Dr. Argirios Pissiotis

Registrar

14 Pavlou Mela Street
Thessaloniki 54 622
Greece

Tel:   + 30 2310  234655

Fax:  + 30 2310  239980

E-Mail: apissiotis@hol.gr

Secretary General Termed Registrar

By a decision of the Board of Regents in Lisbon last June 2009, the term Secretary General of the European Section is changed to Registrar of the European Section in accordance to the International Council decision that there will be only one Secretary General of The College at Large and the Sections will from now on have Registrars.

New Registrar Elected

During the Annual Meeting of the European Section in Lisbon, Portugal

Dr. Argirios Pissiotis became the new Registrar.

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Looking Back at the Year 2008, and 

Forward to Next Year

Dr. Frans Kroon

The year 2008 comes to an end; a very good moment to pause and meditate a while about the European Section. Did we do well? Was there any progress and what are the plans for the (near) future?

As usual, a great deal of the efforts during the year is spent to the annual meeting; this year it was organized in Athens by the District for Greece and Cyprus. Extensive reports can be seen in other sections of the Digest. But it should be acknowledged also here as an interesting and very stimulating conference meeting. The high attendance at both the Scientific and the Social Events are signs of appreciation of the format of the meeting.

The Board of Regents’ activities were partially directed to improvement of the communication in and between the Districts, further encouragement of local Meetings to stimulate Fellows’ participation and interest in The College. The number of local meetings is increasing. The extensive activities and productions of the European Editor through ICD Eurogram's and the ICDIGEST and of our Past Editor through the College at Large Newsletter are very stimulating in this respect.

Another line of interest for the Board was (and still is) the effort into ‘Continuing Educational Programs’. The Mutual Agreement with the Academic Institute in Odessa, Ukraine, led to extensive participation by European Fellows; a consideration of renewal is to be planned for the Board Meeting in Lisbon in June 2009.

Continuing Dental Education by E-Learning systems has been given wide attention. The Ivident program has been presented and extensively discussed. The Board has decided to form an Advisory Group to arrange proper discussions with the Ivident group in order to start the implementation or use through the ICD-Europe and to advise regarding the possibilities of implementations both for (post)graduate education in (Central & East) Europe and the usefulness to combine it with existing and upcoming projects in developing countries. It is heart-warming to realize how many individual Fellows are already active in this field. The role of the Philip Dear Foundation in this respect is growing and promising. Recently paid attention to these projects in the ICDIGEST is stimulating for understanding and appreciating the efforts already made by these Fellows.

Also, in the International Council the main efforts to improve communication and to strive for (educational) projects are strongly supported by the different Sections.

Proposed separation of Central Office from the USA Section is mainly meant to stimulate and improve these activities and commitments of the College at Large. Appointing of Communication Liaison Officer for the Globe per Section to arrange advertisements for the Globe is another good sign of improving communication.

It is with great sadness and regrets, that I have to mention that our Treasurer Jan van Hoeve , functioning since Cardiff and more than that, personally very involved with the Odessa group has decided to step down as Treasurer because of  health problems. However, we are glad to be able to announce, that Walter van Driel, Regent for the Benelux, has been found willing to take upon him this task.

In June 2009, my term as Secretary General will end. I’m very pleased that our Deputy Secretary Fellow Argirios Pissiotis is ready to take over, with whom I’m looking forward to a sound cooperation through my –by then– presidential function.

I’m looking forward to a pleasant and effective communication within and in favor of the Board of Regents of the European Section.

Dr. Frans Kroon

Immediate Past Secretary General