Pensions – a Close Call December 2006 Bulletin No

Bureau of the Former ITU Staff Members’ Section

International Telecommunication Union

Pensions – a close call December 2006 Bulletin No. 21

he United Nations retirees (17 votes in the management of Summary TJoint Pensions favour, 11 against and the Pension Fund will Board held a meeting one abstention) – had be referred back to 1 Editorial (Pensions) in Nairobi in July. allowed itself to the Joint Board for a Most of the time be persuaded to careful review, subject 2 The Plenipotentiary these meetings, at recommend to the to maintaining the Conference which retired staff General Assembly due Secretary General’s are represented by a to open in September responsibility for the 3 Complementary Insurance FAFICS delegation that the management Fund’s management. (Federation of of part of the Funds 3 Our Annual Meeting Associations of Former (the North American J. Balfroid Civil Servants), deal portfolio, worth 9 billion 4 News of the Federation with problems leading dollars) should be 4 Our little jaunt into to a fairly predictable entrusted to a private Emmental outcome that have asset management little effect on current company. 7 The Onion Fair pensions. Meanwhile the 7 Autumn Luncheon This year, however, originator of the the atmosphere was proposal, who has 8 Artists’ Corner very tense owing to the since been disowned tabling of a proposal and has handed in his 8 Press cuttings by a representative of resignation, had already 10 Letters to the Editor the Secretary-General started a round of to hand over the consultations of private 10 Globe-Trotters Corner management of the fi rms with a view to assets of the Pension furthering his own 11 Wanted Fund and of the Fund “interests”. itself to the private 11 They have passed away sector. Most of you At the time this article were invited to sign a is being written, the 11 Our Web Site petition rejecting this fi nal conclusions of 11 End of the Year wishes proposal. As a fi rst the General Assembly step, however, the are not yet known, but 12 Bureau of the Section Joint Board – despite it is more than likely the opposition of the that the Joint Board’s representatives of recommendations will participants (active not be adopted and civil servants) and that the question of Page 2 Bureau of the Section

Plenipotentiary Conference, Antalya

The Plenipotentiary Conference results. The new leaders of ITU staged and that a TELECOM ITU was held in Antalya, Turkey, (2/5th of its members having event would be held every four from 6th to 24th of November, being renewed) are: years; a rotation of venues would 2006, in the presence of some Secretary-General: be considered. It should be noted 2000 delegates representing 161 Mr. Hamadoun I. Touré (Mali); that the criteria for selecting the (out of 191) Member States of he headed the BDT TELECOM Board were reviewed. the Union, as well as of several from 1998 to 2006. members of the sectors. The For the time being, the ITU conference was inaugurated by Vice Secretary-General: name retains all its traditional the President of the Government Mr. Houlin Zhao (China); importance; however, a group of Turkey. The shorter conference he was in charge of TSB of Council members will be duration (three weeks instead of from 1998 to 2006. assigned to the study of several defi nitions, including in the fi eld four for prior conferences) did not Director, BDT: cause any major problem, apart Mr. Sami Al-Basheer of the Internet, and thus will be from the evening meetings in the (Saudi Arabia) in a position to modify related fi nal week and a sustained high terminology. The Conference also pace of work at week’s end. We Director, BR: looked at ITU’s role in following Mr. Valery Timofeev (Russia); are all pleased with the work up implementation of the results he was already Director of our colleagues in service as of the World Summit on the from 2002 to 2006. well as the preparations made Information Society; the Council and the hospitality extended by Director, TSB: group will continue its work in the host country. It should be Mr. Malcolm Johnson that regard. Another group will stressed that there were several (United Kingdom) study within the Union the role of parallel meetings and various civil society. working groups to resolve specifi c We congratulate the new team, problems. with whom we hope to maintain It should be noted, in conclusion, cordial relations. that the next ITU Council It should be pointed out that the (Geneva, 4th to 14th of conference was held at Beldibi, The Conference also elected September, 2007) will need to a seaside town about 30 km the new members of the Radio resolve several issues and to from Antalya. This is a tourist Regulations Board as well as community (outside of the low the Council members for the create various working groups, season) and groups together, period 2007-2010. As to work namely: accomplished, we revised several within a radius of 5 km, various To fi nalize the Financial Plan articles of the Convention and hotels and similar establishments, for the period 2008-2011 we adopted/revised a number of which enabled participants to (Dec. 5), which for the time Decisions and Resolutions (always concentrate on the task at hand. being foresees a defi cit of on the increase). We also fi nalized In the back-country of Beldibi 40 million CHF, with a stand the imposing peaks of the a new strategic plan (Res. 71) and contributory unit set at Taurus mountain chain (circa decided to convene, in Geneva, 318’000 CHF (the contributory 3000m). Certain mountain tops during the fi rst quarter, 2009, unit for Sector Members is were already covered in snow. the 4th World Forum to consider set, for the moment, at 1/5th In the area surrounding Antalya all issues relating to the possible of that amount). A group will (a city of 1 million inhabitants, revision of the International with a charming old town and Telecommunication Regulations. have the task of studying the an attractive harbour) there are We also brought up the possible real costs of their participation several historic sites through convening of a World Conference [sector members], and that of which several civilizations have in 2012. associate members, in the passed (Mesopotamian, Greek, work). As you know, Geneva will host the Roman, Ottoman and right up to next Universal Exhibition, in 2010 To continue work of the New modern times); these sites alone (this year it is being held in Hong Council Oversight Group,with are worth the trip. Kong). The Conference decided in a new group called the On another note, let’s look at addition (Res. 11) that regional Management and Budget the broad outline of Conference exhibitions would continue to be Group. December 2006 Page 3

