VAME (SWEA Western Americas) meet.
It was a balmy, perfect California September night with a 'dream come true' sunset when SWEA Western Americas (VAME) met at the Royal Swedish Consulates residence on top of Bel Air to celebrate SWEA Internationals 30th Anniversary.
To be more precise, it was actually SWEA Los Angeles Anniversary, as Los Angeles was the first chapter in the ever growing organization. SWEA now has 8,500 members and 76 chapters in 36 countries on five continents around the globe.
This was the final visit for SWEA to the residence, as the Consulate General will be converted to an honorary consulate general in December this year. The change is to the great dismay of all Swedes, and friends of Sweden, in the Western United States. Hosting the evening were ambassador Carl-Magnus Hyltenius and his charming wife Bodil, who seemed to enjoy this lively group of SWEA members. Represented were all the chapters along the Pacific Rim plus Arizona, Las Vegas and Hawaii.
SWEA Los Angeles and its president Anna-Carin Thomér thanked the ambassador for hosting the inital gathering of SWEA International's Regional Meeting for the Americas. Britta Armstrong, the regional president made a superb introduction and welcomed everyone to the annual meeting.
Submitted by Kerstin Alm
www.mamarazzi.us.com
