8/10-XI, Dublin, 33rd ELDR Party Congress (Associate members Congress communication)

Dear Associate member,

The ELDR Congress 2012 will take place from 8-10 November in Dublin, Ireland. ELDR Associate members will be able to elect the delegate who will be representing you at the Congress. And you can be a candidate too!

A new possibility for Associate members, collectively and democratically, is to submit amendments to the Congress theme resolution and influence decision making at EU level!

In the communication which is attached you can read all about the ELDR Congress. How to participate, who can vote and how, how to be a candidate, how to submit amendments etc.

All those who would like to vote and be a candidate need to be up-to-date with their membership fee by 10 September 2012. For all those whose membership fee was up for renewal before 10 September a reminder to pay was sent in June or August.

Don’t hesitate to contact the ELDR secretariat should you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,
Daniel Tanahatoe

PS: Did you know that there is a special Facebook page for Associate members? Join today! http://www.facebook.com/groups/eldr.associate.members/

Daniel Tanahatoe
Communication adviser

ELDR Party
Rue Montoyerstraat 31
B-1000 Brussel – Bruxelles
Tel:  +32 2 237 01 44

 

ELDR Congress 8-10 November 2012, Dublin, Ireland
33rd ELDR Party Congress
8-10 November 2012, Dublin, Ireland
Associate members Congress communication

All you need to know about the ELDR Party Congress:
- Who can participate and how and where will the Congress take place?
- What about the election of the Associate member delegate?

Invitation
Communication for the attention of ELDR Associate members
Brussels, 21 August 2012
Dear Associate members,
I am pleased to invite you to this year’s ELDR Party Congress that will take place from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 November 2012 in Dublin, Ireland. Our member party Fianna Fáil will be our host.
The main theme of this year’s Congress will be the “A liberal roadmap for energy transition” exploring different aspects of energy policy such as energy security, sustainability and competitiveness.
The Congress discussions will build on those taking place in the framework of the ELDR Focus Year 2012 on “Energy transition”, which you can view and contribute to at www.eldrfocus.eu.
The Congress programme will also include a number of fringe meetings that will focus on important topical issues, including meetings organised by our partners from the European Liberal Forum, the ALDE group in the Committee of the Regions and the European Liberal Youth - LYMEC.
With over 500 delegates participating each year, the ELDR Congress is the number one event for European liberal democrats who want to exchange ideas, network, and debate and adopt policies in the European context. I hope that you will be able to join us in Dublin to contribute actively to the discussions and to further strengthen the work of liberal democrats on the European stage.
Please do not hesitate to contact the ELDR secretariat for any questions that you may have about the Congress: email: congress@eldr.eu; tel: +32 2 237 01 49
Yours sincerely,
Sir Graham Watson MEP
President of the ELDR Party

All you need to know about the Congress
Congress venue and date
The ELDR Congress will take place between Thursday 8 and Saturday 10 November 2012 at the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. The Congress fringe programme will start in the afternoon of Thursday 8 November.
Who can participate in Dublin?
Associate members can participate either as a delegate or as a guest.
One delegate will represent Associate members at the ELDR Congress. The delegate will have the right to take part in the meetings of the Congress and to voice their opinion but does not have the right to vote. An online election will be held to determine the delegate. All those Associate members whose membership contribution is up-to-date can nominate themselves as a candidate as well as will receive an electronic invitation to vote in the election.
Other Associate members will be able to participate as a guest at the Congress. Guests can participate in the meetings of the Congress but do not have the right to speak in the plenary or vote. To be able to participate you need to be up to date with your membership contribution.
Who can vote in the election for the Associate members’ ELDR Congress delegate?
An online election will be organised to determine the delegate who will represent Associate members at the ELDR Congress. In the week of 10 September all paid up Associate members will receive via e-mail a list of candidates and an invitation to vote. Members can vote for one week after having received the invitation.
How to be a candidate?
All those members whose membership contribution is up-to-date can be nominated as a candidate.
You can nominate yourself by Sunday 9 September. To nominate send an e-mail to dtanahatoe@eldr.eu with your name, short motivation (max. 40 words) and a picture
The Associate member delegate will benefit from partial travel reimbursement (amount depending on distance to Dublin, Ireland). However, the delegate will have to pay for accommodation.
How to register as an ELDR Congress guest?
To participate in the ELDR Congress, you need to register your participation on http://www.eldr.eu/en/congress2012 (online registration will be available from September).
Participation in the ELDR Congress is free. However, participants will pay for their travel and accommodation!
Fringe meetings
The Congress fringe programme will begin on the afternoon of Thursday 8 November and there will be topical meetings held throughout the two and a half days of the Congress. Further details will be communicated in due course as the programme develops. There will be a special fringe meeting for Associate members!

