Who is the AEGEE member of the year 2015? Which antenna, which project was the best? The Golden Times asked more than 50 locally or Europeanly active members. In the fourth edition: read what Lisa Gregis, Julian Ródenas, Hanna Alajõe, Mareike Wegener, Luca Bisighini and Jovana Trajkovic said.
Lisa Gregis, Network Commissioner
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
I cannot choose only one, so for sure the Summer University by AEGEE-Bergamo, the Night of the Seven Antennae by AEGEE-Bergamo, the announcement of Spring Agora Bergamo 2016 during Agora Asturias and my election as Network Commissioner during Agora Kyiv.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
When finally a proper attention towards refugees was raised, thanks to the mailing lists, Facebook group and a statement during Agora.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Florian Hauger, who decided to make a statement in front of the Agora in Kyïv, even though he was not totally aware of the processes behind the Agora. He had a courage I don’t have.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Catania: they organised Network Meeting Catania, Night of the Seven Antennae in Catania, for the fourth time in a row the best SU – and it has been announced that they will host the SUPS next year!
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
I don’t think we had an outstanding European Project project this year.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The highlight for me will be for sure Spring Agora Bergamo 2016!
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I am in the core team of Spring Agora Bergamo and I will end my term as NetCommie in the end of November. Then I think I will want to retire.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
Maybe in Brno! But I’m not sure yet!
Julian Ródenas, Subcommissioner, former President of AEGEE-Valencia
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
I can’t choose: when we received the news that AEGEE-Valencia was chosen to host the Network Meeting is one of them, but also the day AEGEE-Kyiv told me that I was chosen as an Agora organiser.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The closing ceremony of Agora Kyiv, with all the stress of the last roll call.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Hanna Polishchuk and Anna Smailikova, only they know how many sleepless nights have they spent.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Kyiv – not only because of the Agora, it is because in addition to the Agora they participated in the Night of the Seven Antennae, they organised a Summer University, the Young Ukraine conference and so many local activities.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
The Anniversary Project.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
I have no doubt that EPM Leiden will be very productive – and all EPM pre-events.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Take care of my network as a Subcommie, to give advice to the new board of AEGEE-Valencia. And to organise, in addition to the Fallas event and SU, at least one event focused on one objective of the Action Agenda.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
With my non-AEGEEan friends from my hometown. We will go for three days to Zaragoza, but there’s also the AEGEE-Zaragoza New Years Event there, so I will see some AEGEEans.
Hanna Alajõe, Speaker of the Network Commission
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Of course being elected as a Network Commissioner. Personally the most important thing for me this year, not only in AEGEE, but generally as well.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The statutory events are always one of the most memorable moments. Unfortunately I only made it to one of them this year – Agora Kyiv. It was truly outstanding for AEGEE to go behind common prejudices again.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
This question is undoubtedly the most difficult to answer. There are so many people in AEGEE working in different fields and contributing in different ways. But personally for me, I have had a lot of great discussions, guidance and fun with my team of NetCommies who just left. If I had to point someone, I would say Andrea Schmelz. Secondly Mayri Tiido and Paul Smits from the previous CD, who I feel have contributed a lot to AEGEE in the previous years. Mayri has also helped me a great deal personally, to achieve my goals in AEGEE.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
Here I could also mention the obvious ones: the organizers of statutory events, who always deserve all the praise they get. But I would also like to bring some attention to smaller antennas. Firstly to the very recently upgraded AEGEE-Canterbury, for being really active from the moment they became a contact – helping the Election Observation Project in their city, then getting upgraded to a contact antenna really fast with four members being present at Agora Kyiv and now working actively on Brexit. Secondly I also want to thank my own antenna AEGEE-Tartu, for organising an amazing Network Meeting and being more and more ambitious and accomplishing great things.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
As was seen at Agora Kyiv – definitely refugees will be a big topic. If we are talking more about directly AEGEE-related topics, then I am really curious to see how Agora Reform is going to turn out.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I will work actively as a NetCom Speaker until the end of my term in May. That is all I know at the moment about both my personal or AEGEE life.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I actually don’t know yet and am still open to offers! I will probably be in Estonia though, celebrating together with friends from AEGEE-Tartu, because travelling at New Year’s is unfortunately a bit too difficult for my student budget at the moment.
Mareike Wegener, Network Commissioner
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
That is an easy question. Of course my election as Network Commissionier at Agora Kyiv.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
There has been a lot of great events and memorable moments this year, but one highlight for me was the Night of the Seven Antennae. My local AEGEE-Aachen was one antenna which was chosen to host this event and we had a lot of great participants.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
Of course I could nominate people like Philipp Blum or Damien Latacz, which did a lot for AEGEE this year, but we shouldn’t forget the not so well known members, which also did a lot. Therefore one outstanding members for me this year was Florian Hauger, Generalsekretär – he loves this title – from AEGEE-Heidelberg. He is an active member at his local and during Agora Kyiv, his first Agora by the way, he was brave enough to present Heidelberg’s paper about the refugee crisis to all of us!
