3rd Quality Conference Magazine, September 16th
Passion
A city's true face Climb the Alps Twenty gallons of soup
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INDEX
Twenty gallons of soup
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Having trouble frying the occasional egg? Then stay out of the conference kitchen. Cooking for 1200 hungry guests is quite something else. Meet the Chef and marvel at his creativity and the amount of potatoes he has to peel…Also on this page British top cook Jamie Oliver goes to the continent.
gets 5 3QC royal kick-off HRH Prince Constantijn of The Netherlands opened the 3QC congress in style. Joined by Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations / Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Thomas de Graaf, he spoke to an enthusiastic audience.
Colophon Q-NOTE is the conference magazine for 3QC and will be published daily.
The editorial staff
welcomes your suggestions and ideas. Q-NOTE is written, edited, designed and photographed by communication students from INHOLLAND University in Rotterdam. Additional photography in the first and this issue by: Peter Spoormaker, Erasmus Medical Centre, Michel Walvisch & Huib Vissers. The Q-NOTE editorial staff are: Silvina van Dam,
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Josephine Verhoef, Nicoline den Boogert, Patricia Blomjous,
Avihay
Haim,
Turkka
A city’s true face A city is a living thing. Be nice to it and it will be nice to you. But treat it indifferently and it may turn nasty. Meet Rotterdam’s quintessential street where everything happens, round the clock. Be passionate about the city’s true face.
Syrjalainen,
Matilde Mauricio Monteiro, Monique Oemar, Souad Zgaoui The editorial staff is being coached by: Willem Lutje Hulsik (INHOLLAND University). Frank Faber and Bartel Stompedissel (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations) Guest contributions to Q-NOTE were made by: Dick Pruis (lay-out grid), Çakti Aswan (design consultancy), Auke Herrema (cartoon), Willem Lutje Hulsik (text) Q-NOTE is printed by Scheffer drukkerij, Dordrecht The editorial staff of Q-NOTE is located on the conferece grounds in The Doelen and can be contacted daily from 09.00 to 22.00 h. via Qnoters@hotmail.com) Q-NOTE is published under supervision and responsibility of the 3QC Project Team of The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Q-NOTE PAGE 2
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The Passionate Scientist Science is all about passion, perseverance and being slightly mad. Geochemist Olaf Schuiling combines all those requirements and astonished everybody, including himself, with ideas that literally changed the world. ‘What God can do, I can do too,’, says the professor emeritus jokingly , ‘only quicker.’ A portrait of a scientist, driven by passion…
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Editorial
Dad is getting streetwise Solving problems is not exclusively the government’s responsibility. Sometimes things go better if different parties work together. In Rotterdam citizens side up with local authorities to keep the streets safe from violence and vandalism. Dads patrol the neighbourhood to keep their sons on the straight and narrow.
Mobile rescue Don’t throw your old mobile phone in the bin. There may be some use for the thing after all. In England, local authorities and private enterprise work together on redesigning cell phones into wireless rescue devices.
8 Climb the Alps
10 Turning bureaucrats into artists
Few sports are as demanding as bicycle racing. Being really succesfull in your job requires as much stamina, dedication and self sacrifice as finishing the Tour de France’s. Lance Armstrong, six time Tour winner, is the embodiment of these qualities. His story about passion and perseverance.
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Talk to Miha Pogagnic and be swept away by a tsunami wave of plans, visions, ideas and ideals. The world famous violinist, innovative performer and Cultural Ambassador for Slovenia did his magic in a plenary session last evening. Q-Note interviewed Pogagnic about his plans for the world.
