Agora Catania is starting in a few days and as always, the AEGEEan will try to help you better understand the Proposals which will be discussed during the Prytania. These following ones are proposed by the Mediation Commission, the Audit Commission, AEGEE-Aachen and AEGEE-Enschede.

Fixed term for the Mediation Commission

Proposed by Damien Lacatz on behalf of the Mediation Commission. This proposal seeks approval for the establishment of a set starting date for the term of the Mediation Commission, which now starts on the day following the end of Agora, implying that previous commissioners lose access rights due to confidenciality and thus making KT very difficult. If the proposal was to be approved, the MedCom would have a term starting on the 1st of December, allowing a timeframe for KT between the election date and the starting date. The proposal would end up in an addition of this provision to the Statutes of AEGEE-Europe, also granting the newly elected members access to all necessary data for Knowledge Transfer purposes.

Gathering of the financial documents of every European event

Proposed by Luca Bisighini on behalf of the Audit Commission. This proposal aims at making the work of the Audit Commission more comprehensive and more respondent to its features in compliance with article 27 of the CIA and articles 13 and 14 of the Financial Rules. The proposed change to the Financial Rules of AEGEE-Europe aims at collecting and checking the financial data connected to events and projects organised by locals (final budget, bank history, bookkeeping), in relation to every European event and project.

Modification of Locals’ Statutes

Proposed by Nils Barkawitz on behalf of AEGEE-Aachen. This proposal is based on the fact that to fulfill Antenna Criteria, a local should have Statutes compatible with the Convention d’Adhésion and the Statutes of AEGEE-Europe in both the original language and English to be presented to the Juridical Commission upon request or upon modification by the local, but nobody checks if changes were made during the last term. Thus the proposal is to delete from Article 6 (1).1. the expression “upon modification by the local or”.

Nomination of the JC member who is in MedCom

Proposed by Damien Lacatz on behalf of the Mediation Commission. This proposal’s aim is to introduce at Article 29, (4) of the Statutes of AEGEE-Europe a provision making it possible for the Juridical Commission to appoint a member different than its president, suitable for mediation and resolution of conflicting issues, to join the Mediation Commission.

Proposal to set all deadlines for publishing official documents at two weeks before the Agora 2.0

Proposed by Steyn ten Kate, Rik Smale and Timo Haarman on behalf of AEGEE-Enschede. Following a previous proposal during Spring Agora Enschede, this proposal aims at setting the deadline for the publication of all official documents of Agora two weeks before Agora. If approved, it would result in the addition of this provision to the Charter of Honorary Members and the Working Format of the Agora.

You can find all the proposals here.

Written by Federica Soro, AEGEE-Cagliari

Today we introduce you to Oğuzhan Ayhan, the only candidate for the Audit Commission. He has already been Audit Commissioner since Agora Enschede. The AEGEEan asked him some questions to learn more about his plans.

The AEGEEan: Please describe yourself in three words and tell us why you chose them.
Oğuzhan: I’m a patient, hardworking and dedicated person. I chose them because I think I have such qualities.

Why did you decide to run for a position in the Audit Commission again?
In the future I want to work in finances and working as Audit Commission gives a great experience. My first term was a short period of time and I learnt what to do and how to do so, and this time I will work for a longer time with better knowledge.

According to you, what do you think is the most important quality to be in Audit Commission and why do you have it?
I think the most important thing is financial knowledge because without that being in the Audit Commission is meaningless. I have been in the Audit Commission for about a year as a subcommissioner and a commissioner and also other than that I was treasurer of some projects so, because of these I think I have enough knowledge about finances.

If you had to choose, what would be the main point of your programme and why?
I think the most important point of my programme is maintaining a local approach with treasurers. To do so, I want to continue with subcommissioners again because as I see some treasurers are not good at English and with the help of people who can speak their language they can get the help they need more easily.

Questions from the Network

What would you rather keep and what would you rather change with respect to the current Audit Commission?
I want to change the communication with locals. We need to improve that to be better and to do it we need a big team and this is what I want to keep. Without a big team of Audit Commission (subcommissioners and treasurers) to do this is impossible.

How do you envision to have more understanding from locals about your technical work? Do you have some ideas in mind?
Well, we already have the Fiscal Law Database, a new Template, a new Toolkit, Podio, InterTemporal Register and 30 minutes of webinar about financial reports. In any case, I’m always open to questions.

You can read his full candidature here.

Written by Lia Touska, AEGEE-Brussel/AEGEE-Sofia

Sometimes things go way all beyond any expectation. You are chatting with a friend about general random things, and you end up organising a thematic event together with a commission and a committee. Believe it or not, it all started with a joke and it ended up so happily. This is the story of how the Audit Commission of AEGEE-Europe, the EQAC-Events Quality Assurance Committee and AEGEE-Kyiv managed to organise Fun-Ance Form-Action: FAFA #1 Kyiv.

