[Apologies for duplicate emails] Dear colleagues, On 20 June 2012, Kees Neggers, who served on the RIPE NCC Executive Board from 1999 to 2008, was made an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau (Orde van Oranje Nassau). The royal honour was bestowed by the Mayor of Heumen at a symposium for Kees's outstanding contribution to Dutch society. During his tenure as Chairman of the RIPE NCC Executive Board, Kees ensured the strong involvement of Europe in the administration of the Internet worldwide and the Netherlands’s continued position as a centre of excellence for the Internet industry. He oversaw the administration of the Internet in over 100 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia. It was during his tenure on the RIPE NCC Board that Africa was able to establish its own RIR to be become one of the five organisations managing Internet number resources in the world today. Kees has always ensured that the Netherlands was involved in the task forces that drove the development of the Internet globally. He led the involvement of SURFnet and other Dutch technology companies in sharing best practices and experiences with similar organisations around the world. He has always been a strong advocate for the principles of open, inclusive and bottom-up industry self-regulation. It is these very principles that still guide RIPE, the RIPE NCC, TERENA and others that contribute to the successful management of the Internet globally. Kees Neggers is one of the most influential figures in the Internet community. He was instrumental in shaping the model that is currently used to manage the global IP address system. We ask that you join us in congratulating Kees on receiving this very special honour. Best regards, Axel Pawlik Managing Director RIPE NCC