What does one do when one gets into a disagreement in AEGEE and can’t seem to find an amicable solution? Met AEGEE’s peacemakers, the Mediation Commission! They can be approached at any time to resolve conflict and bring back the peace we all love. We decided to have a chat with them to get a better insight into who they are and how they work.

Well, first things first. May we have a little introduction about who you are and what you do?

We are Natascha, Paulina and Yusuf and we are the current members of the Mediation Commission. The Mediation Commission is responsible for supporting members of AEGEE to resolve conflicts of any kind and aims to find a solution that makes all involved parties happy. 

What is the process of mediating like? Can you give us a short run through? 

First, we talk with each of the parties separately and let them present their side of the story. In this way, we can find out everybody’s interests, needs and expectations on how to resolve the problem. This is essential for finding an amicable settlement. 

Once it is done, we have a conversation with both parties together and try to find a common ground where all of the parties’ needs are met. During the whole communication process, we are completely neutral: we are trying to accept all parties’ opinions equally and do not propose our own solution for the issue. Our job is to guide involved parties to find a common resolution together. Since we work mostly online, the process can sometimes be long and exhausting but reaching a settlement is even more rewarding at the end. 

What made you go and say “yup, this is my commission, I’m joining!”? 

There are many good reasons to join the Mediation Commission. Anyway, we suppose one of the main is a wish to bring harmony within AEGEE. It is a fulfilling and engaging task to do on one hand. On the other hand, it is also a big responsibility, as you are trying to solve and prevent conflicts within our association and be there for people. After all, it is a great opportunity to learn more and deeper about people and just generally educate yourself.

Okay, you got in! What was it like? 

Probably for everyone joining a Commission, there is a lot of information overflow in the beginning. There is a KT from the old team and it is very helpful to learn how the Mediation Commission works by reviewing old case examples. It is a common practice for new MedCommies to read most of the old Slack channels and the documents related to older cases which is actually a really intriguing thing to do! We were also lucky that two of us were at the same NWM shortly after our term started, so we could do teambuilding and directly felt the team spirit from the very beginning. 

Were there challenges? Are there still some? 

There are always challenges when working in the field of conflict resolution. If one party in the process is not willing to work on the problem, no mediator can resolve the case. Luckily this happens rather rarely, so most challenges we had (most of which we are not allowed to talk about) can be tackled.

Probably one of the biggest challenges is the visibility of the Mediation Commission, as we normally work behind the scenes. People do not usually see or can evaluate our work somehow, so in case someone has a problem, many people are not aware that they can contact us. Additionally, it can also lead to problems with finding new members. 

If we deal with a very emotional case, it can also be emotionally draining for the MedCom members. Daniel Amez expressed this with a comparison once: “as a MedCom member you are like a sponge – you take people’s negative feelings and you soak them in yourself.” However, it is definitely worth it and as you work in a team you can always support each other! 

Is there any previous knowledge, educational background, or experience that comes handy in this commission? 

Of course training in communication, mediation or conflict management does come very handy. Right now none of our committee members is pre-trained or have a professional background. Alas, the ability to be empathetic and to maintain neutrality is a good precondition to develop skills in this field. We also have some literature available in our Google Drive which can help to get a better overview. 

What is the “perfect mediation commission member” like? 

The “perfect mediation commissioner” always thinks critically and questions their own opinion. They have the ability to remain neutral even if they have very strong emotions about a discussed topic. They have a deep interest in understanding other peoples’ actions and the will and motivation to familiarize themselves with mediation and communication theories. 

So some people are reading this, and like you before them can’t wait to join. How can they do it? (future-mediation-commission-members you’re welcome) 

If the candidatures do not reach a number of 3 by 05th of May you can still apply via my.aegee.eu until 2 weeks before the Agora. They can also contact us first if they have any more questions about it. 

Anything else you want to add? 

In case you need advice or help in any kind of conflict situation please contact us via medcom@aegee.eu! And of course: apply for MedCom!

In their Facebook Page, you can read that the Network Commission is always open. This is not far from the truth! The NetCom has been established in 1996 and it has been caring and serving our Network locals for 21 years already. In Autumn Agora Chișinău we elected six new Netcommies, who, together with Network Director Tekla Hajdu, are working hard to collaborate, protect and look after our locals. We asked them some questions and here are the answers of Kristina Reshetova, Gabriele Scollo, Stanislav Mahula, and Mareike Ritter.

Stas Mahula
netcom-stas@aegee.org

The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself.
Kristina: My name is Kristina Reshetova, I am from AEGEE-Moskva and I was elected as a member of the Network Commission at Agora Bergamo.

Gabriele: Hi everybody! I am Gabriele Scollo, a proud member of AEGEE-Torino and former member of AEGEE-Firenze, the antenna that made me passionate about our organisation. I am 27 years old and I will graduate in February in sustainable tourism management.

Mareike: Hi, I am Mareike, a member of AEGEE-Heidelberg living in Leipzig. I am in the middle of my Bachelor’s on Studies of Religion and I was elected NetCommie at Agora Chisinau. I am responsible for: AEGEE-Aachen, AEGEE-Bamberg, AEGEE-Darmstadt, AEGEE-Düsseldorf, AEGEE-Erfurt, AEGEE-Frankfurt am Main, AEGEE-Heidelberg, AEGEE-Kaiserslautern, AEGEE-Karlsruhe, AEGEE-Köln, AEGEE-Ljubljana, AEGEE-Maastricht, AEGEE-Mainz-Wiesbaden, AEGEE-Mannheim, AEGEE-München, AEGEE-Osnabrück, AEGEE-Passau and AEGEE-Stuttgart.

Stas: Pryvit/Cześć/Ahoj! I am Stas from AEGEE-Kyïv, the responsible for Ukrainian and Polish speaking locals, currently finishing my Erasmus in the Czech Republic, so I more or less have to manage communication with those three languages [he smiles, ed.]. My teammates call me “The baby commissioner” because I am the youngest there, but I think it is even better to experience all this awesome AEGEE stuff when you are young. I like what I do in the Network Commission, so all my doubts are gone for sure.

