Come IROs – now don’t be deaf, While I tell you the tale of the IIRF.
| It all came official in the town of Versailles |
| (The place where old Louis was destined to die) |
| Where five years ago we saw the creation |
| Of the International IR Federation. |
| The foundations in the year ’88 were laid |
| For the official formation that later was made. |
| The Brits and the Danish, the French and the Yanks |
| Are the ones to whom we owe most of our thanks. |
| It was their desire that set in motion – |
| The spark of a wild and crazy notion |
| To promote the practice of the field of IR |
| Through numerous countries, near and far |
| To help spread the word of IR to all |
| And teach new practitioners to heed its call. |
| It took just two years, no more and no less, |
| To pull off a conference, a smashing success. |
| That was in London in early September |
| A year later, Versailles was one to remember. |
| That deuxime conference caused real elation – |
| For at it was formed the IR federation. |
| The IIRF was now truly alive, |
| As members cruised Paris in Peugeot 605’s. |
| At this second meeting, 200 attended, |
| With the interests of some 16 countries defended. |
| Austria, Finland, Denmark and France |
| Germany, Italy, all seized the chance – |
| Sweden, Spain, Holland, the US, the UK |
| All signed up to join on that famous last day. |
| Their final job? To establish a venue |
| For the Third Annual Conference – then all bid adieu. |
| In the year intervening two more joined the band: |
| We welcomed first Belgium and then Switzerland |
| Then the ’92 conference, which promised so much, |
| But who’d expect anything less from the Dutch? |
| It turned out to be an excellent plan |
| To hold that meeting in Amsterdam. |
| Next to join, and we toasted their health, |
| The Canadians came, from the commonwealth. |
| Then the wheels were set in motion |
| To meet in New York, o’er the Atlantic Ocean. |
| For the Fourth Annual Conference in Manhattan we met, |
| Welcomed from the chair by Ann Westergren Ekstedt. |
| It was held at the Sheraton; over 300 turned up, |
| All hungry to learn, they couldn’t get enough. |
| From eight in the morning ’till late in the night – |
| They listened and networked, non-stop till first light. |
| When it was all over the group were fifteen |
| All due to JIRA now joining the scene. |
| After adding Japan to the IRF roster, |
| The Council elected as chair Gerry Foster. |
| Determined the fifth should be the best yet |
| We returned to London, where the site was all set. |
| The year was by now 199 |
| But before the British would open the door |
| Some business was needed to further the cause: |
| The agreeing of formal, official bye-laws. |
| So on June the 16th the bye-laws were signed, |
| To whose aims and ambitions the members did bind. |
| Eh bien, enfin, on a pu introduire, |
| La Fdration Internationale des Informateurs Financirs. |
| (Don’t let the sound of that scare you away – |
| It’s just the IIRF – but en franais). |
| The bye-laws fixed the regs for memberships |
| How the board should rule, and a few other tips. |
| The Governing Council would help to run |
| The business at hand, through rain, snow and sun. |
| And the Board itself had total authority |
| To form or dismantle any IRF committee |
| On the Law, Membership, Development, Education, |
| Finance, Ethics, PR or Communication. |
| And if political matters are your real cares |
| There’s one for you: Professional and Regulatory Affairs. |
| Come September ’94 and IROs were invited |
| To the conference near Windsor (though the Queen wasn’t sighted!) |
| The programme again did not disappoint |
| We even saw Whitehall – wow! what a joint! |
| Now it’s this year and our hosts have been hard at their work |
| The conference, in Frankfurt, is sponsored by DIRK. |
| Festivities begin on September the 10th |
| It’s three days long so do save your strength. |
| Global trends, stock markets, so much to address |
| And eleven workshops – some like these the best. |
| Practice and governance will both be discussed |
| And for lovers of grapes, the wine tasting’s a must. |
| Whether member or not we are glad you’re attending |
| (But if not, we do hope your membership’s pending). |
| And on Tuesday the 12th, when the conference time ends |
| We trust you’ll have made some new IRO friends. |
| It will surely be clear as we’re ready to go |
| That the IIRF is the one in the know. |
| If this verse has bored you, I’d care not to know it – |
| I’m an IR professional – but surely no poet! |
