Democracy in the Mountains: The Vermont-Switzerland Connection

Gorgeous mountains, vibrant farms, flocking tourists, even chocolate--Vermont has a lot in common with Switzerland. But few New Englanders know that Switzerland is the only other place in the world with whom we share one other proud tradition: town meetings.

Every Swiss community, from alpine villages to the metropolis of Zurich, is governed through a form of town meeting. As Vermont grows and changes, what can we learn from the surprising historical parallels and creative adaptations of the Swiss experience? Join us for an evening of photos and discussion, featuring beautiful images from outdoor Swiss canton-wide meetings, among Switzerland's most surprising and fascinating alpine traditions.

Susan Clark is an educator and co-author of two books about local democracy: All Those In Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community, and Slow Democracy. She has conducted interviews and observed at numerous town meetings across Switzerland. She serves as Town Moderator of Middlesex, Vermont.