General Assembly 2009

From SI Exco News

Logistical Planning Kit

News

Dear National Secretaries, Committee Convenors, and elected Area Coordinators,

We are pleased to welcome you to the Servas International General Assembly, scheduled for September 5, 2009 -- and meeting for up to a week, to Sepember 12, 2009 at Mare del Plata, Argentina (south of Buenos Aires).

Nominees for elected office may wish to plan staying a day longer, to attend first meetings of the new Servas International Committees. Organized pre- and post-conference touring will also be considered, if there is interest.

We are grateful for several proposals kindly advanced from, in addition to Servas Argentina -- Servas India, Servas Korea, Servas Turkey and for the inputs from Servas Japan and proposals from Servas Central America and Servas East Asia.

This GA in Argentina will focus on the two dozen main "business" decisions of Servas -- as defined in the Statutes. We will aslo update and evaluate the 125 strategic and administrative decisions made in Latina, to strengthen Servas. To ensure economy, particularly during these times of global financial uncertainty, travel support will be limited. We will assess ways of using polling, Distant Voting and other means to collect inputs from national secretaries or other delegated voters for the GA who may be unable to attend.

As you know, 2009 is a very special year for Servas. Several Anniversaries are planned around the world, to celebrate and help renew Servas. Please draw to the attention of Servas Travelers the current (and changing) calendar of these fun and educational activities on the improved Servas website: www.servas.org [no login].

We hope the energy produced by these Anniversary celebrations, towards Servas renewal, outreach, and recommitment, will help make the GA 2009 an important turning point in the history of Servas.

More information on GA arrangements, registration procedures, and the usual call for GA agenda items is being prepared now and will be sent to you soon. A collection of new GA resource materials will also be posted on the Servas News site, www.siexco.org which volunteers are updating, archived, indexing and making more user-friendly.

All of Servas is counting on you to provide help and advice for successful preparations of the GA.

We are looking forward to enjoying our friendships both during that advance work and in your company at the GA.

Gary Sealey, President EXCO: siexco@googlegroups.com SKYPE: garysealey