Saturday October 11th, 2008
Katho Institute
Tothout
Bruges

Present

Sonja Danner, Austria (Chairwoman)
Hugo Verkest (Treasurer)
Marit Svare (Secretary)
Paul Hopkins (Executive Officer)
Lesley Prior (UK)
Outi Raunio-Hannula [for Marja Honkaheimo)

Apologies

Genevieve Loqueville, France
Marianna Szabo, Hungary

1. Welcome

Sonja welcomed everybody, and especially Outi who is here for the first time.

2. Agreement of Agenda

Agenda was agreed.

3. Matters arising

The minutes from the last meeting were approved.

4. Minutes from the last meeting

• Religious Mosaic from Galillee College in Israel
• EFTRE yearbook
• Info on WASACRE
• Tony Blair Faith Foundation
• Good Practice

5. Membership, new members, revision of membership list

Invoices were sent in April. So far only the British Institutions + reply from Netherlands. Board members are reminded to chase the money and check the membership status in their country. Paul will transfer the money at the end of this fiscal year to Hugo, - expenses for Budapest.

Promise made to member institutions

• Keep informed, 2 newsletters a year
• Preferential booking option for conferences.
• Hugo sends reminder, and all exec members follow up their region - adding Florin and Cyprus rep if in London, Iceland, Latvia, Malta to the list of board (see Appendix)
• Supporting people who don’t do anything for their country is problematic, we need some responsibility in return.
• Rep of Ireland - Paul has tried many times, no luck so far, Lesley some info to follow up which Paul will do.

6. Financial situation.

• 11 665 euros on account.
• We can only support people on cheapest means of transportation - no taxies or last flights, meeting the cheapest costs for speakers at conferences - or even booking for speakers.
• Paul will make up working rules, operating by meeting in March
• A reminder for London Board meeting that we have 500 euros for support. Application date is 30 November 2008, to Hugo. No application will be accepted afterwards.
• Paul will book a couple of rooms at cheap price for people.

7. Next conference

The mini-seminar was good for the EFTRE info work and pre-conference info. Johannes from catholic organization will help spread info and give support. Funding in UK, Lesley and Paul will look into. Venue.

The venue in Bruges some visited Thursday is regarded as best choice. We might need to change the dates due to local consideration. Hugo will check prices for various dates.

We will use the seminar rooms, all single with bathrooms, and book some in hotels for approx 90 people. An organization in Bruges will help with this.

We will not offer to arrange for longer stays. To have control over expenses, we need to make contracts.

Program:

• We went over the evaluation from Budapest. See doc sent by Paul.
• Classroom aspect essential, more workshops than in Budapest.
• No schools are in session.
• One workshop session will be a visit in Bruges to places of interest to the theme, with practical work included.
• In Ipres a center of conflict resolution with education officer with museum of education we can use.
• We need to revisit Peter’s challenges from last conference.
• 10 min every morning with presentation from various countries, say something of RE inn their country. 2x5 min Speakers corner - on booking form to tick if want to do it, otherwise ask on beforehand.
• No place for religious observance, but info on all services available in the area to do on their own.
• Publishers book exhibition Hugo and Paul will ask. Others check in their areas.

Theme

• 2010 is the year for combating poverty and social disclusion – “inclusion” possible theme, how inclusive is RE? What does religion teach about these things? International conflicts and relation to religion. New religions. Conflicts in wider world have consequences for Europe. Move beyond Israel and Palestine conflict.
• RE contributing to conflict resolution, How does RE contribute to social inclusion. Days could concentrate on Social values, conflict resolution?

Speakers and workshop leaders

• 2 major speakers and at least one female keynote speaker
• A leader of Finnish church aid, female, Outi knows her working in Brussels, experiences in teaching interesting person, wide knowledge on the area. Pauliina Arola working for Ahrtisaaari (2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate) - Outi will make the first contact.
• Terry Mcmacklin done a lot of work in this field. So has Terece Kochlear In Vansy, working in Balkans.
• Paul makes a first contact letter
• Bob Jackson (UK) is a good choice.
• Others could be Commissioner of Human Rights, Friedrich Schweitzer, Küng, Jonathan Sacks, David Hampshire.
• Jan Figel or other from Brussels for at least short address.
• Briefing on time, focus needs to be done again. Be clear they will be stopped if going on too long.
• Peter could be great help with theme and keynote speakers?

Workshops

• We need 10 workshop leaders.
• Paul has criteria that we can use.
• Is it a good idea to contact participants at last conference to volunteer? And ask Board members to look for some in their country.
• What we offer in return was decided last year, and will include food.

Other items

• The booking form needs revision, too complicated last time.
• We need clear contracts on all costs on beforehand.
• The budget to be ready by March 2009.
• Day tickets at € 15, no meals included.
• In Budapest the fee was € 220.
• Need to make up a confirmation of attendance on beforehand.
• What about conference memorabilia? Bag, poster, T-shirt with logo or other image…
• Paul will set up shared space on Google.doc so we can work together on documents.
• Exec needs to support the local organization just like in Budapest.
• We need to make up a Conference organizer pack for the future so that all relevant documents are gathered together, and we can easily draw on past experience.
• We need to keep the work on a realistic level, and encourage Board members to volunteer for some of the work.

