Impetus 29-2:27_ISSUE.qxd 29/10/2009 9:33 Page 1 Impetus 29-2:27_ISSUE.qxd 29/10/2009 9:33 Page 2 Impetus 29-2:27_ISSUE.qxd 29/10/2009 9:33 Page 3 FROM THE EDITOR The first ever Marathon to be held in the city of Nicosia took place on the 10th October 2010. The organisation of the first Marathon in the city of Nicosia has, according to the Organisational Committee, established the event not just as a mere sporting event but as an event all our fellow citizens can participate in and demonstrate their social cohesion and love IMPETUS towards Cyprus and its capital, Nicosia. Furthermore VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 29 - WINTER 2010 the event coincides historically with the celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon (490BC), and the declaration of 2010 as a year for the worldwide celebration of the Marathon movement. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: It is very important to take part and support the charity events like the Coordinator: Evie Christodoulou 1000m Charity Run. The citizens of Nicosia and some of the EUMA Members: Nadja Phasoulli members, embraced this great effort and participated in large numbers Julie Euripidou alongside the Greek and foreign athletes during the first Nicosia Marathon. The slogan used by the ancient Greeks in the first Olympic games of NATIONAL BOARD: “Citius, Altious, Fortious” (meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger”) springs to mind! These words encouraged the athletes in those days to surpass National Chairman: Agnes Ioannou Zavertha themselves in a spirit of sportsmanship. This slogan can also inspire us in National Treasurer: Angela Shekersavva modern times in our everyday lives both during our profession careers and National PRO: Vacant our leisure time spent with our families. The Marathon was a great success and the organisers hope that this will OUR ADDRESS: become the largest annual sporting and European Management Assistants - Cyprus cultural event in the Cyprus calendar from now on. I hope we all support these kind of P.O. Box 28775 events. CY-2082 NICOSIA - CYPRUS Enjoy reading the magazine and we look forward to receiving your articles and ideas on Our website: www.euma.org / www.euma-cyprus.org.cy what should be included in YOUR magazine. Evie Our e-mail: [email protected] Christodoulou Graphic Designer: Meligraph Ltd, Tel. 22383375 CONTENTS: Printer: Kailas, Tel. 22819800 Message from the Editor . 3 Events in Cyprus Your contributions to our next edition (Summer 2011) can - From the National Chairman . 4 be sent the latest by 25 January 2011, to: Elena Costa, [email protected] - Secretary’s Day Event . 4 Note: All articles are subject to editing - EUMA Cyprus 1st Conference Day . 4 - Annual General Meeting . 5 Events in Europe - 2010 European Training Day . 6 - Spring Council & Training Day Dinner … . 8 THE AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION: New members Incentive Scheme . 8 To be the recognised voice of the management assistants profession in Europe: EUMA Calendar . 8 Members Corner . 9 by forming a network of highly competent management assistants able to advise on professional development; Interview Corner . 10 by providing a forum for management assistants, employers and educators to promote an understanding of the training, Technology Update . 11 experience and career opportunities necessary for the Articles: development of its members; by creating an image of the management assistant as an essential - Go Green in your workplace . 12 element of the management team. - Suomenlinna – A Sea Fortress . 13 The Association also aims to provide opportunities for the promotion of European cross-cultural relationships and - Rodent Experience… . 14 professional understanding through the exchange of ideas and - Problem Solving . 14 practices, by assisting members who wish to work in other European countries represented in the Association, and by holding - Basic negotiation Tips . 15 international meetings of a professional and cultural nature. - Exorcise blame in your company . 16 To accomplish these aims the Association will encourage the - Recycling top tips . 17 setting up of European Management Assistants' groups in all European countries. Books . 18 Websites . 18 Impetus 29-2:27_ISSUE.qxd 29/10/2009 9:33 Page 4 EVENTS IN CYPRUS FROM THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN Dear Members, and strategies which will lead to the concentrate on yourself and on your fulfilment of these. targets. No need to be competitive. Remember that each one of us is Summer holidays Throughout this new tragectory you must not forget the health of body, soul unique. What we can do to succeed is are over and to act by giving our full potential here we are and mind as this must be our primary concern. We need to follow healthy towards our targets in an ethical and again, back in professional way. our offices with diet, exercise our body well and protect new targets and and keep our soul clear in order for our Good hopes for self mind to focus