of tbe4141,'lVHo, CH-1211 Geneua 27, Suiaerland, ( TP:+41 22 791 3t 03; rX: +41 22 791 07 46)

E-mail: afsm_aoms@who.ch ÿl'ebsite: <http://www.clubs.ors/aoms.htm>

Sarrag PLncE, DITTeRENT Fece§a\

S§

\Y:§ei

Colleagues visiting fromoutside the"Genev^ ^rà wouldscarcely recognise \fHO roday.The place maÿ be familiar, bur notits face. Since their time, changeabounds.

It wont be an easy stroll into§fHO premises. A barrier at themain entrance impedes the rishtof the eccess that had b..r, trË..,for granted for over half a cenrury.Now entry is throueh a sinsle lanecontrolled by, g,rrri. ID balges arede rigueu4 serving colleagues wearblue ones; other authoriseâ visitors,white - includine former staff. Allother doorc to "rhe building areblocked. (The badres are conueiientlyauaikble at main ànnance.)

The roof is now off limits

too. A-fFording a splendid view ofthe Jura, it also overlooks the U.S.Mission to the United Nations.After the "Nine Eleven' outrage lastyeaç \[HO had little choice but togo into high securiry mode (noblesseoblige), which leaves daring ILO,just nearby, as the only agenry iniown srill ünfettered ,.,â fr."..

The landscape outside haschanged. Porte-cabines (prefabs) havesprung up in surprising spots. One,dubbed "porte-pool," has been placedin the pool (yes, pool) around theExecutive Board buildine. Anotherone, built in a parking-lot, is rwofloors high and'rests "on stilts, ropermit parking undernearh. Servingcolleagues call ft "porte-parh."

The icing on the consrrucrion

cake however is the "\TinrerGarden." After a year's work, it wasinaugurated in December 2001,as the D-G and Eurest Director,Maxime Ballanfat, looked on. Aconcrete-and-glass, semi-circularstructure that extends the restaurant,it seats 160, and is furnished in"elegant terrace-sryle." In winterit is heated (sometimes overly); insummet the cool outside is expectedto waft inside when the 20-or soFrench windows slide open. Thecost (not divulged to QN) is to bemet by income from rent that Eurestpays for use of 'WHO facilities.

Earlier, in October, a coffeebrr, the "Caffe Rjtazza," openedon the îrrst sous-sol in orémisespreviously occupied by the bank.

'cont'd. o.2

FearuREs

HeLPFUL HINTS FROM THE BanoIn a recent book, Shakespeare on Managemena Paul Corrigan, a distinguished managemenr consultant, shows

how the Bard demonstrated the qualities of a successful manager and the reesons for many failures. Here are somelessons that the leadership in the U.N. system could draw from him also.

Iæsson 1: Understand the people you lead,the context, the framework:

Before inheriting the throne, Prince Hal preparedhimself by understanding the people he was destined torule - living, drinking and fooling around with them.Says the perceptive Earl of §Tarwick:

Tbe prince but studies his companions / like a

stndnge tongue ... to gain the language. (Henry IV)

fæsson 2: Listening is often more importantthan giüng instructions:

Sometimes newly-elected executive heads failto understand the organisationt culture or speak thelanguage of the "natives." In enthusiastic haste to carryout "reforms" they dont take accounr of the existingsituation or the reesons for them.

Giue thy thougbts no tongue / Nor any uruproportionedtbought bis act, aduised Polonius. (Hamlet)

Lesson 3: Have someone who tells thetruth:

King Lear had his Fool tell him that he was a foolfor giving away his kingdom yet expecting ro retainauthority.

Lear: Dost thou call me fool, boy? Fool: All thyotlter titles thou bast giuen awa!; that thou utast born utith.(King Lear)

Iæsson 4: Ambition by itself is not enoughand leads to disaster:

Richard III was driven by lust for Kingship.And L.. / Tbrment myself to catch the English

crou)n; / And from that torment will fee myself / Or heut

m! ua! out with a bloody axe.

(Henry IVIæsson 5: Acquiring a

title does not make a leader:Macbeth roo was driven by

ambition; he wanted to be Kingbecause he wanted to be King* not because he would make abetter King, or make his country happier, or expand itsterritories, or bring peace and contenr to his people.

I ltaue no spur / To prick the sides of m1t intent, butonfi / Vaulting ambition. (Macbeth)

Lesson 6: If you scorn your people, you fail:Poor Richard II thought that because he had the

title of King, everyone would automatically respect andobey him.

Not all tlte uater in the rough rude sea /Can uashthe balm fom an anointed King; The breath of worldlymen cdnnot depose / The deputy elected by the Lord.(Richard II)

For "Lord" read any "Executive Board." Richardlearnt, es we can, that a title alone - be it S-G, USG,ASG, D-G, DDG, ADG, Director, Chief, Head - does

not in itself guarantee successful leadership. By contrast,Henry ÿ disguised âs a common soldier, exclaims:

The king is but a man. The uiolet smells to him as

it doth to me. (Henrl V) _Aamir Ali(Hon. Chairm*n, AAFI-AFICS)

(Excerpted fiom its Bu.lletin, September 200 1.)

lüinter Garden(frorn p.1)

Inside theadministrative changes are a-plenry.The posts of DD-b ,nd ÀD-itare gone, replaced by ExecutiveDirectors, Special Representarivesand Senior' Policv hdrir.r, rothe D-G. "Divisions" are out offavour; "clusters" are in, as forinstance, those fulsomely describedas "Sustainable Developmentand Healthy Environmenr,t' and"Evidence and Information for

Poliry." The Division of Informationand Education for Health is gone,and in February its leftovers were"repartitioned." \Yorld Heabh,\7HOt only photo magazine, isamong the publications deceased.The \ù[HO Constitution, however,still holds fast and true.

Once past the securiry check,visiting former colleagues will findfewer, if any, recognisable facesabout -- except perhaps in room4141, the offices of AFSM.

(Hours: Mon. 9.30 - 11.00;Tires. 10 - 12.30; \7ed. 9.30 - 12;14 - 15.30; Thurs. l0 - 12; 1,4

- 15.30).

(P.5. If they uisit in the yearsahead, it is lihely that the V Annex

- notu UNAIDS - utill no longerbe there, and that tlte neu home forthe AIDS programme u.,ill be on hndacquired in exchange, behlnd the"OMS'bus stop.)

--Peter Ozorio(Edinr)

house,

page 2

Giving new meaning to the tried and true adage

held so dearly by §7HO that prevention is better thancure, the Staff Health Insurance is set to reimburse at100 per cent of cost "certain types of preventive healthcare," notably testing for cancers, following agreementwith medical centres in the Geneva area,

Also among the procedures to be reimbursedfully, according to a circular letter dated 11 February,are annual check-ups for retired colleagues and theirspouses, which includes blood and urine tests, âs well as

any ECG exam needed.

