Keeping in touch with - Eurocontrol Staff Association News

Where are they now...
AIAE
h
t
i
w
h
c
u
o
t
n
i
g
Keepin
family
r
u
o
f
o
t
r
a
p
t
n
a
t
r
o
an imp
The annual General
Assembly of the AIAE
(International Association
of Former Officials of
EUROCONTROL), held
this year on 27 March,
is an important event
for former staff. Around
70 AIAE members made
the journey to Brussels
– not only from all over
Belgium, but also from
France, Germany, Ireland,
the Netherlands, Portugal,
Switzerland and the UK
– to take part in the day’s
activities and to meet
Agency experts in Europa.
Alison Ralph, former
Internal Communications
Manager and now the
Secretary of the AIAE
Board of Governors, has
sent us this ‘behind the
scenes’ report.
‘You are the people who helped
make EUROCONTROL what it is
today – you are an important part
of the EUROCONTROL Family….
we want you to continue to
follow what is happening with
your Organisation, to stay in
touch with developments…’
Underlining this, the DG
announced that the Agency has
agreed to pay the first annual
membership subscription for all
staff members retiring.
Time to celebrate – Guido
Kerkhofs, Chairman of the AIAE
Board of Governors, presents
a Certificate of Appreciation to
Herman Traas, thanking him for
his dedication and hard work.
Herman was a member of the
Board of Governors for eight
years and the Secretary of the
Board for four years.
70
Joe Sultana explained why he felt it was
important to give a presentation to the
AIAE members: ‘Telling former colleagues
about how things which they started or
contributed to develop are evolving and
progressing is something I feel obliged to
do…being here today made me realise
how much and how fast things are
changing… these AIAE activities are a good
way to keep in touch’.
des Bolzoni:
the AIAE, contact Merce
on
on
ati
orm
inf
r
the
For fur
729 3341
rocontrol.int or +32 2
mercedes.bolzoni@eu
Enjoying a relaxing evening together and reminiscing in Le Moulin de Lindekemale
Brigitte Anderson, retired 2015:
‘The AIAE is an excellent means to keep in touch with the Organisation for which
I worked 40 years and to have regular updates of the activities and challenges the Organisation is
facing.
At the General Assembly, the Director General gave a nice and interesting account of where the
Organisation is headed. The other presentations gave a clear explanation on the changes in the
Rules and Regulations which are of particular interest to the pensioners.
…the AIAE is important because it represents its members in committees such as the Sickness Fund
Committee, defending and addressing our concerns and raising issues of interest… it ensures the
link with the Organisation with which we all have been so closely involved, and last but certainly
not least, it gives us the opportunity to meet up with former colleagues to renew the bond. ‘
Tom Brennan, retired in 2005:
Paul Herbert, retired in 2001:
‘…As well as providing an excellent
opportunity to hear presentations on
many current topics made by experts in
various fields, a highlight of the General
Assembly is that it concludes each year
with an Annual Dinner held in a Brussels
restaurant. Needless to say, we all look
forward to this function. It gives us an
opportunity over a few beers to mix
and share experiences with our past
colleagues. It also gives us a chance to
evaluate the present EUROCONTROL
and to reminisce about how well things
were done in our time!!!
‘Je suis devenu membre de l’AIAE dès mon départ à la retraite
le 1 avril 2001 (mais oui déjà 14 ans...). Il m’a paru presque
“naturel”, sinon important, de prolonger une longue période
d’activité à l’Agence (du 15 mai 1973 au 31 mars 2001) par
cette participation à l’Association.
I would strongly
recommend retired
colleagues to join
and keep up their
membership of AIAE.”
L’apport principal de cette journée annuelle est:
- de garder le contact avec l’Agence et ses activités
et constater une certaine continuité au delà des
changements;
- de replacer mon cas personnel dans un ensemble plus large
et de “relativiser” mes problèmes;
- et surtout de retrouver des collègues et amis dans une
ambiance très conviviale. Evoquer le passé permet
d’apprécier le présent et d’envisager l’avenir avec plus de
sérénité.
Autant de raisons d’aimer cet évènement annuel.
... l’Association est un excellent moyen de prolonger de bons
souvenirs professionnels et humains. Adhérez dès votre
départ pour une transition naturelle’.
Insight magazine Summer 2015
71