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Service page
Average or Excellence? Passion comes from the Latin word Pati, which means ‘to suffer’. Today, passion is generally used in reference to love and relationships. The old Christian meaning emphasises the sacrifice out of love. Perhaps, the current interpretation of the word still carries this element. When we’re passionate about something, it implies that we’re willing to give up other things, in order to totally commit to one particular mission. Passion is key to success. It is what makes us dedicated and persistent. Passion is what makes the difference between average and excellence. It sets an amateur (like yours truly) apart from a top athlete like Lance Armstrong. Passion is indispensable when it comes to performance. It is not only something beneficial in aiming for one’s own ideals. It can be infectious; in fact, it is one of the key elements of successful leadership. Good leadership doesn’t simply require the proper intellectual skills and knowledge, nor does it depend on the ability to define, develop and implement strategies. The true difference lies in the enthusiasm with which the job is done. Enthusiasm is a tool to express one’s belief in a given objective, making it much more persuasive, and useful to convince and motivate employees, potential business partners or clients. A leader, who believes in what he or she proclaims and acts on it, is able to inspire others. It could be Alain, the street sweeper from Faces of Quality; it could be Jamie Oliver and his obstinate adolescent trainee chefs, or a leading figure in public administration. The great achievers use their hearts and emotions, rather than solely facts and figures. Since the beginning of history people with great visions and greater passions have carved our world. People who have taken us to the sky and beyond, who have stretched the limits and reached for the unreachable. It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters is how you do it.
Enough on where to wine and dine, let’s get some food for the soul! Today’s Q-Note gives you suggestions on how to spend a memorable evening in theatre, concert hall or cinema. And if that’s too artsy for your taste we’ve included some alternatives.
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Ever organised a dinner for family and friends? Remember the stress when the sauce didn’t turn out as great as you anticipated or you overcooked the potatoes? Imagine you would have to prepare lunch for more than a thousand guests. Gallons of soup, mountains of meat. Most people would freeze at the mere thougt of it. Not Hans Verkooijen chef of 3QC’s catering specialist. For him it’s all in a days work. He prepares the lunches you’re enjoying every day. He and his staff of highly skilled and motivated cooks. He rules like a true general in his kitchen. “I’m the central point,”, he says, “all questions come to me, all decisions are made by me. That’s the way it has to be. Otherwise it will become a chaos.”
De chefs of 3QC’s caterer ‘Arjan van Dijk’ work under supervision of culinary manager Wim van Vegten. “While the guests listen to several keynote speakers or attend one of the best practice presentations, my team and I will be preparing exclusive and high quality dishes with an international touch.”, van Vegten explains. “Everyday, we will take them on a trip to different countries all over the world. Yesterday we flew to France and Spain to taste their delicious dishes. France is known for her Burgundian and gastronomically lifestyle, which will be carried on into the kitchen and Spain has a big variation of dishes that differs per region. What about roasted leg of lamb served with honey sauce or chicken filet filled with raw ham and a mousse of olives? Today we will bring you the English and Mexican kitchen. The English kitchen has next to the
The culinary world behind 3QC
traditional breakfast and the afternoon tea also a lot of other heights. English buffet is a mixture of typical English meat, fish and vegetable dishes in what the English culture reign supreme. The counterpart on this day is the Mexican buffet. The Aztec and Maya culture are the cradle in the Mexican kitchen. These autochthon were authentic artists in preparing tasteful and various dishes by using corn, tomato’s, beans, peppers and red peppers.” “Preparing all those dishes the right way at the right time takes a great deal of improvisation, creativity and passion.”, says Head Chef Hans Verkooijen. “When I arrive in the kitchen at the start of the day I really don’t know what lies ahead of me. I have to stand straight in an avalanche of
A peek into the Chef’s kitchen big and little problems that have to be taken care of. That makes my job great. And ofcourse the thought of all those people having a great lunch or dinner because of my dedication.” For those of you who registred for the social dinner that will take place in the ‘Cruise Terminal’ there will be three ‘Passion Islands’ with themes like sport, travel and literature and theatre waiting for you. Ofcourse all with their own culinary interpretation. The dinner wille start at 19.00 and ends around 23.00 hours.
England’s sweetheart goes continental
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amie Oliver’s overwhelming enthusiasm in the kitchen is contagious. The Naked Chef will be opening his restaurant ‘Fifteen’ in Amsterdam in November 2004, after its overwhelming success in London. The formula will be similar to the previous one. Fifteen young people with seemingly little hopes for the future will be offered the opportunity to participate in a special programme, aiming to turn them into qualified chefs within one year. After their six-month training, they will work in the restaurant for at least another six months. The process will be filmed and broadcasted on television. There are two admission requirements: the participants must be unemployed and have a passion for food. After a promising start, Olivers career
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went very swiftly. He became a best selling author, did his own ’on the road’ television show, and he has a regular column in the Sunday Times. He has become a true celebrity and one of England’s sweethearts, due to his engaging charm and sense of humour. The decision to expand the project to the Netherlands is based on its success in the UK, where the television programme gained praise from many. The unconventional teaching methods sometimes lead to hilarious situations. Jamie handles the young people with a down to earth sense of humour. The participants are typical adolescents; they rebel, they search for their identities, while complaining and joking around. All these ingredients come together in a unique recipe.