Thus far arrangements have been concluded fortests to detect prostâte and breast cencer. Unilabs inChampel has agreed to give a 20 per cent reduction,provided accounts are seftled within 30 days, for theyearly prostate test (PSA). In addition, rwo centres inGeneva, one in Lausanne and one in Ferney-Voltaire,have agreed to cârry out mammographies under terms(price reductions and flat fees) that are advantageous.(See circular for details.)

lüZhen negotietions now underway are concluded,costs for tests to detect cancers of the cervix and colonwill also be similarly reimbursed. Due to be covered are

a Pap smear every three years, and a colonoscopy everyten (beginning from age 50, a provision for servingstaff), or,.if recommended by a doctor, more frequently.Also under negotiations are up to 10 visits to a dieticianin cases of obesiry with a proviso that the approval ofthe Hq. Surveillance Committee is needed for furthertreatment.

On a related subject, the health insurance has

signed an agreement with rwo pharmacies on Genevatleft bank, Krieg and Rieu-Parc, to waive the CHF

NEWS & VIEvvS

PnEVENTION BETTEN THNN CUNE

"Im not a miracle worher. I can't do surgery for less than $4,000.""

7.35 "patient's file" tax (though not the C}{F 4.20"pharmacistt" tax), and as well to give a 10 per centdiscount on any purchase. This is the second egreementreached with pharmacies. The first, in August 2001 withSun Store, exempts colleagues from both taxes, whichtotal CHF 11.55 but, unlike the recent agreement,discontinues the 10 per cent discount. A quid pro quo.

. In March 2002, a colleague filling a prescriptionat the Pharmacie Parc de Budé, with which there is noegreement, reported being charged for both taxes, payinga whopping CHF 1 1.60 on a CHF 21.55 purchase of arube of dermatological cream.

Purchasing at the Pharmacie de la Combe inNyon, another colleague shelled ou 19.70 CHE whenthe taxes were added, for an eye drop priced at 7.85CHF, out only 4.50 CHF (3.08 euro) for the officialequivalent at the Pharmacie Centrale in Divonne-les-Bains, France. Shopping ^t the recommendedpharmacies, or in France, would thus be in the interestof the individual and the health insurance.

Tne New Boy AT UBS\flho amongst us did

not 'vvant to know more aboutChristopher Garey, newlyappointed UBS representatiYe,after see ing him for the firsttime at AISMT General Meetinglast year? For one so youthfirl ineppearance, he handled questionswith aplomb, stressing the bank's

role in advising clients, and welcoming suggestions (a

second Mubimat machine taould be appreciated, says

QNi Vise Olà Outl).

As though anticipating public curiosiry the

bank released an interview with the man it selected tohead three branches, at'W-HO, §fTO and ILO, witha total staffof i6. He joined UBS at the tender age of24, worl<tng first in branches at Cornavin and Versoixbefore making the "quantum leap in September 2001"to the international agencies.

Of an English father, which explains the Anglospelling of his first name, and a French mother, he isnaturally bilingual but also has acquired a "smattering"of German. "No, I dont have any kids at the moment,and I'm not married," he says of his private life, "butIïe been living with my partner for several yeers."

Indeed, he is young, and impressive now at only32, the age of many of our own sons and daughters.

Liuing in FranceTue PUZZUE OF *LES CONTNIBLITIONS,'

Subsequent to t'ü/o judgemenrs handed down inFebruary ZOÔO by the Court ofJustice of the EuropeanCommuniry in Luxembourg, which held that CSG andCRDS leviâs are ,ro, ,o.r"but social assessments, theFrench government passed an OrdonnanceinMay 2001(No. 2001-377) settlngout the conditions under whichthey are to be applied.

(CSG stands for Connibution Sociale Généralisée

and CRDS, Connibution Pour le Remboursement de laDette Sociale)

Essentially what the ordinance does is to _m^odiÿFrancet Social Securiry Code (Art.L136'l) by definingthe conditions under which the "social contribution onfull-time and part-time earnings" (contribution socialesur les reuenas à'actiuite et dr, ,rirrrs de rephcement) ereto be collected. A person subject to the assessments mustmeet tvÿo conditions: (a) be domiciled fiscally in France,and therefore pay income tax, and (b) be dependent, in-any way *hatsoérer, on an obligatory French scheme ofhealth insurance.

CSG was introduced in December 1990, underthe government of Michel Rocard, to fill a "hole" inthe èountryt social security system. CRDS followedin January 1996 (after adoption of Ordonnance No. 96-50,) and was intended to ieimburse the social share of

the public debt. Intended in theory to be time-limited,it was kept low at first to make the pill easier to swallow,but the CSG rate has been regularly hiked and nowstands at7.5 per cent. CRDS has stayed put at 0.5 percent (but â nerù/ Prélèuement social now imposes a further2 per cent contribution).

\fhile CSG and CRDS are levied on all full-timeand part-time earnings, they are not based on a slidingscale as income tax is. Frontaliers, legally resident inFrance but working across borders, who were reluctantto contribute to a social security scheme from whichthey derive no advantage, were first to challenge theassessments, initially in the French courts and thenbefore the EC Court of Justice.

It was their vigorous action that led to theestablishment of thè rwo-point criteria for theassessments. However, qulte frankly, even thatsuccess has not marked the end of the problem for themany former colleagues living in France who are not"dependent, in any way whatsoever, on an obligatoryFrench system of health insurânce." (See rehted storybetout)

1*,fr^;üDiuonne-les-Bains

WuIcu TO PAY?As a retiree from

.§7HO for 11 years, resident in

France, I have followed the chequered history of theContribution Sociale Généralisée (CSG) over the years

with bewilderment. 'ÿhatever is announced from Paris,

Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg or wherever seems

to have no bearing on what actually happens "in thefield."

Since November 1994I have been sent an annualbill for CSG, starti ng at 504 FF. By October 1996 theConnibution pour le Remboursement de la Dette Sociale(CRDS) was added, and in December 1999, the so-called " Prélèuement Social' was tacked on, rocketingmy total bill to 6,842 FF. All of this in addition toincome tax. Deciding in December 1999 that enoughwas enough, I wrote to the tax authorities in Bellegarde,using the formula letter recommended by AAII-AFICSto request reimbursement. This resulted in -- nothing:no acknowledgement, no reply, no repayment.

