During Agora, some people are meant to be in charge of conducting the sessions, giving the timetable, taking minutes and solving any possible problem with the IT infrastructure. They are the Chair Team: Chairperson (Marta Wnuk), vice-Chairperson (Erika Bettin), Secretary (Gabriela Geană) and IT (Jani Dugonik). They have been recently selected to prepare and manage Spring Agora Enschede 2017, and The AEGEEan interviewed them for you. 

Marta Wnuk – Chairperson

The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself

Marta: I am a member of AEGEE since 2012. I have been active locally in AEGEE-Poznań and AEGEE-Warszawa. Then I became the Content Manager of the Eastern Partnership Project and a Network Commissioner for locals in Poland and in Ukraine.  Recently, I had the opportunity to work on Statutory Events as Vice-Chairperson.

Erika: I am a member of AEGEE since 2011, back then joining AEGEE-Venezia and now I am a member of AEGEE-Verona. I have been part of some team, but my most relevant activity was being Editor- In -Chief of both The AEGEEan and Key to Europe. Speaking about the work of Chair Team, I have been job shadower for Autumn Agora Cagliari, secretary assistant in three Agoras and chaired two prytannia in Autumn Agora Chisinau.

Gabriela: Hello, my name is Gabriela Geană and I am from AEGEE-București. I am 24 and recently employed, I also graduated Communication and PR Faculty, a field which I am really interested to find out more about. I joined AEGEE in autumn 2011 and ever since I have been an active member both in my local and on the European level. I am currently a member of the Public Relations Committee and former journalist for the AEGEEan magazine, which I am really proud of having been a part. I love cats, good movies of all kinds, people who can make me smile, the little things in life. [she smiles, ed.]

Jani: Hello, my name is Jani and I have been an official member for two years and a board member as a representative for IT. I graduated in Computer Science and Information Technology, and currently working at the university as a researcher and teaching assistant. Also, I am in several associations as a board member (IT, disciplinary board,…). I love animals, travelling, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, and having fun with my friends.

Erika Bettin – Vice-Chairperson

Why did you decide to apply for the Chair Team?

Marta: Chairing a statutory event is both exciting and demanding task. It is a unique experience that teaches a lot and gives a lot of satisfaction. Each Agora is a challenge. Moreover, I realised I am willing to take up this challenge once again. At the same time, I wanted to assure continuity of the Chair Team’s work to make sure that Agora is handled in the best possible way.

Erika: Because I wanted to be part of the team for some time. I always loved the Agora, even if the sentiment was not always mutual, and I have been fascinated by the work of Chair Team.

Gabriela: I decided to apply to the Secretary of the Agora because I always thought I can do more in AEGEE and learn a lot at the same time. I was also thinking of this job before applying to the secretary of the agora, but I felt it was not the right time for me then. This time I did not hesitate, I took the opportunity and applied. It will be challenging, but definitely worthwhile.

Jani: I was always interested in organising conferences and other events. Also, I love challenges and Agora is certainly one of them.

Marta, a second term is in front of you. What will your major challenge be?

Gabriela Geană – Secretary of the Agora

The motto of the Chair Team should be “expect the unexpected”. In other words, the challenge always is to handle the unexpected situation that may occur during the Agora. The challenge is to make fast, accurate decisions that are in line with rules and procedures and which lead to quick resolutions taking all the involved factors into account. Everything else is a matter of a good preparation.

Erika, what will your contribution to the team be?

For now, I already created the hashtag #blueeyedchairteam. What undoubtful contribution, right? [she smiles, ed.] Jokes apart, I hope to bring some ideas that I have for the team and for the agenda. The lack of time is a well-known enemy in our statutory event, so I hope that we will manage to fit everything.

Gabriela, how important are minutes for our association?

Minutes are essential, as they are one of the main sources of information during the Agora, not only to people where the information reaches but also to the people who deliver it. Minutes are messages delivered to the people we want to reach and a constant source of information for all of us at Agora.

How do you envision the cooperation with your fellow Chair Team members?

Erika: For now the cooperation is going well. We all have been members of this association for quite some time and we lived the Agora in different roles: delegates, visitors, envoys, organisers, that I am sure it will bring some different perspectives. We will have the chance to do some team building in Brussel when we will meet in person, in order to be a perfect oiled machine in Enschede.

In Agora Enschede, what is the thing you are most looking forward to?

Marta: The Opening Plenary, I would say. The beginning of the Agora is always a big moment that is a transition point between preparations and the Agora itself. It is a great feeling after the months of preparations to seat finally behind the Chair table with the whole team and take up the challenge of chairing.

Jani Dugonik – IT responsible

Erika: An Agora in Enschede is said to be legendary. I have heard so much about Spring Agora Enschede 2012, that now I am dying out of curiosity to finally taste the touch of the Dutch local at first hand. Needless to say that the thing I am most looking forward to is the very first plenary when all our preparatory work will see the light and the chairing part will start.

Gabriela: The thing I am most looking forward to of the Agora is seeing my friends again, of course. Agora is the best event to meet again with all of your friends or at least a part of them and catch up. I am also looking forward to being on the other side of the table and learning valuable things.

Jani: I am looking to gain even more experience in the IT field as well as in organising such big events and teamwork.

Written by Federica Soro, AEGEE-Cagliari

Most of you, during the Agora, watch the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson preside over the meeting. But how about the Secretary of the Agora? The only thing people witness of him/her, is them typing during the Agora, but being Secretary of the Agora has some privileges!

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1. You are in the spotlight.
Together with the rest of the Chair Team, you are the centre of the attention for a couple of days. You are the one who creates and revise the agenda. So, when people have questions or what to change something, they will come to your table and ask you for assistance.

2. You cannot miss a Plenary.
You are on stage during (almost) all Plenaries, cause it’s kind of your duty to record all the minutes of the Agora. But, if it’s your thing, you have the added benefit of not having to speak. Speaking of standing in the centre of a spotlight, sometimes they literally shine too brightly onto the stage. Luckily, that’s just an opportunity to put on some cool shades.

3. You can skip the queues for meals.
This might sound like something form George Orwell’s Animal Farm: ‘all AEGEEans are equal, but the Chair Team is a bit more equal than others’, but it actually has an important function. As a Secretary of the Agora, you have to be present at a Prytanium before it even starts, and since queuing up for food might take forever, you might not be able to finish you meal, or not have any food at all. Therefore, it becomes sort of necessary to queue barge… sorry, hopefully everyone can understand.

4. You have your own assistants.

You may be important, but you’re not all-powerful. During the Prytania slots, there are three parallel sessions and it is impossible to cover them alone. That’s why you need assistants to help you during the Agora. Also, after the Agora the assistants need to finish their sessions and you might need some proofreaders to help you. Thanks you guys!

5. You have internet access most of the times.

The internet is pretty great; the U.N. even deemed it a basic human necessity. However, while some people will even ask you for the WiFi-password for… personal things, you need an internet connection to access the agenda, which might change considerably during an Agora. You also need the internet to constantly communicate with the rest of the Chair Team and with your assistants. It’s kind of an important tool for chaos prevention; the internet, to a secretary, it’s more than just Tumblr.

6. You know everything that happened during the Agora.

You have recordings, and sometimes video footage, of all the Plenaries and Prytania.
After the Agora, can listen to the recordings or watch the videos in order to deliver accurate minutes of the Agora. You know, for everyone who doesn’t have the photographic memory of BBC’s Sherlock.

7. You don’t  pay the Agora fee.
Also, after you deliver the minutes, you get reimbursed for your trip. A lovely ‘thank you’ for doing a nice, good job.

If you are interested, you can apply for Secretary of Agora Chişinău till the 20th of June.

Written by Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Kastoria/Sofia

Active member of the Culture Working Group, Agora responsible for the Election Observation project, Editor for the AEGEEan and co-Editor-in-Chief of the Key to Europe 2013-2014, but also terrified by clowns and mangos, Erika (AEGEE-Venezia) is one of the candidates for the position of Chairperson for the next term. The AEGEEan met her to ask her few questions to know more about her and her plans.

The AEGEEan: Tell us about Erika in few words. What we don’t know about you?

Erika: Well, let’s see. I grew up in the Venetian countryside walking barefoot half of the year. I’m a Gemini, which is a cool zodiac sign, but, since it’s a double sign, the horoscope is particularly bipolar. I’m often referring to myself in third person using my surname instead of my name. I am absolutely terrified by clowns and I strongly believe mango is an evil fruit.

What brings you to run for the position of Chairperson?

The belief I can do the job. The Agora is the ultimate AEGEE experience, it is something we look forward to for six months and we are already speaking about the next one when the current is not yet finished. What could be better than being part of its organisation? Speaking with former Chairpersons, reading minutes from past
Agorae and reading the Corpus Iuridicum Aegeense (CIA) were a boost for me to run. During the Chair Meeting in Brussels, any doubt I may have had disappeared. I trust my feelings and during those three days I was feeling at the right place at the right time.

What do you think are Chair responsibilities for the Agora?

Chairing the Agora, of course. But what the participants see during three days is just the top of the iceberg because the preparation for an Agora already starts months before. Open Calls have to be issued, participants have to be carefully selected and all mails answered. The team is important because you have to work not only with the Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and IT assistant, but also with the Local Organisers, Secretary General of the Comité Directeur and Juridical Commission. Therefore a good communication and good cooperation is the key to deliver a good job. Last but not least: drafting the agenda. It’s a compelling process where you have to take into account several variables like requests from the Network, but at the same time you also have to make sure you allocate enough time for presentations and discussions. It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces have to fit perfectly together with enough room for changes.

What’s the role you expect the Chair to have during EPMs?

The Chair presides over the EPM and s/he has to make sure everything goes smoothly according to the agenda. The content of an EPM is decided by the Comité Directeur and the Content Manager and the role of the Chair is marginal, but we  can still give our contribution to the organisational part of the event, for example by  issuing Open Calls for participants and setting a good timeline.

Did you already have similar experiences in chairing? And in team leading?

I chaired and presented several events, especially thanks to my works as journalist and radio host, and discussions, including some Agora simulation in NWMs. As for leading a team, I was in charge of several teams in and outside AEGEE. The past half year I was the Editor-in-Chief for Key to Europe 2013-2014. Along with Svenja van der Tol (AEGEE-Nijmegen), I was in charge of a team of 15 people, while we also coordinated all the externals who contributed to our annual publication. I was also the team leader of a group of six people reporting live from Venice International Film Festival.

Chairing the Agora means a lot of work before the Agora, with a long term planning and a lot of last minute changes. How much time do you think you will be able to dedicate to your position if you will be elected?

All the time it requires. I put Chair Team on the top of my priorities list. Moreover, I
have a very flexible schedule at work and I can organize my time as I prefer (as long as I deliver my job properly), so there are no obstacles in terms of overlapping. Plus, I spend most probably 18 hours a day in front of my laptop and when I don’t, I have internet on my phone which means I’m available 24/7, and who works with me knows that I can answer mail at any hours.

In your program you wrote you would like to introduce the concept of Agora Debate. What is it about?

This idea came to my mind in Patra while discussing Agora reform in one of the Progress Meetings. We often say there is not enough time for people to present themselves and for delegate to ask questions, so I was thinking: what if we introduce Agora Debate? As I imagine it, it would be similar to Oxford debate, with a given motion and two teams (one in favour and one against) discussing it. Each candidate is running by him/herself, but after all s/he will have to work in a team too, so it could be interesting to see how they interact with each other on a common topic. I think it could be more engaging for delegates and participants to see candidates in another environment expressing their ideas in a more developed way.

How would you like to help participants to be more prepared for statutory events (besides the Agora for dummies?)

Agora for dummies is important, because it introduces delegates to the Agora. The fact that it is translated in several languages helps those people that have trouble with English, but it’s of course not enough. Hangouts with the Chair team would be another good tool to explain what an Agora is and to answer questions. However, the biggest amount of work needed to prepare participants has to be done by locals, although I think the Chair Team should be there to help them whenever possible. Reaching out to almost 200 locals is very complicated, so I think that a good cooperation with the Network Commission is indispensable since NetCommies have a good overview of locals. Several NWMs already have a session to prepare participants for Agorae and, even if it’s not mandatory, it is a precious tool for discussions.

You already have different positions in AEGEE (People Editor for the AEGEEan, Agora Responsible for the Election Observation Project); in case you will be elected how will you manage to carry on so many different activities?

In The AEGEEan we will have elections after the Agora and in case I’m elected I won’t take any board position, but I will stay on as a regular journalist. The Election Observation Project is very dear to my heart because we put a lot of efforts into it in the past year and in Cagliari we will finally sign the contract. Agora Responsible is an appointed task and I do not think I will be appointed again if I’m elected as Chair Team, but having me in the Chair Team will definitely help in terms of communication and future observation missions during the Agora. In both cases I am sure that with a good knowledge transfer and motivation, we will find someone to take over my tasks. I am lucky to be in those teams because they are composed by phenomenal people willing to work and do their best. I will stay active in both projects, and in the Culture Working Group as well, because I firmly believe that projects and working groups need active members, not only board members, so I will keep on giving my contribution to the cause, whenever it’s possible.

What will you do in case you won’t be elected?

First of all I will take some time to recollect myself, then I will let myself have the best European Night ever. Once the Agora is over I will start again. As you said before, I’m involved in some other projects and it is my intention to work in them for the next year or so. Definitely I won’t finish my life in AEGEE abruptly after Agora Cagliari. We always say that our organization is the land of opportunities and you never know what the future holds for you.

Sometimes Agorae are long and discussions may distract (not to say bore) a part of the audience. When this happens, usually people in the plenary room start talking or, even worse, sleeping. What would you do if this happens during the plenary you are chairing?

If people are talking it could be for two reasons. The first one is because participants are discussing the topic with each other. If this is the case, I would invite those people to take the stage to share their thoughts because it may be an additional point of view in the discussion. The second reason is because they are bored or sleeping, in which case I would suggest an energiser! Sometimes destressing for a little bit can help to get focus back; moreover, it happens that we are so overwhelmed by the fact we can reunite with old friends that we want to party and talk all night long, not thinking about the morning after when we have plenaries again. If nothing else works, I can always start singing and that attempt is going to be successful since I’m probably the worst singer in the world. The audience will pray for me to stop [she laughs].

And now a question that came from the Network:

It is not the first time you candidate for this position. What has changed since you have ran for the first time? Why should people vote for you this time?

What changed in one year? I changed. A lot. One of the main points of AEGEE is self
development and I guess that with me it worked [she laughs]. This year I focused on what I love, taking my goals into consideration. I reflected a lot on my skills and the possibility of running one more time. It was a slow process that made me aware of some mistakes I’ve done in the past and the development of my strenghts. Why should people vote for me in Cagliari? Because all the experiences I’ve had so far made me acquire a deep knowledge of the Network and being a Chair Team Job Shadower gave me valuable insights into the work a Chairperson should perform.

Which are the characteristics (personal and professional) the Chairperson should have? Do you honestly see yourself in this role?

I am very fair, objective and partial. This is one of the things that I like to bring from my professional life into AEGEE, no matter of the project. I think these are the core qualities of a good Chairperson too. According to my vision, the Chair Team has, among others, the goal to serve the Network and let the Network decide by itself without influencing their decision. Moreover, I think a Chairperson should have excellent crisis management skills because last minute decisions and problems are always around the corner. So, coming back to your question: yes, I see myself in this role!

Written by Alfredo Sellitti, AEGEE-Salerno

Active member on local level, Member of the Mediation Commission, Tom (AEGEE-Enschede) is one of the candidates for the position of Chairperson for the next term. The AEGEEan met him to ask him few questions to know more about him and his plans.

The AEGEEan: Tell us about Tom in few words. What we don’t know about you?

Tom: hm, you’re starting with the hardest question, you may not know that I lived abroad twice, but never in another European country.

What brings you to run for the position of Chairperson?

After being an active member on the local level for several years, I started to become active on European level. In Agora Zaragoza I ran for MedCom, and after spending a year working with much pleasure in this team, I wanted to remain active on the European level. To ensure I would be motivated enough to spend a year in a certain position, I needed a position which I would find challenging. Chair seemed like a prefect next step and the fact that my study schedule allowed this was of course an added bonus.

What do you think are Chair responsibilities for the Agora?

There is of course the visible part, chairing plenaries and prytania at the Agora/EPM, and then there is the work that goes on behind the scenes. There is the communication with CD, with local organizers, participant selection, etc.

What’s the role you expect the Chair to have during EPMs?

The way it is now, the Chair doesn’t have an as big a role as during the Agora. However there are a lot of discussions taking place during EPM where, in my opinion, the capacities of the Chair can be used to a fuller extent.

Did you already have similar experiences in chairing? And in team leading?

I have chaired several Board meetings, a Nedertop, and was moderator in several discussions during my studies. I also have experience in team leading, I have been speaker of several local committees and project teams.

Chairing the Agora means a lot of work before the Agora, with a long term planning and full of last minute changes. How much time you think you will be able to dedicate to your position if you will be elected?

Because of changes in my countries study policy, I will have this entire year to finish my bachelor before I can start my master, even though I only need a few more subjects. This means that for the spring Agora and EPM, I will have a lot of time to prepare for both events. The Autumn Agora is held in the beginning of the next academic year, so I’m sure I will be able to make time for this important task.

How do you think you will balance the need for allowing all opinions to be heard and respecting the timeline of the Agora?

It is always hard to make sure all opinions get heard in the amount of time there is available, however I hope to be able to cut off the discussion when people start repeating opinions which have already been said.

