1. How does it feel to be a 'glocals.com 2007 community Oscar' winner?
Very honored and so surprised to see that such a simple thing as organizing regular drinks in Lausanne is so much appreciated. At the New Years drink in January 2007, we were around 30 people and a year later more than 80 attended.

2. Where are you originally from, and why did move to your current city?
Originally I am from Holland, where I used to sail on the lakes and walk along the beaches of the North sea. About 30 years ago I left Holland with a degree in physics to work first at the University of Genova (Italy) and then at the University of Lausanne. Meeting my Lausanne-born wife with who I have two (adult) children, was a valid reason to stay in Switzerland. At present I have a job in Geneva and I take the daily commuter train from and to Lausanne.

3. What do you love about Lausanne?
It has everything I could wish: beautiful nature, mountains, lots of sun, restaurants, theaters. Joining glocals.com helped in developing the social dimension. 

4. One thing you would change about Lausanne?
By joining glocals.com, both Geneva and Lausanne have changed already for me. No need any longer to feel lonely in town. glocals.com allows me to try out activities I never dreamed of before.

5. Favorite way to spend a weekend?
I could say, my favorite way is participating in a glocals.com activity, such as bowling, a hike or a drink. But I’m married with Madeleine and there is family property which need to be managed and requires maintenance. So there are often other priorities than glocals.

←  With Madeleine

6. How did you hear about glocals? What was the first glocals activity you joined?
I read about glocals in the local newspaper and decided to give it a try by joining a drink in Lausanne organized by JulianT. It was the first time since too long that I met people who were not colleagues of work or family members. I was very enthusiastic at the idea of discovering Lausanne and participating in all kinds of activities with my newly made friends. Shortly after, it was the summer of 2006, JulianT organized a long series of events which appealed very much to me, such as tree climbing, bowling, things I would not do easily alone. More and more, glocal-friends have become important in my life.
 

7. What was the first glocals.com activity you organized, and how was it?
In 2006, JulianT organized hundreds of activities including drinks in Ouchy. In December I posted my first activity, with an invitation to join me in the MGM café. It was just before Christmas, it was to celebrate my own birthday (I was offering a drink !) but we were only three drinking beer, including me and my son. This was a deception of course.
Three weeks later, I had posted for a new Years drink in Lausanne Palace. This time we were around 30 people and the reactions were very encouraging towards visiting new places in town. The idea of regular monthly Lausanne discovery drinks was born.
Later on in the year 2007, I organized my first Easy Hike under a blue sky in June. It was a response to existing glocal hikes which were physically quite demanding and not suited for many of my friends - not to say not suited for me ;-)    . I intend going on proposing « nice weather hikes » in 2008.

8. What motivates you to be active on glocals.com?
First of all, the activities I organize are activities in which I would like to participate and which I would like to share.
The advantage of organizing yourself is that it always suits your agenda ;-). Another important point is that there is a demand, the participants of previous events ask for more of the same. The glocals website makes the organization of activities easy. My latest passion -since January 2008 ;-)     - is ten pin bowling. Wonder what life will be like in a year.

9. Favorite place in the world?
Holland is flat, so what I love most in Switzerland, is the 3D-view over mountains and lakes. What I’m missing though is the wind and smell of the dutch countryside where I grew up.

10. Something about you that people don't know?
If people want to know more about me, just ask. Colleagues at work have no idea about jasper and his local and global social life.

11. Best joke you know?
Used to have friends in Holland and Switzerland, telling jokes all the time and I love to listen to them. Somehow I have always been unable to retell the joke in such a way that people would laugh. So I stopped trying.

12. Message to the world/Motto
We are actors in climate change and energy efficiency, so what are we waiting for ?

   Jasper at 5 years old, with his adopted sister