Continuing my ‘The Salvation Army and Me’ ramble…

I think beautiful Prague may be vying with Copenhagen for the city I have visited most often on business, and for a variety of reasons. However, my first visit was at the request of the chair of The Salvation Army’s European Communications Network, who asked if I would present a session on digital communications to a distinguished group made up of communications practitioners from around Europe.

This was pretty early on in my time at International Headquarters and I must have bluffed my way through reasonably competently, as I was subsequently invited to take part – in a different European city each time – every year since.

The ECN has been the most consistently supportive and influential group I’ve been a member of, and I have formed many deep friendships. A true band of brothers (and sisters). It’s risky to name names, but particular kudos must go to Lars and Pavla Lydholm, Menno de Boer, Nathan Sudmeier, David Germain, Mats Wiberg and (fellow train buff) Lars Beijer!

We have learned together, shared ideas together, laughed together, eaten a preposterous amount of ice cream together, raised eyebrows together and generally worked extremely hard at telling the story of The Salvation Army to audiences right across Europe. ECN has boosted my confidence as an individual somewhat prone to self-doubt, and proved utterly invaluable when there has been a need to respond rapidly to some of the crises that have occurred over the years. The mutual trust and respect is something that takes time to develop, but is vital in this sphere of work.

ECN is also responsible for some of the more bonkers shared experiences, many of which will need to remain unreported! But memories of the marvellously over-complicated Wallace and Grommit-style pancake machine will never fade away. And neither will the experience of sitting through a presentation by an exceptionally verbose tour guide in Florence, who – following the conclusion of the day’s official business – wittered on for so long that by the time the lecture had finished, all of the historic sights had closed!

Děkuji. Tak. Tack. Takk. Merci. Grazie. Danke. Kiitos. Dank u. Gracias. Dziękuję. Спасибі. Paldies. Obrigado. Mulțumesc. Þakka þér fyrir. (Who have I left out?!)