Thomas de Graaf, Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations officially welcomed all guests to the 3Q Conference.
Spirit of Innovation Thomas de Graaf, Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands spoke at the official opening ceremony of 3QC, in which he focused on leadership, technology and particularly on the need to create programmes of exchange within a united Europe. Ever since his appointment in July 2003, one of his main fields of attention has been the transition to a different government: a programme that takes a critical look at the government’s internal organisation and responsibilities. In his speech, Thomas de Graaf pointed out the prerequisites for effectively changing government, as well as the importance of cooperating with all different segments of society. From his point of view, government needs to ensure that they are not regarded as enemy, but partner. “To me, ‘serving community’ means being open and accountable, daring to make decisions, looking for concrete solutions instead of
bureaucratic models, and not promising more than you can deliver.” According to the Minister, this mission requires a spirit of innovation, a willingness to learn and share experiences, and inspiring leadership. Q-Note listened to his speech and talked with the Minister shortly after: What would you say are the main qualities of the ideal civil servant? The ideal civil servant is open for changes, transparent in his way of handling matters and seeking for cooperation instead of guarding his territory. It is also important I believe, to be able to take risks, despite of criticism and the possibility of failure, which is always there. In his speech, Al Gore gave great importance to leadership, especially when it comes to supporting changes. Do you think European leaders are ready to support changes in the public administration arena? If leaders are not ready for changes,
changes will make them ready. In many countries and even at a European level, leaders must be conscious that they need to rebuild people’s trust in their administrations. At a European level, we need not only to perform better but to learn from each other, in cooperation. Do you think cultural differences are an obstacle to implement and exchange models within the European framework? Of course, European countries have different traditions and mentalities, which makes using the same models more complicated. What we need to do is make those differences smaller, to breach the gap, by exchange. By coming together, using other people’s opinions and expertise, learning from each other, we can achieve a more homogeneous framework. That’s the purpose and importance of conferences such as 3QC.
3QC Opening by Royalty
A little less conversation Everything was set at the Grote Zaal in the Doelen; almost every seat in the conference room was taken, photographers were in place, lights were dimmed and the sound of Elvis’ “A little less conversation” invaded the room as the huge screen in the centre projected a few images of the city of Rotterdam. The ceremony started in time, with Henrik de Groot, Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations acting as a moderator, presenting the key note speakers. Prince Constantijn was the first one to address the audience, talking about ways of improving government in the context of the European Union.
The focus of His Royal Highness’ speech was to discuss improving government in a European context. The Prince said that in order to determine how governments can be improved, one needs to firstly define the term “good government”. In his view, good governing is based on two main pillars. First of all, it should be accountable, implying that it needs to be democratic and transparent. Additionally, he stated that it needs to be effective, in sense of proportionate, decisive and sustainable policies. “In the context of the EU I should add subsidiarity, which relates and contributes to both accountability and effectiveness. Beyond these general principles government needs to portray a vision to which its executive and the people can hold it accountable,” he said. HRH Constantijn then pointed out that the EU still faces several challenges, in sense of image: “Most people are relatively ignorant
of what the EU does and how it works.” He ascribed the issues connected to citizens’ perceptions to five main elements: the fact that the EU finds itself in continuous change, the lack of knowledge and familiarity, and the lack of success countries and institutions in bringing EU issues into the national public debate. Additionally, he said: “the EU can only exist on a basis of mutual trust and acceptance of generally binding principles.” Finally, he attributed the current challenges in citizens’ perceptions to a lack of effective implementation of the policies defined in Brussels. As possible solutions he suggested: “Much can be done to raise interest in the EU through public debate, by politicizing issues and by allowing more transparency in the EU’s decision-making processes. Through targeted communication, governments can show how the EU influences our daily lives, making Europe more relevant to the citizen. Most importantly, our governments should provide leadership by setting a positive European policy agenda in which the citizen’s interest are reflected and where there is a clear value added in transnational policy making.
