Agora Cagliari will take place really really soon, so the applications for each possition have been aproved. For the Network Commission there are five candidates until now. One of them is Andrea Schmelz from AEGEE-Passau, Subcommie of the German-speaking locals since Agora Zaragoza. The AEGEEan asked her some questions about her plans as Netcom to be.
The AEGEEan: First of all, why Network Commission and not another position on the European level? What does it mean to you?
Andrea: Easy one! Netcom and only that one! I love the idea of a Netcommie being a link between European and local level and between locals. It is the perfect position for triggering and pushing networking which is personally my biggest source of learning and motivation in AEGEE. I enjoyed working on local level when I was still an active member of AEGEE-Passau and giving something back by helping and supporting others now seems pretty much awesome to me.
You mentioned in your program that if you will get elected you will work with Julia Fuss (AEGEE-Mannheim). Do you already have a strategy for this, beside the fact that she is going to be the NetCom Assistant? For instance is she also going to take some locals?
Oh yes, we have already created a plan with the division of tasks. Basically we are running as a team where one is responsible for external and one for internal Netcom matters. The external one – that is me – will take care of the locals, stay in direct contact with them and coordinates the Subcom Team. The internal one – Julia – will work on the Working Plan that is developed by the Netcom at the Netcom meetings and everything that concerns the European level. As soon as we have overlapping tasks, such as organizing the Network Meeting (NWM), we will work together on that. Of course, we will be in regular (Skype) contact. I also don’t want to underestimate the advantage of experience we have. Julia has been Netcom Assistant for 4 months now, which means I would work closely together with my predecessor, a perfect way of transferring knowledge. Indeed, Julia would stay Subcommie for her current locals Mannheim, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Konstanz and Stuttgart. That’s great, because our current Subcom/Netcom-Team is a fantastic one with lots of dedicated and fun people. We don’t want to break up that spirit.
Do you already have any preferences or idea of which locals you would like to have? If so, which ones?
I would like to continue in Holger’s and Julia’s manner by taking over the German-speaking locals, being open to others, of course. The past NWMs have created a very good networking atmosphere between these antennae, I think it would be profitable to keep working on that. Maybe we will get some addition from the neighbouring countries, who knows? Some voices have been raised during the NWM in Aachen and more diversity will certainly not hurt. In the end, it is up to the local’s decision.
If you are elected and it happens that another Netcommie wants the same locals as you, will you be willing to take other locals?
Generally I would say yes – if this represents the current reality of the Netcom and the candidates, I am less sure of. Due to my studies, my current living situation and AEGEE, I gained an international background which definitely opens me up to taking over other locals. And I know that I would still have Julia’s support, in any case. Taking over locals, that are completely unknown to me, would be quite a challenge though, but surely nothing impossible.
If you get elected and somehow you won’t have time to be the Netcom of your locals, what would you do? Will you just quit and let your assistant deal with it, or will you continue at least until the next Agora for new elections?
I think if I would simply quit and put all the work on Julia, she would give me a pretty big kick in the bum. No, I am not a quitter when it comes to a lot of work. Both, Julia and I have been very devoted the last year as Subcommies and Netcom Assistant and we are very well aware of the workload we are tackling. For this reason, we are teaming up. Next to that we are currently having a super cool Subcom-Team and all of them are willing to continue their tasks.
Why do you think that you are a suitable NetCom?
I gained a lot of experience being Subcom over the past year and have been a member of AEGEE for almost 3 years now. I figured that as a Netcom you have to be organized, but flexible, do multitasking, being able to work under pressure and attentive towards people. I think I have these characteristics, but mostly I gain a constant stream of energy, inspiration and motivation from the great people I meet at meetings and events. If this is enough for making me suitable? Well, that is up to the Agora to decide!
Written by Raluca Radu, AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca