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Skål News October 2007
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Skål International Newsletter November 2007
NEW PRESIDENT OF SKÅL INTERNATIONAL
The new President of Skål International for 2007-2008 is Phillip Sims from Auckland, New Zealand. A member of Skål International Auckland, Phillip has held the posts of President of the International Skål Council, Statutes Director and Vice President, Membership Development. He is the first President of Skål International from New Zealand. In acknowledging his election as President, Phillip Sims said he was humbled by the confidence which had been placed in him by the General Assembly and he thanked all the delegates for their support. He pledged to do his best to continue the work done by his predecessor, Litsa Papathanassi and said that she would be a hard act to follow.
 68TH SKÅL WORLD CONGRESS
Almost 900 participants attended the 68th Skål World Congress which ended in Belek, Antalya, Turkey on Friday 9 November 2007. The Congress was a great success and everyone was loud in their praise for the Local Organising Committee under the Chairmanship of Asuman Tariman a member of Skål International Antalya. The President of Skål International Antalya, Kaya Gurlesen welcomed the delegates at the Opening Ceremony as did the President of Skål International Turkey, Salih Çene. One of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony was a very lively performance by the group “Fire of Anatolia” which had all those present on their feet calling for more. Following the Opening Ceremony, delegates were entertained to a Hungarian style lunch which was part-sponsored by Skål International Hungary. Budapest is the venue for the 70th Skål World Congress in 2009.
 ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT LITSA PAPATHANASSI
The President of Skål International Litsa Papathanassi in her address to the delegates at the Opening Ceremony urged the membership to keep the development of Skål as an urgent item on the agendas of all Clubs worldwide. She thanked the membership for electing her a President of Skål during the Congress in Pattaya, Thailand and said that for her it was a “life-time experience” To read the President’s speech, please chick on the following hyperlink: http://www.skal.org/pdf/litsa_speech.pdf
NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
At his first meeting following his election as President, Phillip Sims distributed the portfolios to the Executive Committee for 2007-2008. He has split the portfolio of P.R. Media and Communications asking Vice President, Hulya Aslantas to retain the portfolio of P.R. and Media and creating a new portfolio of Internal Communications which will be the responsibility of newly elected Director, Lone Ricks from Copenhagen. Newly elected Vice President, Nik Racic will retain responsibility for Business Affairs. The President has merged External Development with Development and Director; Tony Boyle will have responsibility for Development. Enrique Quesada y Barrios will retain the portfolio of Finance and John Britton will retain responsibility for Statutes.
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New elected Vice-President Nic Racic |
New elected Director Lone Ricks |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2007 – 2008
The new Executive Committee of Skål International for 2007-2008 is as follows:
- President, Phillip Sims, New Zealand
- Vice President – P.R. & Media, Hulya Aslantas, Turkey
- Vice President – Business Affairs, Nik Racic, Croatia
- Director of Development, Tony Boyle, Australia
- Director of Finance, Enrique Quesada y Barrios, Mexico
- Director of Statutes, John Britton, Canada
- Director of Internal Communications, Lone Ricks, Denmark
- Observer - President, International Skål Council, Marianne Krohn, Germany
- In attendance - Secretary General, Jim Power.
 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
The meeting of the International Skål Council held on 4 November 2007 elected a new President and Vice President. The new President of the International Skål Council is Marianne Krohn, Skål International Hannover, Germany while the new Vice President of the Council is Bent Hadler, Skål International Copenhagen.
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| Marianne Krohn |
John Bright |
Bent Hadler |
Jefferie Tippen |
Four candidates contested the election for President of the International Council. Marianne Krohn emerged as the winner for a two year term. The Officers of the International Council for 2007-2008 are as follows: President, Marianne Krohn, Germany. Vice Presidents: John Bright, United Kingdom and Bent Hadler, Denmark. The new Secretary of the Council is Jefferie Tippen, New Zealand.