By 2l January 2002 the bill (actually for 2000)had reached 6,549 FF (998.39 euros), with a deadlinefor payment of 31 January ! I paid, but promptly wroteagain to Bellegarde requesting reimbursement of thissum. According to "Ordonnance No. 2001-377 " of 2May, my letter pointed out, those required to pay CSGand CRDS assessments benefit from France! healthinsurance, which I do not.

On 1 March, Bellegarde advised that I wouldbe reimbursed 1,204 FF (184 euros) only for CRDS,which amounts to 81.8 per cent of the 1,471 FF (224

euros) paid. No part of the CSG (4,009 FF or 611euros) nor of the Prélèuement Social (1,069 FF or 163

euros) is to be repaid, and no specific reason for this was

given. The letter said, "satisfaction is granted to you âs

regards cancelling the CRDS on your pensions derivingfrom Switzerland (en ?rouenance de la Suisse). Howeverthe revenues of the patrimony (les reuenus du patrimoine)remain subject to this contribution." This reference toSwitzerland is clearly \Mrong as I declare that my U.N.pension comes from New York.

I believe pensioners would welcome a clearstatement from a knowledgeable person who can

explain, in layman's language, whether those of us livingin France should or should not be subject to these

essessments. One colleague received reimbursementfor CSG, but not CRDS, which I did, and anothercolleague was repaid both. Either the various stetementsabout these levies that figure in QÀ/ or in the AAFI/AFICS Bulletin (see box page 5) are inexact or for somereason they do not apply to my case.

-John H. Bland

(formerlY INF)Mourex, France

page 4

CoruFLlcrtuc VIewsRené Mathieu, Vice President, AAFI/AFICS, bad to pay for CSG

- QN.)informed its General Assembly in May 2001, that Andre ;g,eitz, FICSA, said a draft decree hadU.N. pensioners should not pay the CSG (social) tax, been prepared which would exempr U.N. retireesbut should pay the CRDS (debt) tax. from f"yi"g either of the rwo raxes.

(Our colleague, John Bkndi experience ltotueuer (Excerpted from the AAFI/AFIC Bulletin,is just the contrary: He did not ltaue to ?d! CRDS, but September ZbOt)

-

GoING To COURT OVER TAxEsDenmark, a country with one of the highest

taxation rates in Europe, exempts European Unionpensions from income tax. Acutely aware that'§ÿHOretirees are not as fortunate as Eurocrats, servingcolleagues in Copenhagen are going to court to win a

measure of equaliry in the treâtment of U.N. pensions,which are now subject, at the minimum, to a 50 percent tax

Petitioning the government has failed, in part"because of the absence of any clause on tax exemptionson pensions in HQ agreements" with Denmark,according to Anders Tholle, Chairman, /u{I]I/AITICS.Now before the Danish Tâx Court, the legal challenge

taken by the EURO StaffAssociation rests on appellantsMonika'\Vesemann and Jill Conway-Fell. One was e

former G- and the other P-graded staff member; one isDanish and the other non-Danish, each live in differentmunicipalities in Copenhagen.

A call has been made to colleagues world-wide,to associations of serving and former staff, to FICSA,to AAFI/AFICS, among others, for contributions toa "Fighting Fund" to help finance costs of litigation.(Send contributions to'WHO/EURO Staff Association,Scherfigsvej 8, DJ-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.)

More to come

Hgulo, "ROw 2002 telephone book is out, with a new

design and a grey-coloured cover. Some colleagues havehad listed only their addresses; others, more thoroughly,all of their contacts (telephone, fax and e-mailnumbers). Among observations: A colleague had hisphone/fax numbers listed twice although the number is

the same; another had his telephone number excludedafter requesting that his e-mail be included.

One asterisk (*) by , name means annual

ETIREES,,membership (20 CHF) and rwo (**), life membership(250 CHF)

Vhile applauding all the work that has gone intothe 8O-page document, QN's'§7ise Old Owl is a littledistressed to see us referred to on the cover as "retirees,"

instead of the politically correct "former" '§7HO staff.

But, oh well, everything can be corrected in thenext number by filling out the form at the back of thebook, so not to worry.

LIFESTYLES

AN opeN INVITATIoN To COLLEAGUESThis is a call to all those who, like me saw'W-HOI

birth and early years and have passed on, but not yetpassed away. (Even you, dear reader, will follow in yourturn!)

Former staff are the repository of §(rHOthistory. Over the yeers we laboured to pur flesh onthe skeletons provided by the \üflorld Health Assemblyand the Executive Board. 'W'e

are §7HOt institutionalmemory.

The publications the "First Ten Years" and the"Second Tên Years" of §IHO do litde more rhan listaims and achievements as though VHO owed itsexistence to meetings and resolutions. Did it all happenwith so little human participation? Certainly not.

The Bodleian Library of Oxford University has

an established U.N. records project which providesresearch material of historical interest. I propose thatwe establish a similar but informal project, "A PersonalHistory of '\WHO," to achieve a richer account of thepast. Too many of us teke our knowledge to our graves.Too many documents, letters and memorabilia whichcould illuminate many situations are lost forever.

Those among us who are of like mind, fromD, P to G grades, who are willing to contributeindividual experiences (successes, failures, euphorias andfrustrations) would help ensure a rich pool of experiencefor those who come after us. Through this project ofrecollections we cân bring alive colleagues who willotherwise be forgotten.

It will be a small gesture of esteem for their work+page 5

r-

s for our \ÿHO. Now:

' Do you believe this is a good and workableidea?

' Are you willing to contribute your recollectionsand any material in your possession?

o Are you willing to help in organising andcollating material?

If there is sufficient interest, we shall organise

a meeting to consider suggestions and to discuss the

Anything but Retired

future steps. Please reply to:

Rosemary Villars: <r.villars@wanadoo.fr> or c/o§7FPHA, CP 608, 1211 Geneva 13

Dev Ray: <dev.ray@wanadoo.fr> or 87 Crepillon,01220 Grilly, France

-Anthony Brown, (aged 84)

(Identity Card No. 20, WHO Interim Commission)

Vaud, Suitzerland

WoRrrruG oN On--poR-FooDSome five years ago, after more than 27 years of

service in the Legal Office in Geneva, I left §(HO -- onaccount of the rules. Then, Senior Legal Officer, I hadreached the mandatory ege of retirement, 60. Now I amin Iraq on my third five-month tour of dury for EMRO,assigned to the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme. I am inthe field, at the'§7R Office in Baghdad, and thereforeanything but retired.

The trip here is not easy. There are no direct flightsbecause of U.N. sanctions against Iraq, so I was obligedto fly from Geneva to Amman, Jordan, then proceed byroad to Baghdad. There âre rwo customs offices to clearand rwo passport offices to pass through. It is a boringand tiring journey, depending on one's luck, that canlast from between 6 and 10 hours.

