In 1989, the Swiss Society for Optics and Electron Microscopy (Schweizerische Gesellschaft fOr Optik und Elektronenmikroskopie - Societe Suisse d'Optique et de Microscopie Electronique), formerly founded as "Schweizerisches Komitee fOr Optik -Comite Suisse d'Optique " could celebrate its 40th anniversary. Already during and mainly just after World War II the then newly invented electron microscopy was introduced also in Switzerland and its importance quickly increased. In 1955, our Society was split into two sections, i.e. for Optics and for Electron Microscopy, both with their own secretaries. Other foreign Societies for electron microscopy in Europe and all over the world have celebrated their anniversaries in the last few years and held reviews at these occasions. In view of this and facing