The AEGEEan: How did this whole idea start?

Luca Bisighini (President of Audit Commission of AEGEE-Europe): Believe it or not, it all started one night with a joke me and Iryna (president of AEGEE-Kyiv) discussed one night in January. Actually, to be honest, I had this idea in my mind for a very long time as I was seeing all the Network Commissioners having their own events and me having none. I would never thought it would have ended into something like this. At all. Luckily Iryna accepted my idea, in two-three days we had already a plan made and in seven days the event was on the Intranet after some Skype meetings full of enthusiasm. Fun-Ance Form-Action (or FAFA) was born.

Iryna (President of AEGEE-Kyiv): Actually it was cool idea from my point of view. I couldn’t imagine that after NY event in Krakow we would right away organise an event with the Audit Commission. It was a great example that even during entertaining events it is possible to meet people with whom you can do serious projects!

Why involve Audit and EQAC?

Maria (EQAC and AC Subcom): Audit Commission and Events Quality Assurance Committee are European Buddies who have a lot of experience to share. Both things – events management and audit and financial management – are logical things that need specific skills to be successful. It is not hard to teach about basic steps and cultivate new treasurers and event organisers, but to make them successful we need to provide proper (and interesting) education. Before, there wasn’t any specific training that could lay the ground for such discussion and providing new skill in Audit and event management. So, Audit and EQAC were involved to discuss about this steps and teach participants of FAFA this planning and auditing skills.

How were the Workshops?

Luca: The workshops about the Audit Commission and project/campaign management have been practically developed from scratch, using techniques I developed mostly out from AEGEE in my university studies – united to the cool techniques of facilitation the Academy taught me during last year as Junior Trainer. Somehow, I saw lots of people being involved in the process, activities and realised that actually the Audit Commission and treasury are not things for just an elite group of people.

Daria (EQAC Secretary): Kyiv saw new workshops of EQAC that were done according to the needs we meet in AEGEE. We didn’t have a goal to teach people how to fill assessment/evaluation forms to make their EQAC responsible happy, but tried to teach people to think critically about events.

How many participants and organisers attended the event? How was the event designed (workshops, social programme)?

Iryna: Around 15 people were involved. They were motivated to meet foreigners as the organisers’ team consisted mostly of newbies. It was great to give this opportunity to them and test them at the international level. In AEGEE-Kyiv, we always try to balance our events. That is why FAFA consisted not only of workshops, but we also had a city tour, went clubbing and enjoyed a pub crawl.

What is next for you three?

Luca: The Audit Commission got back to a good visibility and events like this one just show the good intentions we have: bringing back people to discuss about finances. All of this on our own soon 30th anniversary: it is delightful, isn’t it? You can think about joining us, following us or discuss with us at audit@aegee.org. We are here for you!

And maybe, who knows…maybe a second FAFA can be great too!

Maria: Changes are coming soon in EQAC. After Agora we will be happy to announce changes in the assessment and evaluation forms and come out for the dialogue and comments with every person who wants to have some clarification or help. Please, keep in touch with us in our pages here: EQAC page, AEGEE Events page or at quality.events@aegee.org

Iryna: We are going to be active and help dreams and ideas of our members come true. They, of course, need to be according to Strategic Plan and Action Agenda [she smiles, ed.]. On a serious note, with such events I can say on behalf of all our local that we want to give people opportunities to develop, to start their CV with interesting projects, to get new experience and unbelievable stories. Members of our antenna try to make high quality events and projects and we concentrate on those which give us opportunities for non-formal education and personal development.

Written by Luca Bisighini, AEGEE-Brescia, Iryna Sheremeta, AEGEE-Kyiv, and Maria Kochkina, AEGEE-Moskva

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.

During the Agorae, there are many candidatures for elected offices, for which you can vote. It is expected that the delegates of the Agora have been properly instructed about who they can vote for, and why these functions are important to AEGEE. Nevertheless, two out of every five participants of the Agora have never been to one before, and AEGEE is a large and multifaceted organisation that can be hard to dissect. That is why we have a short list of all the candidatures for all the functions that could theoretically be voted for at the Agora. So, here is something you can share with everyone who would like to refresh his or her memory of what they are actually voting for.

Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Agora and EPM

The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are two vital people at an Agora and EPM in order to streamline the event. Telling everyone when everything is happening, how long everyone can talk, when everyone can ask questions and to whom, and moreover, they are crucial to prevent a cacophony or even a complete derailment of the meeting. Without a (vice-)chairperson, these meetings might very well take ten times longer, while accomplishing the exact same thing.

Member of the Audit Commission

The members of the Audit commission help by checking the bookkeeping of AEGEE-Europe, and locals of AEGEE, and that of Working Groups, and even of events that are hosted by AEGEE-Europe. To top that, they also need to approve the financial reports of all these aforementioned institutions, except for locals. So, if you ever had to fill in a financial report, it was, in part, for these guys.

