IOGT Switzerland Congress was held on 20th and 21st of June 2009 in Öberägeri. Priska Hauser Scherer was re-elected the President of the organisation and a new Plan of action was approved. The Congress sessions passed smoothly, the members of IOGT Switzerland seem to share a common picture about future activities of the organisation and the role IOGT Switzerland should have in society. International work in form of involvement in West Africa will continue and IOGT International is very grateful for the experience and involvement of IOGT Switzerland in the international field.

The re-elected board has plans to look into possibilities to refresh the organisations visual identity and to analyze the position of the organization in the today’s society. Many of us remember the World Congress in 2006 in Basel, the involvement of IOGT Switzerland members in the organisation of the event and the approach to bring all the generations of IOGT International family together. IOGT Switzerland keeps this approach - there were all generations presented at the Annual Congress and the guest speakers had contributions to the broad variety of related topics – such as alcohol policy in Switzerland or a project for controlling the minimum age for purchasing alcohol beverages.

The friendly atmosphere between the Congress delegates, seeing all generations together and will to have an impact on society are great signs that IOGT Switzerland lives the values of IOGT International.

I am very thankful for being invited and for the possibility to take part in this event and wish IOGT Switzerland good luck with the work.

Kristina Sperkova
Deputy International President of IOGT