Mareike Ritter
netcom-mareike.r@aegee.org

What is the strongest point of your assigned locals? What are your plans for the locals in your area?
Kristina: My locals are located in different parts of Europe such as Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Georgia and Belarus. I think the strongest point is motivation and desire to do what you love despite on challenges real life throws towards us. By that I mean, for example, the Summer of 2016 when some SUs in Turkey were under threat or even cancelled. Or constant lack (huge lack) of participants in the events of Russian locals. How many of you know that there are locals not only in Moscow but in Samara, Ryazan, Rostov-na-Donu, Voronezh, Tuymen? And they are doing amazing events by the way! My plans for this term did not change a lot: I still plan to visit my locals before Agora. There are some other thoughts, but let’s see if I manage to make all of them real before my term ends [she smiles, ed.].

Gabriele: The strongest point of my locals is the ambition of always aiming at doing better. This year will be no exception and I see that many locals are already planning training courses, thematic activities, amazing Summer Universities and more! All I have to do is support them in any possible way. An aspect I would like to improve is the visibility of AEGEE in general, especially towards universities, that too often ignore our locals.

Mareike: Hm, that is hard to say. Generally, the majority of the locals have a good internal structure and most of them have a good number of motivated members. But I definitely want to focus more on HR as recruitment itself might not the biggest problem for some members (though for some it is), but actually making new members stay active in AEGEE in order to have a healthy change of generations. Here I think good and interactive training courses, a well though-through knowledge transfer concept as well as mentoring systems can make a difference.

Loes Rutten
netcom-loes@aegee.org

Stas: My locals are more or less close to each other (the closest two are just 25 km from each other), so what I see is a very good communication between them: they organise common events or just visit each other for local events. And yes, speaking about local events, this is one of the strengths of my locals. They usually have very good and big events on a local level, so my plan is to promote the European level more. That is why my team and I will start promoting the Twinning project very soon.

For you, what is the meaning of the NetCom Motto “To Serve and Protect”?
Kristina: First of all, it means dedication and commitment. I think once you are a Netcom you cannot be connected to just one local. You start to think more globally and you take care about at least 12 different locals. It may sound silly and trivial but you do become parents, trying to treat everyone equally and be sure that everyone is happy, has enough events and participants, does not have internal problems and feel motivated to surprise members of AEGEE all around Europe.

Gabriele: It means that the locals do not have to see us as a sort of bureaucratic body that only asks for reports and checks criteria, but as a resource, they can use to fulfil their projects and their potential. Of course, I am not saying that bureaucracy is totally useless, as in order to do our job properly we also need some information.

Mareike: The NetCom’s job is – like no other European body in AEGEE – to focus primarily on the performances of antennae. So “To Serve and Protect” means to me that we are not making antennae feel comfortable with what they have and do (although of course, some antennae are doing an excellent job), but instead challenging them and making them strive for more by keeping an eye on them, giving them some guidance and also guidelines and connecting them with others. That is the point for Network Meetings, to exchange ideas and ways of working and by that to inspire and motivate members to come up with something new.

Kristina Reshetova
netcom-kristina@aegee.org

Stas: To
Step into
Every
Road
Very
Enthusiastically.
Paint a
Rainbow
Of
The
Events we
Created
Together.

A day in the NetCom shoes. How does your typical day look like?
Kristina: Uuuh! Sometimes I think that I can define myself as a walking laptop! Also, I am falling asleep with my phone and the first thing I do when I wake up is checking my e-mail. But every day is different. Sometimes your day is full of Skype meetings, one after the other, some other day you just check the local monthly reports and answer e-mails. But you are always talking with someone, checking or doing something. Moreover, you always have time for having fun with your fellow Netcommies.

Gabriele: Mostly in front of a computer so far (I am starting to really hate Skype), but soon spring will come and I am planning many trips!

Mareike: Honestly, I have a quite laid-back schedule for university so my day does not start too early. But then there are E-Mails to be written and answered, Skype meetings to be arranged and held, posts on Facebook to be created and of course internal work regarding our work plan or other issues to be discussed. The advantage of it is that I can do that anytime, the disadvantage is, that you sometimes “forget” the work you have to do for the university.
Stas: A day in the NetCom shoes. How does your typical day look like? Tortures, stress, pain and suffering 24\7. Of course, it is a joke [he smiles, ed.]. It is endless communication, emails, and joy of discovering new horizons of AEGEE together with my team and my locals. So basically it is the same it would be without NetCom – chatting on Facebook, sending or posting something. But in my case, it is certainly not a wasting of time!

Gabriele Scollo
netcom-gasko@aegee.org

Why did you decide to run for a place in the Netcom during Autumn Agora Chisinau?

Gabriele: Because during my two years of AEGEE experience I had the opportunity to work closely with previous NetCommies and other people at the European level of AEGEE. Despite being people with very different ideas, their dedication inspired me to also put myself at the service of the locals. I am not an expert on many things, but I am very good at networking and creating synergies, so I cannot see a better role for myself.

Mareike: Being an AEGEE member, you often have to deal with many different kinds of issues. Bureaucracy, recruitment and too much work can easily take over the fun part. The only cure against these struggles is to be shown again what AEGEE is about: to gain skills, exchange ideas, make them concrete while connecting with people from all around Europe. I believe that the Network Commission plays a crucial role in that: Network meetings, LTCs and RTCs, Skype meetings and exchanges – these are the occasions during which one grasps the power of our borderless cooperation. I wanted to not only take part in that but also facilitate these occasions in order to give something back to the network.

Stas: I do not know actually. It happened very naturally, frankly speaking. It was just another day, I was thinking about joining some European Body in order to direct my energy into something useful. But then I saw the Open Call for this position, and no application from my Network. And then I decided to try because there was a chance, there was me. Match? Probably. So far I have not regretted it, not even for a second.

