We are talking to Marta Szulc from Caritas branch in Gdańsk about the strength of good, which flows out of contact with people, who have their passions and energy to act, about overcoming stereotypical way of perceiving seniors and about why it is worth taking part in events, which present the behind-the-scenes work of one of the oldest charity organisations in Poland.

Monika Bogdanowicz (Olivia Business Centre Communication): Is good nowadays a deficient value? What are your experiences concerning the work with different groups of people in need and the ones who help?

Marta Szulc (Secretary of the Management Board in Caritas of Gdańsk Archdiocese): We are sure that good is in all of US. That is why, there are as many GOOD deeds as there are people. Variety of issues, areas of life and social areas, which Caritas in Gdańsk is occupied with, very often makes us think that there is not so much good around us. Children, who don’t have second breakfast at school or socks without holes; people under the care of our clubhouses, seniors, who want to get rid of the feeling of loneliness in our facilities or homeless and hungry people. It may seem that they haven’t met enough good people on their way if they are seeking help from us. However, all you have to do is come to any of Caritas facility and you will realise that these are places, where there is plenty of good. I would like to emphasise that this good is in all of us: in our charges, employees, volunteers. In me and you. You just need to find the way to bring it out.

MB: Why do we need to be good people in the contemporary world?

MSz: I wouldn’t confine being good either to time or place. Being good is always needed. The thing that is characteristic for the contemporary world is a huge drive for… actually we don’t really know for what. But the thing I know for sure is that every situation, when I can stop for a while, do something good, gives me enormous satisfaction. It works in the case of every human being. I encourage you to give it a try even today. What can you do? You can smile to a ticket inspector on a train, say ‘good morning’ to your neighbour… Let’s start with little things.

^{photo: Caritas of Gdańsk Archdiocese}

 

MB: How do you create active communities of people, who want to share their time, experience and passion?

Mfa: The most difficult thing is to overcome certain stereotypes, prejudices and attitudes. I have been working for Caritas in Gdańsk for more than 13 years and I have learnt to start with a meeting. Do you want to devote your time and passion to seniors? Come to one of our facilities. Spend some time with us, let’s get to know one another. You will soon realise that you are not the only one who can share something – seniors have great experience and their passions, which they will eagerly share. It is important to be and to act together.

MB: You are beginning a new series of meetings, which will be organised in Olivia Business Centre. How did you come up with such an idea and which goals are you setting to implement using this formula?

Mfa: The idea was slowly growing for about two years. I will refer to something I said before, we would really like to meet people who work in this area. We want to spend some time together, simply be together. Our goal is to get to know better and share the best things we have. I must admit that we would also like to give employee information, which they may use in the future, for example, who can seek help from us or how you can join us, for example as a volunteer.

We would like to show that Caritas in Gdańsk hires more than 300 employees and consists of more than 20 facilities, including a hospice, which is now preparing a charity ball, to which we invite you. These facilities include also: Home for Single Mothers, a dozen or so clubhouses, Occupational Therapy Workshops, branches of Nursing Institution, Caritas Club’s School, canteen for homeless people, district nurses, Social Welfare Home, day medical care centre, Senior Day Care Centre…

We would really like to show the backstage of “Caritas”, share the good we have and maybe help the ones who haven’t found it yet in finding it?

MB: Who are the meetings directed to and what can we expect from them?

MSz: The meetings are directed to people who work in Olivia. We also invite our charges and co-workers. During them we would like to show in an interesting way what is going on in our facilities. On Tuesday, 23^rd of January, there will be held a meeting with seniors – it will be a really interesting event. Personally, I am waiting for classes as part of “brain exercises” series – it’s a small sample of classes, which we conduct for seniors. I can’t also wait to see a photo exhibition. I will just say that our ladies are on the covers of catalogues of a well-known Swedish company. This is really impressive. The first meeting as part of the series will be dedicated to active seniors who are full of passion. Because of the fact that this is our first meeting, I don’t hide the fact that as organisers we feel some jitters.

Our seniors will participate in the meeting. They will share all their best with us. They will share their passions, talents and experiences. I have talked to Krysia and I know they are really looking forward to it. We want to show that old age can be Beautiful, what will be reflected by the photos of our senior ladies, which were taken during a professional photo session, Joyful – what will be heard during joint singing, Active – it will be proven, among other people, by Kacper, our physiotherapist who works with seniors and Creative – actors who are more than 70 and who prepared a Nativity play, will try to convince us that it’s true. But above all, we want to talk about the fact that old age is also GOOD.

^{photo: Caritas of Gdańsk Archdiocese}

 

MB: How do you manage to activate the potential of such people and what surprised you the most while implementing projects dedicated to seniors?

MSz: Working with people requires… meeting people. I know, I repeat myself… But you just need to listen to the story of their lives. Then you need to get rid of patterns, prejudices and fulfil your dreams… One of such dreams came true – while carrying out photographic project with seniors in a facility in Dolne Miasto, one of the seniors said: “We have such beautiful photos – we must show them to other people“. Another one added: “But we have a gallery in our district – let’s prepare an exhibition”. At first, I was speechless. But I got rid of things that limit us and I said: ‘Why not?’ Some weeks later, our seniors had their exhibition in Łaźnia Contemporary Art Gallery in Gdańsk in Dolne Miasto. It was a magical time of dreams come true. I wish you many dreams come true and once again would like to invite you to a joint meeting!

