2007

The Network Newsletter January 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter Au t h o r : J a c q u l i e n H u i s m a n Dear Networkers, Happy New Year to all! I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and New Year. Of course the 15th Anniversary of The Network kicked off the holiday season rather well for many of us. It was a lovely evening first at the Mudam and then at The Philharmonie restaurant; thanks to Viviane for organising the evening so well. Many thanks also to all who managed to attend.

I believe there were 38 of us in all, so a nice sized group. For those who did not manage to come along in December I hope to see you all in the coming months. Why not bring a friend along. If everyone brings one friend, just think how we will grow. And I do believe "the more the merrier" as the Brits say! I look forward to clearing my head for the challenges of 2007 at the January meeting. Hope to see you there. bye Jacqu

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : L i s a M c L e a n Welcome to the January Newsletter and of course a Happy New Year as well. I was surprised that no-one spotted my deliberate mistake in the last newsletter. I am so organised that I wrote December 2007's already! As we move into 2007 no doubt most of us are full of ideas for improvement, change and making a difference. Well the January meeting with guest speaker Elisa Jensen should help us with that. So come along and let Elisa help you "Start 2007 with a Clear Head". The Network committee last week met for the first committee meeting of this year and our heads were clear and the discussions were filled with ideas and plans, and some discussion of the AGM looming in March. In terms of the individual members of this committee we have experienced many aspects of change;for example, pregnancy, building a house, a career move, a country move, a marriage; you name it we’ve done it this year. Of course without any of it disrupting the service we provide to The Network! However, these changes mean that for the next Network year, as is the case most years, we are going to have to look for new committee members. It is a commitment that most of us could probably do without in our busy daily lives, however it is a commitment that is quite fulfilling (my rush of fulfilment comes when I press the send and receive button to send out The Newsletter reminder email). So if any of you think you could contribute to the work of the committee in this coming year please let Jacqulien know. We appreciate your participation.

Joining the Dots

There were fascinating results in a recent survey commissioned by the Bayer Corporation, part of the worldwide Bayer Group (NYSE BAY), as reported on dbusinessnews.com. Top Executives of a number of U.S. STEM companies, (STEM meaning science, technology, engineering and math), were polled on manpower and diversity issues.

Three responses are interesting. First, a high percentage of execs are concerned over manpower shortages, but not many see under representation of women and minorities as part of that problem, missing the connection to this untapped talent pool as a resource. Second, most CEO's recognize the benefits of Diversity and almost 60% think their company does an excellent job ensuring appropriate promotions for women and minorities. However, only 21% of execs say they have a specific program in place to recruit women and minority STEM workers. Third, well over 90% agree it is important to have direct contact with scientists and engineers to better appreciate career opportunities. Yet over 60% said neither their companies nor their employees participate in pre-college education programs. (These stats were taken from the survey summary and not independently verified.)

Read the summary of this survey on dbusinessnews.com and you will agree that it presents an opportunity. The need to connect these dots is obvious, and in many ways, amazingly not difficult. The survey gives a great roadmap to speed up progress.

Interestingly, in December’s Paperjam local recruitment executives were interviewed and asked about the difficulties Luxembourg based companies face over manpower shortages and in general recruiting the right talent.

Again, none of the solutions offered mentioned encouraging women to play a greater role in the workforce; fascinating really if looked at in light of the Luxembourg government’s commitment to the Lisbon employment strategy. The Lisbon employment strategy aims to have all EU member states with 60% of women between the ages of 16-64 in paid employment by 2010. This percentage of women in employment is deemed necessary to financially sustain today’s social structures. With only 30% of women working, Luxembourg has the lowest rate of the EU15. Furthermore, it would be interesting to know how many companies in Luxembourg are in talks with the Luxembourg University to see how they can support each others. TDK comes to mind; they continued with their commitment to the university even after the decision to close the plant in Bascharage. Perhaps if recruitment companies, industry and the university could get together with Luxembourg’s government they could make each other’s lives easier. Or is that just too simple?

Luxembourg's CUTE projects ends Luxembourg Ville announced on January 10th that the city bus scheme – which saw three hydrogen powered buses on the streets of Luxembourg - has come to an end.

There was a mixed response to the news that the project was stopping as some local media reported that the end came due to the cost of servicing the buses. If true this is a sad fact in one of the richest cities in the world.

However, other reports have mentioned that two of the buses are to be returned to the manufacturer Daimler Chrysler and will take part in future projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the busses.

The buses – which run on hydrogen and emit only water and no toxic gases – were being tried out as part of the pan European project called CUTE – or Clean Urban Transport for Europe. The buses were originally due to run for a test period of two years – but in fact in the Grand Duchy they have been on the streets for three years.

However – their time has come to an end. The world wide project saw the operation of 33 hydrogen fuel cell (FC) powered buses in 9 cities around the world - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Beijing, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Perth, Reykjavik.

The Luxembourg project was reported as a success on the HyFleete:cute website on the 2nd of January 2007: "5,000 HOURS OF OPERATION OF A CITARO FUEL CELL BUS!! Just before Christmas 2006, one of the Luxembourg DaimlerChrysler Citaro Fuel Cell Buses passed the 5,000 operational hours milestone. This has been achieved while the bus has been in regular public transport operations in Luxembourg.

The Luxembourg Project has been a consistently high achiever in the unofficial 'competition' between the HyFLEET:CUTE cities. Since the fuel cell buses have commenced operation the Luxembourg buses have frequently driven the greatest distance and operated for the greatest number of hours each month. The buses have also been extremely reliable with a very high availability.

This is a very significant achievement for the HyFLEET:CUTE Project and also a very significant milestone for the development of fuel cell public transport operation.

This is a wonderful achievement by a highly skilled and motivated project team in Luxembourg. Congratulations Luxembourg!!”

For more info http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/

Upcoming Network Events S t a r t 2 0 0 7 w i t h a C le a r H e a d Elisa Labiano Jensen is an Argentine and was educated in the U.S. She has been living in Europe for 16 years. For the past five years she has been working for IBT consulting offering Personal Efficiency Programmes. Elisa works full time, visiting participants everyday at their desk, helping them optimize their work process, and making in control of their workload. Elisa joins the Network on Wednesday 24th of January to help members get organised and start 2007 with a clear head. Here are some questions that Elisa will be asking us to consider.

PERSONAL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM (PEP) • Do you want to have 10 emails or less in your Inbox?

• Do you want your team to have optimized communication?

• Do you want to be satisfied with what you have accomplished in your day?

• Do you want to focus on "high return" activities rather than little tasks all day long?

PEP improves work processes through learning how to optimize the electronic and paper systems, stressing the best habits one needs. This is generally done via group education, individual “at desk” coaching and follow ups.

Elisa offers The Network pointers on how to move forward in the most efficient way.

Meeting in Review C e l e b r a t i n g T h e N e t w o rk Au t h o r : G r o s i a G r o s h a l s k a The Network celebrated its 15th anniversary at Luxembourg’s elegant new art museum, Mudam. Members were given a private tour of the new exhibition of Luxembourgish artist Michel Majerus, who died tragically at the young age of 33 just as his career had taken off.

The tour gave insight into his ideas and work and was thought provocing in the sense that it expained that his intent was to capture the multitude and clash of images that make up our digital age. Now only four or five years after some of the pieces were painted the images look dated; confirming, what is thought to be, Majerus' point at the time of work. Art theorist are left trying to piece the unfinished story of his life's work. The tour was followed by champagne reception in the Mudam café.

The celebration continued at the Philharmonie’s Aromarestaurant Papila. During the reception President Jacquelien Huisman confirmed support to the International School of Luxembourg’s Tanzania Fund by making a donation of 2000€ to ISL’s representative Ms. Diane Russell. Ms Russell has been the coordinator of the Tanzania project for the past seven years. The project supports two impoverished secondary girls’ schools in Moshi, Tanzania and this is the second donation The Network has given. As Jacquelien explained the fact that The Network is continually updated on how the money is used and how the project is progressing was the main reason that we chose to once again make a donation the Tanzania work. Anyone who has an idea on how to support the Tanzania Project please contact diane_russell@islux.lu .

Future Meetings - Dates for you r Diaries Meeting dates   

24 Jan doors open 7.30pm talk starts 8.00. Start 2007 with a Clear Head; speaker Elisa Jensen 28 March- Marketing Trends: Speaker Dan Eischen and a preview of the Luxembourg 2007 as Year of Culture by Lux2007 representative AGM and SpeadNetworking. Members only

General Information Stephen Rebak Stephen Rebak joined us as a visitor at our meeting about starting your own business. He was interested in joining our group. Only one problem, we are a women only membership. However, we are delighted to support Stephen's efforts by publishing his details here. Stephen is a Psychosynthesis Therapeutic Counsellor. Anyone interested in Stephen's work should contact him directly.

Stephen Rebak B.A. Psychology & Philosophy, University College Dublin Psycho synthesis Therapeutic Counsellor In Training & Under Supervision At The Institute for Psycho synthesis, London Trier, Germany Tel: 0049-651-1708266 Mobile:0049-0- 1625 192076 Stephen.Rebak@gmail.com D e a d l i n e f o r t h e F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 7 N e w s le t t e r Submissions for the February 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 15th February 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter February 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear Network members, In this month's newsletter, you will read that our Annual General Meeting is coming up on Wednesday 28th March. This has a number of implications. It means that some committee members are due to step down and therefore need to be replaced. We are all currently working hard to ensure that a solid team will be in place for your approval at the AGM, but anyone who would like to become a member of the team can still contact me in the next week or so until we finalise the "slate", that is present the candidates for the new committee.

You will also receive from us by e-mail your AGM pack. This will include a number of documents which you should read and give some thought to. Please remember that to attend the AGM (and the speed-networking afterwards), you must be a fully paid up member for 2007. Details of how to make the payment are given later in this newsletter. If you cannot attend the AGM, you may make your vote by proxy, either by printing, filling out and sending us your proxy vote or by filling in the on-line form, details of which will be included in the AGM pack.

I would just like to outline quickly how the voting works. When an agenda item has to be voted on, it is done by a system of proposer and seconder from the audience rather than by ballot or a show of hands. Anyone in the audience can propose or second an agenda item. This helps us move through the agenda efficiently and move on to the "fun" part of the evening-speed networking.

Look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday the 28th of February for our presentation on Marketing Trends and at the AGM in March.

Best regards, Jacq

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : L i s a M c L e a n Hi, It is that time of year again. The bills are piling up and the cash level in the bank account is going down and here we come with a reminder The Network membership fees are due! Sorry, folks but it is true. If you want to continue to receive this wonderfully informative newsletter and attend sparkling and informative monthly events then you are going to have to pay the massive sum of 35â‚Ź for your yearly membership. There are details of bank accounts in a separate section of this newsletter. This months newsletter is packed with reminders about the AGM etc.

Sorry, but its one of those things that just have to be done. I have tried to pad it with some light topical information about Valentine's day and International Women's day, so I hope the balance works! Enjoy!

Sisters are Doing it for Themselves You don’t have to have a significant other to enjoy St Valentine’s-go on treat yourself!

The Gym, Atrium Business Park, Bertrange is hosting a St Valentine’s Open House; guests are welcome to visit and try out the facilities free of charge. Plus they can take advantage of a personal trainer’s knowledge and expertise throughout the day. Special massage and fitness offers are also available. To reserve in advance call 26 310 105 Le Royal Hotel Luxembourg is a hosting special Valentine’s dinner in Restaurants Le Jardin and La Pomme Cannelle; to view the menu visit www.hotelRoyal.lu

Mondorf domain thermal has a St Valentine’s offer which is valid from the 14th to the 28th of February. This all inclusive wellness package can be found on www.mondorf.lu The Green House is offering a St Valentine’s pedicure or foot massage. Make an appointment for a beneficial one-hour medi-pedicure or an invigorating 30-minute reflexology treatment with a deep tissue massage therapist.

Alternatively, enjoy morning coffee at 10.30 hrs or afternoon tea at 15.30 hrs and book a 30 minute mini pedicure.

For more information contact: Lamaisonverte@gmail.com

Events F e b ru a r y' s M e e t i n g - a L o o k a t M a r k e t i n g T r e n d s Marketing a product or service in Luxembourg is no doubt a great training ground for marketing in a global context. The diverse cultural and language mix of Luxembourg society sets challenges that are equivalent to those of London or New York; albeit in a small marketplace . So what are the latest trends in marketing today and what kind of challenges do communicators in Luxembourg face? We explore these issues at our next meeting with guest speakers Dan Eischen of Interact S.A and Concept Factory and Valerie Quilez, head of Luxembourg 2007's Communication team. As partner in two of Luxembourg’s leading communication agencies Dan Eischen is well versed in the issues Luxembourg companies face in keeping abreast with change; he will discuss the latest marketing trends in our digital world. Valerie Quilez will showcase some of the events of Luxembourg 2007; discussing some of the communication challenges her team have faced. Join the on Wednesday the 28th of February at the Sofitel. Doors open 7.30pm, discussion starts 8pm.

Meeting in Review

Start year 2007 with a “Clear Head” January's meeting was a great success, when Elisa Labiano Jensen helped members start 2007 with a clear head. Elisa gave common sense tips and logical explanations to help deal with too many left over issues. Explaining what to do to help us improve concentration and take control of our lives; Elisa gave concrete examples that everyone could relate to.

Elisa Labiano Jensen is the founder of an adult-education programme “Second Degree” and currently works as a consultant for IBT a leading time management and productivity company. She is very involved in scouting in Luxembourg and has two young children. Elisa spoke from a professional point of view with a realistic touch of "one who knows". The meeting had a great turn out of members and networking at the bar after the event was lively. On to more of the same at the February meeting!

