From Thursday 30th April till Sunday 3rd May another Spring Network Meeting (NWM) will take place in the second biggest city of the Czech Republic, Brno. This Network Meeting is open to 25 active AEGEEans, eager to learn more about Fundraising and Public Relations. Jana Védlová, main organiser, tells us more!
The AEGEEan: Can you tell us a bit more about AEGEE-Brno?
Jana: AEGEE-Brno was founded in 2007 on 21st March. Recently we celebrated our 8th birthday. Our antenna doesn’t belong to the huge ones, but hopefully to the active ones. We have around 60 members from which around 20 are active. This is for us quite an achievement.
What is the main reason for your local to organise this Network Meeting?
There are several reasons for us. First of all, our team grew bigger in the past few years and we have lots of new active members, who have never organised or experienced such an international event. Also it is already two years and a half since we have organised a European event, different from a Summer University. We were looking at possibilities and doubted between organising a Regional Training Course or Network Meeting and in the end we have decided to organise a Network Meeting.
What is the main topic of your Network Meeting?
The main topic of our NWM is Fundraising and PR of antennae. But of course, we will also have loads of other super interesting sessions that are supporting the Action Agenda of AEGEE. Besides, we are preparing a cool social program, but I will tell more about it later.
Why is this NWM interesting for the network?
We believe that every antenna in the network has some kind of problems with fundraising, finding resources, sponsors etc. That’s why we find this topic very relevant and important and we believe that bringing knowledge about this issue will help our network a lot. There will be sessions about communication with partners, Erasmus+ opportunities, Public Relations, plus many other sessions about hot AEGEE topics! Moreover, everything will take place in the capital of Moravian region. Brno is not as famous as Prague, but it is definitely a must see city. It is the second biggest city in Czech Republic and the centre of innovation and justice. It is a city with lots of students and full of bars and cafés. Also Brno has some buildings with beautiful architecture from the Art Nouveau and Functionalism era.
Who will join you from the Comité Directeur?
Antonija Parat, Secretary General of AEGEE-Europe, will join our Network Meeting.
Who do you have on your organising team?
We have a core team with four organisers: Tereza Mikšíková, Lucie Ostrá, Petra Védlová and me, Jana Védlová, as the main organiser. We will have a couple of helpers, although we hope most of our active members will participate as well!
How is the cooperation with your Network Commission team going?
Great! One of the organisers, who happens to be my sister, Petra Védlová, is also a SubCommie, so it’s good to have somebody from the NetCom in our team. Especially the communication with our Network Comissioner Tekla Hajdu is very easy-going. She is planning to visit us soon to discuss some matters in person as well, so I can say that we have established good relations. Hopefully it will continue in this direction and lead to successful NWM!
Why should people apply for your NWM?
Because simply it will be a great event! Our dear participants will have a chance to tackle all the important issues that are being now discussed in AEGEE, they can share best practices from their local reality, will gain new knowledge about fundraising and sponsorship opportunities, communication, good PR, etc. They will meet great active AEGEEans, make new friends, and that’s always inspiring. We promise they will learn and develop their skills as much as they will have fun!
Do you have any plans for a social program?
Of coooourse! We have prepared some traditional AEGEE stuff, ice-breaking games, a European night in a very special industrial place and some other activities that I won’t reveal now, because we want to keep it as a surprise. Of course, we are preparing a cool social program, an interesting city tour and our participants will have a chance to try delicious Czech beer and wine and experience the local culture and hopefully also sunny weather.
Ivan Bielik is now a member of the Comité Directeur. Is he still committed to your local?
Well, I believe he is quite busy working for AEGEE. There is a lot to do, since the Comité Directeur is preparing the EPM and AgorAsturias and 30th anniversary celebration. So that mostly occupies him, but we are still in good contact with him. He came to Brno to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us and he helps us and gives us advice anytime he can and we do the same for him. He’s a good friend and we are looking forward to have him back in Brno anytime he can.
What are other plans for your local? Do you have other big events coming up?
This year we are rather active in our local and international activities. We have created a new concept of local event based on European night, called International Dinner, which will happen for the fourth time since September 2014, on the 18th of April. Like every year, we are organising a Summer University in July, this time about self-development and leadership. It’s called Awake Your Inner Lion, Become a Leader! So don’t forget to apply, because it will be something to look forward to!
Written by Wietske Jousma, AEGEE-Enschede