M.B: I wish you many good moments and meetings with people, who want to devote their time and give Caritas new, good energy.

 

We invite you to the meeting with seniors in Olivia

 

–/–

^{Marta Szulc. Professionally: Secretary of the Management Board in Caritas of Gdańsk Archdiocese (for less than 1.5 years). Before, she was the manager of Caritas facilities in Gdańsk, for example, Senior Day Care Centre, “Dobra” clubhouse, the coordinator of Voluntary Service. She has been working for Caritas in Gdańsk for more than 13 years. Education: pedagogue, psychologist. Private life: happy wife of Michał and mother of Antek and Marysia. Passions: working with plants in the garden, good coffee and chocolate in every form.}

–/–

^{Caritas Poland is a charity organisation of the Polish Episcopacy Conference. It was reactivated on the 10th of October 1990. It refers to the tradition of Caritas charity work before 1950. It operates on the basis of the act of 17th May 1989 on the relations between the State against the Catholic Church. Since 2004, it has had the status of public benefit organisation (National Court Register Number 0000198645). Caritas Poland coordinates the work of 44 diocesan and archdiocesan Caritas facilities in Poland and supports them in carrying out their tasks. What is more, Caritas Poland has several roles: representative role (it acts on behalf of Caritas in Poland at the national and international level), formation and informative role (it conducts trainings, symposiums, it identifies the areas and scale of poverty in Poland), operational role (it initiates nationwide fundraising events for Poland and foreign countries, organises humanitarian transport, organises emergency, long-term, material, psychological, legal and financial assistance for unemployed, homeless, sick, elderly people, children from poor families, as well as immigrants and refugees).}

^{The beginnings of Caritas activity in Poland involved mainly the distribution of material gifts from abroad (martial law). However, it quickly changed its strategy and started to deal with humanitarian help thanks to funds from people of goodwill and institutions. Caritas created professional care and educational facilities: Caritas Nursing Stations, rehabilitation centres, Nursing and Care Homes, Social Welfare Homes, Occupational Therapy Workshops, Homes for Single Mothers, canteens for the poor, clubhouses for children and elderly people and so on. In the international arena, it cooperates with “Cor Unum” Papal Council and is the member of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Europe.}

^{http://caritas.pl/}

Teal self-organization – a new work paradigm

It is Wednesday, a freezing February evening. The Olivia Sky Club is full. Guests wait for the start of a lecture by professor Andrzej Blikle “Let us talk about Teal!“. The lecture was organized by Joanna Roszkowska and Maciej Winiarek , founders of
Thinking Zone
– a primary school, junior high school and senior middle school.

Earlier on the same day, a few hours’ long workshop titled “Teal self-organisation” was conducted by professor Blikle for headmasters of Tri-City schools in the Coworking O4 where the Thinking Zone is located.

More than 200 people participated in both events, including teachers and headmasters, parents and entrepreneurs. Professor Blikle was talking about the work in turquoise organizations and their management. According to organisers of the meeting, such knowledge can be an inspiration for many to change their way of thinking, communication and even life…

What was the motivation for creators of the Thinking Zone to organize these events? “We are driven by values that converge with the values of the teal: share the information, surround yourself with partners, seek cooperation, do not stop developing. This is the direction we have taken in our school, the approach we share with our environment, this is how we create the culture of thinking and partnership”, say Joanna Roszkowska and Maciej Winiarek.

How to start the implementation of the teal management concept?

Basic aspects of the teal management are contained in the book by Frederic Laloux “Working Differently”. In a “teal organization“, traditional management comes second to self-organisation based on participation. Professor Andrzej Blikle is the ambassador of the above-mentioned concept in Poland and supports leaders of firms in the creation of high business culture and quality in general. He is also the author of books presenting the teal topics in detail: “The doctrine of quality. A Thing About Effective Management” and “The Doctrine of Quality. Second edition turquoise. It’s about turquoise self-organization.”

Benefits resulting from teal implementation according to professor A.Blikle

“So, it is not true, as we can sometimes hear, that the joy of work is a luxury we cannot afford today. Just the opposite, the lack of such job generates significant costs, both emotional and material ones. In a team based on suspiciousness and violence, we have fighting and games, we destroy one another and, as a result, we are unhappy and our actions bring about mediocre or even destructive results.

The first law of social gravity says that people
trusting one another
and acting out of
dignity
reasons are better in attaining the defined goals.

Why is the happy cooperation not as common as it deserves today? I believe that the main reason is a false belief related to motivational mechanisms and, therefore, to the role of the leader in a team.

All the commonly used “motivators” based on the “carrot and stick” principle (awards, commissions, bonuses, etc.) invariably lead to the situation that I call a war game between the strong who holds the stick or the carrot and the weak who is subjected to such measures. Actually, the difference between the stick and the carrot is only an illusion because avoiding the stick acts as the carrot while being deprived of the carrot acts as the stick.