8th of March International Women’s Day: No longer a reminder about the negatives; now a celebration of the

positives!

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908 Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909 In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910 At a Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen, an International Women's Day of no fixed date was proposed to honour the women's rights movement and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. Over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed the proposal. 3 of these women were later elected the first women to the Finnish parliament.

1911 Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.

1913-1914 On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917 On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999 Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes.

1975 was designated as 'International Women’s Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 - 2007 IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained

complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Moovers and Groovers Normally the Moovers and Groovers section is exclusively for Network members. However, the space is used in this edition to introduce Ms.Laurette Glasgow, the new Canadian Ambassador in Luxembourg. On the 25th of January Ms. Glasgow presented her papers to Grand-Duke Henri. Ms Glasgow joins a growing number of female ambassadors in Luxembourg; USA, Finland, Switzerland to name a few.

Upcoming Network Events  28 February Markerting Trends. Speakers Dan Eichen of Interact and Valerie Quilez of Luxembourg 2007  28 March AGM members only Plus Speed Networking

General Information An n u a l G e n e ra l M e e t i n g - I m p o r ta n t I n f o rm a t i o n !

Please remember that to attend the March AGM you must be a fully paid member. You can pay up until the start of the AGM meeting; however we would urge you to make a bank transfer before, as this avoids confusion at the event itself.

Membership runs from January to January. The fees for 2007 are 35 Euros and 15 Euros if joining after June 30th 2007.

Please send a virement, indicating your name, to the bank accounts listed below: Beneficiary: The Network Bank account: BDL LU58 0080 5333 3500 1003 Please check your bank details when making the payments as the PTT account is no longer valid.

New members must join online and all members are encourged to update their profiles on-line.

Dates for the Diary  



19 February Lime-O-Lux Stand up comedy at Scott's Bar at 7pm. Australian award winning comedian Sarah Kendall, for a one-night-stand in Luxembourg 01 March 2007 Deloitte Talk on: "Human resources and International mobility: An update on recent tax and social security developments", from 4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m, at Deloitte, 560 rue de Neudorf L-2220 Luxembourg. They will address the main tax and social security evolutions that impact human resources and international mobility in 2007. Info and registration: Guillaine Matter (Deloitte, 451 452 987, luevents@deloitte.lu), no later than Friday, 16 February 2007.

03-04 March 2007 at the Arena Coque, Kirchberg. Relais Pour La Vie. For the second year a charity event is being held to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Teams of runners and walkers

 

come together for a 24 hour relay race. To find out more www.cancer.lu . Inscription is 10€ per person.

08 March 2007 Salle Roberts at 20.30hrs hear Aphrodite's Sisters-United Women's Orchestra. 18 international musicians play original pieces from modern jazz, traditional folk music and big band influence. www.jail.lu March Girl's and Boy's Day This is an initiative to get students into businesses to experience what work is all about. To find out more and how you can participate www.girls-day.lu

Deadline for the March 2007 Newsletter Submissions for the March 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 12th of March 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter March 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear networker members, As many of you are perhaps aware I will be moving back to Holland this summer. For this reason I will not be seeking re-election as President of the Network next year. I have very much enjoyed this past year and would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who attend the monthly meetings for your support and suggestions.

Also Helen had to step down as she already moved to Paris in the meanwhile. Luz and Marjolijn had been in the Committee for 3 years now, and also had to step down. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all members of the committee with whom I have worked this past year with pleasure and I am happy that Lisa together with Viviane and Gosia take over the torch this year. We have some great members nominated for election at the AGM and I hope you will all turn out to give them your vote. As you might have noticed the new Committee will count 8 Members instead of the 7 of last year, as Helen took a double secretarial job, which we split again for this year. The nominated members are as follows: Saundra Lambertsen will be our Membership Secretary, so if you want to join The Network meetings and bring a friend, just send her an email. Jacqueline Kost will pick up the General Secretarial role, Marie Christine Rosticher will be your Treasurer, Sylvie Oliveira will take the opportunity to promote The Network and Cornelia den Hartog will be the new Web Coordinator.

We have had a great team and it has been a pleasure and an honour to represent our group. Personally, I look forward to managing at least a few trips back to Luxembourg next year and I hope to incorporate a Network meeting or two in my trips. So I will keep in touch. I wish the new committee for next year the very best of luck and success. I wish them lots of active (new) members and input from your side, because you never have to forget that The Network is here to support you in your professional life.

All the best, Jacq

Editor's Notes

Dear networkers, Well AGM time again. How time flies. This is the second one I have been involved in and I am glad to report that I once again got off "Scot free", in terms of workload. None of it really seems to fall under the auspices of Newsletter Editor, which is a huge relief and makes me wonder why the Newsletter Editor position always seems the hardest to fill. Why, oh why is The Network not filled with other lazy people like me who like to sit around with a cup of coffee, reading articles to pass on to you and typing the odd one myself? It's beyond me really; I have the "life o' Reilly" in comparison with the other committee members. Well I have now managed to mention Scots and the Irish in this short paragraph, without having any real reason to do so. So I had better mention the Dutch too as we have a large contingent amongst our members. I would like to thank both Dutch committee members; Jacquelien for representing us in such a professional manner and of course treasurer

Marjolijn for the great job she has done over the past three years, she guarded The Network's purse-strings as only the Dutch or a Scot could. Thanks also to Luz for all website support and for adding southern charm to every committee meeting, always managing to turn up stylishly late and melt us all with an abundance of affection and kisses. And last but not least a heartfelt thanks and good luck wishes go to Helen Mitchell who has organized us relentlessly over the past year, despite pregnancy and a move to Paris, there hasn't been a hitch in Helen's handling of the double role of general and membership secretary... So see you all at the AGM (if only for the fun of speed networking afterwards), I'll be the lazy looking one with my feet up and a pencil behind my ear!

Movers and Groovers - Network Members This is an email we received from one of our members Sabine who is relocating south. We wish Sabine good luck relocating her family and with her new position. Hopefully she finds a network like ours!

Dear committee members, I am leaving Luxembourg to live in Monaco. I have highly appreciated "the networking" in Luxembourg. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet open-minded women and to learn about interesting topics during your well organized monthly meetings.

I wish you good luck for the future and thanks again for your work and energy! I will miss the Sofitel bar and the network's atmosphere.

Best regards Sabine Holz-Strautmann

N e tw o rk M e mb e r M a l i k a Ap p l e i n E d e n The Network's Malika Apple opened her second store in Luxembourg recently. Malika opened her first store Eden Shoes in Luxembourg City only last year. The second store opened in Auchan, Kirchberg last month. But that is not all! More plans are afoot to keep Luxembourg ladies well healed, Eden is set to open in Belval in August 2007.

Eden Shoes stocks the latest styles at affordable prices; a combination that we all love.Well done Malika!

Upcoming Network Events AG M a n d S p e e d n e t w o rk i n g

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place Wednesday 28 March 2007 at the Sofitel Hotel, Kirchberg. Doors open at 19.00 and the meeting will start promptly at 19.30. Please be seated by 19:30 to avoid delays. This is an important occasion and I hope as many of you as possible will make the effort to come along.

The short AGM will be followed by Speed Networking - back by popular request!

Election of New Committee : Slate of proposed candidates 2007/2008 attached.

Cannot attend the meeting? Please press ‘control’ and go to the following link http://www.the-network.lu/Calendar.php?mode=event&id=107 by 25th March and allocate your proxy vote to the President. We are legally bound to have a certain number of members’ votes to continue The Network next year so your vote is very important, even if you cannot attend.

Alternatively, this form can be emailed or printed and sent to The Network asbl, 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL or president@the-network.lu to be received by the 25th March.

Membership of the network runs from January to December. Only fully paid-up members for 2007 can nominate/be nominated as Committee members and vote. Please make sure that you have paid €35 to Banque de Luxembourg LU58 0080 5333 3500 1003, Swift/BIC Code: BLUXLULL, Beneficiary The Network asbl. Account details have changed – please ensure you use the correct account. Fees can be paid on the night but this can cause delays so bank transfers are appreciated.

Lastly, don’t forget to update your membership details on our website! We look forward to a new year of Networking with you.

Introducing Sacred Heart University's New Director New Director-Dr. Petra Garnjost - Director of Sacred Heart University Luxembourg Sacred Heart University announced the appointment of Petra Garnjost as Director of Sacred Heart University’s Luxembourg Campus and Assistant Professor of Management in the John F. Welch College of Business.

Dr. Garnjost was previously a Professor of Business Administration at the University of Applied Science in Heidelberg, Germany. There, Dr. Garnjost also served as Director of the Master in Management Program. Prior to her appointment in Heidelberg, Dr. Garnjost was Managing Director of a research and consultancy institute in Trier.

Dr. Garnjost has taught Entrepreneurship, Family Business, Strategic Management and Human Resources at the University of Trier, Warwick University (UK), Ashton Business School (UK) and University of Applied Science in Heidelberg.

Dr. Garnjost has a diploma in Business Administration and a PhD from the University of Trier. She has published several articles in academic journals. Her most recent research agenda is in the management of small and medium size companies and entrepreneurship.

John F. Welch College of Business earns AACSB accreditation The John F. Welch College of Business at University has earned accreditation by the AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It joins an elite membership of fewer than 10 percent of business schools worldwide. AACSB International is considered the premier global accrediting body for schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. To achieve accreditation, a business school must undergo meticulous internal review, evaluation and adjustment – a process that can take from three to seven years. During this period, schools develop and implement a plan to help them meet the 21 AACSB standards that require highly qualified faculty, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and keeping curricula responsive to the needs of business.

Dress for Success Au t h o r : E m m a C l a rk o f t h e B B C The suit was the uniform of the liberated woman A rebellion against the collar and tie is the latest skirmish in the battle of the sexes. Men around Britain are griping that women in the workplace are not forced to maintain the same sartorial standards. Matthew Thompson, an administrative assistant at Stockport's Jobcentre Plus, told an employment tribunal that it amounted to sexual discrimination. So it seems the wheel of working fashion has come full circle.

Just over a century ago, it was professional women who were only too keen to ape their male colleagues. Since then, women have become increasingly adept at using the subtleties of dress to reinforce their own role in the

workforce.

A suit of her own "Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening," designer Coco Chanel once said. In the late 19th century, middle class, educated women first began to wear suits as a symbol of their professionalism. In its earliest incarnation, the suit consisted of a tailored jacket and skirt, which didn't necessarily match. Later, they were both made of the same material.

"In the 1890s, a suit made women look serious, and capable of doing a man's job," says Anthea Jarvis, the principal curator at Manchester's Gallery of Costume. Early adopters, however, were ridiculed in the press. Male caricaturists portrayed the suits as sexless, shapeless clothes worn by unattractive women in spectacles. So much so that the Suffrage movement urged its members to wear their best clothes on the marches in 1908. "They told the women: 'Don't dress in a way that will get the public's back up. Show them you're feminine and womanly,'" says Ms Jarvis.

'Hands off' The suit also helped in the Victorian era to differentiate white-collar workers travelling home on the tram from prostitutes.Women in the 1890s wanted to emphasise their professionalism."Men were unaccustomed to seeing women unchaperoned on the street, but the suit sent out the right message," says Ms Jarvis. "It meant a woman out on business - 'hands off!'" Many of these professional women were journalists, book keepers, typists and employees of the telegraph service. Although they were rarely paid as much as men in the same job, their buying power did not go unnoticed.

The wronged trousers That other borrowed male garment - a pair of trousers - was not so quick to find its way into the woman's working wardrobe. Even though female munitions workers started wearing trousers during World War I, in peacetime trousers were strictly for leisure. A working woman did not wear trousers in the 1960s and this taboo has taken time to die out. As recently as five years ago, most companies preferred female employees not to wear trousers as part of their corporate uniform, says Jacqueline de Baer, a designer of corporate clothing. Richard Branson, for example, is said to prefer his female staff in skirts. The trouser suit started to become socially acceptable in the late 1960s, when it was popularised by designer Yves Saint Laurent. But it was not until the late 1980s and early 1990s that it crossed over into the working wardrobe. "As women became more established and occupied powerful positions, they had the confidence to wear trousers," says Pamela Church Gibson, a lecturer at the London College of Fashion.

Padded shoulders The 1980s also saw the birth of power dressing, as women like Dynasty's Joan Collins embraced padded shoulders and primary colours. An M&S trouser suit was working wear in the 1980s However, a best seller at the time, Dress for Success, by John Molloy, reinforced the old stereotypes. "It laid down the rules that women must wear a skirted suit with the odd feminine touch," says Ms Church Gibson.

"Women should not look overly sexual in case it undermined their professionalism." She believes that the character Miranda, from the TV series Sex in the City, embodies the Molloy principles. "Miranda is the most successful in professional terms - by the end of the fourth series she is a partner in a corporate law firm. "She wears dark tailored suits, feminised with a necklace."

Different codes of dress?

Although there is no female equivalent of the tie, Ms Church Gibson refutes Mr Thompson's argument that there are lower standards for professional women. "There are rules that govern the way women dress - he doesn't realise this. They are just more subtle rules." She believes that women feel obliged to wear dark clothes to climb up the ranks, and only turn to brighter colours once they are in a powerful position. "You see so many ambitious young women climbing off the tube in the City, in navy suits, skirts to the mid-calf and court shoes." The employment tribunal has reserved judgement on Mr Thompson's case, but if he wants to dress for success, perhaps he should put his tie back on.