The U.N. Securiry Council established Oil-for-Food in 1995, which allows Iraq to sell a limitedamount of oil over periods of six years. Initially, up to$2 billion, then $5 billion, and since 1999, followinga resolution of the Council, without limit. Revenuegoes directly into a U.N. account for the purchase offood, medicine, health supplies, plus other essentials forcivilian needs. However, the U.N. Compensation Fundfor the Gulf '§ÿ'ar

gets 25 cent - originally 30 per cent

o Swinging through Geneva last November,

Jack Ling, fomerly INF. Though now in academia, as

Professor, School of Public Health, Tulane Universiryhis visit here w-as as representative of the InternationalCouncil for the Control of Iodine Deficienry Diseases.

He was seeking to enlist the help of the Geneva-based

§7orld Bureau of Boy Scouts in educating the public inthe use of iodised salt to eliminate IDD, the principlecause of brain damage among children.

o Also visiting that month, Jack'§V'oodall, formerlyHST, bearing news of a grant equivalent to f,100,000for his pet project investigating emerging infectiousdiseases at the Federal Universiry Rio de Janeiro. It

- off the top for the U.N. Compensation Commission,which adjudicates claims for reparation from injuredparties.

The first consignment of medical suppliesarrived in May 1999. As lead agenry for health, §7HOwatches over the flow and distribution of medicines and

medical supplies. \7hile there are 45 international and253 national staff working for 'WHO, the entire U.N.complement in Iraq is around 2,000. Oil-for-Food has

succeeded to a notable extent, but more needs to be

done to alleviate the hardship of the people .

The atmosphere at the \MR office is convivial

- such a contrast, I find, to the office I knew well

during my final years in Geneva, where it seemed that"mobbing" was the order of the day.

Above all, I feel gratified at being able to make myexpertise available after service. '§7ith our institutionalmemory our expenence, and a faithfulness to'WIIO,former staff are a tremendous, though under-utilised,resource . I am one of the fortunate few.

-Sami Shubber

(formerly LEG)

VR Baghdad, Iraq

finances the testing of a "lab-in-â-suitcase" for rapid

diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease. A network he set

up with the Federation of American Scientists in 1994

to give early warning of outbreaks of emerging diseases

and bio-terrorists threats, "Promed" (www.promed.org),

now has some 25,000 subscribers in 160 countries.

' Honoured in New Year ceremonies by his

communiry Gérard Dazin, formerly with the graphics

unit, for rendering 30 years of faithful service duringfive terms as member of the Conseil municipal, Ornex,

in neighbouring France.

page 6

(An achieaeme-nt, a boppl etent, tell QN and utdll spread tbe neuts -QN)

Boohs "cRrMrNAL Le,eoens;In his book "Judging Criminal Leaders: the

Slow Erosion of Impuniry" Yves Beigbeder, formerlyPersonnel Officer, has done a remarkable job ofcovering

_the vasr horizon of horrors committed bycriminal leaders and their armies of cruelry. §7hat is soremarkable is the calm cool rone of such inflammatorymaterial.

Moreover, his research unearths a variery of littleknown, or unknown, facts that throw lighi on ourdesperate situation today. He offers, however, some rayof hope since the legal impuniry of those in power h",become eroded and new institutions, with a worldwidesc!p!, attempt to bring a meesure of justice to rhosewho have so long suffered in silence

"rd neglect.

Following the Geneva and The HagueConventions, a major landmark was the UniveisalDeclaration of Human Rights in lg4ï and theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rightsin 1966.

The Convention against Torrure and Other Cruel,Inhumane or Degrading Tieatmenr or Punishmententered into force in 1987. It requires thar, wherevertorture occurred and whatever the nationaliry of thetorturer and victim, states must either prosecute thealleged torrurers or extradite them to a counrry that

Aubrey '§V'oolman, formerly with \fHOttechnical publications unir, took early retiremenr in1975. Nmost a quarrer of a century later, he receiveda letter from a U.S. publisher asking him to translatea.book of light-hearted Germ"n ,èrr. into English.The letter, dated 2 November 1999, requested tÀat it!:..d"": as soon as possible. Our colleague, "now only85" as he put it, oËliged. It was finishid ir, ,.r, d"y,

- written entirely in rhymed couplets and described as

"miraculously translated from German."

Delightfully illustrated also, the book tells thestory_of the arrival ar rhe South Pole of the liner "OperaShip" from Old Vienna, with the Three Terrors onboard. "As everyone should know, penguins, who are

AnuIes oF CRUELTY,,

AT 85, TneTSLATED GeRuaN VERsE ABoUT PENGUINS

will. This gives universal jurisdiction to national courrs.But the way ahead is srrewn with obstacles.

States resent having the protection of humanrights questioned within their borders and consider thisa violation of state sovereignry. Military authoritiesresent civilian judiciary control and frequently demandâmnesty of criminals as rhe price to pay for a countrytpeaceful transition to democrary. But, as rhe aurhornotes, laws evolve in response to the perceived orexpressed needs of the people, and commôn folk oftenprecede their leaders here.

He states er rhe ourser that the book is not a legaltreatise but an atrempr by an independent obsen er andinternationalist to describe and assess dwelopmentsin international criminal law through the creation ofinternational tribunals. He is fully aware of the politicallimits of the venrure .

Yet he believes in the universaliry of human rightsand that as democrary spreads worldwide it will r,rpportthe creation of the International Criminal Courr, *Ài.hwill be set up in July 2002.

-Nedd §Tillard

(formerfi INF)Geneua

the only inhabitants of the Antarctic, ere crezy aboutopere, -which is why they are always in evening dress,"our colleague explains to QN, while versiÿing ihusly:

"All Penguins, as I said, u.'ear taik/ (Or euening dress)nlt iust. the males/YouVe puzzled by this craze for fashion/And ash the reasonfor their passion;/ \Yfu do they [oue to besuch smarties/Is it because they lihe posh parties?"

-They do indeed, giving a râprurous reception toa performance of Verdit La Tiauiaia, with Jose barrerasas Alfredo, Placido Domingo as rhe disapproving father,and Luciano Pavarotti (who else?)

"s Viôletta. Though

saddened when the show ends, the sociable birds iecertain the liner will return, rhyming:

@ont,d, p.g)

TnE .WRITING EST,, RETIREEIf ever there is to be a prize for the most"writingest" retiree, then it surely must go to yves

Beigbedeç formerly personnel officer at Brazzaville,Copenhagen and Geneva. Since his rerirement in1984, he has written either in English or in French 13books, or as he puts it about "one chapter a month,one book a year" on rhe work of the U.N. family.His last book, srill under print but reviewed here, is

a remarkably dispassionate account of an emotionalsubject -- man's inhumaniry ro man (to be publishedby Kluwer Law International, PO. Box 85889, 2508CN, The Hague, Netherlands).