Encouraging people to work with the use of the stick or the carrot also results in the fact that, for the weak one, getting the carrot or avoiding the stick becomes the most important goal, the end that justifies the means because the stick and the carrot automatically switch off the internal motivation to act. A student who studies for a mark rather than to acquire knowledge, concentrates his resourcefulness on the cheating.” *

Interview with professor Andrzej Blikle

How to develop the potential of firms and people, why is it worthwhile to open up to new ideas and activities and how to find a path to good life without waiting for the old age pension?, we are talking to professor Andrzej Blikle as a part of the “Olivia’s Conversations” cycle.

Monika Bogdanowicz (Communication Expert, Olivia Business Centre): Observing your life, one can see that you have been active in many professional fields. You have been a businessman, a teacher, a lecturer and with a lot of success. What are your favourite flavours of life – or what is worth doing for life to have flavour? What is your recipe for a happy life people dream about?

Professor Andrzej Blikle: There is just one recipe for happiness, but it is possible to interpret it differently. I believe that one should do what one likes doing. And this is what I advise to all young people. When you choose a profession, think of what you would like to do rather than what can let you make a fortune. If you do something you like you will do it well; and if you do it well there will be demand for your work. I was talking about it during the lecture in the Olivia Business Centre. One should strive for a good daily life and the success and money usually come as a consequence. Tasting life mostly consists of doing what you like, and if you like it you will be good in it and do it well. This is when we improve and it is known that mastery can only be attained within the limits of one’s talents. It is worthwhile to devote oneself to what we are talented at, we just have to be able to recognize the talent. The difficult thing about talent is that, if we like something very much we believe that this is our talent. However, I would like to clarify. One should do what one likes, but it means that it should be our passion. For example, people say: “I like sitting in a bar so I will open a drink bar and it will be great”. However, it usually turns out that sitting in a bar as its manager is not the same as sitting there as a customer. You have to find an occupation that will encourage us to act, that will “pay” us the dignity award. Because of that, you have to think what to do in order to be satisfied with it. This is the most important source of the motivation to act.

^{Photographer: Maciej Roszkowski, We Love Photo, on the picture: professor Andrzej Blikle at the “Teal self-organisation – a new work paradigm” workshop}

M.B.: We have to make hundreds of choices every day now, in each area: from daily matters to most important issues related to career path or business. Hundreds of possibilities in each area related to our lives. Is the unlimited field of possibilities offered to us by the contemporary world good or, perhaps, too many options make a successful choice more difficult?

A.B.: This is not how I would formulate the question: whether it is good for the world to be as it is. This is how it is and we have to cope with it. However, there are various emotional profiles. Some want to have a very wide choice, while others prefer someone helping them to choose. Some want to have a lot, while others prefer having less because possession entails various obligations (e.g. you have to take care of your car) and dangers (it can be stolen). In particular, young people today believe that many things are not worth owning. It is enough to be able to use them. I think that it is a good direction. I have no car and when I need to go somewhere, I simply order it via an application in my phone. I find the car around the corner, drive it for as long as I want and leave it where I want to. This option is not yet common in Poland, but it is available in many other countries. You can use luxury goods in the same way, e.g. borrow a top shelf tie for one evening or a handbag by one of the most expensive brands. Thanks to this solution, you can use something for a weekend for 30 pounds while the same object is worth a few thousand pounds and you cannot afford buying it. Instead, you can have it and use it according to your needs. I think that this direction, this trend will develop.

M.B.: To whom the Polish business wants to listen and to whom it listens? Who are today’s key economists, advisors or entrepreneurs to whom the Polish leaders, company managers listen?

A.B.: Oh, they may vary. There is no single answer to this question. My experience is that each manager has different expectations. And, we have to remember that economics, which is so important in the business, is not management knowledge. They are two different areas. Just as information technology is not electronics. Obviously, businessmen listen to economist, those good and important ones, and they also sometimes listen to those who say unwise things. E.g. I believe that Milton Friedman stated something very harmful and people believed him as a winner of the Nobel prize in economics. He said that “profit maximization is the main goal of each business organization”. Why do I believe it to be unwise? Because the goal of a firm is what owners define as their goal. Period. In turn, it is the law of the economy that profit is a necessity but it does not mean that it has to be the goal. One has to eat in order to live (necessity), but the one who lives in order to eat (goal) has a shorter life. The situation is similar in the case of firms. One of them was called Enron, another one: Lehman Brothers. And there are many more examples.

M.B.: Well, then, who is an authority for the Polish entrepreneurs and for you as well in your opinion?

