A growing community: The Friedhelm Loh Group’s ‘SeniorenClub’ celebrates its fifteenth anniversary

14.06.2016. Breathtaking city visits, trips on boats or steamers – a tour with the Friedhelm Loh Group’s “Senioren-Club” is a highlight in the calendar of every former employee’s year. Not only because an there is always a fascinating excursion, but also because their volunteer work is rewarded through relaxing together. This year was a special one for the pensioners, because their club has now been in existence for 15 years. They have been active in the region since 2001, keeping in touch with and taking care of each other.

Going on a long trip together twice a year is a fond tradition of the Friedhelm Loh Group’s “SeniorenClub”. This year, around 170 senior citizens again made their way to Bavaria – high up in the hills, out onto the lake and all over the countryside. But this time around, things were slightly different. First the retirees explored the venerable Johannisburg Palace in Aschaffenburg. Then their riverboat took them through the picturesque countryside scenery along the river Main. Finally, they strolled, chatting, through the imposing monastery garden in Seligenstadt, they also commemorated the club’s 15th anniversary.

They have been a growing community since 2001. But anyone thinking that they only meet up for relaxing excursions is well off the mark. While some of them are involved in the “Central Hesse Volunteer Day”, others are actively involved in voluntary work and the social projects of the Rittal Foundation. Recently, the senior citizens helped to build wooden huts for a youth centre in Oberndorf, so that the children there can play and romp around again. Still others are engaged in collaborating with students of the Friedhelm Loh Group. This way, new and experienced professionals get together and learn from each other. One thing in particular makes the SeniorenClub very special indeed: It was founded in 2001 with the aim of keeping staff involved in the family business and of maintaining a sense of community, even after active working life has ceased. And it works – “Many of our members have worked in the Friedhelm Loh Group for years or even decades. You can’t just rub it off”, says Jürgen Graf, President of the SeniorenClub: “The fact that we still can get involved and unite for a good cause binds us together and to the Friedhelm Loh Group, even after our working life has ended.”

On a journey together every year

The organizers from the Loh Academy and the Board of the SeniorenClub think up something new every year to pay tribute to the commitment of the former colleagues and to provide a little relaxation: “At the same time, twice a year, they can remember old times and discover new things” says the Loh Academy’s Heidi Bastian: “That’s why this year’ trip to Aschaffenburg and Seligenstadt also went very well, because there was time enough for both activities.”

Currently, the Friedhelm Loh Group’s SeniorenClub has around 570 members who continue to share ideas, network and stay in touch – even after their active professional life has ended. During their working life, they had all worked in the various companies of the Friedhelm Loh Group. Now, they are actively cooperating, pursuing social goals in their former employer’s region.