You met in Brussels for your team meeting. How did it go? What were the main topics of discussions? Funny moments that occurred?
Mareike: The weekend was intense with five hours of sleep and an average of 12 hours of work per day. But it was worth it: we became a team during this weekend, we shared loads of fun moments and we had a lot of worthy discussions and sessions, some of them together with CD. And if anything goes wrong, such as #babycommissionerfellasleep, #oopscommission will find a suitable meme and/or hashtag.

the old and new team during locals distribution in Chisinau

What is the Netcom Plan for Chisinau-Enschede Term?
Mareike: We will continue some projects of the previous term: tWinder, Contact toolkit, mentorship system and antennae criteria reform. We want to finish them until Agora Enschede. We will also work on internal education, such as the RTC reform implementation and on some guidelines for the local distribution. Besides that, AeGeENDA will be a great new project and our 20th anniversary should be properly celebrated – stay tuned.

You can read their Activity Plan here. Do not forget you can attend one of the ten Network Meetings that will take place this spring in Thessaloniki, Debrecen, Nijmegen, Torino, Yerevan, Gdansk, Bamberg, Novi-Sad, Heidelberg and Bilbao.  

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

In their Facebook Page, you can read that the Network Commission is always open. It is not far from the truth! The NetCom has been established in 1996 and it has been caring and serving our locals for 21 years already. In Autumn Agora Chișinău we elected six new Netcommies, who, together with the Network Director Tekla Hajdu, are working hard to collaborate, protect and look after our locals. We asked them some questions and here are the answers of Aleksandra Mojsova, Alejandra Piot, Alin Georgescu, Pablo Palazon and Spyros Papadatos. 

Aleksandra Mojsova
netcom-aleksandra@aegee.org

The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself.

Aleksandra: I am Aleksandra Mojsova from AEGEE-Skopje and also a member of AEGEE-Nis. I have been an absolute fan of the association since I joined AEGEE and since day one, I was interested in the Network Commission. I also took all the other opportunities to contribute to the AEGEE life.

Alejandra: Hey! I am Alejandra, a member of AEGEE-A Coruña since September 2013 and the former president of my local. I love photography, books and music. I am totally in love with AEGEE and travelling. It is the most beautiful and amazing thing that I can imagine.

What is the strongest point of your assigned locals? What are your plans for the locals in your area?

Aleksandra: They are passionate and good-spirited. Some of them are good in PR, some of them in FR, some of them have amazing teamwork and great spirit, always offering something to each other! My plans are to work on some tips and tricks files with each area’s expertise – Board functions mostly – to upload them in a common drive, to offer them other tips and tricks for training workshops.

Alin Georgescu
netcom-alingeorgescu@aegee.org

Alejandra: Most of them have a really good relation with the universities and their support, so it’s easy to promote AEGEE there. Also, some of them work a lot with Erasmus students, which is also a good point. I want to promote the idea of following the Action Agenda and Strategic plan more to have more members interested in the main goals of AEGEE, and also promote the idea to be involved in European Bodies.

Alin: Hard to say because geographically, they are very well-connected to each other. There are less active locals, but also very strong and active locals, so there is a balance, a balance which I will use to build up my Network more. As I said, I want to have this legacy of AEGEE, to keep members motivated, focus on locals needs more, fill the gap between local and European bodies. My biggest challenge is to make members work more under Erasmus+ programme.

What is the meaning of the NetCom Motto “To Serve and Protect” for you?

Aleksandra: To literally be on duty 24/7. To be always available for all of my locals, whatever they ask for, whatever they need. It sometimes sounds like exaggerating, (or at least, what I have heard), but indeed a Network Commissioner should be protective and caring!

Alejandra: Basically, that we are there for and with the locals, to help them with everything, literally, give advises and be there for them.

Alejandra Piot
netcom-alejandra@aegee.org

Alin: Exactly as a team, what we are doing are taking care of our locals, answer to their needs, help them to grow and become more and more active.

Spyros: For me, these four words summarise the essence of this commission. The NetCom was created to serve and protect the Network, the locals. We all may have started from a local, but as a NetCommie you feel part of many locals at the same time because your locals feel like parts of you. So for me, the most important thing is not only trying to maintain them but to bring something new, work to achieve the best and generally bring it to the next level.

A day in the NetCom shoes. How does your typical day look like?
Aleksandra: Oh, it is easy to dedicate your day to the Netcom once you start. If you do not have an alarm nearby, you can easily have two. Checking local’s activities, duties, submissions, reminding, answering, helping them with anything (PR, FR, Members Portal, events, etc.). Apart from that, there is the internal Netcom cooperation and the communication with other bodies of AEGEE daily.

Spyros: A lot of work from your computer. You might be talking to five, six people at the same time, writing a lot of emails (especially in the Speaker Team) and living on Skype (or Hangouts sometimes for the change). But all this seems so small when you meet your locals during events or in their cities, which is priceless in my opinion, and fills me with motivation.

Pablo Palazon netcom-palazon@aegee.org

Alejandra: Our day always starts with Podio, some of us love it, others hate it, but it is our day. Skype calls more or less two or three times per week, sometimes more. WhatsApp, Facebook, e-mail… We can not live without that. Questions, suggestions, more questions… Always like this! Sometimes it is crazy, but, I love it!

Alin: A typical day like one of other young people of my age. There is nothing special, just more responsibilities and more deadlines. Maybe more travels, more Skype meetings and AEGEEan lifestyle. [He smiles, ed.]

Why did you decide to run for a place in the Netcom in Autumn Agora Chisinau?

Alejandra: I had this motivation to do it since Agora Bergamo, but I did not feel confident at all until the former NetCom of La Nave and one of my lovely subcommies told me that I was quite good for this. I really love the Network Commission. Being in this body which is in touch with the locals the most. It is amazing, you can learn a lot from the and be able to help them.

Alin: I have joined AEGEE three years ago and I started from the local level step by step, managing a local, learning about AEGEE and its opportunities. It is a path that I decided to follow. I determined that now is the right time for me to move on, make a big step and join this Commission. After all, it is a legacy made by people like me, taking responsibility, one after another. I want to be part of this legacy, maybe this is the strongest reason that keeps me motivated and made me choose to run for the Netcom.

Spyros Papadatos
netcom-spyridon@aegee.org

Spyros and Alejandra have being elected as Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the commission. Why did you decide to run for the speaker team? What are your main tasks?