A.B.: It is not possible to mention just one authority. It is difficult to present inspiring people. I will not list all those very important business professors because I would probably omit someone. I can only say who inspired me. William Edwards Deming, Peter Ferdinand Drucker, Alfie Kohn – I have read many books by these authors. I appreciate very, very much what I learned from Marek Kosewski, a social psychologist who dealt with business psychology. I can recommend his book titled “Values, Dignity and Power. Why do good people sometimes steal, and thieves are honorable” (“Values, dignity and power. Why good people sometimes steal and thieves act honourably”). At this moment, a very important book for me from which I have learned a lot of significant things is a book by professor Rafał Ohme, “Emo Sapiens”; I have also written its review, which you can find on my page. Knowledge has to be drawn from various sources. For example, I recommend getting familiar with the activity of Jacek Jakubowski and Dorota Jakubowska, founders of the TROP Group who are a source of unceasing inspiration to me. Among other things, they manage a project titled “Communication for empathy”. I have learned a lot from them. Additionally, I cannot omit Jacek Santorski; he has been a source of a lot of inspiration to me for years. Inspiring people can significantly influence our development with their non-standard thinking. I recommend looking for such guides on your path.

M.B.: Your motto, coming from “The Constitution of Liberty”**, relating to the missionary activity in the area of promotion of high-quality management, is:
“Advance
consists in the few convincing the many. New views must appear somewhere before they can become majority views.” Does your activity promoting the teal organization opposing democracy, partnership and the shortening of the distance to the farm culture has a chance to be adapted well to the Polish business and what is the extent of such an organisation formula in Poland?

A.B.: I do not know whether anyone has researched that topic in Poland. I know that there is a person doing it in the High School of Finance and Management in Warsaw who intends to conduct such research. And wants to verify the population of Polish firms in our country. What I can say from my own observation is that, during my more than 80 meetings pre year, similar to the one in Olivia, 1 to 5 people approach me and say that they have already been organizing their work in this manner. Therefore, I meet about 200-300 people actively thinking about the teal style per year. And I did not hear such statements a few years ago. It is a sign of the growing popularity of the phenomenon in Poland.

M.B.: Do leaders of Polish firms want to go beyond the mental scheme and existing operating methods? Are they open to such ideas and do they want to implement them?

A.B.: Some of them do, others do not. Obviously, it is a novelty. In turn, the farm management syndrome is very common even though I am unable to say whether it prevails. Some think so, e.g. Jacek Santorski. The farm system is highly anti-democratic. Teal is not a majority democracy where the rule of thumb is that the majority is right. Shortly speaking, teal is the minority having knowledge of a case making decisions in each such case. It can be a different minority every time. This not the rule of the minority, but rather a participation-based making of decisions in the atmosphere of trust. However, democracy is when the majority makes a decision even though it surely cannot know everything.

^{Photographer: Maciej Roszkowski, We Love Photo, on the picture: Monika Bogdanowicz (Olivia Business Centre), professor Andrzej Blikle}

M.B.: Sceptics say that they do not believe in firms that have no bosses.

A.B.: Everyone has the right not to believe even in things that exist. When Ludwig Pasteur announced his discoveries, many doctors did not believe in the existence of microbes. On the other hand, the term “boss” is very broad. I think that each team needs leaders, leaders of ideas, social leaders, leaders who inspire people. Such people are necessary because a team in which nobody cares for anything will not operate well. Leaders are necessary – not one, supreme and infallible leader but many leaders. A different one in each case. Such a situation is fantastic.

M.B.: What are good examples of teal firms known in Poland?

A.B.: As I have already said, I meet a lot of such firms. Some are described on my page. They include Marco, Mentax, Brewa and KamSoft Podlasie. These are not large companies but I have learned recently that the Polish branch of Decathlon, an international corporation, is building the teal. The Polish Sodexho is also teal. Many firms do not know that method yet so this is a novelty for them. The situation in Poland varies when it comes to teal. Some have heard about it and believe it to be idiotic. Others have heard about it and want to go in that direction. Everything depends on the awareness of leaders deciding about the future of an organization.

M.B.: Are there any dangers related to the choice of teal that firms face? Not all firms want to change the world.

A.B.: First of all, there is a danger that this is a far-reaching revolution. If you do it unskilfully, for example, you can be in danger of using the “newspeak”. People start talking like they used to talk during the PRL times: “with the Soviet Union at the head”. And, whatever one said, if the sentence ended with the famous “with the Soviet Union at the head” there could be no discussion. Teal newspeak is about repeating slogans with no care for compliance with them in daily practice. If a firm is not aware of such a situation, people will start treating teal as another manipulation of the management. If you enter that path once it will be difficult to turn back.

M.B.: You cannot decree trust…

A.B.: Obviously not!

M.B.: And how can we recognize whether that method is an authentic implementation and not just a declarative approach in a business environment?

A.B.: We have to talk frankly to people but, before that, you have to make them speak frankly to us, which is not easy at all. In fact, I have never said that it was easy. I said that it was effective and worthwhile, but not easy for sure.

M.B.: You say: “I repeat to everyone that things you cannot influence are not worth worrying about”. Where do you find strength for such an intense daily activity?

A.B.: I train all the time. I train teaching: I have two training courses per week on the average, all year long. They sometimes last half an hour, two hours or even nine hours on a single day. So, I lecture a lot and I also exercise a lot: downhill skiing and ski alpinism are my number one sports but I also practice windsurfing, mountain biking, rowing on a skiff (i.e. Olympic one) and go to a gym during the winter in the city. Sports have always been practiced in my family. My parents were sportspeople, not professionals, but it has always been a significant part of their lives. I recommend sports to everyone as an important component of a good life.