The latest book published is "New Challengesfor UNICEF," Palgrave Publishers, MacmillanDistribution, Houndmills, Basingstoke, RG21 6XS,U.K., Price: L45.

page 7

(cont'd from p.7)"The Opera Ship is coming bach/Of that theyTe sure

as bkch is black.

The interest of our colleague in the language

of Goethe goes back to the sixth form, he says' It*", ,r,rra.rrà by a course in "scientific German," a

requirement by ih. Royal College of Science, London,

*h.r. he received a Ph.D. in chemistry. He was

stationed in Germany for rwo years before going towork, in 1947, for a pharmaceuticâl comPâny in Basle,

where he acquired a'rsmatterin g of Sc hwyzerdütsc lt."

Tên years later he joined §fHO, living inChambésy with his wife, who taught for a time at La

Châtaignerie, and their three children.

At home now in Eastbourne, England, he plays

the violin in three local orchestras. He also attends

the (Jniuersité du Tioisième Age, fo'tnded in Toulouse

in 1972. At German classes, he learnt of the bookthat he has now translated, entitled " Some Folks

Think the South Pole's Hot - The Three Tênors Play

the Antarctic." A bent for writing Poetry makes his

translation irresistibly sparkling.

The books author is Elke Heidenreich; illustratedby Quint Buchholz, and published by David R. GodineInc., PO.Box 450, Jaffrey, New Hampshire 033452,USA. Price: $17.95. A good buy

LUruCN AT THE SUNEd Saclstein, formerly ILO, organises lunches

ât noon open to all in the U.N. family at the Cafe du

Soleil, Petit Saconnex, the first and third Vednesdays

of each month.

"Itt amazing what satisfaction and joy can come

from joining with others around a meal. Everyone was

relating to each other as unique individuals, regardless

of what organisation one had worked in, and breaking

bread together," Sonja Krummel, wife of Carl, ex-ILO,wrote in appreciation after the year-end lunch.

(These gatherings are inspired by AFSM| first'Friday-of-the-month cffie and lunch sessions orgayiled b2t

Self-itelp, at the Cafe àe la Gare, which is located dlryctly

be h;nd C ornauin, under Ho te I Mont bri lknt. -QN)

In MemoKtfiffi

(Tiibutes for "fn MemoriAm" mr$t include, at hast, the following the date and pkce of dcatl_t, when

tbe dcceased. joined and retired from rlïHO, the lzst position beld, a personal assesstnen_t of the /!rrf"4'

and uthen pissibte the names oi surriuors. Ako, a plboto. The contributor\ forrner ofi.ce shoul"d ako be

giam. Biaus, of space requirements, please lirnit tributes to no Tnore than 300 words. -QN))

Fernanda Alvez-Diniz. Anoutstanding lady in every way, she

joined .W'HO's nursing office in1951, retiring in 1,973. Amongassignments of her câreers/ereservice in Costa fuca as projectleader, in Copenhagen as RegionalNursing Advisor, and finally, forseven years in Geneva HQ.

She is perhaps best

remembered for her part inestablishing the Ecole Internationaled'Enseignement Infrmier Superieui'in Lyons, France, which trainedhundreds of nurses worldwide. Inhumiliry she refused a Portuguese

Presidential award, stating it was

§fHO, and not she, that deserved

it.

She was a beacon of helpand support to nurses, both

professionally and personally. Herhospitality and generosiry knewno bounds; her lovely chalet was

always "open house" to her friends,

where they enjoyed memorable

moments and the scenic beauty ofthe Champéry area.

Among the many tributesfrom her colleagues are these three:

from Ingrid Nyman, "She had

sunshine in her heart which spread

to others;" from Ivanka Markovic,"Tiuly knowledgeable withincredible energy and enthusiasm

for life;" and from Elizabeth Stussi,

'A leader of her time."

She had no immediate family,

but nurtured her god-children as her

own, who returned her devotion by

taking care of her during those few

final years. Her death has saddened

us, her colleagues and friends, who

will remember her with affection,

respect and gratitude. Born in 1913

in Portugal, she passed away there

on 14 October 200I, aged 88.

-Amelia Mangay-Maglacas

(formerly Cbief Nursing Of,.ce)

Cohgny, Su-,itzerhnd

page I

Cyril Dumbleton: Mycolleague , friend and menror,consummate linguist and polymath,retired on 31 August 1980 as headof \[HOi Tianslation Unit anddied on 11 November 2000.

Born in 1920 and educatedat the King Henry VIII School,Coventry, England, he won a

scholarship to St. Johnt College,Oxford. During the 1939-45war he served as a naval officer.After resuming his interrupteduniversiry career and obtaining, in1948, a Master's degree in modernlanguages, he taught for a while inPrague, where he learned Czech.

In 1958, after translating forvarious agencies, notably the RedCross, in Geneya, he took up a

newly established posr ar \trHO,where increasing involvement of the"Eastern bloc" in the Organisationswork had created an acure need forexpertise in Slavonic languages.

Courteous, even-tempered,never profane and seeminglystress-proof, as adept at rapidlyproducing elegant and âccuratetranslations from a dozen languages,

on any subject from Aedes aegJ/pti

to zlmogenesis, as at organising thework of the Unit to meet insensare

deadlines, he liked and neededhuman contacts. In todays world hewould not have enjoyed communingendlessly with a luminous screen.

Long after the rest ofus had adoptedthe new-fangled cassette recordeg hecontinued dictating "live" until, alas,

shorthand became an obsolete skill.

One monumental by-productof his industry and thirst forknowledge wâs a large collection,acquired et his own expense butavailable to anyone, of manualsand glossaries, many of which are

now in the translators' referenceroom. Another was e meticulouslyresearched and awesomelyvoluminous multilingual card indexof biomedical terms, now (at lastl)being computerised. '\Vhat, withmore time for editing, he mighthave achieved as a lexicographer isevidenced by his 500-page Russian-

English Biological Dictionary,published in t964.

His wife Jane, their childrenNeil and Katherine and r!ÿograndchildren survive him.

-John Fraser

(formerly Tnd)

Wrsoix, Sutitzerknd

Barbara Amaru: Joining§fHO in 1960, she became a

member of the Division of Educationand Tiaining in 1966, working inthe fellowship programme. I firstmet her a year later when we shared

an office. She enjoyed her workvery much, always willing to give ahelping hand to her colleagues. She

was an avid reader and never missedthe annual book sale. She devouredbooks on British heritage, and was

ân ardent member of the U.K.National Tiust.

She took early retiremenr in1990 to be able to enjoy the lovelyhouse that she and her husband hadbuilt in Cruseilles in neighbouring

France. Our friendship lasted 35years, our families spending manyh"ppy weekends together. Since herretirement, we lunched in Geneva

every week, often with her husbandhow I miss those meetings.

Honest, discreet and sincere, she

always listened to other people's

problems, but never burdened themwith hers. Although reserved, she

enjoyed a good laugh. She foughther illness with dauntless courage,

never disclosing her suffe ring tofriends.

She passed â\Mey peecefullyin Geneva on 10 January 2002.She is sorely missed. Our heartfeltcondolences go to her grieÊstrickenhusband, Mario, and her lovelydaughter, Meggie.

-Sandra Dumont

(Seruing StaffHeahh Seruices Deliuery)

Geneua

Josef Vysohild served inBrazzaville, AFRO, from 1964 to1973, first as Regional Adviser forEducation and then from 1968, as

Depury Director, Health Services.

Prior to joining \fHO he \rasDepury Minister, Ministry of PublicHealth, formerly Czechoslovakia.

Following his return home in

June 1973, he directed postgraduateeducation et the Prague Insdtute forPostgraduate Studies, working withthe '§ÿ'orld Federation for MedicalEducation, the Association for

page 9

v-

Medical Education in EuroPe and

others. He was awarded the State

Decoration in 1964 and the J.E.Pur§né medal in 1979. He counts

among his publications 49 works inCzechoslovakia, 10 abroad, and 23

papers!

Born in Nymbuk, a smalltown near Prague, in 1914, he

obtained his medical degree fromCharles Universiry Prague, inMarch 1939, a few days before theGerman invasion of his country.During '§ÿ'orld '§ÿ'ar II he worked

as house physician in the HradekIGàlové hospital and then for eightyeers as otorhinolaryngologist,

head physician and director of theTiutnov country hospital.

He passed away on 15

December 2001, succumbing toischaemic stroke at age 87. In thememory ofhis friends and colleagues,

he remains a dedicated, charismaticeducator, full of optimism, with a

friendly approach to all.

-ZÀenek Fejfar

(former[t Chief CW, 1959'1973)

Prague, Czech RePublic

Patricia Palmer: I first met

Pat at headquarters in the 1950s.

She worked in the Division ofPublic Information, headed by JoeHandler, a competent and exacting

chief. She was always scoutingfor the story that would satisÿ his

scrutiny and her own high standards

of journalism.

She was transferred to EMROin Alexandria and then to SEARO

in New Delhi, working under the

Regional Directors, and finally back

to Geneva. Her career extended

from July 1951 until she retired in

J'tne 1972.

After her return to Switzerland,

she purchased a large property inLuins, Canton de Vaud, the site

of an abandoned mill which, withgreat taste and skill, she transformed

into a beautiful dwelling and

garden. Here, as a caring hostess,

she presided over legions of visitingfriends. She used to sây, when the

question arose: "The PurPose of lifeis to live".

I would like to mention her

devoted friend, Penelope (LoPe)

Zali}« and her housekeeper Paula

Lorielo who, before and throughouther illness, faithfully tended her

dogs and estate.

Pat died in a hospice inMorges on 13 January 2002,

survived by three nieces, a nePhew

in Canada and a step-daughter in

Paris. She was a staunch friend,

warm, humorous, open and direct.

She leaves an indelible memory withall who knew her.

-Martin & Lena KaPlan

(Martin Kaplzn, formerly DirectorResearclt, and nout Directot

Pugtuash Ofru,Geneua)

Jean Dulac directed the U.N.

Joint Medical Service from 1962until his retirement in January 1982.

He studied military medicine from1936 to 1943, eventually becoming

Associate Professor at Val-de-Grâce,

the prestigious military hospital inParis.

During tVorld §(ar II, he was

a member of the maquis resistance

fighters of Clermont-Ferrand. InDecember 1943 he was arrested and

sent to the infamous Buchenwaldconcentration camp in Germany.In 1945, he escaped while in a

column of prisoners and succeeded

in reaching the American lines. He

weighed |ust 42 kilograms then.

Concealing a grea.t sensitivirY

behind a calculated cold demeanour,

he showed remarkable qualities as an

organiser. His administrative and

scientific rigour was the hallmark ofeverything he did, yet he always took

into account the human element.

As director he made great demands

of his co-workers, but he made even

more demands on himself.

He passed âway on 11 Nov

2OOl, aged 83, following a long and

onerous illness. His friends, former

co-workers and colleagues offer

their most profound and sincere

sympathies to his family.

-S.-Y KossovslcY

(form erly U. N.Jo int M edic a I S erui c e)

Geneua

page 10

Yvonne '§ÿ'ee[rs: It wesindeed sad to hear of her death, forsomehow she seemed as imperishableas she was irreplaceable. Totallydedicated to §[HO, she manifestedwhat she thought a first-classadministrative assistant should betefficient, knowledgeable, vigilantand indefatigable, with an infalliblememory and accurary that put us,her colleagues, ro shame. Not onlydid her professionalism and grasp of§fHOt mission serye as a criterionfor others but her allegiance to theUnited Nations as a whole made herexceptional.

How often, in her quiet butresolute manner, did she steer herDivision of Coordination (COR)clear of shoals and hazards? Producein a second a brief off that harddisk which never ceased to spin inher remarkable head? How many

newcomers were, and possibly stillare, indebted to her for guidance?\(/ho was more familiar than shewith the arcane mass of acronymsout there beyond the - to her

- sacrosanct walls of §[HO? Shewould cite a decision of someUNDP Governing Council, leavealone an EB, as if she had draftedthe original.

(Yuonne Weeks joined WHOin 1957 as ser€tdry in ADM, thenutorked in dffirent-ffices. In 1967,slte was selected as administratiuedstistant to the Director, COR, a ?ostshe held till 1982. She tuas born in1926; she passed auay on 9 Nouember2001. QN)

Once in New York when thesubstance of some point escaped us,the director of a global programmesuggested: "Call your Miss '§7eeks.

She's bound to remember." Suchwas her reputation. Throughout hercareer, her sense of probiry integrityand responsibiliry always prevailed.Although she would have dismissedsuch a notion out of hand, she wasthe personification of a traditionfrom which the \MHO and U.N.secretariats have harvested so much.

Of course, wherever she is

now coordinating things and sees

this attempt to commemorate herabilities, she will tear ir up and writeher own, thus: "I merely did whatI could with that ersrwhile CORin \MHO. And cor in Latin meânsheart. Part of our hearr we left there.Cherish it."