Evening social events
A welcome reception will be held on the evening of Thursday 8 November and on Friday 9 November there will be a walking dinner. One will be required to wear their Congress badge in order to gain entrance to both events.
Congress Website
Communications about the Congress will be available on a special internet page on the ELDR website, www.eldr.eu/en/congress2012
General information on the event, the venues, as well as the agenda and all other important material will be made available on these pages. Please check regularly for updates.
Resolutions and urgencies – how Associate members can submit amendments
The ELDR Bureau will prepare a draft theme resolution “A liberal roadmap for energy transition” that will be sent to all delegates by Thursday 27 September 2012, at the latest (in accordance with the Congress deadlines). Delegates will have two weeks, until Thursday 11 October, to submit amendments to the draft theme resolution as well as the motions for resolutions.
Associate Members can amend the theme resolution! In May 2012, the ELDR Council adopted new ELDR Internal Rules which allow the Associate Members of the ELDR Party collectively and democratically through their elected Congress delegate to submit amendments to the draft theme resolution and motions for resolutions.
How will this work in practice? By Thursday 27 September the theme resolution and motions for resolutions will be made available online. Each Associate member can propose draft amendments to these documents. Associate Members democratically and collectively will discuss and decide which of the draft amendments will receive support.
Those draft amendments which receive support by a simple majority (majority of those voting) will be submitted by the Associate member delegate to the ELDR secretariat and will be discussed at the ELDR Congress.

Practical Information
How to make room bookings at the Ballsbridge Hotel and Clyde Court Hotel.
Associate members are responsible for making their own accommodation and travel arrangements to Dublin, Ireland.
The Congress venue is:
Ballsbridge Hotel,
Pembroke Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
E-mail: reservations@ballsbridgehotel.com
Tel: +353 1 637 9300
Fax: +353 1 667 4381
www.ballsbridgehotel.com
A block reservation has been made at the Ballsbridge Hotel and the Clyde Court Hotel, which is immediately next door.
A special room rate is available at these hotels until 30 September 2012 Using the promotional codes listed below rates are €75 per single and €90 per double/twin room per night, including breakfast.
These rates are valid for any of the nights between 2-14 November. Bookings made after 30 September 2012 will be subject to normal rates and availability.
• To make a reservation at the Ballsbridge Hotel use the following link and enter the Promotional Code ‘ELDR’:
http://fe.avvio.com/convert/site/Ballsbridge%20Hotel/en/rate/18991.html
• To make a reservation at the Clyde Court Hotel use the following link and enter the Promotional Code ‘BERKELDR’:
http://fe.avvio.com/convert/site/Berkeley%20Court/en/index.php
• To book by telephone call: +353 1 637 9300 and quote ‘ELDR Conference’
Other hotels
Given the high number of rooms available at the Congress venue, ELDR has not made further block bookings at other hotels.
Delegates and guests are of course free to make their own accommodation arrangements. The Dublin Tourism Website may be useful for finding other hotels in the Ballsbridge area of the city: www.visitdublin.com
Expenses
According to the travel reimbursement rules of the ELDR Party, travel, accommodation or any other form of expenses incurred by participants cannot be reimbursed.
The Associate member delegate will benefit from partial travel reimbursement:
Travel costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the amount spent by the delegate up to the following maximum:
0 km - 850 km : up to 250 euros
850 km - 2000 km : up to 375 euros
2000 > km : up to 450 euros
How to get there
Dublin Airport
Dublin’s Airport lies approximately 15km from the city centre and the Congress venue hotel.
Public transport
The best way to reach the hotel from the airport is using the airport shuttle service, which links Dublin Airport with the city centre. Aircoach shuttle busses run approx. every 15 minutes and drop off outside the Ballsbridge Hotel. Ask the driver, or look for the stop marked ‘Pembroke Road’
Aircoach bus tickets cost €8 for a single ticket and €14 for a return (valid for 1 month)
Taxi
A taxi from the airport to the Congress hotel should cost in the region of €24-€35, depending on traffic.

Travel costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the amount spent by the delegate up to the following maximum:
0 km - 850 km : up to 250 euros
850 km - 2000 km : up to 375 euros
2000 > km : up to 450 euros
How to get there
Dublin Airport
Dublin’s Airport lies approximately 15km from the city centre and the Congress venue hotel.
Public transport
The best way to reach the hotel from the airport is using the airport shuttle service, which links Dublin Airport with the city centre. Aircoach shuttle busses run approx. every 15 minutes and drop off outside the Ballsbridge Hotel. Ask the driver, or look for the stop marked ‘Pembroke Road’
Aircoach bus tickets cost €8 for a single ticket and €14 for a return (valid for 1 month)
Taxi
A taxi from the airport to the Congress hotel should cost in the region of €24-€35, depending on traffic.

Deadlines Timetable
ELDR Congress, Dublin, 8 -10 November 2012
20 May 2012
Time Table according to Rules of Procedure
ELDR Congress 8-10 November 2012 (week 45)
1
Thursday 6 September 2012 (deadline)
 Final date for member parties to submit a list of nominated delegates / substitutes to ELDR secretariat.
 Final date for submitting draft motions for resolutions to the ELDR secretariat.
2
Thursday 27 September 2012 (deadline)
 For the ELDR Secretariat to send a mailing to delegates containing the final Congress agenda, the draft theme resolution and proposed resolutions. This mailing will also give the deadline for amendments to these resolutions.
 Deadline for nominations for the election of Bureau members.
3
Thursday 11 October 2012 (deadline)
 For submitting amendments to the theme resolution and other resolutions, to the ELDR Secretariat. This must be strictly respected.
 For the Secretariat to send out the Council meeting agenda.
4
Thursday 18 October 2012 (deadline)
Delegates receive a mailing containing:
 Amendments to the proposed resolutions and to the draft theme resolution.
5
Wednesday 7 November 2012 (deadline)
 for submitting urgency resolutions to the ELDR secretariat: 10h00 CET.