AFICS BULLETIN - United Nations Bulletin Fall 2012 -Winter... · 2 AFICS Bulletin Fall 2012/Winter 2013. Unless otherwise noted, throughout the Bulletin the term “AFICS” is used

ASSOCIATION OF FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTSVol. 43 ♦ No. 4 ♦ Fall 2012 Vol. 44 ♦ No. 1 ♦ Winter 2013

“The mission of afics/ny is to support and promote the purposes, principles and programmes of the Un system; to advise and assist former international civil servants and those about to separate from service; to represent the interests of its members within the system; to foster social and personal relationships among members, to promote their well-being and to encourage mutual support of

individual members."

afics/ny webpage: www.un.org/other/afics

AFICSNEW yORk

BULLETIN

Un Secretariat BuildingHit Hard by Hurricane Sandy

a view inside a basement-level office damaged by flood water.

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CONTENTS 3 nOTES FROM THE PRESIDEnT

AFICS/nY In ACTIOn 4 Film Screening & Reception

UnITED nATIOnS HIGHLIGHTS 6 Impact of “Sandy” on UN Headquarters 7 UNJSPF Well Managed; Outperforms Market 8 Brazil: Sergio Vieira de Mello UN Complex 9 Report on 41st Session of FAFICS Council 13 International Day of Older Persons 15 UN Open Ended Group on Ageing 15 New Season: UNSRC Symphony Orchestra 16 Gender Equality: Room Without a View

nEWS YOU CAn USE 17 Federal Income Taxes 2012: What’s New 17 Block Telemarketers’ Cell Phone Calls 18 Beware of Fraudulent “IRS” Messages 18 Beware of Unexpected “Gifts” 19 Yoga for Seniors

HEALTHY LIVInG 20 Age-Related Hearing Loss

MEMBERS’ FORUM 22 Promoting Peace

ADVOCATES’ CORnER 22 Speaking on the UN

Un AT WORK WORLDWIDE 23 UNDP: Full Transparency Pledge

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 24 Retirement Communities 24 Aegis Living: Southern California & Nevada

BOOK REVIEWS 25 Twilights in Rossmoor

26 AFICS MEETInGS WORLDWIDE

28 OBITUARIES

34 In MEMORIAM

42 USEFUL InFORMATIOn

43 CHARITIES FOUnDATIOn AnnUAL APPEAL

PresidentLinda Saputelli

1st Vice PresidentFrances Zainoeddin

2nd Vice PresidentDenis Beissel

SecretaryAnthony J. Fouracre

Deputy SecretaryMark Gilpin

TreasurerLeon W. Thomas

Deputy TreasurerPuran Sharma

ASSOCIATIOn OF FORMER InTERnATIOnALCIVIL SERVAnTS/nEW YORK

HOnORARY MEMBERS

Martti AhtisaariKofi A. AnnanBan Ki-moonAung San Suu Kyi

Boutros Boutros-GhaliAhmad Tejan KabbahJavier Pérez de Cuéllar

GoverninG Board

HOnORARY BOARD MEMBERS

Andrés Castellanos del CorralO. Richard NottidgeGeorge F. Saddler

Patricia K. TsienJane Weidlund

OFFICERS

Published quarterly by the Association of Former International Civil Servants/NY

EditorMary Lynn Hanley

Design & LayoutLaura Frischeisen

ProofreaderHerminia Roque

Please submit news, views, photos and letters to the Editor by E-mail: [email protected]

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

J. Fernando AsteteNetta AvedonThomas A. BielerBarbara BurnsA. Lola Costa-EsnardSuzan S. HabachyLouise Laheurte Dorothy M. HallMargaret MilesDr. Sudershan NarulaEdward OmotosoNicholas Panzarino Federico Riesco

Angel SilvaSylvia Simpfendorfer-Ishmael Christine Smith-Lemarchand

President of AFICS/nY Charities FoundationDede Emerson

Office StaffJamna IsraniVeronique Whalen

LibrarianDawne Gautier

AFICS Bulletin Fall 2012/Winter 20132

Unless otherwise noted, throughout the Bulletin the term “AFICS” is used to refer to AFICS/New York.The views and opinions expressed in the various reports, articles and illustrations in the Bulletin

do not necessarily represent those of AFICS /NY, its Bureau or Governing Board, nor does the Association accept responsibility for the accuracy of information given. The mention of any product, service, organization

or company does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Association.

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

As those of you who consult the AFICS/NY Website for breaking news have seen, we have been unable to print the last two issues of our AFICS/NY Bulletin because the UN offset printing facilities were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and are not yet up and running. (See pages 6-7 for an account of the damage sustained.) We are therefore providing this Fall 2012—Winter 2013 electronic Bulletin online, exceptionally. It is in PDF format, which can be read on your computer screen with the Adobe Reader, downloadable free of charge. You can also print it out for yourself and if you wish share it with AFICS friends without access to computers.

Shortly before our brief break last August, I represented AFICS/NY at the 41st Session of the FAFICS Council, held in Paris, serving as Vice President of FAFICS and Rapporteur of the ASHIL Standing Committee. Also representing AFICS/NY was Federico Riesco, Co-chair of the AFICS/NY Committee on Pensions, who also attended the annual meeting of the United

Nations Joint Staff Pension Board. Throughout the world there are now 52 Associations comprised of more than 19,000 members, with several new Associations in various stages of formation. As usual, the Council paid particular attention to matters of Pensions and Insurance, as well as to other issues of main concern to FAFICS. (See highlights on pages 9-13, as well as information on a special tribute paid to outgoing FAFICS President, Andrés Castellanos.)

On 1 October celebrations were held marking the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP), for which the theme this year was “Longevity: Shaping the Future.” In his IDOP message, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that rapid population ageing and a steady increase in human longevity worldwide rep-resent one of the greatest social, economic and political transformations of our time; he noted that these demographic changes demand that “we rethink how individuals live, work, plan and learn throughout their lifetimes, and that we re-invent how societies manage themselves.” In New York, a workshop featured First Lady of El Salvador and Secretary for Social Inclusion, Dr. Vanda Pignota, who spoke of the need for a Convention for Older Persons, while a panel discussion brought together experts from the UN and the NGO community for a discussion on the contributions of older persons and how they can be agents of change. (See pages 14-15.)

On 17 October, AFICS/NY organized a screening of the film, The Interpreters—A Historical Perspective for Association Members and UN staff, followed by a reception. The film presented a fascinating glimpse of the origin and evolution of UN simultaneous interpretation through the years, featuring the interpret-ers involved, and was followed by a Q & A with the present Chief of Interpretation Service, Mr. Hossam Fahr. As several attendees asked how they might obtain a copy of the film, we are providing an order form. (See page 5.) The AFICS/NY office has a limited number of copies available for $30 for those wishing to buy it and pick it up in person. The post-screening reception, which responded to members’ requests, was likewise very well attended. We hope to arrange for more such opportunities to get together!

The AFICS/NY Fall Luncheon took place on 14 November 2012 at Fagiolini Restaurant. A large crowd enjoyed a wonderful Italian lunch and a good time was had by all. Check your mailbox for a flyer on the upcoming Spring Luncheon in March. With it, and included on the back page of this Bulletin, you will find the Annual Appeal from the Charities Foundation of AFICS/NY with a form ready to detach or print out, complete and submit with your contribution to help members with urgent temporary needs.

3Fall 2012/Winter 2013 AFICS Bulletin

Our Membership Committee is now completing the preparation of our biennial Directory of Members, to be issued in 2013, as soon as we can once again access the UN Printing Facilities. So please, please, make sure we have your correct contact information. Please be sure to include an E-mail address as we may be obliged to communicate with you exclusively by E-mail in the future. Do not provide UN E-mail addresses as they are not permanent. Even more important, check your E-mail in-boxes at least several times a week so you do not miss important information and in order to maintain them.

We are also undertaking an intensive drive to attract new members, among other things, by participating in pre-retirement seminars for serving staff (in future the UN may offer them exclusively online), and giving AFICS/NY a more visible presence on various occasions, such as UN Day. Of course you, our members, are one of our most valuable allies in this endeavour. Recruit your friends … make them aware of how AFICS/NY can help them sort out pension

and insurance issues … let them know about social events and Committees they might want to join. We are always looking for new recruits, especially for our Ageing, Legal, Membership, Outreach and Social Committees.

Finally, as you will see, beginning with this Bulletin, we will no longer include a list of Correspondents, the vast majority of whom we hear from very rarely if at all. As 52 local Associations are now members of FAFICS and additional ones in several countries are preparing to join (see article from Nepal on page 27), it has been decided that functions formerly performed by the Correspondents will now be carried out by FAFICS Associations. We thank those of you who have served in this capacity and suggest you now join the Association in your country of residence if you have not already done so, using this channel to communicate with us. Should there not yet be an Association where you live, you are of course welcome to continue sending any news to AFICS/NY directly.

Linda Saputelli, President

AFICS/NY IN ACTION

Film Screening and Reception Draws Large Turnout

Screening of the film, The Interpreters—A Historical Perspective organized by AFICS/NY for Association

Members and UN staff on 17 October attracted a standing-room only crowd to the newly-renovated Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium. Featuring cameos of many interpreters who were personally involved, the film traces the history of UN simultaneous interpretation from its earliest years, primarily at the post World War II Nuremberg Trials, to the present day. Issues such as cost-saving advantages of online interpretation were discussed against constraints imposed by security and time zone.

A follow-up Q & A with the present Chief of Interpretation Service, Mr. Hossam Fahr, was equally inter-esting, as Mr. Fahr explained how important it is for inter-preters to understand the culture as well as the language of the individual whose words they interpret and alluded to the

difference in temperament and skills between interpreters and translators.

A post-screening reception was enjoyed by a large num-ber of attendees, who obviously appreciated this mid-after-noon opportunity for social interaction with friends and former colleagues.

Taking note of the popularity of this event, AFICS/NY plans to organize similar occasions in the future.

Note: For those wishing to obtain a copy of The Interpreters—A Historical Perspective, it is available from the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) for US $30.00. See order form on opposite page. Be sure to note that you need the NTSC version if that is what is required in your country of residence (e.g., the USA). A limited number of copies are also available in the AFICS/NY office.


Order formto be returned to AIIC

I wish to receive:

T h e i n t e r p r e t e r s : a H i s t o r i c a l P e r s p e c t i v e(film 48 minutes + bonus “The Profession of Interpreter” 15 minutes)

DVD English / French

at the price of US$30

The copyright of this film belongs to AIIC. It may not be copied in any formwhatsoever and any public viewing shall be subject to AIIC’s approval.

Payment to be made

By Paypal with this E-mail address: [email protected]

or

By bank transfer to our account # 240-210 654 00YUBS SA, 8, rue du Rhône, CH-1211 Geneva 2SWIFT code: UBSWCHZH80AIBAN code: CH58 0024 0240 2106 5400 Y

(please specify that payment is intended for AIIC and mention your name followed by “DVD”).

Name and address:

Date and signature:

AssociAtion internAtionAle des interprètes de conférence

internAtionAl AssociAtion of conference interpreters

✂


UNITED NATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

Secretariat officials told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on 5 November 2012

that the multimillion dollar renovation of the historic United Nations Headquarters complex was still on track despite the blow wielded by Hurricane Sandy that shuttered the doors of the New York City compound for three days the week before.

Three top Secretariat officials—Under-Secretary-General for Management Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security Gregory B. Starr, and Acting Head of General Assembly and Conference Management Jean-Jacques Graisse—briefed the Committee on the storm’s impact on the New York City compound.

Mr. Takasu said the storm and its related flooding was unprecedented. The United Nations E-mail list of delegations had been corrupted, effectively severing E-mail communica-tion with the permanent missions. Updates had been made available on the staff website for emergency information. The website was now being changed to include delegations.

Mr. Starr said management’s top concerns during the storm were twofold: the safety of staff and how the Organization could best carry out its operations. He noted that a Security Council meeting was held on Wednesday at the North Lawn Building, a General Assembly meeting was held on Thursday, and the Organization’s global operations continued even as the natural disaster unfolded in the eastern United States.

Mr. Takasu said that the Department of Safety and Security operation centre, the situation centre of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and the net-work operation centre of the Office of Information and Communications Technology functioned throughout the storm without interruption. Although the Headquarters was closed from Monday, 29 October, through Wednesday, 31 October, the Organization’s global services continued.

Thus far, there were no reports of injuries to staff or their dependents, he said. Material damage to the compound was relatively contained thanks to precautionary steps; core infrastructure was intact. The Arrival Tent at the delegate’s entrance and roof cover of the Assembly Hall were destroyed and would have to be removed or dismantled. The delegate’s entrance to the Assembly Hall was inaccessible. Flooding had occurred in approximately 350,000 square feet of the 3B level of the Assembly, Conference, Secretariat and North Lawn

buildings, which housed the chiller rooms, garage parking and offices for receiving and inspection, facilities manage-ment, transport, mail and printing, among other things. The cooling system was shut down due to flooding in the main and temporary HVAC chiller plants. The electrical switch-board was also flooded and a small fire started. To prevent the spread of fire, a complete power shutdown was instituted in the Secretariat building from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

It would likely take a few months to replace the dam-aged electrical system in the chiller cooling system. However, that would not impact the overall schedule to complete the Capital Master Plan. The printing shop and equipment were also damaged, including leased digital printers, which pro-duced 95 to 99 per cent of official documents at Headquarters. The Printing Section had made emergency alternative print-ing arrangements. It was too early to estimate the cost of the damage. Parts of the basement were still being examined; assessments of the damage overall was under way as were discussions with insurance firms and contractors. The assess-ment process would potentially be done in phases with the Insurance Unit; it would require some time to complete.

Mr. Starr said that the storm hit in full force at 8 p.m. Monday evening and continued into the early hours of Tuesday morning. Water levels in the East River began rising and came over the FDR Drive and into the facility’s 3B level. Such intense flooding had never been experienced, he said, noting that the water came six to seven feet over the level’s loading dock.

Management’s two basic goals were: 1) to get Headquarters back to operations as soon as possible. They did so essentially 48 hours after the hurricane ended, sup-porting the General Assembly, Security Council, Secretariat and other units; and 2) to ensure that the Organization had continuity and communications with its operations around the globe. Management was in touch and making decisions on missions overseas that had to go forward, such as in Somalia and Yemen. “Our goal to support the United Nations through a crisis never left our minds,” said Mr. Starr. He paid tribute to the staff that managed to get the facility back to operation. He acknowledged, however, that more work needed to be done on how to communicate with the missions during such an event.

Impact of Hurricane Sandy on United Nations Headquarters


Mr. Graisse said the printing operations were completely flooded on Monday evening. Emergency interventions were made, power was cut and, wherever possible, equipment was secured. The flood waters had reached two feet high in the 3B level. The situation was being monitored and the priority had been to have power restored and the damage assessed.

About 100 people work in the unit based in the area and their offices had been totally destroyed. Management was working to supply temporary space. The digital printers, which turned out 90 to 95 per cent of the documents, were damaged beyond repair by flooding. He said that the printer

manufacturer was providing equipment on loan. There would be temporary printing set up on the second floor of the North Lawn Building by the end of this week. The Organization’s offset printing would be evaluated once it was safe to do so. The full cleaning would take two weeks. As a result, for the Fifth Committee for example, distribution had been restrict-ed to one copy per permanent mission.

Excerpted from Press Release issued by Department of Public Information News and Media Division in New york,

5 November 2012

Investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Continue to Outperform the Market

The United Nations Investment Management Division earned 12.64 per cent in 2012, outperforming its policy benchmark for Joint Staff Pension Fund investments by 72 basis points. In addition, as of 15 January 2013, the Fund reached a new all-time high of USD 45.595 billion. The Fund had closed the calendar year ending 31 December 2012 at USD 44.637 billion, based on reports from the independent Master Record Keeper.

Note: Graph above shows balance as of January 11, 2013

The USD 45.595 billion all-time high reached on 15 January 2013 represents a gain of approximately USD 18.91 billion since the depth of the financial crisis when the balance dipped to USD 26.683 billion on 9 March 2009. This substantial progress can be attributed to many initiatives the Fund has taken, including a significant rebalancing towards equities beginning in March 2009.

The Investment Management Division undertook a substantial modernization of its IT infrastructure, estab-lished a Risk and Compliance Team, strengthened the Investment Team, diversified the Fund into new asset classes including Private Equity and Risk Parity, and implemented risk analytics systems. In addition, the Fund established a strong Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery process, which was put to use during Hurricane Sandy, during which the Fund was able to perform all of its core functions without disruption.

For the year ending 31 December 2012, the Fund outperformed its policy benchmark by 72 bps, with a 12.64 percent return. Over the past 50 years, the Fund has achieved a real rate of return of 3.8 per cent outperforming its target of 3.5 per cent by 0.3 per cent points.