Spyros: Last term, I decided not to run for speaker team because I wanted first to test the waters as a regular NetCommie and see how I am pulling through. Yet, this term, I decided to run as speaker because it felt like the right thing to do and I wanted to contribute even more to the internal part of NetCom. My main tasks are to organise the internal work of NetCom, coordinate our weekly meetings, keep an overview of our work and our projects. It was a great honour that my fellow team members trusted me. Together with Alejandra, the vice-speaker, we are trying every day to the best. This is also a big thank you for Alejandra because without her it would be impossible!.

Alejandra: I just joined the Network Commission in Chisinau, but for me, it was also a challenge to run for the Vice-Speaker. I was curious about how the work was and also how to be more involved there. My main tasks take minutes during the meetings and accept reimbursements and take care of the budget. We also have weekly meetings and more tasks that Spyros and I shared depending on our availabilities.

You met in Brussels for your team meeting. How did it go? What were the main topics of discussions? Were there funny moments?

Alejandra: It was amazing. As I could not be in Chisinau to present my candidature, I didn’t know most of them in person and I realise that they are really cool as workers and persons. We were discussing many topics, but mostly about Spring NWMs and the State of the Network, how we can improve it and how it is now. Also, about the NetCom projects, more news will come!

Pablo: It went really well! We have a quite good environment among Netcommies and also between Netcommies and CD members so everything was quite good! The “problem” of the Netcom Meetings is that they last reaaaally long, On Saturday we had dinner at 1 in the morning, so you can figure out that we were quite tired! We had a lot of discussions about the state of the network, activity plans, projects and feedbacks from the last term! One of the funny moments is when one of our Netcommies (not giving the name, he smiled. ed) felt asleep on the table during one looong discussion. I guess everybody deserves a little moment to disconnect!

Network Director Tekla Hajdu
network@aegee.org

What is the Netcom Plan for Chisinau-Enschede Term?
Pablo: We are going to be working on a lot of stuff. Emphasis will be put in creating an AEGEEnda with all the events. Locals from the Spanish, Portugues and French Network (or La Nave) have one, we are just going to try to make them share it in a more official way! Twinder will also be working on, Toolkits for contacts, visibility of the NetCom, etc…. Lots of cool projects that you will see the results in the next few months!

How is it to work with the Commissioners?
Tekla: In one word: Awesome! But to explain it a little bit more, I think the team dynamics is going well currently, we put emphasis on bringing up several topics and viewpoints to discuss openly within the team. We also highlight the importance of teamwork within the Commission, as the workload is huge and giving support to each other has a great importance – that’s why we also did a lot of team-building activities during the NetCom Meetings apart from the sessions. I am trying to be transparent to both the Network Commission and CD as my task within the Commission as CD responsible is also to bring the initiatives and the views of the two teams together.

You can read their Activity Plan here. Do not forget you can attend one of the ten Network Meetings that will take place this spring in Thessaloniki, Debrecen, Nijmegen, Torino, Yerevan, Gdansk, Bamberg, Novi-Sad, Heidelberg and Bilbao.  

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

For a second the possibility of having the Mediation Commission composed only by one person, Damien Latacz, seemed to be reality. Although it would have been fun to imagine him arguing with himself on the Mediation Commission cases, luckily one more person stepped up. The Mediation Commission 2016-2017 is now composed by Damien Latacz and Petra Burusz. He is a polar bear from AEGEE-Aachen (and also Düsseldorf and Hamburg!). French with an engineering soul, he is in his second term as the President of Mediation Commission and he enjoys cooking, hiking and reading. Petra Burusz is a Sociology and Social Psychology student and she is writing her thesis on AEGEE. Unable to spend more than one week in her home country Hungary (she is a member of AEGEE-Budapest), because she is addicted to travelling. They work closely also with the President of the Juridical Commission, Monika Mojak (AEGEE-Lublin) and CD observer, Maarten de Groot (AEGEE-Amsterdam). What is the Mediation Commission? What do they do? We asked them these questions and much more. 

The AEGEEan: First of all, Damien, why did you decide to run for a second term?
Damien: On a personal level, I really like working in the MedCom. It is challenging, but we take our time to provide convenient help to people. I just like it. And there were still some projects and ideas I wanted to work on.

For Petra, why did you decide to run for the Commission? And why only during the Agora?
Petra: I would say the decisions are the best. Honestly, I climbed up in the ladder at the local level, but I thought I needed more challenge. According to my studies as well, I am pretty interested in solving problems, and there was the Open Call for the MedCom during the Agora. So I just made the puzzle.

Let’s pretend to explain what the Medcom is and what it does to a child. How would you describe your commission?
Damien: When two people are fighting and cannot find a solution alone, they ask us for help. We check that they both respected the rules, we talk to them until we understand them both and we try to make them understand each other. At some point, we have an understanding together and they can both continue working happily, without frustrations. That is basically what we do, at a different level of difficulty! Is that easy enough?
Petra: Imagine there is just one bar of chocolate for five children. These five children are yelling at each other, one becomes aggressive to get the whole bar of chocolate, one of them even hits the other one, a child tells this to the teacher and then the MedCom comes and speaks with all the five children separately and have conversations till they are able to find a solution that is good or acceptable according to their rules as well.

How did the Knowledge Transfer go?

Petra: Right after the elections at the Agora Chisinau we had the last dinner together with the old MedCom and the new MedCom team, and I got to know everything, really everything. First, I thought that there was too much information, but everyone was so kind and helpful to me, and all my doubts flew away. Later on, of course via Skype, we looked up everything step by step. And Damien is there to answer my questions when I need it.

What will the focus of this year be for the Medcom?
Damien: As we are working with only half a team, we had to make choices… So we will continue helping the implementation of the Data Privacy Policy Statement (the Committees are next for Enschede!), we will continue providing support to people asking for our help. We will try to give some workshops and increase the knowledge of the network. But this is already too much for only two people!

