Wondering where we live?!? Welcome to Ross Street in our typical Toronto city house (built in the early 20th century and in need of some renovations)... home to 6/8 of the 2008-09 MC. If I recall correctly we are the 5th MC team to live here.
For those who stay at the house, we have the famous wall of handprints where every guest can outline their hand and leave a little mark behind. I'm sure there are hands here from all over the world!
It's really not too bad (believe me, if I don't mind - you're good) and it's home - for now at least!
This past week, I've spent in London and Prague to attend different meetings with other MCPs - FYI: its very cool to be MCP!
I was in London for an exchange summit on Saturday June 28 and Sunday June 29, with MC members from the UK, US, Poland, Brazil, Morocco and Egypt. The meeting itself was a round of country meetings where we had the opportunity to explore the potential for partnership between our countries to keep growing our exchange numbers.
TONS of interesting opportunities... stay tuned for more news!
I then worked out of the AIESEC UK office June 30 – July 2, and travelled to Prague on Wednesday with Will, the MCP of AIESEC UK, to join the other MCPs of Central, Eastern , Western Europe and North America (CEE & WENA Presidents' Meeting). It was great to see all these wonderful people I had met at IPM, and also great to come together as two growth networks (GNs) to set goals for our networks and see where we can co-operate in 08-09. The meeting was 3 days of goal and KPI setting, deciding on GN initiatives, meetings with other countries and discovering what important role Canada can play in
growing WENA results.
The output of both meetings, your LCPs will get via e-mail. :) But on the personal side, this last week has been really refreshing and exciting for me. Refreshing to connect with people and have those conversations that remind me why we're all in this – to offer more unique, life-changing experiences to people. Exciting, because I got to re-connect with MCPs at a time when we're all just coming off of year planning, and when we can share our ambitions, hopes, fears, and get to know each other more as people, and not only as fellow MCPs.
My top personal highlights of this last week:
1- Signing O Canada on Canada Day in Trafalgar Square, celebrating with AIESEC UK members, and Clare, who was one of my first interns when I was VP X in Ottawa.
2- Will (MCP UK) and I sitting on the plane to Prague really excited, as we realized this was our first opportunity to represent our countries as MCP's (and no longer MCP-e's!)
3- Taking the bus with Will, Rob (WENA Director) and the CEE GN Board at 1:00 in the morning in Prague and being entertained by a 3-man band as we headed to our hostel from the airport – they were singing American blues songs, but didn't quite know English very well, so they made up words along the way.
4- Getting off the plane in London, going straight to the UK MC office and getting straight into meetings and stimulating conversations with brilliant, passionate and generally great people!
5- Boarding a tram with all the MCP's + 2 GN Boards and enjoying a tram party as we toured around Prague for a few hours.
6- Discussing an exciting country partnership at 2:00 am on the bus as we headed home from the tram party (stay tuned for the details!).
7- Countless rounds of Ming Mang Mong and other really confusing games with people from 20 different countries in a tiny bar.
8- Seeing the reaction of about 35 MCP's when we realized there was free WiFi at the nightclub we were taken to... half hit the dance floor, the others cracked open the laptops.
9- Rounding a street corner and coming face to face with the magical looking national museum in the centre of Prague, all lit up and pristine looking.
10- And just generally, REALLY enjoying the opportunity to reprezent Canada for the first time ever at a WENA PM
Next far-off destination: Sao Paolo, Brazil, in August for IC! Between now and then though: preparing for NPM! Its VERY cool to be an MCP!
Today marks MC 08-09's first official day alone in the office - and thus the official start of our term.
A new office, a new MC structure, a new strategic plan, and a new team - lots of change, and very exciting prospects for the year ahead!
After 3 weeks of hard work, we wrapped up transition, said our good-bye's to MC 07-08 and had our business plan approved last Saturday at our June Board of Directors meeting. Now, we set to work to make this a year of unprecedented growth for AIESEC in Canada with an ultimate goal of 332 exchanges realized - that's 332 lives that we will impact in 2008-2009! Visit this blog for some insight into life on the MC, and to get to know your MC a bit better!
Layial, Eldon, Marc, Marina, Frank, Danny, Erika and Emily
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Bonjour AIESEC Canada, et bienvenu au blog du MC 08-09!
On marque aujourd'hui notre première journée seul au bureau du MC - et donc, le début officiel de notre mandat!Un nouveau bureau, une nouvelle structure au niveau national, un nouveau plan stratégique, et une nouvelle équipe - beaucoup de changement, et plusieurs beaux projets pour l'année!
Après 3 semaines de transition, nous avons dit nos 'au revoirs!' au MC 07-08 et nous avons présenter notre plan annuel au comité de directeurs (BoD) samedi dernier. Maintenant, au travail! Nous prévoyons une grande année de croissance pour AIESEC Canada, avec un bût de 332 échanges réalisés - 332 vies que nous allons changer en 2008-2009! Revenez visiter notre blog pour un goût de la vie sur le MC, et pour apprendre a connaître votre MC!
Layial, Eldon, Marc, Marina, Frank, Danny, Erika et Emily
