Page 8 - WBG July 2025

Message from
“What you leave behind
is not what is engraved
in stone monuments,
but what is woven into
the lives of others.”
Pericles
Pericles was a Greek statesman
and general during
the Golden Age of Athens
6
1 VICE PRESIDENT
ST
Dear Colleagues and Friends Around the World,
Just returned from Chicago — and what a city!
Our centennial meeting is fast approaching, and final preparations are
in full swing. Bob, Wes, Mike, and Allen are doing an outstanding job
managing the many logistical challenges. The more I learn about the
program, the more excited I am about what lies ahead.
Chicago offers the perfect setting: a city with rich history, and our meeting
venue, the Drake Hotel, is not only centrally located but also just steps
away from a beautiful sandy beach and a charming beach bar. We’re in
for a truly memorable event.
And yet, the world around us continues to spin faster. We find ourselves in
politically uncertain times, with unexpected news breaking almost daily.
That’s why I firmly believe it is essential for WAD — with nearly 1,000
members in over 80 countries — to remain neutral and focused on what
unites us. It is through this neutrality that we maintain strength and ensure
that, even in challenging times, we can rely on our global network and the
many friendships within it.
WAD will continue to grow, and with it, so will our opportunities and
international reach.
My personal goal for the coming term is to further strengthen our cohesion
and visibility as a global association. We will be launching several projects
in support of this vision.
I look forward to the months ahead — and most of all, to seeing many of
you in person very soon!
Warm regards,
Philip Ryffel
1st Vice President