FIG Handover Ceremony takes place in MünsterPresident Holger Magel hands the chain of office over to Stig EnemarkMünster, Germany 2 December 2006
The FIG handover ceremony took place in the historical city hall of Münster. The German Council left leadership of the FIG and handed it over to an international team of individuals elected by the FIG General Assembly – after a 128 year tradition of country based Council administration – a milestone for FIG. The mayor of Münster, Ms. Beate Vilhjamsson, welcomed more than 40 invited representatives from FIG, German Association for Geodesy, Geo-Information and Land Management (DVW), the host of FIG Council for the last four years, and German agencies in the “Friedensaal” (Hall of Piece) – a famous place because of the treaty of 1648 that ended the 30-years lasting war, giving peace and bringing decisive territorial changes in Europe. Mr. Hagen Graeff, DVW President reminded in his welcome address that the German Council has brought new spirit into FIG over the last four years and that the German FIG Presidency has especially made a special contribution on political activities. Mr. Graeff handed over a cheque representing a value of € 20,000 for the FIG Foundation as result from the FIG Congress in Munich. Leaving FIG President Prof. Holger Magel mentioned in his speech “Changing FIG – Model for a Changing World” that inauguration in the surrounding of the Hall of Peace in Münster is a special symbolic sign for the new leadership: the FIG community of idealists and volunteers has dedicated itself to worldwide peace through numerous contributions in the field of land, water and coastal management, settlement, the equal development of urban and rural areas, the guarantee of property and tenure, building of functioning market economies, of environmental protection through data acquisition and data processing as well as monitoring of measurements on land, from the air and space, etc. As surveyors, with our "boots on the pavement" on site with our clients or in ministries, public authorities, offices, undertakings and universities we know that ultimately, and indeed, it is a matter of not only doing our duty but always doing more. This ethos makes FIG so valuable for the world and world organizations as the UN authorities, the World Bank and for member associations. The German Council set itself ambitious aims, as to exercise intellectual leadership concerning the role and identity of surveyors, to continue the FIG reorganisation, to generate more income, to increase substantially membership of FIG, to promote a professional of outcome and results of FIG meetings, to increase co-operation with the United nations including the World Bank (to increase commitment for the poor in the world), to increase co-operation with sister organisations, to give greater presence on spot in the regions, to strengthen the bridging within the FIG between practitioners and academics and to acquaint young persons. FIG is present at all continents; it combines almost all religions, cultures, different forms of ownership and tenure, state organisations, etc. If the FIG did not already exist, it would be urgently necessary to found it! In the name of all members of the FIG Council Prof. Magel stated that the FIG years were strenuous but at the same time wonderful. He expressed words of thanks to DVW, FIG members and his team in the Council: Dr. Andreas Drees, Dr. Ralf Schroth, T.N. Wong, Ken Allred, Stig Enemark and Thomas Gollwitzer as well as to Matt Higgins (2005-2006) and Gerhard Muggenhuber (2003-2004) as the ACCO representative in the Council. He wished the new Council success in its responsibility in favour of FIG, the mother of all surveying engineers and surveying. In a real "laudatio" the FIG Honorary President Prof. Peter Dale gave a reflection on the German presidency. He observed that Holger and his team steered FIG trough a difficult period of transition. There was a significant growth in membership and activities of FIG. The main blanks on the map remain in Africa and Central Asia. In what way is FIG value for money? Prof. Dale would talk about globalisation, networking, learning from others struggling with the same problems, friendship and about how the more that you put in it the more you will get out. About a vision for the future in a world that is changing quickly. All these things remain true and have been delivered by the German Council as well as a series of successful meetings across the globe. The FIG declarations and publications have raised the profile of FIG to a higher level. The relation with UN has never been better. There is no other organisation that addresses land issues in a manner and with the breadth that FIG achieves – areas covered with water can be included here. Prof. Dale had the change to read Prof. Magel’s speech in advance and he could honestly say that all aims have been achieved. FIG has not only a great history but also has understanding of the present and a vision for the future. Then the handover of the chain of office from Holger Magel to Stig Enemark took place with the assistance by Hagen Graeff. The new members of the Council were introduced: Dr. Dalal S. Alnaggar, who also received her FIG badge of office, Prof. Paul van der Molen and Dr. Chryssy Potsiou as the ACCO representative. The two remaining members of the new Council Ken Allred and Matt Higgins were not able to attend the ceremony because of problems with their travels. In his speech the new FIG President Prof. Stig Enemark expressed that it is a great honour to wear the traditional chain of office. He was happy with the presence of two FIG Honorary Presidents: Peter Dale from UK and Robert W. Foster from USA at the ceremony. The foundation to start is solid and the view is good. He thanked Holger Magel for his eminent leadership. The role of the FIG Council will now change to a global scope. He is happy to continue the work started by previous Councils and even broaden it, especially in relation to the World Bank. An agenda for the next years is under discussion based on the framework introduced by President Enemark in his speech in Munich. The meeting was closed with a reception with an address by Prof. Joachim Thomas, Head of the Higher Land Consolidation Authority Münster. Combined to the handover ceremony the new Council had its first informal meeting and both Councils gathered for a joint meeting that was also the last for the current Council. Formally the term of office for the new Council starts 1 January 2007. Christiaan Lemmen Presentations:
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