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LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS
the University of Music and Dramatic Arts of Graz. As part of the fabric and the art of
IIW life, all Assemblies and Congresses would feature national presentations of song and
dance which engendered local ambiance, and a feeling of belonging and being a part of a
global network of like-minded persons. Apart from the business of planning and the routine
running of IIW, from a governance point of view, the networking and social side of the
Institute was the very substance that sustained it through good times and bad.
In recognition of such efforts by many of its members, often on a voluntary basis, IIW
initiated a new awards system for recognition of
their contributions through attendance at Annual
Assemblies. This took the form of lapel badges
and certificates of citation for attendances
of over 30 years, 20 years and 10 years, with
the first recipient for 30 years going to Dr
Norman Eaton (Canada) at the Quebec Annual
Assembly in 2006. In consideration of Eaton’s
other contributions, it was recalled he was ‘The
initiator of the awareness that an organisation
must change its approach; first of all from an
organisational point of view to reach efficiency
and financial sufficiency; but also by setting
objectives and adapting itself to result oriented
objectives.’
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Norman Eaton (right) receiving his
30-year IIW Recognition Award at
the Quebec Annual Assembly in
2006 from Chris Smallbone
Delegates at the first IIW International Congress for Central Europe were
snowbound in Stara Lesna, Slovakia