The event was hosted by swisstopo and the Swiss Cartographic Society. In addition, the Institute for Cartography at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) provided a wonderful display of the cartographic work of Eduard Imhof, the first president of ICA.

The first day of conference papers looked back at ICA efforts to further its aims over the last fifty years. Dr Walter Imhof, for instance, gave a presentation on a 1981 TV Film about Prof. Eduard Imhof. Professor Bengt Rystedt discussed the road towards ICA and the contribution of Carl Mannerfelt. Professor Ernst Spiess gave a speech on ICA efforts in Map Design and Production. And Professor Lorenz Hurni spoke about Swiss Cartography in the twentieth century.

The presentations on the second day looked towards the future. Professor Dietmar Grünreich, for example, gave a presentation on SDIs at national, European and global level. Dr Anne Ruas spoke about research into data integration. Professor Menno-Jan Kraak discussed the ICA research agenda. And Professor Evangelos Livieratos addressed digital technologies in cartographic heritage.

On the evening of 9^th June a celebratory dinner was held at The Casino in Bern. ICA vice-president Dr Anne Ruas prepared the programme and organised the panel of speakers. Secretary-general/treasurer David Fairbairn was the brain behind the logistics of making the event ‘work'.

A number of former ICA presidents were able to attend, among them Professor Fraser Taylor, Dr Michael Wood OBE, Professor Bengt Rystedt and Professor Milan Konecny. Former president Professor Joel Morrison sent his formal greetings to the event, and former vice-presidents Professor Takashi Morita, Dr Juame Miranda Canals, Professor Elri Liebenberg, and former secretary-general/treasurers Dr Jean Phillip Grelot and Professor Ferjan Ormeling also attended, joining colleagues in the celebrations.

Representatives of a number of sister societies were also able to attend, including Professor Michael Sideris (IAG president), Professor Fraser Taylor (ISCGM chair), Professor Orhan Altan (ISPRS president), Professor Bruno Messerli (IGU) and Dr Jarmo Ratia (GSDI). Greetings were received from other sister societies - FIG, IHO and IMTA.

For the International Cartographic Association, the ICA Executive Committee, the ICA community and its associates and friends, this celebration was certainly ‘an affair to remember'. Further details of some presentations will be communicated in next month's GIM International.