If you think these financial detectives are finally done after checking and approving  all of this, you’d be wrong. Afterwards, they need to present all of their findings at each Agora, for which there isn’t, as of yet, any reimbursements for their travel costs.

Member of the Mediation Commission

The Mediation Commission, formerly the Members Commission, is basically like your old primary school councellor on steroids. They are mediators, as the name suggests, between any people or bodies of AEGEE, should this be necessary, and, when they mediate, they can also give requested or unrequested advise.

However, what many members may not realise, is that they are also part of the juridical branch of AEGEE; chiefly operating as its judges. Instead of mediating a dispute, they are also allowed to settle it. In extreme cases this can result to the suggestion of disciplinary sanctions as draconic as the expulsion of an entire local from the network. In short, just like for any other function, it is pretty important to elect the right people for this job.

Member of the Network Commission

At first glance, the Network Commission might seem like that collection of big umbrellas under the even bigger umbrella of the CD; a sort of ‘super board’ of your local and its neighbouring ones. The NetCom actually has mostly to do with communication, furthering cooperation between, and giving support to locals.

The Network Commission was established at Autumn Agora Athina approximately twenty years ago, because by then, AEGEE had become so large that it had become hard to organise it as efficiently as in the decade before. Imagine that, if AEGEE did not decide to create the NetCom, nowadays all of its almost two hundred locals had to be managed and supported by a single person; the Network Director of AEGEE-Europe.

The Network Commission takes a vital role, as each of its members supports only a handful of locals, and thus becomes an important link between the locals themselves and AEGEE(-Europe) as a whole. The decision to break the network down into smaller, more manageable bits  in 1996, allowed it to continue efficiently. It, furthermore, allowed the CD to be reduced that same year from twelve to only nine people. For an ever expanding network, it is important for the NetCom to remain functioning.

Member of the Summer University Coordination Team

The Summer University Coordination Team, or SUCT in short, is pretty much exactly what you would picture, when hearing its name: it is a team of four people who coordinate the Summer Universities. There are a lot of intricate details about the responsibilities of the SUCT, but to keep things simple, one can say that the SUCT is a necessary hub that can aid, advise, encourage, and oversee all teams that are going to organise Summer Universities.

The importance of the SUCT also comes from other factors, such as the fact that the Summer Universities are, currently, one of the most, if not, the most significant recruitment events of AEGEE. Another factor, that ties into this, is the programme of the SUs. Summer Universities can fall victim of becoming ‘cheap holidays’, and students could only join AEGEE as a ‘necessary evil’ to go on this ‘cheap holiday’, without the intention of trying anything else in AEGEE. Members of the SUCT, therefore, always have to remain vigilant that the programmes of the Summer Universities include life changing experiences that contribute to the vision of AEGEE, without being boring or losing popularity.

Secretary General of AEGEE-Europe

The role Secretary General, however, might not be what you thought at first glance; at least, if you imagined it as the highest executive office of the Union of Europtimistic AEGEE Locals. The tasks of the Secretary General can most easily be explained by comparing it to the tasks of your local’s secretary; taking minutes, keeping the archive, be present at board meetings, etcetera. Except for that fact, this secretary is also the secretary of the board that represents the entire association. Hence the suffix ‘general’, in order to clarify that it is the secretary with the highest function.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

Luca Bisighini, Italian from AEGEE-Brescia, is a 27-year-old travel addict and weird, as he defines himself. He has an MBA with a specialisation in International Trade and Business and he currently lives in Krakow, Poland doing an internship. He joined AEGEE two years ago and he became active both on the local and European level. After being elected as the third member of the Audit Commission during Spring Agora Bergamo, he decided to go for a second term to finish and/or implement what has been started in this term, but he also wants to bring new ideas.

The AEGEEan: Why did you decide to run for a position in the Audit Commission again?

Luca: As I said in my application I promised it in Bergamo and I am not running away from my promises. Moreover, I liked this term as Audit and just five months seemed too short to me. I have ambitious plans and enough motivation to be a part of the Audit again. I want to continue working on plans for facilitating the life of Auditors in the future and give opportunities to lots of future students of economics.

According to you, what has been your biggest achievement in the Commission and what was the biggest of the entire Commission?

Personally I’d say getting more in touch with the finances of AEGEE, realising how locals behave by looking at the numbers, by what they present. This is fundamental if you want to set up criteria and make guidelines to allow people to analyse what locals are doing. I have been helped a lot by the previous two Audits who were in charge for a whole year: Mateusz Muszalski (AEGEE-Krakow) and especially Deborah Pistori (AEGEE-Cagliari), the spinal cord of this 2015/16 Audit Commission, God bless her. The biggest achievement of the Commission this Summer was to define our ideas more clearly and decide what we want to do together. We had some serious problems, but we solved them.

You seem to have a clear communication strategy in mind. Can you explain it, with a clear separation between internal communication and external communication?

First of all, during this term we had some kind of communication troubles within the Commission. I appreciate it to be among people who try to save the ship and lead it to safe waters. The issue I am referring to was mainly caused by continuous miscommunications. Also, during these months I had no opportunities to talk to any of the Job Shadowers. None of them showed up, which is kind of weird especially taking into consideration that in Bergamo I ran with one of them.

Actually I wasn’t leading the Audit, but this situation pissed me off (and I wasn’t the only one) due to the lack of basic organisation and leadership. Leadership is fundamental in the European bodies of AEGEE. If you are not a good leader, or a good organiser, well, you are wasting time. Because this was such a huge issue I mainly referred to an internal problem in answering your question.

We will implement the move to Podio, which I find fundamental to make this whole thing work. I would love to have a group of Job Shadowers: people eager and ready to be in a team, to learn lots of things and share their knowledge with me! That’s why we constantly need to be in touch with locals who are asking questions, with FATF, the CD, and the Medcom. Our credibility pass through our complete transparency, and precision in our work and in time.

Can you explain your idea about creating a set of criteria to analyse locals’ Financial Reports in more detail?

When I applied in Bergamo I already discussed my idea of making an Intertemporal Register of the finances of the locals. It’s something really basic in the world of accounting, and it is used to discover the right course of action in a multi-year period, to analyze risks, to prevent them by analysing economic behaviours, justifications to the numbers you see. We can do this for any kind of economic sector and for AEGEE branches too. We can even use these kinds of analyses within our locals. 

If we will analyse the behaviours of different antennae, we can easily establish which ones are at risk, which ones are less at risk and we can find the things they have in common. By adding the international standards “ISO 19011:2011: guidelines for auditing management systems” in the process of our work we can make a professional jump that this body has never experienced before. We need a Task Force for this step forward, so we need more auditors – I hope at least two will join – and a lot of Job Shadowers who have to become like Subcommies for Netcoms. That’s why I am excited and eager to have a Task Force ready to work with me if I will be elected.

You put a lot of emphasis on educating locals. How would you implement this in an efficient way?

One of the things I want to do this year is to explain to every single local that made some kind of mistakes what it is they did wrong. Also, explaining in detail how to fill out a Financial Statement and how to do bookkeeping will be fundamental. It will be one of the first things to implement during the first months of the next term. From Chisinau to Enschede we need to do a lot of educating and talking to locals. We should also try to provide them with more unconventional and non-formal educational tools, even though I am sorry to say that economic education is usually pretty formal. 

You mentioned that you will avoid “stealing problems” in locals. Not going too much into detail, why do you think this problem exists? Is it a big problem or is it limited to specific cases?

There are free-riders in our world in general, not just in AEGEE. There are people and locals who do not follow the main rules of the CIA or their own country’s national (and/or) European law. That’s absurd.

When I joined Audit I heard some vague stories from the past about “hey in this local XYZ ten years ago this happened”, or “this person used the locals’ money to buy the kitchen of his/her flat”. I mean, it might be funny at first, but it’s not funny in the end. Several antennae died due to debts, and were then born again like a Phoenix. Luckily it’s not a big problem,  but we need to take clear and really serious actions to prevent this from happening again. Maybe we can propose some solutions at the Spring Agora in Enschede.

Currently you are Audit Commissioner, Coordinator of the Migration Interest Group, part of the Finance/Fundraising/Social Media team of Europe on Track and Subcommissioner of the Rainbow Area. Considering the workload of the Audit Commission, do you think that you are involved in too many projects? How would you be able to manage everything without neglecting any of your positions?

Anna Bortoletto from AEGEE-Udine asked me the same question in Bergamo, and I managed to find time to do each single thing in this term since then. Team work and effective, precise use of the tools and time we have is the answer. Even if it makes me sleep a few less hours, working for all these AEGEE projects is rewarding to me.

Lisa’s Subcommie Team this year was probably the strongest and the one that worked the most. I have no doubts about it. We made inquiries first, then we tried to improve a lot of the weaknesses we found. We discussed problems and areas where every single local can look for improvements, such as IT areas and ways to improve HR and recruitment. Next year, I’m certain a lot of antennae will adapt their strategies based on our advise. 

The Finance Team of Europe on Track is something lot of antennae/projects in Europe should be jealous of. I love the project, it’s utterly brilliant and fascinating, but since this year’s edition it was troubled. I wanted to contribute with my expertise to make it work better, and make it more digital: an edition to remember.