Updated Fund valuations and more details can be viewed by visiting the IMD website: imd.unjspf.org For general information: http://www.unjspf.org/UNJSPF_Web/eng/role_index.html

Brazil Inaugurates the Sergio Vieira de Mello UN Complex

After decades of presence in Brazil, one of the Organizations’s founding countries, the UN has finally

moved to its own premises in Brasilia. On Wednesday, 14 November, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Patriota, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil, Jorge Chediek, officially inaugurated the Sergio Vieira de Mello Complex, which will host several UN system offices located in the Brazilian capital. The ceremony was attended by hun-dreds of guests from the Brazilian government, military, civil society, the diplomatic corps, and the UN Country Team.

In a recorded message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked the Government and people of Brazil for making the establishment of UN House in Brasilia possi-ble. He noted the symbolic importance of naming the new complex after Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top United Nations envoy in Iraq, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Baghdad in 2003, along with 20 colleagues.

“Sergio Vieira de Mello’s life symbolized fully what the United Nations stands for, and how a single individual can make a difference for people around the world,” Ban said. “The values he fought and died for will always live on.”

“I hope this House that belongs to all nations will serve to strengthen the bridge between Brazil and the rest of the world,” said Mr. Chediek. “This bridge is the path that has been traced by many Brazilians who are fighting for a fairer and more dignified world."

The Sergio Vieira de Mello Complex will consist of two buildings, an auditorium and a park. The first build-ing, already operational, is named after the distinguished Brazilian social worker Zilda Arns, who was killed in the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. It houses the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of the United Nations Security and Safety (UNDSS), the UN Volunteers Programme (UNV) and the office of the Montreal Protocol.

The next step, to be developed in 2013, is the building of a second module to house the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS.


Welcoming participants and thanking AAFU/AFUS-Paris for hosting the session, the President reported

the deaths of Angela Butler, former Executive Secretary of FAFICS; Eduardo Albertal, Vice-President Emeritus of FAFICS and founder and former President of AAFIB-Brazil; Carlos Goulart, President of AAFIB-Brazil; Fernando Pimenta Alves, Deputy Auditor and former Vice-President of AAFIB-Brazil; and Tomas Lopez, founder and former President of AFICS-Colombia, all outstanding contributors to the work of FAFICS and the international community.

He welcomed the admission of AFUNIC-Nicaragua and AFICS-Japan to the ranks of the Federation, which now had more than 19,000 members and 52 member Associations. Efforts continued to foster new Associations that were expect-ed to become members of FAFICS, such as in Nepal and Cyprus, while new focal points had just been set up in Benin, Chad, Central African Republic, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire. Among other things, he noted the improvement of gender balance in FAFICS; reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to defending the double-track system and stressed the need to solve the issue of crippling bank charges that negatively impacted small pensions; and expressed his disappointment on the lack of progress towards a solution for the continuing situation of unpaid pensions to the former staff of the UN sys-tem from the former USSR, Byelorussian SSR and Ukrainian SSR. He also confirmed that FAFICS would remain vigi-lant with regard to after-service health insurance matters; foster advocacy and participation in system-wide meetings of relevance to Federation activities; and focus on securing improved cooperation with UNDP offices in the field.

Now completing his last term as FAFICS President, Mr. Castellanos paid tribute to the Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the Federation for the support they had lent throughout his tenure. He was also deeply indebted to the members of the Bureau, the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Standing Committees, as well as to AAFI-AFICS Geneva and AFICS/NY for their sustained assistance to him and the FAFICS Secretariat. He thanked the CEO of the Pension Fund, the Secretary-General’s Representative for Investments, the Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and his staff for their cooperation and expressed

gratitude to the United Nations Federal Credit Union for the financial support they had lent to the current Council session. Above all, he was profoundly grateful to the Council for hav-ing extended to him what he would always regard as a lifetime honour and privilege.

PEnSIOn ISSUES TAKE CEnTER STAGE

Most of the 41st session was devoted to a discussion of pension-related issues, in preparation for the 59th session of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, which followed in the same venue, 2–11 July. The FAFICS session was pre-ceded by a meeting of its Standing Committee on Pension Issues, which provided a report that served as a basis for the deliberations in the Council.

Discussions were affected by the results of the 2011 actu-arial valuation of the Pension Fund, which showed a deficit of 1.87 per cent of pensionable remuneration. This outcome, the second negative valuation of the UNJSPF in a four-year period, had raised concerns about the long-term sustainabil-ity of the Fund. While the actuaries did not consider the situ-ation critical, they recommended that the Pension Board take remedial action. In their valuation report they mentioned the Pension Adjustment System (PAS) as a factor in the Fund’s imbalance, observing that the PAS was not part of the Fund’s Regulations although there was a reasonable expectation that cost-of-living adjustments would continue. FAFICS reacted by stressing that the adjustment system was an entitlement of beneficiaries and should be defended as such.

During its session in July, the Pension Board decided to establish a working group to consider possible measures to ensure the Pension Fund’s long-term sustainability, and directed this group “not to focus on cost-cutting measures but rather to focus on long-term sustainability, including governance, investment management, and asset-liability management.”

On the issue of small pensions, the Council noted that the Pension Fund Secretariat had conducted a stock-taking study without recommending any improvements in the small pen-sion adjustment mechanism. However, the Fund Secretariat proposed that a further study be undertaken of the overlap

Federation of Association ofFormer International Civil Servants

Forty-First Session of the FAFICS CouncilParis, 26—29 June 2012

REPORT BY FAFICS PRESIDEnT, AnDRéS CASTELLAnOS


in benefit amounts between the small pension and minimum benefits and all other provisions on minimum levels of benefit with a view to coordinating and simplifying them. FAFICS welcomed such further action, but was concerned about the scope proposed for the new study, which it felt included ele-ments extraneous to the small pension issue.

The FAFICS Council supported, as it had in the past, an increase in the normal age of retirement, which had now been the subject of a recommendation by the Committee of Actuaries, as a means to reduce the imbalance of the UNJSPF. The CEO of the Pension Fund had repeatedly called attention to the impact of updated life-expectancy data on the recent actuarial valuations of the Fund and the actuaries stated that increasing the normal retirement age should be a top priority measure for consideration by the Pension Board.

At its 59th session the Pension Board announced it was ready to increase the normal age of retirement for new par-ticipants in the Fund with effect not later than 1 January 2014. Since an increase in the age of retirement had to be preceded by an increase in the mandatory age of separa-tion, the Pension Board urged the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and the member organizations of the Fund to immediately raise the age of separation to 65 for new staff. Shortly after, the ICSC at its 75th session, decided to comply with the Pension Board’s request and to recommend to the General Assembly that the mandatory age of separation be increased to 65 for new entrants beginning on 1 January 2014. It decided at the same time to conduct a study on the possibility of increasing the mandatory age of separation for currently serving staff.

The FAFICS Council also returned to a number of improvements to the pension benefit and adjustment sys-tem that it had pressed for in the past, including the elimina-tion of the 0.5 per cent reduction in the first cost-of-living adjustment after retirement, amendments to Article 35 bis of the UNJSPF Regulations and the elimination of negative cost-of-living adjustments. AFICS/NY and other Associations did not favour insisting at this time on proposals that would involve costs for the Fund. The Council’s consensus was that FAFICS should continue to pursue these improvements, acknowledging that the Pension Board would not be likely to give them serious consideration.

The Council took note of the conclusions of a Contact Group established by the Pension Board, with FAFICS rep-resentation, to consider the status of participants under Articles 34/35 of the UNJSPF Regulations. This Group had proposed a new definition of the term “spouse” intended to overcome the difficulties some participants faced when pro-viding proof of non-traditional unions.

The Pension Board, however, was unable to support those conclusions unanimously and requested the Contact Group

to come up with further clarification and administrative guidance.

The application of paragraph 26 of the Pension Adjustment System, which allows for the suspension of the two-track system when it can lead to aberrant results, was the subject of a lengthy discussion in the Council. The provi-sions of paragraph 26 had been applied recently in Kenya and Venezuela, and while FAFICS did not dispute the decision, it questioned the manner in which it was carried out, noting that retirees had complained about the absence of early warn-ings, confusing announcements and the lack of a timeframe for the restoration of the double track. The Council also took note of related developments in Argentina, where retirees had been calling for the application of the paragraph, and had appealed against the non-action of the Fund under its review procedure.

The Council concurred with a report of the CEO of the Pension Fund that highlighted the need to address the short-comings of paragraph 26, but expressed concern over the scope of a study on the matter to be undertaken by an inter-nal working group of the Fund Secretariat, as it also included “the complexity of the two-track feature” and “the change in the global economic environment relative to the U.S. dollar,” issues that in its view went beyond the technical limitations of paragraph 26.

In a paper submitted to the FAFICS Council, one Association proposed a gradual revision of the composition of the Pension Board. Under this plan, over the course of six years the composition of the 11-member participants’ group in the Board would be changed from all participants to eight participants and three FAFICS members, which would secure three votes on the Board for retirees. AFICS/NY viewed the proposal as a possible path to obtaining voting rights for beneficiaries on the Board, a goal that it supported; but it was unable to endorse the proposal because it also suggested that representatives of the participants should become, after retirement, representatives of the beneficiaries, pre-empting the selection by FAFICS of who would represent it. In the event, the Council did not favour the proposal.

The Council considered once again the situation of for-mer Pension Fund participants from the former USSR, Ukrainian SSR and Byelorussian SSR, on the basis of a paper submitted by AFICS-Moscow which described the many efforts that these former participants had made, unsuc-cessfully, to receive the supplements to their State pensions to which they were entitled under the pension rights trans-fer agreements signed by the Fund and the relevant govern-ments. FAFICS decided to transmit a copy of the paper to the Pension Fund, to bring up the issue in the Pension Board, and to endeavour to bring the problem to the notice of the UN Secretary-General.


In addition, the FAFICS Council continued to be con-cerned about the use of the Emergency Fund of the UNJSPF. While acknowledging introduction of speedier and more flexible procedures, particularly to address the aftermath of major natural disasters, as well as efforts to publicize the Emergency Fund, it felt that procedures should be simplified and made more responsive to requests from beneficiaries in developing countries.

Lastly, the Council heard from many associations about the problems encountered by retirees’ spouses when trying to secure the survivor’s benefits to which they were entitled after the death of the beneficiary. The difficulties stemmed from the requirement to present again, documents that had been submitted earlier to the employer organization, which in many cases the survivor did not know where or how to obtain. A number of solutions had been suggested to no avail. It was agreed that an in-depth assessment of the issue was required, preferably with the involvement of Staff Pension Committees, as well as a greater awareness of diverse cultural environments.

Editor’s note: More information on these and other issues discussed during the 41st session of the FAFICS Council can be found on the FAFICS website: www.fafics.org.

AFTER-SERVICE HEALTH InSURAnCE AnD LOnG-TERM CARE (ASHIL)

The following report reflects the deliberations of the Standing Committee on ASHIL, which met prior to the start of the Council session and of the Council thereon. The Standing Committee noted that the Secretary-General’s response to the request in General Assembly resolution 64/241 was being prepared. That resolution, passed in 2009, called for a report in 2012 on managing after-service health insurance liabilities. It had arisen when new accounting standards (IPSAS) turned a spotlight on liabilities, as most organizations operate their health care coverage on a pay-as-you-go basis. The resolution called for extensive information, alarming retirees as it requested the UN Secretary-General to report on “the financial and legal implications of changing, for current retirees and active staff members: (i) the scope and coverage of the after-service health insurance plans; and (ii) the contribution levels.” In 2010, FAFICS had passed a resolu-tion expressing concern over the reference to possible changes for “current” retirees and asked to be involved in the response to the request from the GA. Over the last year, the Presidents of FAFICS and AFICS/NY, together with the Chairs of the AFICS/NY Insurance Committee and the FAFICS Standing Committee on ASHIL, had met informally several times with the Chief of the Health Insurance and Disbursement Unit, Christophe Monier (whose office was responsible for drafting the report for the Secretary-General) to discuss the approach to be taken and offer assistance. FAFICS had pointed to the

need to refer to the raison d’être of the original plans, with ref-erence to Article 101 of the UN Charter and the relevant ILO conventions. Because UN staff were generally excluded from national social security systems even where such schemes existed, it was essential that adequate health care for United Nations system staff and retirees be ensured and retained.

The Committee was reassured by the approach being tak-en and equally reassured that the issue had been postponed to the resumed session of the General Assembly in 2013, hinting at lesser urgency or lower priority being accorded to the issue. It also noted that the pay-as-you-go principle, the most cur-rent approach for most organizations, was still one of the via-ble options to be included in the report to the GA. Four major concerns discussed had been: (1) the need to provide health insurance coverage to widows of UN staff living on small pensions whose spouses had opted out of ASHI, and due to age and lack of income could not afford private health insur-ance; (2) the possibility of requesting insurance providers to make free coverage available to retirees who had not claimed benefits for a number of years; (3) recognition that provision of health care insurance was a matter of solidarity amongst all those insured; (4) evidence that attention was increasingly being paid by Member States to costs for provision of health care insurance to staff and retirees in organizations of the UN system as well as in other international organizations.

The Standing Committee had decided to maintain the overall issue of costs as a permanent issue on its agenda. Updating the comprehensive database on changes in the organizations’ health insurance schemes was a major under-taking that hinged on the active involvement of all ASHIL focal points in all Associations. As the number of retirees contributing to the various health insurances was close to a third of all contributors it was appropriate to include retir-ees as active contributing participants in the management of health insurance schemes in all organizations. Since it was not possible for UN staff to return home after retirement and enjoy benefits that were in any way comparable to the health insurance coverage they enjoyed while in active service it was essential to retain ASHI plans.

In the ensuing discussion, a tally was taken of the num-ber of organizations where retirees served on health insur-ance committees. Participants in the Council knew of at least six such instances, not including the regional economic commissions. In UNESCO, for example, one third of the elected representatives on the Board of the UNESCO Medical Benefit Fund were retirees with the same voting rights as staff representatives.

AAFI-AFICS-Geneva welcomed the updating of the data-base as had been proposed, the formalization of retiree repre-sentation on health insurance committees and the extension of ASHI benefits to divorced spouses but did not favour free


coverage for retirees who had entered no claims over several years. AAFICS-Australia requested that details on the repre-sentation of retirees in the various health insurance schemes be included in the database. Reference was made to the fact that in many countries national health-care schemes did not exist. The importance of securing the greater involvement of focal points in the work of the Standing Committee between sessions of the Council was emphasized.

Developments in respect of U.S. Medicare Part BAFICS/NY reported on this U.S. government insurance

scheme available to permanent residents in the U.S. In July 2011, the UN had made enrolment in the scheme mandatory for those then between the ages of 65 and 75 who met the eligibility requirements. Going forward, all UN retirees who were permanent U.S. residents would be required to enrol at age 65. Savings costs were not yet available, but a U.S.-based actuary firm that had calculated ASHI liability overall indi-cated that the total liability would be about eight per cent lower as a result of the implementation of the Medicare B policy, looking at expenses for the next 30 years.

Extension of ASHI benefits to divorced spouses Document SC/ASHIL/2012/DOC/4 prepared by AFICS/

NY set out the background on this issue and proposed pos-sible solutions for discussion. It was pointed out that many of the assumptions based on social interactions were no longer valid in today’s world. The structure of families had changed, yet the organizations’ rules and regulations did not reflect the changed reality. This was an issue that some considered should have been treated much earlier and was a matter of fairness. It was proposed that it be recommended to the Council that this was an important issue requiring that all those involved in health insurance arrangements in the different organizations take it up through staff unions or directly with administrations.

At the close of the debate, the Council adopted the reso-lution on the participation of retirees in the management of the organizations’ health insurance schemes with one minor amendment and took note of the Standing Committee’s report and issues raised in the subsequent discussion.

EFFORTS TO InCREASE FAFICS MEMBERSHIP Several delegations pointed to the benefits to be gained

from organizing specific membership drives through the establishment of focal points in neighbouring countries. In all endeavours, personal contacts played an important role; it had to be accepted that it was a gradual process.

Among certain larger Associations, membership was in decline and not keeping pace with the number of people retiring from service. A number of reasons were given, such as the abandonment of pre-retirement seminars at certain headquarters duty stations during which time membership in

Associations is promoted or the introduction of more efficient filing systems that had led to a culling of members in arrears.

Statistics showed that in many instances the ratio of actual membership to the total UN retiree population in a country was about 1:3. The apparent lack of interest could well be because many potential members see little advantage in joining a local Association. In the case of AAFI/AFUS, fig-ures showed that out of some 7,000 beneficiaries resident in France, AAFU/AFUS had only 1,584 members; at least half of the beneficiaries living in France were retirees who had previ-ously worked for the United Nations and other Geneva-based specialized agencies. Although those retirees had returned to France, they preferred to maintain links with their former organizations. The same situation applied to membership in other major duty stations. Some considered it essential to pro-vide a membership bonus of some kind. Some Associations offered free membership after payment of an enrolment fee; others offered special passes and commercial discounts for their members; and still others organized outings and social events. The message was that Associations had to offer some-thing that was distinctly visible as being advantageous.

