Time to say Goodbye!

Dear AEGEEans,

I remember like it was yesterday when I applied to an open call issued by the Public Relations Committee (PRC) to create an online magazine for our beloved organisation. For me totally unexpected I was selected as editor-in-chief and from that moment onward I had the task to create a magazine, which would be interesting for our Network to follow, but at the same time I had the responsibility to lead a very diverse team of 20 people coming from all over Europe, putting their efforts in all the different tasks which come along with the creation of a magazine from scratch  (designing, programming the website, writing and proofreading). This open call was send in August 2011, and now after more than 1,5 years of having the pleasure of guiding this project team, I have to say goodbye!

It was not an easy decision, but it is time for the magazine and its team to move on! I have given all the ideas, creativity and experience in journalism I gained through the last years to my team. I tried my best to prove that The AEGEEan is a valuable source of information for the Network, a communication channel actually, which helps all AEGEEans across Europe to find out what happens in the other parts of our small world. The idea behind the magazine was not only to write funny stories, but to connect people by showing what other AEGEEans are doing and to motivate all of you to take action as well. The articles in the magazine are the best proof that you do not need to be superhero to create a project and implement it successfully. You only need to have an idea, a dedication and strong will to achieve your goals. Everything is possible if you believe in yourself and your capacities!

This is at least what I learned mostly from being the editor-in-chief of this magazine and team. I am sure although the PRC had only the best intentions when they came up with the idea of The AEGEEan I believe they would never have thought that within a year the magazine would have been that successful. For me in this very moment it seems unthinkable that The AEGEEan will ever stop existing. If I rethink it it seems like a miracle as the magazine is not even two years old.

These 1,5 years in The AEGEEan team have been the best AEGEE experience in my life and I am incredibly thankful for my team who always supported me when I was doubting my decisions, a team with which I remember very constructive discussions and long lasting skype meetings as well as well-deserved chocolate and cake parties. I could not have wished for any better team and dear Network, if anyone of you likes writing or enjoys proofreading do not hesitate to contact the new editor-in-chief Patricia Anthony (aegeean@aegee.org) as you will not regret your decision to join this team.

In the end I wish the new editors team around Patricia Anthony and all the new and old members of the team all the best for their remaining time in this AEGEE project. May it become more and more successful so that it will never stop existing!

Dear Network, please see this magazine as a chance to inform other members of other locals in other countries about your projects, your wishes, your ideas and your future dreams for AEGEE. You are very welcome to send any AEGEE related article to the magazine (aegeean@aegee.org). The purpose of The AEGEEan is not to regulate the spreaded information of the Network, but rather to give you a platform for exchanging any kind of information. Therefore, I can only insist: Use it!

With best wishes and in eternal memory of a personally very special AEGEE experience,

Stephanie Müller, AEGEE-Heidelberg & former Editor-in-Chief of The AEGEEan