9th Annual ESCO conference September 17-20, 2009 Storkow, Germany

9th Annual ESCO conference
 September 17-20, 2009

Storkow, Germany

Dear friends,

I am really happy to see you all here in Storkow in our annual meeting. I guess it’s not a secret that the last year has been quite hard and challenging for most of us because of all the interesting things happening in the world in general and in each of our countries. (In Latvia we call it crisis or grand trouble).

Therefore unfortunately the expansion of our organisation hasn’t been as successful as we hoped and planned last year. I have sent letters to 18 municipalities in several countries (mostly Germany, but also Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, France, etc.) yet so far there has been no interest from these municipalities which can be also understood that in these not so easy times municipalities are a bit cautious to start any new activities. Therefore I am even happier that we all have managed to meet here in Storkow, celebrating their anniversary.

Last year at the 8th Annual conference in Kongaz (Moldova) the following priorities and tasks were determined:

1. Exchange of information among member towns.

2. Promotion of ESCO in diverse local and international projects.

3. Creation of hyperlinks on ESCO website.

4. Translation of website in Russian.

5. Organise a competition for the anthem of ESCO.

6. Admit at least one new member town.

7. Organize a competition/quiz about Storkow as the location for the next ESCO conference.

8. Organize next conference in Storkow in 2009.

The progress of the above mentioned tasks as per today:

1. Exchange of information among the member towns is a continuous process and all the members have been cooperative, although we have a few where we could wish to have more responsiveness, but I will not mention them here. Yet I would like to point out the town of Busk and personally Bogdan Lytvin who is regularly sending us interesting information about their activities. Thanks!

2. Promotion of ESCO in diverse local and international projects. ESCO has supported its member town of Ramygala (Lithuania) in international ceramic event project proposal preparation with recommendations and suggestions. Unfortunately the first time the project proposal wasn’t successful.

The international project FEEL JOY would be performed by the initiative group Puodžiai working together with the young people from ESCO (European Stork Cities Organization). It was the third project related to ceramics devised by the same group. In the course of the project, Puodžiai would be working together with young people from Latvia, Slovakia and Germany. The participants of the project could study the ancient traditional pottery technique raku, which comes from Japan, and make some raku ceramics, for the period of the seven months. Experienced ceramicists are engaged to be the leaders of the creative process. But they have prepared and improved proposal, started again in international project and let’s hope that this time it will be successful.

Ramygala Town Council has always represented themselves as a stable, creative, developing and future oriented municipality. Therefore European Stork City Organization also recommends Ramygala Town Council for financial support to realize the project of wooden sculpture „Artistic Wooden Gateway”.

I hope that everybody who was a delegate in the 8th annual ESCO conference have to remember Moldova - this original country, attractive welcome moment to Kongaz before border of city and time and again, but especially I wanted to note a visit in the stud-farm near the small town Chadir –Lunga, farm for horses “Orlovskije risaki”- the owner Konstantin Keless. I can’t forget this visit, this unique men, his fanatical job and wonderful talent to drawing. And therefore me together with famous Latvian artist – painter Jānis Anmanis had organized the exhibition with the collection of copies of his drawings – drawings of horses in Riga (Latvia).

3. Creation of hyperlinks on ESCO website is in process, most of it has been done already and it will be finished soon.

4. Translation of website in Russian about conferences and quiz is done.

5. Organise a competition for the anthem of ESCO. The competition hasn’t been successful so far because we had received only two proposals. The jury was discussing for a long time whether we should choose one song from the two submitted proposals. It was admitted that there has been a mistake organising a competition for the anthem, it should rather be a song which everybody can sing and understand easily. Therefore the competition regulations will be changed and the competition announced once again. But I would like to thank the municipalities of Busk and Luka nad Jihlavoi who sent their proposals which I would like to present to you now.

6. Admit at least one new member town. As I mentioned in the beginning, unfortunately this task hasn’t been successful so far.

7. Organize a competition/quiz about Storkow as the location for the next ESCO conference. As Storkow is the location for our annual meeting this year, we organised a quiz – competition for children about Storkow together with Storkow representatives, mainly Silvia Bartusch. So I would like to ask Silvia to tell a bit more about the quiz, how it went, what were the results and announce the winners.

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Storkow this year celebrated its 800th anniversary, which the city was preparing for very long - 13 years ago have already started restoring the castle. Now it is finished.

Pils  telpās tagad ir reģiona galvenā biblioteka, Tūrisma informācijas centrs, ierīkota liela koncertzāle un ļoti moderna izstāžu zāle. Šajā pilī arī notika ESCO kārtējā 9. konference. 

Storkow

Arija Daugule: "The first day was a tour of Berlin. We drove by public transport, a lot of wandering on foot in order to better feel the spirit of the city and once again verify the Germans smug, accuracy and culture. We saw really very much - had anything to compare with our country ...

Berlin

Berlin

Storkow: Raising of Organization and Cities flags at the opening day of the conference.

The second day of a conference, during which each of the cities in telling about yourself, the projects implemented, marked future perspectives, a lot of talk about the common cooperation projects, etc.

Pilsētas Storkovas apvidū pastāv "Zaļo biedrības" iedibināta tradīcija, ka katru gadu kādas organizācijas pārstāvji tuvējā parkā iestāda kādu koku - šogad tas tika uzticēts ESCO pārstāvjiem.

Storkow area "Green Society" tradition - every year by an organization is planted a tree - this year it was given the ESCO delegates.

Maple planted by ESCO.

In the evening a very exclusive concert gave by teachers of Storkow Music and art school together wirh their students. Were familiarization, various discussions with local representatives of the city. A large part of the conference also assisted the city major Kristin Gerich.

Last day of the conference  - we noted main holiday destinations of Storkow - it is located in one of the most exclusive districts in Germany. Region is rich with many lakes, forests and recreation areas. All of the surrounding lakes they are linked by canals and navigation can get almost to the same Berlin.

All delegates of organization are very friendfull, learn each from other on making good ideas, participate in cross-border projects, exchange greetings and looks forward to have a new meeting. "

Next year's conference will be held in Lithuania - town Taujenai.

The organization has its own website www.storkcity.org , which has information in English and partly in Russian - it is still updated. Before each conference is usually an invitation to tender - a survey of the area where the conference will be held. This year, the Germans created a survey for children, many with the success of the organization participated in and received diplomas and small prezentiņus. The organization has its own flag and dance for fun, but overall the song still lacking, so the website will be put to tender for ESCO song.

Park Irrlandia at Storkow where every two years take place Straw festivals.

The most popular cross-border projects:
- Straw Festival at Strokow, where recreational opportunities for interchange with the work - a multi-facility production of straw,
- Potter camp Ramygalā in which teachers with the children learn an ancient Japanese dish manufacturing technology, then organizes the work of the exhibition and
- Festival of Amateur teather  Taujenai.
- Staicele next summer could be the cities ESCO team football tournament for young people.

ESCO Coordinator Arija Daugule says many thanks to the Germans for the accuracy, responsive team, and technological options.