WHAT CAn THE Un SYSTEM OF ORGAnIzATIOnS DO FOR RETIREES

The debate was initially focused on complaints about some United Nations organizations’ lack of cooperation with and understanding for retiree Associations. The enhance-ment of cooperation with UN entities in the field was a mat-ter of concern to smaller Associations that, unlike larger ones at major HQ duty stations, did not enjoy the benefit of interaction with all levels of management and the provision of basic essential services. At the same time, while a num-ber of Associations had been assisted by the Pension Fund Secretariat in their membership drives, it was noted that the Pension Fund Secretariat also benefitted from the assistance of Associations in searching for beneficiaries who had failed to submit their certificates of entitlement—a process that could be greatly facilitated if it were possible for the UNJSPF to provide contact information. FAFICS was of the view that the Pension Fund Secretariat could accord FAFICS greater and graphically more attractive visibility on its website with links to its members’ various newsletters. In its outreach activities, including pre-retirement seminars, the Pension Fund Secretariat could refer more frequently to FAFICS. The question of cooperation and support from UN entities was closely linked to the degree of rapport established with the UN Coordinators and Resident Representatives in the field, some of whom were particularly helpful, as was the case in Bangladesh and Burkina Faso.

The Council recognized that the re-issuance of a direc-tive to its members was insufficient in itself. Matters were also complicated by the lack of institutional memory within the


UN bodies themselves. It was essential that new incumbents of UN offices worldwide be briefed on the type of services they could and should provide to retirees.

ELECTIOn OF FAFICS OFFICERSRoger Eggleston was elected President by acclamation.

Jayaraman Sundaresan and Lydia Ontal were elected by acclamation to the posts of Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively. Wolfgang Mizlow was elected by acclamation to the post of Treasurer with effect from 1 January 2013. In the interim he would work closely in cooperation with Juan Mateu, the incumbent Treasurer, who would guide him through the succession process. The result of the Council’s voting for the seven Vice-Presidents resulted in the election of: Pierre Adama Traoré, Katia Chestopalov, Michael Atchia, Ahmed Hussain, Linda Saputelli, Josaine Taillefer and Helene Hasselbalch.

TRIBUTES TO OUTGOInG PRESIDEnT, AnDRéS CASTELLAnOS, AnD HIS DESIGnATIOn AS PRESIDEnT EMERITUS OF FAFICS

Speaking on behalf of the host association and the Presidents emeriti, as well as in his own personal capacity, Witold Zyss paid tribute to the outgoing President. Having worked with Andrés Castellanos over so many years, he held him in the highest esteem for his commitment to the cause and unflagging energy. In the light of the outgo-ing President’s inestimable contribution to the work of the Federation, he formally proposed that Andrés Castellanos be elected President emeritus of FAFICS, which was immedi-ately endorsed by AAFI-AFICS. Speaking on behalf of the Council, Tedla Teshome fully endorsed this proposal, paying

tribute to both the newly appointed President emeritus and the President designate. The Council adopted unanimously the proposal that the title of President Emeritus be con-ferred on Andrés Castellanos and that the title of Honorary Treasurer be bestowed on Juan Mateu.

The newly elected President, Roger Eggleston, spoke of being humbled by the trust placed in him. Three thoughts had come to mind that he hoped to put into effect over the coming years. The first thought was to continue the endeav-ours to secure new member associations: a process that had been set in train by his predecessor. His second thought was to enhance communications and, in particular, strengthen links with the membership. To that end, he hoped to launch a newsletter under the banner of FAFICS matters. His third thought was the obverse of what the United Nations could do for FAFICS; he sought to establish what the Federation could do for the United Nations. To that end, he would invest time and energy in contributing to the elaboration of a UN con-vention on the rights of ageing people. In that endeavour he would build on the global nature of the Federation and draw upon the pool of talent in its ranks. In closing, he thanked the Council for the great honour that had been bestowed upon him; he was deeply conscious of the standards set by all his predecessors.

Editor’s Note: The above summary of highlights of the 41st Session of the FAFICS Council was prepared with the assistance of Andrés Castellanos, Former President and President Emeritus, FAFICS; Linda Saputelli, Vice President, FAFICS, Rapporteur of the ASHIL Standing Committee, and President, AFICS/NY; and Federico Riesco, former Co-Chairman, AFICS/NY Committee on Pensions. The full report is available on the FAFICS Website: fafics.org

Rapid population ageing and a steady increase in human longevity worldwide represent one of the greatest social,

economic and political transformations of our time. These demographic changes will affect every community, family and person. They demand that we rethink how individuals live, work, plan and learn throughout their lifetimes, and that we re-invent how societies manage themselves.

As we embark on shaping the post-2015 United Nations development agenda, we must envision a new paradigm that aligns demographic ageing with economic and social growth and protects the human rights of older persons. We are all—individually and collectively—responsible for the inclusion of older persons in society, whether through developing accessi-ble transportation and communities, ensuring the availability

Message of the Secretary-General on theInternational Day Of Older Persons (IDOP)

1 October 2012

“Longevity: Shaping the Future”


of age-appropriate health care and social services, or provid-ing an adequate social protection floor.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. As the proportion of older persons in society grows, the bold vision it put forward—of building a society for all ages—is more relevant than ever.

Longevity is a public health achievement, not a social or economic liability. On this International Day of Older Persons, let us pledge to ensure the well-being of older per-sons and to enlist their meaningful participation in society so we can all benefit from their knowledge and ability.

From United Nations Press Release

The President of AFICS/NY represented the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants

(FAFICS) at the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, organized by the NGO Committee on Ageing on 10 October 2012, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund. As per the message from the UN Secretary-General, the theme chosen for this year’s meeting was “Longevity shapes the future.” There was a message from the Secretary-General (see above).

The keynote address, given by Dr. Vanda Pignota, the First Lady of El Salvador and Secretary for Social Inclusion, focused on “The Case for a Universal Human Rights and Development Convention for Older Persons.” She stressed that significant gaps in the treatment of older persons would be addressed if a convention to protect the rights of older persons were to be adopted. She pointed to the importance of inclusion of everyone in the exercise of fundamental human rights; older persons were not just charity recipients but vital members of their community; their experience and wisdom should be recognized; stereotyping older persons as only victims or dependents must be fought; ageing was part of the life cycle and needed to be embraced, much as birth was embraced; abuse of older persons, including neglect and abandonment, must be prevented. She also stressed the importance of effective social services and health policies, including those concerning mental health, and said that legal rights must also be available to older persons. She urged that the “charity paradigm” be replaced by the “rights paradigm.”

The President of the 67th session of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, stressed the importance of full imple-mentation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). He noted that the General Assembly was responsible for elaborating international development goals and that the current demographic changes in the older popu-lation needed to be brought into this process. He considered

the topics of ageing and older persons—including older peo-ple’s human rights and social welfare—to be important and promised that those topics would receive attention from the General Assembly.

Ms. Rosemary Lane, Chief of the Ageing Unit in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, spoke about the preparation of the review and appraisal of the MIPAA, noting the shift from discussions on welfare and dependency of older persons to discussions on their participation and contribu-tion. All of the UN Regional Commissions have held review and appraisal meetings, and she noted that discussions of ageing issues in all regions now include the issue of human rights. The results of regional meetings are posted at www.un.org (Secretariat/Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Social Policy and Development Division/Ageing).

Ms. Lane’s presentation was followed by a panel dis-cussion. Panellists included: (1) the Deputy Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN, Mr. Jakkrit Srivali, who gave an overview of recent policy actions relating to the older population in his country. He said that MIPAA had been a valuable guide in formulating national policy on the ageing; (2) Dr. Jose Miguel Guzman, Chief of the Population and Development Branch of UNFPA, who spoke about the main points in a new UNFPA/HelpAge publication, Ageing in the Twenty-First Century—a celebration and a challenge (see unfpa.org), which discusses, among many issues, current demographics, income security in old age, advancing health into old age, age-friendly environments, voices of older per-sons, and the way forward, including recommendations; (3) Dr. Mohini Giri, an NGO activist and former chair of the Indian National Commission for Women, who spoke about the social and cultural barriers facing older women, especial-ly widows; and (4) Mr. Tseliso Thipanyane, the former direc-tor of the Human Rights Commission of South Africa, who described the country’s legal framework regarding rights of older people and spoke in favour of adopting a new interna-tional agreement on older people’s human rights.

International Day of Older PersonsCelebrated in New York


Many of the presenters commented on human rights aspects of ageing, referring also to discussions of the General Assembly Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Ageing, which has held three sessions to discuss the feasibility of a convention to protect the rights of older persons. The NGO community supports such a convention, but governments are divided. While the development of a convention appears

remote for the time being, the focus of attention will be on the next review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), to be submitted to the Commission on Social Development at its next session in early 2013. AFICS/NY will be following this issue closely and will report further thereon.

Committee on NGO Relations and Information

The Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing was estab-lished by the UN General Assembly by resolution 65/182

on 21 December 2010. The goal of the WG is to look into the follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing and in particular to discuss the creation of a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. At the Working Group’s session in August 2012, FAFICS was represented by members of AFICS/NY. One of them, Germán A. Bravo-Casas, has provided a report from which the following extracts are taken:

“The third session of the OEWGA was a better gathering than the two previous ones. This time, there were a larger number of participants, particularly from Africa. The views of the participants had many points in common. There was a total consensus that there are numerous issues affecting the conditions of older persons and that many of them are related to gaps in the application of existing instruments. There was also a complete agreement with the idea that older persons should be regarded as important contributors to the societies

where they live and not as a burden due to their sometimes fragile conditions.”

Sadly there is no consensus among member states about how to proceed. As Mr. Bravo-Casas concludes, “At this point, it seems that the next focus of attention will be on the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action. In the meantime, there will be new explorations about the role to be played by a Special Rapporteur specifically designated to review the situation of human rights among the older per-sons. A possible scenario could be the appointment of such a Special Rapporteur. Other possible instruments could be the strengthening of mechanisms to assess on a continuous basis the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; this work would be basically coordinated by UN/DESA. For the time being, it seems that the adoption of a Convention is still a very remote option.”

Adapted from FAFICS MATTERSThe Newsletter of FAFICS

First issue, October 2012

UN Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA)

New Season of UNSRC Orchestra: Musicians Welcome!by TAnjA BERnSTEIn

A new season of the UN Staff Recreation Council (UNSRC) Symphony Orchestra has begun! At our very successful

debut concert this past May, we played Weber’s Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra; Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Schubert’s (“Unfinished”) Symphony No. 8 and Beethoven’s Egmont Overture (Op. 84). Since then, many people have asked when our next performance will be. Indeed, plans are underway to schedule a concert and rehearsals have already started. We are all excited to continue playing together, showcasing some of the UN’s hidden talents.

While we have some 90 members on our roster, not eve-ryone is an active player in the orchestra and we would wel-come more musicians. We especially need oboes, bassoons,

trombones and lower strings (violas, cellos, basses), though all musicians are welcome.

The UNSRC Symphony Orchestra was formed in the summer of 2011 by a group of UN staff members who, inspired by colleagues in Geneva, wanted to establish an ensemble in New York. Some of our active players were pre-viously professional musicians, and many studied music at the University level. The UN Orchestra is truly international, comprised of members coming from 25 different countries, and representing 17 different UN Departments, Agencies, Funds and Programmes and three Permanent Missions to the UN, as well as other members of the UN community in New York.


Within the Orchestra are two small chamber music groups: a String Quartet, and a Woodwind Quintet. Both are available to perform at various UN or private functions.

We are most fortunate to have as leader of the UN Symphony Orchestra, a seasoned conductor, Predrag Vasic, himself a UN staff member. Before joining the UN, Maestro Vasic had a successful career as an orchestra conductor and music director. He started working full-time as a rehears-al pianist and pit orchestra musician in a musical theatre in Belgrade during his college years. Quickly, he became Assistant Music Director, then Music Director and Principal Conductor, working on many theatrical productions, includ-ing as an arranger and orchestrator. Maestro Vasic also con-ducted many major large orchestras of the region, includ-ing the Belgrade Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Serbia, the Symphony Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia, the Zagreb Philharmonic, and several smaller chamber ensembles.

You can see a small clip about the UN Orchestra, pro-duced by UNTV, on UN Webcast, and learn more about the ensemble on our website: www.unorchestrany.org. If you are interested in joining or would like more informa-tion about the UN Symphony Orchestra and/or its chamber music ensembles please contact our music director at [email protected]. Whether you wish to join or attend a concert, you are most welcome!

Note: Tanja Bernstein is currently working in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, Policy Committee Secretariat. She first joined the UN in 2002 as part of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and later was posted to New York to work as a Political Affairs Officer in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. A founding member of the UN Orchestra, Tanja currently serves as principal violinist.

Adapted from I-Seek, 5 October 2012, New york

Gender Equality: Room Without A View

Ladies, remember the spectacular view of Manhattan from the spacious ladies’

rooms in the Secretariat Building? Well, they are a thing of the past! The Capital Master Plan (CMP), with a stroke of an architect’s pen, has done away with this discriminatory practice and has equalized the rest rooms in the newly refurbished Secretariat Building. After 60+ years of this special window treat-ment, the CMP has internalized the ladies’ rooms and put them on an equal footing with the men’s rooms. No more windows! No longer will gasps and jaw-dropping occur when male colleagues, in clandes-tine tours, are secretively shown the expan-sive windows and the stunning skyline of Manhattan. Their expressions of jealousy and amazement were a sight to behold. The magnificent ladies’ rooms views will hence-forth be a footnote in UN history. Perhaps the photo shown here should be mounted and placed on the walls of the current ladies’ rooms in memory of a bygone era.

PHOTO: MORGAN OMMER


NEWS YOU CAN USE

What’s New for U. S. Federal Taxes filed for 2012by DEDE EMERSOn

1. The standard deduction for married filing jointly will be $11,900; for singles, $5,950. If both taxpayers are over 65, it will be $13,900 for married filing jointly and $7,400 for singles.

2. For 2012, each personal exemption you claim will be $3,800.

3. The standard mileage rate for the cost of operating a vehicle for charitable purposes remains at 14 cents per mile. For medical purposes, it increases to 23 cents a mile.

4. Long-term care premium deductions per person will be $3,500 for ages 61-70; and, $4,370 for ages 71 and over. (Note: some of your long-term care premiums are deductible on the NY State Income Tax return.)

5. The alternative minimum tax exemption for 2012 will be $50,600 for single filers and $78,750 for those filing jointly.

6. Capital gains tax remains at 15% for assets held over a year.

7. The estate tax will be 35% on assets over $5.12 million.

8. The wage threshold for household employees increased to $1,800. Therefore, if you paid less than that to a household employee, you do not have to report or pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on that employee’s 2012 wages.

9. The due date for individual tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2013.

10. The changes for 2012 were minimal. But watch out for 2013!

Block Cell Phone Calls From TelemarketersAs you may have realized, cell phone numbers went public in October and were made available to telemar-

keting companies. You may have started receiving sales calls – FOR WHICH YOU WILL BE CHARGED!

To stop these calls, or keep them from happening, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.

This is the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY. Taking only a minute of your time, it will block your number for five years! But be sure to call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked; you cannot call from a different phone number. To block calls to your land line, call the same number from your land line telephone.

There is also a New York State Do Not Call List to which you should add your numbers by registering at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/do_not_call/.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON!


The following note, provided to its members by the UN Federal Credit Union, is reprinted below for your information:

Dear Member:

It has come to our attention that some members have received E-mails that claim to be from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The E-mail directs the recipient to complete an attached form entitled, “Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding,” which asks for sensitive personal information as well as financial account information. The E-mail instructs the recipient to return the completed form, along with a copy of their passport by fax or E-mail.

Please be advised that these E-mails are fraudulent. If you have received this E-mail, simply delete it and do not provide any information. The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through E-mail and would never request detailed personal or financial information in this manner.

Please contact UNFCU immediately at +1 347-686-6000 or via E-mail at [email protected] in the event you have replied to this type of E-mail communication. You may also contact us by mail as follows: United Nations Federal Credit Union, Court Square Place, 24-01 44th Rd. Long Island City, NY 11101-4605, USA.

Beware of Fraudulent “IRS” Messages

Beware Of Unexpected “Gifts”!!!

Watch out for a clever credit card scam that works like this:

1. You receive a phone call from an individual who claims to be from “Express Couriers” asking if someone will be at your home to receive a package to be delivered in about an hour. You say “yes.”

2. Sure enough, about an hour later, a deliveryman turns up with a beautiful basket of flowers and wine. What a sur-prise—especially if there is no special occasion or holiday. You ask who the sender is. The deliveryman replies that he is only delivering the gift package; a card is being sent separately. (It never arrives!)

3. With the gift, there’s an official looking ‘consignment’ note. The deliveryman explains that because the gift contains alcohol, there is a $3.50 ‘delivery charge’ due as proof that the package has actually been received by an adult and not just left on your doorstep. As this sounds logical, you offer to pay cash but the deliveryman tells you that the company requires payment to be made only by credit or debit card so that everything is properly accounted for.