8. Develoing a dialogue

The project has moved after the e-mail Nils sent in the summer. Paul works with Nils on this. Possible for workshop! Sonja gets in touch with Nils.

9. Mini-conferences

Run the same seminar twice, 75 min each. How many will participate?

• 13 March, 2009 London – seminars before lunch Friday [Hugo [B], Henk Pol [NL] already voluteered]
• 13 November, 2009 Helsinki - seminar before lunch Friday. University students and teacher students participate. Lesley, Sonja and Paul repeat Torhout seminar, Marit on film, Hugo also contribute.
• 23 April 2010 Belgium - Marit and Marja do workshop Friday morning

10. Norman Richardson

Apologies for not finding info on this from Norman, follow up in March 2009.

11. RE Olympics

We need somebody to commit to doing the work.

Prize could be:

• for school Articles of Faith material
• for pupil to decide in March meeting
• Teacher’s award
• Leaflets could be sponsored by Art of Faith.
• Some challenges are funding and Criteria for evaluating.
• Possible to link to European theme? Poster exhibitions - teacher associations help spreading the info, using visual expression to overcome the language barrier essential (painting, creativity), display at conference, version of spirited art.
• One possibility is to link to theme of conference, send works, exhibition, vote for which is best not displaying place of origin.
• Use for a part in a bid for funding?
• 1 workshop on the exhibition? View of different countries in one lesson? Ties in with focus on good practice.

12. New Flyer

• A new flyer is needed, in English, German and French.
• Paul is looking into costs and design, dark blue on white is cheapest.
• On web to print when needed.
• Marit will work on text
• Bring ideas to London, March 2009

13. Application for funding

• Use the response as a guide line for a new application
• Theme: inclusion?
• Link teachers only? In service training network? Be multiplier in their country
• Pestalozzi program course ? Sonja follow up with info on what possibilities there are.
• Conference with day before or after for teacher
• Offering various connections using geographical areas that end up in common conference, produce material to spread.
• Other possibility is to apply for 2011-2013, and end the period with conference.
• Countries involved is important.

14. EFTRE newsletter

• Deadline by Nov , Paul to prepare
• Swier short presentation
• Some on Klingenthal Sonja & Marit,
• Berlin, Hugo
• Denize’s project (Lesley checks),
• Conference update 2010 august inclusion
• Workshop report 50 words from each
• Florin on Romania,
• Mosaic short text
• News from the Board, Paul checks
• Sonja summery of Redco book
• ICCS conferences and some other

Board needs to disseminate the newsletter

Next newsletter after March board meeting

• what like to be an RE teacher in a certain country
• book review? and other overviews
• All board members to being items / ideas to the board meeting

15. Country reports

Everybody is reminded to send the report to Paul, also if no changes applies

16. EFTRE constitution

We need to go over the constitution, to update it. Items to be included are

• board members responsibility, and what to do if they do not do their job
• The make up of the exec members, grouping of countries ?
• Coucil of Europe grouping? One member that can be representative for all the eastern countries?
• Setting up what expenses we are willing to cover,
• Roles of officers, distinctive board and exec members, Length of service
• Purposes
• Principles e.g. Toledo
• Defining Europe, membership categories, geography / language distribution,
• Paul volunteers the work - into working rules
• To be brough to the March board for approval to go to General Assembly in 2010 for agreement

17. CoGREE

Now Coordinating Group for Religion in Education in Europe

18. Future meetings

• 13 – 14 March, 2009 London - Exec on Friday afternoon, Board Saturday 0930-1600
• 13 -14 November, 2009 Helsinki -Exec start EFTRE meeting Friday, finish by lunch Saturday
• 23 - 24. April, 2010 Belgium - Exec meeting Friday afternoon and Saturday before lunch.

19. Future meetings

• EFTRE yearbook, adjusted
• Tony Blair Faith Foundation: plan electronic directory of all organizations working with religious dialogue….. Paul checks, funding encouraged
• Good practice - some examples there now, take one point from the workshop to the net site
• National curriculum net address in English for Paul
• Hugo invite Mosaic people to conference, interesting program, spread the info on homepage, stay in contact with them, Hugo does this
• Denize - build into European bid for a project, Lesley interested in link to her work. Organizing student exchange is difficult for EFTRE, we can be broker so that those who want to can team up. Promote the idea. Unclear on outcome. Focus on teachers instead of students. Disseminate info to interested contacts. Not take program as ours.

20. Items carried over for London

• Fee paying strategies
• List on countries in Europe with contacts, list of COE list of countries (see Appendix)
• RE Olympics new suggestion
• Paul new flyer, costs, Marit on text
• New constitution, Paul
• Norman Richardson

Trondheim, 25 Ocotober 2008
Marit Svare