Prague hosted the 54th meeting of the members of the Waldemar Hellmich Kreis Society

This society is an honorary association of senior personalities from industry, commerce, government and science. They are appointed by the German Standards Institute DIN.

Prague hosted the 54^th meeting of the members of the Waldemar Hellmich Kreis Society on 24 and 25 May 2012. This society is an honorary association of senior personalities from industry, commerce, government and science. They are appointed by the German Standards Institute DIN.

The society was established in 1957 to celebrate 40 years since the founding of DIN and was named after the founder and first director of DIN. During more than ninety years of its existence, DIN became one of the most productive standards organizations in Europe.

The membership in this society is granted to express recognition to those who have significantly contributed to the development of technical standardization while performing their professional activities. Such an award is, among other things, symbolized by passing of an honorary ring of DIN. The members of this society are appointed to the DIN Administrative Board and at the same time they become bearers of the DIN traditions. Their recommendations are important for the further development of the technical work of DIN.

At the Prague meeting the following contributions were delivered:

"Why Prague?" - Thoughts and memories of the former Director of DIN, Professor Dr. Helmut Reihlen

"European standardization and integration of Eastern European countries" - presentation of the history of technical standardization and the current situation in the European context by the UNMZ President, Milan Holeček

"News from DIN" - information about the current DIN activities by the DIN Director Dr. Torsten Bahke

The entire session, including the accompanying programme was very successful and contributed to a better understanding of the current development of technical standardisation in both countries at national, European and international context. During the accompanying programme the participants had the opportunity to see the main Prague historical sights. An interesting feature was also a visit to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany where the eventful days of autumn 1989 were commemorated, when the embassy become refuge for thousands of refugees from the former German Democratic Republic.