Keeping in touch with - Eurocontrol Staff Association News
Transcription
Keeping in touch with - Eurocontrol Staff Association News
Where are they now... AIAE h t i w h c u o t n i g Keepin family r u o f o t r a p t n a t r o an imp The annual General Assembly of the AIAE (International Association of Former Officials of EUROCONTROL), held this year on 27 March, is an important event for former staff. Around 70 AIAE members made the journey to Brussels – not only from all over Belgium, but also from France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the UK – to take part in the day’s activities and to meet Agency experts in Europa. Alison Ralph, former Internal Communications Manager and now the Secretary of the AIAE Board of Governors, has sent us this ‘behind the scenes’ report. ‘You are the people who helped make EUROCONTROL what it is today – you are an important part of the EUROCONTROL Family…. we want you to continue to follow what is happening with your Organisation, to stay in touch with developments…’ Underlining this, the DG announced that the Agency has agreed to pay the first annual membership subscription for all staff members retiring. Time to celebrate – Guido Kerkhofs, Chairman of the AIAE Board of Governors, presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Herman Traas, thanking him for his dedication and hard work. Herman was a member of the Board of Governors for eight years and the Secretary of the Board for four years. 70 Joe Sultana explained why he felt it was important to give a presentation to the AIAE members: ‘Telling former colleagues about how things which they started or contributed to develop are evolving and progressing is something I feel obliged to do…being here today made me realise how much and how fast things are changing… these AIAE activities are a good way to keep in touch’. des Bolzoni: the AIAE, contact Merce on on ati orm inf r the For fur 729 3341 rocontrol.int or +32 2 mercedes.bolzoni@eu Enjoying a relaxing evening together and reminiscing in Le Moulin de Lindekemale Brigitte Anderson, retired 2015: ‘The AIAE is an excellent means to keep in touch with the Organisation for which I worked 40 years and to have regular updates of the activities and challenges the Organisation is facing. At the General Assembly, the Director General gave a nice and interesting account of where the Organisation is headed. The other presentations gave a clear explanation on the changes in the Rules and Regulations which are of particular interest to the pensioners. …the AIAE is important because it represents its members in committees such as the Sickness Fund Committee, defending and addressing our concerns and raising issues of interest… it ensures the link with the Organisation with which we all have been so closely involved, and last but certainly not least, it gives us the opportunity to meet up with former colleagues to renew the bond. ‘ Tom Brennan, retired in 2005: Paul Herbert, retired in 2001: ‘…As well as providing an excellent opportunity to hear presentations on many current topics made by experts in various fields, a highlight of the General Assembly is that it concludes each year with an Annual Dinner held in a Brussels restaurant. Needless to say, we all look forward to this function. It gives us an opportunity over a few beers to mix and share experiences with our past colleagues. It also gives us a chance to evaluate the present EUROCONTROL and to reminisce about how well things were done in our time!!! ‘Je suis devenu membre de l’AIAE dès mon départ à la retraite le 1 avril 2001 (mais oui déjà 14 ans...). Il m’a paru presque “naturel”, sinon important, de prolonger une longue période d’activité à l’Agence (du 15 mai 1973 au 31 mars 2001) par cette participation à l’Association. I would strongly recommend retired colleagues to join and keep up their membership of AIAE.” L’apport principal de cette journée annuelle est: - de garder le contact avec l’Agence et ses activités et constater une certaine continuité au delà des changements; - de replacer mon cas personnel dans un ensemble plus large et de “relativiser” mes problèmes; - et surtout de retrouver des collègues et amis dans une ambiance très conviviale. Evoquer le passé permet d’apprécier le présent et d’envisager l’avenir avec plus de sérénité. Autant de raisons d’aimer cet évènement annuel. ... l’Association est un excellent moyen de prolonger de bons souvenirs professionnels et humains. Adhérez dès votre départ pour une transition naturelle’. Insight magazine Summer 2015 71