Description: The editor discusses the winner of this year's Country Feature Competition, highlights of the International Congress of Actuaries meeting in Cape Town, the expanded Ambassador's Corner and encourages all to vote for the SOA leadership.

Description: Introductions of new International Section ambassadors to Japan, the Gulf region and Israel, along with their biographical information and 2010-11 work plans.

Description: The International Experience Survey/Study IES is a pilot study being conducted by the Society of Actuaries to provide actuaries with practical information on experience in emerging and other markets outside of the United States and Canada. The IES has evolved from being a survey of multi-national company experience to national studies directed by actuaries from the data contributors located in the country under study. This report follows this evolution by dividing results into two major subdivisions of results: • Survey: The survey presents high-level results that facilitate comparisons of experience between different countries. • National studies: In depth studies of experience in countries directed by local actuaries to present more comprehensive results

Description: From the April 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Houston. Discussion of how the insurance industries in several countries have dealt with high levels of inflation with respect to the development and marketing of insurance products. Also discussed: I. the overall business and economic environment 2. the taxation structure of insurance companies 3. the availability of suitable investments 4. the insurance regulatory climate and 5. the structure of worldwide capital markets Possible applications to U.S. insurance in the 1980's were explored.

Description: Recap of 2008 section activities and introduction of 2009 goals.

Description: The new chairperson talks about the section activities for the year ahead.

Description: Chairperson's update on the International Section.

Description: Discover a comparison of U.S. and international mandated leave programs which mandate employers to provide a minimum level of benefits to employees for qualifying leaves of absence, such as parental leave or medical leave.

Description: Brief discussion about the changing membership of the SOA International Section Council. Also covered were requests for suggestions future initiatives.

Description: Editor's Note for May 2014 issue.