 6TH SKÅL INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM AWARDS
The 6th Ecotourism Awards were presented during the Opening Ceremony. Two of the three judges were present at the ceremony, Stefanos Fotiou, UNEP and Jack Soifer, Consultant, Swedish Education and Consulting (SWEDUC). The third judge was Eugenia Yunis of the UNWTO. The winners of the 6th Skål International Ecotourism Awards were:
NAME OF THE PROJECT |
COUNTRY |
CATEGORY |
AQUA-TREK'S FIJI CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PROGRAM |
FIJI ISLANDS |
TOUR OPERATORS - TRAVEL AGENTS |
MARARI BEACH, A CGH EARTH EXPERIENCE HOTEL, MARARIKULAM |
INDIA |
RURAL ACCOMMODATION |
UPPAL'S ORCHID - AN ECOTEL HOTEL |
INDIA |
URBAN ACCOMMODATION |
CORAL REEF WALK & RESTORATION PROGRAM AND CORAL FARM |
FIJI ISLANDS |
GENERAL COUNTRYSIDE |
ECOVITA ORGANIC CAMPING AND FARM |
ECUADOR |
CITIES - VILLAGES |
YACHANA LODGE AND YACHANA HIGH SCHOOL |
ECUADOR |
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES - MEDIA |
Skål International Orlando is Club of the Year 2007-2008. The Club was adjudged to have met all the criteria set out in the competition rules and in addition took in 58 new members in the last year. Second prize went to Skål International Istanbul and third prize to Skål International Northern New Jersey.
MEMBRE D'HONNEUR
Jordi Comas Matamala receives the silver pin and certificate of Membre d’Honneur from President Litsa Papathanassi during the Gala Dinner of the 68th Skål World Congress.
ORDER OF SKÅL MERIT
President Litsa Papathanassi presented three Orders of Skål Merit to Ann Lootens, International Councillor Belgium, Pierre Chaperon, Secretary, Skål International Australia and posthumously to John Stefanides formerly President, Skål International Greece. Michael Coveos is pictured receiving the certificate on behalf of John Stefanides’ family.
75th ANNIVERSARY – PARIS
The 75th Anniversary of the founding of the first Skål Club – Paris – was celebrated during the Congress in Antalya. A special plaque and certificate were presented to husband and wife team, Pierre Boudot-Lamotte President, Skål International Paris and Annette Masson, President, Skål International France. In her speech to the delegates at the Opening Ceremony, President Litsa Papathanassi said that if Florimond Volckaert is called the Father of Skål then Paris could be called Mother of all Skål Clubs.
DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES
More than 60 certificates were presented to Clubs worldwide who increased their membership by 10% or 10 members over the last year. The certificates were presented by President Litsa Papathanassi and Director of External Development, Tony Boyle.
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The General Assembly spent some time discussing the current membership numbers which had increased to 20,347 at the date of the Assembly. In approving the budget for the year to 31 March 2009 the General Assembly set a target of 22,000 members. It was felt that 1,700 new members would be very achievable if the current twenty thousand plus members embarked on the “member get member” idea which was described as a very feasible task by outgoing President, Litsa Papathanassi. In his report Vice President Phillip Sims presented a detailed analysis of the current membership status including the top ten Clubs in terms of growth of membership numbers and percentage increase. This exercise proved beyond any doubt the feasibility of increasing the membership numbers to 22,000 and beyond by the end of 2008.
MEMBERSHIP FEE
Following its decision in Durban in 2004, the General Assembly voted to increase the membership fee in line with the rate of inflation in Spain from €35.00 to €36.00 effective 1 January 2009. The membership fee from 1 January 2008 will be €35.00 and €36.00 from 1 January 2009. Invoices for the 2008 membership fees are already being sent to the Clubs. We would remind the Clubs and National Committees that the deadline for receipt of payments is 28 February 2008. Fees should be accompanied by a current list of members.
 SKÅL WORLD CONGRESS
The General Assembly also reconfirmed Taipei, Taiwan as the site for the 69th Skål World Congress from 12 to 17 October 2008. Full details will be available shortly on the Skål International website. The General Assembly also confirmed Budapest, Hungary as the site for the 70th Skål World Congress in 2009.
CONGRESS BIDS REQUIRED
The General Secretariat of Skål International is now seeking bids for 2010 and beyond. Completed bids for 2010 must be sent to the General Secretariat on or before 31 January 2008. The Congress Manual is available on request from the General Secretariat skal@skal.org
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