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Rotterdam’s heart and soul reflected in Witte d
A city’s true fa The grey early morning light hits the empty pavement almost unexpectedly. The shadows of the night slowly fade away. The city wakes up with the growl of the first car starting its engine. The sound reverberating against the façade of empty pubs, closed shops, houses with their curtains still drawn. A noise that will soon be joined by more cars, delivery trucks, rattling bicycles, kids shouting on their way to school, neighbours exchanging the latest gossip, music suddenly pouring out of an open window.
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very city has a street in which you can see its true face. A reflection of its heart and soul. For Rotterdam this is the ‘Witte de Withstraat’. Look straight into the eyes of your host city as we walk the street that embodies all the dimensions of Rotterdam. A day and a night in the life of a city… A city lives and breaths like a human being. It can be your best friend or turn into your worst enemy but it won’t accept indifference. So, it pays off to invest in your relationship. Get to know its habits, peek into both the dark and bright side of its personality, be amazed by its unexpected features. Rotterdam’s Witte de With street is all about culture, diversity and art. Everyday life is dominated by people and passions from all over the globe. Want to treat yourself to the hippest hairstyle possible, a pair of inline skates or a Peruvian hammock? That’s all possible with the trendy shops. Are you hungry for ‘spiritual food’? There are galleries and museums in abundance.
Is it physical nourishment you’re after? There is no shortage of eateries and watering holes you can choose from; some of them open twenty-four hours a day. An Indonesian ‘warung’, Italian pizzeria, Arabian ‘Thousand and one night’ restaurant or Turkish kebab house is just as easy to find as an all hours Chinese restaurant, a trendy place for coffee and bagels or a neighbourhood butcher to dig into a quintessential Dutch ‘broodje halfom’. But above all it’s the multicultural fusion of people and habits that creates an unmistakable Rotterdam atmosphere. In the morning Witte de Withstreet is expectantly quiet. The gallery and café owners –still somewhat drowsy- open their facilities. Gradually, the street fills with visitors. Some people pass by for some early morning shopping. With bags filled with groceries. Art lovers come to appreciate the great variety of artistic expressions, created by famous and unknown artists, influenced by all cultures.
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ace Around noon, several groups visit the street to have lunch. Suit wearing yuppies, as well as casually dressed students, looking for a quick bite. Allow your nose to be filled with a great variety of scents, of coffee, herbs and meat. Allow your eyes to absorb the numerous visual impressions; the multiplicity of the environment, the mixture of activities taking place around you and the natural blend of cultures, so typical of Rotterdam. Relax and listen to the soothing mix of chatter, clicking heals and music. Be pleasantly surprised by the affordable prices that are charged in the different eating facilities. Be amazed by the different restaurant interiors and atmospheres; African, Indonesian, you name it. At the end of the day, the scenery changes once again. Gallery owners close their facilities, eager to go home. People who’ve worked all day flow into the street, looking for some fun and distraction. When the weather is nice enough (according to Dutch standards), they battle for a warm seat in
the evening sun, to have a few drinks or a nice meal. Whatever cuisine you fancy; take your pick. When the evening falls the street wraps itself in a cloak of darkness. Sidestreet café’s open and fill with the creatures of the night. The street remains vibrant and alive until about six in the morning. There is a brief pause, until the sun rises, galleries and shops open, and the circle starts all over again. This is what marks Witte de With: a certain, almost continuous buzz. The energy deriving from all the activities that take place, as well as the open and inspirational atmosphere, makes a visit an absolute must. Witte de Withstraat is the micro melting pot of Rotterdam. It’s artistic, varied and it blossoms. It will get under your skin and leave a lasting impression.
For a visit to Witte de Withstraat, check the service page for directions.
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Local citizens take charge of the quality of life in their neighbourhoods
To the rescue How collaboration between local government, an enterprise and a non profit organisation can be a successful tool in dealing with crime issues.
