Draft agenda (in the form a conference binder - Kit for Success) was handed out to all delegates after breakfast.
SI President gary Sealey opened the 2009 SI GA. He asked EXCO and the Argentinean organising committee to stand and thanked all the delegates for all their work. Delegates were to become familiar with the agenda which will be approved tomorrow. The general secretary (Pramod Kumar) introduced the following recording secretaries/minute takers who were approved: Sylvia Krogh, Phyllis Chinn, Daryl Chinn, Elizabeth Sebestyen, Dot Fine, Judith Shotten, Marijke Batenburg, Bette Allekotte, Magi Diaz, Diaz. The schedule was posted up and each recorder was asked to sign up for the sessions they were willing to do. The translators, (part of the Youth Team) were introduced. They were: Magi Diaz Diaz, Mariano Moreno, Almery Tessarolo, Carla Massolini, Leandro Bohnhoff and Aneris Cao. The following conference moderators were also introduced: Chris Jones, Julie Dotsh and Cinthia Amor. Gary gave a brief history of Servas after World War II.
A warm up exercise saw delegates coming into a circle to swapping badges and re-finding each other in silence – that was hardest!
Martin Krajcik conducted a peace workshop. We divided into 4 groups which each discussed ‘significant moments in our lives’ in subgroups of 3-4, then presented back to the 4 groups and to everyone the key findings. Then the 4 groups explored scenarios which touched on prejudices and social attitudes.
After lunch delegates were asked to work on advertising their country and making posters/country displays. Then everyone was called back and those displays presented to everyone before coffee.
Chris Jones and Almery (translator) introduced the delegates to correct voting procedure by following a role play scenario – the board was not moved to the right or left in the end! Then dinner for the hungry.?