Swiss Benevolent Society
P.O. BOX 2137
Chicago, IL 60690-2137

Officers

 

PRESIDENT

Thomas D. Zoells

VICE PRESIDENT

Sven E. Feldmann

SECRETARY

Franziska Lys

TREASURER

Sven E. Feldmann

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 2005

Dear Members,

On the outside, 2005 has been a year of status quo, where the SBS has continued to support similar programs as in years past. This is true when one looks at the activities, which involved continued financial support of our elderly beneficiaries, scholarships for high school students and for language students from inner city and other schools, as well as the sponsoring of various cultural projects.

In truth, the board of the SBS has been percolating on many fronts in trying to come up with new meaningful projects to fund and promote. The benefaction committee has been actively looking for other ways to help and to find new beneficiaries, the education committee has come up with a new program (the Merit Scholarship Program) involving a close collaboration with three inner city high schools, and on the cultural front, we are moving away from big projects such as the Ganz Hall restoration to a multitude of smaller projects and an even closer collaboration with the Swiss Consulate General. I am happy to report that although we have a smaller board, my fellow board members have been very active and working very hard for our Society. I take this opportunity to thank them officially for their hard work and dedication. I look forward to another year in their company. I also take this opportunity to make an open call to you, readers of this annual report, to volunteer as a board member or ask your friends if they wish to do so. We are always in need of additional board members with fresh ideas and helping hands. Please contact us now.

On the other hand, although we made radical changes in the way the board operates two years ago, in order to align ourselves better with our current times where it has become more difficult to attract volunteer board members as well as to keep an active membership, we have found that our members have remained faithful to the organization. Members have very consistently paid their dues and thereby expressed a desire to remain connected and to support our endeavors. It is really heart-warming to see that our very Swiss characteristics of loyalty and constancy are demonstrated here. These qualities are the backbone of this organization and help us go through thick and thin. Thank you, Members, for your ongoing support. It is much appreciated and helps move forward, especially when we know that our work interests you and makes you proud.

The Swiss Benevolent Society of Chicago has transformed itself over the years and has become an important element of the Swiss community in Chicago and its surroundings. We look forward to continuing to grow this presence by bringing meaningful projects to life for you, our Members.

Respectfully submitted
Thomas Zoells
President, SBS Chicago
February 26, 2006