It’s already the fifth part of the AEGEE Golden Times review of 2012 and preview on 2013. Here you will find the memories and expectations of Alma Mozgovaja, Percin Imrek, Marije Arentze, Thomas Leszke and Michele Minuti.

Alma Mozgovaja, Former Secretary-General of AEGEE-Europe

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
These were a few very special moments during the Autumn Agora Budapest. First, when the current Comité Directeur gave their Knowledge Transfer speech and Luis presented the results of our CD to the Network – what we somehow never managed. Second, the standing ovations of the network after our Activity Report. It was a very emotional moment and a nice appreciation to conclude our term with. As well as the “Thank you” from the Chair team. Even if I was one of the CD members, I always felt like part of the Chair team as well and enjoyed working with them a lot.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?

The most vivid moment of 2012 of AEGEE-Europe was internally definitely the Spring Agora Enschede – not only the vote of confidence, but also the presence of Franck Biancheri and his controversial speech. Externally, it was the election of Miroslaw Krzanik as a board member of the European Youth Forum.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

They are quite unclear for now, I will see when 2013 will come.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?

I hope it will be a new project about the European Parliament elections, as I believe that AEGEE can do a lot about this topic.
Who was or were for you the outstanding members in 2012?

It’s Alfredo Sellitti, because even after all twists and turns he is still around and active, this is a true strength and devotion to AEGEE. And it’s Marko Grdosic, because in a very short time he took over the presidency and managed everything so good.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?

It will be in Latvia, but how – I have no clue.

Percin Imrek, Former Agora Chair, Former CD Member

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
I want to start saying that I have not been the most active AEGEE member in 2012, since I finished my mandate as the chairperson in Agora Skopje in 2011 and I studied in the College of Europe. However, the biggest AEGEE highlight in 2012 was the final conference of the “Where Does Europe End” project in Utrecht, where we wrapped up a project that we were working on for three years. It was both an emotional and a proud moment for me, to be in that event and to see our efforts giving its fruits.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?

I would say two moments. The one that really impressed me was when Jose Barroso, President of the European Commission, sent his video feed of his speech about AEGEE. I think that is an amazing achievement of everyone who is involved. Another was the speech of Franck Biancheri in Enschede. Even though it was quite controversial and not really constructive, he is our founder after all. Once again, may he rest in peace.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

I think I have done enough in AEGEE and I fulfilled all my aspirations. Therefore I do not have plans for AEGEE anymore. But of course I have a lot of good friends in AEGEE and I will never completeley let go of it.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?

Since the EU’s new Multi Financial Framework will come in place for the years 2013-2018 that will replace Youth in Action with Erasmus for All, I think this is a good topic for AEGEE to deal with. What are the opportunities and challenges that this new programme will bring to AEGEE, is a good question to ask. I believe there should be a concrete team doing concrete work on this.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?

Oh, it is hard to single out people. The CD is already working full time on AEGEE, therefore I will not single out any CD members, even though I believe they are doing a good job. But from the “regular” members, I am quite impressed by the work of Stephanie Muller, in her work with the AEGEEan magazine. I also saw Mayri Tido doing a lot of work, especially with the new health project that she founded and coordinates. Also I think Alla Resheten has been quite active in AEGEE, coordinating the EaP project, getting elected as the Chairperson of AEGEE and still being involved in discussions and conversations in AEGEE. She does all these even though she is a mother, so I really appreciate her work.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?

I will most probably be in one of the barracks anywhere in Turkey, with my fellow army colleagues. I do not know where I will be deported yet, so I can’t exactly know where. But I know that it will be a boring New Year’s night.

