German AGM Report. 31 May – 2 June 2019
Gail & I managed to be up at 3.15 am and ready for the taxi to Birmingham airport at 3.45. After a flight to Frankfurt and then almost 3 hours by train to Weimar we arrived at 2.30pm. We immediately went for a walk to find some 41ers, thinking they would be at the HQ hotel, however no one could be seen so we strolled around Weimar and found 41ers we knew from Germany and Switzerland and had a much needed drink. Back to the hotel and ready for the Welcome Party which we arrived at just after 5.00 for registration and then welcome drinks and the party. Throughout the night we had conversations and made friends with many 41ers from Germany, Romania, Morocco, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Belgium and Denmark as well as meeting up with Paul & Kirsteen Swindell from Warrington!! The AGM on Saturday was all conducted in German apart from the address by Luc Trigaux, International President. They had a presentation from a YAPer and also from Fabian, the webmaster about Tabler World which they are joining by the end of July. I also attended a small meeting about the finances of Tabler World, basically Sweden are trying to recoup some of the investment they had initially made. After the Banner Exchange on Saturday night we went into the Gala Dinner, another great opportunity to meet and make friends. The night was run very firmly, much to the annoyance of many German 41ers, by an over- zealous compere who was sticking to his minute by minute, even taking the microphone from people making speeches before they had finished. On Sunday there was a brunch in a café in Weimar, after that Gail and I had time to enjoy the sights of Weimar before we boarded our train back to Frankfurt and then flight to Birmingham, eventually arriving back home just before midnight. A first visit as IRO to an AGM and a great weekend, bring on the others.
0 Comments
The 43rd International AGM of 41 International was held in Brussels from the 26th until the 28th April 2019. The meeting was opened at 8 30 prompt by President Ulrich Suppan who welcomed the guests and many past International Presidents who were in attendance. As usual, the aims and objects were read and the secretary did a roll call of countries, at this time there were 23 countries present and 5 absent. We then remembered those members that had passed away during the last 12 months.
There was an address to the delegates by the RTI VP who focused on the expansion of RTI, followed by greetings from the presidents of LCI, TCI and ACI. After the acceptance of the minutes of the HYM in Marrakesh with no matters arising, the board gave their reports. President Ulrich telling us of all his visits over the year before the accounts and budget were accepted. After the coffee break, there was a report from India about the Service Award in Education and their aim to raise money to help with an education project around the world. There was a report on the legal status of 41 international, which will be investigated further by the international board. The YAP convenor gave a report about the programme in 2019 which includes 3 young people from GB&I visiting other countries on the programme. Next was a motion on a name change and after much confusion with the voting, the motion was defeated. There were then 2 motions on rule changes, the first on many minor changes was passed and the second proposed by Malta concerning which countries are able to put candidates forward for the presidency was lost. Eventually, some 1 hour late, I was able to give GB&I’s presentation for the election of the 2021-2022 vice president and then present our candidate, Barry Durman who spoke to the AGM. As there were no other nominations, President Ulrich declared Barry elected. Gopal Chopra from India was elected as secretary for 2019-2022. There were 2 applications to host the HYM in 2021, however, Cyprus withdrew and therefore Denmark will be the host. The incoming president Luc Trigaux from Belgium then addressed the meeting and his hope that we would ‘make tablers’ ‘and circlers’ in the coming year. |
Andy VentressDuring my first year in the role as IRO I have visited Germany, Romania, Hungary and Switzerland for their AGMs as well as attending both the International AGM in Brussels and HYM in Malta. Archives
May 2020
Categories |