Explore the intercultural landscape between Switzerland and America...with FOSI
Welcome.
For over five decades, the Friends of Switzerland (FOSI) has recognized, promoted, and celebrated intercultural achievement and understanding between Switzerland and the U.S.—through its distinguished Stratton Prize for Intercultural Achievement, Stratton Fellowship Grants, Stammtisch Luncheon & Speaker Program, and other events. FOSI is a connector, or re-connector, for Swiss and Americans who value cross-cultural learning and discovery.
We invite you to find out more...read an introduction below, browse our website, and join us in our travels.
FOSI: Awarding international achievement...the Julius Adams Stratton Prize
Educational and philanthropic in its mission, FOSI seeks to recognize
those who contribute to intercultural understanding between our two countries... and to celebrate and encourage it. To that end, we have gathered annually since 1966 for our Stratton Prize Dinner, to award the coveted Julius Adams Stratton Prize for Intercultural Achievement. Stratton Laureates have emerged from a wide range of fields, including the arts, diplomacy, science and medicine, business, and academics. The list of Stratton Prize winners is a long and distinguished one.
⩓ A selection of FOSI's Stratton Laureates pictured above, from left to right: Julius Adams Stratton, Bradford Washburn,
Georges Doriot, Dr. Freddy Homburger, Hansjoerg Wyss, Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, and Renata von Tscharner
FOSI: Supporting next-generation achievers...the Stratton Fellowship Grants
The annual Stratton Fellowship Grant provides a Swiss or American young professional—
from writers to researchers, artists to musicians, teachers to doctors—with an opportunity to study or pursue their work in each others' country. Fellows are nominated by our Stratton Prize Laureates, and FOSI members are proud to have sustained the Stratton Fellowship program for over 50 years, helping a long list of talented individuals—young intercultural achievers all—to explore their fields of endeavor and further their careers.
⩓ A selection of Stratton Fellows pictured above, from left to right: Ali Arbia, David Loutzenheiser, Britta Voss,
Jonathan Mekinda, Pete Hessler, Kristian Johnson, and Wayne Hobbs
FOSI: Building community...Stammtisch luncheons, speakers, and events
The Friends of Switzerland is for anyone who appreciates Swiss gemuetlichkeit (a long-cultivated, special kind of congeniality) and harbors a desire to engage in a learning community and activate their Swiss/American connections...whatever those may be. FOSI is for Swiss, Swiss-American, and Swiss-interested people. And for those who enjoy the company of like-minded intercultural travelers.
FOSI members enjoy congenial Stammtisch luncheons, stories shared by our fascinating speakers and the chance to gain international perspective first-hand, and a growing array of other events. The FOSI calendar is as varied as the wide- ranging interests of its members.
⩓ Events depicted above: Stammtisch speaker, Dr. Joe Brain; Swiss Poster Talk at MassArt; Stammtisch performer, violinist Vera Rubin; Stammtisch speaker, Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden; Stammtisch at SwissBakers Cafe; Stammtisch on Alpine Ibex resurgence