How important is the concept of the Mediation, the Conflict Management and the Conflict Resolution in AEGEE?
Damien: I think people underestimate how difficult it can be. Sure, we learn about multicultural communication, etc, but we should go one step further by trying to actively improve ourselves on these topics. I have seen conflict (at least to a small degree) in every team so far in AEGEE. Even if it is not giving damage most of the time, we do not pay enough attention to it in my opinion. It could make us much happier and much better people.
Petra: So many times we are not just able to recognise what the original problem behind is. We can be able to make something differently because the impatient world does not let us stop for a while and think through rationally. Often misunderstanding creates several issues as well and we are just making a mountain out of a molehill. So the mediation and the conflict management lead us to solve the problem and get the point out of it. It is important in AEGEE and in our personal life as well.

What is the typical week for a Medcom Member?

Petra: Our week is from Monday through Sunday. We are both studying and working as well but when we receive a mail, we start dealing with it as soon as possible. But those e-mails are literally unexpected so you never know. Our schedule is also flexible because of it. Furthermore, this year we are trying to attend more events and training so we wake the interest up about this field.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

We asked the Audit Commission to tell us about the reform they are carrying out. Its President Luca Bisighini focuses on what could be improved and explains why he decided to present his candidature for this demanding European position, also talking us through his choice of the Subcommissioners. His future plans involve fostering clear communication and bringing finance back among the hot topics in AEGEE.

The AEGEEan: What is the Audit Commission?

Audit Commission: Well, I do not want to copy and paste what the CIA already says, so I will provide a personal answer. We are one (together with CIRC, FATF and the Financial Director of AEGEE-Europe) of the European Bodies dealing with Finances in AEGEE. We are entitled to check Financial Reports of Locals and AEGEE-Europe, to present our Activity Reports, and blablabla. But we can do more: we can help locals. We can provide locals with education, lessons of management and, in general, help!

What ideas do you have for improving the Audit Commission?

Lots of ideas: from communication (more channels and ways to communicate with us), to organisation (a NetCom-alike one), to promotion (massive), to education (necessary to have it widespread), to enhancing the quality of the data we have and we will have (through feedback and contacts), and to raising awareness on delicate topics (financial/legal regulation, quality of financial formal education, etc).

How do you think you could improve the communication between the Audit Commission and the Locals?

We implemented the team of SubCommissioners, probably the biggest one so far, to establish direct contact with the locals (even in their own languages), in order to allow them to be in a real forum for discussing about the problems they might have, we want to be there anytime they need us. The locals have been and always will be friends of the AC. It is good that we provide them a friendly reminder, with Cats and Cash.

Can you tell us something in advance about the Working Plan for the upcoming year?

I do not like giving spoilers just a few days before its official publication on the Members’ Portal. But you will be impressed.

Why did you create a new Communication Channel (Facebook Group for treasurers)?

As far as I know, Finances were the biggest Pandora Vase nobody wanted to open for years, despite every antenna had to and must deal with it.

Most of the projects/Interest Groups/Commissions and Committees and Working Groups had their own public space of discussion, mainly on Facebook. It is the easiest and the most widespread tool among the AEGEEans. Several people had the idea to open such groups in the past as well. Some of those groups were kind of active, but then abandoned.

Now, the Audit Commission has its own official group for the years to come, where everyone is entitled to express their own thoughts about our work, to hopefully enhance the overall level of AEGEE-Europe’s financial communications and discussions. It was more than necessary.

In AEGEE we use it very often, but for our readers who do not know: what is the Podio system and how do you think it will ease your work in the AC?

Podio is a web platform/app, mostly used in AEGEE by the Comité Directeur, Network Commission and
many other projects or committees. It combines a calendar, tasks, apps and much more. It is a good management tool. It is a very user-friendly working app like many others, nothing much difficult. We will use it mainly for the AC Financial Report of the 2016/17 Term. For sure, it will ease a lot the way of submitting the Financial Reports.

Tell us something about the new Subcommissioners. Which criteria have been chosen to select them?

They are 21, and all of them (Amy, Anna, Astrid, Avram, Blažo, Bruna, Ceyda, Cheyma, Dennis, Javid, Lavderim, Liis, Mareike, Maria, Marijana, Michele, Nils, Oğuzhan, Olivera, Teresa, Victoria) are special and great in their own way. I am proud of them and I think that despite the distances and our differences, we are an awesome team. They are enthusiastic of being part of this team and they expressed great points and ideas until now. I am deeply sure we will all do a remarkable job this year.

About criteria, I accepted most of them, they expressed enthusiasm and willingness to be part of this team. I also took a look at the non-formal education experiences, the AEGEE experience, the internship/jobs they had, volunteering and NGOs experience, other types of management tasks they had in the past and much more. Luckily, all of them have some kind of economic background to be exploited and the willingness to learn and make me learn, too. Unfortunately, for some antennae there were more than just one candidate, reason why I needed to discard some candidates and choose just one member. Of course, I chose the most experienced one with regards to AEGEE experience.

Which criteria have been followed to assign the Subcommies to each Local?

Mostly, spoken languages and geographical areas to cover, together with some previous experiences as well. Dividing the network was not that easy, and remember that SubCommies in Audit cannot take care of their own antenna: a transparency enhancement policy the Audit will respect according to CIA rules.

Why did you decide to apply as Commissioner and then President of the Audit Commission?

Actually, one great friend from AEGEE-Cagliari talked to me during the visit at Chernobyl, after Agora Kyiv, and I was convinced. It was my first Agora ever and despite the fact that the position was still being open, I did not want to show up when nobody knew about me. I was one of the usual fifty per cent newbies at the Agora, knowing nothing, despite my fellow delegate from AEGEE-Brescia was a guy named Gunnar Erth. Maybe you heard about him.

I was not aware about all the rules and first, I wanted to prove something to AEGEE, as a policy of trust. I also told this to Carina Van Hoof in Agora Bergamo, when she asked.

Moreover, I was finishing my second Erasmus+ in Turkey, I needed to write my thesis, I thought about applying to Autumn Agora Chisinau and I did not know about the opening calls for Bergamo. Then, there was a chance to run in Bergamo and I jumped in, with no fears.
Just a few days before the Agora, I graduated in my MBA in International Business and Trade, so I had the chance to spend my time in a space I could give my best.