In your program you wrote about a fair selection of participants. Do you think the selection as done so far is to be improved or it has been fair enough? And in case yes, how can you improve it?

There was an incident last year where the chair selected participants based solely on their motivation letters instead of the order the local boards put them in, which caused some controversy in the network. Afterwards the selection procedure changed to keep room for the motivation letters, but to include board comments in the selection. This would be implemented afterwards for Agora Patra, however there were too few participants to actually test this system. So the actual test is still to come and I want to make sure this happens properly.

How would you like to help participants to be more prepared for statutory events (besides the Agora for dummies?)

Communication mostly. Communicating with participants so they can be prepared by reading the booklets, communicating with candidates so they will know what to prepare, etc.

What will you do in case you won’t be elected?

I’m not sure yet, I will have to find something else to keep me busy.

Sometimes Agorae are long and discussions may distract (not to say bore) part of the audience. When this happens, usually people in the plenary room start talking or, even worst, sleeping. What would you do if this happens during the plenary you are chairing?

Unfortunately, I don’t expect to be able to keep everyone awake, I think this is (unfortunately) an unrealistic goal. Talking people however are more disruptive to the people who do want to pay attention, and I do expect the be able to keep them quiet during the plenaries.

And now a question that came from the Network:

Which are the characteristics (personal and professional) the Chairperson should have? Do you honestly see yourself in this role? 

In my opinion the characteristics described above cover the Chair quite accurately. A lot of those characteristics are also required in being a member of the Mediation Comission, so I have some experience with that. Even though I of course have an opinion about certain subjects, as every long time member would have, I have always seen myself as an objective person, being able to treat people the same in similar circumstances, and a year working as a MedCommie, I have expanded those characteristics and gained more experience doing exactly what is described above. I have been an active member since 2010 and have visited 8 Agorae/EBMs (Cagliari will be my 9th) out of which one was in my home city of Enschede, where I saw the organisation of an Agora up close.

So I dare to say that I do have thourough knowledge of AEGEE and the Agora/EBM to hold this position

Written by Alfredo Sellitti, AEGEE-Salerno

Time for Agora Cagliari, time for new candidates. Today we are meeting Andrea Ugrinoska (AEGEE-Skopje), who is running for the position of Chairperson at the upcoming Autumn Agora 2014. Former Human Resources responsible and current president of her antenna, Andrea considers herself as a hard-working and reliable person, who gives her contribution and energy both on the local and on the European level by working actively on relevant projects: Y Vote 2014, Health4Youth and Democracy in Practice. Check this out and see if she is the right person for this position.

The AEGEEan: Can you tell our readers who Andrea Ugrinoska actually is?

Andrea: A very enthusiastic and hard-working girl with lots of ideas for improving things. A person who loves what she does, and loves the people she works with! Someone who knows how to laugh hard on a good joke, but sit at the table and work at the same time. Andrea, dear Network, will stay positive in the hardest of times. At the end, you can imagine Andrea as a wax figure that can adapt anywhere according to its environment.

What is your experience in AEGEE-Skopje?

Currently I am the president of my antenna, and before that I was HR responsible. I have been present in many local activities, as well as main coordinator of a pre-event for Agora Patra and organizer of our Summer University. We are currently organising a Local Training Course that will take place in a few days. Besides that, we are also preparing the upcoming NWM SkopYEAH Vol. 2. The local level is very dear to me, especially because I have an amazing hard-working team that supports me. In my reasonable mind, one should not rush away to help things out on the  European level, without contributing to its origins, meaning the Local level.

What about your engagement with the European level?

I would lie if I say that I haven’t been sneak-peeking in the European level since the very beginning, but I always felt this responsibility of contributing to my local as much as possible, and then aim a bit higher. However, I am quite satisfied with my engagement in the European level as well, as I have worked in some projects (Y Vote 2014, Health4Youth and Democracy in Practice). Besides projects, I am also a subcommissioner, making sure that the communication between the locals and the European level is fluent.

And here is a question from our readers: You hold many European level positions so far, how will this affect you, if elected, in terms of time management?

The truth is that half of my positions will end by the time I would start my term as Chairperson, or very soon after that. However, I have been a professional snowboard athlete since I was 12, meaning that I was travelling every two weeks for training, and still managed to finish high school at the top of my class and become a European champion too. Even though it may look like I am extremely bragging about myself, my point here is to emphasize my strong time management skills. If there is one thing I am not worried about, that is managing my time. I am aware that the Chairperson position is not something to be underestimated, and I am well prepared to invest all my time there.

