EuroPeers international social DRAFT

Draft Draft Draft

…. EuroPeers international community has grown quite big over the years, having established national networks all across Europe.

…… However, there are not many events happening throughout the year where we can come together in person for mingling, sharing our stories, planning future co-operations across the network and building a EuroPeers international network community.

To solve the conundrum of distance and make sure there is a possibility to stay connected all across the network, an idea came to revive a once very popular tradition of international online socials.

An online international social is a virtual event, typically hosted via Zoom, where EuroPeers all across the network come together for a couple of hours to socialize. Online socials are open to all EuroPeers, old and new, from any country and are typically organized by fellow EuroPeers.

Tradition of online socials provides a great opportunity to share among one another how things are going in different networks around EU, catch up with fellow EuroPeers, see some familiar faces, make new connections, have fun or simply learn more about EuroPeers network in a non formal setting.

Online socials had been very common during the peak of pandemic, but had sizzled out in the last couple of months. A small but determined group of Peers decided to grab the bull by it’s horns and bring online socials back from the dead. As the socials are made from the Peers to the Peers, this initiative was very much so welcomed and supported by the coordinators of the network.

First online social of the revival era was held on the 10th of October, 2022 via Zoom. The meeting started with a few light ice breaker questions where we got to hear how everyone has been doing, share impressions from the Annual Network Meeting in Gdansk ( September 2022 ) and learn about each others odd collecting habits. After that a fellow EuroPeer and a dedicated lobbyist from the Netherlands, Aleksandr, took the stage and gave us a very informative deep dive into the world of Lobbying in Brussels. Evening continued on with separate breakout rooms for connecting to one another in a relaxed flow.

There were around 35+ fellow EuroPeers joining the virtual gathering through out the evening.

EuroPeers online socials are meant to be made “by the Peers to the Peers” so all ideas, opinions, suggestions and even helping hands are always more than welcome when it comes to keeping this tradition rolling.