Then, in Bergamo, I was asked whether I would have run for the Audit Commission in Chisinau, if I had been elected. I promised to do it. Well, I was elected, and a few months later, on the 23rd of August, ahead of time (the applications for Agora Chisinau had just started on the 22nd of August), I decided to run again. I hoped to be with somebody. Well, nobody showed up, so here we are.

Why do you think that there are only a few people showing interest in the activities of the AC?

Maybe for a very long time nobody tried to promote the Audit as one of the greatest commissions in AEGEE. Instead, we are restoring its allure, its prestige, not just doing the hard work and presenting the outcomes as everybody does. To me, it does not sound strategic at all to gather enthusiasm towards it, and everything but a long run successful thing.

For most of the people I know, the Audit Commission was something complicated, too far, enough of having heard questions like “What is Audit?” during an Agora from Delegates. Oh god.

That is why I decided to simplify it, and use one idea coming from the former president Mateusz Muszalski: using #CatsAndCash. Just a lot more. Dzieki Mateusz! Indeed, the most successful commission is the Network one, because they probably carry on the biggest tasks, but we also have lots of tasks and hard work to deal with that most of the people are not even aware of.

With the Juridical Commission, we are the oldest Commission, since we were both founded during the Autumn Agora Sevilla in November 1987.  Yes, two Commissions born during the Franck Biancheri’s presidency era, something that should sound prestigious and remarkable to all AEGEEans. The Network Commission (NC) might be just in its 20s, while the JC and the AC will turn 30 in 2017. We are the older siblings of NC and MedCom.

In general, the interest towards the AC comes if you are able to deliver the messages in a clear and easy way, and if you are willing enough to stay close to the locals like some great Commissioners do and were able to do in the past. Finances were a ‘no’ topic or a topic for the voiceless in AEGEE? Well, we will be the voice of the voiceless. We need to bring back the interest and the discussions towards finances in a vibrant way. And then, maybe, the interest in the AC will arise till new and undiscovered peaks. I am sure we will get there.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.

A lot of term limits for the NetCom have ended on the first of December this year. So, this seemed to be the perfect occasion to reach out to some of the leaving NetCommies and ask them about their experiences of the past year. Here to answer some questions are Loes Rutten of AEGEE-Aachen  and Lavinia Tole of AEGEE-București, two exiting NetCommies after a year of hard work and dedication.

The AEGEEan: Could you tell us something about yourself?

Loes: My name is Loes, I am 23 years old and I currently live in Innsbruck, where I am taking part in an Erasmus Mundus Master’s programme for Astrophysics.

Lavinia: Hello, I am Lavinia and I am the future “former Netcom” of Central European Dragons. I became an AEGEE member four years ago, but I am still learning and discovering new things. I currently work in digital marketing, I am taking acting classes, I teach French during weekends and I am a yoga and travel enthusiast.

 What made you want to become a Member of the Network Commission?

Loes: More than one year ago I decided to apply for the Network Commission for several reasons. I had just come back from my Erasmus in Bologna. During my months there, I worked together with the super motivated board of a relatively new antenna. I enjoyed brainstorming with them about new ideas for activities and putting them into practice. This is also when I became a SubCom for Boudewijn. Some of his locals offer so many activities on a local level, that members are often unaware of the amazing opportunities on what they perceive as the ‘European level’.

Lavinia: I was talking to a CEO of a Belgian start-up and I was telling him about AEGEE and about the opportunity to apply for being a NetCom. I have to admit I hesitated a lot in the beginning, but he told me that he could see I was genuinely enthusiastic when talking about it and that I should accept the challenge and make the most out of my student years. Now I am happy I followed his advice.

Which of the plans that you had when you ran for NetCommie did you manage to execute?

Lavinia: I think that now locals know they have someone to count on that will help them solve their issues and answer their question, and that is important, knowing you are not alone in the struggle of saving your local or making it stronger.

Loes: Bringing the European part of AEGEE closer to the locals was one of my big ambitions when I started, as well visiting all my locals and founding a local in Wageningen.

I exchanged ideas with the locals and saw many efforts by the boards to promote events and open calls among their members. I managed to visit all my locals within the first three months of my term, except for Bologna. I had a contact with the university of Wageningen and flyered at the university, but I realised that the initiative should come from an insider in order to make it work.

Maybe unpredictedly, I ended up pushing Dutch locals for the Think before you Vink campaign, providing neutral information about the referendum on the ratification of the EU-Ukraine association agreement. A team consisting of members of many different locals organised a lecture, debate and flyers were spread all around the country. Unfortunately many youngsters eligible to vote still stayed at home during the referendum day, but hopefully the people we reached were not among them.

What did you learn from your time as a NetCommie?

Lavinia: I learned to accept different opinions from mine, I learned that it is rewarding helping others grow, and most of all I learned there is still a lot to learn about AEGEE, about having a real impact on European policies, about project and team management and so on.

Loes: I developed a lot this year. First of all, I had the chance to meet all kinds of different people. I learned how to feel motivated to work in a virtual team, and realised how difficult it can be to feel social bonding through a computer screen. I gradually became less chaotic, more stress-resistant and more confident to give workshops to groups.

What was your best experience as a NetCommie?

Loes: My best experience was getting to know so many people that care about AEGEE. I had many interesting discussions about both the organisational structure of AEGEE as well as thematic topics that matter to our association. This is what I joined AEGEE for!

Lavinia: The feedback I got from locals when I helped them overcome the obstacles they were facing. Their attitude and growth made it all worth it.

How did your life change while you were a part of the Network Commission?

Lavinia: It positively influenced my career, because in job interviews people were pretty impressed about what and how we do in our NGO. Also, as a Netcom you have to be more active and in this way you meet a lot of smart and enthusiastic people with awesome ideas and that helped me grow as a human too.

Loes: I feel like I got old! I was young and fresh when I started and now when I look around me at events I feel like a grandma. Also in my life many things changed. I graduated from my second Bachelor’s degree, almost finished one Master’s degree and moved to Innsbruck to start another two-year Master’s degree.

What are your future plans?