Why did you decide to run for the position of Chairperson in the upcoming Agora in Cagliari?

I believe that AEGEE is a very powerful Network, which has a strong influence on youth and stakeholders nowadays. This is for sure a result of the strong visions that previous and current people in AEGEE have, but another fact responsible for this great development is that we have two General Assemblies per year. These meetings help the Network to discuss on relevant topics, share activities that have been done before, and question their professionalism and impact, therefore pushing the organisation to its limits. That is why these Assemblies deserve a lot of attention and commitment to improve them every year, as it has been done before. Putting everything that I have said so far together, it is very easy to see my motivation to contribute as much as possible for an Agora or European Planning Meeting where every member (old or new) will feel like home. A place where everyone will feel comfortable to propose, to question, to get more involved. A place where new potentials will be born and motivated, and old ones will be even more stimulated. I believe I have a lot of ideas, and I am very motivated into joining the Chair Team for contribution to these strong powerful meetings.

Another question from a member of our Network: You have only attended one Agora so far. Wouldn’t this be an inconvenient for you? And how have you “been introduced to the CIA” [Corpus Iuridicum Aegeense]?

Thanks for the question. When I say being introduced to the CIA, I mean (as the word explains itself) that I got to know the CIA very good. I read it a couple of times, patiently, step by step clarifying all its points, understanding the core laws of our organisation. Therefore, if elected, I would fully support and cooperate with the Juridical Commission. Of course, I can never be as introduced with the CIA as the JC, but in function of having a smoother Agora, I believe that the Chairperson should understand these basic principles too. When it comes to my experience, I think there is one common trend in AEGEE: we sometimes like to measure experience in quantity, rather than in quality. This is a student youth organisation, so our time is a bit limited, and talking in terms of experience here is something very relative and unstable. First of all, we are here to learn, not to measure the number of events and conferences we have attended, and make lists of who is better. We come here all equal, and seek same opportunities, and the fact that some of us had exams at the same time the Agorae were happening, or the destinations were really impossible for us to reach, should not be a key point into measuring a person’s motivation and willingness for contribution. It is true that the CIA offers some safety measures for candidates, which I absolutely fulfill, and sometimes I find it pointless to search stubbornly for more. Let me not even mention the amazing mechanism our organisation offers, such as “Minutes”, “Online Streaming”, “Booklets”, “Live Reporting”, which allow AEGEEans that are not able for any reason to be present physically on the Agora, to still participate fully.
So back to the answer, no, I do not think in any way that being a delegate at Agora, present at EBM, President of a local and overviewing locally an organisation of an Agora is anyhow inconvenient for me.

Question from our readers: Which are the characteristics (personal and professional) should the Chairperson have? Do you honestly see yourself in this role?

Well, I would not be running for Chairperson if I did not see myself in this role, would I? But thanks for the question, and when it comes to the characteristics I would say very formally speaking the role of the Chairperson is to facilitate, to contribute to a good organisation, to cooperate with relevant bodies in AEGEE, to make the Agenda, to choose participants and to make sure that Agorae and EPMs are comfortable, challenging, limit-pushing meetings for our Network. If I would speak informally then I would say that for sure this person needs to be well-organised. This person should also be very objective, not to let any personal preferences influence some of the judgments which need to be made. They should be prepared for a lot of stress, ready to solve problems in the same minute they appear. Be calm and full of understanding for the Network’s needs.

My decision to run for the election did not appear out of nowhere. It was a well-informed choice which was being built through reading, sharing opinions, and practicing. So yes, I honestly see myself in this role.

Did you ever have the opportunity to gain experience in this field?

Yes, I have had this chance many times, as whenever there was an open space to chair meetings of any kind, I was the first one to do it. I have been President during a Parliament simulation, I have chaired many local AEGEE meetings. Besides this, I have been handling focus groups in my university studies, which means that I was the main facilitator of interviews on different topics among small groups of people. Everytime I find myself on these positions, I am reassured how much I love it, and at the end of the day, I believe this is something to start with.

Surprise our readers. Why do you think you are the right person for this position?

At the end of the day, what we really want to see behind the Chair Team table is someone who will assure us that no matter how many complications were born in the meantime, things will get back on track right away. We want someone who understands the needs of the Network, who appreciates the questions of the people, and values their contribution as such. We want a person who is patient and calm, managing to stimulate the Network to participate. We want someone enthusiastic and excited about their position, someone who loves and appreciates sitting behind the table, never misusing the power that the Network gave them. A Chairperson is not a judge, king or God. A true Chairperson is the one who is grateful for its Network’s trust, and understands that s/he is here to facilitate and make the whole process smoother. Back to the question. I am the right person, because I am truly in love with the work of the Chairperson.

