VHS Peißenberg: Mechthild Merz leaves with mixed feelings

Created: 12/06/2022, 2:00 p.m

By: Catherine Hauser

The end of an era: Mechthild Merz has left the adult education center in Peißenberg, which she headed for 19 years.

© Ralf Ruder

After 19 years as head of the adult education center in Peißenberg, Mechthild Merz ended her work there and began the passive phase of semi-retirement.

She leaves with mixed feelings, as she says in an interview with the local newspaper.

Peißenberg – "Fresh ideas for adult education centers" was the title of the report in this newspaper that reported almost 19 years ago that Mechthild Merz had taken over the management of the adult education center (VHS) in Peißenberg.

She ended her work there on December 1st.

Merz enters the passive phase of her semi-retirement and enters this new phase of life with mixed feelings, as she said during the conversation in the VHS rooms at the Rigi Center in Peißenberg.

A lot has happened in the past 19 years and she has always taken responsibility for the VHS very seriously and, especially in the challenging times, has been involved with VHS topics beyond her working hours, said the outgoing director: "Extremely intensively and the last five years in particular have been decisive for the future direction,” says Merz.

During this time, for example, the adult education center moved to the Rigi Center, the start of cooperation with the other adult education centers in the district as a group and the outbreak of the corona pandemic.

The pandemic took a toll

The pandemic, in particular, took a lot of strength: "Freshly mobilized forces were immediately called in again by the pandemic that suddenly and unexpectedly broke out," writes Merz in her personal review of the past 19 years.

It took a lot of time to implement the constantly changing regulations, to keep the business running - if it was possible - and to apply for the various corona aids: "Fortunately, this measure succeeded in compensating for the loss of income", so that the VHS in financial good condition could be handed over to the new manager, Marco Sailer (detailed report follows).

Although the past few years in particular have been exhausting, she has enjoyed her work: "I don't regret a second.

It was my most important professional activity and it fulfilled me the most," said Merz.

She is already sure that she will miss her colleagues at the other adult education centers, the contact with the lecturers and participants "and also the sometimes turbulent day-to-day life at the VHS".

Designing things together in a team was very nice.

"It was an intense time."

Many new plans and ideas for the coming phase of life

She has many ideas and plans for the phase of life that is now coming: She is now looking forward to being able to design things more freely and having more “space and time for personal interests and hobbies” than before, says Merz: In the future she will be able “outside take a vacation during the school holidays and choose the vacation times freely.” One travel destination has already been decided: Merz would like to visit her daughter, who has lived in the USA for nine years.

The outgoing manager is also looking forward to having more time for exercise and sport, and is planning, among other things, to cross the Alps by bike.

She also wants to play more music again.

Merz plays the mandolin.

And then there is the voluntary work and the desire to deal with new topics.

But first, after the strenuous past few months, Mechthild Merz needs to rest a bit: "Now I have to calm down and recover."

Lots of plans and ideas