4. You get out your credit or debit card and the deliveryman asks you to swipe it on his mobile card machine, which has a small screen and keypad where you now enter the card’s PIN and security number. A receipt is printed out and given to you.

5. A few days later you find that money has been charged or withdrawn from your credit or debit account at various ATM machines all over the country. It appears that the “mobile credit card machine” which the deliveryman carried now has all the information necessary to create a “dummy” card with all your card details, since you have swiped the card and entered the requested PIN and security number.

6. Don’t fall for this one, and share the information with others who may not be aware of it!

Check it out for yourself. http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/express.asp


What is yoga? The purpose of yoga is to achieve a better connection between the physical body and the mind. This objective is also shared with many reli-gions and rational systems, but what distinguishes yoga from them is that yoga uses the breath as the “instrument” to achieve the body/mind connection. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual discipline that originated in the Indian subcontinent some 5,000 years ago; this rich tradition has been evolv-ing as scholars and practitioners have been discovering the important benefits of yoga. Yoga values are very close to the United Nations principles, which include the pursuit of peace, the recognition of interconnectedness and basic rights and obligations, solidarity, compassion, the improvement of the human condition, and respect for the environment.

Who can practice yoga? During our entire life we prac-tice some yoga postures (called Asanas). In fact, we were prac-ticing Balasana (‘the child pose’) for nine months before we were born, and we used to squat easily, even before we began to walk, but as we became adults, we forgot them. But in spite of that, we can always do some yoga at any age and in any physical condition … as long as we can breathe.

Which are the main benefits of yoga? Yoga has impor-tant physical benefits; for example, toning the muscular and

nervous systems, improving the cir-culation of blood, and consequently, promoting f lexibility and physical strength, improving balance, alleviat-ing asthma and other breathing disor-ders, making for a better digestion and elimination, boosting the immune sys-tem, enhancing cardiovascular health and helping to control the blood pres-sure. Yoga has also important mental and emotional benefits, as it frees the mind from disturbances, affects men-tal mood, reduces tension and anxiety, facilitates concentration and reduces the impact of stress.

Where can seniors practice yoga? – There are numerous places. According to the 2012 Yoga in America Survey, con-ducted by Yoga Journal, the group of those aged 55 and above represents today 20.7 per cent of American yoga practitioners (just four years ago this group was 18.4 per cent). Many gyms, health clubs and yoga studios are increasingly offering “gentle yoga” classes for seniors.

Note: Germán A. Bravo-Casas is a retiree who has been teaching yoga since 1970. For information on current classes for UN staff and retires, you can contact him at [email protected].

Yoga For Seniorsby GERMán A. BRAVO-CASAS

Please Update your Contact InformationAFICS/NY continues to receive a great deal of returned mail and E-mail due to members’ failure to notify us when

they move to a new address, change their E-mail address, or fail to access their in-boxes, causing overload. Please make sure you let us know when you make a change so that we can keep your contact information up-to-date. If you learn that another AFICS/NY member has moved or changed his/her E-mail, inform us of that as well!

Please note that we need your personal E-mail address, not an UN E-mail address that you may still have. Experience has shown that the latter quickly become out-of-date.

It is particularly important that you take action now because the Membership Committee is in the process of pre-paring a new issue of the DIRECTORY OF MEMBERS. The information will be used only to inform you of upcoming AFICS/NY events or provide essential information on insurance, pensions or other matters of interest.


1 How do we hear and what happens when there is hearing loss?

We hear sounds when sound goes through the ears’ three main structures. In hearing loss, one or more of these struc-tures is affected/ damaged. These structures are the:

◉External ear canal.◉Middle ear, which is separated from the ear canal by

the eardrum.◉Inner ear, which contains the cochlea, the main sen-

sory organ of hearing. The part of the ear affected determines the type of hearing loss.

◉In conductive hearing loss, sound is blocked before it reaches the inner ear. Examples of what causes conductive hearing loss include earwax or a growth blocking sound, such as occurs in otosclerosis.

◉In sensorineural hearing loss, sound reaches the inner ear, but a problem in the inner ear or the nerves that allow us to hear (auditory nerves) prevents proper hearing. Examples of sensorineural hearing loss include both noise-induced and age-related hearing loss.

◉A mixed hearing loss, in which both the conductive and sensorineural systems are affected, can also occur.

2 What happens in age-related hearing loss?

The nerves in the inner ear—where the cochlea is located —start to deteriorate, becoming dead or damaged. The loss of these nerve cells makes it harder to hear. Thus, presbycusis is often a type of sensorineural hearing loss, although it can also sometimes be the result of conductive from changes in the middle ear as we age.

3 Risk Factors for age-related hearing loss

Getting older is not the only factor in presbycusis. Other risk factors include:

◉Genetics (age-related hearing loss tends to run in families);

◉Repeated exposure to loud noises for years;◉Smoking (smokers are more likely to have such hear-

ing loss than nonsmokers); and ◉Certain medical conditions and medications that

contribute to age-related hearing loss.

Age-related Hearing Lossby DR. SUDERSHAn nARULA

HEALTHY LIVING

Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the slow loss of hearing that occurs as we get older, and to some degree it affects most older adults.

About 30–35 per cent of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 have some hearing loss, as do 40–50 per cent of people age 75 and older. Many may not even be aware that they have a loss of hearing.

This hearing loss is progressive, which means it slowly gets worse, and is permanent.

Hearing loss can result in both physical (not hearing a fire alarm) and psychological (social isolation) problems.


4 How do you know if you have a Hearing Loss?

Here are some symptoms:

◉Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?◉Do you hear ringing in your ears?◉Do people say your TV is too loud?◉Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone?◉Do you have trouble hearing when there’s noise in

the background?The loss of hearing occurs slowly over time. At first, it is most difficult to hear high-frequency sounds, such as people with high-pitched voices talking, especially women and children. As hearing gets worse, it may become difficult to hear sounds at lower pitches.

5 What should we do?

Hearing loss should be evaluated as soon as possible to rule out potentially reversible causes such as too much wax in the ear or medication side effects. It is also helpful to have a base-line hearing test so your doctor can note any changes that may occur in the future.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have a sudden change in your hearing or hearing loss with other symptoms such as headache, vision changes, or dizziness.

Sometimes the diagnosis and treatment can take place in the doctor’s office. Or your doctor may refer you to an ENT spe-cialist, a doctor who specializes in the ear, nose, and throat. The ENT specialist will take a medical history and ask if other family members have hearing problems, do a thorough exam, and suggest any needed tests.

You may be referred to an audiologist, a health care profes-sional trained to measure hearing. The audiologist will use an audiometer to test your ability to hear sounds of different pitch and loudness. These tests are painless. Audiologists can help if you need a hearing aid and also help to select the best hearing aid for you and help you learn to get the most from it.

6 Treatment

There is no known cure for age-related hearing loss. Treatment is focused on improving your everyday function. The follow-ing may be helpful:

◉Hearing aids. These are small devices you wear in or behind your ear that can help some kinds of hearing loss by making sounds louder. However, they some-times pick up background noises;

◉Telephone amplifiers and other assistive devices;

◉Speech reading (such as lip reading and using visual cues to aid communication);

◉A cochlear implant. This may be recommended for certain people with very severe hearing loss. Surgery is done to insert the implant, which makes sounds seem louder but does not restore normal hearing.

7 If you have a hearing loss

Talk to your friends and family as they need to know that you have trouble hearing. They can make small changes to help you hear better when they talk. Ask them to:

◉Find a quiet place to talk where there isn’t a lot of background noise;

◉Face you and talk clearly;

◉Speak slowly;

◉Keep their hands away from their mouths while they talk;

◉Avoid eating or chewing gum while talking with you;

◉Repeat what they said if you didn’t hear it the first time;

◉Write down important information.

I think it is a good idea for all of us to have our hearing tested and I am going to do so. As I said earlier, even if we have no hearing loss, it is helpful to have a baseline hearing test so that the doctor can note any changes that may occur in the future.

It seems there is a lot of resistance to getting hearing impairment diagnosed and treated. Even among enlightened individuals, hearing aids still carry a stigma. Men think, ‘It’s a sign of weakness,’ and women think, ‘It’s showing my age.’


MEMBERS’ FORUM

ADVOCATES’ CORNER

Living on an island makes one easily forget that there is a bigger world beyond the Caribbean Sea. Yes, we

have internet and cable TV and even an election campaign (although not for president of the USA), but it is different here, with emphasis on local issues and fish fries to attract atten-tion. Until now, I felt that few people really cared about the world community and the work of the United Nations. In a way, it’s similar to the national media, reporting mostly on violence and dramatic occurrences and leaving little time for positive happenings. Yet this week, our local St. Croix news-paper—The Avis—featured two editorials focusing on United Nations concerns, as well as reporting on the GA sessions.

On 21 September the paper highlighted the worldwide efforts to promote peace and non-violence. In St. Croix, a family event was organized, with children expressing their thoughts and painting on a peace wall. And on the next day, 22 Sept., a peace march took place. On St. Thomas, a “Global Mala for Peace” was set up where the world’s yoga community unites to perform the same 108 poses. The editorial stated, “It is unfortunate that we need a day to remind us of the impor-tance of peace. We will continue to pray for more peaceful days ahead, both here in the Virgin Islands and throughout the world.”

Then, on the 27th, the newspaper’s editorial highlighted the UN Secretary-General’s State of the World address. The call for “green initiatives and sustainability” resonated par-ticularly well here in the Virgin Islands, where electricity and gasoline prices are continuing to rise. And coincidentally, the S-G’s statement, “The moderate majority should not be a silent majority. It must empower itself,” brought a response from the St. Croix Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce, launching a new initiative called “Believe…” This campaign is modelled after a national movement created by the Baltimore Foundation ten years ago and seeks to empower and mobi-lize residents to tackle some of the critical issues affecting the community. It asks everyone to get involved to beautify the island and to provide young people with an opportunity to improve their educational performance and be creative and positive.

The UN Secretary-General said, “We must raise our lev-els of ambition. We need more from each and every one of you.” Therefore, the phrase “think globally, act locally” could have multiplying effects nationally and internationally, and it’s worth remembering—especially now with instant internet communication—that “no man is an island.”

Promoting Peace by HORST MAx CERnI

I received my spring 2012 AFICS BULLETIN and was, in particular, drawn to the Advocates’ Corner. I can fully under-stand the need for Speakers on the UN.

I was employed by the UN International Labor Organisation from 1956-1980. I reached the age of 60 years and had to leave. After retirement I spent ten years teaching at Temple University in Philadelphia. My field of expertise was Industrial and Vocational Education. In the ILO I was assigned to the Vocational Training Section where we had UN projects in some 100 countries. We recruited staff to train skilled workers in vocational trades and assisted governments in establishing vocational training centers.

During my retirement I also volunteered to work with a YMCA group that conducted week-long Model UN Assemblies for high school youths. After about ten years that group ended their activities.

For the past 22 years I have been a student at the University of Delaware’s Lifelong Learning Center. During the fall and spring semester of 12 weeks each, the centre offers some 200 courses and has more than 2000 senior citizens each year. All courses are taught by persons taking courses. For several years I taught a course on the United Nations, about which my students enjoyed learning. I was amazed that most Americans do not know much about the UN and very

Dear Editor,


UN AT WORK WORLDWIDE

unhappy that they do not know about its job opportunities. During my 24 years of service with the ILO we had a staff of some 1,800 persons and some 60 positions were reserved for Americans, yet we never had more than 30 to 35 Americans on the staff.

I have made attempts to inform my state congressional persons and also wrote a letter to our local newspaper about

the job opportunities but the editor of the newspaper refused to print my letter.

I am now 92 years of age so there is little I can do. However, I often raise the issue of the UN when I am in social groups.

Your effort to find speakers on the UN is therefore a worthwhile thing to do.

Leonard J. (Joe) young, Sr.

UNDP Delivers on Full Transparency Pledge

The United Nations Development Programme has made details on thousands of its projects—and their outcomes—available to the public, through its new portal, open.undp.org.

Launched 29 Nov. 2012, the portal embodies the fulfil-ment of UNDP’s commitment to full transparency by 2013 “above and beyond international standards,” according to the agency.

The site features comprehensive information, including income, expenses, activities and results, on more than 6,000 active projects in 177 countries and territories, along with those financially closed in 2011. And beginning 2013, UNDP will publish updates on its on-going development projects quarterly.

With the move, UNDP lives up to its reputation as a transparency champion. It is a founding member of the International Aid Transparency Initiative and part of the IATI Secretariat.

UNDP’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In an index released early last October, the agency ranked 10th among 72

funding organizations assessed by Publish What You Fund, moving from a grade of “fair” in 2011 to “good” in 2012.

“We are committed to working in the open, and we will continue improving the quality, quantity, and timeli-ness of our reporting so that our partners can monitor their investments in fighting poverty, supporting human develop-ment, and securing a sustainable future for all,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

The UNDP is also considered a trailblazer on the issue among UN agencies, some of whom have long drawn criti-cism for their lack of openness.

But the transparency movement appears to have caught on within the UN system. In June, UNICEF announced that it will publish all its audit reports on the Internet starting later this year.

From DEVEX, THE DEVELOPMENT NEWSWIREPosted by Eliza Villarino, Devex Correspondent

30 November 2012

Please note that AFICS/NY no longer has a post office box. All mail should be addressed to

AFICS/nY United nations Room DC1-580

new York, nY 10017


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Bulletin has received the following, referring to the article by Jane Weidlund on page 28 of the Summer 2012 Bulletin:

12 October, 2012

Thank you, Jane, for your informative article about the Osborne Residence in Rye where you now reside.Did you mean to inform only the United Nations Community of retirees who were at the Directorate level? It’s like recom-

mending the tourists in Paris to stay at the George V hotel or the Ritz.Rye is certainly a lovely New York Suburb but really, “an initial entrance fee of $455,550 to $1,241,371 for a one- two- or

three-bedroom apartment” plus a monthly fee of $3,653 to $5,675!! For this kind of money you can live in Paradise in many parts of the world.

I think I will need a big cost of living increase in my pension if I want to qualify.Anyway, I wish you a very happy retirement at the Osborne.

Odette Tin-Aung

Note: Like the staff of the United Nations and its various organizations and agencies, AFICS/NY is comprised of individuals who held posts ranging from GS to the ASG level. The information we publish in our Quarterly Bulletin is for information purposes only. As our disclaimer in every issue states, “The mention of any product, service, organization or company does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Association.” See below for other articles on options for living in retirement. Additional examples would be most welcome, especially those available at a reasonable cost.

13 June 2012AEGIS LIVING

of Southern California & NevadaAbout half a year ago, I moved to a retirement home. This one is located in the northern part of Los Angeles, California

and is called Aegis. From the first day on I felt at home. There are apartments of one, two or three rooms with two bathrooms and a kitchen.

Every apartment is done with your own furniture and decorations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room, where you meet other residents. There are many activities. I

have a green thumb and love to work in the gardens. I even have my own little space, where I have flowers and strawberry and tomato plants.

No more worries about maintaining a house. No more cleaning, shopping for food. Everything gets done for you. The “crew,” as I call it, is made up of friendly and helpful people. This house is my home.

Enclosed you’ll find a prospectus that interested members are welcome to consult in the AFICS/NY Office.

Cordial saludos, Corneli Berlijn

c/o Odette Berlijn11165 Gaynor Avenue

Granada Hills, CA. 91344

Note: You may obtain additional information about Aegis of Granada Hills by telephone (818) 363-3373; or from their website: www.aegisliving.com

Mrs. Berlijn also informed us of an error on page 23 of our spring 2012 Bulletin, where she was erroneously listed as a new member. Rather, she is the widow of former FAO Project Manager, Johan D. Berlijn, who was a life member.


BOOK REVIEWS

Twilights in Rossmoor(Expanded Edition) By Sheng-Yi (S.Y.) HuangCopyright 2012 by Shing-Yi HuangISBN 978-0-615-62069-5

“Rossmoor is one of the premier retirement communities in the nation. Located in the eastern suburb of San Francisco, it lies in a beautiful valley of the Mt. Diablo mountain range and is blessed with sunny and gorgeous weather most of the year. The community boasts an active and carefree lifestyle among its less than 10,000 residents, even though in recent years their average age hovers around 77.”

So begins Twilights in Rossmoor by AFICS/NY member S.Y. Huang, originally pub-lished in 2004 and issued in an expanded edition in May 2012. Mr. Huang and his wife, Carrie, have lived very happily in Rossmoor for 25 years, where from their condo at dusk they can see “herds of deer roaming under our veranda.”

The book is a collection of articles Mr. Huang has penned over the years for the Rossmoor community’s in-house publication, Rossmoor News. It vividly portrays vari-ous aspects of life there and offers profiles of interesting people he has met over the years. Whether a resident’s tastes runs to tennis, golf, dancing, music, painting, mah-jongg,

bridge or trips abroad on organized tours, the panoply of activities offers something for everybody. There are several accounts of joyous holiday festivals, celebrations of family occasions or longevity (on the part of nonagenarians), and even a gala bazaar offering residents an opportunity to display and offer for sale, home-made items ranging from jewellery and needle work to home-baked cookies and orange marmalade.

