It has been two years that have passed all too quickly. It seems like yesterday that you gave me the unimaginable honor of electing me President-Elect of our society. The warm camaradarie at our gala dinner in St Georges Hall when you gave me the Poncho to wear for the year, the thoughtfulness and willingness of our Executive Board to confront the issues before our society this past year, your reception of my speech at our meeting in Cape Town and, finally, passing on the Poncho to my dear friend, Tai Tong. These are all memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving them to me. While our society has important issues facing it, you, in your wisdom, have appointed a group of officers that will lead you well in confronting and conquering them.
I look forward to many more meetings with you, my best of friends.
Prof. Rick Abbott
19 December 2008
