TO ALL MEMBERS OF SIGNIS  21st November 2002

It is one year today since we voted on the new statutes in Rome to establish SIGNIS.   It seemed a good opportunity for me to write a letter to the members of SIGNIS to reflect on what has happened over the last year as well as to exercise some accountability to you for what I have been doing during that time.
I would like to say generally that the year has been a good one for our organisation both at regional level and international level.  In many ways, more has been achieved than I had imagined.  There is definitely a great deal of energy in SIGNIS in 2002.
One of the benefits I had not foreseen when we were discussing structures in 1999 and 2000 was the establishing of the members of the Assembly of Delegates and their being voted on in the regions.  These six members, especially in Asia and Europe, have taken on a great number of initiatives and responsibilities that have meant quicker and greater progress than was foreseen.
To make this letter easier to look through, I will use some headings to highlight particular aspects of the year's developments.
THE REGIONS
1.  ASIA.
The first Asian Assembly was held in Manila in September.  Hospitality was to the fore with Jim Reuter and his team, including dinner with President
Arroyo, at Cardinal Sin's house (although he was too ill to attend) and with the mayor of Manila.
Attendance was strong (although we missed official delegates from Korea and Japan).   Asia had prepared bylaws for the region which were accepted.  The
Assembly wrote vision and mission statements and prepared priorities for the coming years for each of the three sub-regions: Southern Asia, Eastern
Asia and Southwest Asia with sub-regional assemblies taking place in alternate years to the regional assemblies.  Plans for greater collaboration were important as well as issues of poverty and justice in the region and opening up to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.   Robert and I were able to attend and Augie Loorthusamy was present from the region.
2.  THE PACIFIC
The Pacific assembly took place in Samoa in September.  The Pacific group is numerically small but all know one another.  Since Unda and OCIC in the
Pacific had met together all during the 1990s, the transition to SIGNIS was not at all difficult.  Augie Loorthusamy represented the international
association.  A workshop on Radio formed part of the Assembly.
3.  AFRICA
Sadly, one member of the Assembly of Delegates, from Chad, was killed in a car accident in May.  RIP.  There has been some shake-up already with other
delegates.  Fr Celestino Paul from Sudan has been transferred from media work to other duties.  Fr Bernardo Suate who has been in charge of communications at IMBISA headquarters in Harare is returning to his native Mozambique to work in a parish.   His bishop has asked him to be involved in radio in the area.
Alvito de Souza has been able to represent the international association at two meetings in Africa, in Cameroun in May and at the AMACEA meeting in
Nairobi in July.  He is about to go to Harare to meet with the Assembly delegates for a review of the submissions for grants from Propaganda Fidei
and plans for forthcoming meetings in Africa.
4.  EUROPE
The six Assembly delegates met four times during 2002 and were able to tackle many of the practical issues that arise in Europe with so many
different countries and differing languages and cultures.  This culminated in an Assembly in Rome at the beginning of November.  Once again
hospitality, care of Dario Vigano, one of the delegates and representative of the Italian Bishops Conference for Cinema, was excellent, including some
dining at a restaurant on the Via della Conciliazione.  The assembly was held in Domus Pacis, at the back of Domus Mariae where we met last year.
Priorities for the coming years were discussed including the Christian Television week to be held in Warsaw in 2004, our juries in Television and
Film Festivals, Internet seminars with the possibility of one in 2003 in St Petersburg, cultural capital of Europe next year, further collaboration
with WACC and Interfilm (the week after the assembly there was a joint seminar on film, image and word, held during the festival in Mannheim),
collaboration on communication rights, justice and advocacy. Fr Gabriel Nissim, from the Council of Europe, was present with reports
from working parties.  Mark Reidemann, from CRTN, also attended with plans for the further collaboration of SIGNIS for television and video catalogues
and distribution and co-production.
Robert Molhant and I attended this assembly.
