Ladies and Gentlemen,

Presence Switzerland's «swiss roots» project aims to bring Americans with Swiss roots closer to the country of their ancestors. Schweizer Radio DRS 1 is taking up the baton and cementing links between the old and new worlds. From July 30 thru August 1, DRS 1 will be broadcasting a series of features and interviews about Swiss emigrants to the USA.

A variety of programs are planned, and you will be able to hear them all via Internet at http://www.drs1.ch. The highlight of the series will be the «nuit américaine» on July 31, when you will have the opportunity to send greetings via the radio to your friends and relatives in Switzerland.

Attached are details of DRS 1's special programs. We would be grateful if you could pass the information on in suitable form to your members and others you know who may be interested.

Warmest regards

Schweizer Radio DRS 1

Media Relations

Schweizer Radio DRS
Kommunikation + Marketing
Brunnenhofstr. 22
Postfach
CH-8042 Zürich
Tel. +41 (0)1 366 11 11, Direktwahl 14 46
Fax +41 (0)1 366 11 12, Direktwahl 11 44
mailto:programminfo@srdrs.ch

SR DRS im Internet: http://www.drs.ch

Schedule information

Schweizer Radio DRS 1 on the trail of Swiss immigrants in the USA
A series of special programmes on Schweizer Radio DRS 1 (www.drs1.ch) from 30 July to 1 August Presence Switzerland's «swiss roots» project aims to encourage Americans with Swiss roots to get to know the country of their ancestors. Schweizer Radio DRS 1 is taking up the baton on the occasion of Switzerland's national holiday on 1 August, sharing the history of Swiss emigrants to the USA with its listeners. A series of special programmes will feature interviews, reports and a request show. Outside Switzerland, the various features and interviews can be heard live via webradio at www.drs1.ch.

On 29 July, an exhibition entitled «Small Numbers – Big Impact», conceived by the association for a Swiss Migration Museum about Swiss emigrants and their effect on the USA, will open at the former immigration post on Ellis Island, New York. The exhibition is part of the «swiss roots» project
organised by Presence Switzerland. The project has inspired Schweizer Radio DRS 1 to present the subject of Swiss immigrants in the USA to its listeners in Switzerland, in connection with the Swiss national day on 1 August. An outline of the featured programmes is given below.

«Persönlich» discussion programme
Sunday, 30 July, 10.00-11.00 a.m. and 10.00-11.00 p.m., Swiss time
Sunday, 30 July, 4.00-5.00 a.m. and 4.00-5.00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Röbi Koller is in New York, talking to two Swiss emigrants who have made their mark on the USA: PR expert Margrit Kaeser has lived in the Big Apple for 20 years. She is a founding member and former president of the «Swiss Institute», a forum for cultural dialogue between Switzerland, the
USA and the world. Artist Ernst Aebi once designed lofts in the SoHo and Tribeca areas, before using his savings to fulfil a boyhood dream – to travel and become a successful writer.

A profile of Leo Schelbert in «Menschen und Horizonte»
Sunday, 30 July, 2.00-3.00 p.m., Swiss time
Sunday, 30 July, 8.00-9.00 p.m., EST
Swiss journalist and professor of history Leo Schelbert has lived and taught in the USA for more than half his life. His special field is American immigration history and, in particular, Swiss emigration to the USA. Although Schelbert has lived in the United States – in Evanston, near Chicago – for around 40 years, he has never acquired US citizenship. Profile by Simone Meier.

American summer cooking in «Ratgeber»
Monday, 31 July, 11.10-11.20 a.m., Swiss time
Monday, 31 July, 5.10-5.20 a.m., EST
In the summer, when Maine blueberries, bursting with flavour, find their way to the farmers' markets, and when juicy peaches from the deep south of South Carolina are sent around the world, a little patience and lot of pleasure is all it takes to create delicious traditional American pies and cakes. Recipes by Myriam Zumbühl.

Special request show: «nuit américaine»
– music requests and conversations between the old and new worlds
Monday, 31 July, 8.00 p.m.-1.00 a.m., Swiss time
Monday, 31 July, 2.00-7.00 p.m., EST
Musical greetings can be sent from Switzerland to the USA or from the USA to Switzerland via radio in this special request programme. During this «nuit américaine», the two presenters Thomy Scherrer and Röbi Koller will enable senders and recipients of musical greetings to talk to each other via the radio. Requests can be submitted through www.drs1.ch from 24 July onwards, and the programme can be heard live on webradio in the USA.

A tour of the «Small Numbers – Big Impact» exhibition
Tuesday, 1 August, 10.00-11.00 a.m., Swiss time
Tuesday, 1 August, 4.00-5.00 a.m., EST
Swiss emigrants have helped to shape American society in a major way. The «Small Numbers – Big Impact» exhibition on Ellis Island in New York, conceived by the association for a Swiss Migration Museum, is dedicated to them. Markus Hodel, the project manager, takes presenter Thomy Scherrer on a tour and explains how the extraordinary achievements of a relatively small group of Swiss immigrants came about.

Reportage from Bern, Kansas, USA
Tuesday, 1 August, 2.00-3.00 p.m., Swiss time
Tuesday, 1 August, 8.00-9.00 a.m., EST
Just under two hours by car north-west of Kansas city is the town of Bern – Bern, Kansas. Located right in the middle of the United States, the town was founded some 120 years ago by emigrant Swiss families from the Bern region. Many of their descendants are proud to have Swiss roots.
Reportage by Simone Meier.