The book also shows Rossmoor residents enjoying Walnut Creek’s fine restaurants and actively participating in numerous volunteer and community activities. Mr. Huang has been especially active in the local chapter of the Lions Club, which works intensively to preserve sight and hearing through its charitable contributions.

Articles offer insights into the lives of a certain segment of the Chinese diaspora as well: Chinese-Americans who left China after World War II, share a common heritage and intellectual background, and have formed an elite society of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. unprecedented in the history of Chinese immigration. At Rossmoor, the number of Chinese-American residents soon grew from some 20, at the time of the Huangs’ arrival, to more than 200. Their Chinese-American Association of Rossmoor is very active, holding numerous events and raising funds for good causes such as relief and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that hit the Sichuan Province of China in 2008, affecting more than 10 million people.

The book also contains a number of speeches chronicling the history of Rossmoor and the growth of its unique Chinese-American society. It is illustrated with many photos, most taken by the author, showing cheerful celebrations and the beautiful landscape of the area, which has been called “A true Shangri-La.”

In an appendix, Mr. Huang provides an account, “My Life as an International Civil Servant,” which previously appeared in a two-volume book titled “The Chinese in the United Nations” published with AFICS/NY research assistance in 2007. Here, details are given of his career from 1952, when he entered the UN as a Chinese Translator, to the time of his mandatory retire-ment at age 60 as the Assistant Director for Special Assignments in the then Office of Personnel Services, followed by another ten years of UN consultancies. AFICS/NY members will find many references to former colleagues.

To the traditional Chinese way of thinking, says Mr. Huang, contentment in retirement depends upon the presence of three elements: clement weather, pleasant geographical location, and harmonious personal relationship. Rossmoor, he finds, offers all three ingredients for a happy retirement life.

Mr. Huang has kindly donated a copy of the revised edition of Twilights in Rossmoor to the AFICS/NY Library. For additional information you may contact S.Y. Huang, 3267 Rossmoor Parkway, #1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. E-mail: [email protected]

MLH

PHO

TO: R

OSS

MO

OR

NEW

S


AFICS MEETINGS WORLDWIDE

On 1 December 2012, a private hall of Wolfgang Puck Grand Café at Downtown Disney resounded with greetings among 19 members who had gathered to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Florida Chapter of AFICS/NY.

Soon after registration at 12:00 noon, everyone was wel-comed by Madan Arora. As a few members were attending one of our meetings for the first time, everyone was requested to introduce him/herself and the newcomers were welcomed to the family. The Statement of the Florida Chapter of AFICS/NY adopted six years ago was re-affirmed and read by Dr. Wale Omawale. Then a moment of silence was observed for: Mr. Lee Roy who had passed away; the 95-year-old mother of Terry Taylor; and those who had lost their lives due to Hurricane Sandy.

Following circulation of a draft calendar for 2013, the following schedule of events was approved by majority vote:

APRIL—Saturday (27th): Thai lunch; seminar, Experiences re Medicare and Suggestions

JUNE—Saturday (1st): Day Cruise and Lunch; departure from Sanford

SEPTEMBER—Saturday (7th): Mediterranean Lunch; seminar with guest speaker, How to Invest Safely in Today’s Climate

DECEMBER—Saturday (7th): Anniversary Lunch at Universal Resort

All members were requested to note the dates and urged to attend these events. As usual, everyone is invited to partici-pate with family and friends. Moreover, each member attend-ing the anniversary celebrations was requested to approach at least five UN retirees and encourage them to attend the events of the Florida Chapter.

A delicious lunch was served from the à la carte menu of the Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, which is a famous Disney restaurant. Then a game of Bingo organized by Kiron and Madan Arora was played, with many winners and prizes. Among the latter was an attractive UNICEF Calendar con-tributed by Annelies Plaisant.

The highlight of the afternoon was the presence of Emily, the nine-year-old granddaughter of Marian Awaad, who graced the occasion with her charm and attended the whole event with pleasant smiles.

Finally, we all assembled for a group photograph. Then it came time to say GOOD BYE to 2012 and everyone departed, wishing each other HAPPY HOLIDAYS and all the best for 2013. Each member, including Emily, had thoroughly enjoyed the whole afternoon and left happily, eagerly looking forward to our next meeting on 27 April 2013.

Madan Arora, PresidentFlorida Chapter of AFICS/Ny

UnITED STATES

Florida Chapter Of AFICS/NY Celebrates Sixth Anniversary

CAnADA

18th UN/CAFIC Luncheon Held in Victoria, British ColumbiaThe 18th UN/CAFICS Luncheon was held on 11

December 2012 at the Gatsby Mansion restaurant, Victoria, British Columbia. It was very well attended, with 20 guests who arrived at 11:30 am for a pre-lunch get together that gave everyone an opportunity to mingle, glass of wine in hand, before being seated. The foyer of the restaurant was beauti-fully decorated for the season, welcoming everyone with a glowing fireplace.

The Gatsby Mansion has a long history dating back to 1897. Under new management since last Spring, and with

Executive Chef D’Arcy Ladret at the helm in the kitchen, we were treated to a delicious and beautifully handcrafted lunch followed by desserts that were equally unique and finely designed.

D’Arcy Ladret’s work has been featured in Art Culinaire Magazine, Western Living, The Victoria Times Colonist and on the cover of Los Angeles Magazine. He has worked in some of the most well-known kitchens around Vancouver Island including those of Sooke Harbour House and The Sidney Pier Resort & Spa. To quote Chef Ladret, “I am thrilled to present


a menu for the Gatsby Mansion restaurant that celebrates the harvest from Vancouver Island’s shores, farms and forest – ingredients that have been a part of my life growing up on the coast and will now become the hallmark of my kitchen team’s culinary style”.

The following organizations were represented among our guests—ESA, ESCWA, FAO, IAEA, IATA, IAU, ICAO, ILO, NATO, UNCOPUOS, UNESCO and WORLD BANK—which made for some very interesting conversations and exchanges of points of view. Once again we had two new guests, from ILO. They came down from Vancouver and we were delighted that they could join us. We are seeing an increase in the num-ber of guests from the Mainland and welcome all who wish to have lunch with the Victoria group.

One of our guests asked us what had happened to the art-work when ICAO moved from its old building on Sherbrooke Street to the new one on University Boulevard. In fact the artwork may be seen on a wonderful website established in 2002. It may be found by searching google for The ICAO Art Collection: a Guided Tour or clicking on http://legacy.icao.int/icao/en/tour.pdf. We think that for those who worked in ICAO, going right back to 1948 (including one of our guests), and who enjoy art this would be a wonderful website to visit.

We thank all present for the success of this luncheon and the Gatsby Mansion restaurant for their excellent service. Our next luncheon will be on Tuesday, 11 June 2013.

Gerry and Evelyn Nye

InvitationUN/CAFICS/AFICS luncheons are held in June and December of each year. Anyone wishing to attend

is invited to contact us for details: Evelyn & Gerry Nye, 201-1501 Richmond Avenue, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8R 4P7

1-250-370-2108 <[email protected]>We look forward to meeting you here in the Victoria region,

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

nEPALNov. 16, 2012

Greetings from the country of the Himalayas! Hope all is well in NY and all the offices are back to normal after the devastating hurricane Sandy. I am glad to report that we (most of the retired staff of UN in Nepal) had a second reunion on the occasion of UN Day 2012. The celebration was attended by a huge number of peo-ple including the Foreign Minister, Senior Government Officials, UN Agency Heads based in Nepal, cur-rent staff of all the UN Agencies and a group of us (retirees). After the function we had a “Hi Tea” party in the lounge of the UN Building.

Please also note that after several rounds of follow-up meetings we have been able to form the Retired United Nations Staff Association–Nepal “RUNSAN.” The chairman of RUNSAN has already communicated with the President of FAFICS with a request for membership and we are awaiting a favourable response.

Looking forward to seeing our group photo in your forthcoming AFICS Bulletin. With best regards,

kumar S. MaharjanAFICS New york Correspondent

kathmandu, Nepal


nEWTOn ROWELL BOWLES

(1916 – 2012)

Newton Rowell Bowles passed away on 2 October in Duluth, Minn., where he had moved to be closer to family. He was 95.

Newton Rowell Bowles (Rowell to friends and family; Newton at the UN) was born in 1916 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, to Newton Ernest Bowles, a Methodist mis-sionary, and Muriel Olive Woods, a nurse. His Canadian par-ents had met in China, but had to return to Toronto “to have a proper Rosedale wedding.”

It was a politically fragmented era in China, with region-al warlords ruling their fiefdoms. “From my childhood, I saw the most terrible evidence of brutality,” Bowles recalled. “On my way to school, for example, I went on horseback [and] I could see decapitated bodies and soldiers all over the place.” He was 10 years old when the family returned to Toronto. “I remember being astonished. I said, ‘Where are the soldiers?’ There was no evidence of military on the streets.”

Bowles graduated with triple honours in philosophy, English and history from the University of Toronto, where his uncle had been chancellor of Victoria College. A sum-mer internship at a church parish outside North Bay, Ontario was enough to discourage him from becoming a minister. Instead, he won a fellowship to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he was well into doctoral studies when the Second World War intervened.

Rejected for service because of a bad eye, Bowles made his way to the British recruiting office in Washington to inquire about preparations for post-war civilian relief, and was recruited by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in 1945. He regarded the posting back to his native China as a “tem-porary diversion” from an academic career. There, Bowles encountered a massive operation. “UNRRA dumped 2,000 international staff into Shanghai in the course of a few months and, although I was a young fellow, I was one of the

few people there who had any sort of preparation for this,” he recounted for Canadians in the World, a publication of the Foreign Affairs department.

“So I was jumped up to management level in this whole show and I was made responsible for getting humanitar-ian relief across the battle lines. That was my political education! I found that war is war. I had grown up rather naively as a good Christian boy, saying all men are broth-ers. While negotiating with the Nationalist generals, we had a very interesting arrangement with the Communists. During [China’s] civil war, we had a delegation of five from the Communists right with us in Shanghai and when the war was very hot, I got them into the UNRRA hotel with a 24-hour guard on them. We managed to do some symbolic work. The amounts we actually got across the lines were, of course, rather minimal but we established the fact that we were not political. It was astonishing that none of us was killed.”

The UN operation in China wrapped up in early 1948 and Bowles returned to New York, where he was briefly enrolled at the Union Theological Seminary and studied with the lead-ing Christian scholars of the day, Paul Tillich and Reinhold Niebuhr. But he was back in China later that year for the new agency, UNICEF. His responsibility was for all Asia, but that broadened to work throughout the globe, and from 1965 to 1978, Bowles was worldwide program director for UNICEF. “It was a really wonderful job,” he recounted. “UNICEF being fairly small, I was involved in everything, in organization, administration, in supply operation, recruitment and in the evolution of our basic policies.”

The agency drew a lot of political flak from the left and the right, but he soldiered on. “I was the workhorse who ran the programs,” he said, and he often succeeded at transcend-ing politics. In El Salvador, for example, “we were able to initiate immunization work while they were at each other’s throats. They actually stopped fighting to make it possible for us to help children.”

Bowles never officially retired and was over 80 when he became a proud “dollar-a-year man,” advising UNICEF’s emergency operations. For years, he was the New York-based UN representative for both the United Nations Association in Canada, which seeks to engage Canadians in the work of the UN; and for the Group of 78, an informal group of Canadians who promote disarmament, sustainable

OBITUARIES


development and a strong UN. In 2001, he received the Order of Canada for his humanitarian work. He was also a Life Member of AFICS/NY.

“He was a service-oriented, global citizen who made significant and thoughtful contributions,” said Kate White, president and CEO of the UN Association in Canada. “He was well into his 90s when he was still doing a very thought-ful annual analysis of the UN and the world. He under-stood human foibles and also that the UN was as weak as hubris could make any institution. But he was its greatest champion.”

That sentiment came through in Bowles’ 2004 book, The Diplomacy of Hope: The United Nations since the Cold War, which confronted the despair facing the world but painted a largely sympathetic history of the UN since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As UNICEF noted in its obituary, Bowles was asked in his later years what he saw as the UN’s great-est challenges and assets. He replied that humanity had the capacity to destroy itself or improve life in fundamental ways. “I see the UN as operating between these two poles—it is between life and death,” he said. UNICEF, of course, stands for life.”

Bowles traversed the globe three times, delivering humanitarian and development aid to all but a handful of nations, and spoke Mandarin, French, Spanish and German. He viewed the United Nations as highly flawed, even bro-ken, but indispensable in an increasingly volatile world. The 9/11 attacks “told us that the UN is essential,” he told CBC Radio in 2002. “We just can’t get along by ourselves. We’re coming to realize that a world order based on fear and dis-tress is inherently insecure [and] unstable, and that we must move to recognition of the fact that we all are brothers and sisters.”

Bowles was a cousin of former Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson. He was a runner who completed several half-marathons, a published poet and an accomplished artist who had his watercolour and oil landscapes and skyscapes exhib-ited in Toronto and New York. One of his big oils is awaiting display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He painted mostly at night, when he had the time, and during sum-mers on Grand Manan Island, off the New Brunswick coast. “My painting has been a very important part of my life,” he explained. “It’s a balance for this involvement in international affairs.”

Bowles was predeceased by his wife, Jean (Pres) Bowles, and his sisters, Muriel, Betty and Trudy. He leaves several nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of his life was held at All Souls Unitarian Church on Lexington Ave. in Manhattan on 16 November.

Adapted from The Globe and Mail Obituary by Ron Csillag, 30 October 2012, Toronto

MARGARET K. BRUCE

(1918 – 2012)

Margaret (Molly) K. Bruce, born on 13 July 1918 in Batley, Yorkshire, UK, died peacefully at home in Mt. Kisco, NY from the effects of stroke at age 94 on 22 November 2012. The daugh-ter of Percival Inman Kitchen and Elizabeth (Green) Kitchen, and sister to Stanley Kitchen Esq., Molly was predeceased by her beloved husband William James Bruce.

Molly received her MA in Modern Languages from Cambridge University in 1945 and spent the war years in London during the Blitz working for the Foreign Office Research Department. She was recruited as part of the con-ference staff for the first United Nations General Assembly, held in London in 1946, and joined the Secretariat staff in New York in 1946 working at the temporary UN headquar-ters at Lehman (then Hunter) College.

On 28 June 1952, Molly married fellow Secretariat mem-ber William James Bruce, whose service to the UN began with the founding conference in San Francisco in 1945. It was a true UN marriage. She was one of the last of the “Mohicans,” Secretariat staff members whose service dates back to the founding of the UN.

Molly joined the Human Rights Division in 1946 and served as Secretary of the Commission on Human Rights, working directly with its Chairperson, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1962 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, the department focusing on the role of women in develop-ment issues and human rights. In a UN career spanning 32 years, her work on Human Rights included presiding over the World Conference on Human Rights and serving as Deputy Secretary General of International Women’s Year and the first World Conference on Women. She travelled the world representing the Secretary-General at conferences on Human Rights and the Status of Women. She was proud of her work on the draft covenants on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

When Molly retired from the United Nations in 1977 she was the highest-ranking British woman in the Secretariat. For that achievement the British government awarded her the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1978. Post retire-ment she served on the National Board of Directors of UNA-USA from 1995 to 2003, and was a member of the


Board of Directors of the Southern New York State Division and the Westchester Chapter of UNA-USA, serving terms as president of both. She was active with the Association of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS/NY) hold-ing office as its president from 1982 to 1984 and, as an Honorary Governing Board member, attending meetings until recently. She also served as the first woman president of the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) from 1985-1988.

Molly will be remembered not only for her many achieve-ments from the pioneering days of the United Nations but also for the way she championed its cause with fortitude, grace and her lovely smile throughout her life. She is survived by her daughter Anne E. Bruce, son-in-law William Sarokin and granddaughters Hannah J. Sarokin of Mt. Kisco, NY and Emily N. Sarokin of Brooklyn, NY. In the UK she is survived by nieces Jennifer Griffin and Susan Jefferson.

Adapted from The New York Times, 28 November 2012

Numerous friends, former colleagues and family mem-bers attended a memorial service for Molly on 19 January at the Church Center of the United Nations. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the UNA-USA Southern New York Division at www.unasouthernny.org. or to FAFICS (FAFICS Secretariat, Palais des Nations, Room A.265, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; E-mail: [email protected]), to which AFICS/NY has made a contribution honouring her long service to the UN System.

MAnUELA SERRA D’ARCY

“… please call the delegates lounge!”

How often those words resounded in the halls of United Nat ions Headquarters all year round! My mot her, Manuela Serra d’Arcy, used to beckon delegates to the lounge for messages that could as much influence a global outcome in a vote in the General Assembly

as inform one of them of some personal information. Her innate sense of discretion always prevailed and she knew how to judge a situation from the slightest facial expressions of any person in front of her. Her sketches drawn on-the-fly over the years attest to it: she had assembled a great collec-tion of drawings of dignitaries who passed through the UN and often had them sign them.

