What a week(end)!
NetAca meeting Brussels
Who would have thought that, when I proposed this meeting a couple of months ago, not only it would have encountered big enthusiasm, but it would have actually taken place, in such a short time?
13-14 August 2009, the first 'real' NetCom + Academy meeting outside Agorae I have notice of. We discussed the outcomes of the NetCom meeting related to training needs, coming up with a number of new projects.
The main ones: new concept for ES1, crowdsourcing database, regional trainings, renewing the pool of trainers, furthening the already established LTC coordination.
Academy Board Meeting Paris
Unexpectadly, last minute problems with lodging came up, so we all had to search for a plan B. My friends in Paris were all out of town, no clue who could host us. "The only thing that comes to my mind" - said my friend Giovanni - is an artists squat, but I don't know, the level of cleanness was not properly fabulous, as far as I remember...". No precarious hygenic conditions whatsoever can scare out a CD house habitue', I thought, and got in touch with 'the artists'. Not only they accepted to host me, but extended the invitation to all of us. What a surprise, when we had a room dedicated to us (with AEGEE on the door!), when the last floor had a huge (former) conference room which we used for the meeting, when the terrace on the roof opened itself to Paris and the stars.
And yes, we did also work, a lot.
It's incredible to witness this whole new stream of openness and cooperation built throughout the year, but most of all in the last months. It feels like finally we are all on the same line - assessing what our members need and how are we going to provide the knowledge to them comes so natural and easy.
the Squat
But let me spend a couple of words on our lovely lodging place and the people who hosted us.
Since, if I am inspired as I am now, I owe it to them as well.
Kinda - the violinist, singing along with her on the bridges of the Seine remains my most liberating experience of the weekend
Tom - the IT artist, who built the infrastracture and connected to squat to the outer world (and thus with us as well)
Nathan - who walks on the wire (not that high - he says - only 10 meters from the ground)
the White Bearded Man - who "was born 82 years ago in Brooklyn, and from then it's a long story..."
And Soraya, and Merat, and the Lady Writer... - to you all guys, an enormous thank you!