General Information

S t e e l M a g n o l i a s a t t h e T h é â t r e N a t i o n a l d e L u x e mb o u r g To most people, Steel Magnolias is a movie. Julia Roberts dies, Sally Field cries, and let's go get our hair dyed.

But there's another way to experience the story that author Robert Harling wrote about his sister’s bout with diabetes and how she and her mother (plus 4 of her closest friends) ultimately deal with this and other challenges in their lives - and that is on the stage.

In Chinquapin, a quaint Louisiana hamlet, the hair salon of Truvy Jones (Deborah Fulton-Anderson) is the preferred meeting place for an eclectic group of ladies: M'Lynn Eatenton (Jan Horsburgh), a mother pre-occupied by the imminent wedding of her daughter Shelby (Patricia Andersson); Clairee (Marijane Andreopoulos), a well-todo widow and former mayor's wife; the cantankerous Ouiser (Catherine Lawrence); and Annelle (Christine Probst), a newcomer who lends Truvy a helping hand in the salon. The play is directed by South Carolina native Rodney Tow. Steel Magnolias will be presented by the New World Theatre Club in the Théâtre National de Luxembourg.

Performances are Tuesday 24 April through Friday 27 April at 20:00, and Saturday 28 April at 14:00 and 20:00.

For tickets visit www.luxembourticket.lu or phone 47 08 95-1. ________________________________

D e a d l i n e f o r t h e Ap r i l 2 0 0 7 N e w s l e t t e r Submissions for the April 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 16th of April 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter April 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear networkers, As you can see I have literally managed to work my way to the top of the page of the Newsletter. You will no longer be subjected to my ramblings as Editor, but will from now on will be treated with the more serious thoughts befitting the Network's President.....blank.....

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the AGM and voted for the new committee. I look forward to working with everyone this coming year. My own intentions are to use everything I have learned from the past two president's Ruth Springham and Jacqulein Huisman and basically try to get it right! As I said at the AGM, I am still wondering how I managed to get to the top of the page, the only thing I remember is saying to Ruth Springham a few years ago that I would help out if they were really stuck for someone to write the Newsletter. Ten minutes later I heard my name announced as the new Editor. That was the second time I had been to an event! Be that a warning to all you good hearted members. Once your in we don't let you go so easily.

In all seriousness now, I look forward to continuing to support our group in whatever way necessary.

My first assignment as President was the morning after our AGM, when with vice-president Viviane Bumb, I visited the American Embassy to speak with Ambassador Ann Wagner and her staff about our group's activities.

Ms Wager was very charming and informative and we discussed the benefits of networking in the business world.

It was interesting to discover that the female ambassarors in Luxembourg (of which there are a growing number) have a mini-lunch network which meets every six weeks. In this newsletter I have included an article about the success of women in the Finnish political scene and low and behold what does the article methion? Their network! Read on and enjoy and I hope to see you all next Wednesday when we can continue to do what, as Ms Wagner pointed out women do best....network!

Best regards, Lisa

Meeting in Review M a rk e t i n g T r e n d s b y D a n E i s c h e n Au t h o r : C o rn e l i a d e n H a r to g During the presentation on Marketing Trends, Dan Eischen pointed out the parallel in the marketing trend that concentrates more on the ROI (Return of Investment) and the new evolution of the Internet also called Web 2.0.

Due to the overkill of information marketeers change their goals to understanding and knowing their target groups. Even in the basics of marketing tools like the 4's (product, price, place and promotion) going to the 4 C's (Consumer, cost, convenience and communication) this shows.

Using digital communication methods measuring the ROI can be done. ERM (Effective Response Marketing) can be measured, the value chain of the communication can be followed and one can get to know/get in touch with their customers.

Dan Eischen showed for this an example of new banner advertising methods used to follow and lead the customer in the process. As an example of Mobile marketing the case of the Dexia campaign, done by Concept Factory was shown. Leading the customer from a printed advert to the use of a mobile to connect to the Internet.

Web 2.0 can be easily used for this need for communication through a value chain with a channel of return. Web 2.0 is the evolution of the Internet, becoming more and more a platform of applications, stimulating the use of a dynamic net by more and more users. Thanks to this the web consist of groups of little established networks.

Funny Publicity video's that get sent through and network sites LinkLD, Youtube or MySpace are good examples.

As a case study Dan Eischen showed us the website of Obama08, even showing that political websites get personal with user input. An example of the other way around is McDonald's using Youtube for their publicity.

Upcoming Network Events I t i s n e v e r t o o l a t e t o K i c k -S t a r t yo u r L i f e s t y l e Au t h o r : L M c L e a n Luxembourg marathon runner Simone Kayser and personal fitness trainer Tim Goodwin will explain how it is possible to make a lifestyle change for the better when they speak at the April meeting.

Simone will speak from personal experience how as a mother of four at the age of 36 she started running in order to share her husband’s hobby. This was a decision that was to change Simones’s life, as her hobby soon became a passion and in 1991 she ran her first marathon in Berlin. 1998 she began running long distances, such as the Raid on the Reunion Island (la diagonale des fous) or the 100 km in Biel, Switzerland. Her first desert marathon, “marathon des sables” was in 2000. She won this marathon three times, in 2002 - 2004- and 2005. She ran the raid on the Reunion Island nine times and won this race in 2003. Marathon des sables is known as the toughest foortrace on earth. It covers 243km run over six or 7 sdays this is the equivalent of five ½ marathons. In addition, competitors have to carry everything they need for the duration in a rucksack. Midday temperatures can reach 60° in the dunes during the race, and at night the temperature can fall down to 5°.

Tim Goodwin is a fitness trainer who helps busy professionals achieve more wirth their health, fitmess and amateur sporting interestd. Tim will compliment Simone’s personal experience by explaining how he helps individuals start on a programme of health during using a unique system to set goals, individual assessments, programme design and nutritional responsibility. Tim is able to coach his clients to become more successful in their chosen sport, or simply improve their health and fitness, and at the same time lose body fat and create a structurally sound body. He says, “the most successful people adopt a mindset that allows them to do whatever is required to achieve the goals they are passionate about, without this, goals are simple dreams or wishes that are never realized!”. Tim himself competes internationally at archery, last year obtaining a top 30 ranking and representing Luxembourg at the World championships

D a t e s t o m a r k i n yo u r d i a r y  25 April-It is never too late to Kickstart your Lifestyle- Simone Kayser and Tim Goodwin.Venue Sofitel, Kirchberg.Doors open 7.30pm Lecture starts 8.00pm, Networking in the bar 9.00pm  23 May -Mentoring: speaker Rita Knott and mentee. Venue Sofitel.  20 June-Last event before the summerbreak: afterwork event to visit the Cargolux facility,plus dinner

Finland in Front 100 years after being first allowed to vote women have firmly established themselves as the mainstay of the political forum in Finland with 12 from the 20 members of government being female. 42% of parliament are women. Read below how Networking helped Finnish women get ahead in politics.

CO-OPERATION AMONG WOMEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT There has never been a special women’s party in Parliament, but co-operation among women Members of Parliament has become more intense over the years and has received a more organised form. A record-high number of women candidates gained a place in Parliament in the 991 elections; during the same year, these women set up a network - the Network of Women in Finland’s Parliament - to serve as their co-operation organ.

The Network calls together women parliamentarians across all political parties to discuss political issues of particular interest to women, the objectives being to promote equality between women and men, to further the implementation of women’s rights and to introduce the perspective of women into the drafting of parliamentary Bills. The Network arranges seminars, visits and get-togethers, makes proposals, prepares statements, takes part in international activities and has co-operation with women parliamentarians in other countries.

In spring 1996 the Network of Women in Finland’s Parliament started holding what is known as ‘information lunches’, the idea being to spark parliamentary debate on issues that are topical and important. Women who are Government ministers and Permanent Secretaries of various ministries have been among the guests invited to these ‘information lunches’, held once a month.

Within the Network, preparation work and practical affairs are handled by a working committee, selected from among the Network’s members once a year. The working committee has one member and one deputy member from each parliamentary group. The working committee’s chair and deputy chair are elected for one year at a time, alternately from the various parliamentary groups.

Parliament of Finland http://www.eduskunta.fi/efakta/opas/tiedotus/naisede.htm

Women's careers and ICT: an untapped potential The proportion of women graduates in information and communications technology (ICT) in Europe is falling, especially compared to other regions of the world. To promote women's careers in ICT, the Commission presents today, on International Women's Day, the video diaries of 6 young women who were given the chance to accompany a successful female engineer or technologist for a day. These show the promising career prospects that are possible for women in ICT. "Getting more women into ICT careers would be a force for change and a major boost for this key economic sector in Europe", said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, on the occasion of International Women's Day in Brussels. "With Europe facing a skills shortage in this sector, we must encourage more women to study ICT subjects and to take up a career in this field, so as to increase capacity of the workforce and to tap into women's creative potential."

The ICT sector contributes 5.3% of EU's GDP and 4% of its jobs. It continues to achieve above-average growth and is still the EU’s most innovative and research-intensive sector.

However, by 2010 there will be an expected shortfall of 300,000 qualified ICT staff. Therefore Europe needs more ICT professionals. Although computer studies graduates across the EU-27 grew by 133% from 1998 to 2004, Europe is actually falling behind comparably. In 1998 computing graduates accounted for 2.3% of all graduates in the EU-27, by 2004 it had increased to 4%. In the US it rose from 2.3% to 5% and in South Korea from 1% to 6%.

For women the statistics are even worse. The proportion of women computer graduates fell from 25% in 1998 to 22% in 2006. In other regions of the world the percentage is higher: Canada (27%), the US (28%), and South Korea (38%).

The proportion of women working in ICT varies widely across the EU from 6% in Luxembourg to 41% in Lithuania.

But those who enter ICT careers often drop out or move to a different career. Also, fewer women make it to senior management positions, particularly in the ICT sector. About 66% of telecommunications companies have no women on their board of directors. Moreover, in 14 major ICT companies, less than 10% of board members are women and in telecommunications it is only about 6%.

The Commission is therefore trying to encourage more women graduates to take up a career in ICT industry, and to stimulate an interest amongst those taking their first career decisions whilst still at school. This will create a larger, more diverse and creative workforce. Efforts are underway to show women that ICT careers can be challenging, rewarding and fun, and to overcome negative images and stereotypes. However, it needs industry and other stakeholders' support.

To give young women a taste of what an ICT job would be like the Commission launched a shadowing exercise, in which young women accompanied a female role model for a day. Five leading technology companies (BT, Cisco, Infineon, Motorola and Nokia) took part in this first pilot exercise with the European Commission.

Commissioner Reding was herself also "shadowed" during her participation in the IST conference and exhibition in Helsinki last November.

A detailed European Commission study on Women in the ICT sector has just begun. The findings are expected October 2007. ec.europa.eu/itgirls

Events

 

Wednesday the 25th of April 11.30-13.00hrs, Prof Dr Marion Colas-Blaise from Luxembourg University will speak at a conference entitled “ Le Langue des femmes” to be held at Limbertsberg Campus (Science Building , Room BS 2.01.

4th and 5th of June at PWC ACademy " Les femmes ne sont pas des hommes comme les autres". Under the patronage of Madame la Ministre de l’Egalité des Chances, Madame Marie-Josée Jacobs. For details contact PWC ACADEMY :Téléphone : +352 49 48 48-4040, E-mail : pwcacademy@lu.pwc.com

General Information D e a d l i n e f o r t h e M a y 2 0 0 5 N e w s l e t te r Submissions for the May 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 15th of May. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter May 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear Networkers, I hope those of you who managed to attend our last meeting were as inspired as I was by our speakers and have taken the opportunity to set new goals that will help you kick-start your life style. I really enjoyed Simone Kayser's talk about the Marathon des Sables and Tim Goodwin complemented her speech well with his talk on goal setting. Equally, I think we have the perfect follow-up in our next meeting when Rita Knott speaks about mentoring and explains the opportunities to benefit from such a programme in Luxembourg. We still have a few things going on before we take a break for the summer. Mosaic artist and Network member Marleen Lacroix is hosting her first solo exhibition at Chateau Bourglinster as part of the Luxembourg 2007 year of culture programme.

Marleen has invited all members to join her at her Opening Event on the 8th of June at 18.30pm. I will be there, as will most of the committee and we would like to make it a Network after-work event, therefore I would like to suggest that anyone interested in enjoying the evening in full, by going for a meal at the Chateau Bourglinster bistro afterwards, should contact me on lisa.mclean@pt.lu ; I will reserve a table for around 8pm, but obviously need an idea of numbers. Our final meeting before the summer break is scheduled on the 20th of June and we decided that this was the ideal occasion to organise an after-work event with a difference. After successfully organising our first after-work event to the Mudam in December, Viviane Bumb was asked to come up with something equally interesting for us; and she did. Viviane has booked a tour of the Luxair Cargo Centre; this will allow us to take a look at what goes on behind the scenes. For security reasons it will be necessary to register for this event in advance. Afterwards we will go for dinner at a nearby restaurant, (oh, oh, I see a theme developing in this presidency don't you? Well, there is nothing wrong with enjoying life to the fullest after all and good company is the key to any successful evening, don't you think?). An invite will be sent out separately once details of the restaurant are confirmed.

See you soon, Lisa

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : G o s i a G r o c h a l s k a Dear networkers, Welcome to my first newsletter. I am the new editor and I hope you will enjoy my future work. This is my second year on the Network Committee and third year in The Network. I was responsible for Marketing and Press Relations last year. I came to Luxembourg from Australia, where I lived for two years. I am originally from Poland so, like many of our members, English is not my native language.

