CEE REGION

CEE REGION LIVES STRONGER TOGETHER

By MARC GERMEHAUSEN, CEE Chairman, 2021-2022

DEAR TABLERS, Taking up the role as a Regional Chairman brings a great combination of pleasure and tasks with you. On one side, you can serve the movement and bring in your own ideas for our wonderful organization, and on the other side, you are setting your focus on implementing the 3-years plan as well as supporting your associations and Round Table International.

Since the end of September, I have been delighted to be working with amazing gents in the RTI Board, nine associations from my region and an excellent CEE team. In the middle of October, we could implement the CEETM in Bielefeld, Germany. Over 300 Tablers and ladies joined the event. It is impossible to describe such an event in words, as this was a unique opportunity to live the fellowship again after nearly one and a half years. Covid-19 forced us to postpone or cancel loads of events and activities. It was such a pleasure to meet so many people from the region and guests from around the world.

During the meeting, I presented to the councillors the CEE team of the year. This year, the CEE region is getting support from Adam Fitt (RTBI) as secretary and Membership Officer, Stephan Zipperlen (RT Germany) as PRO and Gottfried Lumpi (RT Germany) as CSO. These motivated young men will assist all members and associations within the region.

My goals for the year are very realistic. We, as a team, need to support the region and the associations that form a part of it. Furthermore, we need to strengthen regional awareness regarding Social Media and within the associations. During the process of inaugurating new associations or within potential countries, we should share our RT magazines so that our new members get a bigger picture of the Round Table Family. CEE topics should be shared within national magazines that everybody is on the same page within the region. If we are expanding, expansion should be sustainable. We should share best practices within the region as we don’t need to invent the wheel over again. Associations should be involved in decision-making processes to be Stronger Together.

Currently, we have four ongoing expansion projects within the region. We are back on track in the Czech Republic. Sixteen potential members are meeting in Prague every two weeks. Soon, I plan to visit and support them, so we set the final goals to welcome them back into our brotherhood. In Kosovo and Ukraine, we are still gathering people until we get a great mass to continue with the inauguration. Albania already set a high goal with their inauguration at the end of October. We are happy to see them soon as a part of our family.

We can only achieve more if we are Stronger Together. The theme our president Graham chose this year is represented in every little step we are trying to achieve. We can reach for the stars and collaborate, grow and fasten our relationships when we are fulfilling the theme of being Stronger Together.

Yours in table

Marc Germehausen

ceechairman@round-table.org