Loes: I tend to postpone the decision making on future plans. I stretched my student years a bit by starting another Master and I am also stretching my NetCom term with six more months. Besides being a NetCommie, I would like to save some time to be a participant in events again, instead of organising them. Next event coming up is ‘My Big Fat Greek Summer University’ and I also applied for EPM Zagreb. I would also like to help collect signatures for the European Citizens Initiative.

Lavinia: AEGEE was an awesome experience and my student years would have been so much boring without it, but now I want to focus on my career, explore more of the world outside Europe and the surroundings. Of course, as an alumni, I will try to keep in touch and help with knowledge, contacts of the right people in the companies I interact with, and so on.

Want to continue reading? Click here for part 1 and here for part 2.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

A lot of term limits for the NetCom have ended on the first of December this year. So, this seemed to be the perfect occasion to reach out to some of the leaving NetCommies and ask them about their experiences of the past year. Here to answer some questions are Mareike Wegener of AEGEE-Aachen and Melissa Carreres of AEGEE-Alicante, two exiting NetCommies after a year of hard work and dedication.

The AEGEEan: Could you tell us something about yourself?

Mareike: Hey, my name is Mareike, current Speaker of the Network Commission (until the 1st of December), member of AEGEE-Aachen since 3.5 years and now living in Cologne. If I am not doing something with AEGEE, I am working for my PhD (rocket sience and material engineering). I love travelling and meeting new people.

Melissa: I am a nurse and I finished my Master’s degree on Nursing research last year. I am currently working as a Clinic and Study Nurse in an Infectious Disease department. Besides, I am a sports lover and a globetrotter.

What made you want to become a Member of the Network Commission?

Melissa: To be honest, applying for NetCom it was not in my plans. Actually, after my term as president in my local I was thinking about having a “little break of AEGEE life”, but then, one member and beloved friend, who has been supporting me since my beginning in AEGEE, suggested it to me and motivated me to do it. He believed in me, even when I thought I was not capable of doing it, and now I am very grateful that he did that because I could not have imaged all the unforgettable experiences that I had this year, and I do not regret but I am glad that Pablo influenced me with the decision of running for this position.

Mareike: I was Organiser of NWM Aachen 2014, at that time I felt in love with this kind of event. I joined Andrea Schmelz’s SubCom team afterwards and then the Network Commission got me. I attended more and more NWMs, I met and worked with a lot of locals as SubCommie and I really started  to like the work and the cooperation with the people, so running for NetCom was the next step [she smiles, ed.].

Which of the plans that you had when you ran for NetCommie did you manage to execute?

Mareike: Related to the work with my locals, I wanted to promote the Twin Antenna project and make all of my locals aware of LTCs. If I look back know, I think this worked well. I had four locals signing a Twin Antenna Contract during my term and many LTCs, and even 2 RTCs. But I am also happy that we, as a NetCommie team, developed a lot: we started some good reforms about NWMs, RTCs and now Antenna Criteria, and the team atmosphere was really good. Beside this, I also enjoyed more and more cooperation with the CD and other European bodies.

Melissa: One of my strongest aims was having further contact and fluent communication between Locals and the NetCom. I have managed to contact locals actively, being helped by my SubCommie team, and I made sure that the information flowed better. Besides I managed to know most of the boards’ members personally, which was really meaningful because they could easily contact with me anytime they needed to.

Last but not least, I did my best in the events that I have organised. I made sure that both NWMs and Renove were kind of different than previous events by having more meaningful content and guaranteeing that sessions were really useful for locals. Feedback from their side was good, so I am happy with it!

What did you learn from your time as a NetCommie?

Melissa: First, I have learned how to be super efficient with time. NetCom work takes you a lot of  effort, so I have learned how to handle my time properly and I kind of managed to combine my term with my personal and professional life.

Mareike: I learned a lot about time management, disciplin and multitasking, but also about myself and my limits. I improved a lot of skills like facilitating of meetings or public speaking and I really enjoyed to organise my NWMs.

What was your best experience as a NetCommie?

Melissa: I had many good moments within this year. I really enjoyed the two live NetCom meetings that we had in Brussels, being at the CD house is an amazing experience because you have the chance to meet your team personally, which is crucial and improves a lot your daily job. Besides, during Agorae, I also had a good experience and it made my motivation grew even more.

Mareike: NWMs! I love these events, their atmosphere and also the positive energy you feel when you leave. In my opinion, it is a perfect mixture of fun and socialising, but also thematic work and improvement of our Network.

But I also spent many nice moments with my team. Of course during live meetings in Brussels or at the Agora, but also the internal work via podio or skype was really good. I am happy that I had the oppertunity to work with all of them.

How did your life change while you were a part of the Network Commission?

Melissa: I think it has changed somehow. When you are having Skype meetings twice or even more times per week, you have to adapt your personal life to your work and try to handle it in the better possible way without going crazy.

Mareike: Of course, I learned a lot about AEGEE, its structure, cooperation with people and some hidden group dynamics, but more than this I think I learned a lot about myself. Things that no course at University can teach you, but you get well prepared for life and your career.

What are your future plans?

Mareike: Well, I will finish my Phd and see what is coming next. However, for AEGEE there are still some things I have in mind that could be improved, so maybe we will see each other again somewhere in Europe [she winks, ed.].

Melissa: I would like to focus more on my professional life, because I need to prepare an important exam to get the vacancy on a public stable job at the hospital, and I also have in mind to start a PhD next year.

Want to continue reading? Click here for part 1 and here for part 3.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

A lot of term limits for the NetCom will end on the first of December this year. So, this seemed to be the perfect occasion to reach out to some of the leaving NetCommies and ask them about their experiences of the past year. Here to answer some questions are Lisa Gregis of AEGEE-Bergamo and Malwina Zielińska of AEGEE-Toruń, two exiting NetCommies after a year of hard work and dedication.

The AEGEEan: Could you tell us something about yourself?

Lisa: I am Lisa Gregis from AEGEE-Bergamo, I have been a member of AEGEE for 5 years and I am planning to slowly retire after my term as a NetCommie.

