Jahresbericht ELSA-Deutschland e.V. 2007/2008 - ELSA Germany

35 th International Presidents’ Meeting (IPM) in Warsaw
Great Lessons in Networking
Warsaw — Pushing an activity of ELSA Poland to an international level was one of our main goals in the beginning of
2007. We felt that a lot of things had been done, but much more has to be done in upcoming years in this field of „internationalization“.
Anna Ziemnicka
ELSA Poland
The First goal was to keep the involvement
of the National Board in international
ventures. Second- encouraging
members of ELSA Poland to participate
in the international events, and third
one- organizing international projects
by our Local Groups. Last one is essential in this meaning, that
it gives not only knowledge and great memories, but also such
an important experience which affects on quality of our activities
and process of consolidation in general.
That is why we were encouraging our Local Groups to be active
at the international level. It was obvious for us that active
National Board means active National Group for one year, but
active Local Groups mean awareness and being close to the
Network for many years. Our role as a National Board was only
to give input, share our experiences with Local Groups and to
support them, but they had to do the main work.
It wasn’t an easy decision to run for IPM host for ELSA Warsaw.
They could count on National Board, although the main responsibility
was put on them. What is important: no one from
the OC of this LG has been to the international meeting before.
But they were very eager to learn a lot and to organize a great
event.
After IPM Toulon we started preparations with full steam,
spending many hours on trainings, with planning and consultations
with IB. We also invited Christopher Carlson – President
of ELSA International 2006/07 – to come in April to our
NCM and meet ELSA Warsaw. We asked him for clarification
of all responsibilities and expectations for the OC, few months
before the event, so that we had plenty of time to put a plan
into practice.
It was a pleasure to live this adventure
IPM is maybe not the most difficult project to organize, but
it needs still a lot of efforts and involvement to be successful.
But the crux of the matter is that if you really want to do and
learn something, you will always manage. Big experience and
numerous OCs can be helpful, yet motivation, determination
& strength determines essence of real success. If you achieve
that than the rest will come.
Being so eager guaranties finding support in your Local Group,
National Board, other National Groups, International Board or
even in all of these bodies in the same time. This is a great advantage
of belonging to such a big and international association
and not using these tools means committing a sin.
ELSA Poland is very proud of ELSA Warsaw and of this event,
but could we call it as a successful just because of great OC?
Probably not, since here comes the share of the Network.
Treating seriously the responsibility for participation in IPM by
presidents, big support form the International Board, quality of
the workshops, huge sources of ELSA SPIRIT plus OC efforts
are the essential foundations for a good event. So what was the
result of IPM Warsaw?
17 National Groups plus one Observer represented, 29 participants,
great training, effective workshops, new plans for future
cooperation between countries, great ideas, unforgettable parties,
new friendships, and great pasta prepared in the ELSA
House by two pleasant Italians for the group of participants
who had staid in Poland for one extra night. It was a pleasure to
live this adventure.
92 ELSA Deutschland e.V. Jahresbericht 07/08