-Paul Lawton

(formerÿ Director Diuision ofCoordination)

Geneua

RIP (Tbese colhagues haae passed auay since the last announcement)AIVAREZ VAREIA, Maria

ARBUTHNOI James B.

BORGEAUD, Frédérique

BOYD, Margaret JoanBROUIAND, Jean

CORACHI, Zahir

DOBBEN van, AwidEVERTSZ, Rosemary

HAN, Pum Suk

HEMOU, N'Do Som

KNEZ, Dragutin

TAPEYSSONNIE, Leon

LEITE-zuBEIRO, Maria O.

KOUZIETA SOUKAII, Germaine 13.01.0 I

MICHEL-GRAF, Rosemary

NGANGA, Gaston

OUANDO, Ballo R.

REYBOUBEI Jean E.

SABARI, Hilarion

SAIO, Yoshiya

SINGH, Govind

ST AUBYN VEIGA, Maria

TORRES, Cortes G.

VALVERDE, V.

YASSIN, Nafisa Hussein

Cornpihd by Rosemary Bell fromBulletin and other sources.

20.03.01

2r.04.0r

26.09.0r

18.03.01

05.04.02

26.02.0t

17.10.01

19.04.01

I 1.02.01

14.01.01

02.t2.00

6.04_0r,k

06.09.00

26.r0.92

01.04.01

25.05.01*

t4.03.0r

25.r2.00

04.07.99

13.02.01

27.02.0r*

AAFI/AFICS

( *= date not communicated)

Iru rne House

WHO IN AFGHANISTAN'§7HO, UNICEF and NGOs have issued an

appeal to rebuild the health secror in Afghanisran rhisyear as part of the Immediate and Tiansitional AssistanceProgramme (ITAP) for Afghans.

§IFIO is seeking some 960 million exclusivelyfor the Ministry of Health after decades of neglect,

and for refugees and local populations in neighbouringcountries. According ro esrimeres, six million Afghanshave no access to medical care. \W'omen are particularlyvulnerable, with more than 16,000 dying each yearfrom pregnancy-related câuses. One-fourth of childrendie before their fifth birthdays, often from preventable

(cont'd on p.12)diseases such as measles.

page ll

(cont'd from p.11)' Another objective is to establish services for

emergency obstetric and trauma care. Currently, 50

of the countryt 220 districts have no medical faciliry

available. About half of 44 hospitals performing surgery

have no means of testing blood for infectious diseases

such as hepatitis or HIV.

The total funding for health being sought is

equivalent to just over $5 Per Person, while, on an

averege' $34 per Person Per year is required to provide

basic health services. Afghanistan is unable to absorb

such funds now.

In March, nearly a hundred Afghan provincial

health officials participated in a '§7HO-sponsored

training workshop on health manegement, followed

by a nationwide workshop of Afghan health offïcials,

representatives of national and international NGOs,

donors and U.N. agencies.

(Excerpted from'W'HO Press Rehase (]ü/}{,Oll ,

4 March 2002)

LETTERS

(Readers lihe hners Keep them coming and short and, identify yourself through your last \VHO ffice. QN)

Lrxes 8N(Re: QN45, Autumn 2001)

I just wanted to say how interesting and readable

find QN' '§,ith kind regards' -sev

Fruss

(form er$, C hief' Hea h h Legis ktio n)

Geneua

(Euer11 hind word appreciated. - Editor)

QN READERSHIP SURVEYI am sending the completed QN Readership

Survey form and trust it is not too late. Let me say

that I read the QtV in its entirery even though it takes

me forever, even with the aid of my glasses and a strong

magnifier. There are not many printed words on which

I spend so much effort. Keep up the good work.

-Sheila M. Prause

M4^ Costa, SPain

(No, not too htefor the suraey. Thusfar 69 replies

haue been receiued, a ratber lout return considcring toulmembersbip. Virtual$ all uere positiue, but you tnust

Ée QNi' No. l fan. - Editor)

Mnclc wANDMy pension failed to arrive by the second week

of November, so my bank stopped smiling on me' Inanguish I cried on the shoulders of the AFSM; it waved

its magic wand, and by the third week my pension came

in. My bank smiled again, and I was able to buy a bottle

of geriatric medicine.

'§ÿ'e must count ourselves fortunate in having

the generous back-up provided by our old comrades-

in-arms and be thankful for the facilities provided by

\Xat-IO for the functioning of our Association.

-Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit

(formerly EURO)

Rabat, Morocco

2ruo EolrloN CoMING(Re: "Contract Reneuted, " QN45, Summer 2001)

I was very pleased to read that the Editor willundertake responsibilities for QNfor another year. Mywife and I are avid readers of the newsletter, while I feel

obligated to contribute when I can. Let me mention

that I have recently completed eight new chapters of the

second edition of my book, "The '§ÿ'orld Seen Through

a Microscope or 40 Years of Chasing Malaria but Never

Catching It."

fu the reception of the first edition had been

positively benign, I decided to be more daring now

and concentrâte on real characters rather than events. I

attach a photocopy of the chapter on the late Dr. Robert

Kouznetsov, formerly of Malaria at Headquarters, but

who served also in the field, to use as you may choose.

ffi*,;iêîi:,;i;Penarth,'Wales

(Keq your eles on tbe next issue, -Editor)

page 12

NoT I BUT 9(Re: 'AMRO, The Rest (î ü," qN45, Summer

2oo1)

This article states that the annual reporr ofthe StaffHealth Insurance presenrs figures related to retired staffas one group. In fact, in the reporrs for the years 1999and 2000, we have shown income and expenditure byregion where the retired staff reside. So, the breakdownwas by nine locations --- and not one, as stated.

-Ann Van Hulle-Colbert

(Coordinator VHO Staff Financial Seruice)

I NTeI.IEcTUAL PnopeRTY.(Re: "In Memoriam, Jacques Leroy,' QN 46,

Autumn 2001)

I am sorry to submit a complaint (even a mildone) since I appreciate the QI/ and the effort that goes

into the newsletter. It is normal for my obituary tohave been shortened, having indicated myself that itwould be legitimate to shrink it in the wash. But is itacceptable to change the phraseology? Especially whenthe text was signed.

\X/hile it is true that I no longer have themanuscript, I cannot see myself saying, as reported inthe last paragraph "rhar he wes a perfect internationalservânt" (" L'homme qui uient de nous quitter étaitun fonctionnaire international parfait'). Though less

grievous, I cannot recognise my sryle in whar followed.As for the "perfect international servant," have you evermet one? This statement bothers me because it doesntcorrespond at all to our deceased colleague's own viewson the subject.