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
For me AEGEE- Berlin was one of these locals. It is a small antenna but they organised a really good Network Meeting last month, with a lot of happy participants, even if they have just a few members.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
I love the SU project and this year was my first year in the main organising team in Aachen, what made it even more special for me. But my highlight this year was the Election Observation Training which took place in Cologne this Summer. We need more of these thematic events and I am looking forward to have a follow up.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The topic of the next EPM shows us that the refugee crisis is a huge topic in AEGEE at the moment and I think this big topic will be discussed a lot in 2016.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
I just have been elected as NetCommie, therefore I am looking forward to work with my locals and the new NetCommie Team.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
Thats a secret. Just kidding. I don’ t know yet. I will spend Xmas in Cuba, far away from university and AEGEE to relax and get prepared for 2016, but I don’t have plans for New Year’s Night.
Luca Bisighini, Subcommissioner and Policy Officer on Migration
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Participating at Agora Kyiv and getting involved more directly with the activities of AEGEE at European level. I really found it fascinating in all of it, and during the event I felt involved in the processes.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
When we approved to entitle the next EPM Leiden – thanks to Romy Cartiere – to the theme of refugees in Agora Kyiv, after what Florian Hauger presented on the stage amidst some general scepticism. I think it could be an outstanding point to put in the Strategic Plan, under the wings of Europtimism and Civic Education.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
I will say several names. Sorry! At my antenna’s level, I can easily state Davide Testa, Elisa Crotti, Michele Minuti and Giulia Guerini: four really hard workers, always precise, creative, attached to detail and ready to give you any kind of advice, help or to suggest you something better. At European level, one name… Well, I admire the work done and carried out by AEGEE-Amsterdam and AEGEE-Aachen, as well as AEGEE-Kyiv… Probably the European name for me, this year, is Anna Smailikova for her great work in managing and coordinating a huge group for a wonderful Autumn Agora.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
AEGEE-Kyiv, AEGEE-Aachen and AEGEE-Amsterdam, but also AEGEE-Catania and AEGEE-Bergamo were among the best ones – but AEGEE-Istanbul’s guys and girls got my heart!
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
I definitely admire the work made by the guys and girls working in the Democracy in Practice project.
And I consider really good as well the work made by all the working groups.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
Migration in Europe and dealing with refugees will be huge and can effectively reshape our organization. But I will not underestimate the environmental sustainability of the upcoming AEGEEan events.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Improve, learn from veterans of the association, getting more involved and try to do my best in everything I will be part of.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
I still don’t know it yet. There are some talks about it. Unfortunately not at an AEGEE New Year’s event. For sure in Turkey, probably in Istanbul where I am having my Erasmus+ right now, with plenty of Erasmus+ friends. As AEGEEan, it will be great to go to the Aegean Coast later.
Jovana Trajković, Network Commissioner
What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2015?
Actually, there are two highlights. On Agora Asturias I was elected as Network Commissioner. It was another big step for me in this organisation. From 2012 on I attended every Network Meeting around Balkans, but Network Meeting Sofia was the first one I have organised as NetCommie, in cooperation with AEGEE-Sofia, so it is the other highlight.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2015. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The Night of Seven Antennae! For me it was kind of reviving the past and, for sure, the best way to celebrate AEGEE’s 30th anniversary.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2015?
It is not easy to decide, since I was working with many inspirational and motivated people this year. But if I have to choose, those will be: Ander Guerrero Ruiz, Financial Director of AEGEE-Europe; Dragana Tošić, president of AEGEE-Novi Sad; and Ana Potočnik, former Network Commissioner.
Which was for you the outstanding antenna in 2015?
This question is even harder to answer! Especially when I am NetCommie of locals who work so hard and have amazing members. Since some locals have achieved amazing results, I need at least to mention them. AEGEE-Novi Sad and AEGEE-Niš, for growing into very healthy and strong locals and the activities they did, AEGEE-Zagreb for organising a Network Meeting, and finally, AEGEE-Sofia for the same reason as AEGEE-Zagreb and also organising one of events for The Night of the Seven Antennae.
What was for you the outstanding European project in 2015?
The Election Observation Project
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2016?
The chosen topic for EPM Leiden, it is something which concerns the whole Europe. I’m really looking forward to see some outcomes of it.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2016?
Until 1st of June I will work hard with the rest of the NetCom team. During our Netcom Meeting in Brussels a couple of weeks ago we set us high goals, which I hope we will achieve. NetCom trips are part of my plans, as well as working hard with my SubCom team on improving the work of my locals. For the rest of the year, I’m not sure yet.
How and where will you spend New Year’s night?
Even if many New Year’s events were very attractive this year, I need a little break from AEGEE. This time New Year’s Eve I will spend in Italy, with my boyfriend. We haven’t planned anything special, just dinner with friends.
