From SI Exco News

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006 EGA2006 Update No.1

As President I am happy to bring you up to date on the Extraordinary General Assembly we are planning for January 2006.

As most know your EGA is now scheduled 19th to 24th January 2006. The venue is the Sports and Educational Centre of the Hessen State Athletic Association in Frankfurt Germany (Olympic Games Training Base, World Soccer Cup 2006 Base Camp, Frankfurt International Trade Fair Support Conference Facility). We are told it is a fine facility. We are hoping it is affordable for many.

We will provide more details on arrangement and budget shortly. Some material is already available at www.servas.org/siexco a new, very convenient site. EXCO is experimenting with other new media for global outreach and networking. Much more information is coming. We thank all of those who have helped make these initial preparations.

EXCO has received messages from far more than the minimum number of countries required by Servas International Statutes to initiate a EGA. In fact, 32 Servas countries support the request for a EGA, representing 40% of member countries. Accordingly, and consistent with the Statutory requirements, a team of EXCO is dedicated to preparations for the EGA. They include myself as SI President, SI Treasurer Omer Ozkan, SI Host List Coordinator Claudio Pacchiega and SI Peace Secretary who has accepted the position of Interim Conference Programme Chair.

Several National Secretaries and others have meantime offered support and involvement. Your own involvement is welcomed. A virtual work/study area has been created specifically for the development of EGA topics and related subjects at www.servasforum.org You are welcome to use it or other media for this activity.

None of this immediate work replaces the role of the National Secretaries who have major responsibility for submitting items for inclusion on the Agenda: (SI Statutes 'IV General Assembly Para 4) state "An item may be submitted for inclusion on the Agenda only by a national group (represented by its National Secretary), or by members of the Executive Committee.

Your agenda items must be sent to the President at least six months before the General Assembly to be placed on the agenda of the coming General Assembly", that is, June 2005. We are hoping that your formal submissions will arrive before 15th June 2005 to allow the distribution of a provisional Agenda well in advance. The final Agenda will be distributed to all NS's early in October 2005.

As I said in my earlier letter to you, the January 2006 General Assembly is convened for YOU - so, please, let's together aim high, to ensure that it is a high quality, well organized, informative and happy occasion. Your personal involvement and team-building will help to achieve this aim.

I will be writing to you with further ‘GA2006 UPDATE’s’ on a regular basis. In the meantime, I thank you on behalf of EXCO for your own efforts to make Servas a strong, enjoyable and purposeful global network.

Officially signed on behalf of the Executive Committee of Servas International (EXCO).

• Geoff Maltby
• President - Servas International