To continue work of the In conclusion a Resolution is to be held in Mexico in October- tripartite group on human (Res.77) has set the dates of the November 2010. resources management within Council for the end of the year I remain at the disposal of any the Union, while awaiting and those of the Plenipotentiary friends who would like to have the results of deliberations on Conference for the period April- more details about the Conference employment by the June. However, there has been and about Antalya. International Civil Service already an exception in that the Commission. next Plenipotentiary Conference Fabio Bigi

Complementary Insurance – Health Insurance

As was announced in our bulletin N° 20 of July 2006, a meeting had been foreseen for the end of the year in order to take a ﬁ nal decision concerning the scale of contributions to be applied for the year 2007. In view of the estimated results of the year 2006 and the favourable situation of the reserve fund, it has been decided not to apply any increase for the contributions for the year 2007. It should be noted however that, due to the complete elimination of the “symbolic” subsidy granted by the Staff Union, the pensioners scale of contribution will include an additional amount of 2.45 CHF (In this connection, see bulletins N° 19 and 20). A re-examination of the contract presently in force with the Insurance Company will be effected on the basis of the experience acquired since its entry into force.

Our Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting was Bureau chairman reviewed particular esteem was the perfect held on 8th November 2006. the salient points from the organization of all the outings Although stripped of any formal previous reporting period and in by our friend Bernard Bourloud, trappings, this meeting acts as particular the marked success of as well as the huge burden of a General Assembly and enables the trip to Dordogne in May. This administrative tasks carried the exchange of ideas on the kind of outing, lasting a week on out discreetly by our secretary, activities of the Section during average, is the year’s important Liliane de Michely Jeanmonod. the last reporting period and event and we are sure that the The translators, Peter Whiting also defines a program for the (planned) tour of Ireland, that and Yann Saunders, also were following year. It should be noted got the Meeting’s unanimous to be thanked for taking on the that statutory issues, e.g. the recommendation, will go down translation of our Bulletins; Financial Report, are dealt with in the Section’s history (see the special thanks go out to the during the ordinary General activities projects on page 11). second named colleague who, Assembly of the Staff Union. from the opposite side of the The other aspects of the Section’s Atlantic, never fails to give us a Under the leadership of activities also were discussed in hearty helping hand. our friend Lazlo Mercz, depth, especially the important an exchange of views took work of the members of the The Chairman pointed out in place in a very relaxed yet Bureau whose devotion was addition that the Bureau keeps constructive atmosphere. The unanimously appreciated; held in in permanent contact with the Page 4 Bureau of the Section

various bodies that deal with the framework of the Seminar to 2007; he called again for new team problems affecting retirees, in prepare future ITU pensioners for members with a view to infusing matters both of pensions and retirement. “new blood” into the Committee. health. To be noted also is that, In conclusion, the Section Drinks followed the meeting and at the request of the Personnel Chairman pointed out that the participants in the foregoing Department, several members of elections for the renewal of the Seminar were invited. the Section lead a session within Bureau would be held at the end of Jean Balfroid

