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‘From speeches by delegates it became clear that we had a lot in common, particularly our problems with untrained guides and with getting recognition of the importance of our work, ‘ she explained ‘But the setting up of the Federation nearly foundered on the question of representation. As a final compromise, a proposal for a type of proportional representation involving the number of guides and the number of bed nights used the previous year in a complicated calculation, was adopted for a limited period, mainly to give us time to think up something better and acceptable to all.’
Jane said member associations did not always see eye to eye. During debates various complaints were raised against guides guiding in other countries such as Scandinavians in Spain and the British in France. The Organisation was officially registered as a Non-Profit Organisation under Austrian law after a second Convention, held in Vienna in 1987, when Jane Orde was voted in as the second WFTGA President after Yossi Grau, a post Jane held for six years. Its name was also changed to the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA).
So how did a Scottish tourist guide become head of a global organisation within such a short period of time? According to Inge Speitel there was a tug of war going on between guides from various large countries for the presidency and perhaps Scotland was chosen because we were small and neutral.
During her time as President Jane encouraged worldwide professional training for guides and promoted International Tourist Guide Day. The WFTGA launched International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD) in 1989 in Cyprus. It developed from an initiative by the Cyprus Tourist Guides Association for local residents called Get to know Cyprus. The purpose of the day was to promote professional tourist guides by offering tours to the local community, schools and charities as well as government officials. The STGA immediately became involved with ITGD and the first tours were run in Edinburgh for local and national dignitaries. ITGD has continued to be celebrated most years in Scotland with tours and events run by the local branches as well as by the National Organisation. Jane also designed the World Guide Logo of two hands - 'the hand of friendship and the hand of guidance stretched across the world'.
At each international convention the WFTGA grew and today it has members from more than 100 countries, probably representing well over
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