M.B.: Thank you for the meeting and an inspiring conversation. I hope that it will help strengthen the importance of the idea of teal in Poland.

SEE THE GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM THE MEETING:

Workshop

“Teal self-organization”

Sky Club evening – the “Let us talk about Teal!” lecture

^{*”The Doctrine of Quality, Second Turquoise Edition. A thing about turquoise self-organization”, more here: http://www.moznainaczej.com.pl/137-dzialania/moja-ksiazka?start=12}

*^*”The

^{Institution of Freedom”}

^{– a book considered one of the most renowned contemporary works on the philosophy of politics, a 20th century equivalent of John Stuart Mill’s “On Freedom”! The author, Friedrich August von Hayek, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic, discusses his theory of neoliberalism having the problem of an individual freedom understood as independence of the lack of coercion takes the central place. The author criticizes theories of political freedom as a power and an opportunity to fulfil the personality or welfare. He links personal freedom of an individual to the function of a free market economy based on the law of supply and demand. He objects to the classically understood justice that finds expression in the principles of the distribution of goods. He believes that imposing any distribution model on the society is a denial of freedom. Justice can only be based on the freedom of contract. according to the author, individual freedom is a necessary but insufficient prerequisite of existence of a social order because its contents are defined by moral principles regulating the use of freedom and unquestionable legal principles binding the will of the majority. Hayek analyses the way in which western societies defend individual freedom. He compares the market system and the welfare system. it remains a hectically discussed critique of the contemporary society that became a part of the reading list of social and political sciences.}

–/–

^{Professor Andrzej Blikle – a mathematician, computer scientist and entrepreneur. An employee of the PAN Institute of Computer Sciences, a member of the Academia Europaea, PAN Council of the Polish Language and more than 20 other organisations. He has been lecturing in Warsaw, Berkeley (USA), Waterloo (Canada), Linköping (Sweden), Lyngby and Copenhagen (Denmark). A founding member, former president and currently an honorary member of the Polish Information Processing Society. Former president of the Polish Federation of Food Producers. In 1990-2010, President of the Management Board of A.Blikle Sp. z o.o., currently a member of the Supervisory Board of that firm. Former Management Board President of the Association of Family Companies and currently its honorary President. Also the honorary President of the Adam Smith Centre.}

^{William Edwards Deming – an American physicist who revolutionized management methods on the basis of the quality philosophy called TQM (Total Quality Management). He used to say: “Quality is the obligation of every one of us”.}

^{Peter Ferdinand Drucker – a management expert, academic lecturer, a scientist studying organization and management processes in corporations and non-profit organisations. Believed to be one of the most renowned thinkers and management theorists of the 20th century.}

^{Alfie Kohn – an American interdisciplinary scientist specializing in education and upbringing. His areas of interest include motivation, cooperation and long-term effects of upbringing strategies. A well-known opponent of school grades and the competition-based approach to learning.}

READ MORE “OLIVIA’S CONVERSATIONS”

–/–

Photographic materials are the courtesy of Maciej Roszkowski from We Love Photo and Thinking Zone.

Amber Gladioli and Amber Catamarans have been distributed!

Prestigious Amber Gladiolus Awards On 1 December, Pomeranian NGOs, associations and foundations received numerous awards during a gala at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk.

The idea and concept of the Amber Gladiolus Award, which has been awarded since 1994, was created at the Regional Centre for Information and Support for Non-Governmental Organisations. The Amber Gladiolus is the first project of this type in the country, as it is an expression of appreciation for the activities of non-governmental organizations at the regional level.

A special award for exceptional attitude during summer storms went to the Volunteer Fire Brigade in Demany. The award was funded by Olivia Business Centre and presented by Stefan Grabski, representing the company.

The Award of the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland from the hands of Senator Antoni Szymański was received by Małgorzata Rybicka from the Association for Autistic Persons.

The Amber Catamaran was received by Ryszard Kalkowski, the mayor of the Szemud commune. The Amber Catamaran Award was also given to the ” You Can Do It Differently” Association from Starogard Gdański.

A special award for lifetime achievement was given to The Aid Society of st. Brother Albert near Gdansk.

The Debut of the Year went to the Active Forward Foundation!, which introduced a special bicycle for the disabled on our roads.

The Civic Award was received by the “Kaszubianki” Association.

^{Elaboration from: netka.gda.pl “You can do it differently”, author Włodzimierz Amerski}

Amber Gladiolus and Amber Catamaran prizes have been awarded!

Prestigious Maciej Płażyński Bursztynowy Mieczik awards and numerous distinctions were presented on December 1 to Pomeranian non-governmental organisations, associations and foundations during a ceremonial gala in the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk.

The idea and concept of Bursztynowy Mieczik Award, which has been granted since 1994, emerged in the Regional Information and NGOs Support Centre. Amber Gladiolus is the first undertaking of this kind in our country because it reflects the recognition for non-governmental organisations’ activities at a regional level.

The special award for exceptional attitude during summer storms was presented to the Voluntary Fire Brigade in Dziemiany. The award was funded by Olivia Business Centre and was presented by company’s representative – Stefan Grabski.

