Swiss Review 5/2020

Swiss Review / September 2020 / No.5 25 The OSA and COVID-19 The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) was not immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now we are working at full speed again towards our goals – driven by a vision for the future. REMO GYSIN, OSA PRESIDENT The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much anguish around the world. Infections, deaths, business closures, and unemployment are nowpart and parcel of daily news reports. Over 770,000 Swiss live abroad in all continents, calling more than 100 different countries their home. The OSA, which represents the Swiss diaspora’s interests in Switzerland, cannot say for sure howmany Swiss Abroad have been affected by the pandemic in one way or another. But we know just how important the work of our support network is in the current situation. COVID-19 also had consequences at our administrative office in Berne aswell aswithin theOSAExecutive Board and the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA). We had to postpone our annual congress as well as numerous meetings. Winter and summer camps for young people were cancelled. In Berne, we introduced homeworking and then short- timeworking. This helped to prevent possible contagion aswell as job losses. In short, theOSA responded to the situation and addressed the in-house challenges posed by the pandemic. We also had to improvise. For example, the first-ever virtual CSA meeting took place on 10 July, featuring participation from over 80 delegates in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania. This information and discussion platform saw Lucas Metzger (Bin- ningen, canton of Basel-Landschaft) elected as the new treasurer, while a statement rejecting the SVP’s limitation initiative was also formulated at the meeting. Everything about the video call went to plan. Maybe this new experience will lead to a different way of do- ing things in future, involving less travelling but more regular in- teraction among delegates. Our goals have not changed The OSA administrative office is currently a hive of activity. Many of our annual objectives have already been met. Our major initiative aimed at merging the three existing websites (www.revue.ch , www. aso.ch , www.swisscommunity.org ) into a single new website (www. swisscommunity.org ) is also making good progress. This project should be completed by spring 2021. Not all current difficulties are down to the pandemic. The sudden unavailability of e-voting and the – to put it diplomatically – luke- warm attitude of the big banks towards the Swiss Abroad are attrib- utable to other factors. These ongoing sagas need to end. We are still doing all we can to make that happen. Visions for the future After a difficult fewmonths, we have formulated amission that stakes out the direction of travel and offers impetus for the future. Here are my visions for the OSA: ■ ■ All Swiss Abroad eligible to vote will be able to participate in elec- tions and popular votes in Switzerland. Their constitutional political rights will be protected. ■ ■ Swiss banks and insurance companieswill also offer their services to the Swiss Abroad on satisfactory terms comparable to those offered to the Swiss in Switzerland. ■ ■ The CSA will finally have a representative composition, with del- egates elected directly via e-voting. ■ ■ The number of Swiss expatriate associations will increase world- wide, with greater representation among all age groups. ■ ■ The OSA Executive Board and the CSAwill be headed by a female president for the first time. Thank you, Peter! Peter Wüthrich retired from the Executive Board of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) on 30 June 2020, after having fought the corner of the Swiss Abroad with great passion and energy for over 20 years. Following his first tenure from 1988 to 2008, we were de- lighted when Peter took up the challenging position of treasurer for a second time in 2017. In this role, Peter provided the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), the OSA Executive Board, and the OSA administrative office with expert advice on financial matters and much more be- sides. His sound legal knowledge was also of great help to us. Peter’s tremendous professional expertise enabled him to act as our in-house ‘firefighter’ who was able to solve problems and provide practical tips. Famously, he even assisted us a num- ber of times from his sailing trips in the Mediterranean – truly above and beyond the call of duty. On behalf of the Swiss Abroad and all CSA delegates and OSA Executive Board mem- bers, I would like to thank Peter for his wonderful, unfailing service. It was a pleas- ure to work with him. We will always treasure fond memories of his time. All the best on your retirement, Peter. We wish you good health, favourable winds at sea, and every happiness for the future. Remo Gysin President of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) OSA News