European Boards' Meeting Torino (2009)

Article posted: 9.03.09

Konstantin Zagaynov

13-15 February 2009

Participating in 4 Agoras and several Network Meetings before I’ve finally chosen to go to European Boards’ Meeting (EBM). EBM is a gathering of ‘serious’ AEGEE members, heavily concentrating on current AEGEE projects and set of workshops. Also I expected to see many old and experienced members and unlike at Agora not much fresh new ones.

AEGEE-Torino is already famous local for organising Statutory events. Experienced members from Helsinki might remember Agora in Torino in 2005.

Application to EBM contains selection of workshops you’d like to attend. My choice went to ‘Cyprus case’ (I was at one in Agora Napoli 2006, workshop was a success gathering 100 participants and was interested how the case progressed so far) and “Net+working=networking”.

Unfortunately because of work I had to arrive on Friday evening, skipping first day of plenaries. Malpensa airport in Milano greeted with tremendous Alps view, fresh mountain breeze and sunny weather. Friday party was in one of the clubs along the river Po and was great success!

Saturday section contained series of workshops for ratification of Action Agenda. I was happy to see that some of ideas from work in VFF WG has reached this level, such as the Visa Wiki.

The shockiest news presented at the EBM was presentation of proposal for AEGEE’s “new logo” created by AEGEE independent brand team. You may or may not like proposed logo however the way of communication of this proposal to the network was probably not correctly chosen, since the amount of people present at EBM is just somewhat like 2% of the whole network. Neither having no alternative options to the proposed one makes the change of logo probable to happen. This is to be voted on during coming Agora in Magusa in April.

I attended workshop “Net+Working = Networking” prepared by friends Netcom Anita Kalmane and Maria Morozova from PR WG, considering it as interesting topic nowadays. Group discussions concluded scenarious of importancy of having your ‘network’ within AEGEE and in life in general.

Organisation of event was of pretty high mark. Meals during lunch and dinner were good with enough of meat. The gym used for lodging and plenary halls were co-located not far from central area, spirit in gym place was always high due to in-built bar with funny bar man ;) Everything was in time in organisation (enjoy northern Italy!). The one negative thing which participants has suffered from was cold gym.

Way home was quite adventurous meaning spending 3 hours walking over the nightly Milano waiting for the shuttle to the airport. Milano was quite empty despite Football Derby della Madonina (AC Milan vs Inter) finishing just one hour ago! :)

AEGEE life is full of interesting projects nowadays. The Yearplan project, has really cool team. They have presented its new mascot during EBM, SuFu panda and next event dedicated to the Environment in Scandinavia will happen in Copenhagen in march. Pretty much every month there is Y Vote conference happening anywhere throughout Europe (Vienna, Groningen, Poznan, Roma, now in Munchen, soon in Budapest..). It is dedicated to upcoming June elections for Europarliament. YOUrope needs YOU is one more project to mention..

I believe once we see events like these organised by Helsinki AEGEE youth!