As many of you know, a group of former participants of the Young Leaders Conference, among them several members of the Board and Swiss Advisory Council of the American Swiss Foundation (ASF AC), formed the Alumni Council of the American Swiss Foundation in 2010 to host and support events in furtherance of the mission of the American Swiss Foundation.

Gabriela Lippe-Holst (’05), the AC’s Co-Chairman and I met recently in Switzerland and Washington with other members to formulate the Alumni Council’s mission and program for 2011/12 which will include a major new event: a two-day special joint US-Swiss reunion in Washington, DC, in the Fall of 2012.

The reunion will be structured like a two-day Young Leaders Conference, providing an opportunity to deepen and reinvigorate the ties established between our Swiss and American colleagues during intense panel discussions on current issues (of which there are a few!) and social gatherings. While we meet regularly with our fellow countrymen at reunions in our two respective countries, we have not had a chance to get together with colleagues of the other country since the Young Leaders Conference we attended.

Two of Washington’s premier think tanks, the Brookings Institution and the Cato Institute, have enthusiastically invited us to hold panel discussions at their respective locations on Massachusetts Avenue. Swiss Ambassador Manuel Sager has kindly agreed to host our group for a dinner reception at his magnificent residence. Discussions are underway with important political and business leaders, including the sizeable Young Leader Congressional delegation, who will be invited to speak.

Please look out for a “Save the Date” in the coming weeks. And please let us know your thoughts and ideas for the reunion program by contacting us at asf.alumni.council@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Joe Hurd (YL ’08)
For the American Swiss Foundation Alumni Council