The poet

We are proud to announce that there is a poet among Schosers: Sam E. Schoser of Aztec, New Mexico. Let's go straight into the matter and present a sample of Sam's art from his blog!

The Storm

Clouds loom on the horizon
Thunder clashes
Winds blow
Loneliness takes hold


My mind goes to you
Safe in the distant land
Wondering if you think of me


Panic strikes
Fear sets in
Doubt builds like the dark clouds above
What if she doesn't think of me?
What if she has forgotten the wonderful feeling we share?


Then I see her face
And the fear yields
Like the sun returning after the storm
Peace settles in
And doubt drifts away

By Sam E Schoser (2006)

On the brink of financial meltdown

On 26 March 2009, in the midst of the worst economic and financial crisis since the 1930s, John Schoser took part in a panel discussion on asset management at the Urban Land Institute of the Chicago District Council. The precise title was “Asset Management: The Importance of Effective Management During Turbulent Times”. John was invited in his function as Morgan Stanley's executive director of merchant banking. Notably only a few months before, in September 2008, his own employer Morgan Stanley was said to be close to bankruptcy and almost fell victim to the crisis.

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (1/1997-7/2010)

The general situation in March 2009 is also well illustrated by the fact that on 6 March 2009 the New York Stock Exchange hit its lowest point in 13 years representing a loss of more than 50% compared to its all-time high only 17 months earlier on.

During the discussion, John stated that the speed with which the economic turmoil had struck caught people by surprise. Moreover, he cautioned, “We are far from touching bottom and things are going to get way worse before they get better.” With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that the economic situation started to improve in the course of 2009 because governments throughout the world intervened heavily to save banks and stimulate the economy.

In relation to his career, John was asked what skills an asset manager must have. “You’ve got to understand value, what creates it, what detracts from it. You need to have good financial skills, understand what net present value means and (understand) the financial impact of actions”, John replied. He also stressed being an effective negotiator, which rests partly upon your ability to set appropriate expectations with a variety of parties. A challenging job it would seem, in particular on the brink of global financial meltdown.

Be a sport!

Schosers practise a variety of sports beyond football, running and mountain biking mentioned previously. While they seem to like in particular all sorts of ball games, let's start with one sport which is probably the most uncommon: vaulting. The International Equestrian Federation describes vaulting as "a spectacular gymnastic performance whilst moving on a horse".

Among Schosers, Katharina 'Kati' has come to fame in vaulting, more precisely 'pas de deux' vaulting that is vaulting with two vaulters at the same time. She and her partner Stephanie finished in third place at the Saarland championship in 2007. Kati's riding club proudly features a picture of her and her partner on its homepage.

The Schoser brothers Chance and Chase have made their mark with baseball. During the 2003 season, they played in the 'Demons' Durango High School baseball team and their performances received substantial coverage in the local media. Four years later, both had swaped baseball for basketball and became official basketball coaches with the Colorado High School Activities Association.

Anja Schoser has a passion for handball. During the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons, she played in the women's handball team of TSV Owen-Teck contributing several goals to the team's success. After a break as au pair in New York she played some more matches before leaving Owen to study in Augsburg.

Finally, the Schoser siblings Vincent and Valentina have shown great perseverance in the exercise of their sport. Recently, they have been honoured for their 10-year membership in their tennis club Rot-Weiß Trochtelfingen.