5.  NORTH AMERICA
ARCCC, the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada, the English-speaking Affiliate of SIGNIS International held its annual assembly
in Winnipeg at the end of May.  Part of the discussion was the collaboration between ARCCC and SIGNIS International and the place of ARCCC
in SIGNIS North America.  Richard Osicki, who was present in Rome last year, hosted the meeting and Ron Pickersgill, who was also in Rome, is now
the president of ARCCC and a member of the Assembly of Delegates. Archbishop Foley attended the meeting.  I was present as was Bertrant
Ouellet from Communications et Societe, Montreal._________
Communications et Societe is the French-speaking Canadian affiliate of SIGNIS International.  During November I was able to visit Montreal and
meet with Bertrand and with Monsignor Lucien Labelle.  Bertrand and Eric Durocher have met and are working on a draft of the International Bylaws to
be presented to the Board in April next year.__________
In October in Los Angeles, Unda USA (with US Cine & Media) voted to become The Catholic Academy of Communications Arts Professionals, The US Affiliate
of SIGNIS International.  Academy, more in the sense of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences than in the University sense, is a term
that makes an impact in the US.  The membership of Unda USA had embraced media professionals and diocesan directors of communications.  The
structure of the new Board is different.  Representatives of 'Affinity Groups' are elected by the members of that group to be members of the
Board.  This means that there are representatives for Radio, for Television and Video, for Cinema (in fact, it is Gaye Ortiz), for Internet, for Media
Education, for Hispanic communications, for Multimedia and for Diocesan Directors of Communication.  Frank Morock was elected first president of
the Academy.  Once again, hospitality was important with attendees staying at the Sheraton at Universal Studios in Hollywood.  There was a special
celebration of the Eucharist at the newly opened Los Angeles Cathedral. During the assembly, there was a full day devoted to reflecting on how the
Church had dealt with the media during the sexual abuse crisis this year. It was an excellent day of thinking and discussion with Bishop Galante, the
bishop for Communications from the US Catholic Conference and Monsignor Maniscalco from the Conference.  Columnist Peter Steinfels (New York Times)
and the journalist from the Boston Globe, the paper at the centre of reporting these issues, and a representative from a Los Angeles radio
station spoke and answered questions.  There was also a professional day for cinema and television people which focused on the Catholic imagination,
ethical issues, presentation of the Gabirel awards for cinema and a screening of The Emperor's Club.  The Proclaim Awards for television and
radio spots produced by dioceses with funding assistance from the USCC were presented at a luncheon.  An important feature of the Academy (as with Unda
USA) are the Gabriel Awards for television, radio and cinema awards.  These were presented at a gala dinner.
Archbishop Foley attended the assembly.  Robert Molhant and I were present.  Gaye Ortiz was there as she has now re-locatd to the US.
6.  LATIN AMERICA
During this year, there have been meetings of Assembly Delegates.  Because of the Secretariat in Quito which works for SIGNIS and UCIP in Latin
America, there are regular bulletins outlining a great number of activities that take place nationally or at regional level.  The Latin American
continent has a tradition of collaboration in activities.Plans are under way for the Information Technology assembly for Monterey,
Mexico, in April 2003.  It will be followed by the SIGNIS Board meeting in Lima, Peru.
7.  INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
This is the main area where work needs to be done but which is the most difficult because of the worldwide membership.  Scott Hults, the president,
and Jude Botelho, the vice president, have met and are working on plans for communication between members, especially via the website.
THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
The restructuring of the General Secretariat while maintainng essential services and continuity from the past has been a great challenge.  Robert
Molhant has supervised the restructuring.  Pierre Belanger worked from January to March to complete his part in the transition to SIGNIS.  Daniel
Van Espen was diagnosed with a tumour and had to undergo chemotheraphy.  Nadine finished her work as accountant and Vinciane moved to a teaching
position and working from home.  The use of the building has been altered with office work done on the third floor, publications and communications
on the second floor.  The Belgian Catholic Office for Cinema occupies the first floor. Meeting rooms, printer and a small chapel are on the ground
floor.At the moment, several people are being interviewed for positions in the Secretariat.  Since the Belgian government pays for six salaries, the
contracts had to be reviewed and an assocation, ESCODEV, Espace Communication et Developpement, had to be set up for the staff.  It is now
in place.  A remnant OCIC association also had to be set up to receive the money from the sale of the house owned by former secretary general of OCIC,
Yvonne de Hemptine.  The occupant died in February this year.  The house was bought by the White Fathers who live next door.  The sale was finalised
in September and the next Board meeting will decide how the money is to be invested and used. 
