Group-Analytic Contexts, Issue 80, June 2018

Newsletter – Summer 2018 35
and holding the development of the symposium.
Some figures are moving me very much and they underline
how good it was to take all these risks (which as Gerda wrote
sometimes made us more careful than was necessary). The number of
about 650 participants surely is great! But even more impressive was
the following: half of the participants have never before been at a
GASi event - and about 50% were not members of GASi. And, also, I
was struck by the 250 German speaking participants – there was a long
time when I was afraid it would not be more than 185.
Some details concerning the symposium
• The structure of equal partnership between the three organisations
was good for confidence building and for making clear that every
partner is fully responsible for the common and shared success. I
think this equal partnership also has strengthened and supported the
effort of everybody. For the structure of our collaboration it also was
important that GASi had a veto in cases of serious disagreement.
The status of equal rights supported the presence of the D3G and our
feeling as a partner. This was important because of existing
ambivalence also in the D3G (some powerful members said “it is too
early”, the D3G is only six years old) and for taking an active part in
providing (seed) money and taking action in being a part of the
programme.
• I can say I liked the job as a co-chair of the MSC and I liked the jobsharing
Gerda and I had. I always had a good feeling not being alone
with any task and felt safe about being able to ask Gerda. You had a
calming effect on me dear Gerda! I remember that sometimes when I
felt exhausted I could be sure that you did send a first draft for our
meeting.
• I think the MSC really was a very good working management group
of this symposium. I always felt very comfortable with you all and
see us as an able-bodied team (sailors language). I would miss
everyone of you if you were not there. At the very beginning I was a
representative of the D3G but the more our process of collaboration
was proceeding I felt (only) as the member of a working group.
By the way, I also think that the scientific committee next time
should have a constant place in the management committee of the
symposium.