Mtn10-AIM10
COL International Office Location: REJECT.
I've been a long fan of relocating the IO and it has all been discussed on the Devil's website as well. I see huge opportunities of other locations, such as: Better chances for governmental support (Stockholm?), lower wages (Sao Paulo?), more attractive for volunteers and interns (Berlin?), proximity to other NGOs (Bruxelles?) or simply in a country with a more dynamic NA than GB these days (Lisbon?)
But as much as I see myself as a progressive person, I just can't find any joy in the idea of doing a SWAT analysis of the IO location at this point of time. In the past few years, Gaby has done a remarkable job in reorganizing the office, and has found a number of incredible employees (Kiran and Bebbe are the ones that I find most impressive) that have shifted the focus from being an administrative service center to a core professional structure, pushing forward all kinds of issues from developing our educational goals, through implementing new communication structures to improving our public profile. With all this great stuff happening, I believe that questioning the location would act as a troublesome disruptor.
Already in 1998 a similar motion was discussed but never lead to action. At that time the infamous Joe B. was heading an IO, that was everything but innovative. It would have been a great moment to move the IO, replace the secretary general and give the IO a whole new setup. We might have missed an opportunityat that point in time.
But today as well as 10 years ago there existedl more reasons to reject this motion:
- CISV would have to go through a complicated process of fixing legal and financial issues when relocating.
- We may lose a whole lot of employees on the way.
- Furthermore, in my eyes, the physical location is likely to play a decreasing role in the future with more and better means of electronic communication.
And since there is no location that is sooooo obviously better than Newcastle, so that all these problems are were balanced, I think we should be pragmatic and just stay there. Even is Newcastle surely is not the very first place that comes to mind, if we had to chose today.
I've been a long fan of relocating the IO and it has all been discussed on the Devil's website as well. I see huge opportunities of other locations, such as: Better chances for governmental support (Stockholm?), lower wages (Sao Paulo?), more attractive for volunteers and interns (Berlin?), proximity to other NGOs (Bruxelles?) or simply in a country with a more dynamic NA than GB these days (Lisbon?)
But as much as I see myself as a progressive person, I just can't find any joy in the idea of doing a SWAT analysis of the IO location at this point of time. In the past few years, Gaby has done a remarkable job in reorganizing the office, and has found a number of incredible employees (Kiran and Bebbe are the ones that I find most impressive) that have shifted the focus from being an administrative service center to a core professional structure, pushing forward all kinds of issues from developing our educational goals, through implementing new communication structures to improving our public profile. With all this great stuff happening, I believe that questioning the location would act as a troublesome disruptor.
Already in 1998 a similar motion was discussed but never lead to action. At that time the infamous Joe B. was heading an IO, that was everything but innovative. It would have been a great moment to move the IO, replace the secretary general and give the IO a whole new setup. We might have missed an opportunityat that point in time.
But today as well as 10 years ago there existedl more reasons to reject this motion:
- CISV would have to go through a complicated process of fixing legal and financial issues when relocating.
- We may lose a whole lot of employees on the way.
- Furthermore, in my eyes, the physical location is likely to play a decreasing role in the future with more and better means of electronic communication.
And since there is no location that is sooooo obviously better than Newcastle, so that all these problems are were balanced, I think we should be pragmatic and just stay there. Even is Newcastle surely is not the very first place that comes to mind, if we had to chose today.
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