The Marshall of the Senate of the Republic of Poland Award was presented by Antoni Szymański, the senator, to Małgorzata Rybicka from Autistic People Association.

Amber Catamaran Award was collected by Ryszard Kalkowski, the mayor of Szemud commune. The Amber Catamaran Award was collected also by ” You Can Do It Differently” Association from Starogard Gdański.

The special award for the overall activity was presented to St. Brother Albert’s Aid Society, Gdańsk Circle.

Debut of the Year Award was collected by Actively Moving Forward! Foundation which introduced a special bike for disabled persons on our roads.

Citizens’ Prize was collected by “Kaszubianki” Association.

^{Elaborated on the basis of: netka.gda.pl “You can do it differently”, author: Włodzimierz Amerski}

A few words about the Inaugural Gala of the Kropelka Energii Foundation…

Ceremonial presentation of badges and diplomas to honorary blood donors, lecture by prof. Andrzej Hellmann and Dr. Michał Taszner from the Department of Hematology and Transplantation of the Medical University of Gdansk “Possibilities of blood treatment and the role of the Honorary Blood Donor”, as well as the presentation of the current activities of the Kropelka Energii Foundation in Olivia Business Centre are the main elements of the Kropelka Energii Gala, which took place on the December evening of St. Nicholas Day in Olivia Sky Club.

Honorary guests of the Gala There were m.in were: Wiktor Tyburski – Director of the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy in Gdańsk, Halina Lewkowska – Member of the Council of the Kropelka Energii Foundation, Anna Rychłowska – Head of the Donor Department of the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy in Gdańsk, Maciej Grabski – President of Olivia Business Centre, Andrzej Blok – Member of the Pomeranian Regional Branch of the Polish Red Cross, Vice-Chairman of the Pomeranian Regional Council for Honorary Blood Donation and a large group of honorary blood donors.

Olivia Business Centre has been supporting the campaign since its inception. Numerous partners, m.in, have joined the blood donation campaigns organized in Olivia. residents of the center. OBC is not only a place to work, but also a unique community. The most valuable gift can be given in Olivia by everyone, from the employees of the center to the residents of the Tri-City and its guests. Blood buses of the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy can be found, traditionally, in car park C at Olivia Business Centre.

The informal Club of Honorary Blood Donors ENERGA “Kropelka Energii”, operating as an employee initiative in the largest energy company in northern Polish, has been effectively helping to save human life and health since 2012. Currently, it operates as the Kropelka Energii Foundation. Tomek and Piotrek, Energa’s employees, who contributed to the creation of this noble initiative, wanted from the very beginning to make Kropelka Energii available to every donor. The establishment of the foundation is therefore the realization of their dream. As they say, during the organization of the first blood donation campaign, on August 8, 2012, they had many fears about the future.

– Thank you very much for trusting us then. Remember that… “It is a great honor to be a Giver.” We would like this motto to also encourage everyone to act and help other people – say Tomasz Rubanowicz and Piotr Krysiński, President and Vice-President of the Management Board of the “Kropelka Energii” Foundation.

During the five years of the Club’s operation, Energa Group employees and their friends collected almost 830 litres of blood, including 244 litres in 2016. From one action to the next, the number of people who decide to share the most precious gift of life is growing. So are the needs of the health service.

– The demand for blood and its components is constantly increasing. The change in the form of the club’s functioning was necessary to expand the organizational possibilities resulting from the need to develop this project. I am very pleased with the great support we have received from the employees of the Energa Group. It was thanks to them that we were motivated to strive to achieve our goal – says Tomasz Rubanowicz. ” We cannot fail to thank all the partners of Kropelka Energii, without them we would not be where we are today ,” adds Piotr Krysiński.

Extensive photo coverage of the event

More about the Kropelka Energii Foundation:

The objectives of the Foundation’s statute include:

• Help in saving human health and life;
• Propagating and popularizing the idea of voluntary blood donation throughout the country as an irreplaceable method of saving human life;
• Integration of Honorary Blood Donors – through the exchange of common experiences during various community meetings, regardless of membership in other non-governmental organizations, i.e. associations, foundations or Honorary Blood Donor Clubs;
• Initiating and supporting innovative solutions in various areas of social life, especially in the protection of human rights and freedoms, conducting charitable activities, protection and promotion of health, activities for science, education, education and upbringing, improvement of the functioning of public administration, activities supporting the development of communities and local communities, rescue and civil protection, assistance to victims of catastrophes, natural disasters, armed conflicts and wars in the domestic and foreign activities, promotion and organisation of volunteering, activities for European integration and the development of contacts and cooperation between societies;
• Activities for organizations whose statutory objectives are: scientific, scientific, technical, educational, cultural, physical culture and sport, environmental protection, charity, health and social assistance, vocational and social rehabilitation of the disabled.

 

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION!:)

Some words about the Inaugural Gala of Kropelka Energii Foundation…

The ceremony of granting badges and diplomas to honorary blood donors, the lecture by Prof. Andrzej Hellmann and doctor Michał Taszner from Haematology and Transplantology Clinic of Medical University of Gdańsk entitled “Opportunities for treatment with blood and the role of Honorary Blood Donors”, as well as presentation of the current activity of Kropelka Energii Foundation in Olivia Business Centre, were the main elements of Kropelka Energii Gala, which was held on December evening of the St. Nicolas Day in Olivia Sky Club.

