The World Bank Group is a unique and special place. It brings people together from all over the world with different backgrounds and experiences, and a wealth of knowledge. It makes the Bank Group an impressive community – one that is enriched by the support and involvement of our families.

I know that sacrifices are made by family members due to the demands of mission travel, long hours at work, and relocations. Many of you have left your home countries so that a spouse or partner can work in one of the Bank Group’s offices in Washington, DC or around the world. Often the task of integrating into a new culture and a new community is left to the family. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank the families of World Bank staff for their support and encouragement, and for their patience and tolerance.

I would also like to thank the many volunteers of the World Bank Family Network (WBFN) who provide guidance to newly arrived staff and families. You are the human face of the Bank for newcomers, and a support network of friends who have helped to make Washington, DC feel more like home for hundreds of staff. I also appreciate the professional help extended to staff and their families through Global Mobility and other HR services. Thank you all for your dedication to our World Bank Group community.

So a warm welcome to those of you who have joined our community recently, and my best wishes to our long standing members. May this New Year be a rewarding one for all.

Robert B. Zoellick
World Bank Group President