The Migration interest group grew because of a series of events. We were able to exploit in such a great way: a great edition of the EPM, a really active Facebook group and in the end my Policy Paper on Migration were such great catalysts. We are growing and raising awareness on such a difficult topic. People in the group have great enthusiasm and a lot of creativity, attention, passion for the topic. I almost have goosebumps all the time, I am proud of every member of MIGR. And they represent the perfect AEGEE spirit I hope is alive in other groups and projects too. If I have to list one problem, I would say that I won’t have enough time to go to Brussels for the live meetings for all these projects. Of course, the Audit Commission will have the priority.

You have been very open about your plans in AEGEE. Would you push your ‘career’ further by running for CD in Enschede? If so, do you think this would be wise considering there are no other candidates for Audit as of now?

I am really grateful for having received so much positive feedback regarding my work, about what I do, and about what I say. I really think that this year I will work in the Audit in order to create something worth remembering which can facilitate and inspire a new generation of Auditors to have the kind of financial discussions we have been missing. With regard to my intentions toward running for CD, 2017 will just be a year devoted to the Audit Commission for me. I know more or less 20 people who are not in the CD now that might be new CD members in the very near future. I don’t know what my future holds, but, if something should change in my intentions: since I was born on June 18th and my name day is on October 18th and generally 18 is my favourite number … What about Luca, CD 20…18? [he smiles, ed.]. For now it is Luca, Audit Commission 2017, it sounds wonderful to me.

You can read his full candidature here. 

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

Our last candidate for Spring Agora Bergamo is Ivan Cvetkovic from AEGEE-Nis, who is running for the position remained vacant dung the last Autumn Agora in the Audit Commission. He is a student of Economics and currently covering the position of Audit Commission subcommissioner. Here is what he said to us…

 
The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself.
Ivan: My name is Ivan Cvetkovic and I am a student of Economics at the University of Nis, Serbia. Twice in a row, I was named the best student of my generation. Apart from that, I am working and have worked on many projects aimed at community development and the advancement of the young people’s position in Serbia.

Which of the experiences you had do you find the most relevant to the position you are going to cover?
To me, except from the fact that I am doing my bachelor degree in Accounting, auditing and financial management, my most valuable experience for this position is being a Job Shadower. I have learned a lot, acquired practical knowledge, which is imperative for this profession. First and foremost, auditing is a practical skill and then a theory, not the other way around.

If you have to choose, what would be the main point of your program?
The main part of my program would be supporting locals with submitting their reports correctly and on time. This way the legality and good business ethics are ensured. Together with my team, we will put emphasis on educating treasurers through skype meetings, and also making a web application, which will consist of hands-on instructions for making financial reports.

You have been a subcommissioner for quite a few months. What are the insights of the work of the Audit commission that we should know?
I have to say that I am very pleased with the cooperation and the way of communication between the members of the audit commission and the subcommissioners. We are working as a team and everything is going smoothly. I have learned how to practically audit financial reports, what to pay extra attention to, how to act in the situations when a mistake (intentional or unintentional) is found.

You want to create web applications, what does it mean? What kind of applications?
The application is something that is intended to simplify and explain the whole financial report submission better. It will contain hands-on information, as well as practical examples. We will also try to do a step by step process, in which the user will be guided “step by step” through the whole process. I am sure that it will simplify the whole concept.

When would you start the Skype meeting with the locals treasures?
The first thing on the agenda will be the application. The skype meetings will be held every second week starting 3 months before the deadline for financial reports submission.

You said that locals often don’t fully understand the importance of the Financial Report. Explain in a few words, why it is important to draft (a part for the obvious antenna criteria)?
The financial reports are important, because that is a way in which our organisation informs and ensures stakeholders, that everything we do is legal and socially beneficial. Members and Job Shadowers of the Audit Commission have the responsibility to monitor the operations of AEGEE-Europe, working groups, locals and events, with the aim of making sure that ethics, moral and legality remain core principles of the organization as a whole. In that way, our organization retains the confidence and trust of all our stakeholders (EU, global, national, local partners, students, universities).

There is another candidate for a position in the Audit Commission. Why should people vote for you?
I am sure that the other candidate will approach the duties of an Audit commissioner with the professionalism too. It is true, that he possesses  more experience in the Aegee than me. However, through my involvement in other organizations, I have acquired the necessary state of mind to be in a position with so much responsibility. Apart from the experience and theoretical knowledge, the crucial part will be the commitment and hard work. Making an application is a special task, which is individual itselfP, not to mention the other responsibilities of AC members. I promise to give my all and to fulfil all the expectations.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

Let us introduce you Luca Bisighini from AEGEE Brescia, candidate for a Member of the Audit Commission. Luca is eager to put his international experiences, gained while studying in Italy, Turkey and Poland, obtaining MBA and actively working in his antennae, into serving AEGEE Europe for its better financial future. We’ve decided to ask some questions, so enjoy reading answers below. 

The AEGEEan: Please, present yourself.

