{"id":368,"date":"2023-04-26T08:50:10","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T06:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/?p=368"},"modified":"2023-04-26T09:02:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T07:02:47","slug":"ga-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/?p=368","title":{"rendered":"GA 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Baltic Writers Council (BWC), General Assembly 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time and place: 6\u20137 May  2022, Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators, Uddens gr\u00e4nd 3, 621 56 Visby, Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following representatives of the 14 member organisations from 8 countries were present (altogether 19 persons): Swedish Writers\u2019 Union (Anna-S\u00e4flund Orstadius),  The Union of Finnish Writers (Ville Hyt\u00f6nen, Hannu Niklander, Maaria P\u00e4ivinen), Society of Swedish Authors in Finland (Malin Kivel\u00e4, in Zoom), The Finnish Association of Finnish Non-Fiction Writers (Timo Tossavainen), The Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (Jenni Kav\u00e9n), Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators (Kazimiera Astratoviene, in Zoom), Lithuanian Writers\u2019 Union (Marius Burokas), Estonian Writers\u2019 Union (Tiit Aleksejev, Piret Viires, Taivo M\u00e4lton),  Latvian Writers\u2019 Union (Mudite Treimane), Polish Assciation of Literary Translators (Anna Klingofer-Szostakowska), The Union of Belarusian Writers (Dmitri Plax, Barys Piatrovich), The Norwegian Association of Literary Translators (Hilde Lyng), The Norwegian Authors\u2019 Union (Heidi Marie Kriznik), Norwegian Writers for Children (Alexander L\u00f8ken). Lena Pasternak was representing the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agenda of the Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday May 6th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14.00-18.00 Meeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening of the General Assembly. Short presentation of every participant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approval of the Agenda. Election of the chairperson and secretary of the GA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activity report by Kazimiera Astratoviene, the Chair of BWC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

War in Ukraine: what can we do?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement by the chairman The Union of Belarusian Writers Barys Piatrovich<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15.30 Coffee break <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership questions. Proposal to remove St. Petersburg Writers Union from BWC members list. Membership fee <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BCWT news by Lena Pasternak, director of BCWT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from member-organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19.00 Dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20.00 Discussions and readings of Ukrainian poetry <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday May 7th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11.00-16.00 Meeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treasurer\u2019s report by Mudite Treimane the Treasurer of BWC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auditor\u2019s report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from member-organizations continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14.00 Lunch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election of the BWC Board members: Kazimiera Astratoviene (retiring by rotation, not willing to continue), Piret Viires (retiring by rotation, willing to continue), Viveka Sj\u00f6gren (retiring by rotation, not willing to continue), Malin Kivel\u00e4 (retiring by rotation, willing to continue), Mudite Treimane (retiring by rotation, willing to continue.)   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election of members to the Board of the BCWT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election of an auditor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nominations for the board of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators Centre <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next year\u2019s cultural event in Visby \u2013 Belarusian literature readings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date of the next GA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the GA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

20.00 Dinner <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINUTES FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Secretary  of BWC Piret Viires  opened the meeting<\/strong> at 14:00 on Friday  May 6 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Lena Pasternak, the director of BCWT greeted the guests. The participants of the meeting shortly presented themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> The Agenda<\/strong> of the meeting was approved<\/strong> by the Assembly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/strong> As BWC chairperson Kazimiera Astratoviene and BWC vice chairperson Malin Kivela unfortunately could attend the meeting only via Zoom due to illness, then Piret Viires <\/strong>was elected bothchairperson and secretary for the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/strong> The Chairperson of the BWC, Kazimiera Astratoviene, presented the activity report for BWC <\/strong>via Zoom, for the years of 2019\u20132021:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last General Assembly of the Baltic Writers Council was arranged in Visby two years ago, in 2019 27th\u201328th of April. 