Researching the history of Swiss emigration, Leo Schelbert features the worldwide presence of Swiss women and men, and he claims that "Official Switzerland should acknowledge Fifth Switzerland with its about 800,000 members officially as a kind of 27th Canton". He views the project "Einsiedeln elsewhere" as important, and it is due his efforts that I received especially in the United States the necessary seed money and support.

For Leo Schelbert "Einsiedeln elsewhere" serves to activate the awareness of national ethnic roots. In his view, "the connection of Einsiedeln with Louisville is numerically unique and deserves to be historically featured. By the end of the 20th century the awareness of Louisville's ties to Switzerland in general and Einsiedeln in particular has weakened. 'Einsiedeln elsewhere' it therefore a pilot project, that may serve as a model for other places with a special presence of Swiss such as Highland, Illinois or Bernstadt, Kentucky."