Report of the "Friends of UNICA" 1997/98

Since my previous report issued in May last year, many things have happened for the Friends of UNICA !

First Information on our Meeting of 14-16.11. was circulated in June 1997. The way was paved for this Special Meeting that many friends wanted to be organised and preparations could be started. All the same, an event of a great importance was ahead of us ! The UNICA Congress in Warsaw !

The Members of our Club met in a very pleasant environment; after an exchange of warm greetings and mutual information about the latest "news" among participants (as many as 62 Friends of UNICA had come), we enjoyed watching the film that our Swiss friend Fred Graber had made on the occasion of the last UNICA Congress in Poland in 1975.

Discussions were then very lively and it is well known that the Friends of UNICA are not short of topics !

Judging by the very positive response, we can claim that the Meeting has been a great success.

Again many thanks Witold Kon for an faultless organization.

The "Special Meeting" of the Friends of UNICA from 14 to 16 November 1997 in Beveren near Antwerp (Belgium) coincided with the National Competition of the Belgian federation NAB. The so-called Autumn Committee Meeting was also held simultaneously (beginning on 14.11.). A selection of films on several previous UNICA Congresses was presented on extra-large screen on Friday evening and many of us could identify themselves after subtracting some years of age .

The quality of the facilities offered by Motel Beveren contributed greatly to the success of the event that was up to expectations. It was only the weather that was not so friendly on 16.11. : the sightseeing tour in Ghent was rather wet but the weather did not manage to work as a wet blanket on the spirits of participants. The evening was devoted to a reception with our Belgian friends and the ceremony to close the NAB Festival the participants were very pleased with the various events on the programme, including a film performance (featuring "Bitter Honey" by L. Van Schil and "Miratges" by J. Baca). Our friend Lieven Debrauwer played the role of the entertainer and gave evidence of his many talents !

Now some figures and statistics :

The number of members was ­ according to the previous report - 98.
New members: 8, leaving  : 8 So the number of Friends of UNICA was and still is 98 !

The number of "members for life" has risen from 15 to 18 !

The Friends of UNCIA originate from 15 (13) nations.

Three news bulletins have been sent to all Friends and two short newsletters for the participants in the Special Meeting. Unfortunately, the UNICA News had to be sent separately by post on two occasions, for technical reasons.

The Friends of UNCIA could transfer the following amounts to the Treasurer of UNCIA as per November 1997 : DEM 2000 and CHF 110.

The assets of the Club are currently : DEM 710,42; FRF 359,30; CHF 50; BEF 761.

Membership fees are still set as CHF 50, DEM 60, FRF 200, and the contribution for "life members" is still CHF 500, DEM 600, FRF 2000.

To join the Club, please apply to

Gisela ANNA-FREIER
Hirschackerweg 32
D-66453 GERSHEIM
Tel. ++49/6843-8510
Fax ++49/6843-5599

As I got married last April, my name is now : ANNA-FREIER.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any question.

Gisela ANNA-FREIER
In charge of the Friends of UNICA Club