Friday, December 10 2004 @ 07:22 AM
Contributed by: webbos
Presidents ChatterIt’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I had the privilege of attending the 100 years of flight celebration at Kitty Hawk. That event, in spite of the monsoon downpour on the special day, was one of the best, if not the best, aviation highlight of my life. Indeed the whole of the last twelve months have gone in a flash particularly since May when I took over the IFFR Presidency.

Alisma and I have had tremendous fun in that time. There have been so many fine events and people to thank I won’t try. I would like however to indulge in a few snapshots.

The unofficial but excellent IFFR annual dinner held in Osaka where the restaurant staff spoke only Japanese. We had the benefit, however, of a Japanese speaker – Stan Jesmiatka.
The Hawaiian Fly Around with the memorable evenings enjoying fellowship as the sun set in spectacular fashion.
The aerobatics in a two seater, courtesy of the Benelux Section, when they celebrated their tenth anniversary.
The celebration, in my home village, held to mark my taking on of the Presidency, when members from six IFFR Sections did me the honour of attending.
The hospitality of the Scandinavian Section in Oslo.
The IFFR Dinner in the Great Hall of Queen’s College at Cambridge University.
The visit to the Normandy Beaches with the French Section.
The return to site of the Sintra tragedy and the kindness of our Portuguese friends.
A first visit to the Black Forest in Germany. The language lesson from Karl-Heinz Netsch, which resulted in an almost perfect speech in German!
Dining on the banks of the River Tiber in Rome with the Italian Section.
And, finally, meeting so many fine people around the world through my membership of IFFR.

Yes, it has been a great seven months. What is so tremendous is that I know that 2005 will just as good as we celebrate 100 years of Rotary and 40 years of IFFR. The diary is already filling. What about joining us at the Chicago spectacular? Details are on this website. In conclusion, at this festive time, I would wish you and your families ‘happy landings’ in 2005.

Tail winds,

Angus Clark.
World President 2004 -2006