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History of the A3SFIT

A long time ago (or so it seems), in 1992, three alumni from Lausanne contacted the A3E2PL about how to create an American Association. The response triggered a calls across the country between Lionel Bustini in California, Maurice de Picciotto in New Jersey and Chiara "Clarissa" Ferraris in Maryland.

A first conference call (in lieu of a founding meeting) was held on November 4, 1992. The three members drafted the goals of the Association and an action plan:

A first letter with a survey was mailed to 202 addresses in April 22, 1993. Only 36% of the alumni contacted responded, while 22% resulted in incorrect addresses. Nevertheless, there was a sufficient basis to pursue the creation and some ideas were uncovered from the survey. A first Newsletter, linking alumni scattered in 34 states, was mailed in the Fall of 1993.

The Association was incorporated in December 15, 1993 in Trenton NJ as a Non-profit organization. All the necessary legal documents were prepared by Maurice de Picciotto.

The second Newsletter, summer of 1994, contained the first Ballot for electing a Board of Trustee, approving the Bylaws (prepared by Maurice de Picciotto), and the budget (prepared by Lionel Bustini).

The results of the ballot were that the bylaws and the budget were approved. The first board elected (summer 1994) is composed by:

President Clarissa Ferraris (EPFL)
Vice-President Maurice de Picciotto (EPFL)
Treasurer Lionel Bustini (EPFL)
Communications Officer Sioe Lee Ong (ETHZ)
Secretary Alfred Dettwiler (ETHZ)

Immediately the new Board went to work by creating a new logo and a page on tips for helping newcomers (Sioe Lee Ong, Fall 1995). A Directory proposal was launched by Laurent Pacalin, and the first Directory was completed under the leadership of Lee and Clarissa during the fall of 1996, and financially sponsored by EPFL and ETHZ.

From a collaboration with the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC, a booklet explaining the American education system, giving tips of how to find a job in USA and much more was published in late 1997.

In November 2000, the first convention "Swiss Eureka in America" was organized in New York City. Prof. Kuebler, President of ETHZ, presented the Keynote address and about 70 persons attended the week-end long affair. A delegation of the ETH-Alumni was also present. The Second A3SFIT Convention took place at The St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco in April 2003. The Third A3SFIT Convention was held in September 2004 at the Swiss Consulate “SHARE”- now renamed Swissnex Boston- in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Fourth Convention is in preparation for 2009 in New York City.

The newsletter is the main link between the alumni and is mailed three times a year: April, August and December.