News of the Federation

The Council of the Federation assets gave rise to a long debate. pension of the surviving spouse, of Associations of Former Also discussed was the question as well as several decisions and International Civil Servants of the size and composition of recommendations on retirees’ Associations (FAFICS) met in the Joint Committee and, in health insurance and also long- Geneva from 4th to 7th of July, particular, the status of the term care. retirees’ representatives on that 2006, under the chairmanship It should be pointed out that Committee. of Wiltold Zyss. The Section of the Association of Former Civil ITU Former Civil Servants was Once again, attention was drawn Servants residing in Uruguay represented by Jean Balfroid to the situation of the former was represented by our colleague who was a member of AFICS participants of the ex-Soviet Jacques Meylan, who is also a (Geneva). Republics (Soviet Union, Ukraine member of our Section of Former The principal aim of the meeting and Belarus) and their unfair ITU ofﬁ cials. treatment. was to deﬁ ne the mandate of the delegation which will take part The Council examined also in the Joint Pensions Committee. draft amendments to Article As you will see in the Editorial, 35bis of the Pension Fund Jean Balfroid the issue of investing the Fund’s Regulations concerning the

Our little jaunt into Emmental 19 to 21 September, 2006

Tuesday 19 September: We countryside where Mother Nature surrounded by a beautiful assembled at Cornavin station already was beginning to don her landscape. In that establishment, to take the non-stop, Inter- autumn colours under a radiant which has retained all of its City express to Berne. After sun. Our whip did not speak a traditional character, we had a change trains there, we left for word of French but with help from typical meal from that region. Sumiswald; this is where we Bernard and another colleague, After lunch, we went on an shall discover another aspect of both of whom spoke “bärndütch” excursion through meadows with life in Geneva – the rural world. ﬂ uently and who were in our a superb view on the Bernese coach, we learned a lot about the pre-Alps and Alps, en route to We reached Sumiswald-Poste things around us. visit the cheese-making factory and settled in to our quarters at Affoltern with its modern for the next three days, at the After coming down a rather manufacturing equipment and Hotel Bären [the Bear Hotel]. steep hill, when we were able its diorama illustrating life in After settling in, we took a to measure the skill of our mountain pastures. Further pleasant ride in an open coach coachman, we came upon a aﬁ eld, in a small garden, we and pair through the Emmental farm located in the wilds and entered an Alpine chalet, built December 2006 Page 5

great time. We had to go down the stairs backwards, so afraid were we of breaking our necks! The castle gives its name to today’s district. Its history begins to unfold only in the 12th century. Berne established its foothold in Emmmental in stages. After many Teutonic mutations, the old manor of Trachselwald, seat of the Trachselwald barons in the 13th century, earned at the end of the 14th century the title of Commandery of the Teutonic order of Sumiswald. The town of Berne bought it in 1408. Secularized with the Reformation, the Commandery of Sumiswald had to be restored to the Order Our group in 1552. It was only in 1698 that the old Commandery returned in 1741; the cheese-making Thursday 21 September: defi nitively to Berne. Making instruments used at the time Guided tour of Trachselwald the most of its agriculture as were still there and intact; they castle, currently the seat of the well as the lumber, cheese and were vastly different from those prefecture and also the only cloth trades, various full-scale we had just seen! Then it was off fortress in Emmental to have as well as cottage industries to Sumiswald by bus and train; retained its original form. Almost developed there in the 18th dinner awaited us there at the on hands and knees, owing to century. Expansion was thwarted Hotel Bären. the height and slope of the steps, in the 19th century owing to the the bravest among us climbed district’s marginal position in the Wednesday 20 September: the stairs to the top. The reward railway transit network and also We left for Lützelfl üh by bus was worth the “mountaineering” to its late connection, by branch and train. From there, it was a effort; there was a superb view of lines, to that network. To a large short walk to the Gotthelf-Stube, the surrounding countryside and extent, today, the region has kept workplace of Jeremias Gotthelf, our amateur photographers had a its landscape intact and thus is a pastor and author, in the Bernese dialect, who exerted his ministry in this village from 1831 to 1854. In the barn attached to the manse, a memorial and small museum have been set up and recall the pastor and his work. The name of Simon Gfeller is also attached to the area; he too wrote in the local dialect; he grew up in Zuguet im Heimisbach and was a teacher in Egg, close to Lützelfl üh. We had lunch at the Ochsen restaurant. In the afternoon, our outing continued by train to Langnau for a visit to the annual market, spread along picturesque lanes bordered by houses covered in fl oral decorations. We returned to Sumiswald, via Ramsei, by train and bus. Pleasant drive in a horse-drawn carriage Page 6 Bureau of the Section