Dad stands up A hot evening in a big city. A nine year-old boy in a rage is carrying on at a few police officers. When the police attempt to arrest him, his brother comes to the rescue, and starts kicking one of the officers. Several other youngsters join the scene and the situation escalates. It doesn’t end there. The incident leads to a widespread discussion in the media, who seem to be unified in their opinion that the parents of these youngsters fail to take responsibility for their children and their behaviour.
Several parents feel hurt by the accusations. In order to weaken the arguments, a group of fathers decides to do something about it. They start patrolling their neighbourhood in small groups. They know the area well and they can signal problems swiftly. Due to a mutual cultural background, as well as the fact that they actually know a lot of these young people, the fathers easily gain trust and respect. Very quickly these men are being called ‘Buurtvaders’ a nickname which looses expression in translation but means ‘Fathers of the Neigbourhood’. Local citizens who take charge of the quality of life in their neighbourhoods by taking matters in their own hands. Q-NOTE PAGE 8
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This was five years ago. The project has grown ever since. The neighbourhoodfathers don’t want to be regarded as substitutes police officers. They are no official authority; instead, they have their own working-method. Their aim is to take responsibility for their district, a district that has often been called a no-go area in the past. Although they want to maintain their unofficial status the citycouncel stimulates their work by giving them occasional financial support. Also the ‘buurtvaders’ are recognizable by their jackets, a gift from the local government. The project had also been successful in other Dutch cities, such as Rotterdam. But that’s not all. Europe is impressed as well. In 2003 the neighbourhood-father project won the European Crime Prevention Award. This award is intended for projects that force back criminality. With the award, the project has been given a new impulse. On a regular basis, national and international exchanges takes place, in order to study the different approaches taken. There is ongoing dialogue between the various project groups from a variety of cities. The project has been adopted by European cities such as Antwerpen, Lille, Munchen and London. Speaking about making opportunities work….
A charity organisation, a societally responsible commercial formula and local government in south London join together in an effort to limit casualties due to domestic crime. Women’s Aid Foundation, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, and London police force department Southwark, have coupled their efforts in fighting domestic violence in a new pilot. Within a specific area, women, who are regarded to be at risk due to a flight from a violent partner, are given mobile telephones that have been especially designed to instantly alert the police in case of trouble. Body Shop encourages the general public to hand in old mobile phones at one of their shop locations. Subsequently, they are re-constructed into special alarm devices. One push at a button will enable law enforcement to localize the woman in question and to be present at the scene within a short period of time. An analysis of 10 separate domestic violence prevalence studies by the Council of Europe show consistent and shocking findings: no less than one out of four women experiences domestic violence at some point in her life. Apparently, 70% of violent deaths caused by domestic violence occur after the woman has fled her spous. The project not only aims to protect women who have already left their husbands. It also sends out a signal to those who are still in an abusive relationship. One of the reasons for victims to stay is a grounded fear of repercussions. The current initiative may be the incentive so desperately needed. After succesful completion of the pilot in South London, the format is due to be launched in the rest of London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bristol and Norwich. The project proves that collaborations between various parties pay off. Corporate business, government and foundations are perfectly capable of working together for a similar cause. The initiative hopefully lays a foundation for other organisations, profit or non profit, to cooperate, in order to contribute to a safer environment.
Scientist Olaf Schuiling: ‘What is done by nature, can be done by me.’
Olaf Schuiling, Emeritus Professor geochemistry at Utrecht University is a young man captured in a 72 year old body. Schuiling’s retirement didn’t stop him from doing what he enjoys best: solving the earths scientific riddles. He still has his own office at the geological institute and travels all around the globe in pursuit of questions and answers. Q Note talked to a quintessential scientist: driven by curiosity and passion.