Luca: Well, I don’t want to take some much time from the reader, so my name is Luca, soon-to-be 27 years old from Brescia, Italy. I am currently in my second year (and some months) in AEGEE and I finished my studies last month by taking a MBA. Also, I am current Policy Officer and Subcom for the Rainbow Area on HR/IT. Many people define me as a good, funny weirdo. Some others use a funny nickname I got (The Horrible) coming from the AEGEE Universe. AEGEE has given me some of my best memories and some of the best experiences ever. I will always be in debt with this organization for everything it did to me. That’s why I am so much enthusiastic about it! [he smiles, ed.]

Can you tell, please, why you’re applying for this position? Which personal and professional goals do you want to reach while you’re on the position?

The reason is simple. I was thinking how I could contribute to this special network I like that much in an appropriate way and after few minutes of thinking, I thought the Audit Commission was the definitive answer. I thought that applying to this role with 10+ years of proven experience in the world of accountancy and economics, was the best choice, a win-win one.

Personally, my desire is to keep contributing to this association again in a very transparent, clear and hard-working way after my Policy Officer’s task I had. I think the role of an Audit Commissioner overall is not that easy at all, that’s why contributing with a extensive economics related experience may help the whole network. Professionally, this potential task fits completely with what I have studied for over a decade, not only in Italy, but also in Turkey and Poland. An effective application of my studies to such a delicate task is what I am aiming for the most.

Can you specify how you’re going to establish and ensure high cooperation with other audit commissioners?

If I have to sum up the whole answer in a few words, I’d say Mutual Trust, Motivation, addressing continuous Communication, critical thinking and Commitment. I know what it means to work as a group of people who has to Audit, to check financial statements and any kind of economic data. I have been doing it for a very long period, especially in intercultural environments. You might do the best work ever, but without any trust in your colleagues, you will never get a team-work. In fact, I am a team-worker. I will be there for any help or suggestion, if needed. It is essential for me to contribute to a team-work, motivating every single person I have to work with in a positive and happy way.

Of course trust is also built through a continuous occurrence of three key aspects:

• Communication is fundamental: we have to be ready for every single thing, together. In my humble opinion, we are lucky to live in an era where communication is one of the easiest things to achieve;
• Without a continuous Critical thinking you can’t evaluate any integrity at all, you can’t assess any risk, you can’t be reliable as an Audit. I’ll be critical, every time;
• And last but not least, continuous commitment: you can’t run away from that. I know what it means to be committed to reach a common team goal. I will not disappoint anybody on this side.

What are the three core things you want to improve by the end of your term? And how?

Basically, I have just one core thing I want to achieve: offering sustainability of the finances over time by addressing a series of continuous controls over the finances of every AEGEE body and setting up an Audit Register.

To do that we need to proceed step by step. First, advanced reporting. It may sound kind of trivial, but I am not looking for just a mere report to do at the end of my possible mandate in front of the Agora, with easy numbers and easy evaluations. I want more. I want to show an advanced risk assessment of how the antennae are working today with the books, especially with relation to the income of the single antennae.

Just checking the book-keeping of the AEGEE Bodies does not guarantee any future stability, especially for the bodies, which are suffering the most. We don’t have to look just at our mandate, we have to realize from the numbers the future behaviour of every body and be ready to report every single thing in the shortest time possible. Last but not least, I recently read an e-mail on ANNOUNCE-L@LISTS.AEGEE.ORG announcing possible changes in the status of the certain antennae. From that e-mail, I realised, that some antennae are having problems with their Financial Reports. Of course, they can still fix their status by sending a written justification, but I am really concerned about how we got to this point for these antennae. We need to understand how AEGEE can effectively help these antennae in an independent, transparent way.

To do that, my idea is to set up a common register of every body we are going to audit. A register with our conclusions and opinions arising from every inspection of every book and provisional analysis. That’s the most complete tool we can possibly make together, before getting into making a final report. That’s the easiest tool we and the Audit Commissioners of the future can use as a valid, clear reference for their work.

How are you going to provide an audit quality over AEGEE Europe and the network finances?

We need to act in a precise, adequate, independent and fast way. We need to realise, that being an independent auditor, means to continuously advise the Financial Director about the right actions to take. We need to analyse deeply the books and realise how the finances are mutating over time to address a clear situation and to advise for a sustainable path. To do that, we need to set up month-by-month common-decided goals to reach together in a clear way. Analyse, comment the analysis all together, make a register of our actions and then report in a unanimous way.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge during the term and how do you plan on overcoming it?

The biggest challenge may be the lack of communication some of the bodies or antennae might have. Again, there’s not so much difficulty in making conclusions out of numbers of the financial reports that we’ll have to examine. We need to communicate a lot and prevent every possible problem at its root. How to overcome it? A better relationship with every Netcom and every antennae is the answer. We need to let them trust us. We will be there to help them.

How are you going to establish and ensure effective communication? What is your strategy to keep the motivation of your team up?

