EGA 2006 The arrival
From SI Exco News
Adios Barcelona 2004 – Buon giorno Latina 2006! Issue: Sunday 2nd April 2006
WELCOME TO SERVAS EGA 2006! Saturday 1st April 2006
Remember you have come in peace, for peace work. It’s going to be a great conference. An enormous amount of work has been put into preparing this conference and your folder – please do read it and orientate yourself with the agenda. We want to know what you think, we want to hear your voice – GET READY! Editors
‘While we welcome also those Servas delegates, observers and others who made it to Latina, we also need to pause and recognize all those who wanted to be here with us and were unable to make it. Though some are not here by choice, others who wanted to come are missing from our deliberations because they were unable to obtain visas to enter Europe from their local Embassy of Italy. Potential delegates from Africa have been particularly vulnerable to the visa obstacle. We know of National Secretaries who are not here for this reason from Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. There may be others, as of 1 April 2008 that we do not yet know about. Since 9/11 and the concern over both “terrorism” and “illegal immigration” it has become increasingly difficult to hold international meetings and get all aspiring delegates top attend. It is necessary to begin the process of obtaining visas months in advance and for a constant flow of backup and support to be provided by the organizers. Italy follows procedures and protocols of the European Union, but not all embassies are equally responsive in processing applications. Other international organizations holding meetings in Italy also experience difficulties in obtaining visas for all their delegates. Servas should consider holding the next EGA in 2006 in a country that is not so rigorous in processing visa applications because they do not fear terrorism and illegal migration. Does such a country exist? Should Servas formally register its concern over the failure to grant visas to delegates? Should Servas communicate its concern to those delegates who were unable to attend? Sheldon WEEKS Botswana.
It’s April the First! Why are you tired on the first of April? Not because you flew to Rome (or drove 2,000 km to get here), but because you have just had a March of 31 days! Get it! ☺
Today the real test of power is not the capacity to make war, but the capacity to prevent it. Anne O’Hare Mc CormicK
Please do come to see me about any monies $$ due to you at the end of the conference, not at the beginning – then we know you have attended in full! Please put your requests into a marked envelope and include all receipts and an explanation sheet covering what is enclosed. Please give me your full name and bank details and account number. This will make my life so much easier & help put a smile on my VERY handsome NEW FATHERS face! Treasurer Omer Ozkan
WORKGROUPS There have already been some workshops on the go. There were a surprising amount of delegates already at them. This is a great start. The general atmosphere was good. Let’s keep it up – and enjoy ourselves. Remember smiling and hugging makes the world such a warmer place! (and it is quite cold!). If you haven’t signed up for the workshops remember. They are running outside concurrently with the assembly and their conclusions are being brought to the assembly for agreement. So we avoid discussing issues laboriously while in assembly session. So assembly sessions are mainly reserved for decisions and voting. If too many questions are raised upon a certain issue before the assembly, then it goes back to a workshop for continued deliberation. Let’s hope this helps make the process more open to all. DEMELZA
CONFERENCE VENUE. We are all delighted with our posh rooms & fresh white towels. Spoil us, spoil us – we love it!