During the beginnings of the UN in the late 40s and early fifties Manuela had witnessed the steady develop-ment of the status of the UN’s International Civil Service: she married protocol with sensitive public relations, plac-ing human values ahead of status. Her climb within the organization may have bothered some in the Secretariat but never those whom she served. She became known as the “Barefoot Countess” with an unmistakable elegance, which continued to sparkle even until her death on 26 September 2012 in Paris after a long bout with Alzheimers. Fortunately she never seemed to be conscious of that deterioration and I found solace in helping her along, trying to pursue any hint she expressed of some hidden memory that I was able to recall from her past, sometimes reading to her from her book “N’oublie pas l’Avenir; running from Tabora in Africa where she was born, to her participation in WWII French maquis resistance to Nazi occupation, to service as a lieu-tenant in both the French and American Armies during repatriation from German war camps, and finally to the hallowed halls of UN Headquarters.

Many may remember her presence in those halls and her service to the cause that the United Nations aspires to uphold. I wish to express, as her proud son, my strong-ly felt recognition of the service of the United Nations Organization as essential to world peace, justice and hope for the future. As my mother’s motto suggests: “Let us not forget the future.”

Stephan F. Hawranick-Serra

I join the sorrow of my good friend Stephan on the pass-ing of his mother, with whom I kept in close contact until her passing. In May 1971 she was instrumental in my entering UN service, where I worked until my retirement in 2000, for which I will always be indebted. May her memory inspire the new generation of UN staff to continue her dedication and perseverance.

Fernando Cabrera-Salinas

Note: Manuela Serra D’Arcy was a member of AFICS/NY.

LEROY LYn(1942 – 2012)

Mr. Leroy Lyn, 70, of Orlando, Florida passed away on 22 October 2012. He was born on 7 July 1942 in St. Andrew, Jamaica to Peter Lyn and Iris Douglas Lyn and moved to Central Florida in 1997.

Mr. Lyn served the United Nations with distinction for 32 years, carrying out assignments including a humanitarian mission to Somalia in 1992. He was a member of the Florida Chapter of AFICS/NY.


He was a loyal alumnus of St. George’s College in Kingston, Jamaica and played cricket for the Sunlight Team (1959-1960). He was also a graduate of St. John’s University in New York.

Mr. Lyn is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy Lyn (Sang); daughters, Dr. Tamara Simone Lyn and Kamilah Christine Lamond; mother, Iris May Lyn; granddaughter, Farrah Grace Lamond; brother, Cowell Lyn and his wife, Annette; sister, Enid Redwood and her husband, Oliver; and brothers, Sylvin Douglas Lyn and Chun Ying Ling. Another brother, Chun Hua Ling predeceased him. He is also mourned by many nephews, nieces, and friends.

A funeral service for Mr. Lyn was held on 3 November at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Orlando, Florida.

Terry Taylor

May the departed soul rest in peace and may the Lord grant courage and strength to friends and relatives to bear this irreparable loss. Amen.

Madan Arora

jEAnETTE SELDIS

Jeanette Seldis passed away on 26 August 2012. She was a dedicated and outstanding pro-fessional whose career with the United Nations spanned over 40 years. Her remarkable work with the UN included serving on the mission reviewing the death of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and broadcast-ing radio news from the Congo

during the conflict of the 1960s.

Jeanette was also member of the United Nations Singers, and of AFICS/NY. Her commitment to the UN resulted in years of volunteer work after retirement.

Born in the U.K., Jeanette was a world traveller who adopted New York as her hometown and rejoiced in the city’s theatre, opera, and art treasures.

She was the beloved aunt of Jacqueline Seldis of England, and Steven Dewan and Lawrence Dewan of California. Jeanette’s passion for life, her love, kindness, great wisdom and beauty will be dearly missed by family and friends from nations across the globe who will always love her deeply. Jeanette saw the good in everyone.

She shall always remain a shining example of what it is to be truly humane. Donations in Jeanette’s memory can be made to The Metropolitan Museum of Art or UNICEF.

Steven Dewan

RICHARD BRUCE STEDMAn(1920 – 2013)

R. Bruce Stedman, retired Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, died peace-fully at his home on Westport Island, Maine on 2 February 2013. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on 20 August 1920, Bruce received his formal education at Harvard University, where he was presi-dent of the glee club and gradu-ated magna cum laude in 1942, and as an officer in the Navy aboard a destroyer escort in the Pacific (1942-45). He will be remembered for his commitment to the ideals and work of the United Nations, his engagement in politics to serve the common good, his responsibility for and love of the natural world, his music making, storytelling, wit, and wisdom.

Bruce joined the United Nations as it was forming in 1946 and served on three political missions in the Middle East: in Palestine in 1948 with Count Folke Bernadotte and Ralph Bunche; in Gaza in 1957-58 as Chief Administrative Officer of the UN Emergency Force; and, later in 1958, with the UN “Presence” in Amman, Jordan. His major service with the UN was with its Technical Assistance Board and then the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as Director of Financial Management and Administrative Policy. From 1968 to 1975 he was UNDP’s Resident Representative in Kenya and Ethiopia. His final post was as Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, from 1975 to 1977, as it was being created in Nairobi, Kenya.

Bruce retired from the UN in 1977 and returned to the United States in 1979 to settle with his first wife, Ruth (née Dexter), near their children and grandchildren in northwest Wisconsin. Following her death in 1991, he married Susan Goodwillie, a former UNDP colleague, in 1993.

On moving to Maine in 1994, Bruce became an active member of the board of the United Nations Association of Maine and Lincoln County Democrats. He served on the Westport Island Planning Board, was an adult literacy tutor, and over many summers donated produce from his prodi-gious vegetable garden to local food pantries. He and Susie jointly taught courses at Mid-Coast Senior College. Bruce was also a Life Member of AFICS/NY


To his UN colleagues he imbued the value of international development assistance, enthusiasm for the ideals of the UN, a spirited work ethic, and the joy of belonging to a team. To his family, he was a rigorously honest pioneer who spoke truth to power in support of community and stewardship of the planet.

For local newspapers wherever he lived he wrote op-eds in clear, pitiless prose, with a gracious, generous soul. He had the eye of a critic, the ear of a conductor, and the heart of a romantic poet. Occasionally wrong but never in doubt, he could laugh at himself and never lost his mischievous spar-kle. He read Winnie the Pooh to his sons and, when they were grown, to other children.

He loved to fly-fish in the streams of northern Minnesota, the Aberdare Mountains of Kenya, and on his beloved Spider Lake in Wisconsin. In his last year, before winter’s chill, Bruce spent his days outside, admiring songful birds flitting among the pines, a great blue heron who’d come for lunch in the pond, wild turkeys, an occasional deer, fox, or rabbit. On win-ter evenings, he warmed to a crackling fire, a dry martini, a little Mozart, and poetry.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Hazel Stedman; his brother John; his first wife Ruth; and his son Michael. He is survived by his wife Susie; his sister, Carol Johansen of St. Paul, MN; his son John (and Sharon) of Eau Claire, WI; his son Jim (and Billie) of Bend, OR; his son Matthew (and Katie) of Manistee, MI; nine devoted grandchil-dren; ten great grandchildren; and many friends and admirers.

There will be a summer celebration of Bruce’s life around his beautiful vegetable garden at the Stedman home on Westport Island.

Donations in Bruce’s memory may be made to the United Nations Association of Maine for the Bruce Stedman Model UN Scholarship. Checks should be made payable to UNA Maine and sent to UNA-Maine Chapter, P.O. Box 11556, Portland, ME 04104.

Susan Goodwillie Stedman

GREGORY MEIKSInS

Gregory Meiksins, Chief of UN Interpretation Section for a number of years in the 1960s and 1970s and staff inter-preter for many years prior to that died at the age of 100 dur-ing the week of 23 July 2012. He was among those featured in the film, The Interpreters—A Historical Perspective that AFICS/NY screened for Association Members and UN staff on 17 October 2012 (See page 4.)

Mr. Meiksins was also on the panel of counsel, and the staff committee. He initiated proposals that have benefitted staff to this day. He was a distinguished author as well.

Personal recollections for a future Bulletin would be welcome.

MLH

ERnST OPPEnHEIM(5 December 1922 – 7 January 2013)

Born in Stockholm, with grand-parents from four European countries, Ernst Oppenheim had an international outlook from his first moments – but remained a loyal Swedish citizen to the end of his days.

After completing his mili-tary service in the Swedish Navy as a cryptographer, and his uni-

versity education in economics, Ernst travelled to New York in 1947 to obtain some business experience. He soon met his future wife, Ruth, and embarked upon his career at the United Nations in February 1948, at Lake Success.

Ernst worked for the Statistical Office (1948-1960), and then principally in the many-times renamed and reorgan-ized Bureau of Technical Assistance Operation (BTAO), apart from four years (1969-1973) at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). During his years in Technical Cooperation, he was honoured to serve in offic-es supporting many regions of the world – all except Latin America. The following are extracts from the recent recollec-tions of a former colleague:

“Ernst Oppenheim was one of the most cooperative and trustworthy colleagues with whom I worked on many techni-cal cooperation projects to help developing countries in Asia. I still remember vividly how dedicated he was to his work and to people in the assistance-receiving countries, particularly China in the early days of the 1970s when the country was just begin-ning its great ‘OPEN and REFORM’ political and economic restructuring initiative.”

“In the early 1980s, we had a project to demonstrate the use-fulness of applying solar energy in Tibet. Mr Oppenheim made tremendous efforts to convince local Tibetan villagers that the sunshine in the daytime could be stored and reused later to cook, provide hot water for a shower, or even bring light to an electric bulb during the long dark night. In the end, the project proved to be a big success; the villagers abandoned the burning of yaks’ faeces for cooking and heating and now the usage of solar power has become very common and popular in Tibet.”

In addition to maintaining lifelong strong links with his native Sweden, Ernst and his wife Ruth enjoyed a love affair with Gstaad, Switzerland from 1968, returning every other summer for 14 years. After Ernst retired from the UN in 1982,


Note: While finalizing this Bulletin, AFICS/nY received the sad news that the following had passed away:

Helen Gadalla (Un/PPMTS/DDSMS), on 7 February 2013

Maria Gerstman (Russian Verbatim Reporter), on 7 December 2012 at the age of 112.

Lubor Karlik (UnIDO), on 15 October 2012

Ken Lasiuk (Un/OHRM), during week of january 20, 2013

We would like to include obits for these individuals in our next Bulletin but lack the necessary information. Should any of our readers be able to send us a few details concerning their lives and Un careers we would be most grateful. Please send whatever you think might be useful directly to the Editor: [email protected]

they took great pleasure in visiting Gstaad twice every year. From the mid-1990s, Ernst encouraged Ruth in her role as the UN correspondent for the Swiss newspaper, the Anzeiger von Saanen.

Ruth’s death at the age of 84 in July 2008 was a heavy blow to Ernst, but his daughters did their best to support him during his final years. His health was remarkably robust until it faltered in 2012. His last hours, surrounded by all three of his daughters and two of his grandsons, were tranquil and calm. Among his last words, spoken in both Swedish and English, were ‘good night,’ ‘sleep well,’ ‘thank you,’ and ‘hal-lelujah.’ His time had come.

A family funeral and cremation in New York on 9 January, was followed by a formal service with family and Swedish friends in Stockholm on 29 January. Ernst is interred next to his wife, parents and grandmother in the Oppenheim family grave at Haga Norra, in Stockhhholm. He is survived by his three daughters (Valerie, Eve and Debbie), six grand-children (Rebecca, Ceri, Davis, Glen, Matthew and Timothy), and three great-grandchildren (Helen, Daniel and Julia).

After a good life, well lived, he will be sorely missed.

Eve Oppenheim

CHARLES HARMOn WEITz

The life work of Charles Harmon Weitz, a devoted inter-national civil servant, ended on 3 August 2012. He left behind many whose lives he touched with his infectious passion for the ideals and vision of the United Nations, to which he devoted his entire career.

Charles was born on 8 July 1919 in Des Moines, Iowa. In high school, he excelled as a swimming and track star. He went to Antioch College in Ohio, where he met and married Gretchen Robertson. Having majored in Political Science, he went on to complete a Masters in Public Administration at what is now the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

After his first job with the U.S. Bureau of the Budget in Washington, he began his UN career in 1947 as the first direc-tor of budget for the newly created UNESCO. From Paris he returned to the UN in New York in 1951 for a short-term assignment. Three years later, he headed for the field, as leader of the UN technical assistance effort in Turkey. Charles was especially pleased that the government came to recognize this first UN mission as equivalent to any government embassy. He was also proud of the establishment of the Middle East Technical University, which started under UN auspices as a school of architecture and town planning and became a uni-versity with more than 30,000 students, a huge campus, and a worldwide reputation.

In 1959, Charles moved to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to lead the UN’s technical assistance mission there. From 1960 until 1971, he managed FAO’s Freedom from Hunger Campaign in Rome. He inspired the involvement of youth worldwide in understanding and advocating for the end of world hunger—the first time the United Nations had so pur-posefully engaged young people in working on development issues.

Charles’ final posting, from 1971 to 1980, was as FAO representative to UN headquarters in New York City. During this time, Charles and Gretchen purchased property on the island of Vinalhaven, off the coast of Maine. There they built a home to which they retired in 1980. Later, they wintered in Portland, where Charles became an active member of the board of the UN Association of Maine. He helped develop a Model UN program at the University of Southern Maine and, under the auspices of the UN NGO Liaison Service and the Canadian Institute of International affairs, lectured fre-quently on UN issues in Canada. Charles was a gifted racon-teur, a prodigious reader, loved to sail, and was a Life Member of AFICS/NY.

Charles died in Madison, Wisconsin, where he leaves his daughter Barbara and five grandchildren. His wife Gretchen and son Peter predeceased him.

Bruce and Susie Stedman(Prepared shortly before Bruce passed away. See pages 31-32.)


IN MEMORIAMThe United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund has furnished AFICS/NY with the following information received during the period 1 June 2012–1 September 2012 (as well as the period 1 December 2011–1 March 2012, which we neglected to provide earlier), concerning the passing of former staff members and their surviving spouses. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.

ECLAC/SAnTIAGO*Arboleda, Alfonso 20.07.2012 De Burnett, Phyllis 11.06.2011 Goizueta, Maria Fernanda 19.06.2012 Guajardo Galarce, Rodolfo Enrique 07.05.2012 Valasco, Marta Unknown

UnECA Aw, M.A. 20.07.2012Benabdelmoumene,Nafissa 09.02.2010 Cattabiani, Gabriella Unknown*Cooppan, Somar 04.12.2011 Loung, Hélène 03.04.2012 Meshesha, Zewdinesh Unknown Negash, Addis 06.06.2011 Zewdu, Mekonnen 04.08.2012

UnECWA Burns, Isabella 16.07.2008

UnESCAP Arzadon, Bibiano 01.06.2012 Boonserm, Napa 15.03.2012 Chuensomboon, Chantip 03.08.2012 Coggin, Dan 22.01.2012 Dahlke, Monica 14.06.2012 Dao, Van T. 18.07.2012 Hussain, Abid 21.06.2012 Joshi, Lakshmi L. 03.02.2012 Kawakatsu, Shohei 29.06.2012 Kitamura, Yayoi 17.06.2012 Laplante, P. 18.01.2012 Maramis, Johan Boudewjin 06.03.2012 Matthai, Rebecca 02.06.2012 Pradhan, Sagar Bahadur 28.06.2012 Thanukul, Smarn 16.01.2012 Van Liere, Wilhelm J. 18.04.2012

Un/HQ Alexander, Mary Jane 27.05.2011 Ankuta, Pauline 13.01.2012 Ashrad, Helen 04.07.2012*Astwood, Henry T. 29.11.2011 Astwood, Iris 30.06.2012

Baba, Dam 01.06.2012 Bapat, Dorothy 13.05.2011*Berna, James Joseph 03.02.2012 Beynon, Ethel Myra 28.12.2011*Brown, Andrés 28.07.2012*Bruce, Robert R. 28.06.2012 Burke, Robert Unknown*Byam, Leo 22.11.2011*Cabibbo, J. 21.12.2011 Cerdan, Ignacio Alejandro 12.07.2011*Chelchowski, Michael A. 12.06.2012*Chien, W.W. 12.11.2011*Chu, Ruth 20.01.2012 Cohen, Laura 29.07.2012 Colvin, Doris Eleanor 02.07.2012 Cone, Stephen 01.01.2012 Cui, Lie 06.06.2012*De Lauro, Amelia 29.06.2012 De O. Mota, Nanci 04.08.2012 Debatin, Helmut F. 14.12.2011 Dhawan, Subir Kumar 17.06.2012 Dube, Thomas Msebe 17.07.2012 Durand, H. 28.07.2012 Durandau, André 20.11.2011 Duval, G. 13.10.2011 Ebeid, Farouk 19.06.2012 Eftmiadi, Catharine Unknown*Ehirim, Prince 10.01.2012 Evstigneeva, Nataliya 20.08.2012 Fallah, Rasmille 18.06.2012*Forgues, Suzanne 31.01.2012 Friscic, Ivan 29.06.2012*Gabison, Margaret 19.06.2012*Galiana, Huguette 16.12.2011 Gibbons, Michael 20.12.2011 Gilmer, John H. 26.05.2012 Giraudon, R. 06.01.2012 Goutchkov, V. 19.07.2007 Gyasi-Twum, Kwaku 07.07.2012 Hanlon, Michael 16.12.2011 Higgins, John 12.01.2012*Hollander, Lilly Helen 24.09.2011 Hope, L. 28.01.2012 Horace, S. Raymond Jr. 19.09.2011

