CASE STUDY N°5

PAPER A - Problem statement:

Partner:

Luxembourg

Summary:

Encouragement of 9 local Associations who offer meeting places and activities for Senior’s to cooperate with the Club Senior Nordstad.

Promote the personal contact between the volunteer Staff from Local Associations and the professional Staff of Club Senior Nordstad
Reducing prejudices between the Associations and promoting trust and knowledge of chances.
The staff members of local Associations accept the Club Senior as an additional regional offer for all elderly people and not as a rivalry
The staff of local associations could help as an intermediator, to motivate members to benefit from special activities (sports, attended holidays, etc)
Organizing of a common event with one or several local clubs

SYNOPSIS - Brainstorming session ideas imagined by learners and staff present at partnership meetings:

These Think Tank ideas operate as incentives for Partners to produce their PAPER B proposals.

PAPER B - How partners propose to solve the problem:

BELGIUM	Since the issue at stake is how to get closer and cooperate with managing boards of local Senior Clubs without being (or appearing) rivals (fear of losing members) the action of the “training course” should focus on each of the “players” involved in the institutional concern: the managing board members (deciders) to recognize the importance of their roles. some of the members themselves to persuade the deciders. Club Nordstad itself to create an image that will be perceived constructively. Therefore we propose to follow the following strategy: Identify the deciders and what they like doing. Identify the profile of each club. Contact the deciders and some key members individually and create a personalized relationship. Invite your contacts for a get together (don’t call it a meeting) in a “neutral” place or in a convenient agreed location.
CYPRUS	It would be a good idea to organize a week forum after Christmas time or summer holidays. For example It will be a forum that includes seminars, discussions, exchange ideas and views on a particular issue, activities. In addition it will be a good opportunity for the Club Senior Nordstad plus the 9 local associations to come closer. Friendship is powerful. It is our connection to each other that gives meaning to our lives. Our caring for each other is often what motivates us to make change. And establishing connections with people from diverse associations can be key in making significant changes in our communities.
ITALY	It would be a good a idea that all the organizations collaborate with each other. There should not be a leader and it is necessary that all the organizations can express their own ideas.They should try to organize competitions and tournaments of music, dancing, playing cards, billiards, chess and bowling. Each time in a different organizaton.
LATVIA	First step could be inviting the volunteers who have undertaken to monitor the work of a local senior club. They should be educated and told about the laws, ideas, and given some etc. The Club Senior Nordstad could organize thematic meetings about the issues that elderly people are interested in, e.g. health issues, life stories of “strong people”, meetings with celebrities and others. In order to make the local associations to meet and get to know each other we suggest organizing SPORT AND LEISURE GAMES, where seniors would get involved both physically and emotionally. The Campaign GIVE TO OTHERS AND YOU WILL BENEFIT could be organized – a kind of charity when people donate and collect things they don`t need but there are people in need who would gladly accept the aid.
POLAND	Motivating members to attend in common events. Finding the common problem of the local level for all organisations and trying to solve it together. Organising common activities to improve memory and concentration of attention. Engage, involve in the topic a professional mediator. Integration school children to work together with seniors from different organisations.
PORTUGAL	Organising a festival around Christmas or before the summer holidays in which the 9 local associations were invited to participate. The festival would celebrate Christmas or the year’s activities of the 10 associations. Informing Club Senior Nordstad’s members about the local associations’ activities and even advertising some of them on Club Senior Nordstad’s webpage (with links to their webpages), as a sign of good will, expecting the local associations to do the same in return. Find an influential intermediary (like the Ville de Luxembourg bourgmestre), who would promote cooperation and help to build bridges, through the planning of events or training, in which all associations would participate.
SPAIN	We suggest an ACTION PLAN in 4 steps: 1. Organizing a gathering for the heads of the Regional Club and the heads of local associations in order to hear their needs, analyze distancing problems and inform them about the schedule of activities they can take part in. Using this gathering to offer a formative workshop addressed to leaders or heads of the 9 local associations in order to guide them with regard to management and the revitalization of activities. 2. Suggesting a group activity with the Regional Club and the 9 local associations to bring people together and help them share activities: a card game championship, a regional dance competition or other interesting activities. 3. The Regional Club would pay a monthly activity-focused visit to a local association (according to a previously set schedule) and: 4. To bring the Action Plan to an end, a ‘Coexistence Day’ will be organized for all the associations in order to arrange several final activities.
TURKEY	A. Not only the members but also managing persons negotiate their attitue to make understand eachother. B. Managers can print brochures for the activities to inform the members for the local clubs. C. There should be good reasons to to take them together, such as; feasts,festivals and some amusing activities. D. Competitions can organise some games; such as chess, checker,mangola etc.