We had a GLOWing time!

GLOW is an opportunity to break the dichotomy of field and HQ and to begin a dialogue and exchange among all sections of UNV. It’s important that colleagues come to GLOW ready to talk and listen. At the end of it, we need to feel that despite geographical boundaries, we’re one team, says Andre Carvalho, Chief of our Programme Development and Operations Group.

Even as colleagues prepare to travel for GLOW, the GLOWeb editor spoke to Andre to seek his advice on behalf of GLOW organziers as well as participants.

Read Andre’s interview: http://glow.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2005/5/5/652275.html

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Dear all,

How to find information in this jungle?

As you prepare for the workshop barely 10 days away, you may want to find out about the agenda, the hotel, the travel arrangements etc. The easiest and quickest way to find the information on the GLOWeb is using the "Search" facility we've provided. We've moved the search box right below the login form on the right column for easy use. Just type in your keyword ("agenda", "hotel", "travel", "needs assessment" etc.) and click the "Go" button to find what you're looking for! We’re posting all key information – including those sent to you by email – on the GLOWeb so that you can refer to it whenever you want.

We’ve also created single-click links to documents and websites that have been recommended for advance reading. (More about it later in this newsletter.)

Isn't that easy?

Best wishes,

GLOW Communications Team
Glow-comm@unvolunteers.org

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LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

How to reach GLOW venue
For COT colleagues:
Some of you will be leaving for GLOW sometime this weekend, and the rest will follow next week. So we’ve posted on GLOWeb some important travel instructions for you, to help you reach the Hotel Seminaris in Bad Honnef (Bonn) where the workshop will take place. Please read the information carefully and keep a copy with you during your travel for easy reference.

Read the travel information: http://glow.civiblog.org/blog/_WebPages/TraveltoBonn.html

For HQ colleagues:
By car: From the A3 motorway, exit Bad Honnef/Linz. From the A 59 motorway, follow the B 42 and exit Rhondorf. In the city centre, please follow the road signs to the hotel.
By train: IR station Bad Honneff is approximately one km from the hotel.
By public transport: Tram 66 from Bonn. Tram 16/63 from Bad Godesberg via Bonn.
Shuttle bus service: There will be a shuttle bus service between Haus Carstanjen and the hotel every morning and evening during the GLOW week. Watch out for the announcement of its schedule!

For road map to Hotel Seminaris, see: http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/FAPR/my_anfahrt.html

What all to pack for GLOW?
Time to pack your bags, friends! Beginning this week, you’ll be busy packing your suitcases and bags for Bonn. Do make sure that you don’t forget any of the essentials, such as your passport, flight and train tickets, credit cards, euros, mobile phone, toiletries and other personal utilities.

We also want to remind you of certain items that you may want to bring with you. Here are some suggestions from the Communications & Social Team: http://glow.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2005/5/5/653506.html

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SUGGESTED READING

Rethinking Partnerships - a paper by Bruce Jenks
For the Partnership day of the workshop, the Programme Content Team recommends you to read this one-page paper by Bruce Jenks (Director of the Bureau for Resources & Strategic Partnerships, UNDP) on "Rethinking Partnerships". Jenks will be one of our external resource persons for the Partnership day.

Read the paper (PDF): http://glow.civiblog.org/Rethinking_partnerships.pdf

Background documents for regional session on Africa
If you're planning to pariticpate in the regional session on Africa during the workshop, then you should read in advance the following documents, recommended by the Programme Content Team (all documents in MS Word format):

PDOG-Africa Strategy 2005-2007
2004-2006 Planning Framework for Africa Section
Human Development Report 2004 - Statistics (Africa)

Recommended reading for Day 2 (on Global Framework)
In preparation of the Day 2 of the workshop (focussing on Global Framework) the Programme Content Team recommends you to visit the Millennium Campaign's website and also the website of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
Visit the Millennium Campaign website
Visit the Global Call to Action Against Poverty website

The home page of the Global Call site has a dropdown menu of countries which link to national civil society campaigns around the world (where they exist). The site also gives information on which organizations around the world are actively involved in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. The Millennium Campaign website also has good information on national country campaigns and some great audiovisual materials (e.g. the 'Only With Your Voice' video clips).

Also strongly recommended are the following (in PDF):
Volunteering for MDGs: Role of UNV (English)
Volunteering for MDGs: Role of UNV (French)
Volunteering for MDGs: Role of UNV (Spanish)

Everything you want to read, but unable to find...
We've created an easy way for you to access the background reading material with a single click from any page of the GLOWeb. Look under the "Suggested reading" on the right column, where we've listed all documents and websites that have been recommended by the Programme Content Team for reading in advance. Just click on any of the document/website name to reach it directly!

Thanks to Rama for suggesting this! We're listening!!

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GLOW 2005: Moving forward together

We had a GLOWing time!