Dear EGF Members,                            Leksand, 1st August 2008

The year 2007 to 2008 was a year of stability on the EGF. May I thank the executive
for all the work they have done for another year - much of it unseen -  and may I
apologise for anytime we have seemed unresponsive. We all have busy lives and,
although I am a full time teacher and Go organiser, if an email comes in at a busy
moment, or is complicated involving more than one issue, then it sometimes gets 
buried. So the advice is to restrict one subject per email and if no reply is
received with a week to write again.

Thank you to all the organisers who ran the various championships and the events in
the first Pandanet Go European Cup, and especially I thank the organisers of this
congress for putting on a five-star event. However I would like to stress it is
each organiser's responsibility to duly acknowledge the support of the EGF and our
sponsors both at the event and in publicity material. These sponsors I also thank for
continuing to support the EGF activities and without which the events could not be
possible. 

As I wrote these words in the peace of a Japanese garden in the middle of Sweden, I
reflected on the international status of our game and how it brings harmony and 
unity to people from many nations. In the coming year we look forward to the first
marvelous World Mind Sports Games in Beijing and continued events in Korea and Japan.
It is a privilege for our players to take part in these events that I hope the 
players recognise. As we move forward into a period where fuel costs rise and travel
is more expensive we will be looking at ways to continue activities regardless. An
example of this would be holding the European Masters on-line. 

May I thank you all for your continued support and wish you many interesting Go games
in the coming year.

Very best Go Wishes,
AJAx
Tony Atkins
EGF President