In the U.S., November is a special month to “Give Thanks”. I think Thanksgiving should not be just about Pilgrims, turkeys and family gatherings. It could be an occasion for each of us to reflect, and not only be thankful but also communicate our “Thanks” to people around us. I feel like using the Thanksgiving example to tell my loved ones: “Thank you for your support and your patience”. I want to make time and call my friends to thank them for still being my friends even though I do not give them much time or call them anymore. Through this article, I also want to thank very sincerely all my friends from WBFN! Every day, like a child, I marvel at the generosity of these great people for giving their time and sharing their respective expertise. They find it natural to come and help others; and they do it with warmth and spontaneity.

A strong “Thank you” to Catherine, Mimi and Christinne: on their shoulders rest all the daily work of the WBFN office. Not only do they assume most of the administrative tasks, but they share our concerns and our objectives with a contagious smile. Their patience, their efficiency and their pragmatism are limitless.

Some of our members have barely arrived and are still trying to put their new life here in order but they have already started volunteering with us. Thank you! You are truly amazing!

Then, there are all those volunteers who came and stayed helping, through the months, and through the years. I am not even going to try and make a list: I would hate myself to forget anyone and how could I mention them all? They are too numerous! Thank you to each of you, the wonderful persons who have made and make WBFN possible!

Among all the volunteers, I would like to express a special “Thank you” to the Executive Committee members! The EC is the backbone of WBFN in any given year: they plan and organize the activities and events for our members. They put their heads together trying to improve or add to our ways of welcoming and helping our members. I feel deeply thankful to these ladies who have accepted to join forces with me for this “fiscal year”: Maaike, Sally, Aminata, Swati, Vidya, Annemarie, Daniela, Belkys, Birgit, and also Nefertare and Uta. (You will learn more about these two young ladies who have accepted to join the team and who have already accomplished so much: Uta by organizing our wonderfully fun Annual Picnic and Nefertare by taking the responsibilities of Welcoming Chair.) Not to forget our non-voting but so active EC participants: my indispensable “Senior Advisers” and former WBFN Presidents Rula and Gilda, the Book Project’s Pdt Hilary and the MMMF’s Pdt Caroline, plus our “Male Spouses/Partners Coordinator” Robert. A thousand warmly felt “Thank You” to them. They are a truly amazing team of dedicated ‘professionals’/volunteers. They embody the expression “teamwork” in its two components and in its whole meaning.

For before, for now and for after—especially for the times I forget to say it-: “Thank you!”

Anne Folliet