Dear SAS Members

Our Club is growing constantly. Not only can I tell you about new members in each update (see below), but we also set records in participation at our events. The list for our 1st August Party showed 102 people, although a few of them decided to stay home because of the threatening weather condition. Petrus showed mercy, and we could enjoy a dry memorable evening at Martha Hope Cabin in Gainesville, with great food and a super ambience once again. A big thank you to the Board Members for all their preparations and to all the helpers who made clean-up afterwards a breeze. I truly appreciate the way everybody works together.

Upcoming events

• With this Update you receive the invitation for our Picnic on the Lake – it sounds like a lot of fun!
• After a long summer the Ladies’ Luncheons group is going places again – interested? call Helen for more information!
• The Swiss Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a sponsored business luncheon on Thursday, September 15, at the Cherokee Town Club. Martin Naville, CEO, Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce (Zurich) will be the guest of honor and speak to the topic US/Swiss Free Trade Agreement. For more information please contact the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, Karen Wright, 678 415 4219.

Legal Affairs for Swiss in US
Due to minimal response to the suggestion of a speaker event to the above topics and the fact that it is almost impossible to find a person competent in all aspects the Board has decided not to further pursue such an event. We rather encourage you to discuss your questions at various occasions and to share whatever information you might have with others.
Beat Schweizer has kindly provided a list of law offices he and his company have successfully worked together with – I hope this information might be helpful to some of you:

For GreenCard applications
Law Office Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 511
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Tel: (919) 787-9700
Contact person Brian Reilly

For Tax Issues
Williams Benator & Libby, LLP
1040 Crown Pointe Parkway, NE, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30338
Tel: (770) 512-050, www.wblcpa.com
contact person Steven Horn, Partner
This company has a partner office in Switzerland.

For Estate planning
Holland & Knight LLP
One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 2000
Atlanta, GA 30309-3400
Tel: (404) 817-8500, www.hklaw.com

We bid farewell to Rita and Beat Schweizer
Our Vice-President Rita Schweizer and her husband Beat are moving back to Switzerland mid of August. Not only will we miss Rita’s organizational skills and Beat’s support at each and every event, but both of you as our good friends. We certainly wish you all the best for your relocation and for the future in good old Switzerland – take care!

More news from our members

• A baby boy was born to Kathleen and Tony Elmiger and big brother Marlowe on June 2 – congratulations to the birth of Lucas! He made his first appearance at the 1st August Party and is just adorable.
• Verena Grieder got married to Hans Kaufmann in Switzerland on June 25. They will live in part in Atlanta, in part in beautiful Ascona/Ticino. Best wishes for your future together – we are looking forward to meeting you, Hans!
• Caroline Gamma suffered a bad accident a few weeks ago. She broke her left arm and injured her elbow as well as her foot. We are thinking of you and wish you a speedy recovery.

We can only reach out to our members for special occasions when we get the information, be it a happy event like a new baby or a tragic situation like an illness or a death in the family. Please contact the Board in case you know someone who could use a cheer-up.

New Members
Please welcome the following new members to our Club:

• Oliver and Aviva Hoffmann with their son Nigel, in Stone Mountain
• Francois Levesque, in Woodstock
• Astrid and Markus Wilkens, in Suwanee

We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events!

SAS Board Members 2005/06

Step forward and join us!
With Board Members relocating due to new job assignments we need new people in our crew. Remember, this is your Club, and it can only function as long as we have members willing to fill the positions on the Board. By the way, joining the Board is not only a great way to get involved with the Club and its members but also to work and have fun with good friends who are very supportive.
So if you can picture yourself serving the Club in a rewarding way please contact me or any Member of the Board – thank you for considering it!

For the SAS Board