I have included an article about mentoring to get you in the mood for our next meeting. I hope you enjoy it.

Gosia

Events Cross Mentoring: speaker Rita Knott Au t h o r : G o s i a During her coaching studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt (2003- 2006) she has run a pilot project called “Cross-Mentoring Programme for Women in Leading Positions” in Luxembourg, and she is active in other gender projects within the Ministry of Equal Opportunities.

Rita will speak at the May meeting of The Network about strategies for the professional promotion for women in leading positions. She will be joined by her mentee. Both women will share their experiences of the cross-mentoring programme.

 4th and 5th of June at PWC ACademy " Les femmes ne sont pas des hommes comme les autres". Under the patronage of Madame la Ministre de l’Egalité des Chances, Madame Marie-Josée Jacobs. For details contact PWC ACADEMY :Téléphone : +352 49 48 48-4040, E-mail : pwcacademy@lu.pwc.com

What is mentoring , why do we need it, and how do we get one?

Mentoring is when a role model, or mentor, offers support to other person. A mentor has a knowledge and experience in an area and shares it with the person being mentored. The mentoring relationship creates that kind of support system, where a very effective teacher who’s there to support you, encourage you, and challenge you in your learning, is also there to help you get up off your knees and dust off and try again. It’s the trusting relationship that mentors have with their protégés that makes that happen.

Mentoring occurs at many different settings and environments: - community-based mentoring offers young people chance to develop a relationship with one or more adults or older peers; - mentoring in schools where a mentor can be an adult or older student, can have a significant impact on the dropout rate among high school students; - e- mentoring takes place via the Internet and lets mentors and mentees develop their relationship by exchanging messages online, makes mentoring available to mentors and young people who otherwise might not be able to meet easily because of time or travel constrains; - in business mentoring offers young people chance to develop relationship with more experienced professionals and it happens when professionals take under their wings new employees from the company or students from the university.

Research indicates mentoring is one of the crucial and important factors in business success. A mentor can guide you, defend you and develop you. Your personal networks provide support and knowledge beyond your immediate office. Mentors can get your foot in the door for a great opportunity, and help you overcome obstacles in getting a job, promotion or career change.

Mentoring helps organisations retain the next generation of leaders, improves leadership and managerial skills,

develops new leaders, enhances career development, puts high potential individuals on a fast career track, promotes diversity, improves technical knowledge, and helps manage knowledge within the organisation.

Mentors can be found inside or outside the company. Mentors within the company can help champion or cultivate you. In your company, mentors know all the players, politics, and pitfalls. They may be a few rungs up the corporate leader and can help you understand different managers’ personalities and preferred working styles, office politics and the lessons they have learned.

Mentors outside work provide objectivity. You will appreciate their distance when a work issue is too controversial to discuss with a fellow colleague.

Mentors share their own experiences, both successes and failures and offer insights that can only come with experience. Mentors model professional behaviour and guide people through the learning landscape, they teach things that cannot be taught in school. Mentors advise on complex situations that may not have a single right answer or approach, they offer observations and explanations that help people learn. Mentors support people and offer reassurance when learning becomes difficult or overwhelming. Mentors give an opportunity to network with other professionals.

Mentoring can offer the mentors satisfaction from helping others, expanded perspectives, powerful personal insights, opportunity to share experience and wisdom, reaffirmation of approaches, and meaningful relationship.

For mentees mentoring means a safety net, an opportunity to test out ideas, candid feedback, less stress, accelerated learning, needed support, and increased productivity.

New Members - Welcome to the Network C o n g ra t u l a t i o n s !

Congratulations to Helen Mitchell on the birth of her daughter Name: Maya Kelly Mitchell Sex: Girl Weight: 3.15kg Length: tbc - they didn't measure her!!

D.O.B.: 5.05pm 7th May 2007 Place of birth: Le Chesnay, Versailles, France Distinguishing features: she's beautiful !

Meeting in Review I t i s N e v e r t o o L a t e t o K i c k - s ta r t Y o u r L i f e s t yl e Speakers Simone Kayser and Tim Goodwin complimented each other well and did a wonderful job of motivating listeners to make a change in their life for the better.

Personal Fitness Trainer Tim Goodwin spoke about more than just getting fit and making a lifestyle change. Tim spoke practically about how to be successful when setting goals. Writing goals is first of a few practical tips to successfully achieving something different in life. Tim spoke of his own sporting achievements, but most importantly, how he went about actively pursuing, and achieving, a career change. Tim pointed out that proven sports psychology strategies can be drawn on to help achieve goals in any area of life. Tim has placed a Goal Achievement Strategy workbook on his website for interested members to download under the following link: www.getfit.lu/gas.html Simone spoke passionately about her experiences as a runner and how she made the decision to run “a marathon”. As she explained, because she had never trained before she started running distances of two or three kilometres and simply kept reminding herself that she had made the commitment to run a marathon. Once she had reached her goal and completed the Berlin Marathon, she sought other challenges. She said she knew that just to run more marathons was not what she wanted to do. As Simone told it in her own words: “I was looking for a real challenge, something to push my limit, something where you not only run, but an experience, where you can feel suspense, where the challenge involves a certain risk.

Thus my husband and I decided to focus on trails. The first trail was at the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, a race of 140 km with 16000m of difference in altitude. The first time I finished the race in 39 hours, and my best result was in 25 hours, non stop, and an adventure full of intensity.

The next competition was the Marathon des Sables (MDS); a completely different experience. The MDS is not only a race where you use your legs, but you have to manage to survive a whole week in the desert, with almost nothing, no comfort, exposed to the desert, the wind, the sand, lying on the ground, just covered by a Berber tent, no water to wash, the same clothes all day long, the whole week through, up to 60 ° hot in the dunes and rather cold during the night. You have to carry all your belongings for the whole race in a bag that weighs around 9 kg.

But in the desert, almost from the first day on, you question about your life, you put the hand of your watch on 0.

Life has another aspect, you live very close to one another, you have no privacy, and you share almost everything including all sorts of emotions you go through. You experience moments of suffering, of passing your limit, but you also feel a deep sense of happiness. You have the impression that you exist through the effort, which is your personal effort, nobody can do this for you, and you become aware that it is the “way” itself and not the goal that is important.

It is difficult to explain why you really want to go through a MDS. There is no masochism, no madness, but the desire to go -au bout de soi-même (to hit the wall, to go beyond yourself), and to realize your dream. It is a wonderful and unforgettable event. You have to experience it to understand it, but if you have the opportunity to do it, you will have changed when you come back, you are neither more beautiful, nor more intelligent, but simply more human and you have memories nobody can take away from you.

At the finishing line you always have this feeling of emptiness, a great hole inside yourself, you are relieved that it is all over, but when back to normality, to everyday life, you draw strength out of this week for your life.

You are aware that you managed a tough thing, and you feel stronger when facing difficulties. You don’t seem to notice the little inconveniences anymore or you are less affected by them because you have opened your mind.

It is as if things have a different value, more real, you are not upset anymore about insignificant details. Though you passed moments of suffering and of pain, of doubts, of sickness, your memory is utter contentment, and the awareness that you realized something really tough. This is reality, whereas so many things in life are appearances.

To conclude I just want to give you another example of what you can do with your life and what benefit it has for other people. Colette and Lucien Schumacher, at the age of 66 gave sense to their life in helping the poorest children in the High Atlas in Morocco. Within ten years they built schools and water reservoirs, they enabled the people a better way of living, especially to the children. They chose between passing their time going on holidays and well-being, and engaging their body and soul by helping others. It is never too late to make a lifestyle change”.

Movers and Groovers - Network Members S p o n s o r s w a n t e d f o r a Ac t i o n Ai d c h a r i t y t r e k i n T a n z a n i a !

The Network’s April meeting on “Jumpstart your lifestyle” proved to be very relevant to the challenge I have set myself this year.

I am taking part in a sponsored group trek in Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley in October 2007. We will be trekking up to 22km a day over 5 days in the hot and dusty grasslands and volcanic hills to raise funds for ActionAid, which is an international anti-poverty charity. Our guides will be Maasai tribespeople and we will overnight at basic bush camps along the way. The trip is being organised by Charity Challenge, an environmentally responsible tour operator which aims to minimise the impact on the environment and bring as much benefit to the host community as possible. They will donate US$ 20 per trekker to an ActionAid project which we will visit.

My husband Robert and I have supported a number of ActionAid programmes for nearly 20 years. What first attracted me to ActionAid was the fact that they work together with communities on long-term and sustainable solutions. In the past I have simply donated money to ActionAid’s poverty action; raising money via a sponsored trek is now my personal challenge. Although I have a reasonable level of general fitness, I began my training in earnest by joining a gym in January and have been training there two or three times a week since then.

Now I need sponsors please! I am paying the costs of my trip (around £1,500 or EUR 2,300) and I have to raise a minimum of another £1,745 or around EUR 2,600 of sponsorship by July 2007. We will be a group of 27 trekkers, which means we should raise altogether the sum of at least £47,000 or around EUR 70,000.

You can find out more, and sponsor me online, by looking at my fundraising webpages on http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/jschofield/footsteps-of-the-masaai. Non-sterling based sponsors can just input a sterling donation amount and the equivalent EUR amount will be charged to their credit card. The money raised will go towards ActionAid’s Global Fund. This enables ActionAid to undertake vital work immediately, wherever the need arises around the world. Every little contribution helps and I very much look forward to your support!

Thank you Jennifer Schofield

Mosaic Passion at Chateau Bourglinster

Mosaic artist Marleen Lacroix invites art lovers to enter her world of colour, design and mosaic when she hosts her first solo exhibition as part of Luxembourg’s Year of Culture 2007 celebrations.

Marleen studied fine arts at Ghent Art Academy; then in 2002 Marleen realized there was another art world awaiting her. After viewing an exhibition of the renowned Mosaic artist Elaine Goodwin, mosaic became Marleen’s true passion. Over the past five years Marleen has delved further and further into the craft that is mosaic, when she has studied with masters in London, Amsterdam and Ravenna.

The art of mosaic, in one form or another, has been practiced for thousands of years, but mosaic as we know it was invented by the Greeks, who then passed their skills on to the Romans. As Marleen explains, “Mosaic is an ancient art form and I am fascinated by it in all its forms, I hope to transmit some of that fascination to visitors to my exhibition. In Britain and North America, as well as many eastern countries mosaic is recognized for the art form that it is, I hope to extend this understanding to Luxembourg.

Much of Marleen’s inspiration is from colour combinations found in nature; yet the execution if her work pays homage to her eye as a designer. “I am fascinated by the puzzle that is Mosaic, I love the different materials, the colours, the varied textures that exist in the stone and glass pieces, I love the satisfaction that one gets from working for a long time on a carefully executed piece” enthused Marleen. The reflection of light is very important in Marleen’s wall panels; each piece differs dramatically depending on what time of the day one views it. Marleen works with a variety of different materials such as marble, stained glass, vitreous glass, smalti, ceraton, gold leaf. She likes to combine shiny with opaque materials, ultimately bringing them together in a harmonious manner, creating both small and larger wall pieces. Marleen can be viewed at work at the Chateau Bourglinster during each weekend of the exhibition.

Marleen Lacroix’s work can be viewed at Chateau Bourglinster from the 9th to the 24th of June, Wednesday to Sunday from 14.00hrs to 18.00hrs, or visit the artist at work on Saturdays and Sundays from 14.00hrs to 18.00hrs. Network members are invited to come Marleen's Opening Event on the 8th of June at 18.30pm.

Future Meetings - Dates for your Diaries  19 May - Night Maraton in Luxembourg  17 - 19 May - Marathon Fairs at the EXPO42, latest tendencies and developments in the sport area  23 May -Mentoring: speaker Rita Knott and her mentee. Venue Sofitel  8 June - Networking After-Work Event to Marleen Lacroix's Vernissage at Chateau Bourglinster, 18.30hrs  20 June - Last event before the summerbreak: After-Work Event to visit the Luxair Cargo Centre,plus dinner  22 May to 8 July - Abbaye de Neumunster, "Visages de vie monacle" photo exhibition portraitning the life of ortodox monks in North Rumania  5 to 26 August - Abbaye de Neumunster, photo exhibition presenting the portrets of Luxembourg and Sibiu, two cultural capitals of the year 2007

General Information D e a d l i n e f o r t h e [ m o n th ] 2 0 0 7 N e w s l e t te r Submissions for the June 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 11th June 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter June 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear networkers, Welcome to our last newsletter before we break up for the summer. For those of you who have booked to come on the tour of the Luxair Cargo Centre on the 20th of June, I look forward to seeing you there. Meeting point is the Luxair Cargo Centre near the airport. We should meet at the security gate at 17.15hrs on the 20th; please bring an ID card with you. For those who can not make that evening, I look forward to seeing you on the 26th of September ready to network. Our first event in September will be speed-networking with a twist. We will be winetasting and speed-networking at the same time. Wow, I can see the room spin already. The Sofitel is blessed with excellent staff who will accompany us on a journey of the senses when we are introduced to a variety of european wines. So I look forward to networking with you soon, Lisa

Editor's Notes

Dear networkers, Welcome to my second newsletter which is also the last edition before our summer break. I hope you will enjoy these articles. I have included a short memoirs of my latest trip to Italy hoping that this would get you in the good holiday mood . There is also an invitation for our member to a party! So, there is nothing else to do like to enjoying it.

Wish you all great holidays, recharge your batteries and get ready for another season of The Network networking. See you all in September!