Marije Arentze, Network Subcommissioner

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012? 
There are many highlights. The first one I’d like to mention is the installation of the NederNetcom team at Agora Enschede, which I am part of. Together with Wieke and her subcommies Paul, Mathieu and me we started our term full of enthusiasm and new ideas. We are still going strong, and we have become really good friends in the process. Second milestone is the establishment of the Contact of AEGEE-Europe in Den Haag. I am still amazed about how many enthusiastic members we have gathered since September and how hard they are working. Another one is the EBM in Izmir. It was the greatest AEGEE event I participated in in 2012, because it was my big dive in AEGEE’s thematics. I learned a lot about AEGEE’s relevance in the “outer world”, which was a big eye-opener, and it convinced me that I had to become active on the European level. I still haven’t made a choice, because there is just so much to explore and to learn.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The troubles in the CD at Agora Enschede. I have thought about this a lot afterwards. I have seen what happens if you have to choose between your loyalty for your team and your loyalty for the association as a whole and how big of a dilemma that can be. I realized how hard it can be to stand behind your team members unconditionally and what big of a personal commitment people sometimes have to make for the interest of the organisation. I can only say that these troubles increased my respect and admiration for all those people who decide or decided to dedicate one year of their lives to AEGEE.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

I have many plans! The first thing on my AEGEE agenda is organising the Network Meeting in Leiden, both from Netcom side and AEGEE-Leiden side. We hope to make it a strong thematic NWM, with a good follow-up of NWM Leuven, and with hopefully a lot of new members participating. The Dutch locals need to realise that with all the potential we have, and especially now that we are part of the Dutch Youth Council, we really can have a concrete influence in policy-making and AEGEE is worth putting time and effort in. It will be the first NWM in Leiden in many, many years, so I am proud to be part of the organisation team. The second thing is that I just became editor of the Network section of the AEGEEan, which is something that I really like to do. The AEGEEan hasn’t reached its full potential by far yet; it is still growing and developing and there are so many opportunities to bring more thematic input, to become a real platform for discussion and to become a bigger magazine in general. Next to that there is the work for the Contact in Den Haag: the plan is to found the association soon and sign the Convention d’Adhésion at Agora Rhein-Neckar.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
A big topic will definitely be the AEGEE Identity. I think it is very courageous of the CD that they decided to tackle this issue. Whatever the outcome may be, whether the majority of the network wants to focus mainly on partying and traveling or mainly on thematics, things are going to change. AEGEE will change. And I still doubt whether people are fully aware of that, if they are aware of what this can mean for their personal AEGEE life. I am thinking about that myself too: after all this, maybe AEGEE will start heading in a completely different direction, and will I still like to be in AEGEE then? Every member should ask him/herself this question and start taking part in the discussion.
Who were for you the outstanding members in 2012?

The organisers of Agora Enschede. They took the concept of the Agora to a whole different level, with speakers like Sophie in ‘t Veld and of course Franck Biancheri, whose speech was only more special in retrospective. They set the bar very high for future Agora organisers, especially when it comes to thematic input. The way they organised the Death Memorial on the 4th of May was very, very special. I will never forget that moment when the trumpet started to play and the whole plenary fell silent for two minutes. For me it was a very emotional moment: touching and comforting at the same time. The organisers deserve a very big thank you for letting us experience this moment in such a special way and let us feel united for two minutes while so much turbulence and controversy was happening around us. I’d also like to mention my successors, the new board of AEGEE-Leiden. They are doing a really good job putting some serious European level in AEGEE-Leiden with sessions from working groups and project teams to other thematic activities. They also contribute well to the network, with the mentorship of the Contact in Den Haag, organising the first NWM in years in Leiden, and a very active participation in the Dutch-Belgian region. I can honestly say that I am proud to be a member of AEGEE-Leiden!
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
Actually, I don’t have a plan yet.

Thomas Leszke, Former Agora Vice-Chair, Former CD Member

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
My personal highlight was the successful EBM Izmir for which we had worked a lot. This was one of the positive developments that contributed to the remarkable “thematic turn” that AEGEE has taken this year!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?

The notice of Franck Biancheri’s death on the eve of the Agora Budapest shook us all, and made me realise again that it is people like him who make the difference in our world – people who have a positive idea, who know what they want, and who go for it.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

Since my student life is drawing to a close and I am not yet sure what comes afterwards, I am not in the situation right now to take any greater responsibilities. Otherwise I might have run for Chairperson. I am still involved in some local activities, though, and I hope to make a small cultural contribution to the upcoming Agorae.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?