In today’s world, there are lots of ways to communicate with each other: from good old e-mails to social media, video-chats and cloud. Finding a way to communicate won’t be a big deal: once we will decide all together, we’ll easily adopt it. I support an idea of having an ordered cloud account, where we can work together and exchange every information. My strategy to keep the motivation up is easy: being friendly, accurate and on time. Again, the basics of having a mutual trust.

You don’t have any auditing and accounting experience within AEGEE. How would you be able to check all locals Financial Reports and do the auditing of AEGEE-Europe finances?

Well, you are right, because I haven’t had any official role empowered by anybody (that’s why I have not put anything like that on my application), but to be fair and square, non-officially what you are claiming is not true at all. You see, I am coming from a not so big antennae (AEGEE Brescia), where every active person is helping each other with every task, especially on a volunteer basis.
Since the end of 2014, the time when I started to be active with my antennae, I know what is the state of our finances, because we share a cloud account with a special section (a folder) related to our Finances. Also, I have been monitoring and advising every single board member about the finances of the 2015 edition of the AEGEE Brescia’s SU and now I am doing the same for the 2016 edition and for the upcoming (in 12 days) pre-event, which we are going to organise before Spring Agora Bergamo.
So, despite any precise role given, I know what it takes and I have 1+ year accounting experience within AEGEE at the local level.
Again, to be fully honest, there’s no appointed official role of Internal Audit. Every single person, who wants to give an advice about any economic thing in our antenna is free to do that. And I did, multiple times.
Changing topic, I mentioned that I have attended a Prytania at Agora Kyiv in an active way (there are minutes proving that), dealing with AEGEE-Europe Financial Update.

So, to be fair, I’ve already taken a look at the finances of AEGEE-Europe. Are those pro-active behaviours making me an Internal Auditor? I think officially not, but basically I did the same requested tasks AEGEE-Europe has for their Audit Commissioners. I am not scared at all to check any financial report coming. Why should I be? [he smiles, ed.] I am just eager to do what I do best with fellow Audit Colleagues. I have experience within AEGEE and my antenna’s board can prove that. I have the experience as a MBA graduated student, an accountant. I also have the experience of working in intercultural teams on financial accounting related courses.

Why are you the best candidate for the position of Member of the Audit Commission? Tell us three reasons, please.

Again, there are proven evidences of my transparency and integrity: the example of the Policy Paper I made on Migration is there to see. I have been looking for months across all the networks for opinions, comments, every single thing needed to ensure a good quality work that can represent all of us and AEGEE-Europe.

Considering the positive comments I received from several people, I think I am reliable enough for this task. Second, I am a person who is easy to find and easy to talk with. Communication is more than fundamental in AEGEE to establish goals and work together in a harmonious way. Also, it is better if it is guaranteed in a continuous way and brings tangible results at the end of it. I can ensure stable and good quality communication.

Third and last: I have a proven 10+ years of experience on this matter.

• A MBA (after a BBA and a High School based on accounting studies);
• An internship as an accountant;
• The proven contribution, that I gave and currently giving to my antenna about their finances concerning one Financial Report, two SUs and a Pre-Event;
• International and intercultural economic experience.

You can read his full candidature here.

Written by Dariia Kogut, AEGEE-Kyïv

In the AEGEE structure, you can find the Audit Commission, a two-member-group which checks AEGEE antennae’s accounting. Normally, it should have three members, but the two Commissioners elected during Autumn Agora Kyïv can count on some job shadowers. We spoke to Deborah Pistori, 26 years old, member of AEGEE-Cagliari since 2012, and Mateusz Muszalski, 23 years old, member of AEGEE-Krakòw since 2013, to discover something more about the tasks of the Audit Commission.

Before Deborah and Mateusz became AC members, they were just two students not involved in any scientific subjects. Deborah studies Political Science and International Relations, so this is something that has not changed after the election. At the same time, she can boast about some previous experience in AEGEE: in 2014 she was a sub commissioner of the Network Commission on Financial Matters and she became a member of the Human Resources Committee. She was also in charge of Human Resources and Treasury at her local’s board, as well as Autumn Agora Cagliari’s Core Team member.

Mateusz studies Mechatronics. Like Deborah, he was also elected board member, but as Vice-President and in charge of Fundraising. He was also subcommissioner of Marta Wnuk dedicated to fundraising and he conducted some workshops as trainer in fourteen LTCs and many other AEGEE and non-AEGEE events.

Audit Commission’s main aims and tasks consist on checking the bookkeeping and approving the financial reports of AEGEE-Europe, AEGEE locals, AEGEE Working Groups and AEGEE-Europe events and presenting their results at each Agora. Although the AC deals with AEGEE-Europe and locals’ finances, “We would like to be treated by all of the AEGEEans as a supportive body in financial cases. AEGEE locals, do not hesitate to contact us!” says Deborah.

