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- Editorial
- Presidential Message
- ABS Corporate member list
- February event reviews
- ABS Events March 2023
- Top secret: The ABS Board meetings
- May we introduce? A World of Delicious Food
- The Last Page
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EDITORIAL
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Dear Members and Friends of the ABS!
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The time of feasts and balls is over – we should use the following weeks until Easter to slow down and find a little more peace, to also mentally prepare for Easter, the “Superbowl of Christianity", as I sometimes call it. After all, it is the feast with tremendous significance for Christians, not Christmas, as some might think. At the beginning of these 40 days of lent, we were reminded via the media that we were entering the second year of war in Europe, after 22 years of peace, when the Yugoslav war ended in 2001 after ten years of destruction.
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It was no coincidence that the Austro-British Society provided a very touching food-for-thought event when we welcomed a victim of the Yugoslav war at one of our events in February - Adnan Zec, now 43 years old, who witnessed the murder of his entire family in the Ahmici massacre when he was eight years old. Thomas Obruca, the former member of the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, has summarised his experiences in a fantastic book that is well worth reading. And it can serve as an eye-opener to develop more sensitivity to what "war" really means.
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I mention this because I hear voices accusingly saying that the most significant cars in Vienna all have Ukrainian number plates - which is true. But it was always the rich who had the opportunity to flee, and the poor had to remain in chaos, poverty, hunger and fear for their lives. The fact that there are wealthy refugees is no excuse not to help.
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May we never forget what a gift it is to live in a peaceful country, and may we never forget how fragile peace is. I am convinced everything can change from one moment to the next - including here. This quieter time of year should make us reflect on our humble appreciation for the conditions we enjoy living in.
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ABS Secretary-General & ABS News Editor-in-Chief
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PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
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A special tribute to our ABS Corporate members
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Today I would like to say a special thank you to our Corporate members. Many of you have been loyal to us for years. Even in the restricted Corona times, only a few companies have decided (or had to decide due to circumstances) to terminate their ABS membership. Currently, we are successfully attracting new Corporate Members to join our honourable society. In the last few weeks alone, we were able to welcome four new companies: Erich Stuhl (Stuhl Industries), Dr Alfred Kriegler (Lawyer), Dr Karl-Franz Wollein (Surgeon) and Peter Schaider (Auhof Center).
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The benefits we receive are manifold:
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- With an increased membership fee of Euro 500 per year, Corporate Members contribute significantly to the ABS budget.
- Many of our events are partly or even wholly financed and additionally sponsored by ABS Corporate members.
- I keep in regular contact with all decision-makers and thus learn about market developments, strategic orientations and planned initiatives, which are very helpful when planning new events.
- Last but not least, I also get access to their valuable and exciting networks, which in turn benefits all Corporate Members.
But also, the services we offer are manifold:
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- Access to specific, exclusive events and events with limited tickets (e.g. the annual charity concert with Clemens Unterreiner) are only available to our Corporate Members.
- Several accompanying individuals can be taken to all events.
- We are happy to connect Corporate members with each other if required.
- Our close contact with Vienna and London's embassies and Foreign Trade offices is frequently used and highly appreciated.
We are deeply grateful to our network of Corporate members because they greatly enrich and support our work. This special membership is open to everyone and is thus also accessible to individual members without having a company in the background – and therefore, all benefits can be used. Whoever feels addressed, please get in touch with me – I am, of course, always available for questions and further information. Don't be shy – just have a try!
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ABS CORPORATE MEMBERS
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The actual list of companies which are part of the ABS network
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We are pleased about the increasing number of companies that support our honourable society – through their membership fees, but also in numerous instances through sponsorships that make many events possible. Today, we are submitting to you the current list of reputable companies that we are happy to have them among our ABS Corporate members!
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Click below to open the entire ABS Corporate member list:
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Two touching events for our ABS Members in February
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One event highlighting political circumstances, the other of the highest cultural quality – you should have attended both as they were extremely valuable. But we know time is limited, and we sometimes do not manage to do all we want to do. Therefore, we provide solutions through our event reviews – and here are the ones for these two great February ABS Events. Enjoy reading and browsing through the photo collection!
