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WELCOME ADDRESS

Carl Kisslinger

Chair, Colorado Host Committee

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Colorado Host Committee, I am pleased to greet so many good friends and distinguished colleagues from around the world on this occasion of the opening plenary session of the 21st General Assembly of the IUGG.

Before presenting those who will speak to you, I would like to recognize those on the stage who will not speak, but who have played essential leadership roles in the preparations for this assembly and the administration of IUGG and its Associations during the past four years:

• Professor Peter Wyllie, Vice-President of IUGG
• Professor A. S. Monin, Member of the Bureau of IUGG
• Professor Vladimir Keilis-Borok, Past-President of IUGG and Member of the Executive Committee
• The Presidents of the seven Associations of IUGG, in whose hands is the responsibility
  for the development and fulfillment of the scientific programs of the Union
• Father Cardus, chair of the Finance Committee
• Professor David Chapman, the chair of the Program Committee for this assembly

I also wish to recognize Dr. Fred Spilhaus and Ms. Brenda Weaver, seated in the front row, who have led the AGU planning and actions to organize this complex assembly. In addition, I want to acknowledge the contributions of Professor James Corbridge, who completed his term as Chancellor of the Boulder campus last year, and without whose enthusiastic support it would have been impossible to initiate the required planning and arrangements during the past several years.

The Union is meeting in our country in response to the invitation of the National Academy of Science of the United States. To greet you on behalf of the Academy, I call on Professor Christopher Harrison, the chair of the U. S. National Committee for IUGG.
(Remarks by Professor Harrison)

The City of Boulder is very pleased to be the venue for this important scientific meeting, the largest and most comprehensive meeting devoted to the sciences of the Earth ever to be held here. I next introduce Mr. Tim Honey, the City Manager of Boulder, to greet you on behalf of our community.
(Remarks by Mr. Honey)

The University of Colorado at Boulder is one of our country's major research universities, with strong programs of teaching and research in all of the natural sciences, including the geophysical sciences, as well as the social sciences and humanities. To greet you on behalf of our university, I introduce our Chancellor, Dr. Roderic B. Park, who is himself a distinguished scientist.
(Remarks by Chancellor Park)

I now turn the session over to the officers of the Union, who will present their reports to the assembled delegates. First will be Dr. Sören Gregersen, Treasurer, followed by Dr. Georges Balmino, Secretary-General, and then our distinguished President, Professor Helmut Moritz.

Then, our keynote speaker, Dr. James Baker, will be introduced by Chairman Christopher Harrison.

OPENING ADDRESS

S. Gregersen

Treasurer, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

Welcome to Boulder. The IUGG Bureau have been here already several days, and we have found a very nice campus in University of Colorado in Boulder.

Don't worry I will not present the accounts of IUGG. I will tell you that the meeting of the IUGG council today has been very fruitful, and that our American hosts have presented so much for us that we believe this 21st General Assembly of IUGG will be a very good one.

Just as in a family we have already had both joy and irritation. All kinds of small grumbles have been squared away, some remain to be taken care of. But it all happens with a tone of optimism.

About finances I will give you just a few informations about IUGG. The financial status of IUGG can be called healthy. Two thirds of the member countries have paid their dues for 1994, so they are up to date. And this means that the income we planned in the budget 4 years ago has almost been reached. IUGG is almost solely dependent on these membership fees. Only about 5 % of our income come from publications. Our spending is a bit under the budget. So these are all signs of good health.

About the future we have already started some fruitful negotiations. The Associations will, if all goes after the plan, receive more directly to them.

At this meeting we will also discuss the possibility of following inflation in the membership fees. It would seem better than previous difficult discussions about adjustments.

It all indicates that we will have a fruitful General Assembly.

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