24th World Conf report.doc
Version date: Oct. 10, 2005
Page 45 / 52
ISGF 24
th
World Conference 2005
Conference Report
and troop leaders are community leaders; you are their supporters. This is definitely an area
where there is a wealth of experience and knowledge in ISGF.
Personal observations
I wonder if I could be so bold as to make a few personal observations after working as
WAGGGS' representative on the ISGF World Committee for nearly two years.
I joined the World Committee of ISGF half way through the triennium and was reminded of
the challenges of joining an existing committee, learning new jargon and ways of work. I was
particularly surprised at the limited staff support which can be afforded by ISGF and hence
the large amount of work expected of individual committee members.
I also found it frustrating to be working simultaneously in two languages and wonder if time
could be better spent in discussion and action rather than waiting for translation. This applies
to face to face meetings and also in written correspondence between members.
I tell you this because at the end of this week six of you will face these same challenges as
you sit down with six other previously elected embers for the first World Committee meeting
of the next triennium.
You will need to decide very early on, how you are going to work together and share your
expertise, how tasks will be allocated, how they will be reported, how you will communicate
with each other, with the World Bureau and with the National Fellowships you must Be
Prepared for a mountain of emails in the forthcoming weeks.
You will need to sit down together with your staff and establish your working relationships.
Your aim will be to create a strong leadership team with adequate staff support.
Of course, funding is key to the success of your work and I am hopeful that the members
present today support the notion that fees need to be paid at the level required to support the
hard work and time which the World Committee is committed in giving.
I have enjoyed working In the ISGF World Committee and I recognize enormous potential for
ISGF in it Community Service and it s support for WAGGGS, but no-one can deny that the
attendance of delegates here in Lillehammer demonstrates the overwhelming Fellowship that
exists among all the members from across the world.
We should not be afraid to admit that, as its name implies, Fellowship will remain the
strongest link within the organization as it works together to build the future.
WAGGGS wishes you well.