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- February 9th, 2023: Book presentation "Ahmici" at Cafe Ministerium with author Thomas Obruca and Yugoslav war victim Adnan Zec. Click here for details:
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- February 24th, 2023: Theatre play "Airswimming" at Theater Drachengasse, directed by Andy Hallwaxx, starring Jacqueline Braun and our ABS Board member Joanna Godwin-Seidl. Click here for details:
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Exquisite guests on the podium of our March events
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Members of the ABS may already be used to meeting and regularly discussing with the most famous and outstanding personalities in their field. However, this is highly special and only possible because ABS Board members have a vast, high-quality network of contacts that they make available for your benefit as a distinguished ABS Member! And so, it is in March again:
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March 6th, 2023 - 7pm - Diplomatische Akademie:
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- Univ. Prof. Dr. Paul Zulehner - Theologe, katholischer Priester, Professor für Pastoraltheologie an der katholischen Fakultät der Universität Wien
- Vortrag: "RELIGIONEN – HOFFNUNG FÜR EINE TAUMELNDE WELT"
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March 29th, 2023 - 7pm - Diplomatische Akademie:
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- Dr. Werner Fasslabend - Präsident des AIES-Austria Institut für Europa- und Sicherheitspolitik, Bundesminister für Landesverteidigung a.D.
- Vortrag: „EUROPÄISCHE SICHERHEITSLAGE & -POLITIK ANGESICHTS DER KONFRONTATION WESTEN-RUSSLAND"
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TOP SECRET: THE ABS BOARD-MEETINGS
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How ABS activities are developed
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From time to time, we report on our social media channels that ABS Board meetings are taking place. But what happens at these meetings, and how do they proceed? Today, we shed some light on how ABS activities are realised.
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First, let me mention that ABS Board meetings occur every month on days set in advance for the year. Several ABS Board members come together for precisely 1.5 hours – not always all, but attendance is encouraged whenever possible. Only those who are present can participate in the decision-making process. And it all starts with inviting the agenda.
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In the meeting, already more precisely defined event ideas are checked for their current implementation status, new event ideas are introduced, associated to-dos are assigned, and a financial framework is given. To bring more than 35 events per year to reality, this planning list includes about twice the number of event ideas because not everything can be realised. The ABS's high-quality event programme is continuously generated from this pool of ideas.
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At the ABS Board meetings, applications for admission of new members - whether individual or corporate members - are discussed, and official admission takes place if there are no reasons against it - because that also happens - rarely, but nevertheless. This ensures that honourable members maintain the reputation of the ABS.
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In addition, the communication activities of the ABS are carefully evaluated. What ABS Blog article ideas are there? Which ABS Policy Papers are relevant due to current events? How is the number of followers on the various social media channels developing? What needs to be adapted to the webpage? What content should the next issue of ABS News include?
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Since all activities of the ABS also need to be financed, the entire board is informed monthly about the financial management, which the President and Treasurer keep a careful eye on throughout the month. In the course of this, the sending of invoices for membership fees and reminders is also determined, and non-paying members are removed from the database. This ensures that there are no “deadbeats” at the ABS, only paying members.
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The conclusion of each meeting is AOB “Any other business”, where any ABS Board member can bring up other items for discussion. Smaller topics or to-dos are dealt with immediately or assigned to someone, and larger ones are put on the agenda for next month.
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And finally, every board meeting is documented in meeting minutes. The Deputy Secretary General prepares the minutes and coordinates them with the Secretary-General, and they are sent to all Board members within a maximum of 24 hours.
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There is no financial reward – Board members also pay their membership fees regularly. The rewards are the shining eyes of members at great events, the appreciative feedback, an increasing number of members and more and more followers on our digital channels! In other words, being part of the ABS Board is good to work and is not conceivable without enjoying the commitment.
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ABS Corporate member introduction:
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A World of Delicious Food – Delicacies for gourmets in the heart of Vienna
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Discerning gourmets will find an exclusive range of unique delicacies at "A World of Delicious Food" at Himmelpfortgasse 13, 1010 Vienna, in the elegant historic Erdödy-Fürstenberg City Palace. The traditional English house Fortnum & Mason from London is particularly proud to be present exclusively in Austria.
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The famous London luxury department store, founded in 1707, has made a name for itself as a British purveyor to the Royal court. The Fortnum & Mason range includes numerous teas, biscuits, jams and tea accessories, delicious fruit juices, spices & olive oils, fleur de sel, balsamico & cantuccini from Italy, as well as coffee & rum. Sandwiches, rolls and petit fours come fresh daily from Trabitsch Catering and can be enjoyed in the shop with a drink and ordered for office or other occasions for pick-up. There is also a colourful selection of Austrian wines, cremants and champagnes.
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Visit the well-stocked shop or order online (orders possible in Austria and the EU rim).
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- Öffnungszeiten: Di - Fr 10:00 – 19:00 Uhr | Sa 10:00 – 17:00 Uhr | So, Mo & Feiertag geschlossen
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Fotocredit: © Kerstin Reiger
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Account name: Österreichisch-Britische Gesellschaft | Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG | IBAN: AT422011184479592100 | BIC: GIBAATWWXXX
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Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Jochen Ressel
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