Presidents Chatter

June 2006

A final Chatter! It is hard to believe that I have almost come to end of my two year term as your World President. This last month has been particularly busy with visits to the Section Meetings in Belgium, Germany and France. My last Section meeting was, appropriately the UK Spring get-to-gether. As a Section they have given me great support and I would particularly thank Section Chairman John Bowden, long serving but now retiring Secretary/Treasurer John Ritchie and Ian Kerr who acted as World Bulletin Secretary. To that list I would add European V-P Feroz Wadia who is the unanimous choice of the Nominating Committee for the position of President Elect to follow incoming President Brian Souter. Thanks to all of you.

My thanks however go worldwide. To Alan Grady the Australasian V-P for his support and wise counsel. To Peter Gibbs in South Africa. To Phil and Diana Livingstone for their dedication to the task of turning round the fortunes of the Americas Region. From the Americas Region I have to say a special thanks to the Webmaster Peter More. Peter’s commitment has gone beyond what anyone has the right to expect – if I had not written a recent President’s Chatter I got a gentle reminder. I submit it and within hours it is on the Web – remarkable by itself but even more remarkable when Peter adds a footnote that he is Shanghai, Hong Kong or somewhere else in the Far East at the time. Thank you Peter.

I have to thank Tom Surowka who has kept me on the right path and served the Fellowship over the years in an outstanding manner. Tom, we are deeply grateful. Tom retires at the AGM in Copenhagen. Tom enjoy your retirement and your travelling with Margaret – you both thoroughly deserve it. Roy Marsden from New Zealand will be proposed as Tom’s successor at the AGM.

Finally I have to thank our incoming President Brian Souter – Brian I have enjoyed working with you, appreciated your support when it was needed. I know that the Fellowship is going to have an exceptional leader in the next two years

Finally Alisma and I have to thank so many people around the world for the hospitality and kindness that we have enjoyed over last two years. Thanks to everyone – we are a remarkable Fellowship.

Tail winds

Angus Clark