IIn order to become an AC member, every experience in the field of finances and budgeting is important and it would also be really helpful to know and understand what AEGEE-Europe’s budget and finances look like. Deborah explains us what the Financial Report is. First of all, for very young AEGEE members: “The Financial Report is the most basic document that every local should prepare after each financial year. However, if you are asking about the Financial Report that AEGEE locals have to send at the beginning of each year to AC, it is a structured form that presents the financial condition of the local”.

This year, the AC thought about being more helpful to locals, so it will try to have a direct communication with them and give them a thorough explanation to make the submission easier and understandable. Asking about how much time they devote to locals and working groups accounting checking, Mateusz says: “February and March will be a really tough moment for us. Even though you might think there is not a lot of effort behind the auditing of the locals, in fact it is actually the opposite. We do not know how much time it will take us exactly, but seeing that if every local submits it – and we definitely hope so – we will have to check around two-hundred financial reports. Luckily, we will have the job shadowers helping us out”.

Working with numbers and figures is a little boring according to many AEGEEans, but not for Mateusz; “To deal with finances, you need to be passionate about it because it is something really specific that also requires a lot of commitment and effort. We know that some people can find it boring or hard to understand, but we are happy we made this choice and we wouldn’t change it”.

Deborah reminds us what every antenna risks being downgraded if it does not work and its balance sheet is not approved, “You have certainly heard about the Antenna Criteria. The submission of the Financial Report is one of these criteria. When a local submits the Financial Report, we check it and see if everything is correct, and in case we find minor issues, we contact the local to solve this problem. If there are major issues, we have to go deeper to solve the problem, asking the local for a full audit, checking its bank account and all the incomes and expenses they had in the period concerned by the Financial Report”.

About an eventual planning to have more job shadowers, Mateusz says: “Arnau and Matthijs are now covering the position of subcommissioners and they will finish auditing the finances of the former Comité Directeur. Concerning the position of job shadowers, we will shortly issue an open call. We have lots of ideas about this position and we will try to get them more involved in the work of the AC”.

According to the CIA, the Audit Commission can have up to three financially competent members but in Agora Kyïv only two were elected. “We will most probably have the position opened for candidature in Agora Bergamo” Mateusz adds.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari

The great hero in the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ is the FBI agent, who arrested Jordan Belfort. But he couldn’t have done so, if he did not very diligently analyse all the financial reports of Belfort’s company. It’s safe to say that AEGEE is not involved in any shady deals in the stock market as in the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’, however it’s still very necessary to have competent and diligent members to review AEGEE’s finances. One such members is Mateusz Muszalski of AEGEE-Kraków, who has already had the experience reviewing AEGEE’s finances, and is ready to give it his all.

The AEGEEan: Each person is like a tiny mystery, only so little is known of each of them.  Mateusz, what would you like people to know about you? 

Mateusz: I wouldn’t be surprised if many people imagine perfect auditor as a quiet, nerdy student of Mathematics or Finances… but probably I’m not that one. I’m a student of Mechatronics, who devotes a lot of his time to AEGEE. But that is not a full picture, I also have experience in international corporations and I really love to work as a trainer. Last year I run a marathon, lately I spend a lot of time with kids from dysfunctional families, taking part in programs which aims at giving them a fair start. And these are things that I’m also really proud of.

History is a series of momentous events with a nice conclusion at the end. What is your history with AEGEE? 

I’m in AEGEE since 2013, and after being engaged in almost every project of my antenna, I quickly become Vice-President of AEGEE-Kraków. In the board I was responsible for fundraising. It was a great year for me as I signed more than 60 sponsorship contracts and gained 16 grants. I learned a lot during that year. After that I was Marta’s Wnuk SubCommissioner, responsible for FR, and job shadower for the Audit Commission (AC).

People are like puzzle pieces. Why are you, and not anyone else, the missing piece of AEGEE’s  Audit Commission? 

The experience I gained while being the Job Shadower of the Audit Commission is priceless. I had a chance not only to observe the work through the mailing list and support the audit of the locals, but also to take part in the Audit Commission meetings and learn a lot about the finances of AEGEE-Europe. I believe this experience is such an asset in itself.

Bureaucracy is like a thick maze; each local has its own policies and many have different currencies. What do you think would be the most challenging aspects of being a member of the Audit Commission? 

I may sound a bit confident, but I’m pretty sure that the duties of the Audit Commission described in the CIA would not be a problem for me. Even if national accounting rules may differ,  I’m sure that with the support of the whole team of Commissioners and Job Shadowers we will manage every issue. And that’s why I want to do something more on this position. The biggest challenge for me would be reaching out to everyone who needs help in the accounting field. I hope that with my engagement, the AC could start creating a new image for this body. Not only as source of evaluation, but also of support.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

You can read his full candidature here.