Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends

Summer has ended in the Northern Hemisphere and is now headed to our Colleagues in the South. For many, it has been a busy period and for others, the opportunity to take Holidays and recharge their "batteries" for the coming Months has been a relief.

I am very pleased to say that all the Zones have been very active in the past few months. In June, I attended the Western Zone Meeting in Amsterdam. In July, I went to the Pan American Congress in Buenos Aires. At the Scandinavian Zone meeting in Oslo, the Executive Board was represented by Emmanuel Vrettos, 2nd International VP. At the Central European Meeting in Warsaw, Virginia Casale, 1st International VP, and Emmanuel Vrettos were in attendance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank American Express for their generous sponsorship of all the Zone Meetings this year.

A big "Thank You" goes to the Directors of Zones for the diligent work they have performed this year and, also, to the National Presidents for promoting the "Spirit of the UICH" within their Sections.

In August, I visited our Office in Rue Cambon in Paris and held a very successful meeting with my Representative in Paris, Lionel Lorans, Jean-Roland Boutille, International Treasurer, and the UICH Executive Secretary, Esther Baldocchi.

After Paris, I visited Munich where I spent time with Christian Netzle, the new President of the German Section, as well as Hans Hennig, the National Treasurer. Some days later, I was able to enjoy a lovely evening in Cannes with Roger Bastoni, our Past International President. The day after that, we arrived in Geneva and were welcomed by the Geneva Section and Olivier Mazille, Regional President of Les Clefs d'Or, who hosted a dinner for my family and me. It was also a pleasure to have Claudio Caser, President of Switzerland, share the unforgettable evening with us.

In late October, we are holding the Executive Committee "Face to Face" Meeting in Dubai under the kind auspices of the U.A.E. Section.

I am very happy to announce that one of the major "projects" in the works this year was achieved by the printing and distribution of our new Les Clefs d'Or Book of Members. I hope you have all received the book and find it as useful in your daily work as I do.

Wherever you are, I wish everyone great success in all your endeavors and I look forward to seeing you soon.

In Service Through Friendship,

Robert Watson
International President