It could not had a better start!

11 September 2008

The 12. EOA congress was opened in the city hall in the Czech city of Brno Thursday the 11. of September. 100 participants from all over Europe and also Lebanon and Israel heard the welcome cityhall Brnospeeches by the president of Czech Ilco prof Karel Rusin and representatives from various associations in Brno – including the president of the Cancer Union in the Czech Republic.

Arne Holte, president of EOA, on behalf of all the 42 associations within EOA, thanked Czech ILCO and the city of Brno for hosting the congress. From the personal side Arne expressed his relief for being in Brno. As he had struggled with a severe inflammation in his right hand for several weeks feared that would have stopped his travel from Norway. However his MD supplied him with a lot of penicillin and said, off you go! And so he did.

Before lunch Arne opened the exhibitions. Six companies were present. Arne presented them all and gave a beautiful rose to each to express his (and EOA’s) gratitude for having them present in Brno. Also Mary Quigley from WCET and EOA’s webmaster, Kes Klare, had booths in the exhibition area. So had also several national associations presenting their activity. Lunch was served in the exhibition area giving the exhibiters a great occasion to meet a lot of people.

Arne Holte opened the business meeting just after lunch remembering Tom Keilly, Heinz Wolff, Efim Krasner and Rita Silanos all valuable and dedicated persons for EOA. Those and also many more persons in EOA had passed away during the last period. The house of delegates rose for one minute to remember them all.

There were just a few minor comments to the CC’s report on the activities during the last four years. Also the treasurer’s report and accounts were accepted after just a couple of clarifying questions and answers. After a comment from Gerhard Englert from Deutsche ILCO, the budget will be revised in order to have a special budget for possible twinning projects as this will depend on contributions from the industry. The final accounts from the congress in Brno will be finalized in some weeks, but as it is to-day it seems like EOA will avoid using all the 12.000 euros that was decided used on the congress. Many kind contributions from member associations have made that possible.

During the business meeting there were short lectures From WCET’s Mary Quigley, ConvaTecs Katerina Krejcrova and also EOA’s webmaster, Kes Klare.

There was only one bid to host the next EOA congress which made the decision very easy. After an oral orientation from Inna Murtazina from Ukraine the decision was unanimous, the city of Lviv in Ukraine!

The elections will take place Saturday morning as there is to be a very exiting workshop on the future of EOA Friday afternoon. The outcome from this may have influence on the nominated officers final decision. However, Kes Klare was appointed (or more correct asked to be) webmaster for another period.

At the dinner in the congress hotel the former president of EOA, Vladimir Kleinwächter, received presents from EOA, from Arne Holte and from the Polish Ostomy Association. Vladimir received standing ovations – very much deserved!

A great day

12 September 2008

Friday the 12th of September 2008 was another great day for the more than 100 participants at the EOA congress in Brno in The Czech Republic. Most of the day there were a number of workshops and lectures - and what was very special, the Czech attendes, and there were a lot of them, had a special workshops were also attendees from Slovakia participated.

The first three lectures were initiated by ConvaTec, and we leared about the Czech ILCO and the conditions for ostomates in their country. We learned about The Amcare system in Uk and a lot more.

In a very valuable workshop on twinning IA -UK told the audience about their successful project in Romania, and a represenative from Romania gave her view on the great progress there had been since IA started the project. Also some other countries told about their twinning project. Together Sweden and Latvia told us about their cooperation which involved much less than the one IA was involved in. Nobody could however avoid seeing that the two girls (or maybe they prefer to be called ladies) really were friends, and those more close to them would probably see a tear or two in their eyes there they stood side by side on the podium. Also Mary Quigley from WCET told us about their twinning projects, and there are no doubt that WCET and EOA will cooperate better in the future.

There were even more twinning project presented, and afterwards more than one new possible twinning projects were dicussed between possible partners.

A very exiting workshop on the future of EOA was just that, exiting! There were reports from the EC meeting in Ljubliana in June, and very serious discussion on how EOA shall be in the future. The president gave a power point presentation were several options were shown with their plusses and minuses.

Among the more that 100 participants there were some really youngsters - and not only the 11 month girls from Hungary. The young ostomates from Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands and even more had their own workshop were one outcome was to have a young person appointed to the EOA CC - the coordination committe.

Those of you reading my next blog will see if their wish came thrue!

And the day was ended with a fantastic concert in a church - and also a "get-together-party" in a wine celler with Czech music and dances. No disco there!!!!!

 

Arne Holte re-elected

13 September 2008

Arne Holte from Norway (right on the picture) was re-elected president of European Ostomy Association (EOA) when the EOA congress continued Saturday. Also Ria Smeijers (middle) from The Netherlands was re-elected. New member of the EOA Coordination Committee is Guiseppe de Salvo (left) from FAIS Italy.

Just after the elections the new EC was presented to the congress, and just like in the big world there was an endless photo shooting. Not exactly like in Hollywood, but very close….

The House of Delegates approved that the Coordination Committee (CC) can appoint a number of persons to special tasks. Sunday the CC appointed Vladimir Kleinwächter (the IOA immediate past president) from The Czech Republic as liaison to East Europe and to the next EOA congress which will take place in Ukraine in 2011.

Maydad Gissin from Israel will work with the appliance situation in Europe and also be a liaison to the Cancer Union, in addition he will have a special responsibility in Turkey and the Middle East.
Photo ©Abdo Abi Raad

Daiga Skagale from Latvia will work with the young ostomates all over Europe, and she will be appointed from the EOA-CC to be EOA’s representative in the Focus 20/40 committee.

Maria Hass from Deutsche ILCO will still take care of the EOA contact office – and will also be the Nomination Officer in the next period.

Kes Klare from The Netherlands has agreed to go on with his good work as webmaster.

The House of Delegates discussed the EOA economy which is nothing to make any wave for. In order to improve the economy, it was agreed upon applying to all member associations to contribute with a small annual amount. The contribution has to be on a voluntary basis, and just after the congress a letter will be sent all member associations. The CC of course hopes for some contribution which will make the CC able to work harder for the benefit of ostomates in Europe.

Some associations have not paid their dues for some years. Even so, the CC, will not cut all connections to those. A letter whether asking if they still exist and still want to be a part of EOA – and also a reminder that they may apply to Maria Siegl’s Friendship Fund for paying their dues.

In order to get a view on the appliance situation in Europe, Maria Hass will make a simple-to-understand survey which will be sent all EOA associations. ILCO Sweden will do the summery.

The CC is not very happy with having another E-mail chain at the next WOD. Spammer may use the chain in order to get many e-mail addresses – and no-body really like to get a lot of spam.

Saturday after lunch the participants went for sightseeing in Southern Moravia – the Garden of Europe. At Lednice a castle with a great garden and also a small wine city Mikulov were visited. A great afternoon which nobody will forget!

At the closing dinner there were a lot of speeches. There was one for the ladies, one for the men – another for the young ostomates, one for the older ones. There was a short speech from the re-elected president and a “welcome-to Ukraine-speech” from Igor Buryy from Ukraine.

Sunday it was time to say goodbye. A lot of new friendships had been made and old friends had met again in a warm friendly atmosphere. During the three days EOA had taken several steps ahead.

I will thank to all the participants and the organizer, Czech ILCO, for a great congress.

Arne Holte, president EOA.

To read the official minutes CLICK HERE