Written by Larisa Smajlagic, AEGEE-Verona

Member of the Month March is… Fotis Pastrakis, the new IT of the Chair Team, member of AEGEE-Kastoria for more than one year and he is so far exremely active!

 Can you tell us about yourself and your experience in AEGEE? How did you join AEGEE?

I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, my beloved hometown, until my footsteps brought me to Kastoria and university. As a realist and a person quite concerned about the world (politically, socially, etc.), AEGEE seemed to be ideal for me. It took me almost one year of thinking it through and discussing with people who were already in AEGEE, to decide if I really want to join and be active in the association. So when I finally joined AEGEE Kastoria, I was almost directly placed as IT responsible of the local board and started to build a network of connections with other people after sometime. If AEGEE was a program (like the ones in object-oriented programming), the objects for me would be people to meet, places to travel, cultural exchange and ideas which are worth further development.

What is motivating  for you? Is there a person who inspires you?

Motivating? What is more motivating than life itself? Nothing motivates me better than myself and nothing can motivate anyone better than themselves. I really don’t know by whom I am inspired, but I believe in the analysis of human psychology. Philosophy and poetry are some things which I am keen on. Nietzsche and Kariotakis have inspired me a lot, in general, but they are not the only ones.

What motivated you to apply for the Chair Team?

A strong appetite for knowledge. I am still a newbie(or I feel like this) in AEGEE, but as most of the stuff I am involved in, I  face it as a challenge. When I saw the qualifications for this place, I thought I had most of them and the ones I didn’t have, would be a great way (maybe a tough one, too) to obtain them. After all, the whole process of organizing an Agora is a great experience which I have to gain.

What else are you doing in AEGEE?

I am the IT of my local board, member of Culture Working Group, designer in the Public Relations Committee, member of Information Technology Committee and member of myAEGEE Team.

What are you doing at myAEGEE Team?

We administrate the system of all intranet accounts, answer to e-mails and mostly helping members in case they have some problem with their accounts.

What do you do apart from AEGEE? Studies? Work?

I am in the fourth year of my studies at the Technological Institute of Western Macedonia in the field of IT. Apart from my field and the time I dedicate on it, I am involved with beatmaking, lyrics, photography and volunteering. I am not working right now, but I have done several part-time jobs before, not only associated with computers. I think AEGEE is a great gateway to get ready for the labor market from a strange point of view. AEGEE has so many aspects that anyone can take advantage of.  For his own good, but for others, as well.

Recently, you and the rest of the Chair Team had a meeting at Brussels. How was it? Are you ready to work together for Patra?

The meeting was awesome, if someone could describe a preparation meeting for an Agora as awesome. The meeting took a long time  but it was quite interesting. Maybe I was not that talkative, but it was the best knowledge transfer for me, in order to get ready for my position in Agora Patra.

I already had met Miljana in Belgrade so we were a bit connected and, since we are both from the Balkans, we have a special way of communicating. Alberto and Paul were very friendly and have helped us a lot.

Written by Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Sofia/AEGEE-Kastoria

She is a well-known face in AEGEE, she was the driving force behind three statutory events, and she is known for her quote “I love typing!” Despite the fact that she had to overcome some difficulties during her term, she kept working hard and stayed positive, which shows her great dedication to AEGEE. This month Sygrit Andringa (AEGEE-Groningen), former Secretary of the Agora/European Boards’ Meeting (EBM), looks back on her term and shares her experiences. 

The AEGEEan: What was your motivation to run for the position of Secretary of the Agora in Struga? 

Sygrit: After enjoying AEGEE for quite a while, travelling all over Europe, being a board member of AEGEE-Groningen and different local committees I felt it was time to give back to AEGEE. In Struga I was Yvonne Antonovic’s assistant secretary, but she had already convinced me, or let us say begged politely before to run for Secretary of the Agora/EBM. Since I liked typing,  I liked the Agora and I thought it would be interesting to see it from another point of view and contribute a bit to the organisational aspect of AEGEE, I decided to do so.

The only thing people see is you are typing a lot on stage during the Agora. Tell us a bit about the work of the Secretary of the Agora. What were your tasks?

