Latest news

  • Dolf Herger Scholarship Program

    The Dolf Herger Scholarship (DHS) was established as a joint initiative by the SBS Philadelphia, the New Helvetic Society, and the Maurice Rohrbach Fund, to honor Dolf Herger’s more than four decades of exemplary service to the three societies and the Swiss community of the Delaware Valley Region at large. 

  • Dolf Herger Gala

    The Dolf Herger Gala was held on April 2, 2025, at the Union League in Philadelphia to honor Dolf Herger’s more than four decades of exemplary service to this Society, as well as the New Helvetic Society, Pennsylvania Chapter (NHS), and the Maurice Rohrbach Fund for Swiss American Cultural Exchange (MRF). 

  • Annual Meeting 2025

    The 2025 Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, March 22nd, at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster, PA. Members unable to attend received the 2024 Annual Report by mail. See the Gallery for pictures from the event.

Meetings

  • Annual Meeting 2026

    The 2026 Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, April 18th, at the RiverWinds Restaurant in West Deptford, NJ 08086. The meeting was combined with the General Assembly Meeting of the New Helvetic Society with the goal to increase attendance and decrease cost. See the Gallery for pictures from past events.

  • Annual Meeting 2025

    The 2025 Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, March 22nd, at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster, PA. Members unable to attend received the 2024 Annual Report by mail. See the Gallery for pictures from the event.

  • Annual Meeting 2024

    The 2024 Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, March 23rd, at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster, PA. Members unable to attend received an absentee ballot (upon request) and the 2023 Annual Report by mail.

  • Annual Meeting 2023

    The 2023 Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, March 25th, at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster, PA. Members unable to attend this first post-pandemic annual meeting received the ballot and the 2022 Annual Report by mail.
    Invitation

Yearly summaries

PDF download:


Annual reports

PDF download:


Transitions

  • Mr. Oskar Gmunder (1935 – 2026)

    Oskar joined the Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia in 1995. His interest led him to join the Board of Directors in 1997 on which her served until 2002. He was elected President in 1999 and guided the society into the new Millennium. He made sure the support for the Scholarship (SBS-NY) continued and worked through a proposal by the BOD to almost double the previous year’s contribution.

    Oskar was also a member of the New Helvetic Society (NHS) since 1969 and enjoyed the periodic gatherings with his wife Barbara and their children. He was well known in the Jass Club and enjoyed playing cards with his fellow Swiss.

    May Oskar Rest In Peace!

    We will miss him and extend our sympathy to Barbara and her family.

  • Mrs. Marie S. Knup (1941 – 2025)

    Marie had joined our society in 1964 and was a member up to 2020. She passed away in Philadelphia on August 8, 2025 at the age of 84.

    We extend sincere condolences to the Knup families.

  • Mr. Joerg Eichelberger (1943 – 2024)

    Joerg had joined our society in 2009 and was a member up to 2016. He also served as President of the Swiss Club in Washington. He moved to Switzerland where he passed away on September 22, 2024.

    We extend sincere condolences to the Eichelberger families.