imperial Valley Swiss. He is the son of past club president Ronald Leimgruber is the great grandson of founding members, the late Walter & Berta Leimgruber and the grandson of the late Ernie & Jackie Leimgruber. Andrew works with his father in his farming operation in Holtville.
Reporter
Website Administrator
Bern
Bern
David Ritter
2011–2024David is the son of the late Fred and Mary Ritter who were the resident caretakers of the Swiss Club for twenty-two years. Fred also served as assistant treasurer and they were both honorary members. Grandparents John and Elise Ritter immigrated from Bern, Switzerland in 1914 and 1919. They were active in the formation of the I.V. Swiss Club and John also served as treasurer. David has been active in the Swiss Club since childhood and is a past Vice President. He and his wife Nora have two children, Jacob and Geoffrey. Geoffrey designed, developed and provides technical advice for the Swiss Club website while David maintains it.
Caretakers
Past Presidents
- 1921–1924: Schwingfests were held these first four years. However the I.V. Swiss Club had not yet been organized.
- 1925–1927: Joe Enz, Sr.*
- 1928: Joe Groebli*
- 1929: Joe Enz, Sr.*
- 1930–1933: Fred Strahm*
- 1934–1938: Julius Hofer Sr.*
- 1939–1944: Paul Eggler*
- 1945–1949: Werner Hofer*
- 1950–1952: Joe Enz, Jr.*
- 1953–1956: K. Omlin*
- 1957–1959: Clem Muller, Sr.*
- 1960: K. Omlin*
- 1961–1962: Roy Schaffner*
- 1963–1964: Ernest Strahm*
- 1965–1966: Walter Enz, Sr.*
- 1967–1968: Joe Muller*
- 1969–1971: Clem Muller, Jr.*
- 1972–1974: Julius Hilfiker*
- 1975–1976: Jacob Kappeler
- 1977: Joe Omlin*
- 1978–1979: Walter Britschgi Jr.
- 1980–1981: Tony Pitardi*
- 1982: Henry Felchlin*
- 1983–1984: Carl Rubin*
- 1985–1986: Fritz Heuberger*
- 1987–1988: Jeanne Vogel*
- 1989–1990: Terry Martin*
- 1991–1992: Bob Brandenberg
- 1993–1994: George Morris
- 1995–1996: Thomas Muller
- 1997–1998: Mike Omlin
- 1999: Brooks Anderholt
- 2000: Gilbert Gourley*
- 2001: Walter Enz, Jr.
- 2002: Rudy Schaffner
- 2003–2004: Rosemarie Von Flue*
- 2005–2006: Dale Ming
- 2007: Andrew Jaime
- 2008: Dale Ming
- 2009–2010: Frank Van Der Linden III
- 2011: George Morris
- 2012: Susan Omlin
- 2013: Walter Britschgi
- 2014: Michael Johnston
- 2015–2016: Ronald Leimgruber
- 2017–2018: Justin Stacey
- 2019–2020: Ben Abatti II
- 2021–2022: Jeff Williams
- 2023–2024: John Britschgi
* Deceased
The source images for all canton coat of arms were created by Sa-se and obtained from Wikimedia Commons. These coat of arms are official symbols for Swiss corporations governed by public law. Official works like coats of arms are in the public domain. The usage of coats of arms is governed by legal restrictions, independent of the copyright status of the images shown here.