The honorary guests of the Gala were for example Wiktor Tyburski – Director of the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy in Gdańsk, Halina Lewkowska – Board Member of Kropelka Energii Foundation, Anna Rychłowska – Head of Donors Department in the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy in Gdańsk, Maciej Grabski – Olivia Business Centre CEO, Andrzej Blok – Member of PCK (Polish Red Cross) Pomeranian District Branch, Deputy Chairman of the Pomeranian District Council of Voluntary Blood Donation and many honorary blood donors.

Olivia Business Centre has been supporting the action from the very beginning. Many partners, for example centre’s residents, participated in blood donation campaigns organised in Olivia since OBC is not only a workplace, but also a unique community. All willing persons can give their most precious gift in Olivia, starting with centre’s employees and ending with Tricity’s residents and its guests. Blood donor buses of the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Haemotherapy can be found, as always, at C parking lot next to Olivia Business Centre.

ENERGA “Kropelka Energii” Informal Honorary Blood Donors’ Club, which has been an employees’ initiative in the biggest energy company in northern Poland since 2012, has been effectively helping save people’s lives and health. Currently, it is functioning as Kropelka Energii Foundation. From the very beginning, Tomek and Piotrek, Energa’s employees, who contributed to creating this noble initiative, wanted Kropelka Energii to be available for every donor. Establishing the foundation made their dreams come true. As they say, while organising the first blood donation campaign, on August 8, 2012, they had many doubts about the future.

– Thank you that you trusted us then. Please remember that… “Being a Donor is a great honour”. We would like this motto to encourage everyone to act and help other people – say unanimously Tomasz Rubanowicz and Piotr Krysiński, president and vice-president of “Kropelka Energii” Foundation’s management board.

Within these five years of Club’s activity, Energa Group’s employees and their friends managed to collect nearly 830 litres of blood, from which 244 litres were obtained in 2016. With every new action, there are more and more people who decide to share the most precious gift of life. Similarly, there are more and more needs of health care.

– The need for blood and its ingredients is incessantly growing. The change of the form of club’s functioning was necessary to expand organisational possibilities, which result from the need to develop the project. I am very glad that we received such a great support from Energa Group’s employees. Thanks to them, we had motivation to strive to achieve our goal – said Tomasz Rubanowicz. – We would also like to thank all partners of Kropleka Energii, without them we wouldn’t be where we are today – added Piotr Krysiński.

Extensive photoreport from the event

More information on Kropelka Energii Foundation:

Objectives, which result from foundation’s charter, concern:

• Help in saving people’s lives and health;
• Promoting and popularising the idea of voluntary blood donation throughout the country as an irreplaceable method of saving people’s lives;
• Integrating the environments of Honorary Blood Donors – through the exchange of shared experiences during various environmental meetings regardless of being a member of other non-governmental organisations, that is associations, foundations or Honorary Blood Donors Clubs;
• Initiating and supporting innovative solutions in different areas of social life, especially in the area of human rights protection and, engaging in charitable activities, protecting and promoting health, work in support of science, learning, education and upbringing, improving the functioning of public administration, activities, which support the development of local communities, life saving and civil protection, helping the victims of catastrophes, natural disasters, armed conflicts and wars in Poland and abroad, promoting and organising voluntary service, actions supporting European integration and developing contacts and cooperation between societies;
• Activities in favour of organisations, which statutory objectives are as follows: activities within the scope of science, science and technology, education, culture, physical culture and sport, environmental protection, charity, protection of health and social assistance, vocational and social rehabilitation of disabled persons.

THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING PART IN PROJECTS! 🙂

 

Gdańsk was ranked fourth in the “Best-performing Large Cities in Europe” ranking prepared by the American think-tank Milken Institute. It is the highest place in the Polish region, in the vicinity of cities such as London and Stockholm.

Ranked “Best-performing Cities in Europe”, that is the most effective, the most dynamic or the “best performing” large cities (or rather cities and regions) in Europe, prepared by think-tank Milken Institute The strategies of individual regions were assessed and the impact of their decisions on job growth, wage growth, production levels and the concentration of the skilled service sector were examined. At the top of the list was theeastward part of Inner London. Stockholm and Budapest complete the podium.

The fourth, high position was taken by the Pomeranian Voivodeship, together with Gdańsk! What contributed most to such a high position of our region was the second highest employment growth in the years 2011-2016 (by 19 per cent) among all large regions of Europe, and the sixth highest increase in salaries (by 26.5 per cent in the years 2008-2013). Among the greatest advantages of the Pomeranian Voivodeship were m.in. “providing” by the Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk qualified engineers and other employees, or the largest port in Poland, a key m.in. in the petrochemical and coal industries, as well as in the grain and ore trade.