UNITED NATIONS FAMILY


*Hussey, Dermot 29.11.2011*Hwang Wu, Shun-Mei H. 11.11.2011 Ibrahim, Eline 05.12.2011*Jaber, Anne-Marie 07.02.2012*Jaeger, Alfred L. 24.11.2011 Johansen, Bjorn 25.06.2012 Johnson, Iris Herta 30.12.2011 *Joshi, Surendra K. 23.04.2012 Kandaswamy, Rajalakshmi 13.07.2012*Karlsson, Iris 20.06.2012 Kastengren, Gunnar Ka 13.02.2012 Klein, Roslyn Bear 04.06.2012*Lackner, Michael R. 07.02.2012*Lauze, Gracia.R. 18.12.2011*Lechon-Garay, Edmundo 21.10.2011 Liao, Huixian 10.12.2011*Lorey, Catherine J. 30.05.2012 Malenya, Hudon F. 31.08.2011 Mathieson, Elizabeth 09.07.2012 Mayo, Gladys Rose 24.05.2012 McAleese, Daniel Anthony 02.06.2012 Meiksins, Gregory 21.07.2012 Meldahl, E. 11.11.2011*Minchin, Miles. Unknown Moy, Luen Kwok 24.07.2012 Nakra, B. Unknown*Owens, Martha 19.08.2012*Pancrazi, Georgette Unknown Parmeggiani, Aldo 05.09.2011 Peries, V. 27.01.2012 Prabhu, Sharada 14.02.2012*Predun, Peter T. 15.06.2012 Radulesco, I. 13.04.2012 Rettenmoser, Josef 08.05.2012 Richards, Sidney 14.10.2011*Riedel, Milton A. 20.01.2012*Robson, Geoffrey F. 03.02.2012 Roskam, H. 30.06.2012 Rosner, Wanita C. 27.06.2012 Sanchez, Alfonso 25.06.2012 Sanmuganathan, Muttusamy 20.07.2012 Saunders, M. 03.07.2012 Saurel, Jacques 11.05.2012*Schulman, Maria J. 14.07.2012*Schweda, Helen Corne 11.12.2011*Shelley, Lalla Rookh 26.11.2011 Simpson, Elise Olga M. 09.03.2012 Singh, Kamla 07.08.2012 Smart, George O. 23.12.2012 Smith, Mary Elizabeth 04.01.2011 Soriano, F. 25.02.2012 Szuman, Witold 13.09.2005*Tabachnick, Mary R. 12.02.2012 Tagaya, Chieko Unknown Tarjouman, Mahmoud 29.11.2011

Temple, Shirley Isobel 25.06.2012 Trybus, A. 17.05.2012 Unwin, Thomas M. 29.05.2012 Vassilieva, V. 18.06.2012 Veeckman, O. 22.02.2012*Wade, Yolande A. 10.07.2012*Waducky, Walter 25.06.2012 Walsh, Joseph H. 19.04.2012 Woodrow, F.E. 21.01.2012*Young, Run Hsiang 30.11.2011 Zakariya, H. 21.10.2012 Zaremba, N.T. 19.02.2012 Zelleke, Shifferaw 29.09.2011

Un/GEnEVA Ambuhl, M. 17.01.2012*Andrade G., Gonzalo 28.06.2012 Badran, Fawzia 17.10.2011 Bajard, J. 22.07.2012 Barnes, Anna Mahil 02.12.2011 Bogomolov, Vladimir 04.08.2012 Bovay, Georges Mar 15.02.2012 Brouwer, Adriana 04.08.2012 Bundle, R.M. 25.01.2012 Chan Tung, Chan Sew Sa 12.01.2012 Claramunt Farriol, Marta 19.07.2012 Comensoli, Lucien 10.12.2011 Corbaz, Nelly Marth 27.12.2011 Cubillos, Bravo Hugo 29.11.2011 Damerell, Mestwat M. 17.11.2011 Danos, Maria 31.07.2012 De Bon, Maria 13.06.2012 Defrancisco, Christiane 15.07.2012 Descloux, T. 22.08.2012 Dimitropoulos, Spyridon 13.04.1987 Duggan (Gabancho), Hayne 11.07.2012 Fletcher, Dorothy 27.01.2012 Forel, Denise 03.06.2012 Fraser, Joan 21.12.2011 Friedrich, Jean-Luc 18.12.2011 Golder, Andrée 22.06.2012 Gorski, Elizabeth 09.05.2012 Hopenhayn, Benjamin 22.09.2011 Houdsinsky, X. 20.05.2012 Ibrahim, Adam Hamid 07.01.2012 Karcevski, Igor 12.08.2012*Komorsky, Barbara Ann 18.11.2011 Kostelecka, Enid E. 27.05.2012 Kyprianou, Petros 14.07.2012 Lauper, Jacques Eti 20.01.2012 Lavry, Françoise 03.04.2012 Loukhal, Rachid 28.11.2011 Ma, Hung-Hsiang 27.08.2012 Moe, Johannes 04.08.2012MorganDeMatute,JosefinaA. 24.01.2012


Parmeggiani, Aldo 05.09.2011 Paul, Henry 20.07.2012 Pietri, J.D. 18.08.2012 Rodriguez, Marie Madeleine 10.05.2012 Schmitt, Andrée R. 28.07.2012 Scott, Mirjana 31.01.2012 Sekela-Mortier, Agnes Kaninda 08.08.2012 Serova, Lilia 11.10.2011 Sevette, Jacqueline 27.10.2011 Slessor, Peter J.H. 20.01.2012 Solano, Adriana 11.12.2011 Stepczynski, Stefan Leon 07.05.2012 Stott, Audrey 23.06.2012 Ten, Rosa 13.06.2012 Vischer, M. 16.08.2012 Wang, Wenquan 04.04.2012 Wolteche, G. 05.02.2012 Wormus, Jay William 11.12.2011 Zelleke, Shifferaw 29.09.2011

UnCHS Drayne, Reginald A. 21.06.2011 Omolo, John M. 14.04.2012

UnDP/ALD Chaturvedi-Heyn, Suvira 22.07.2012

UnDP – HQ/InTL Blacque-Belair, Patrice 29.11.2011 Cholmondeley, Hugh Neville 10.08.2012 El-Shabouri, Abdel Aziz Unknown Filali, Driss B. 09.06.2012*Geoghegan, Michel Henry 22.07.2012 Groeneveld, Meijer Will 06.01.2012*Joshi, Surendra K. 23.04.2012*Kerner, Edmund R. Unknown Lockwood, David 25.01.2012 Lowes, P.D. 24.06.2012 Opubor, Alfred Esim 02.12.2011 Padmanabhan, Krishnaswam 26.11.2011 Potoukian, J.A. 25.05.2012 Probst, Hans 10.07.2012 Qureshi, Aitqad Huss 19.01.2012 Rishi, Bushash 10.02.2012 Scaduto, Elizabeth 04.11.2011 Yousuf, Abbas Hason Unknown

UnDP/UnFPA/UnOPS/WFP – LOCAL Abboud, Samir 04.12.2011 Abdel Ghaffour, Mohamed Ka 10.01.2012 Agyare, Samuel 05.01.2012 Ahmed, Fatma M. 02.02.2012 Ali, Yahya Moham 06.10/2011 Bakri, A. 23.01.2012

*Berger, M.F.L. 21.01.2012 Caracoussis, Helen 25.01.2012 Cho, Bong Kil 28.06.2012 Coupet, Monique 28.06.2010 Davies, Francis 11.10.2011 De Hoedt, Douglas T. 03.12.2011 Degbey, Solange 12.02.2012 Derawan, Mohamed ??.04.2012 Eyidi, Madeleine 22.12.2011 Fernandez, Arevalos Esmil 10.05.2012 Guindo, Maria Isabel Unknown Guven, V. 08.12.2011 Khafai, A. 20.12.2011 Kreksci, Saddigh 01.03.2011 Maidakouale, Goube 12.07.2012 McLennon, Ronald 01.01.2012 Mensah, Paul Godfre 17.12.2011 Meziani, Bessalem Ma 01.09.2011 Mkandawire, Wilson Saul 20.10.2010 Muzarrar, Muzaffar 16.05.2012 Nicholls, Marjorie, Om 10.12.2011 Pabame, André 20.05.2012 Paranthaman, Velupillai 20.06.2012 Pithey, Dusanka 05.11.2011 Seke, Dia Masala 02.07.2012 Utwar, Sarti 19.11.2011 Villegas, Lourdes M. 11.08.2012 Yin, Daw Ni Ni 06.05.2012 Zaza, Mohammad 17.01.2012

UnEP Marshall, R. 07.12.2011 Mooneyhan, Darden 12.05.2012 Njongeri, Joseph Gich 18.10.2011

UnHCR Jacob, Tsehaye 08.06.2012 Laye, Didier Gaston 03.06.2012 Mamboleo, Francis Nalwa 01.08.2012 Nguyen Tang, Canh 29.06.2012 Omer, Mohammed Al 24.02.2012 Prim, Guy Noel 06.11.2011 Qureshi, Khaliq Uz Zaman 20.04.2012 Shaker, Abdul Rashi 26.10.2011 Witschi Cestari, Alfredo A. 13.06.2012

UnIC Marinesco, I. 28.07.2012 Polad, S. 25.07.2012

UnICEF – HQ/InT Ferrari, Bono B. 24.09.2011 Helgeson, Barbara 17.12.2010 Joseph, Otto 01.01.2012


Kondapi, Savithri 17.02.2012 Lapus, H. Unknown Messou, Bruno Yao 06.07.2012 Meyer, Hélène Unknown Pazos, Cesar M. 16.07.2012 Poulsen, Danuta Maria 13.06.2012 *Torino, Ralph A. 26.11.2011

UnICEF – LOCAL Abou Shakra, Nazik Chahi 19.08.2011 Ahinakwah, Ernest Tett 03.10.2011 Akalawu, Agunwa Aloy 19.06.2011 Aoko Owindi, Margaret 26.08.1998 Bivol, Elena M. 02.07.2012 Habib, Abdul 08.05.2012 Ismail, M. 10.03.2012 Mustafa, Fadul Fadl 23.01.2012 Naganathan, Sundaram Mi 15.02.2012*Owino, Greg Ambros Unknown Peel, Utsha 23.11.1011 San, Yi 13.01.2012 Tamac, Yolanda Maria 05.05.2012

ICj Daumieres, R. 23.07.2012 Vollebregt, Dorothy 01.01.2012

IOM Cook, John 06.07.2012

UnIFIL Al-Ahmad, Fawzieh 29.08.2012 Al-Buery, Youssef A. 07.02.2012 Ghafary, Mariam 08.06.2012 Tanious, Elias W. 24.08.2012

UnMOGIP Hussain, Fazal 13.11.2011 Khan, Mohammad Shamim 07.07.2012

UnOn Campaigne, Sylvie D. 06.06.2012 Murai, Phyllis Njoki 01.05.2012 Ngoima, Peter M. 22.06.2012 Vreman, Johan A. 01.02.2012

UnOV Baba, Ely 25.12.2011

UnTCD/UnDESA/DDSMC – Local Ayub, Mohammad 22.11.2009 Kande, Samba Mamadou 04.08.2012 Thulla, Samuel 07.08.2011

UnTSO Abu-Ramadan, Latifeh 30.12.2011 Mina, Nasra M. 12.05.2012

UnWRA Hull, Mary 28.05.2012 Thomas, Emily Irene 01.08.2012

SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

ILO Ahlborn, Brigitte 27.12.2011 Ahmed, Osman Mohamed 17.07.2012 Amblard, Maria Berta 01.11.2011 Baechtold, P.A. 19.12.2011 Ballereau, Bernard 23.11.2011 Banaszak, Bogumila ??.05.2012 Bashir, Aisha 25.02.2012 Beck, Kyle Adams 18.01.2012 Boa, Motiki Jean Unknown Bodiam, Ronald Terence 06.07.2012 Bouffez, Françoise M. 25.01.2012 Bourgeois, Jean 04.12.2011 Brault, Anne-Marie Unknown*Broisman, Emma R. 08.05.2012 Broust, Paul 01.01.2012 Bugy, Alexandre 08.02.2012 Castle, P.F.C. 24.12.2011 Chaix, Marcel Jean 05.01.2012 Channa, Rajan 26.11.2011 Costa (Pornin), Isabelle Yvonne 18.06.2012 Crevoisier, Leon 12.12.2011 Denby, Margaret J. 28.01.2012 Etukudo, Akanimo J. 01.12.2011 Forel, Denise 03.06.2012 Fouchaux, Norbert C. 06.12.2011 Galabert, Jean-Michel 25.01.2012 Goode, Kathleen 20.07.2012 Gorska, E.A. 09.05.2012 Gretz, Marie A.P. 12.02.2012 Grimaud, Monique 17.07.2012 Gust, Gert A. 13.12.2011 Halsall, Vera Maria 02.01.2012 Hamilton, J.N. Unknown Harari, Raimondo 05.06.2012 Harris, Pauline 02.01.2012 Hecquet, R.R.J. 25.01.2012 Heise, B. 05.08.2012 Hemingway, Joan Margaret 31.12.2012 Joukhadar-Daviez, Claire 12.10.2011 Kassler, Reinhard 22.12.2011 Loosen, Francis 24.12.2011 Lopez-Saa, Maria T.V. 25.11.2011


Marican, M.S. Mahmood 11.04.2011 Midgley, Margaret R. 10.10.2011 Mikheev, Servei V. 02.08.2012 Milburn (James), Ethel 17.12.2011 Mouton, P. 22.07.2012 Nsumbu, Marie 24.02.2012 Pihl, Bent 16.02.2012 Ramamurthy, Kuppachi 20.02.2012 Reid, Margaret 28.11.2011 Roushdi, Laila 23.05.2012 Samia, Nadwa 16.07.2012 Schlossberg, Stephen I. 10.12.2011 Scott, Mirjana 31.01.2012 Sen, Guptap 25.11.2011 Talavera, Goibur 09.08.2012 Toro, Agudelo Blanca Ines 22.02.2012*Travis, Richard Darvin 12.08.2012 Wagner, André Serge 18.04.2012

FAO Abidi, Asghar Ali 03.07.2012 Allison, Charles Edward 15.07.2012 Andel, Stephanus 06.12.2011 Anticoli-Borza, Luigi 08.10.2011 Argentieri, Riccardo 16.01.2011 Asthana, Vilma 05.06.2012 Aubray, R. 22.02.2012 Baciocchi, Franca 19.08.2012 Baie, Varney Jefferson 21.04.2012 Balestrelli, Marisa 09.01.2012 Barbieri, Franco 23.01.2012 Barker, Vera Emily 18.06.2012 Bateman, Thomas Kene 16.01.2012 Bathily, Madeleine Elise 29.04.2012 Battier de Freu, Nicole 26.05.2012 Bennema-Verwey, Nelly 27.12.2011 Bennett, E. 03.01.2012 Bernardini, C. 04.12.2011 Biagini, Marcella 08.01.2012 Bishop, D.R. 12.12.2011 Bruce, E.G.K. 02.08.2012 Bukhari, Atif Yehya 04.01.2012 Burtonboy, Alain 23.08.2012 Capaldi-Micati, Gina 02.12.2011 Capra, Luciana 18.08.2012 Carducci, Yvonne 26.01.2012 Carter, Maurice Geo 06.12.2011 Cataldi M. 22.12.2011 Chaudri, Susheel Chandra 26.04.2012 Darazi, Mitrirachid 12.01.2012 De Angelis, J. 21.02.2012 De Nigris, Maurizio 17.08.2012 Delburgo-Salama, Claudett Unknown Delhove, Georges Eric 11.06.2012

