AEGEE-Könyv.qx
4/18/05 17:37
Page 57
20 years, 20 people
Describe yourself at the age of 20, as you know that AEGEE is turning 20 years old. I was not a very good student, studying at the last minute just to pass my exams. I preferred to do some other things, like working and helping organisations, but in my town there were not so many things to do. Then I discovered AEGEE, standing for the idea of Europe, or even the wider idea of Einstein’s “one world”: students building bridges across Europe. Later, I learned a new motto from Rainer Emschermann: “Pluralism as a goal and democracy as a way”. In 1992, within six months I passed the exams corresponding to two years of classes of Economics. Unlike most of the CD members of the time, my European experience did not influence my choice of career at all. I began working for a bank and bought my first flat. How would you describe yourself now? I'm still working for the same bank in Spain, an institution with 125 years of history and 1500 employees. Until some months ago, I was the head of the foreign section, now I am director of the department of projects. I have a daughter of almost two years and live with my family in a house outside Oviedo. Life is not so easy, and I struggle to see my daughter awake, at least for some minutes each day, always arriving home too late. Still, I keep in touch with some AEGEE members, especially with Silvia Negrotti of AEGEEMilano, whom I still consider my soul-sister. AEGEE-Oviedo is said to be the biggest antenna ever, with 2000 members. How was this possible? AEGEE-Oviedo was founded by a group of people with a large experience in associations; some of them still heading big associations in Spain today. They were very professional, quickly arranging a telephone and fax, a meeting room and computers. We acted as mentors for the Erasmus students, organised exchanges with other antennae and common visits to congresses. We formed our own sports group, as well as some discussion groups, and weekly party nights with the Erasmus students. Mostly through the parties, and with the Summer Universities as our European offer, the antenna managed to enrol almost 2000 members under the Presidency of Enrique Riesgo, called Kike. Unfortunately, some three presidencies later, AEGEE-Oviedo almost disappeared - to reappear with renewed strength in 2000. You became famous for publishing the NewsBulletin for AEGEE-Europe. How did you make it? In AEGEE-Oviedo, we published 27 editions of the NewsBulletin. Times were so different then: no mobiles, no digital cameras, no Internet, no e-mail, bad software. It sounds as if we are talking about prehistory. We had a post box where we received all the letters and photos, and tried our best to rewrite texts received by post or fax. The result, our
20th Anniversary
Newsbulletin, would look like a school newsletter today, but fifteen years ago it really looked great. The antennae could receive information only by the various newsletters, which were really expensive and slow. In 1990, we moved to laser printers and opened our first EARN account, a predecessor of e-mail, but we did not get many messages, as only a few antennae had an account themselves. How did you finance the NewsBulletin? AEGEE-Oviedo was lucky to have the support of our university, which paid for the printing and mailing of copies to the antennae and the “NewsBulletin fan club”. For almost half of the issues, we had Maria Jesus Andres drawing for us. Everyone in AEGEE-Oviedo was engaged in making the NewsBulletin, and everyone would lend a hand with packing, labelling, boxing and transporting. It was real team work. We always loved receiving antennae changes and photos with the boards, but what I remember most is our own articles, the letters of the editors or opinions. It was also very nice when somebody sent an open letter to all the antennae. There was no censorship from the NB team or from the CD. You were Vice-President of the Quo Vadis CD. How did you experience this big turning point in AEGEE? At the Agora in Paris, in spring 1990, most of the people noticed a kind of of disappointment and controversy. Almost nobody wanted to join the CD and eventually we elected a list with only 15 members. For some reason, there was a misunderstanding between some antennae and the CD concerning the aims of the association and doubts were raised about the structure. For the following agora, presidential candidate Georg von der Gablentz managed to recruit a list of people under the name “Quo Vadis”, known at the antennae level for their work, but without much experience at European level. Rainer Emschermann contacted me, and with the support of AEGEE-Oviedo, I joined them. At the Agora Bonn in November 1990, for the first time the delegates had two candidate lists to choose from, and this was good, as it is for any organisation. Though it could be seen as a sign of division, it was in fact democracy; it enriched AEGEE’s global discussions. If I could go back in time, I would join the CD again. Which was the best year for you in AEGEE? 1991 was the year I worked hardest for AEGEE. I was a CD member and at the same time still printing the NB. Attending CD meetings and congresses took most of my time that year. Fortunately, the University of Oviedo also supported us with travel expenses, but I remember eternal train rides. Nevertheless, wandering around Europe and explaining our work was the most enriching experience AEGEE gave me. It opened up my universe and made me feel a real European.
57