A Curious Passion
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I would like to be remembered as a likeable, yet slightly crazy guy.” says Schuiling, sipping his coffee overlooking the Rotterdam harbor at a table in ‘Hotel New York”. That maybe so but chances are that the world will remember the Dutch scientist for his work on solving environmental problems all over Europe. All based on his philosophy: “what’s done by nature, can be done by me”. Sounds a bit presumptuous? Schuiling explains: “Before doing anything, I first look closely to the way nature handles the problem. If her solution is good but goes too slow, as often is the case, science has tricks to speed things up. That’s all. I’m basically a lazy guy. I prefer nature to do the job; I just have to rush her up a little.” A true scientist allows himself to think ‘out of the box’, be passionate about stuff that others couldn’t care less about, be curious to know and understand what the rest of us take for granted. Olaf Schuiling made
headlines in the late nineties of the previous century when he invented a way to elevate pieces of Holland by injecting acid into natural deposits of limestone. “I woke up one beautiful morning with an idea in my head so crystal clear and so completely crazy that I decided to keep it to myself before people would throw me in a mental home.” recalls Schuiling. ‘For months I kept telling myself; this can’t be possible, this will never work.” The crazy idea that popped up in the scientist’s head was actually a combination of different passions that made Schuiling tick at that time. He understood very well that science without practical implementation doesn’t mean a big deal so he teamed up with governments and industries to make his ideas work. At the same time he had developed a great interest in solving environmental problems. So he found himself facing a huge amount of acidulous waste from different industries in Rotterdam’s harbor, a government that was looking for ways to protect the Dutch shoreline and a mind that worked overtime. “I thought if we would inject sulphur acid in the limestone deposits in the soil under the North Sea waves, gypsum would form. And since gypsum has several times the
volume of its original components, artificial islands would form. Creating a natural barrier against the sea and a solution for a substantial waste problem in one go!” From that time on, Olaf Schuiling stays in bed after waking up. Just for half an hour. Just to let his mind wander to places unknown to most of us. Waiting for inspiration. Permanently questioning the state of affairs. “Working around traditional ways of thinking, applying uninhibited curiosity to everyday life, that’s what makes a good scientist.” he says. And this curiosity has led to a huge amount of solutions for seemingly unsolvable problems and plans that would easily fit in a science fiction novel. Draining an entire lake in the Ukraine in an underground limestone pit to neutralize the acidity of the water. Or dumping metal waste in the Black Sea to turn the highly toxic sulphure hydrogen on the bottom into metal sulphides that won’t do any harm and will lay there peacefully until the next mountain forming period. “Geochemical engineering; the use of natural processes to solve environmental problems, offers a great way to deal with industrial pollution in developing countries.” Schuiling says. “I’m no idealist though. I’m just a scientist with a passion for his work.” ISSUE 3
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Passion as the key instrument to overcome set-backs
A road with obstacles It doesn’t merely take a bike and extraordinary shape to be a successful tri-athlete. It also requires passion, enthusiasm and perseverance. Six-time winner of the Tour De France. Twotime Olympian winner. World champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, also known as ‘The Animal’, has made many world headlines. Not only due to his incredible sport performances, but also because he managed to defeat cancer. At the age of 16, Lance Armstrong became a professional tri-athlete. Before long, Lance knew that he was born to race cycles and to deliver top performances. He spent a lot of time in Europe racing ona the professional circuit. Off seasons were spent in Texas,
far away from his legions of fans and the European press. In 1996, when he was 24 years old, Lance was ranked number one cyclist in the world. In October of that year his life took a dramatic turn. Medical tests showed that Lance had testicular cancer that had already spread to his lungs and his brain. Doctors told him that chances of recovery were less than 50 percent. Lance commenced a highly aggressive form of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy turned out to be successful and Lance soon felt the urge to pick up where he left off. Only five months after his diagnosis, he started riding and training, still uncertain of what the future would have in store for him.
Surprisingly, the passionate cyclist made a remarkable come-back. In May 1998 Lance celebrated his victory of cancer and his return to professional cycling. After spending long days on the bike and in the gym, his hard work ultimately results in no less than six Tour De France victories. The yellow jersey has a big meaning for him. It’s not just the fact that it’s the victory token of the Tour De France. For Lance, yellow is the colour of hope, courage and inspiration. The Tour de France is in a way an appropriate metaphor for advancement and innovation. Naturally, it takes hard work, perseverance and dedication. Yet, the only way to yield that is to have a serious passion for the thing you do.
After Al Gore’s plenary speech, Q-Note attends the exclusive Q&A session
Dare to take risks It is easy for politicians to deal with other politicians. They can cast their vote one way or the other without knowing the true consequences of their actions. According to Mr. Gore government reinvention can act as a driving force that will bring the lower level functionaries closer to the politicians and the politicians closer to the actual cases. Reducing the distance is Al Gore’s key message.