Cythar player

prize destination for excursionists then returned to Sumiswald, led A special vote of thanks is due to and wayfarers alike. by Magali and Nadia, the mares Bernard who prepares all these that hauled our carriage at a outings with a great sense of After visiting the castle and a lively, trotting gait. We had a ﬁ nal devotion and who never fails to downhill stroll through the ﬁ elds, refreshment in the hotel, before have a little something for each of we reached the Zither Museum, heading for the station and back to the participants. the only one known in Switzerland. Geneva. The sky is to be thanked Two others still exist: one in for the beautiful weather we were Germany, the other in Austria. It able to enjoy during these three took the museum owner, days. Monique Bill Mr Lorenz Mühlemann, more than thirty years to assemble his collection. Considering he’s in his View from Trachselwald castle forties, he started very young. He is so passionate about those instruments, he could do no more than share that passion with us. He let us listen to the sounds of the various types of zithers. This very complex instrument is like several instruments rolled into one: the sound produced by the string zither puts it on a par with the guitar; the one used with a bow resembles a violin and the one with keys is played on a keyboard, like a piano. Our impassioned host ended the visit with a mini recital that we found amazing. In fact, those were an enchanting two hours spent in his company. We had lunch at the Restaurant Tanne [Fir Tree restaurant], December 2006 Page 7

The Onion Fair (Berne)

What an experience! I am sure that the 22 participants will never forget this very lively day and that they were sold forever on garlic and onions! After a morning spent visiting the stands and mingling in the massive throng, we were able to spend the afternoon discovering the charming town of Berne and its highly historical past. Days like this one are too short – you get home exhausted, but happy! Thank you, Bernard.

J. Balfroid

Autumn Luncheon

Our colleagues truly appreciate our luncheon meetings; indeed, 74 of them attended the autumn feast that was staged on 22nd November at the Pirate restaurant in Ferney- Voltaire. As sometimes happens – life isn’t always a “Long Quiet River” – some participants were disappointed, at least as regards one of the menu offerings. But this did not cut into the morale of our colleagues; above all, they enjoyed the pleasure of getting together. Nevertheless, we are looking into the possibility of varying our meeting places; we shall be suggesting something new, next Spring, namely a boat trip, just as an excuse to have a meal “on the water”. Other meeting places also are being considered, where we hope many of you will be joining us there.

J. Balfroid Page 8 Bureau of the Section

Artists’ Corner

Those of our colleagues who were lucky enough to attend, on the eve of the opening day, the exhibition of watercolours and other work by the artists who make up the Club Workshop, were awed as they admired the works on display. We left the exhibition convinced that our colleagues not only are extremely worthy civil servants, but also that their artistic talent puts them in the ranks of an exceptional elite. Congratulations once again... and please keep it up. This exhibition runs from 1st to 20th of December, 2006. J. Balfroid

Press Cuttings Article published in the daily “LE VAR MATIN” September, 2006 Are you unaware that you are a diabetic?