16 persons representing 12 organisations from 8 countries took part in the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year main focus was on organizing next literary event in Visby in 2020. Members of BWC discussed several ideas and decided that the event will be about Belarusian literature. It was a very well-timed decision, because the situation in Belarus concerning violations of freedom of speech and human rights was alarming for a long time and only getting worse. In a year 2020 BWC Board issued two statements condemning violence against the peaceful protesters in Belarus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was formed a working group to prepare the Belarusian literature event, it included Justyna Czechowska (Polish Association of Literary Translators), Dmitri Plax (Union of Belarusian Writers), Tiit Aleksejev (Estonian Writers Union) and Viveka Sj\u00f6gren (Swedish Writers Union). The working group was responsible for the program of the event and searching for possible funding. Justyna Czechowska with a help of Hilde Lyng, representing Norwegian Association of Literary Translators, contacted Kopinor Foundation and received a grant of 45 000 Norwegian crowns (4500 euros) for the event. That was a very good start. But we didn\u2018t move any further.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, Belarusian literature event had to be postponed as well as GA in Visby. For two years, 2020 and 2021, all of us faced harsh reality of a coronavirus pandemic. Lockdowns, keeping social distance, working from home and avoiding social gatherings became a new normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2021 the Board of BWC had a meeting via zoom and decided to organize an informal zoom meeting with a members in order to see each other, say hello, listen to the news of Baltic Writers and Translators Centre and symbolically mark GA. It was decided not to collect the membership fee for a year 2021 as far as GA would not be organized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022 the situation concerning covid-19 pandemic eased, it appeared possible to travel and have an annual meeting again and so it was decided to organize GA 2022 in Visby at last, hoping that the corona virus cases won\u2018t be on the rise again.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all seemed well until February 24th when Russia invaded Ukraine and the war started. The Board of BWC immediately issued the statement expressing support for Ukraine and condemning Russian aggression. That was all we could do, but it seemed so not enough. Looking for other ways to help Kopinor Foundation was contacted in order to find out if there is a possibility to donate a grant of 4500 euros to Ukraine in some way. The answer was no, the money can be used only for Belarussian literature event. Willing to focus on situation in Ukraine and express support for Ukrainians The Board made a decision to postpone the Belarusian literature event until 2023 and this year to have a discussion and some poetry readings after the first GA session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GA approved the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.<\/strong> War in Ukraine: what can we do?\u00a0 <\/strong>The BWC members introduced experiences in different countries in helping Ukraine, Ukrainian writers or Ukrainian refugees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. The statement by the chairman The Union of Belarusian Writers Barys Piatrovich. <\/strong>Barys Piatrovich gave an overview of the current situation in Belarus and stressed that most of Belarusians are not supporting Russian invasion to Ukraine.\u00a0 He also informed that the Union of Belarusian Writers was shut down by the government in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8.\u00a0<\/strong> Membership questions.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership questions. New members. Proposal to remove St. Petersburg Writers\u2019 Union from BWC members list. Membership fee.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GA discussed the application of the Ukrainian Association of Translators and Interpreters to become the member of BWC. The GA decided unanimously to accept the application of Ukrainian Association of Translators and Interpreters  and welcomed it as the new member of BWC. The GA also decided that the Ukrainian Association of Translators and Interpreters is waived to pay the membership fee for the year 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the Russian invasion to Ukraine, the GA decided to suspend St. Petersburg Writers\u2019 Union from the Baltic Writers Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GA decided that the membership fee for the following year will be 200 EUR. Reduction fee will be 150 Euros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9.<\/strong> BCWT news by Lena Pasternak, director of BCWT.<\/strong>\u00a0 Lena Pasternak, director of BCWT, gave an overview of the situation in the centre during the last 3 years in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a challenge for the centre, but half of the the centre opened already in the autumn of 2020. There has been various collaboration, with Turkey, Germany and other countries. Some authors arrive with their own scholarships (e.g. Estonians) and also some get scholarships from EU funds. BCWT is a unique centre, the focus of the activities is international, there is no Swedish preference. The BCWT is funded by Gotland and Swedish state.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.<\/strong> Reports from member-organizations were decided to present on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session was ended at about 17.00.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday May 7th, 2022, starting at 11.00<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11.<\/strong> Treasurer\u2019s report by Mudite Treimane the Treasurer of BWC.<\/strong> The Treasurer Mudite Treimane presented the finances of 2019 and the budget of 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Income in 2019 was 18 689 SEK (membership fees), all costs were 24 942 SEK (administration, GA, homepage, roundtable in 2019). Total result was -6243,75 SEK. However, there was surplus from previous years to cover these costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The budget proposal for 2022 was 42 000 SEK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