The European Parliament elections & youth mobility, including visa issues.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?

Boring choice maybe, but Luis Alvarado, because of his clear vision of AEGEE which he pursues with so much energy and which has inspired so many members already – and Armenak Minasyants, who is just doing an amazing job whatever he lays his hands on!
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?

With half of my CD family from 2010-2011 and some more AEGEE friends in Kraków.

Paul Smits, Vice-Chairman of the Agora and EBM

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
When AEGEE is such a big factor in life, it’s almost impossible to have a single personal highlight. Although perhaps a bit too obvious, the Agora in Enschede is definitely one of my major AEGEE highlights in 2012 for even more reasons than you can imagine.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?

It’s not a single moment but I think the most memorable for AEGEE-Europe in 2012 are the great steps that have been made in the direction of putting thematics in the limelight of our organisation. I hope AEGEE will carry on along this road in 2013 starting of course with the EBM in Valletta!
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

Mainly my obligations constitute my plans. So I’m planning on chairing and further preparing the EBM and Agorae together with Alla, getting AEGEE even more involved in the Dutch National Youth Council, advising the current Board of my antenna AEGEE-Enschede, supporting my region as a sub-commissioner of the Network Commission and doing some minor things in Enschede. Of course, next to that, I’m planning to have lots of fun with friends and to grasp new opportunities as they come on my path.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?

The fun thing about a students’ organisation is that it goes through a kind of cycle. All the things we are doing and discussing have been hot items before and will be again. This is a charming trait as it keeps us dynamic and we educate ourselves along the way. By this rule of thumb, I can try to predict that maybe it’s time again to discuss the fee to AEGEE-Europe, the name of the EBM and perhaps the democratic structure of AEGEE. Topics concerning the outside world however do change slowly, and our foci on them are showing a slight shift, or at least we are broadening our focus. I expect some discussions on for instance our statement of principles.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?

I believe that everyone who put effort in our organisation in the last year deserves recognition. It’s hard to objectively discriminate which member had a more important contribution. For me, the friends around me that support me and help me in making choices, but also the objective people that point out my mistakes have been of great importance.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?

My year 2012 began at AEGEE-Beograd’s unforgettable New Year’s Event “Dance.Feel.Love. 2”. With such a truly amazing event to start the year, I would have loved to attend another event to conclude it and there were many promising options this winter. However, as I am starting to fall behind with my studies a bit, I have decided to stay home for a change and prepare for some exams during the winter break. As for New Year’s night itself, I was planning on going to Antwerpen, but now, as our dear Network Commissioner Wieke is suddenly leaving Europe for the winter (what is it with Netcommies leaving Europe?), I think I will spend New Year’s night with my fraternity friends in Utrecht.

Michele Minuti, Audit Commission President

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
My highlight moment was the standing ovation at Agora Budapest when I was on the stage and I showed the slide of Star Wars. In that slide Mickey Turati – the Emperor – was asking the Jedi Luke– Me – to come to the dark side. My reply was: “Never!!!”
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?

The most outstanding moment in my opinion is the charity flash mob in the Agora. Everybody sacrificed a teddy bear for someone less lucky than him or her.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?

At the moment I haven’t got plans for the next year. I would like to gain the trust of AEGEE people by doing my role of Audit Commission president well.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?

Sometimes I ask myself if AEGEE hasn’t got too many open topics and in the future someone proposes to focus only on a few of them.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?

AEGEE is full of great members, but I chose Miroslaw Krzanik. I choose him because he came to my city to give his strong input to a conference organised AEGEE-Brescia. He was very clear about his topic, very competent. Furthermore we saw what happened in the European Youth Forum.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?

I will spend my New Year with my non-AEGEE friends in the mountains. This year I have been very involved in AEGEE and I risk losing them.