One of my favourite events in Luxembourg has become the Summer Drinks which is organised by The Network. On this instance I was hosting the event and interviewed by Delano.
people were friendly and just made me feel instantly at home and comfortable, and that was attractive to me.
Dot Bekker speaking to Delano.
When Zimbabwe-born Dot Bekker moved from Portugal to the Grand Duchy, her fifth country of residence, she naturally set out to find forums to meet new people and get to know Luxembourg better. The fact that she was not fluent in French and did not work in the financial sector were challenges.
"I came to The Network and I liked it because it was relaxed, it was fun, people were friendly and just made me feel instantly at home and comfortable, and that was attractive for me."
When the 23 year old club for professional women in Luxembourg needed help updating its website, "I joined the committee quite quickly", said Bekker, who is a business coach in the online and social media fields.
She helped organise the group's traditional summer cocktail mixer, which was held Wednesday evening at Frenchie, a lounge and restaurant in the city centre. Joining her were more than two dozen members from all walks of Luxembourg life. "Everyone is welcome" in the group regardless of age or employment status, she told Delano following the event.
"We've got 22 different nationalities at the present moment" in the group, Bekker reported, including women originally from the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the US, Luxembourg, Costa Rica, Estonia and Argentina.
The common language is English, she said. "That's about the only way that you will be able to bind 22 nationalities together and find common ground." Affordable, fun networking The Network does what the name suggests. "People sometimes say it's very basic networking, and it is. If you want highbrow networking, then possibly we're not it."
But it is affordable. "Membership is only €40 for the whole year", which covers the seven set meetings (which members of the public can attend for €10).
Upcoming events include an October conference on "moving into the Luxembourg workspace", which aims to help trailing spouses and previously full-time mothers understand the local jobs scene; and a November conference on "moving up in the Luxembourg workspace", which aims to help women prepare for promotions and get ahead in their career, Bekker explained.
Also on the agenda are "fun things" like a chocolate factory tour in September and the group's annual wine tasting in May; and The Network will sponsor one or two teams in the Discover Luxembourg fundraiser rally on September 6 and a screening at Luxembourg's British-Irish film festival on October 1.
In December it will host an annual Christmas charity event (last year it raised more than €800 for Make-A-Wish Luxembourg). 25th anniversary approaching.
The Network has been organising its summer mixer for at least five years, but Bekker said that it was "outstanding for me to meet Sharon March, who is one of the original members of The Network." "I hadn't met her before", Bekker explained, and it was "terrific" to connect "and find out how it got started and help make plans for the 25th anniversary [in 2016]. That was a memorable moment for me personally."
http://delano.lu/thenetworksummer2014
"I came to The Network and I liked it because it was relaxed, it was fun, people were friendly and just made me feel instantly at home and comfortable, and that was attractive for me."
When the 23 year old club for professional women in Luxembourg needed help updating its website, "I joined the committee quite quickly", said Bekker, who is a business coach in the online and social media fields.
She helped organise the group's traditional summer cocktail mixer, which was held Wednesday evening at Frenchie, a lounge and restaurant in the city centre. Joining her were more than two dozen members from all walks of Luxembourg life. "Everyone is welcome" in the group regardless of age or employment status, she told Delano following the event.
"We've got 22 different nationalities at the present moment" in the group, Bekker reported, including women originally from the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the US, Luxembourg, Costa Rica, Estonia and Argentina.
The common language is English, she said. "That's about the only way that you will be able to bind 22 nationalities together and find common ground." Affordable, fun networking The Network does what the name suggests. "People sometimes say it's very basic networking, and it is. If you want highbrow networking, then possibly we're not it."
But it is affordable. "Membership is only €40 for the whole year", which covers the seven set meetings (which members of the public can attend for €10).
Upcoming events include an October conference on "moving into the Luxembourg workspace", which aims to help trailing spouses and previously full-time mothers understand the local jobs scene; and a November conference on "moving up in the Luxembourg workspace", which aims to help women prepare for promotions and get ahead in their career, Bekker explained.
Also on the agenda are "fun things" like a chocolate factory tour in September and the group's annual wine tasting in May; and The Network will sponsor one or two teams in the Discover Luxembourg fundraiser rally on September 6 and a screening at Luxembourg's British-Irish film festival on October 1.
In December it will host an annual Christmas charity event (last year it raised more than €800 for Make-A-Wish Luxembourg). 25th anniversary approaching.
The Network has been organising its summer mixer for at least five years, but Bekker said that it was "outstanding for me to meet Sharon March, who is one of the original members of The Network." "I hadn't met her before", Bekker explained, and it was "terrific" to connect "and find out how it got started and help make plans for the 25th anniversary [in 2016]. That was a memorable moment for me personally."
http://delano.lu/thenetworksummer2014
Gummi bears caramels donut carrot cake carrot cake chupa chups bonbon tootsie roll.
Gummi bears caramels donut carrot cake carrot cake chupa chups bonbon tootsie roll.
Gummi bears caramels donut carrot cake carrot cake chupa chups bonbon tootsie roll.