SAM.I. Presidium takes office

Samaritan International has a new Presidium. Elected by the Advisory Committee in July, the team will take office in October, when the term of the current Presidium comes to an end. The new Presidium will lead the network for the next five years.

The result brings both continuity and additional fresh perspectives. Most individual members of the current Presidium and all represented organisations were confirmed in their roles, including the president, while two members newly join the leadership team. The organisation’s secretary general Ivo Bonamico and auditor Oskar Malfertheiner were confirmed unanimously, as well.

The new Presidium

At its meeting in July, the Advisory Committee placed its trust in a team that combines experience with new energy. Knut Fleckenstein, was re-elected as President. He will be supported by the following members:

• Berzins, Andris, LSA (Latvia)
• Bonamico, Ivo, (WK South Tyrol Italy)
• Chesnoy, Marin, CB (France)
• Dihanits, Wolfgang, ASBÖ (Austria)
• Mozer, Mirka, DPA (Denmark)
• Nedeljkovic, Miodrag, IDC (Serbia)
• Penazzi, Renata, ASSR (Slovakia)
• Pregliasco, Fabrizio, ANPAS (Italy)
• Schnatz, Michael, ASB (Germany)
• Zychowska, Barbara, SFOP (Poland)

„The future of Samaritan International is in good hands with the new leadership team. I am particularly happy that our founding member Croix Blanche (France) is newly back on the presidium and that, with IDC (Serbia), representation from the Western Balkans will be guaranteed”, said Knut Fleckenstein.

Over the next five years, the new Presidium will build on the current work. Priorities include the implementation of the „Social Preparedness and Resilience Initiative (SPIRIT)“, increasing the recognition of structured volunteering, as well as strengthening cooperation and collaboration among member organisations.

Samaritan International thanks the outgoing Presidium for its commitment over the past term. A special thank you goes to Reinhard Hundsmüller (ASBÖ) and Edith Wallmeier (ASB Germany) who will leave the Presidium in October, for their dedication and tremendous contribution to the network.