Editor's Letter

Photo: Karl Erik Andersen

A bit sad, but it is time for me to say goodbye. It has been a great two years since I started, not just for me, but also for FIAT/IFTA. Sad as it may be, as we go our separate ways I do not want to dwell on the past but instead make some remarks for the future.

The membership is steadily growing (as you can see from the new members mentioned in every Newsletter), the seminars and conferences are attracting more delegates and more sponsors, we have more publications (see separate notice for new ones) and there are many more signs of a prospering organisation. Most of this is down to dedicated Executive Council and Commission members, with vision, resources and determination (this is not self-flattery as I am not in the EC or the Commissions).

As President and General Secretary respectively, Tedd Johansen and Steve Bryant proved a winning combination with a good working relationship. Not only as a combination, but also in their respective roles, they showed that their election was a very wise one. Their knowledge and skills have not been lost now that their terms have ended and others have taken their place; they remain in the EC. Even more, as some of you already know, the EC elected Tedd as Vice-President. Sue Malden was also elected as Vice-President whereas Dominique Saintville stays on in that same position.

This means that our new President, Dr Peter Dusek, and our new General Secretary, Lasse Nilsson, will have gathered a very strong team around them (as you may have noticed, all four candidates for the Presidency will now be working very closely together). Strong individuals do not always make for a strong team but with the solid foundation built during the last two years (and, of course, before that) they have every chance to succeed.

What they need from you, the members, is genuine interest in the cause of audiovisual archives. As I have said before, get involved; help organise events, write articles for the Newsletter, conduct surveys, inform the EC of what you want and need, and then help get it done. There is only so much non-paid EC and Commission members with another full-time job can do; they need your help, no matter how good they are.

As I leave my post as editor and Administrative Secretary there is already someone waiting in the wings to take over. I wish him-her all the best and hope that the co-operation with the EC, Commissions and FIAT/IFTA members will be successful.

Gösta Johansson
Editor and Administrative
Secretary