Dear SAS Members

Your Club started its 51st year. It will be hard to top last year’s anniversary celebration events, but the new Board is determined to again create special memories for 2004. We are looking for ways to boost contacts and communication to our members. This update is a first step in the right direction.

Club Calendar
At a first meeting we have outlined the upcoming events, so please mark your calendar!

• First of all, don’t miss the Picnic on Sunday, May 23 – see invitation!
• Make sure you will be around for the 1st August celebration on Saturday, July 31!
  We will also hold our Special Meeting on that day to implement the new bylaws.
• Beginning October we will have a Fun-Family-Fall Event, no details yet.
• It is still spring, but we have already set the Samichlaus- and Christmas-Party for Saturday, December 4.
• We will cook the traditional Fondue again early next year.

Ladies’ Luncheons
In January 2003 we started the monthly (well, almost!) outings for the Swiss Ladies. We try to combine visits to museums or exhibitions, unique shopping experiences and more with culinary adventures and of course making and meeting friends. If you are interested in joining this fun group, please contact any of the Board Members (not necessary if you do get the invitations already).

Men’s Tailgating
Since the Ladies’ Luncheons turned out to be a big success, the men would like to get their share, too! A small group is in the starting phase of organizing casual fun outings. If you are interested in getting the invitations, please contact any of the Board Members.

Other organizations
Please take advantage of other organizations’ events. You might be interested in strengthening your business contacts and attending the reception given by the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce on May 18 – see invitation. Or you might like to get more involved with the Organization of the Swiss Abroad and visit the “Auslandschweizer Kongress” in Winterthur under the motto “Technologische Innovationen – Herausgeforderte Schweiz”, August 20 – 22. For details call Helen Freiermuth.
The Goethe Institute as well as the Organization for the Francophonie periodically offer great programs. We will try to spread the word and keep you posted.

Website
We apologize for the outdated information on the Club’s website: www.sasatlanta.org.
We are currently updating it and will do our best to maintain it as a great source of information with links to relevant topics.
Since none of the Board Members is an “Internet freak”, this is kind of a challenge to us! If you can help with your expertise, we would gladly accept…
Bits and Pieces

• With the Bioterrorism Act there is a new procedure in place to send food gifts from abroad. If your mum wants to send you chocolate or other goodies, she needs to use the Prior Notice System Interface, which can be accessed at https://www.access.fda.gov/oaa/.  She will then receive a Prior Notice confirmation number. This number needs to be included in the customs declaration form that accompanies the package. – Let’s hope it doesn’t get any more complicated!
• An easier way to enjoy real Swiss chocolate is to call our treasurer Eleonore Mabouka. She is the importer of the renowned  and very delicious Chocolat Favarger and has different packages available.
• If you know of a special deal, offer, or information and you would like to share it with the SAS Members, please let us know. We will be happy to include it in the next SAS update.

SAS Board Members 2004/2005

           
Feel free to contact any of us in case you have a question or suggestion. Also, if you would like to come to one of our Board Meetings, please call Helen for details.

New Members

• Martin Weber, Atlanta
• Marianne und Norbert Falk, Tallapoosa
• Boris Brucker, Huntsville, Alabama

We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our next events – welcome to the Club!

Member Directory
The directory of the members who agreed to share their contact information will be available soon. You can pick up a copy at one of our events or order it electronically from Eleonore Mabouka.

For the SAS Board
Helen Freiermuth, President