Gosia

New Committee Introducing the Committee

Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

In this last issue before our summer break I would like to introduce in few words the members of a new committee, which took over their responsibilities in May 2007.

The Network President is Lisa McLean who has been a member of The Network for the past three years. This is her second full year on the committee. Lisa is originally from Scotland, but left 20 years ago and has been in Luxembourg for the past 12 years. Lisa runs her own marketing and public relations company LJM Communications and is Sales and Marketing Director for Ara City Radio. She is married to a German national and has three children. In her free time Lisa is involved with school associations and is a member of the Foreigner’s Commission in Bertrange. As President of The Network Lisa is committed to following the lead of the previous two Presidents she has worked with and hopes to continue to attract interesting speakers to the monthly events and to further develop contacts with other business organisations in Luxembourg.

The Network Vice President Viviane Bumb was born 1969 in Switzerland. She studied business management and has been working as a marketing and public relation manager in the financial sector before moving to the Bahamas, where she has given birth to two boys. Since 3 1/2 years she has been living in Luxembourg and is combining family duties with editing and publishing of a guide for families living in Luxembourg. For the moment she is preparing the second edition of the "Family Guide Luxembourg".

Cornelia den Hartog who is our IT Specialist is the Managing Director of GAX Technologies SA, Luxembourgbased software company with an emphasis on new technologies and the financial sector. Cornelia has a specialisation in Business-to-Business Marketing and Communication combined with a large experience of the latest IT technologies for projects ranging from online libraries to financial software, e-learning and e-commerce.

Cornelia is a member of The Network since 2006 but she works in Luxembourg for about 10 years now.

Sylvie Oliveira takes care of the PR and Communnication of The Network. She was born in Luxembourg and speaks 6 languages (Luxembourgish, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and English). After 5 years of experience within a Marketing and Sales department, Sylvie decided to bring a new touch to her career and she decided to join the Inlingua group as Luxemburgish language teacher.

Marie-Christine Rosticher is the present Network's treasurer. French native, she speaks English, German, Spanish and is learning Luxembourgish. She's just turned 41. After 15 years working in international business traveling all over Europe for US Groups (Acco-Rexel, Newell-Rubbermaid...), she dropped her suitcase in Luxembourg five years ago. She's presently working as Account Executive for FedEx. Marie-Christine enjoys singing, cooking "Fusion Food" & baking pastries to share w/ her friends. She recently took a keen interest in nutrition & is considering joining a e-learning programme to become a dietician.

Saundra Lambertsen is The Network's member's secretary and has is from a Marketing Communications and Public Relations background. Saundra is American Nationality and before moving to Germany, where she currently lives, she passed her days also in South America, Russia, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Spain and as you could imagine she also speaks most of those languages: English, Spanish, Russian, and German. Saundra joined The Network because she wanted to introduce herself professionally and socially to a new market, and to gain professional contacts, friends, career opportunities and community involvement.

Jacqueline Kost who shares The Network Secretary responsibilities with Saundra Lambertsen, was born and raised in Montréal, she is thus bilingual in Franch and English. She also speaks Schweizerdeutsch, weak Spanish, and some Hochdeutsch. Luxembourg is the first time she has lived overseas,although her career path has had her living in many other Canadian cities. Jacqueline have been in commercial real estate for most of her career, and this Luxembourg opportunity has brought her back to her first love - the world of shopping centers.

Besides traveling, her passion is road cycling- with Luxembourg geography being an excellent place for cyclists.

She found The Network while searching the web to try and understand what there was on offer in Luxembourg, attending her first meeting in January 2007.

Gosia Grochalska The Network Newsletter editor who has been a member of the organisation for 2 years. This is her second position within the Committee serving one season as a responsible for the organisation’s PR & Marketing activities. She has lived in Luxembourg since 2005 and like many other women followed her husband here. Currently she works in a small international company organising the working conferences for 300 delegates from Airline industry. Previously she worked in the area of Marketing and Communication in Warsaw, Poland as well as in Melbourne, Australia.

Meeting in Review C r o s s - C u l t u r a l M e n t o r i n g f o r Wo m e n i n L e a d in g P o s i t i o n s Au t h o r : L i s a M c L e a n Speaker Rita Knott became a member of The Network 10 years ago, with the personal aim to network and mentor with other women in business; this was the second time she had addressed the group. Rita spoke with passion and conviction about the advantages of the mentoring programme, “Mentoring for Women in Leading Positions”, she initiated in Luxembourg three years ago. Rita explained what mentoring and its role in the contemporary business world and then she briefly outlined her personal background, explaining that she came from a conservative southern German background where the role of a women is still seen as firmly in the home.

Therefore, after finishing her high school education Rita did not pursue further university studies, but went straight to work, married young and had a daughter. Then 28 years ago Rita came to Luxembourg and 25 years ago joined the Israeli bank, Hapoalim as a secretary. By her own admission Rita’s vision did not stray very far beyond the role that she had in the company until 1997 when a new female manager arrived at the bank from Israel, she led Rita to believe that she was capable of much more and had every right to aspire to a management position and at the same time retain her femininity and her personal values. Through ???? She came to see that success in the man’s world does not necessarily mean one has to become a man.

Like many people who have not had the opportunity to study at university Rita felt that there was a university degree in her somewhere, just waiting to be given the opportunity to graduate, and with this goal in mind she embarked on studies in Coaching at Frankfurt University. This educational journey ran parallel to her full-time job and meant many hours of study in the evening and at weekends. However, during this time she was introduced to a mentoring programme that was in operation in the Frankfurt area; Rita had a number of visits to participating companies such as Lufthansa and Deutsche Band and became inspired by the benefits of such a programme and convinced that the advantages would be even greater in Luxembourg. With this in mind, Rita chose the daunting task of setting up a similar pilot project in Luxembourg and this became the basis of her final year thesis. In her own words she “upgraded the Frankfurt project, making cross-cultural mentoring part of the project”, in other words the Mentor and Mentee should not only come from a different hierarchical position, and different company, but the companies should also be from different cultural backgrounds. The project Cross Cultural Mentoring for Women in Leading Positions is supported by the Ministry of Equal Opportunities and the third programme is due to start on the 15th of June, the success of the previous two projects is validated by the increasing number of companies applying to take part in the one year commitment. However, new companies are always welcome and the mandate is that each company that takes part must provide as many mentors as mentees, this makes it much easier to maintain the balance needed for the success of the programme. Rita explained that she is often asked why the programme is only for the benefit of women and her answer is simply that while Luxembourg retains the embarrassing figure of only 3% of leading positions filled by women, she will continue the exclusivity of the programme, when Luxembourg has over 30% of leading positions filled by women, she will be willing to discuss widening the reach ( many of the former eastern block countries have a high percentage of women in leading roles and Israel has 30%).

Rita was joined by one of her current mentees Kristin Lang, a French-American woman working at the European Investments Bank (EIB). Kristin explained that she was chosen for the project by the human resources department in the EIB, because they were considering introducing an internal mentoring programme. As an active member of the Equal Opportunities Committee at the bank, Kristin was guaranteed to give an informative briefing to her company on completion of her mentored year. Now one third into her year’s project Kristin described the mentoring programme as a “reflective learning process” as opposed to a “quick career fix”. She also concluded that she already sees huge advantages to participating in a cross-company and cross-cultural programme, namely that it frees the mentee from any internal politics that may be experiences when you become know as the company’s candidate of choice, as well as, allowing mentor and mentee to develop a relationship detached of any preconceived company ideas or the worry that you are opening-up to someone who could potentially be your future boss.

Rita concluded the evening by spending time answering the numerous questions that her talk had inspired amongst the audience. She then unveiled a new project that she has just launched, that is open to individuals and not only companies; the programme is called One Day Mentoring and allows individuals to apply to spend one day with a Luxembourg CEO as mentor. The programme is planned to be pan-European and information can be found under www.mentoring.lu

New Members - Welcome to the Network

Name: Carole Starcevic Nationality: Dutch Previous places of residence: Egypt, Greece, Holland and now France Languages: French, Dutch, English, Greek, a bit of German and Italian Profession, Career Path or Work Experience: Touroperator for 12 years in Holland, Executive assistant for 6 years in Paris and Paris area and now HR consultant for 3 years in Metz.

Family situation: daughter of 15 Hobbies: scuba-diving and travelling Introduction to the Network: by someone who spoke to me about it What inspired me to join The Network: the interest, the variety of nationalities and the conviviality What do I hope to gain from being a member: Expand my network professionally and personally.

Name: Susy Maat-Van den Dobbelsteen Nationality: Dutch Languages: Dutch, English, German and learning French at this moment Profession, Career Path or Work Experience: When we lived in the Netherlands I was a personal assistant to the CEO of one of Dutch biggest catering- and event organisations. I had to leave this job to go to Luxembourg with my husband. After exploring Luxembourg in the first couple of months, I realised that there was a opportunity to start my own business…Together with the Easy Way Group in the Netherlands, we started Easy Way Luxembourg. Easy Way is providing qualified and experienced private chauffeurs to drive business people in their own car to appointments in Luxembourg or abroad. This initiative is unique for Luxembourg and I believe our service contributes in a greater extent to more efficiency and flexibility for the business community. (The Easy Way Group in the Netherlands is founded in 1990 and has over 800 chauffeurs in employment.)

Family situation: married to Menno Maat Children: none Hobbies: travelling, cooking, sports, shopping and enjoying life!

Introduction to The Network by: Marjolijne Tiecke What inspired me to join The Netwerk: to meet working and non-working women in Luxembourg in a less ‘business atmosphere’ as by other network organisations.

What do I hope to gain from being a member: to meet interesting women and to enjoy the events of The Network.

Welcome to the holidays Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Since it is already June and holiday season began, I thought it would be interesting to present you a holiday destination. The presence of low-cost carriers in near Hahn opens so many interesting places that previously we might have never even considered as a holidays destination. Therefore, I would like to, with this article, open a new cycle of articles where I would present you places for short holidays destinations.

In the beginning of May, I travelled with my husband to south of Italy because my girl friend and her

fiancĂŠ came up with the idea of having romantic wedding in Italy. So, I had no choice as to look for a flight that would land close enough to Lamezia. The obvious choice for me was Bari, the capital of the Apulia (or Puglia) region located on the Adriatic Sea. Since we were going so far we thought it would be good to make a week holidays out of it. And it was worth it.

So, in total we had around 5 days for entertaining and sightseeing. I started asking Italian friends what they would recommend to see in that region of Italy and the final choice was Alberobello and Matera (both places are UNESCO World Heritage sites). Believe me, the places are just wonderful.

We arrived to Bari, the second largest city of Southern Italy, very late on Saturday evening. One important advice, even if the people look intimidating after living in calm and quiet Luxembourg, do not be afraid to ask them for help. They will surprise you with their openness and willingness to help. This is what actually happened to us. We arrived at the city centre and had to take a bus to our hotel (Villa Valeria). We knew which bus number to take, but not where the hotel actually was. We were a bit shocked by the chaos and noise on the bus; youngsters were running around the bus and shouting.

We looked like tourists with backpacks and cameras hanging from every our shoulder, and were sure we would soon be mugged. I had to approach the driver asking him to stop on the desired road and let us out! I started to explain in English- to a person that knows English as much as I know Italian (which generally comes to the words si, buon giorno, buona sera, and grazie) that I am looking for that particular road. My Italian must be better than I thought, or his English was better that he thought, because he told me simply that the road I wanted was a long one! The driver had no idea where our hotel was, so the boy next to him started screaming to the back of the bus asking if anyone knew the hotel. Then the driver took his mobile phone and the hotel details from me and called the hotel asking for the directions; still looking at the map and of course all this time driving through the busy city streets. So what was to outcome of all this? We survived, the driver had no accident and he stopped almost in front of the entrance to that hotel (even though there was no bus stop in that very spot) and when we left, the whole bus was waving goodbye to us. It was a third degree meeting with Southern Italians with a happy end.

Now safe and sound in Bari we prepared for our 2 days sightseeing. Bari has become one of the top commercial and industrial leaders in Italy. People have come to know Bari as "California of the South", which is a title given to the city for its amazing growth and leadership compared to other areas in the south.

There have been many influences in Bari; believed to be originally Illyrian, Bari was controlled by Greeks, and then later, Romans. Then conquered and ruled by the Goths and Lombards as well as the Byzantines. In 1071, Bari was controlled by Normans, and was the chief town of Apulia. Crusaders often sailed from Bari. During the Middle Ages, Bari was ruled by lords such as Hohenstaufens and the Sforzas of Milan. The city suffered damage in World War II. Bari was wakened from its provincial somnolence by Napoleon's brother-in-law Joachim Murat. As Napoleonic King of Naples Murat ordered the building in 1808 of a new section of the city, laid out on a rational grid plan, which bears his name today as the Murattiano. Under this stimulus, Bari developed into the most important port city of the region. The legacy of Mussolini can be seen in the imposing architecture along the seafront.

Bari is divided into parts which include a modern area called "quarters", which was developed in 1820, and an ancient district, located on a peninsula to the north, which contains many beautiful Romanesque-Pugliese structures and churches where tourists can relive history, such as the Cathedral of San Sabino (dating back to 1035). There is also a major shopping district, the town of Murattiano, which is located to the south. The famous Via Sparano and Via Argiro are located there.

Besides being a major seaport in Italy, agriculture is also notable in region. Bari also takes great pride in its seafood industry, which provides delicious local cuisine.