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nd that is precisely what he put into practice during a Q&A session that took place yesterday. Participants were given the opportunity to email questions they might have for Mr. Gore to the 3QC organisation. The best questions were selected and 30 people were invited to meet Al Gore face to face. The first question asked was to describe the single best practice he introduced during his public sector reform. In his opinion
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introducing regular town hall meetings, opened up a new line of communication from the white house directly to the lowest levels of public administrations and this was the most significant change he initiated. The former Vice President repeated some of the things he had already mentioned in his speech, especially the importance of the National Performance Review and the fact that you must keep on measuring your actions while you are implementing new policies. He referred to the NPR as a kind of national inventory that can help you generate ideas for changes. Another participant informed how to deal with resistance when implementing new policies. His many years of hands on experience has shown him that most of the resistance comes from the middle managers and to prevent this, one should first convince the top management as well as the low level employees and then start pressing from the middle. Another good way is to find the people from within the organization with the passion and the drive to make the changes and to put them on the front line when pushing new changes. In his speech he talked about spiritual management, and
with this he meant that people need to feel that their working as a part of a bigger whole. They need to have purpose and a sense of meaning, which in terms leads to sincere communication, which is needed the most in times of restructuring. When asked how he remains inspired, Mr. Al Gore quoted Abraham Lincoln saying, “When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, that is my religion”. Mr. Gore is an optimist by nature and he gets his rewards from his work. One of his rewards was seeing politicians get closer to the real live cases due to projects that needed involvement from all levels of service. In his opinion it is easy to make wrong decisions when you are working with politicians alone, but once you have first hand experience about something you also get a strong opinion about the issue, and this helps you to cast your vote the right way when the time comes. In conclusion, he emphasised the importance of creative innovations. According to Gore, public administration can benefit from an occasional risk, and civil servants should try to find a way to take it.
Miha Pogacnik wants civil servants to be artists It’s difficult to get to grips with what Miha Pogacnic wants you to do. And maybe that’s exactly what he wants. Your unceartainty, bewilderment, amazement slowly growing into recognition, surrender and ultimately love for the things you do. After all, without love, nothing goes. When Pogacnic plays the violin he transforms into the embodiment of passion and so does, after a short while of slight uneasiness, his public. Miha Pogacnic explains the world walking in the footsteps of Bach. Choosing a fuga as metaphore for daily life. Taking the audience trough tension and relief. Following the music until the subject becomes a question and we reach, in his view, the most important conclusion. That we don’t know and are all searching for our own truth.
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alking to Miha Pogacnik on the phone is like trying to admire the landscape while whizzing through on a Japanese Bullet train at top speed. There’s just too much to absorb and it’s passing by too quickly! Some people describe Pogacnik as a visionary magician, some as an exceptional virtuoso. Pogacnik himself would never use these words. He sees himself merely as the builder of bridges between two, as former pr-guru turned art collector Charles Saatchi once put it, seemingly opposing concepts: classical music and the world of business. ‘What I want to do’, says Miha Pogacnik, ‘is to create a new role for the arts in the future. Art has become a Friday night thing. Something you do when you take a break from real life. Art should no longer be an ornament, musea and concert halls no longer ghettos. Music, sculptures and paintings will have to become part of our everyday life. We have to learn to be vulnerable and creative again; especially in the world of business and finance but also in public administration.’ The world famous violinist is looking forward to his stay in Holland and his appearance as one of the congresses keynote speakers. ‘I can’t wait to stand in front of 1200 bureaucrats and tell them they all must become artists!’