This section gives me an opportunity to express my appreciation of Robert, on whom I depend so strongly, and all the staff at rue du Saphir
The SIGNIS Missionary Service continues to expand its services under the direction of Jean-Paul Guillet.  He has been assisted this year by White
Father, Jean-Francois Galtier.
PUBLICATIONS/WEBSITE
The objectives of SIGNIS and budgetary considerations have meant a review of our publications.  Unda and OCIC Info could easily make the transition
to SIGNIS Info.  The aim is for it to be distributed as widely as possible, to all members of SIGNIS at international, regional and national levels.
Cine Media has now become SIGNIS Media and is attempting to publish material on all aspects of the Media.  One difficulty is that SIGNIS has to
continue aspects of OCIC work, especially in accountability to the different festivals which authorise our juries, both of SIGNIS and ecumenical juries.  The secretariat is trying to work out how to maintain the variety of interests for SIGNIS Media and to find other ways of communicating some of the festival material (by website and smaller publications). It is taking some time to restructure our new www.signis.net.  After some shaky beginnings, we have been helped by the Belgian web designer on the first floor.  We are hoping to build up current information as well as archives of articles, reviews etc.  We have many links and will develop
these.
FUTURTALENT
During 2002, the interest available from the investment of the media finance from the diocese of Namur was not as extensive as first promised.
This has meant a limited number of grants.  They include a grant for student awards for Crec Avex, assistance for the seminar on Women and
Cinema in Namur in April, 2002, an award for a young filmmaker at the San Sebastian festival, September, 2002.
ADVOCACY
In June, a meeting was held in Brussels (about which I wrote to all Assembly Delegates) with representatives of SIGNIS at international bodies
like UNESCO and the Council of Europe.  Jim McDonnell undertook research and co-ordination of this area of justice and rights.  Fr Gabriel Nissim
has already presented working papers for distribution.  Further investigation is needed as to how best co-ordinate and disseminate
information.  Jim McDonnell will also be representing SIGNIS in preparations for the next year's World Summit on communications rights.
SIGNIS is a signatory along with 15 other organisations (including WACC) of a Platform on Communications Rights.
MEDIA EDUCATION
At the annual Board meeting in Belgium in April, members of the Board undertook responsibility for particular programs and services which
received priority at our meeting in Rome.  One of the most significant was Media Education.  Augy Loorthusamy undertook the task.  He has been working
with experts in Asia, especially the Philippines, to draw up policies and programs.   Some of these are already available.  For texts and more information, contact Augy.  During discussions at the Pontifical Council meeting in Rome in February, Ismar Soares, the new President of UCIP, expressed interest in
collaboration with SIGNIS in the area of media education.  He teaches the subject himself in Brazil in contact with the Salesians.  Fr Peter
Gonsalves SDB is presently stationed in Rome and has agreed to be part of the planning.   Augy has also been in touch with him.
Guy Marchessault of St Paul's University of Ottawa has set up Distance Learning programs and is establishing a forum for Media and Theology. 
Distance Learning is a priority for the University of Dayton with Angela Ann.  The Daughters of St Paul in the Philippines are also setting up
Distance Learning programs.
