Friday, March 10, 2006

On a personal note...

This evening, I was elected president of the Swedish Society for the Study of Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. How it all came about, is still somewhat of an enigma to me, but apparently I was regarded a good enough candidate to fill the position, which - I must admit - is both flattering and a great honour. However, it was quite unexpected until only a few days ago.

The Society is an organisation of mainly analysts dedicated to "Eastern Europe". It has some 200-250 members and is the Swedish branch of the International Council for Central and East European Studies (ICCEES). One of the main tasks for the Society over the coming four years will be preparations to host the VIII World Congress of ICCEES, which will take place in Stockholm in July 2010. Thus, great challenges lie ahead but also many interesting encounters and venues. Hopefully, I will learn something from it. If not, I rely on my fellow colleagues to knock me on the head every once in a while to remind me of my faults and shortomings. Either way, I am positive that it will be great fun.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations are certainly in order here! Well done on this, and I hope you can use this position to do more good work.

Ibn ad Dunya said...

Congratulations friend! They couldn´t have find a better candidate!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Vilhelm. Please don't forget to write in your blog every now and then, even if you've got lots to do. Your knowledge and views make rewarding reads.

"shortomings"? Well, there you have one. ;)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations - an honour indeed! Well done :)/jess

Nika said...

congratulations and best of luck to you!

Vilhelm Konnander said...

Dear all,

Thank you for your kind words of congratulations. I do hope that my new position will also give some interesting outlooks for you on my blog and that it will not take that much time so that my blogging will suffer too much. I must admit though, that the last few weeks have been quite intense and there is a lot to get to grips with - not least the preparations for the ICCEES congress. Despite the fact that it will take place in four years, viz. 2010, it is vital already at this point that an organisation is put into place, financing is settled and other practical and theoretical matters are dealt with, which in all
will be needing much thought and consideration.

Yours,

Vilhelm