The ancient district is the place to visit for historical enlightenment with treasures like Basilica di San Nicola and Castello Normanno Svevo. Or for art lovers , the Norman-Hohenstaufen Castle, well-known

as Castello Svevo, now serves as a gallery for a variety of temporary exhibitions in the city.

In general the ambiance in the city was very pleasant. The streets close to the seaside made very agreeable place for walking and not forgetting of course about abundance of ice-cream parlors on every corner offering delicious "gelato" in hundreds of flavors.

After 2 days in Bari, we left for Alberobello with a plan to visit the place on that day and next morning drive to our final destination stopping on the way in Matera (by the way we rent a car in the Italian chain called "auto europa" which offered more competitive prices comparing to the most known car rental companies).

After around 1 hour driving we arrived to Alberobello. It was 1st May and the place was very crowded, it felt like half of the Italian nation decided to spend there their free day. The town’s name derives from the Latin, Sylva Arboris Belli (wood from the tree of war), after an oak wood which once grew nearby.

Alberobello is known for its buildings called "trulli". The trullis are built from overlapping stone slabs, known to architects as corbelled "chiancole" and form the characteristic cone shaped roofs that go towards creating this unique, wonderful town that is so much admired by visitors from all over the world. If you see trulli from a distance they seem to be stoned tents scattered in the countryside. In some areas their concentration is such as to give the landscape a fairy-tale dimension.

The Trulli, timeless rural buildings, are always associated to Apulia as one of the most typical expression of its peasant soul. They are present in the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, but it is in Alberobello that they are sanctioned as monuments of the highest level.

Next day morning we left for Matera; a very enchanting place which stretches back to the Neolithic age. The old city was created out of a rocky ravine. The numerous natural caves in Matera (known as the "Sassi") were the first houses of the Neolithic inhabitants of the region, who transformed the natural landscape into new forms of architecture. Matera was developed by its inhabitants over the centuries in a manner that is now called "Spontaneous Architecture" due to the way the city conforms to the natural environment while revealing many very sophisticated and elegant styles.

Caves are carved out one above the other and arranged in a seemingly chaotic way until it is realized that the caves are really a labyrinth of houses. The roof of one house may appear as a road, a stairway, a garden or as the floor of yet another house. Walking through the old city, many chimneys sprout out of the road, and you find yourself walking on the roofs of other houses. Distinguishing the natural rock formations and the architecture created by the ancient inhabitants is often impossible.

It is no coincidence that Matera was chosen to provide the backdrop to Mel Gibson's controversial "The Passion of Christ," a film which required a special landscape endowed with mystical colors and atmosphere.

There are few other places in the region of Bari one may visit, if is not doomed to drive to the other side of Italy for a wedding, such as Castel del Monte near Bari, Melfi, Venosa where Latin poet Horace was born, Taranto, and Lecee called "the Florence of the South".

e-corner W h a t c a n t h e -n e tw or k . l u d o f o r yo u ?

Au t h o r : C o rn e l i a d e n H a r to g Most of you used the website to register for the network, a very logical first step. Then some of you might use the calendar to check for the latest events. However the-network.lu has a lot more to offer. First of all as a member you have access to the database of all members. Besides the contact details, you can find also the pictures of our members. This can be a very practical tool to network, so if you haven’t done it already putting in your picture and

completing your contact details might be worth the trouble. It is easy just login and go the membership pages.

There you can click on "Show my summary page"; all your details are there, click on edit and there you can change, add, put in a picture and decide what you want to be shown on the website. There you go ready to network!

But the website can do more for you. Exchanging information is the basis of networking, therefore we have the enotice board. Different categories are open for you to place a posting or to find what you have been looking for; job adds, job search accommodations, trainings or objects for sale.

You can also find a lot of practical information on the site. Practical addresses to get by in Luxembourg and interesting links and most importantly you can find all issues of the newsletter.

Hope to see you soon on www.the-network.lu

Luxembourg in Second Life at last!

Au t h o r : C o rn e l i a d e n H a r to g Have you heard of Secondlife.com?

Second Life is a 3D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today it is inhabited by nearly seven million people, growing every day. From around the globe, more than half of these are European.

From the moment you enter the world you\'ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, education, experiences and opportunities.

On Second Life you do whatever you want; you can create content, design your own home, sell products, do brand marketing, hold events, and travel endlessly from the comfort of your own computer.

It’s not a game !

Multinational companies such as Warner Bros, Adidas, IBM, Dell and Toyota have taken the opportunity to brand themselves through Second Life recognising Second Life’s reputation as a trendy environment. Opening virtual offices or shops, selling and market testing digital replicas of products, and creating 3D online individuals are becoming important on the \"to-do\" list of those eager to become better known in the digital age.

It’s serious!

Even Reuters has appointed a Journalist to operate full time inside Second Life!

Top educational institutions, including Harvard Law School (which is offering a distance course via SecondLife.com this semester), are currently exploring the possibilities of the online community to greaten their appeal, scope and availability to a wider audience.

Politically, the two main candidates in France\'s presidential election opened virtual headquarters in Second Life, allowing inhabitants to engage in debates, attend political rallies and take part in protests in a multidimensional world that makes traditional campaign web sites seem quaint and antiquated. Sweden has even opened an embassy on Second Life!

Further examples are numerous.

Second Life and Luxembourg!

As a first for Luxembourg, GAX Technologies has seized this opportunity! Gax Technologies is happy to

announce the launch of their office on Second Life!

Cornelia den Hartog, Managing Director of Gax Technologies explains "At first, we will use the office on Second Life to demonstrate our products allowing an insight not only into the innovative technologies offered by GAX such as CVTech and our Content Management System, but also how this virtual environment can be exploited to create an innovative business environment. This enables worldwide prototyping possibilities for our new software in a global marketing environment.

In the near future, we, at GAX Technologies, intend to develop a Human Resource tool which can interact with Second Life that will be of interest to local companies and candidates here in Luxembourg and around the globe.

This will enable both employers and employees a more human (as opposed to websites) approach to applying for vacancies and finding suitable employees. For example interviews can take place in our virtual office eliminating the need for real world travel and the costs associated with it.

It is important for us to be on Second Life as it is a part of the future of the Internet. As an innovative IT company constantly developing new products and integrating new legislation such as our Basel II module referring to the banking directive issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, we have to be ahead and make the first step towards what’s new on the market. In addition to the obvious display of advertising banners with links to corporate Web sites, creating environments for virtual conversations with customers has been found valuable to a worldwide audience.

Throughout the world, many businesses are benefiting from a Second Life presence. Why should we not take advantage of it in Luxembourg?"

To experience GAX Technologies free on Second Life, go to htttp://www.secondlife.com and download and install the software, create an account and then search for GAX Technologies. Sit back and enjoy!

You are invites to joing Gax Technologies celebrate being in Secondlife.com.

28th of June 2007, Open House at Gax Technologies, 90 avenue Victor Hugo, 1750 Limpertsberg. Call 228 993 11 Editor notes:About Gax Technologies GAX Technologies provides new technology services ranging from designing web sites to 3D animation to developing web-based applications and banking modules. GAX Technologies also provides IT consultancy services in the areas of web technologies, financial software and customised software packages.

GAX Technologies’ proprietary products include e-banking and content management systems and a fast XML database that forms the basis for recruitment and real estate applications. Most recently GAX Technologies has been developing competitively priced BASEL II reporting software specifically designed for small- and mediumsized banks in Luxembourg. Clients are based throughout the EU; sectors include banking, consumer products, ICT, non-profit, aerospace and EU institutions.

General Information D e a d l i n e f o r t h e S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 7 N e w s le t t e r Submissions for the September 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 1st September 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter October 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear networkers, It was great to meet so many members last month; new and old. We had a great evening at the wine enhanced Speed-Networking event, so if anyone has any other ideas about how we can put a twist on an old event please let me know. Also, about 18 of our members accepted the invitation extended by the American Chamber of Commerce and attended their opening event to listen to Jeannot Krecke, Minister of Economy make his speech on the eve of the Luxembourg Budget announcement. Please make a note that the October meeting will take place this Wednesday, the 17th, not as was originally published. I hope to see many of you there as we continue our season with a look at Women in Politics.

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Dear Networkers, Another month and another meeting. Our speed networking was a great success, we all enjoyed nice conversations with great Luxembourgish wine. I am sure you will also enjoy this month meeting too. We will have a rare possibility to meet with great ladies of politics in person and hear about their international experience and the way to the top. So, all that\'s lef to say is to enjoy the evening.

Meeting in Review S p e e d -n e tw o rk i n g a n d W i n e - t a s t i n g Au t h o r : L i s a M c L e a n With grateful thanks to Domaine de Vinsmoselle The Network enjoyed a very successful October event to kick-off the new networking season. Vice-President Vivianne Bumb had carefully orchastrated a system whereby no-one left the evening without having networked with ALL the participants. Six different wines graced six different tables, each adorned by six if not seven eager networkers. After every 10 minutes a bell rang and it was off to the next table. Get it? No? What more can we say; you had to be there, you missed a great opportunity, but the good news is that due to the success of the evening there are likely to be similar events in the future!

Thanks Vivian!

Upcoming Network Events Women in Politics -17th Oct at 8pm Au t h o r : L i s a M c L e a n The Business and Professional Women’s Network is honoured to have the Finnish Ambassador Ms. Tarja Laitianen and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Ms Katerina Lukesova join us to discuss the role of women in politics in their home countries.

With Segoline Royale, Angela Merkel and now Hillary Clinton creating much of the political news of 2007, it was decided that it would be interesting to investigate the subject of women involved in politics in other countries.

There are a number of female ambassadors in Luxembourg and both Finland and the Czech Republic have an exceptional record of women involved in politics at a local and national level. This is a subject that interests many women in Luxembourg and the group looks forward to welcoming members and non-members to an enlightening evening in the company of honoured guests. Indeed there are also a number of ways that non-Luxembourgish men and women can contribute through their local commune and this will also be discussed.

Future Meetings - Dates for your Diaries 21 November- Speaker Véronique Faber from ADA asbl. talking about Micro-credit 13 Dec- Social Event: Guided Tour of the City Museum followed by dinner at Restaurant Papageno

New Members - Welcome to the Network Name: NETCHENAWOE Frédérika Age (if desired): 30 Nationality: Togolese Countries you have lived in: Togo Languages you speak: English, French, and Mina (dialect from west Africa) Profession, Career path or Work experience: back office employee Family situation: Married Children: No child Hobbies: theatre, music (opera), Reading, and Golf How were you introduced to the Network: by a friend , networdk member (Sylvie Nsanzimana What inspired you to join our group: to meet the other women living in Luxemburg and share with them my hobbies.

What do you hope to gain from being a member: meet people, broaden my outlook and maybe find another job.

Women in Mentoring and Business A mentoring scheme is pairing women with FTSE 100 heads in a bid to redress imbalance in the boardroom.

Alison Wheaton has the curriculum vitae of a classic high-flyer: a degree from Cornell, an MBA from Wharton, and a career that encompasses Morgan Stanley, Pepsi-Cola International and Bass. But Wheaton, an American who has made her home in the UK, lacks one thing that would set the seal on her distinction: a directorship with a leading company on the London Stock Exchange.

So, on a hot early autumn day, she is travelling across London by taxi to see a well-connected man at the top of British business who can help her achieve her goal.

Neatly dressed in a brown trouser suit, complemented by discreet pearl earrings and necklace, Wheaton admits to feeling “a little nervous... but mostly just really looking forward to it”. The business leader on whom she is about to call is Sir John Parker, 64-year-old chairman of National Grid, one of the world’s largest utilities companies. In his other big corporate post as chairman of P&O, he led the sale of the shipping and ports operator to DP World of Dubai earlier this year. Sir John has been Wheaton’s mentor for the past two years. “To be honest I couldn’t believe my luck in getting him,” says Wheaton, 42, who is director of property and information technology for Mitchells & Butlers, Britain’s largest managed pubs group. “He is very warm and easy to talk to and very structured in his thinking, which is why we hit it off at our first meeting. It’s people like him who will help to make the difference.”

The “difference” she is talking about is a redressing of the gender imbalance in Britain’s boardrooms. Wheaton is part of a unique experiment that will help determine whether voluntary measures can be as effective as quotas in feminising the white, middle-aged male profile of top boards. It will be a challenge. In Norway, where quotas are being introduced, the number of female board directors in top companies has jumped from 22 per cent to 29 per cent in the past two years, according to a survey by the European Professional Women’s Network. Over the same period, leading UK companies have seen only a slight rise from 10 per cent to 11.4 per cent.

The driving forces behind the UK initiative, known as the FTSE 100 Cross-Company Mentoring Programme, are two professional women who together decided that action was needed: Peninah Thomson, a partner at Praesta, an executive coaching firm that is funding the programme; and Jacey Graham, an independent consultant and former head of diversity strategy at Shell International.

With support from government ministers and business schools, they have persuaded 29 chairmen and chief executives of FTSE 100 companies - including Niall FitzGerald of Reuters, Peter Sutherland of BP, Baroness Hogg of 3i and Philip Hampton of J Sainsbury - to mentor up-and-coming women in non-competing companies with the aim of helping them secure suitable directorships. Launched two years ago, the programme has attracted attention from Australia, Canada and the Netherlands and is being modelled in France. The World Bank has shown interest in the initiative as a means to further equal rights for women.

The mentoring sessions are by their nature private. Today, however, Wheaton and Sir John have agreed that I can be a fly-on-the-wall at their meeting. Wheaton has had reservations about going public, but decided it was important to show how useful a “tremendous mentor” could be. “I also try to think about it from the point of view of: If I were a bloke, what would I do? A bloke, presumably, would stick his head above the parapet.”