12.<\/strong> Auditor\u2019s report.<\/strong> The auditors (Johanna Sandberg) found the books in order, finances were used according to the purposes and the board was granted freedom of responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After hearing the Treasurer\u2019s report and Auditor\u2019s report General Assembly approved unanimously the finances of 2019 and the budget  for 2022. – 42 000 SEK.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

13.<\/strong> Reports from member-organizations.<\/strong> The delegates from each organization presented reports. The delegates were asked to send their reports via e-mail. See Appendix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presented reports were the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ville Hyt\u00f6nen <\/strong>(The Union of Finnish Writers) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander L\u00f8ken <\/strong>(Norwegian Writers for Children<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heidi Marie Kriznik <\/strong>(Norewgian Author\u2019s Union) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hilde Lyng<\/strong> (Norwegian Association of Literary Translators)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marius Burokas<\/strong> (Lithuanian Writers\u2019 Union) (kirjutatud)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiit Aleksejev<\/strong> (Estonian Writers Union) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Klingofer-Szosatkowska<\/strong> (Polish Assciation of Literary Translators) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barys Piatrovich<\/strong>(The Union of Belarusian Writers) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna-S\u00e4flund Orstadius <\/strong>(Swedish Writers Union) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jenni Kaven<\/strong>(Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lunch 14-15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from member-organizations (continued). See Appendix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timo Tossavainen<\/strong> (The Finnish Association of Finnish Non-Fiction Writers)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mudite Treimane<\/strong> (Latvian Writers\u2019 Union)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malin Kivela<\/strong> (Society of Swedish Authors in Finland ) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazimiera Astratoviene<\/strong> (Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14.<\/strong> Election of Baltic Writers Council board members.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election of the BWC Board members: Kazimiera Astratoviene (retiring by rotation, not willing to continue), Piret Viires (retiring by rotation, willing to continue), Viveka Sj\u00f6gren (retiring by rotation, not willing to continue), Malin Kivel\u00e4 (retiring by rotation, willing to continue), Mudite Treimane (retiring by rotation, willing to continue).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the result of the elections Malin Kivela <\/strong>(Finland), Piret Viires <\/strong>(Estonia), Mudite Treimane <\/strong>(Latvia), Hilde Lyng <\/strong>(Norway) and Anna-S\u00e4flund Orstadius <\/strong>(Sweden) were elected to the board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the result the board of Baltic Writers Council is the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malin Kivel\u00e4 <\/strong>(chairperson), Piret Viires<\/strong> (secretary), Mudite Treiemane<\/strong> (treasurer), Hilde Lyng<\/strong> (vice chairman),  Anna-S\u00e4flund Orstadius <\/strong>(regular member).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Election of Auditors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johanna Sandberg<\/strong> and  Anna Klingofer-Szostakowska <\/strong>were elected as auditors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. Nominations for the board of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators Centre for the 2 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the result of the elections Marius Burokas<\/strong> and Ville Hyt\u00f6nen <\/strong>were nominated to the board of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators.  Anna Klingofer-Szostakowska <\/strong>and Mudite Treimane <\/strong>were elected as deputies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. Next year\u2019s cultural event in Visby \u2013 Belarusian literature readings.\u00a0 <\/strong>The working group consisting of Dmitri Plax, Anna S\u00e4flund-Orstadius, Tiit Aleksejev, Hilde Lyng and Anna Klingofer-Szostakowska will continue to prepare the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. Other issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were no other issues proposed by the GA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. Date of the next GA.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GA decided that the next assembly will be on 5-7 May 2023.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. Closing the GA.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GA was closed at 16.00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piret Viires,  Chairperson and Secretary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Baltic Writers Council (BWC), General Assembly 2022 Time and place: 6\u20137 May  2022, Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators, Uddens gr\u00e4nd 3, 621 56 Visby, Sweden. The following representatives of the 14 member organisations from 8 countries were present (altogether 19 persons): Swedish Writers\u2019 Union (Anna-S\u00e4flund Orstadius),  The Union of Finnish Writers (Ville Hyt\u00f6nen, Hannu … Continue reading GA 2022<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=368"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368\/revisions\/373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balticwriterscouncil.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}