BPW German Federation Spring Conference 2004

How do you get 250 women from 10 European countries to hold still for a unique group photo shooting? How do you assemble the collective womanpower from 5 East European and 5 West European countries for a 3 day work and fun session?

Ask any of the ladies from Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Cyprus, Rumania or from the U.K., Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Germany who stood together to listen and learn from top-notch politicians, bankers, entrepreneurs and other experts about what is coming our way when 10 accession countries join up to

Create the new EU 25:

First, you find a motto that concerns us all “BPW – overcoming borders”.

Next,you find an adequate venue and intelligent speakers to appeal to the minds of intelligent women. Then you evoke the solidarity of BPW Europe, and finally you indeed overcome borders by working hard in teams to make it happen.

We had lively workshops, excellent panel discussions, networking both on the macro and more private scale, we learned a lot, we celebrated and got a first hand demonstration of what the BPW network can be like if we make it work.

By Sunday afternoon, March 14, everyone agreed we had a most worthwhile and rewarding conference. A lot of the Young BPWs took with them the spirit of belonging to a strong organisation....and of motivation to join in both national and international projects.If even a small seed toward better understanding and cross-cultural contact was planted in our heads and hearts, the hosting club of Goettingen/Germany will not mind the work involved.

A big THANK YOU to each and every one for making the (in some cases considerable!) effort to participate in a great event!

Edda Neumann

BPW Club Goettingen/Germany