WACC AND INTERFILM
Strong relationships exist between WACC, Interfilm and SIGNIS at an international level.   Some people are members of both WACC and SIGNIS,
including Bill Falekaono, president of both SIGNIS and WACC Pacific and Maggie Roux, of SIGNIS UK, who has been elected to the central committee of
WACC International.  With the headquarters of WACC being in London, it is easy for me to meet with Randy Naylor, general secretary of WACC, and with
Philip Lee.  It means also that Jim McDonnell is able to consult with them also.   Catholic Television Week, for instance, is a joint project of WACC
and SIGNIS. SIGNIS  meets with Interfilm Europe twice a year and informally at festivals.  Interfilm Europe is about to change leadership and we have appreciated the collaboration with Hans Werner Danowski and Hans Hodel for many years.  The Ecumenical Juries are formed by members of SIGNIS and Interfilm.  A new jury was present in Bratislava, Slovakia, last year and there are now enquiries about establishing ecumenical juries in Rumania and Slovenia.
FILM AND TELEVISION FESTIVALS
This aspect of SIGNIS work is particularly European.  However, there are several juries in Latin America, in Ougedougou in Africa and enquiries are under way in Pusan and Hong Kong.  The only jury in North America is in Montreal.  However, there are local juries in countries like Sri Lanka and Australia.  The main development in 2002 was the invitation to SIGNIS to attend the Fajr Festival in Tehran which I was able to do in February.  After discussions with the Iranian film industry and the Festival, there will be a SIGNIS Interfaith award in 2003 in Tehran with a jury of two Catholics and two Muslims.  There are plans for the first SIGNIS-Jewish awards to be made in 2003 at the Australian Jewish Film Festival.  SIGNIS is often asked why we have ecumenical juries but not interfaith juries.
The immediate difficulty is that other faiths do not have central organisations with which to work for such juries.  During the Cannes Film Festival this year, SIGNIS and Interfilm hosted a press conference on inter-faith collaboration in cinema.  Our panel consisted of a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Protestant and a Catholic.
Television festivals is an area that we can develop.  At the moment, SIGNIS is present in Cannes, Monte Carlo and the Prix Italia.  ARCCC is investigating the possibility of negotiating a jury at the Banff festival in Canada.
THE WORK OF THE PRESIDENT
In previous letters during the year, I have outlined some of the activities I have been involved in.  Part of the review is gathering information so that in the coming years, we can work out a job description to guide the work of future Presidents of SIGNIS. Since the middle of the year and the visits to Brussels for the Adovcacy
meeting and Cologne for a European delegates meeting, I have been to a number of assemblies.  I have outlined these above.  In July, I was able to use some frequent flyer points to visit the MSC Sisters in Namibia (one of whom works in Radio Ecclesia in Windhoek).  During the visit I spent a day with the communications people of Namibia where the main priority is keeping radio stations in service.  Another interesting visit was to
Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic as a guest of the festival for five days, a chance to see how a different type of festival works, especially in the aftermath of the Communist era.  I was in Venice at the beginning of the controversy about The Magdalene Sisters - for which I sent out a SIGNIS statement.
During August, I was able to stay in London and do some desk work.  One receives quite a number of emails with requests to do something, write something, provide information.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me and I will help if I can. You may remember that at the Congress in Rome, there was a book called Lights... Camera... Faith... A Movie Lectionary, Cycle A.  It received good reviews and has sold well.  Cycle B has now been released by Pauline Media
in Boston.  Cycle C is in process of being edited for publication in September next year.
Some of you receive my film reviews.  Early in the year, with the website not up and running, I was somewhat remiss in writing and sending reviews out.  I have been trying to make up for lost time.  If you would like to receive them, let me know.   They will eventually be available and stored on the SIGNIS  website.  We are making links to sites of our other reviewers so that readers can find whose reviews are most helpful.  I would like to recommend CINEMA from the Office of Women of the Bishops Conference of the Philippines.  As one of those who contributed to the establishing of this group, it is wonderful to see how their work has been accepted (and quoted, often weekly, in the newspapers).  Next week, the Catholic Audiovisual Centre in Hong Kong is celebrating 25 years.  I have been invited to attend and so will be present there as well as going with the staff to Macau.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
May I take the opportunity to wish you every blessing for the Christmas celebrations and for the beginning of 2003.  I will be fortunate enough to be in the warmth of Melbourne from Christmas Eve until I get back to London about January 20th.
Sincerely,
Peter Malone