on our targets. Our luck. and family psychology must also be high. Bad development. thoughts and actions against other people always turn against us. It is time to make a new start. Be Needless to say that this takes thankful for what you have achieved so unnecessarily much of our precious Agnes Ioannou Zavertha far. Think positively for your future time. Behave well to yourself and to desires and put forward your new plans others. Smile to life, be positive, and University of Cyprus SECRETARY ’S DAY EVENT Nicosia, 29 April 2010 Secretary’s Day was celebrated on Wednesday 28th April, some also brought their spouses and friends with them! 2010 at “Amigo Restaurant and Bar” at Mondo Complex in We all continued the night socializing and chatting in a Makarios Avenue in Nicosia. friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Upon arrival we were all offered a free drink and each Many thanks are due to Evie Christodoulou and the member received a bracelet as a small gift from the members of the Committee which was set up specifically Association. The event continued with a short speech for the organization of this event. Also, many thanks go given by our National Chairman, Agnes Ioannou Zavertha, out to our members for coming along and contributing to followed by a fantastic meal consisting of a variety of tasty making the event a memorable experience for all of us. Mexican dishes. Angela Shekersavva A large number of EUMA members attended the event and University of Cyprus EUMA C YPRUS 1ST CONFERENCE DAY - THE POSITIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNICATION AND THE POWER OF THOUGHT Nicosia, 12 May 2009 EUMA, in the educational activities of this year, organized its first conference under the title: The positive approach to communication and the power of thought, on May 12, at Europa Hotel in Nicosia. Speakers at the conference talked about the importance of effective communication in the workplace, the magic of the Greek language, positive experiences in our lives and how they help us and many other interesting topics. First, Mr Panikos Hadjiloizou made a presentation about the correct communication in our times and how it is important in our working environment. Later, Michael Virardi took the floor. Michael talked about Dealing with the current economic crisis, Customer Care, positive experiences and made 26 simple suggestions on Sales and Values. how to differentiate yourself. He also gave us some Among other things, participants learned the importance of information from his book. We learnt that it is very using positive words and expressions, the power of what important to use positive words or expressions in your the author calls “Perception Questions” and the every day life or in your work environment. importance of values, both in professional and in personal In his presentation, Michael delivered examples from four life. of the six chapters contained in his book. The selected Michalis mentioned that his friend Andreas suggested that chapters included: 4 - IMPETUS Winter 2010 Impetus 29-2:27_ISSUE.qxd 29/10/2009 9:33 Page 5 EVENTS IN CYPRUS since he would be in a conference with 40 ladies he should take them flowers! So each lady received a nice bouquet! The quality of life today is an extremely important issue both at individual and at societal level. It is indeed true that we all have some ideas that function as resources as well as limitations. Our beliefs seem to shape, influence or even determine our behavior, our health, our relationships, our jobs and even our happiness! The participants found out that the way we think and feel about ourselves is nothing irreversible or something that can not be formed. After lunch, Aleen Andreou and Bianca Allery made a lively presentation on how we can create connections with people and network appropriately, something which will be helpful for us! It is very important to spend time on professional profile in all the social media we may use like networking and on the relationships we gain from it. Facebook or Twitter. They also showed us that it is important to keep a Michalis Constantinou made a very different presentation. He spoke about the magic of the Greek Language! He explained to us that the Greek language and the Greek alphabet have their importance in the way we communicate and we speak. Last but not least, Liana Toumazou from Performa Consulting, with her passion and lively character, gave us a lively presentation about what we like in our work environment and what we don’t. She helped us understand what we like, what makes us angry in our work and how to find the solution so that we can be happy! Overall, the Conference was a success and all the participants left very happy, looking forward to the next one! Evie Christodoulou Tofarco Ltd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Nicosia, 12 June 2010 The 21st Annual General Meeting of EUMA Cyprus, Shekersavva, presented the 2009 accounts and the chaired by Ms Kate Lewis, took place on 12 of June 2010 budget for 2010 which were approved.