4th Quarter Issue

 

Chairman's Note

 

Dear WSG Members,

 

Following our extremely successful Annual Meeting in Chicago at the end of which I was elected Chairman, we have been developing WSG's priorities for the next twelve months. In addition to working with the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, I have privately sought the views of former members of the Board of Directors, members of the Regional Councils as well as members at large in order to come up with meaningful priorities which reflect what I perceive to be the views of a significant segment of WSG. We have agreed on the following priorities: (1) working out a solution for the Canadian Region in which several members have hinted at the possibility of leaving the organization because of dissatisfaction with the way the organization is being run; (2) working on the recruitment of additional members in key jurisdictions in the US; (3) devising ways for getting members more involved with each other so that the benefits become more evident; (4) devising new methods for raising funds so that we can spend more money on publicity to get WSG better known.

 

This initial free advice which members owe to each other in effect constitutes a policy of WSG, the Free Advice Policy. While in the relatively short period of ten years we have become one of the largest professional networks in the world, in my opinion, we are at the dawn of a new stage in our development in which we have to focus our attention in responding to members' expectations of their membership in WSG. In addition to referrals, WSG offers many other benefits which are sometimes overlooked. We have highly qualified members all over the world who not only constitute a very reliable source to refer one's clients, but who are also the repository of advice on matters in a particular jurisdiction. This initial free advice which members owe to each other in effect constitutes a policy of WSG, the Free Advice Policy. WSG practice groups are another extremely valuable for practitioners, as well as, an easy way to keep up-to-date on the latest developments in a given field. We have recently organized a new mining practice group which has met with ample support and approval throughout the Americas. Considering that in the Americas we have some of the most competent mining practitioners, this practice group should be the source of a steady flow of work among our members in the region and beyond.

 

Those and many other WSG services that are available to all of us are sometimes not known to many members. This remits all of us to the necessity of creating within our own firms a greater awareness of the organization and the services that are available. If help is needed, the Houston office is willing and able to help.

 

We want to serve you to the best of our ability, but in order to do so, you must let us know what you would like the organization to be. As I said in my acceptance speech, we cannot promise to please everyone, but we are ready and willing to listen and to act on what we perceive to be the desires of the majority of the members.

 

Thank you for your support and encouragement.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ronaldo C. Veirano, Chairman, World Services Group