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

36 th International Presidents’ Meeting (IPM) in Ohrid
All about strategic planning – an historical
ELSA event
Ohrid — The 36 th International Presidents’ Meeting in Ohrid, in the Republic of Macedonia, was an excellent experience
and highly successful ELSA event. The first item on the agenda was related to fundraising and the new ELSA Online. We
were updated about the new fundraising strategy of ELSA International. We also had a presentation by a law students’ association
from Albania. We helped them to define their interest in ELSA. The application for Observership from the Law
Students’ Association in Albania was later approved by the council in Lisbon.
Emil Akander
ELSA Sweden
During numerous internal meetings,
Presidents of national groups have expressed
their disappointment with how
ELSA vision is being implemented at
present. It was decided during the ICM
in Reggio di Calabria that the Two Year
Tactical Plan should be terminated. Consequently,
Presidents chose to focus on
long term strategic planning during the
winter IPM in Ohrid so that it could be
established on what we all want and expect from ELSA in the
future. Presidents spent a day and a half working on this issue,
greatly helped along the way by an external trainer from Lithuania,
Vytautas Gaidamavicius. The main focus was on deciding
which core activities should define ELSA as an organisation in
the future. The general consensus was that STEP, Study Visits,
our commitment to Human Rights and Legal Education (S&C,
AA and soft skills events) are the core areas in planning the future
of our network. These areas should be focused upon on local, national
and international levels. Generally, it was agreed that structural
changes will not be needed in implementing a strategic plan
based upon these core areas. It was agreed that ELSA’s strategic
plan should be in force for the next five years. The Presidents then
spent a considerable amount of time setting goals within these
areas that should be achieved within the next five years across
all levels of the network. It should be emphasised that all the
Presidents agreed that the network does need to change and that
it was the right time for changes to be implemented. Discussions
on the issue continued on local and national levels between the
IPM in Ohrid and the ICM in Lisbon. The Network approved
the finalised strategic plan in Lisbon.
Stunned and amazed
For many of the participants it was indeed the very first visit to
the Republic of Macedonia. We were all impressed by the Macedonian
hospitality and kind-heartedness. It was for sure a historical
IPM for the entire network as regarding the results from
the long term strategic planning session. I was very grateful to
have so dedicated and skilled contributors. We were all stunned
and amazed by the great organization skills of the OC. They actually
managed to change the hosting city of the IPM within 24
hours. We had the great pleasure to spend a couple of days in the
historical town of Ohrid, skiing in Mavrovo and enjoying some
great parties at the hotel as well as at the lake of Ohrid.
I would like to thank ELSA International and Vytautas Gaidamavicius,
trainer, Manuel Bader, ELSA Switzerland, Vice
Chair, Margit Kääp, ELSA Estonia, Secretary, Jean Marc Lauwers,
ELSA Belgium, Secretary and of course a big appreciation to
the OC of the 36 th IPM.
Nationale und internationale Treffen
97