SEVEN YEARS IS THE asymptomatic. When the rate is is already late. Indeed, the lesions AVERAGE TIME BETWEEN higher, the kidney will play its of the eye develop over many years GETTING THE ILLNESS AND role of ﬁ lter. Trouble is, a lot of and remain asymptomatic for a IT BEING DETECTED. DURING water is needed to evacuate all long time; when eyesight becomes THAT TIME THE FREQUENT this sugar. The kidney draws affected, it means that the GLYCEMIC PEAKS CAUSE that water from body tissue. This diabetes has long been present. ALTERATIONS TO THE causes an unquenchable thirst. These symptoms should never be ORGANISM. You start drinking, drinking and ignored; diabetic retinopathy is drinking... You are exhausted the ﬁ rst cause of adult-acquired A diabetic is someone with from those night-time wake- blindness. excessive sugar in the blood. up calls (to have a wee) and by This means there has been a the dehydration! The pitfall is You are very much overweight: breakdown in the mechanisms that these symptoms progress One in three obese people suffer that regulate glycemia (blood slowly; it may take a long time to from Type 2 diabetes. How to sugar rate). While certain forms become aware of them. Fatigue, prevent it? Balanced meals, of diabetes progress very quickly thirst and frequent trips to the staying slim and exercising... and are accompanied by symptoms loo are attributed to many other “When diabetes has not been in so obvious that the diagnosis is causes... You even get used to place for too long, a simple change easy, others, like type-2 diabetes, them. The point is, if you are in lifestyle (like dieting and remain dormant for a long period. tired or forever feeling thirsty, battling a sedentary life) is enough Proof? Of the 2,5 million people you should consider having your to balance glycemiae again”, with diabetes, in France, 500 000 glycemia tested. Sometimes, the asserts Pr Alfred Penfornis. are not aware of it. Meanwhile, simple feeling of a dry mouth is a the crafty disease continues to warning sign. You had a very big baby or had progress and cause damage. gestational diabetes: Therefore, in the following Your eyesight is getting worse: Statistically, women who have situations, you need to be vigilant: In diabetes, what suffers primarily given birth to a very big baby are the crystalline lens (cataract) are more at risk of developing If you are forever thirsty: and retina (DMLA). It is not diabetes. Again, therefore, do not With less than 1.8gr of sugar unusual for worsening eyesight to neglect your glycemia if you had in the blood, the disease is often signal the disease. At that point it gestational diabetes (increased December 2006 Page 9

glycemia during pregnancy). This The same applies if there are the “islets of Langerhans” which means you are predisposed to family antecedents of early are the cells that synthesize diabetes, i.e. a tendency to insulin cardiovascular diseases (this insulin. Generally it develops in resistance... may be a sign of diabetes as yet childhood or adolescence; it is rare undetected). Indeed, diabetes is a in adulthood. “You can’t miss the You have high blood pressure: great purveyor of arterial plaque. diagnosis”, explains Pr. Penfornis, This could mean that your kidneys The disease may cause severe an endrocrinologist. Within a are affected; this too remains often cardiovascular accidents ten to period of a few weeks the patient asymptomatic. In this case, the twenty years early; this includes loses a few pounds, urinates only means of really determining strokes, the primary cause of frequently, is always drinking, is kidney condition is to have a death in diabetics. exhausted...” If nothing is done, urine albumin test. Just like the there is the threat of acido-ketosis eye, the kidney is one of the ﬁ rst Further reading: Mieux vivre avec (vomitting, nausea, even coma, organs to be affected in the event un diabète (Live better despite owing to hyperglycemia). The only of diabetes, because both are diabetes), Pr Gerard Slama, treatment consists of multiple, ﬁ lled with microvessels. Glycemia Publ. Odile Jacob. Le diabète daily insulin injections which peaks are very harmful to small sans gêne (Diabetes without help to normalize glycemia. In capillaries, which get blocked, embarrassment), by Drs Michel the absence of any “cure” for the with the result that the organs Cymès and Jean-Michel Borys, illness, this treatment has to be they irrigate have to suffer. Publ. Jacob-Duvernet. administered for life.