We arrive around noon at the headquarters of National Grid, just off Trafalgar Square, and are shown to the waiting area outside Sir John’s office. There is a party atmosphere as a group of other women arrive, greeting each other enthusiastically. It transpires that they are personal assistants whose bosses are all members of the same committee, and they are gathering for an all-female get-to-know-you lunch. Given our rather different reason for being there, it is an ironic reminder of the gender segregation that persists in significant parts of the jobs market. Wheaton has her mind on other things. She has a typed list of subjects she wants to raise: what size of company and what sector should she be aiming for? How can she best approach the chairman of her own company for advice? Is this a good moment to renew her rounds of the headhunters?

She is ushered in for a preliminary chat. Ten minutes later, I am invited to join them in Sir John’s unostentatious office overlooking the National Gallery. He runs the 45-minute meeting in a calm, businesslike manner, inquiring in his soft Northern Irish accent what progress she has made since their last session in May. Fast facts about women:

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Is a lack of ambition preventing more women from reaching the top? Will the increasing visibility of more female leaders like Angela Merkel, Segolene Royal and Hilary Clinton project the role models that have been lacking in our society? Will more women dare to take the leading roles?

Businesswomen make up a growing percentage of the global workforce but are still under-represented in the boardroom. With just 117 women among the 1,130 directors of the FTSE 100 companies, according to a recent survey by Cranfield University, it would need almost a fourfold increase in female representation to achieve gender equality.

Studies have shown that women are just as ambitious as men, but women believe that society will make it more difficult for them to achieve their ambitions.

However, women believe that they will encounter greater barriers to balancing career and family.

Further, studies have shown that women routinely underestimate their abilities, and do not do a good job at promoting themselves.

Wendy Schmidt: I am very proud of the fact that I have three very accomplished children. While I took some time off after my third child was born, since then I have always worked on a part-time, and over the last several years, on a full-time basis. However, I would not have been successful without a lot of support at home as well, both from my husband and from my live-in full time nanny. I think the key to “having it all” is that both the employer and employee have to be flexible. And, I think it is a great role model for children of both sexes to see that mothers can be as successful as fathers.

Does boardroom data sufficiently represent the issue of gender inequality? Isn’t it more important to analyse how many women are actually willing to go the extra mile - in universities, in normal work places or in small industries?

The 2006 study from Catalyst - a leading North American research and advisory organisation that works with businesses and the professionals to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work - indicates that women currently hold 50.3 per cent of all management and professional positions. So women are well represented at that level. However, the issue arises at the top levels of corporations. Only 7.9 percent of Fortune 500 top earners and 1.4 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. This data indicates an inconsistency that we need to better understand and address.

Source: Financial Times 2007

The World's Most Powerful Women in Business as listed in Fortune Magazine Here are the Top 10. For more on this article check out http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0709/gallery.women_intl.fortune/index.html CYNTHIA CARROLL,CEO, ANGLO AMERICAN ANNE LAUVERGEON, EXEC CHAIRMAN, AEEVA MARJORIE SCARDINO, CEO, PEARSON PATRICIA RUSSO, CEO, ALCATEL-LUCENT LINDA COOK, EXEC DIRECTOR, GAS & POWER ROYAL DUTCH SHELL ANNE-MARIE IDRAC, PRESIDENT SNCF MARIINA BERLUSCONI, CHAIRMAN, FININVEST GüLER SABANCI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, SABANCI HOLDINGS ANA PATRICIA BOTIN, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, BANESTO; NANCY MCKINSTRY, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, WOLTERS KLUWER

General Information N e w “ n e s tw ä r me ” to s u p p o r t s f a m i l i e s i n L u x e m b o u rg Arriving to Luxembourg to start a new life with her husband, Isabell von Spörcken-Riemersmade has made a decision to start a “nestwärme” group here. “nestwärme” was founded 1999 in Trier, with the idea to support families with disabled children or severe illness and need of special care. “nestwärme” tries to give these families, which are under quite a burden taking care of their kids at home, more

support, a better life quality and also trying to avoid the social exclusion and descent these families mostly experience. “nestwärme” has different projects, but we will first start with our project called “time giving”. This is a project which coordinates volunteers, who after an internal training, are introduced into an affected family.

The volunteers mainly assist the parents in their daily life by giving them support and help. Giving them some “time” for themselves while taking care of the daily “duties” towards other family members or even the troubled child itself.

To start up “nestwärme” here in Luxembourg Isabell is looking for volunteers to help get things up and running!

If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact: Isabell von Spörcken-Riemers Nestwärme e.V. – Büro Luxembourg Cite Joseph Bech, 6186 Gonderange www.nestwaerme.de Phone: 621 14 77 80 - E-Mail: luxembourg@nestwaerme.de

Office 26m2 to Rent Office 26m2 to rent in rue de Hollerich, Luxembourg. Current rent is €427 inclusive. Parking would be available at an extra cost, 1hr free for visitors. 10min walk to train station.

F AL L - W I N T E R P R IV AT E S AL E

PMC textile importer invites you to the PRIVATE SALE* of its Fall-Winter 2007 collections on: • Thursday , October 11, 2007 from 9h to 19h • Friday, October 12 , 2007 from 9h to 19h • Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 10h to 18h • Sunday, October 14, 2007 from 14h to 18h You will be able to find : • Scarves for Women and Men • Coats, skirts , dress, trousers and jackets for Women • Sweaters for Women and Men • Polo shirts and shirts for Women and Men • Bags At : PMC Agence Textile Sarl Show-room 96, avenue Victor HUGO L-1750 Luxembourg Tél : 22 86 55

Deadline for the November 2007 Newsletter Submissions for the November 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 30th October 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter November 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter Dear networkers, After an interesting October meeting when the Ambassadors of Finland and the Czech Republic took time out of their busy schedules to discuss the role of Women in Politics in their home countries, I am now looking forward to the November meeting when Véronique Faber of ADA (Appui au Développement Autonome www.microfinance.lu will discuss the agency’s work in the field of microfinance and illustrate how individuals can help. ADA is a nonprofit organisation based in Luxembourg. Since 1994, ADA has been working with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) by offering them a unique combination of financial support and customised technical services.

After November we are firmly in the holiday season and what better way to celebrate than to get together for a relaxing social event. We will meet on Thursday the 13th of December at the Luxembourg City History Museum and then on to dinner at the Restaurant Papageno. We have chosen to meet on a Thursday because that is the evening that the museum is open late for a guided tour. We will also be hosting a silent auction to raise funds for this year's charity donation. If you are able to donate an item to the auction please drop me an email lisa.mclean@pt.lu , otherwise an invitation with full details of the December event will be sent out soon.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you all on the 21st of November at our next meeting. regards, Lisa

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Welcome Dear Networkers, This month we would like to tell you about the phenomenal scheme called microcredit. It amazing to see that a loan of approximately 100€ can change the life of a whole family for the better. We will also have possibility to find out how we could get involved and participate in this system.

Since the weather outside the window is so gray and cold I want to propose to you a short trip to sunny and warm southern part of Spain. I hope you will enjoy the trip and feel a bit of Spanish sun on your chieeks.

Enjoy everyone.

Gosia G.

Upcoming Network Events M i c ro c r e d i t s - t h e w a y o u t o f t h e p o v e r t y Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

At our next meeting on the 21st of November Microcredit is the topic of discussion. Microfinance is a term for the practice of providing financial services, such as microcredit, microsavings or microinsurance to poor people. By helping them to accumulate useably large sums of money, this expands their choices and reduces the risks they face. As suggested by the name, most transactions involve small amounts of money, frequently less than USD100.

The most important form of microfinance is credit targeted to poor people who are also talented entrepreneurs. If these people gain access to credit, they will expand their businesses, stimulate local economic growth and hire their less entrepreneurial neighbours, resulting in fast economic development.

Today, microfinance plays a major role in the development of many African, Asian, and Latin American nations.

Its impact is substantial enough to have warranted acknowledgment by the United Nations who declared 2005 "The international year of microfinance", reminding people that millions worldwide benefit from microfinance activities.

In India, microfinance traces its roots to mid 1970s when some prominent Indian NGO like Myrada & Pradan started using the Self Help Group (SHG) model. The SHG is used as a platform for social mobilization and finance is one of the various services provided to the grassroot community through this model. It was widely replicated across other developmental NGOs. It is a community driven and managed microfinance model where the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) plays the role of a facilitator, for instance providing capacity building services to the groups and building relationships with banks.

During the late 90's , the Grameen model promoted by Mohammad Younus of Grameen Bank and the ASA model promoted by the Association for Social Advancement, both from Bangladesh, found rapid acceptance amongst the newer breed of microfinance institutions in India. This was due to the models' capability for rapid scaling in terms of client outreach. Also these models are less dependent on donor funds and they pass the actual service charge to the clients while retaining a margin for its own growth. These models have proven to be robust revenue models.

Slowly a distinct trend of shifting from non profit, grant supported organizations to for profit institutions (nonbanking financial corporations) became visible in Indian microfinance sector.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus at Grameen Bank (http://www.grameenfoundation.org)who went on to win the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The 65-year-old economist said he would use part of his share of the $1.4 million award money to create a company to make low-cost, high-nutrition food for the poor. The rest would go toward setting up an eye hospital for the poor in Bangladesh.

Professor Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1983, fueled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right. His objective was to help poor people escape from poverty by providing loans on terms suitable to them and by teaching them a few sound financial principles so they could help themselves.

From Dr. Yunus' personal loan of small amounts of money to destitute basketweavers in Bangladesh in the mid70s, the Grameen Bank has advanced to the forefront of a burgeoning world movement toward eradicating poverty through microlending. Replicas of the Grameen Bank model operate in more than 100 countries worldwide.

A new microfinance paradigm is taking shape, with the goal of developing full-service for-profit banks for all poor people. This approach is exemplified by the transformations at Grameen Bank (referred to as 'Grameen II') since 2000 and has been championed by practitioners such as Stuart Rutherford, Graham Wright, Madeleine Hirschland and Marguerite Robinson. The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP at http://www.cgap.org/portal/site/cgap/) has also published extensively on the new microfinance. These banks will be

able to support their clients' efforts to control family risks as well as capitalize on business opportunities. They will offer savings, insurance, remittance services, and personal and business loans, to help clients grow their assets while increasing their incomes.

There is, however one criticism towards microfinance institutions, it is not widely known that interest rates are high.

GENDER EQU ALITY: A SOLID BUSINESS CASE AT L AST Au t h o r : L yn d a G r a t to n a n d L a m i a W a l k e r o f t h e F i n a n c i a l T im e s Published: October 28 2007 20:25 FT Gender parity at work is one of those topics guaranteed to polarise opinion, whether at the dinner table or around the executive boardroom table. Most emotive, perhaps, is the fact that, despite policies to ensure equal opportunity, widely reported disparities persist.

Proposals for new interventions to address this issue are usually met with the challenge: “Show me the business case.� The topic has been debated for decades with little change in the number of women achieving senior office.

In fact, the number of women on the boards of UK publicly listed companies is reported to be falling in the FTSE 100, 250 and 350 (according to Cranfield’s Female FTSE report of 2007 and PwC research, also in 2007).

Two questions emerge that must be addressed. How can we better understand and therefore value the relative contribution of men and women in professional teams? And what is the business case today for ensuring that more women achieve senior corporate office?

Over the past six months at the Lehman Brothers Centre for Women in Business, at London Business School, we have been studying how men and women work in teams that are critical to the business. An important feature of the research is that the 100 knowledge-based teams studied, from 21 global companies, were chosen from a variety of disciplines on the basis of the male-to-female ratio.

Key findings will be published this week in our report, Innovative Potential. Team members of both sexes identify that working groups with 50 per cent men and 50 per cent women deliver optimal performance in most areas that drive innovation. Gender imbalances create a significant deterioration in knowledge-based work with regard to experimentation, knowledge transfer, the capacity to work across functional or business boundaries, and general efficiency. These results were consistent, regardless of the sex of the team leader.

What is clear from this is the crucial role that gender balance plays when knowledge-based teams are working on business-critical innovative tasks.

Our research supports a number of recent studies that show the positive effect of gender parity in business. This year alone, three studies found consistent evidence for the business case. McKinsey reports that better-thanaverage financial performance is experienced by European companies with the highest proportion of women in leadership roles. Research at the University of Helsinki finds that companies with female chief executives or board directors achieve a 10 per cent higher return on capital, regardless of the company or sector, while Catalyst reports that Fortune 500 companies with the highest proportion of female directors are more profitable and efficient, on average, than those with the lowest.

So to every chief executive we ask: why, given the evidence that to do so results in suboptimal performance, do you persevere in recruiting disproportionate numbers of men to senior ranks? Across most industrial sectors, while 50 per cent of graduates recruited are women, only 30 per cent of managers are women and about 15 per cent of senior executives are women.

Clearly, there is a leak in the pipeline that filters out many women en route to the corporate suite. Many reasons for this leak have been explored. Women fail to see role models at the top and leave to find a better working situation or create one of their own. They might also leave because they feel forced to choose between work and home. Only 48 per cent of female team leaders we surveyed have children, while 96 per cent of their male colleagues are fathers. A worrying trend is that more women are leaving. Without swift action, the 50:30:15 ratios

will continue to be a drain on talent and a negative pull on performance.

The executives who continue to ask for a business case should now turn their analytical skills to the management of their own employee base. They should put in place clear measures of progress; create and champion familyfriendly working policies; encourage role models; and ensure that half of the people on leadership track projects (overseas assignments, leading business-critical projects) are women.

