February 2012 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

ADB News
ASSOCIATION OF DUTCH BUSINESSPEOPLE
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
TEXT RAYMOND HOFSTEDE, HONORARY SECRETARY ADB
In anticipation of the ADB Annual General Meeting 2012, to
be held on 19 March 2012 at the Hollandse Club, the ADB
Board is happy to present to you its Annual Report for 2011.
Overall the ADB can look back at 2011 as a very
successful year. Despite the economic downturn which
was expected to translate into a decrease in membership,
a net membership growth of 5% was realized. The various
events were well attended and networking opportunities
were much appreciated. The ADB Magazine and website
provided interesting reading and they appeared to
be important means of communication amongst our
members.
Financially, the ADB is a healthy organization which,
in combination with the generous support of different
sponsors, allowed for the offering of events at minimal or
no costs.
The ADB Board is thankful for the active input and
involvement of many members and the patronage of
sponsors and advertisers without whom the Association
could never have been as lively and vibrant as it is today.
COMPOSITION OF THE ADB BOARD AS PER
31 DECEMBER 2011
Jan de Vegt
Marie-Hélène Piederiet
Raymond Hofstede
Ard Huisman
Frank Kuijsters
Marleen Dieleman
Hans Loth
Martijn Kuipers
Willem van Donge
President
Vice-President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Member - Chief Editor
ADB Magazine
Member
Member
Member
Member
A special mentioning deserves Ms. Lineke van
Nederpelt, who already for the seventh year successfully
managed ADB´s secretariat with great involvement.
In April, Rutger Oudejans, who served the ADB Board
since January 2009 as a board member, stepped down
from the ADB Board. The ADB Board thanks him for his
positive contribution to the success of the ADB over the
last two and a half years.
In October, Richard van der Werf, who served the ADB
Board since June 2007 as a board member, stepped down
from the ADB Board. The ADB Board thanks him for his
positive contribution to the success of the ADB over the
last four years.
In December, Marie-Hélène Piederiet, who served the
ADB Board since January 2009 first as a board member
and later as the Honorary Secretary and as Vice-President,
announced that she will step down from the ADB Board as
per January 2012. The ADB Board thanks Marie-Hélène for
her positive contribution to the success of the ADB over
the last three years.
In 2011 the ADB Board welcomed a total of three new
board members. In April, the ADB Board welcomed Martijn
Kuipers as new board member. In May, the ADB Board
welcomed Raymond Hofstede as Honorary Secretary. And
in December, the ADB Board welcomed Willem van Donge
as new board member.
REVIEW OF MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
Despite the fact that it is a come and go of people, inherent
to an expat community, the ADB has seen an increase in
membership from 462 members in 2010 to 486 members
in 2011. In total 145 new members and 8 student members
joined the Association in 2011 and 121 members left.
The membership composition changed from 78% male
members and 22% female in 2010 to 75% male members
and 25% female in 2011.
REVIEW OF ADB ACTIVITIES
The ADB activity calendar consisted of monthly events
that catered to the various interests of the members. The
events were well attended; the absolute highlights were
the Dinner & Dance and the networking ‘borrels’.
January – New Year´s borrel at the Ambassador´s
residence
The year 2011 had a great kick-off with 158 members
attending the New Year´s borrel on the 12 th of January
which was kindly hosted by ADB honorary member,
Ambassador Johannes Jansing at his residence. The event
was generously sponsored by Vopak and the Embassy of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
February – Presentation on competitive advantages in
airline business
On the 14 th of February around 60 members gathered
at the Hollandse Club to listen to the presentation of
Paul Rombeek, General Manager Singapore, Indonesia,
Australia, New Zealand at AIRFRANCE KLM. During his
presentation, Paul answered questions about profit
margins, prices of tickets, alliances and cabin crew, and
talked about the airline business in general and AIRFRANCE
KLM in particular.