Dia, Mamadou 15.06.2012 Donegan, Maureen Mary 08.07.2012 Dubourg, Rolande 30.07.2012 Eltom, Hassan Abba 27.08.2011 Fateh, Mohammad 22.11.2011 Ferreira, A.N. 25.08.2012 Feuille, Rosario 05.08.2012 Fiorino, Photini 28.07.2012 Forsberg, Inger 20.08.2012 Forster, R. 01.02.2012 Fouda-Onambele, Paul 25.06.2012*Gabison, Margaret 19.06.2012 Galvin, Robert James 13.06.2012 Gambioli, Andrea 02.08.2012 Gosten, Rolf 21.08.2012 Green, E.C. 11.01.2012*Grewal, Gursham S. 17.07.2012 Griffee, Peter John 12.08.2012 Guilbride, P. 14.12.2011 Gursoy, Hikmet 18.12.2011 Gurung, Shiv Charan 06.06.2012 Haling, L. 27.01.2012 Iyengar, Nuggehalli Sampath 19.07.2012 Jiannee, Agnes 02.07.2011 Kante, Souleymane 24.07.2011 Kienitz, Ruth 06.07.2012 Kira, Awatif 05.05.2012 Knoll, Liselotte 26.06.2012 Kojima, Nakaji 12.07.2012 Kroeske-Kuijlenburg, Jacoba 07.06.2012 Krutze, Gertraud Marie 27.06.2012 Lambrinides, Georges 11.11.2011 Laurenzi, Quinto Unknown Lopez Ramirez, Tomas De J. 06.02.2012 Marconi, Roberto Thomas 02.07.2012 Marolt, Iva 07.08.2012 Masterton, D. 01.01.2012 McLean, K. 01.08.2012 Meunier, Henry René 22.01.2012 Moes, Elisabeth J. 25.04.2012 Montoya, José 18.01.2012 Muentefering, José Manuel Unknown Muller, Edeltraut 11.08.2012 Pardoen, Guy A. 23.02.2012 Payne, Selma 15.04.2011 Perry, Richard 08.02.2012 Perumal, Murukoor Unknown Petersen, Gunde-Marie 04.08.2012 Petrozziello, V. 07.02.2012 Phillips-Beckingham, June 01.11.2011 Pinel, Odile Maria 16.11.2011 Ponzi, Carlo 07.11.2011 Quintanilla, Pablo Rejado 04.08.2012 Radford, Joan 23.10.2011


Raif, K.B. 24.11.2011 Riney, Thane 30.07.2012 Risso, Paolo 15.05.2012 Ruiz de la Cuesta, B. 09.07.2012 Santhirasegaram, Kandaswa 08.12.2011 Schneider, Carol Unknown Schulthess, Werner Gott 12.12.2011 Serrais, Rosa Cappelletti 08.02.2012 Sheta, A.M. 28.11.2011 Sheta, Anna Mary 28.11.2011 Shoho, Jitsuko 21.11.2011 Song, Zhiwen 09.08.2012 Stasio, Liliana 25.06.2012*Summers, Rosario 22.03.2012 Tanner, S.C. 27.01.2012 Terracciano, Giuseppe 09.01.2012 Venables, Claire C. 04.02.2012 Vermeersch, Paul 29.07.2012*Weitz, Charles H. 03.08.2012 Woynarovich, E. 02.10.2011 Zemaitis, A. 09.12.2011 Zlataric, Maria Angela 02.06.2012

UnESCO Abdinasser, Abdalla 27.11.2011 Ahmed, Jarjina 09.03.2012Ahmed,SkafikaMoh 27.11.2011 Alam, Shamsul 18.12.2011 Alles, Buddivisala 09.02.2012 Aumann, Arlette 27.05.2012 Beg, N. 24.06.2012 Bernacer, German 25.06.2012 Beziat, Emile 21.05.2012 Botterill, M.B. 16.12.2012 Boulares, Mourad 21.05.2012 Bouvet, Melle Janin 03.02.2012 Chedebois Menegatti,Maria Catherine 24.07.2012 Cuynat, Albert Henri 17.06.2012 Dabczewski, Z. 11.01.2012 Daifuku, Hiroshi 12.07.2012 Dajani-Shehabi, Nour 19.09.2011 De Bruyn, Hélène 21.11.1011 Delgado Gonzales, Manuela 17.12.2011 Diakite, Alpha 28.10.2011 Diallo-Ba, Haby Abou 05.05.2011 El-Boustani, Simone 21.12.2011 Elias, Taha 12.10.2011 El-Khawad, Else 11.01.2012 Eruli, Brunella 08.08.2012 Fedorcsak, Imee 10.01.2012 Garcia De Monzon, Virginia 22.10.2011 Gomel, Gabrielle 17.11.2011 Gourmand, Géneviève D. 07.12.2011*Grimes, Marianna 18.02.2012

Hardwicke, Patricia 23.12.2011 Honore, Louisette 19.05.2012 Irani, Mahin B.E. Begui 27.05.2012 Kazem, Ahmed 02.12.2011 Kinunda, Michael J. 26.01.2008 Kochhar, Durga Devi 07.01.2012 Lanza, Diego 29.12.2011 Lazarev, A. 27.11.2011 Lazarus, Ruth Sheila 24.11.2011 Leclerc (Tery), Ghislaine M. 23.12.2011 Lucatello, Adriano 19.10.2011 Lutfy, Ramsis 07.12.2011 Manohar, Madhav 22.06.2012 Masduraud, André 10.07.2012*McDivitt, James Frederic 26.07.2012 McPherson, Frederick E. 04.02.2012 Millerioux, Jean 09.07.2012 Mmbone Arumana, Catherine 04.11.2008 Moore, Mildren Han Unknown Naguib Rakha, Ragaa 16.02.2012 Nilsson, K. 29.12.2011 Ostovany, M. 13.02.2008 Pires, Mary Magdal 27.12.2011 Platt, Helen 08.08.2012 Posmowski, Posmowski 22.05.2012 Pouchpa, Marie Emmanuel 13.08.2012 Relland, Christiane 14.12.2011 Romo, Elena 09.08.2012 Royer, Madeleine 26.12.2011 Saad, Kamal 05.05.2012 Sevestre, Germaine 11.10.2011 Sharma, Thakur Unknown Sibrava, Vladimir 02.01.2012 Stapic, Josip 14.06.2012 Stretta, Etienne Jean P. 13.06.2012 Taylor, Elizabeth M. 27.01.2012 Teller, Hans 05.05.2012 Thet, Tun 04.07.2012 Truong, Buu Khanh 02.06.2012 Van Sant, Simone 15.06.2012 Varnet, Marcel A. 03.12.2011 Yaxley, M. 24.05.2012 Yousuf, A. 02.12.2011 Zaki, Wali 23.02.2012

WHO Abdi, Hassan Ibrahim 15.12.2002 Ahuja, Satya Pal 08.12.2011 Amaral, L.G.T.D. 20.05.2012 Apostolov, Ljubomir S. ??.06.2012*Armstrong, John I. 26.08.2012 Bailly, Janine C. 17.12.2011 Balmiki, Badri Lal 23.02.2012*Barrera Torres, Cecilia 04.08.2011


Batekouahou, Pauline Unknown Batista, Joao 03.02.2012 Baussay, Yvonne 10.06.2012 Bent, Cedric L. 21.06.2012 Betancourt, R. 06.11.2011 Bilaye, Albert 24.01.2012 Borbor, Cyrus 19.06.2012 Bovay, Georges M. 15.02.2012 Bujevic Mihelcic, Zlata 24.01.2012 Chelemu, Weddie Chemlesya 15.05.2012 Chhotani, Pushpa Wati 28.12.2011 Conceicao, W.R. 10.01.2012 Cully, Lucille 28.06.2012 Da Costa, Kossi B. 04.08.2012 Dibble, Mary Doreen 30.10.2011 Echavez, Brigida 18.07.2012ElYafi,MohamedA. 00.07.2012 Escobar Montecinos, Rosa Eugeni Unknown Fowler, Kathleen 01.07.2012 Garrett-Jones, Daphne 14.08.2012 Gladstone, Robert Jay Unknown Glover, Margery 25.07.2012 *Goldin, Rafael 26.11.2011 Greenberg, Louis Unknown Groom, Dolores 22.06.2011*Guedes, Arino Da Si 08.01.2012 Hadgu, Eyasu 01.06.2011 Hall, Dorothy C. 11.11.2011*Harden, Enid 02.05.2011 Harris, Ruth 29.11.2011 Jabbar, Abdul 03.03.2012 Jeremie, Frederic 06.08.2011*Johnson, Donald C. 10.12.2011 Kaul, Chand Narai 24.10.2011 Kearsley, D. 03.08.2012 Kohn, Sheila 29.08.2012 Kovchazov, Georgi 28.01.2012 Krum, Marcel J. 25.07.2012 Kucharski, Halina 27.01.2012 Kusemamuriwo, Jasper Z. 24.11.2011 Lartigue, Liliane Berthe G. 06.07.2012 Laurindo, Antoni 16.12.2011 Lawton, Paul I.C. 01.06.2012 Lepe, Tibor 21.01.2012 Lherault, Thérèse C. 29.07.2012 Linsell, Charles A. 20.01.2012 Loven, Marga 21.06.2011 Macabangon, Gloria 04.04.2012 Mahoney, John A. 28.01.2012 Marshall, Rachel E. 13.03.2012 Mawson, Frances E. 30.07.2012 Mbemba, Jeremie Unknown McManus, William 16.07.2012 Mesa, Martaelena 22.06.2012

Mivelle, Cecile 19.01.2012 Moreno De Gomez, Yadira 06.02.2012 Mowat, Margaret M. 11.05.2012 Nath, Savitri Unknown Ndoudi, Genest 11.01.2012 Ochoa, Luis C.O. 08.01.2012 Oddo, Laura 06.01.2012 Ofosu-Apea, Bennard 23.09.2010 Ornstedt, Erik 27.02.2012 Ouattara, Sory 17.12.2011 Oudot, Denise A. 17.01.2012 Perera, Terence 02.07.2012 Plug, Onno 06.06.2012 Polak, Madeleine 06.02.2012 Poulsen, Inga 21.06.2012 Ramakrishnan, Gomathy 26.09.2011 Ramsdale, Clement D. 06.06.2012 Reinius, Lars R.R. 16.01.2012 Richards, Joyce E.M. 10.01.2012 Roget, Ethelbert 29.06.2012 Rossi, Nelly J. 17.06.2012 Ruane, Andrew N. 14.01.2012 Sales, Antonio Arselino 11.07.2012 Sankaran, Balu 20.06.2012 Sanou, Claude 06.05.2012 Santos, Fernando E. 06.08.2012 Sharma, Kul Bhushan 28.10.2011 Sikora, Maria A. ??.04.2012 Srivastava, Naresh C. 13.01.2012 Tamondong, Charlemagne T. 26.03.2012 Teelock, Boodhun 23.05.2012 Thian Ng, Soo 14.06.2012 Uemura, Kazuo 22.11.2011 Wagner, Georgette M. 22.12.2011 Wais, Mercedes Ribeiro 25.10.2011 Yun, Suk Woo 16.11.2011

ICAO Bourgeois, Claude 16.12.2011 Donato de Pancaldo, Angela Unknown*Dufau-Labeyrie, Marie 10.10.2011 Gibson, James C. 14.07.2012 Gingras, Gaetane 20.25.2012 Haughton, Margaret 23.12.2011 Hellman, Vappu 04.07.2012 Hetu, Suzanne 27.01.2012 Leicht, F. 08.01.2012 McMunn, Mary 11.11.2011 Nunez-Alonso, Rosario 28.01.2012 Salathe, Noel Keston 11.06.2012 Sandhawalia, Preminder S. 08.06.2012 Shadbolt, Irene 07.12.2011 Smeeton, Jeanette Campbell 27.06.2012 Smykov, Victor Georgievic 12.08.2012


Swartenbroeckx, Francine 20.12.2011 Vuille-Dit-Bille, Ernest 25.12.2011 Waller, Jean Elizabeth 29.12.2011 Yap, K. 27.01.2012

WMO Aebischer, Marlyse Marie Louise 19.01.2012 Alves, Fernando Pimenta 06.06.2012 Giraytys, James 29.04.2012 Konate, Mama 14.11.2011 Lennon Smith, Margaret 14.07.2012 Osman, Elthayib 04.07.2012 Sebastian, Mathilde 08.02.2012 Tabatabay, Hessam 13.07.2012

ICITO/GATT Mac-Kay, Joyce 17.12.2011 Niklaus Berthin, Simone Paulette Unknown Rau, Allan F. Jr. 25.11.2011 Yekedo, Roger Herma 12.01.2012

IAEA Abbadessa, John Peter 24.09.2011 Baerlocher, Gerbhard 30.04.2012 Bogensberger, Rose 19.06.2012 Byszewski, Witold 17.05.2012 Halberstadt (Italie), Willy 07.12.2011 Hartig, Maria E. 20.01.2012 Javor, Edith 11.07.2012 Jiang, Yue 08.05.2011 Kietreiber, Ludwig 28.06.2012 Labarthe, Jean Pierre 30.06.2012 Leiser, Manfred 29.03.2012 Makin, Frances 03.06.2012 Meixner, Angelika Maria 05.07.2012 Moore, Douglas William 19.07.2012 Nekola, Johannes 11.01.2012 Nowotny, Herbert 05.08.2012 Oteiza-Quirno, Simone M. 26.11.2011 Plata, Bedmar Anto 30.10.2011 Sanmuganathan, Muttusamy 20.07.2012 Seitl, Helmut 17.05.2012 Sievering, Dorothy 08.01.2012 Steiner, Leopoldine 11.12.2011 Svensson, Hans Birger 06.12.2011 Utner, Roland Frie 17.01.2012 Velez, Ocon Carlos 21.01.2012

IMO Duverge, Jean Shirley 14.06.2012 Stewart, Annie Camer 26.11.2011

ITU Autelli, Blanca 12.01.2012 Barbezat, F. 20.11.2011 Basilious, Zaher Ayad 21.12.2011 Brodsky, Maurice 13.01.2012 Brunet, Marguerite 14.08.2012 Butler, Richard 23.06.2012 Cozzens, Donald Ewin 19.01.2012 Gamal, Abdel Wahab 26.11.2011 Gobin, Pierre 29.11.2011 Kim, Sung Whan 23.07.2012 Kirby, Richard Cyr 26.01.2012 Moreno de Cabezas, Pilar 18.07.2012 Norman, Frank 13.07.2012 Perez, Gisele 19.02.2012 Persin, Eva Unknown Pouliquen, H. 12.01.2012 Walker, John Anthony 28.07.2012 *Wiltshire, Cecil Arthur 23.01.2012

WIPO Enz-Glahe, Irmgard 19.08.2012 Petit, Philippe 02.01.2012 Stojanovic, Mihailo 25.01.2011

EPPO Mathys, Gustav 02.12.2011

WTO/TOURISM Michaud, Odile 16.12.2011

UnIDO Ayub, Mohammad 22.11.2009 Broadhurst, Amanda 29.01.2012 Carre, Philippe Jacques 22.07.2012 De Boer, Sirp Jan 10.07.2012 Deimann, Hermann 20.01.2012 Ferguson, Laura 29.07.2012 Ganao, David Charles 06.07.2012 Goulart, Carlos 16.12.2011 Hebrard, Marcelle 01.07.2012 Ibrahim, Wadie Boulo ??.12.2011 Kacjan, Marjan 19.08.2011 Kim, Nak Kwan 26.04.2012 Kolarova, Milena 12.01.2012 Lesuisse, Alfred 21.07.2012 Majumdar, Basanti 21.07.2012 Mezeray, Lucette Julienne 13.06.2012 Munoz, Cabrera A. 25.06.2012 Pinyokul, Srisuda 04.06.2012 Velen, Victor A. 27.10.2011

* MEMBER OF AFICS/nY


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THE cHaRiTiEs fOUnDaTiOnOf THE

assOciaTiOn Of fORMER inTERnaTiOnaL ciViL sERVanTs/nEW yORK

AnnUAL APPEAL

The Charities Foundation needs your continued support to enable it to provide assistance to eligible former international civil servants, their dependents or survivors who face short-term emergency needs. In this regard, the Foundation is grateful for the $9,229 raised from individuals as a result of the 2011 Annual Appeal.

During 2011, the Foundation responded favourably to five individuals for assistance by awarding grants totalling $8,500. A donation of $2,000 was also given to UNICEF for its aid to tsunami victims in Japan. In 2012, the Foundation awarded grants totalling $8,500 to individuals and $1,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in New York and New Jersey related to Hurricane Sandy.

The Foundation appreciates your contributions and continued support in providing assistance to retirees. You may also wish to consider including a bequest in your Will or Trust naming the Charities Foundation of AFICS/NY as beneficiary. Your contribution to the Foundation is deductible for United States income tax purposes.

To expedite your contribution, kindly:

1) Complete the form below;

2) Make your check payable to The Charities Foundation of AFICS/NY; and

3) Mail both to:

The Charities Foundation of AFICS/NYUnited NationsRoom DC1-580New York, N. Y. 10017

My contribution to the annual appeal of the Charities Foundation of AFICS/NY is enclosed for:[ ] $10 [ ] $25 [ ] $40 [ ] $50 [ ] $75 [ ] $100 Other $ [ ] I will make a bequest in my Will or Trust to the Charities Foundation of AFICS/NY.

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Documents

AFICS BULLETIN - United Nations Bulletin Fall 2012 -Winter... · 2 AFICS Bulletin Fall 2012/Winter 2013. Unless otherwise noted, throughout the Bulletin the term “AFICS” is used