With such a mass of data pointing to the business case for gender parity, every chief executive should now see that these actions are a crucial part of their vision of good business.

Lynda Gratton is professor of management practice and co-director of the Lehman Brothers Centre for Women in Business at London Business School. Lamia Walker is co-director of the centre

Au t h o r : Au t o m o b i l e N e w s E u r o p e H o n o u r s T o p Wo m e n Automobile News Europe will publish a special supplement featuring the 25 leading women in the European automobile industry. The feature will appear in May 2008. If you know someone you think is a leader let them know. A candidate must:

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be a leader in her field have a senior position of substantial responsibility have had major effects on her company's operation in Europe

HOW TO NOMINATE online: www.autonews.com/leadingwomen

Malaga - sunny port of Spain Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

With this changing weather outside my window, grey sky, rain and darkness I was longing for some sun and warmth. Therefore I decided to move my spirits for at least a moment to the place which regardless of being not so far away is warm and sunny. Malaga in Andalusia region in Southern Spain sounded like a perfect place to be.

A place where sea breezes from the Mediterranean coastline regulates the summer heat to a more comfortable levels than the inland Andalusian towns and the Malaga Mountains form the perfect barrier to protect the city from the colder weather in winter.

The Phoenicians from Tyre founded the city Malaka here, in about 1000 BC. About six centuries later, the Romans conquered the city along with the other Spanish areas of Carthago. In the 8th century, Spain was conquered by the Moors, and the city became an important centre of trade. Malaga became Christian again, in 1487.

Although there was much destruction in Malaga, especially during the time of the Spanish Civil War, there is still plenty of proof of the Moorish occupation. Today you can visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcazaba_%28M%C3%A1laga%29), dating back to 1065, built on a hill in the centre of the city, overlooking the port, and comprises two walled enclosures. Today it features a very interesting archaeological museum. Next to the entrance to the Alcazaba are the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre dating to the 2nd century which is undergoing restoration.

Since the opening of the already well acclaimed Picasso Museum (http://www.museopicassomalaga.org/) in 2003, cultural tourists have been flocking to this and the now beautifully refurbished birthplace of the great artist, all in the heart of the historic centre of the city.

As well as homage to the great Picasso, other great historic monuments include the imposing Baroque Cathedral.

High on the hill above the city is the Parador (state run hotel) of great historic importance. It was once a Moorish castle and is a wonderful place to either stay the night or have a long lunch enjoying these privileged surroundings with panoramic views over Malaga city and out across the port to sea.

There are also many churches in and around the centre, of great architectural and historic interest well worth visiting. Malaga centre is not only the perfect place to explore the many historical monuments, atmospheric little streets and squares with delightful café culture, but it is also a wonderful shopping centre. The main street to head for runs perpendicular to the stunning tree lined avenue, the Alameda, and starts at the Plaza Marina, near the port. The main square, Plaza de la Constitución, is centre of attention throughout the year when cultural, traditional and religious events are being celebrated.

Off Calle Larios, in the melee of tiny streets and interesting tapa bars, restaurants and even teterías (Moorish tearooms) you will find other interesting shops and also the bustling main fresh food market, Mercado Central de Atarazanas.

From Málaga, other cities like Sevilla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1zar_of_Seville), Córdoba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezquita), Granada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra), and Jaén (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%C3%A9n) can be reached by train, bus or car.

Future Meetings - Dates for your Diaries 21 Nov - Speaker Véronique Faber from ADA asbl. talking about Micro-credit 13 Dec - Social Event: Guided Tour of the City Museum followed by dinner at Restaurant Papageno 14 Nov - 29 Dec - Casse-Noisette - Rudolf Noureev, Ballet en deux actes, Opera National de Paris 18 Nov - Grigory Sokolov piano recital (Franz Schubert and Frédéric Chopin), Philharmonie 19 Nov - Chuck Berry at Rockhal 24 Nov - Tokyo String Quartet (Ludwig van Beethoven, Lera Auerbach, and Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski), Philharmonie

General Information D e a d l i n e f o r t h e [ m o n th ] 2 0 0 7 N e w s l e t te r Submissions for the December 2007 newsletter should reach the Editor on or by 23rd November 2007. Our contact details are listed here.

Contact Details To advertise on the Network website, or in the newsletter, please check the details on the website.

If you would like to recommend the Network to a colleague or friend, details are published here.

For contact details of the current Network Team, click here.

Disclaimer: The comments and opinions of authors expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Network.

The Network Newsletter December 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s & P r o f e s s i o n a l N e tw o rk a s b l (Established 1991)

The Network asbl 45, rue des Templiers L-7343 STEINSEL e-mail: getintouch@the-network.lu website: http://www.the-network.lu

President's Letter

Dear networkers, A huge thank you to every one who made our End of Year event so special and particularly all those who donated to the Silent Auction. We had a lovely, informative tour of the museum and then a relaxed and festive meal at Restaurant Papageno. We are also delighted to report that our silent auction was a success.

Thanks goes to our sponsors: Gosia G., Lucile Risch Pilates, The Second Degree, Marleen Lacroix, Ruth Springham, Altech Lansing, IBT Consult, P.M.C Agence Textile, Museal Editions, LĂŠa, AraCity Radio, Eden Shoes, CoachDynamix, Papageno.

The plan was to double the amount raised at the silent auction and donate that to Femmes en Detresse, in order to support women who are trying to re-entre the workforce. As was pointed out to us, every little amount makes a difference and is often used to help someone obtain their driving licence or pay their travel costs. We have been assured that our donation will go a long way.

So our thanks and congratutations also goes to all those who bid on the items auctioned; the total amount we raised for our chosen charity of 2007 was 1356â‚Ź. The Network of course will stand by the committment to double that amount and we will be presenting to the charity in January.

Thanks and have wonderful holidays.

Lisa

Editor's Notes Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Welcome Everybody, It is almost a time to tell goodbye to 2007 ! We are all quiet busy shopping for Christmas presents and maybe a new dress for a New Year's Eve celebration. In all this running around I sat down for a minute and started to think about what Christmas is, when did this tradition begin. As usually I turned to internet for information. I decided therefore to share with you little a bit of what I found. I hope it will add a new insight to your Christmas celebrations.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones and wonderful and prosperous New Year.

Gosia G.

Microfinance - how to get involved Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Last month we were hosting VĂŠronique Faber from ADA and she told us about micorfinance in general as well as the specific tasks of ADA in that field. The subject caught the attention of guests and VĂŠronique had to answer a long round of questions from the floor.

The idea of Microfinancing is growing in importance all over the world and that there are many ways for us ordinary people to get involved. We can support ADA and/or any other Microfinancing organisation with donations. Many of these organisations have now designated sections on their websites where every interested person can make on online transfer. We can also help the cause by volunteering our spare time to ADA and other organisations. Most of those organisations employ very limited number of staff for obvious reasons - savings, but there is always plenty work to do where volunteers could give a helping hand. ADA would appreciate you expertise and experience in the areas related to the microfinancing activities. Since they are also producting a lot of different publications on the subject your help with spell checking and translations would also be very welcome.

In mid November ADA launched also "The House of Microfinance" where you can come in the search of information on the subject. There is a one of the biggest libraries in Europe on the microfinance subject at your disposition and there is always someone to answer your questions should you have any. For more information visit ADA website at www.microfiance.lu.

Christmas in July?

Au t h o r : G o s i a G .

Have you ever had a chance to celebrate Christmas in July? I have. In Australia. But it all comes from the nostalgia of a traditional northern hemisphere Christmas and winter season in Europe . Since December in Australia is full summer and July is the coldest month some Australians decided to celebrate Christmas also during the Australian winter. So you get to get your presents twice, isn't that great.

By the way, did you ever wonder when Christmas celebrations started and why actually it falls in December? The story of Christmas begins with the birth of a babe in Bethlehem, it is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25 and Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. The word "Christmas" is a contraction of two words "Christ's mass" and is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mĂŚsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.

It is believed that Christ was born on the 25th, although the exact month is unknown. December was likely chosen so the Catholic Church could compete with rival pagan rituals held at that time of year. A winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included less agricultural work needing to be done during the winter, as well as people expecting longer days and shorter nights after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. In part therefore, the Christmas celebration was created in December by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations.

The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, an area in present day Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholas was a generous man, particularly devoted to children. After his death around 340 A.D. he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors purportedly stole his remains and removed them to Bari, Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas' popularity throughout Europe. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6.

It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married.

St. Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, in Greece, he is the patron saint of sailors, in France he was the patron of lawyers, and in Belgium the patron of children and travellers.

In 1822 Clement C. Moore composed the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas, published as The Night Before

Christmas as a gift for his children. In it, he portrays Santa Claus: He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly, He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Moore is largely responsible for our modern image of Santa Claus as a "right jolly old elf" and a supernatural ability to ascend up a chimney with a mere nod of his head!

Decorating evergreen trees had always been a part of the German winter solstice tradition. The first "Christmas trees" that is, trees explicitly decorated and named after the Christian holiday, appeared in Strasbourg, in Alsace in the beginning of the seventeenth century. After 1750, Christmas trees began showing up in other parts of Germany, and even more so after 1771, when Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited Strasbourg and promptly included a Christmas tree in his novel, The Suffering of Young Werther. In the 1820s, the first German immigrants decorated Christmas trees in Pennsylvania. After Germany's Prince Albert married Queen Victoria, he introduced the Christmas tree tradition to England. In 1848, the first American newspaper carried a picture of a Christmas tree and the custom spread to nearly every home in just a few years.

I also found few not widely known but interesting stories about Christmas and Christmas celebrations around the world:

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In the U.S., Christmas decorations at public buildings once commonly included Nativity scenes. This practice has led to many lawsuits, as groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union believe it amounts to the government endorsing a religion, which is prohibited by the United States Constitution. In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a city-owned Christmas display, even one with a Nativity scene, does not violate the First Amendment.

Even though Japan is not a Christian country secular celebrations are popular. Japanese adopted character od SAnta Claus and gifts giving and also created special "Christmas cake" which is a white whipped cream cake witj strawberries.

Mexican Christmas festivities have the longest duration in the owrld, they start on 12th Decemberwith the birthday of Virgin of Guadalupe and end on 6th January with the arrvial of the Threee Wise Men to give baby Jesus (and Mexican children)gifts.

In spme cpintries of Central Europe Christmas Eve dinner (on December 24) is exceptionally rich with up to 12 dishes which symbolises the number of months in the upcoming year as well as 12 desciples of Jesus.

Pols place a bandle of hay under the Christmas dinner table cloth to symbolise the fact that Jesus was born ina manger. They also leave one empty plate by the dinner table for the strager that would unexpectedly know the door during dinner, which celebrates the tradition of hospitality in Poland Pols also believe that whatever happens on the Christmas dinner day (24th Dec)has an impact on the following year. So, if a quarrel should arise, it foretells a quarrelsome and troublesome year. If, in the morning the first visiting person is a man, it means good luck, if a woman, one might expect misfortune.

Everyone, however, is glad when a mailman comes by, for it means money and success in the future.

Russia has similar character to Santa Claus called of Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost") and he is accompanied by his graddaughter Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden). According to legend, he travels in a magical troika — a decorated sleigh drawn by three horses and delivers gifts to childrean. Unlike Santa, he does not travel down chimneys, coming instead to the front door of children's homes.

Look forward to lots of great new events and networking in 2008 Don't miss out!

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“nestwärme” is looking for volunteers Arriving to Luxembourg to start a new life with her husband, Isabell von Spörcken-Riemersmade has made a decision to start a “nestwärme” group here. “nestwärme” was founded 1999 in Trier, with the idea to support families with disabled children or severe illness and need of special care. “nestwärme” tries to give families, which are under quite a burden taking care of their kids at home, more support, a better life quality and also trying to avoid the social exclusion and descent these families mostly experience. “nestwärme” has different projects, but we will first start with our project called “time giving”. This is a project which coordinates volunteers, who after an internal training, are introduced into an affected family.

To start up “nestwärme” here in Luxembourg Isabell is looking for volunteers to help get things up and running! If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact: Isabell von Spörcken-Riemers Nestwärme e.V. – Büro Luxembourg Cite Joseph Bech, 6186 Gonderange www.nestwaerme.de Phone: 621 14 77 80 E-Mail: luxembourg@nestwaerme.de

Events I n a n d a ro u n d L u x e m b o u r g 30 Nov - 24 Dec - Christmas, Advent & St Nicholas Markets, Place d'Armes, Gare, Place de Paris 8, 9, 14 & 16 Dec - Decade of Carols - Voices International 10th Anniversary Christmas Concerts, http://www.voicesinternational.lu 14 Dec - Concert Gala de Noël / Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg / Krivine / Bashmet (Johann Strauss: Die Fledermaus (La Chauve-Souris): Ouvertüre; Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Symphonie N° 4 ADur (la majeur) op. 90 «Italienische» («Italienne»);Hector Berlioz: Harold en Italie. Symphonie en 4 parties avec un alto principal op. 16 H 68) 15 Dec - SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg / Cambreling / Naef 18 Dec - HARLEM GOSPEL SINGERS & BAND - FEAT. QUEEN ESTHER MARROW, Omnisports, Differdange 20 Dec - Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg 10 Jan - Martin Grubinger (junior) percussion & Per Rundberg piano 19 Jan - Symphonica Toscanini / Maazel (Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie N° 2 D-Dur (ré majeur) op. 36; Symphonie N° 3 Es-Dur (mi bémol majeur) op. 55 «Eroica» )

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