Proposal #62: The more the merrier.

I propose to make CISV an organization that would not be mainly spread by word of mouth.

Rationale

I think CISV is big enough to start making serious efforts to take it to schools, universities, etc. And change what for many cisvers is one of the most important characteristics of the organisation: every new CISV member is backed by another CISV member. Being spread by word of mouth guarantees till some extent, that every newcomer is going to be someone that easily fits in the CISV world, which is good. But seeing how big CISV is nowadays, I think is about time to start giving opportunities to those who do not have friends inside CISV but would love to be in it, in conclusion, trying to be a bit less exclusive, that however we try to hide it, we still are.

Respectfully submitted, Máximo (ESP)

Proposal #61: ISS.

I propose that instead of 3, we only keep one International Staff for Seminar.

Rationale:

It costs a fortune. This year, over 40.000 £. I suggest that with this money we build, every year, a CISV house in a different country. This would keep camps cheaper for a generation, and allow us to increase the quantity and quality of all our programmes.

Respectfully submitted, Marcos (BRA)

Proposal #61: Exit IJBC.

I propose that no more IJBCs are being held.

Rationale

With the growing strengths of regional JB structures,and the IJB-team as a de-facto JB-committee that meets during pre-AIM, it's the logical next step to scrap the IJB-conference altogether and make the best use of the human and finacial resources elsewhere.

Respectfully submitted, Nick (GER)

Proposal #60: Sabbatical.

I propose that for two years we host no International Programmes or AIM. This time would be used for chapters to re-organise their local resources and learn how to be self-sustainable and do local education.

Rationale:

CISV Chapters often have no clue of what they are doing. The success of a village is measured more by the budget impact than by the educational impact. A good chapter is a rich chapter, not a chapter that does more activities. Still, most chapters are poor and don’t do activities.
A reason for that is they are constantly focused on “looking for kids” and “looking for leaders” - leaving no time at all to actually be organised (meaning: an organisation). If we took two years off from camps, and used all our resources to focus on organisational development on the local level - we would be able to much more solid chapters - that can function and understand the organisation based on what it wants to achieve, rather than by what “the IO tells us to do”.

Respectfully submitted, Marcos (BRA)

Proposal #59: Same AIM.

I propose that from 2010 the AIM is hosted always in the same country. It should be a major European airport-hub and tickets-costs should be shared among NAs/Participants.

Rationale

Having AIMs being hosted every year in one continent is quite fun... We get to travel every year to a different country, and usually take some time to travel around the area. Fun - but not worth it.
Keeping in mind that an AIM (including tickets) probably cost to the Organisation and its volunteers more than half a million Euros (yes.), think about it:Changing AIM hosting country makes the staff change every year. With that, it’s impossible to have relevant quality increase at the AIMs themselves.A lot of time of the planning of AIM is spent in actually giving information (“what do you need”, “is this fine?”, “not sure we can make it”). If this part was taken care of by itself, we could actually focus on improving the content.People say we change where AIM is hosted to “give a change to develop every NA”. This is a joke. With the money we save by having AIM at the same place, we could host at least 10 additional chapter workshops every year. No development project costs half-a-million.
So, I suggest CISV hires one full-time employee to work to organise the conference with a team of volunteers. This could be either in Frankfurt, Paris, or wherever is cheapest to fly to. We would host it every year in the same site, what probably can make things more adequate and cheap.
Maybe not at many people will go (since many are more attracted to the scenario than to the work), but well - it could be good.

Respectfully submitted, Marcos (BRA)

{ Background: Annual International Meetings take place every August following a rotation scheme: Every other year the conventions takes place in Europe, in between the location switches between Asia and the Americas. In the next years the AIM will be hosted in Guatemala 2009, Germany 2010, Indonesia 2011 and probably France 2011 }