Officially it is mainly typing at the Agora of course, but in practice it is a lot more. As a Chair Team member you help with the preparation phase. In my term I got the chance to contribute quite a lot to the team and to do a lot of different tasks. Furthermore, as Secretary of the Agora you make sure that the minutes are delivered, and you make sure that you have enough secretary assistants. Also, you are usually the AEGEE fair responsible on behalf of the Chair Team. And of course at the Agora itself you are cooperating with other members of the team. You are trying to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, in cooperation with the Juridical Commission (JC), the Comité Directeur (CD) and the local organizers. And after the ‘fun’ part of the Agora begins, you need to work out the minutes. It is not something I particularly like, but all the other work and experiences from the Chair Team make up for it.

Can you tell us a bit about the teamwork in the Chair Team, and about your motivation to run for the position of the Secretary again at Agora Enschede? 

All teams gave me a lot of great, fun, memorable moments, but of course, as in most teams, also some moments that were not so fun. But it was all worth it in the end! I decided to run again because I felt my work was not done yet. After the first term you feel that you know how things work, but then it feels strange to end it already, also because the rest of the team was elected for the whole year, and I was elected for half of the year. I did not want to leave them yet and felt I could contribute to the team a lot and that they needed me. I do of course wish we could have continued with the first team, but due to some issues this was not really possible. However I am very happy I got to finish this term in a great way in the end with the interim-Chair Team Mariella Rapa, Thomas Leszke and Alberto Cuesta Noriega!

After Agora Enschede, at some point you were the only official member left in the Chair Team. How did you manage to get all the work done?

Yes, at times I was the only official member in the team. Sometimes it was quite a challenge to get the work done, but I did my best. What kept me going is that I wanted this Agora to take place, no matter what happened, and prepare it the best way possible. I got the chance to do things and tasks I otherwise as a Secretary never would have been able to do. There were times where I did the tasks of the Secretary, Chair person and IT at the same time, but I am glad I did not have to chair, which is the only thing I would not have liked to do. So thankfully Mariella and Thomas did that, and Alberto was there to make sure the IT aspect of the Agora went smoothly. I was more or less guiding the team, since I was the person that was there all the time and was most up-to-date on what was going on. It felt strange sometimes, but it was also something I actually liked to do.

How do you look back on your time as Secretary of the Agora? 

Very positive overall. Of course, there were some troubles. You work hard and cannot enjoy the Agora in the way the others do, which can be frustrating – not being able to see your friends, meet people or party as much as the others do, but you get so much in return and you get to see the Agora and EBM from the other side. I will surely remember the amazing Chair meeting and Local Training Course (LTC)  in Cagliari with Ermanno Napolitano, Mariella Rapa and Alma Mozgovaja. Dancing and singing in the plenary room with the Chair Team in between sessions at the EBM in Izmir. The lovely pink rooms we had in Izmir and Enschede. Who run the world? Girls! The funny jokes from all team members, Ilija Bojchovikj (the IT-assistant)’s obsession with Dutch cows, organisers taking great care of us and bringing us food and drinks. Being elected at the Agora in Struga, the pre-event before Izmir with the whole Chair Team Ermanno, Ilija, Yvonne and Mariella. Having some free time during Agora Budapest somehow.

But also the moments when my hands were too swollen to type. The emails that never stopped coming. The nights where we were working in the middle of the night trying to fix the agenda again, counting votes until very late, while the others were partying. But still we did our best to party hard and enjoy the Agora, and I think we succeeded quite well. Working together with everyone and then seeing that together you made it happen, seeing happy participants and organizers. And one of the things we really loved as Chair Team was watching the whole plenary dancing and jumping up and down.

So all in all it was a great experience. I will miss not being able to see the Agora from the stage but I am also glad that when I finish the minutes, I will be able to sit in the audience and can finally speak again. And of course it felt great to get a standing ovation at the end of Agora Budapest! Thanks guys! And thank you Chair Team members Yvonne Antonovic, Ilija Bojchovikj, Mariella Rapa, Alma Mozgovaja, Robert Martínez-Carrasco, Alberto, Thomas Leszke and Lucille Rieux, and JC-ans Ermanno Napolitano, Atanas Nachkov and Denise Zonnebeld, JC Subcommies, Marleen Dijkhoff, Alla Resheten, organizers and all the others for the great moments and the opportunity to work together!

Written by Marije Arentze, AEGEE-Leiden

Photos are kindly provided by Sygrit Andringa, AEGEE-Groningen and Dasha Onokhova, AEGEE-Moskva