Zlati boben • 9.10.2010 •

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I saw two times tearful eyes this week.

First time when we heard Dragan Sakan is dead. (the heart of D.S. has stopped?)

It was a proof that we are society, Golden Drum family, we know and we respect each other, we have heroes and friends, very often in the same skin and that we are not alone in this more and more unfriendly world.

The second time I saw tears in the eyes of many noble men to be honored with theirs names on the marble wall of Golden Drum New European Hall of Fame.

It’s a proof the Golden Drum is respected and important institution of New European advertising industry and recognized in the world as well. Because advertising festival is not only awards and lectures, it’s a unique opportunity to meet and to see eyes to eyes with a colleagues and friends, with our competitors and legends.

People are social beings, not only pictures and words. Some of our colleagues can probably exchange festival’s meetings with facebook or you-tube as our critics believe. But I know the advertising is not an academicals theory or hard selling skills only, it’s the art of communication with real people. Without understanding people, without loving them, without knowing their smell, tears and laugh, and without a simple human touch its impossible to communicate honestly with them. The advertising (communication?) nobility (nobles?) will be always here.

The third time we will probably see the tears this evening but this will be tears of joy (happiness?). A new class of winners, of new business promoters and human communicators for faster and more effective building of better world will be announced tonight. It’s good reason for optimistic view on the Golden Era, which Sir John Hegarty had announced.

And like unforgettable Saki liked to say: THANKS TO THE PAST, GO AHEAD!

Thank you.

9.10.2010