It is February, and whether you are in DC and looking for ways to pass the cold days and evenings or in another part of the world and summer is at its height, we’d like to call on your help with a project that you can take part in from wherever you are.

I am speaking of support for our Members Abroad, the spouses/partners of World Bank Group staff who are living outside the WBG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. As increasingly more families are moving from Headquarters to a Country Office or from Country Office to Country Office, WBFN is trying to place more emphasis on and establish new ways of reaching out to these members, to help them keep in touch with us and with each other. With our new Member Management System (MMS), WBFN is better prepared than ever to maintain an accurate database of members’ location, contact information and interests.

We have recently learned of efforts by persons in Country Offices who have developed new ways to reach out to the WBG spouses/partners in their community. For example, in Vietnam, spouses have created a Yahoo group. In another country, the Country Director has hired two part-time “Community Liaison Officers,” who work closely with the regular staff to help with the welcoming and relocation of families moving there. Their involvement and impact in barely half a year has been impressive!

We know that many of our members have overseas experience, either directly or vicariously, that would benefit others who are going through similar situations. We need your input and insights, and we encourage you to email your stories, ideas, and/or offers to help us to WBFN (familynetwork@worldbank.org).

I’d like to bring to your attention the WBFN workshop on Surviving Culture Shock. This workshop is of interest to anyone going or having gone through the process of “change” and gives you the opportunity to discuss the losses and the gains involved in moving from country to country. The workshop is offered next on February 16.

February is also a good time to take note of the Financial Literacy Courses offered by WBFN. These courses include online classes on Family Budgeting and Savings & Investments, which are open to members wherever they may reside. With the instability in the economy, no doubt we all can use some tips. I hope you will read more about the courses on our website, and register before the deadline, if you have not already.

Recently, we heard some encouraging words from a WBG manager. He astounded us by stating that what WBFN volunteers do is “not nice; it is a Must!” He recognized that WBFN is in the business of “retention” and “motivation,” that the support system provided by WBFN is essential not only for the staff’s performance, but for the staff’s motivation, job satisfaction and hence retention. I guess that together, at WBFN and with our partners from WBG, we are working in the right direction. And, we are happy to welcome any new energy and brains on board!

Anne Folliet