You get pins and needles, A quick and reliable diagnosis Type 2 or “fatty diabetes”. cramps...: Testing glycemia on an empty This occurs essentially among That may mean that small stomach. This blood sample test overweight individuals. Gradually, nerves have been damaged by is enough to diagnose diabetes. the body becomes insulin- diabetes that has been evolving It should be done on an empty resistant, i.e. it needs more and for years. This deterioration may stomach (no intake of solids or more insulin to maintain a normal result both in a loss of sensitivity liquids in the 8 hours preceding blood-sugar level. In the long term and suffering pains for no the test). The smallest cup of the pancreas is overworked and apparent reason, even temporary coffee with the slightest sugar becomes exhausted. The illness is paralyses of one or more muscles added will corrupt the test results! treated initially with medication – i.e. inability to move one’s foot, If this morning glycemia exceeds that increases the body’s sensitivity squinting and being unable to get 1.26gr/lit of blood, the test is to insulin. Then, when this is no the eye back into position. done again a few days later. “Two longer enough, the patient starts injecting insulin. As a result of You had diabetes while you high glycemic counts are a sign of rampant infantile obesity, this were on steroids: diabetes”, conﬁ rms Pr Penfornis. kind of diabetes, that used to Sometimes, when undergoing Induced hyperglycemia. This affect only mature adults, now is medical treatment (particularly if other method consists in drinking affecting also adolescents. taking steroids), diabetes that was 75gr. of glucose, then measuring hitherto latent and of which you the blood-glucose level two hours A small percentage of diabetes are unaware may suddenly worsen later. belongs to neither of these and ﬂ are up dramatically. Even if two categories. These are LADA everything returns to normal after Glycosylated hemoglobin. (which falls into Type 1 diabetes the treatment, consider yourself at After the diagnosis is established, but occurs later in life and more risk of getting diabetes and have it enables the “history” of your gradually) and MODY, your glycemia tested regularly. diabetes to be determined. It a hereditary form of diabetes. shows the average glycemia levels You are prone to mycoses: over the preceding three months. Diabetes increases the risk of It is also an excellent way of infection. Sometimes mycoses or determining if a diabetes is being warts will give you due warning. balanced by the treatment... Some of your close relatives are diabetics: One name – many illnesses This disease is partly hereditary. Type 1 or “non-fat” diabetes, If any of your close relatives or “insulin-dépendant” have had Type 1 or 2 diabetes, diabetes. In this form of illness, it’s in your own interest to have the body makes antibodies against your glycemia tested regularly. its own pancreas and destroys Page 10 Bureau of the Section

Letters to the Editor

Dear All, many friends here. I guess I’m still straddling continents with I was looking at the bulletins and our daughter studying in Sydney saw many familiar faces. I hope to and Mum still going strong there be on early retirement ofﬁ cially at – she’ll be 90 next year. last on 1 November 2006. I thought I’d let those among you who My best wishes to you all – health remember me catch up on what I and joy. am now up to. Sylvia

I’m based in Vienna now – my husband is from Vienna, I am www.sylviapetter.com ﬂ uent in Wienerisch and have http://mercsworld.blogspot.com/

Dear Friends and Colleagues of age! To have lived with a disability Thank you all for being his friend Alan’s, and being dependent on others over the years. would have been quite unacceptable This is just to let you all know that to him, so we all agree that it was Maure, Simon, Jane, Sarah and sadly Alan died last saturday (25th a release for him. Maure is coping David Brooks November) following a stroke. He well, although it was a great shock 22 High St. had a smaller stroke on the previous and she is still surrounded by her Alderney monday and had lost the power of children, but friends have been very Channel Islands speech and communication, and sympathetic and supportive for GY9 3UG was extremely frustrated at being which she is very grateful. Tel.: (0044)1481823381 incapacitated in this way. As most of you know, he remained a We are having a private cremation very independent and active man on monday (4th Dec.) in Guernsey, throughout his years, and spent a lot and will have a Memorial Service of time ﬁ ghting off any signs of old here on Alderney at a later date.

GLOBE-TROTTERS CORNER

At the end of a year it’s nice to plan the trips that will brighten our days in 2007.

Following last year’s poll to determine what would be our choice of principal destinations, it turns out a trip to Ireland would go down well.

