Retirements
The
ECLOF Board met in Geneva in late November and said goodbye
to three of its retiring members.
 CEES
OSKAM, Chairman
Four people spoke in appreciation of Cees Oskam’s service
to ECLOF.
Ernestina
Hagan from ECLOF Ghana said she deeply appreciated Cees Oskam’s
leadership, sense of humour and ability to diffuse tension.
Pilar
Ramirez said she was the second longest serving board member
and the longest serving member from any national ECLOF committee
in the South. She recalled that she had not found it easy
at the beginning to sit in a male, and for that matter, white
male dominated board chaired by a chairman who was a white
man with what appeared to be a suffocating style of chairing
meetings. She soon discovered that «Cees was only white
outside, but from the heart he was with us». She had
grown to appreciate that Cees’ style was output orientated
and led to quality discussions which made the board very productive.
She also appreciated his sincerity and transparency. On behalf
of Board members and ECLOF staff, Pilar presented Cees with
a Kenyan woodcarving entitled The Thinking Man.
 Speaking
on behalf of the Swiss constituency, Bonnie Fatio acknowledged
Cees Oskam’s sense of humour and quiet presence. In the
light of Cees’ interest in dairy farming, she presented
him with a large Swiss cowbell weighing several kilograms!
Recalling their working relationship, ECLOF Director Muhungi
Kanyoro said Cees Oskam was a person of strong and precise
opinions who could, at times, be stubborn. However, he always
had a very professional approach to issues. His capacity to
pause and engage in self-criticism was a rare talent that
left him open to alternative views. He had found Cees a very
sensitive and transparent person and had appreciated his counsel,
friendship and commitment to ECLOF.
 BRIGITTE
VIELLE
ECLOF Board chairman, Cees Oskam presents a hand crafted sliver
photograph frame from Bolivia to retiring Board member Brigitte
Vielle. Her 12-year tenure made her the longest serving board
member. Cees recalled with thanks Brigitte’s role in
co-ordinating the hosting of participants at ECLOF’s
50th anniversary celebrations by Swiss families which many
remember as a unique experience.
GABRIELLE
GONZENBACH
Thanking Garbrielle Gonzenback, from Geneva, for her work
on the ECLOF Board, Cees Oskam said there were two types of
board members: those who are the first to respond to an issue
and those who remain quiet and respond in a measured manner.
Gabrielle belonged to the latter group, said Cees, and had
been an asset to the Board. He presented her with a hand woven
wall hanging made by an ECLOF-funded group in Peru.
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