Malwina: My name is Malwina Zielińska and I am (till the 1st of December) a Network Commissioner, responsible for locals in Poland and Ukraine. I joined AEGEE three years ago, when I accidentally stepped on a brochure. It was the best decision of my life! I changed not only my behaviour in the group, but also discovered how much knowledge experience gives.

What made you want to become a Member of the Network Commission?

Malwina: I was the PR Responsible in my antenna, President of AEGEE-Toruń and now part of the NetCom.  I am constantly expanding. But in my opinion, the most important advantage of AEGEE is inspiring to meet new people that give you a chance. Once someone believed in me. Now I want to motivate others. And it was the main reason why I wanted to be a Network Commissioner. I wanted to help my locals and make them stronger. I hope I did it.

Lisa: Nothing more and nothing less than a visceral love for the locals.

Which of the plans that you had when you ran for NetCommie did you manage to execute?

Lisa: Creating a safe space for locals to express themselves, saving some of them, connecting with all the people who are working in their locals in a healthy way, inspiring new generations of AEGEEans and fighting for what I believe was right.

Malwina: I wanted everyone to feel needed. I joined the Network Commission for this purpose: to help and motivate members.

What did you learn from your time as a NetCommie?

Malwina: I learned most of all to be patient. When someone asks you all the time about the same issue, it is easy to get irritated. But I knew that I could not do that. Many also carried on the work of the NWM, the organisation of the event for 120 people is not easy. I am very glad that everything worked out. The tasks while being Netcom were many. I do not know how many [she smiles, ed.]. I tried to do my best.

Lisa: I learned the magic art of compromising and negotiating. I also learned that I am a good and easy person and that without a team you cannot go anywhere.

What was your best experience as a NetCommie?

Lisa: Agora Bergamo and Agora Chisinau were the moments I liked the most. Meeting all my locals in one place, talking with them, actively participating in our democratic process, not because I wanted my own agenda to be put forward, but because we are there to give a voice to the Network. It was important for us to be there.

Malwina: Certainly the best experience that I will remember for a long time, was my trip to Vinnytsia, where my job was to attract new members for AEGEE and to share the AEGEE spirit. It was not only a difficult task, also the trip was not easy, as Vinnytsia is more than a thousand kilometers from my home. But I met fantastic people with whom I have established a very good contact and a fountain in Vinnytsia is a very nice memory [she winks, ed.].

How did your life change while you were a part of the Network Commission?

Malwina: Our lives are changing, regardless of the function: they simply mature. So our perception is also changing. I cannot answer what exactly has changed.

Lisa: An infinite number of Skype Meetings, notifications, emails and phone calls. Around three to four hours per day of work and an even bigger number of people who trusted me and supported me. I felt loved and useful. My life changed because my locals were my biggest concern and commitment each day of the past year.

What are your future plans?

Lisa: I am thinking about retiring from AEGEE, even if I would like to set up an IG, but we will see. Right now, I have started a new job which is consuming too much time and I do not know if I will have time for AEGEE. Thanks to everyone for this fantastic year!

Malwina: I need to focus on my health, so I will not be that much of an active member, but I hope we will certainly meet again somewhere in Europe during an AEGEE event [she smiles, ed.].

Want to continue reading? Click here for part 2 and here for part 3.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

“This is not in Visual Identity!” – probably a sentence you’ve heard either from PRC, a member of your local or even someone else. And hearing this makes you frustrated. “What? Why do I need to use VI? What is this!?” Say no more our friend! Here you can find eight obvious reasons why using Visual Identity is cool and the most awesome thing you can do!

Reason no. 1 | You Can Create Materials Much Faster.

Locals can simply go to the Members Portal, download some template/element, customise it to their own needs and everything is done in no more than 15-30 minutes.

Reason no. 2 | Design Artist or Not, using Visual Identity Can Make You Look Like A Pro.

You don’t have to be an expert in Photoshop, Illustrator or other programmes related to design. You can make your own VI puzzle just by using the Design Elements and following the Visual Identity Manual.

Reason no. 3 | You Contribute to AEGEE’s Identity.

By using the Visual Identity, you strengthen AEGEE’s identity both internally and externally: you and your local play an important role in building its identity. It’s like the code from a website or app; if just one line in the coding is incorrect, it cannot work properly.

Reason no. 4 | Your Mind is The Limit.

Visual Identity doesn’t limit your creativity. “No, ma’am!” It can be creatively adapted to your own ideas. People who are saying the contrary might have not really worked with it yet. So don’t believe the rumours, just give it a chance and you will see what we are talking about. 

Reason no. 5 | You are More “Ready, Set, Go” to Promote Yourself.

Other international youth NGOs and especially famous companies, also have a Visual Identity and follow their own specific manuals. When you see a Coca-Cola poster,
(think of the typical one with no bottle displayed at all) you know it belongs to them, even before noticing the logo. You can check out the visual identity of every big company and you will see that we are not just saying that to impress you.

Reason no. 6 | Cool Locals Who Use The VI are An Endless Source of Inspiration.

The more the locals who use the VI, the more the approaches are different, showing the diversity inside a common path. You can bring your own cool approach to the table and maybe you can inspire others to follow your example, why not? After
all, we can all learn from each other and form an awesome community. Plus, you will help improve the “design templates archive”, to make Reasons no. 1 and no. 2 even more awesome.

Reason no. 7 | You Look More Professional towards University and External Companies.

When your local is going to fundraising meetings, sending e-mails or delivering presentations using the VI, you are using the power of a network of 13,000 members to support your project. Then, you are not just representing your local, but the whole AEGEE network is there helping you out.

Reason no. 8 | You Save Yourself from PRC Setting You in “red” in the VI Check.

Once you adapt your antenna to the VI, you will mostly forget about PRC chasing after you for having an identity that makes you look like a completely different NGO, and most importantly, the red mark will be magically turned in a lovely emerald green. So, quit the rebellion and start using the VI. You can save a lot of time, energy and resources, but also, you can learn a lot from it, whether you are experienced in design or not!

If you need more information or have any doubts, simply contact us at prc@aegee.org.

From PRC with love! #PRChard

Written by Mayri Tiido and Gerardo Garcia Diaz, vice-speaker and speaker, Public Relations Committee