Message 20 June 2007Australia takes great pride in welcoming the world family of rural exchangees ‘down under' for the 9 th World Conference and Reunion . I know that many of you have been just waiting for the day when you could come south of the equator again. Deb Clarke and her very capable team are putting together a marvellous program which will showcase all the things that Australians and rural exchangees hold dear. I know you will have a wonderful time both seeing the areas around Adelaide, our host city, and catching up with long-time friends. I would encourage you to plan your travel to include other stops in Australia , or even Asia and New Zealand , in order to take full advantage of the long distances. Make the most of it! Looking ahead, the 10 th World Conference in 2013 is scheduled for Latin America . After that, the rotation order is Asia-Pacific, Africa, North America, Middle East, and Europe . Begin thinking now about which country within your region will be host to future conferences. Finally, I believe most of you are aware that support for IFYE and its related programmes is waning. We all know the world has changed and that sponsors seem no longer interested in funding overseas trips. We also know that IFYE is not just another overseas trip. There is as much need now to create peace through understanding as there ever was in the past. Anything that each of you can do or are doing, either individually or collectively, to promote the purpose of IFYE in your home country is much appreciated. Keep the opportunity alive! See you in October 2008! |
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