However, lett sdck to the principle -

6ns th2sour '§7IPO

colleagues would surely supporr -

thatone's signature is patented intellectual properry. Iimagine I am not alone to draw your attention to thesimple principal of respect for a signature (even if thatof a professional journalist). That being said, thanks fortaking the trouble to consider what I said.

-Jean-Paul Darmsteter

(formerly INF)Geneua

(Most of ut sffir from occasional "seniormomentq" absent-mindedness. According to tbernanuscript submined by tbe autltor, uhich QN bas,the paragrapb under question utas rq»roduced acdctl!as utritten, There being no uiohtion of patent rights,tbe need to tahe tbe issuz to tbe WPO for arbitration isobuiated, thanhfully. - Editor)

"MoDEST PRoPosAL" (MonE)(Re: QN 46, Autumn 2001)

Re: "Payingfor 27 yearl' My situation is similarto that of Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit, with the slightdifference that I joined §fHO in 1950 and retired in1974, therefore served for 24 years. Having receiveda reduced pension for so mâny years (as a result oftaking a lump sum), one does indeed wonder what theU.N. Staff Pension Fund is doing with the money itis still collecting -- nor only from me, bur from otherpensioners like myself.

Re: Letter fom Alfed and June Hargreaues-Beer: Itoo share their interest in the "modest proposal" madeby our UNICEF colleague in India (M.S. Sharma, NewDelhi, who proposed that all retirees get a full pensionat age 70, even those who took the lump sum.) Onecan hope it will receive serious consideiation. If fullpensions can only be attained by delaying the age to 80,I would have even grearer interest as I am not far awayfrom entering the nonagenarian decade.

-Margaret Petitj ean-Moore

Wrsoix, Switzerhnd

INDIA,S EXAMPLE: PENSIoNS(Re: "Modest Proposal,' QN46, Autumn 2001)

\ÿhen the cost-oÊliving increases, of course so dopensions. However, in India at times when adjustmentsare made to the base salary scale of posts formerlyheld by pensioners, the retirees' pensions are increasedcorrespondingly. This unique provision has been ineffèct since 1996 and, like the "Modesr Proposal" onfull pensions for all, should be supported and examinedby all international civil servants. The example of oneMember State is enlightened and worth following.

-Raiindar Pal

(AFSM Representatiue)

(H Q Staff Pens i on Co mmi ttee)

BRITISH U.N. ASSoCIATIoN(Re: *Help! Who Needs 1ri' QN46, Autumn,

2001)

I was very interested in this AFSM activiryand, as I am "National'§ÿ'elfare Coordinator" for theBritish Association of Former U.N. Civil Servants(BAFUNCS), I would like to know what response youreceive to your offer of help. For your informarion, in

page 13

WnV SO MANY ..TEMPS,,

"Less than 25 per cent of international civilservants have fixed-term contracts" in Geneva, according

to Jacques Vignes, chairman of the New'§7'ood Unionat the United Nations. Temporaries are believed torepresent nearly 30 per cent of the staff of the UnitedNations and as many as 40 per cent of those at §7HO.Altogether, there could be at least 4,000 "temps"

working in the different agencies based in Geneva.

\ÿHO Executive Director, Maryan Baquerot,admits to the dilemma of temporary staff. "Thefinances provided by donors represent 40 per cent ofthe budget of \7HO; and those donors keep a prettyclose watch on staff costs," he says.

"'§ÿ'e doni really have a choice: either we refuse

the donation and run short of vaccines to protectpeople from polio, for instance, or we âccept it andrecruit temporary staff to reduce staff costs. Right now,

however, rve are looking at the possibility of grantingcertain rights to temps and also to cutting down theirnumbers by at least a half. '§ÿ'e should reach that stage

by July."

-Christophe Minder

(Excerpted fom theTribune de Genève , 12 March

Sexy SeNIoRSOlder men are great in bed.

.\V.e are talking about

folk in their sixties, and we have a scientistt word for it,with figures to support the claim made. Dr. LorraineBall - yes, thatt her real name -- of the University ofSheffield surveyed 185 husbands aged 30 to 60. Belowthe age 46,22 per cent experienced erectile dysfunction.But among those older, this rate droops to 16 per cent.

And that isnt all. Males of a riper age enjoy longer-lasting tumescence. "They take longer to reach orgasm,page 14

each of our regions in the U.K. we have'§ÿ'elfare Officers

who provide members with the following assistance:

1. Finances, covering our Benevolent Fund, and

advice on allowances and benefim;

2. Support and Solidariry offering companionship

to members who feel lonely but do not need specific

help, just simply someone to talk to; and

3. Contacts, leading newcomers to activities of

our Association.

I would be pleased to know ifyou have comments

or ideas that we could benefit from.

-AIÊed G. Beer

Routhnds Casth, England

(PS. Rosemary Bell, Amelia Maglacas, Nedd'§ÿ'illard, I wonder if you remember me?)

Iu rne PREss

to the greeter satisfaction of their wives," explains Miss

Ball. "sexual activity certainly diminishes with age, butthe qualiry improves." As for the male menopause,

that is "just a myth put about by pharmaceuticalmanufacturers to boost a lucrative market."

Ladies -- take a retiree to bed, double-quick !

(Excerptedfom theTrlbtne de Genèvs 21 March2002)

3 SWISS CITIES AMONG TOP I OThree cities in Switzerland dominated the top 10

list as the most desirable places to live, according to a

surÿey of 215 cities published in London.

Zurichwas rated No. 1, puttingVancouver, whichhad the top rating last year in a second-place tie withVienna; Geneva tied with Sydney at No. 4, and Bern

was listed No. 10, according to the survey, conducted

by the human resources consultancy Villiam M.Mercer. Others in the top 10 were Frankfurt, Helsinki,Auckland and Copenhagen.

New York, used as the baseline for comparison,

was ranked No. 41, equal with London, 'W'ashington,

Boston, Chicago and Madrid. Among 39 criteria

used to judge the cities' desirabiliry were the political,economic, natural and sociocultural environments,health câre, education, housing, trensportetion,shopping and recreation.

(Ercerptedfrom Reuters, 12 Marcb 2002)

Achnouthdgemenx: The Executiue Group thanhs those who

haue madc possibb this issue especially Peter Ozorio Gditor);Yues Beigbedzr, Nedd \Villard and Raiindar Pal (Editonal

Board); Dauid Coben (Cbairrnan); Michel Fète, Jean Lcclcrcq

(French transhtions); John Bknd (English); ako Marianne Kng(Editorial Assistant). Layout by Humphrey MatthE, Glasgow.

The ùews expressed in QN are those of the autbors, not

necessarily of AFSM.