Slovenia born Pogacnik started his career as a solo violinist roaming the concert podia of the world. ‘But in the seventies I realized that playing music the traditional way only got me deeper and deeper in a system I didn’t want to belong to.’, says Pogacnik. ‘So I invented a creative movement I called INDRIART.’ In 1981 the ‘Institute of the Development of Intercultural Relations through the Arts’ took off and got Miha and his audiences out of the comfortable concert hall seats and into the rough and tumble of real life. Driven by the idea that artists and their audiences should travel the world, gather in crisis areas where they are really needed and can make a difference Pogacnik played in Tibet, South Africa, and Dubrovnik but also at the foot of the pyramids and the Berlin Wall. ‘I was trying to make a change’, says Pogacnik, ‘but I quickly understood that I wasn’t doing enough. To really turn things around I had to get close to the world of business and finance because, whether you like it or not, that is where the power is concentrated.’ So he took his violin and started a journey that introduced him to the multi national corporate superpowers of this world. At Shell International they still remember him as ‘a rare bird whose music touches the soul’ and ‘a unique explorer
who is bringing music to business, not as entertainment but to enhance understanding of its forms and rhythms’. ‘Of course I work on the basis of an extensive briefing so I can choose a piece of music that is illustrative for the problems that they have.’ explains Pogacnik. ‘Nevertheless it can be very tough to persuade money people to open up to art. But that is why I’m there. I explain, I teach them to focus.’ One of Miha Pogacnik’s big passions is Europe. One of the founding fathers and hosts of the European Identity Cultural Caravan, a train tour through European countries to stimulate thought and debate on the issue of European identity, his ideas about the New Europe are clear and outspoken. ‘Listen, it’s very easy’, he says when being asked if we should aim for one big European identity umbrella, ‘we haven’t got one yet. If a human being would have no identity we would put him in hospital. It’s just that we don’t have a hospital big enough to put the whole of Europe in. Surely we are able to combine all the great identity aspects the member states have to offer into a recognizable European one. The debate on this issue is alive and kicking. People see the necessity to make a choice for the better. Let’s give them a hand and help them.’ ISSUE 3
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Service page Previously, we have provided you with tips about where to wine and dine. Today, we want you to exercise your abdominal muscles, by experiencing pure convulsions of laughter, or by having a pleasant crying fit. We all need an occasional outlet! Rotterdam has the spots where you could push the necessary buttons.
Interaction Café Visit the 3QC Interaction square. Participate in debates, or lean back and enjoy a cup of coffee. The opening hours will be clearly indicated on the clock outside the Interaction Café.
Comedy Have a Fit of Laughter Why Aren’t You Happy Yet? Boom Chicago! Already the 16th show of this Dutch/ American comedy group of five comedians whose successful formula is characterized by fast and smart improvisations. ‘Why aren’t you happy yet?’ aims to address the question: Life is good, but is it good enough? 1. Oude Luxor Friday 17 and Saturday 18 September Starts at 20.00 Price: € 15 Reservation numver +31(0)104843333 Cinema Cry your eyes out The Weeping Camel A remarkable and touching documentary set in the Gobi desert in Southern Mongolia, portraying a nomadic family and their efforts in taking care of a white baby camel, cast off by its mother. A film about customs, traditions and rituals. Germany/Mongolia 2003. Directors: Luigi Falorni/ Byambasuren Dayaa. 2. Lantaren Venster Gouvernestraat 133 Date: 16 and 17 September Beginning: 18.00 and 20.00
Theatre Be touched Van Shaffy tot Piaf In this theatre concert singer Liesbeth List pays tribute to the big names in show business with whom she’s got a special bond. Jacques Brel, Mikis Theodorakis and Edith Piaf are but a few of them. 1. Oude Luxor Thursday 16 September Starts at 20.00 Price: € 22,50 Reservation numver +31(0)104843333
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Live Music Rotterdam has a relatively large Cape Verdian c o m m u n i t y. Ferro Gaita is a one—man band, playing traditional Cape Verdian music, called Funana. Ferro Gaita wants to preserve this music style. 3. Zuidplein theatre Friday 17 September Starts at 20.00 Price: € 16
Classical Music For those of you spending the weekend in Rotterdam and appreciative of classical music, we recommend a very special soprano, doing her first solo concert in Holland, and only in Rotterdam: Angela Gheorghiu. Accompanied by the Flemish Radio Orchestra, this Romanian star will perform a diverse repertoire, which will allow her to demonstrate all the possibilities of her magnificent voice. A promising and unique ‘one woman show’. 4. The Doelen Saturday 18 September Starts at 20.15 Price € 39 Amusement Holland Casino Put your luck to the test! Just around the corner of the Doelen you can find Holland Casino. Apart for the gambling bit you can visit them for a great night out. There are occasional live performances by well known Dutch artists and they serve quite decent food. Why not go there and try your luck. 5. Weena 624