So the committee has picked the latter destination for the one-week trip in 2007. The outing should take place in late August/beginning September. In order to get the trip plans off the ground without delay, we would like to know if the proposed dates would suit you. Please send us your suggestions as soon as possible (by 31st of January at the latest), using the form attached to this bulletin. Thanks in advance. December 2006 Page 11

In addition to the Ireland trip, the provisional program for 2007 is as follows:

Mid-April Spring luncheon (either combined with a boat trip or at the Hotel School) (as yet undecided)

Late May or early June Day’s outing to Haute-Savoie

May-June Trip to Tessin (Lake Maggiore, Borromean Islands)

Early October A day in Montreux and the Rochers de Naye

Mid-November Autumn luncheon

EEndnd ofof thethe YearYear WWishesishes Do you want to know the dates when the Former Staff Member’s Bureau is manned, or get a copy The Bureau of the Section of the of an article from an older Bulletin, or ﬁ nd out the year’s programme of trips, outings and visits? Former ITU Ofﬁ cials sends you its best wishes for Christmas as well as Check out the Web site of ITU good health and happiness for the year 2007. Former Staff Members http://life.itu.ch/retraites/

There you will ﬁ nd all manner of useful information. We hope you will visit the site on a regular basis and help to improve it by sending us your suggestions (write to: [email protected]). Thanks in advance. WANTED!!! The Secretariat of the Retirees Bureau is short of a few issues of our Bulletins, namely Nos. 5 and 13 in English and Nos. 14, 16 and 19 in They have passed away… French. We should be grateful to those of Mr. Agustin HERRERIN on 1st August 2006 you who may have these on ﬁ le for Mrs Nelly VALTICOS forwarding them to us. Thanks in on 14 August 2006 advance. Mr. Emadul HUQ on 1st November 2006 Mr. Alan BROOKS on 25 November 2006 Page 12 Bureau of the Section

Bureau de la Section des anciens fonctionnaires de l’UIT Bureau of the Former ITU Staff Members’ Section Union internationale des télécommunications Place des Nations – Bureau V23 CH-1211 Genève 20

Composition

Président / President: ...... Jean Balfroid

Vice-Président / Vice-President: ...... Eddy Augsburger

Secrétaire / Secretary: ...... Liliane de Michely-Jeanmonod assistée de Petra Bravenboer

Trésorier / Treasurer: ...... Pierre Johner

Membres / Members: ...... Jacques Bacaly, Fabio Bigi

Répartition des Tâches / Distribution of Tasks Liaison avec l’Association des anciens fonctionnaires internationaux Genève (AAFI) / Contacts with the Association of Former Inter-

national Civil Servants Geneva (AFICS): ...... J. Balfroid, F. Bigi

Questions de pensions / Pensions: ...... J. Balfroid, E. Augsburger

Caisse-maladie BIT/UIT / Health Fund ILO/ITU: ...... J. Bacaly, E. Augsburger Caisse complémentaire / Complementary Insurance (Mutuelle Santé Prévoyance

Internationale): ...... J. Balfroid, P. Johner Préparation du Bulletin / Preparation

of the Bulletin: ...... L. de Michely-Jeanmonod, P. Bravenboer assistées des autres membres du Bureau ainsi que de / with the help of the other members of the Bureau as well as ...... Mme F. Sala, MM. G. Araman, P.-A. Traub, P. Whiting et / and Y. Saunders

Activités récréatives / Leisure Activities: ...... B. Bourloud, L. de Michely-Jeanmonod Informatique et Site Web /

Computer and Website: ...... G. Araman, J.-P. Berthet,

Pour nous contacter / To contact us

Tél. / Tel.: 022 730 55 84

Courriel / E-mail: [email protected]

Site Web / Website: http://life.itu.ch/retraites er e Permanences / Ofﬁ ce opening hours: 1 et 3 mardi du mois, Bureau V23 bâtiment Varembé, de 14h à 16h / 1st and 3rd Tuesday, Ofﬁ ce V23, Varembé Building, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Numéros utiles à l’UIT / Useful ITU numbers Secrétariat du Syndicat / Staff Union

Secretariat: ...... 022 730 57 99

Service Social / Social Service: ...... 022 730 53 80

Pensions: ...... 022 730 53 81

Assurance-maladie / Health Insurance:

Lettres / Initials: A – C Mme C. Perrin: ...... 022 730 58 24

D – L Mme M.-A. Pégorier: ...... 022 730 53 85

M – Z Mme C. Ackley: ...... 022 730 56 84

(uniquement entre 14h00 et 16h00/between 2 and 4 p.m. only)