The sixth place in the ranking was taken by Lower Silesian Voivodeship (together with Wrocław). 17. The place went to the Wielkopolska Voivodeship (together with Poznań), the top twenty was closed by the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (together with Krakow). Just behind the twenty, at 22. position, was included in the ranking of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship.

^{Elaboration from: http://next.gazeta.pl/next/7,151003,22735879,cztery-polskie-regiony-w-dwudziestce-najefektywniejszych-w-europie.html}

Today, the Metropolitan Debates in Olivia are starting. Together with “Dziennik Bałtycki” – the organizer of the debates and the substantive partner of the project – the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area Association, we will consider how to build a strong metropolis that will serve the inhabitants of our region well. Throughout the first half of 2018, representatives of local governments, universities, cultural and art institutions, entrepreneurs and politicians will meet in Olivia Business Centre, discussing the most important topics for our agglomeration.

The first meeting of the “Metropolitan debates in Olivia” series is today, January 22 at 11:00

Follow the Debate live on the Facebook page of “Dziennik Bałtycki”

WATCH THE DEBATE LIVE

The topic of the meeting, in which will be attended by m.in. Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Voivodeship, Paweł Adamowicz, Presidents of Gdańsk, Wojciech Szczurek of Gdynia and Jacek Karnowski of Sopot and representatives of the government, Pomeranian MPs and senators, as well as the business and science community, reads: “Opportunities and needs for the creation of a metropolis in Pomerania?”.

The inhabitants of the region were the first to be convinced of the idea of a metropolis, the creation of which has been discussed for several years. The benefits of being “together” have always been obvious to them (a common ticket and implementations of public transport, common solutions to environmental problems, issues of education or planning the development of the region…). In 2011, local governments that wanted to cooperate with each other established the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area Association. Today, the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area Association consists of 57 local governments (the area covers a total area of nearly 5.5 thousand km²; according to the area of counties: 6.7 thousand km², inhabited by nearly 1.5 million inhabitants).

A similar opinion is expressed by business representatives, who have been talking about the metropolis for a long time in the context of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot and neighbouring cities. Over the years, however, it has been more difficult to convince local government politicians. Among them, of course, there were declared enthusiasts of the idea of a metropolis, but there were also skeptics who claimed that it was easier to communicate in order to solve some specific problems.

To this day, however, the Pomeranian metropolis has no statutory authority. And without it, solving many problems together is very difficult in practice.

Looking for ideas and specific solutions for the metropolis, together with “Dziennik Bałtycki” and the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area Olivia Business Centre association, we are organizing a series of debates under the slogan “We want a Metropolis in Pomerania”. The participants of the first of them, scheduled for 22 January, will sign a declaration in Olivia about the need to create a Pomeranian metropolis. We believe that this declaration will become the cornerstone of the entire enterprise.

In the next debates, planned for later months, we will reflect together with politicians and residents of the region on how to most effectively solve problems related to specific spheres of life: transport and public transport, environmental protection, education or tourism. In each of these areas, together we can do better and more.

Follow the current information on the website dedicated to the Metropolitan Debates in Olivia

See the event on FB

Topics that will be discussed during the meeting on January 22:

• Does the development of metropolises in Poland require special legal acts? If so, should the government issue regulations to the Act on Metropolitan Unions passed in the previous term, as it happened in the case of the Silesian Metropolis, or should it develop a new act?
• Will the creation of a metropolis solve our everyday problems? If so, which ones?
• How to build a new common quality – the united strength of cities – in order to be able to act more, better and more effectively?
• What tasks should be fulfilled by the future metropolis?
• Won’t the possible creation of a metropolis threaten the sovereignty of the municipalities located around the Gdańsk agglomeration?

Welcome!

_{Source: “Metropolitan Debates in Olivia. We want a metropolis in Pomerania! Together we can do better and more”/ author: Jarosław Zalesiński, after: http://www.dziennikbaltycki.pl/metropolitalne-debaty-w-olivii/a/metropolitalne-debaty-w-olivii-chcemy-metropolii-na-pomorzu-razem-mozna-lepiej-i-wiecej,12844967/}

Metropolitan Debates in Olivia are starting already in January. Together with “Dziennik Bałtycki” – the organiser of debates and contents partner of the project –Strefa Metropolitalny Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot association, we will think of how to create a strong metropolis, which serves the residents of our region well. In Olivia Business Centre throughout the entire first half of 2018, the representatives of local governments, colleges, cultural and art institutions, as well as entrepreneurs and politicians will meet to touch upon the most essential subjects for our agglomeration. The first meeting as a part of the “Metropolitan Debates in Olivia” series will be held on 22 of January at 11:00 am . You will be able to follow it via live streaming on “Dziennik Bałtycki” Facebook profile. See the event on Facebook

The theme of the meeting, in which such guests as the marshal of voivodeship, mayors of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot, the representatives of government, Pomeranian deputies and senators, as well as the representatives of the world of business and science, are going to participate, is: “Opportunities and needs for creating a metropolis in Pomerania?”. Watch the debate live!

Region’s residents were the first who warmed to the idea of metropolis, which has been discussed for many years. Benefits connected with “being together” more closely have always been something obvious for them (common tickets and implementations concerning collective transport, common solutions concerning the problem of environmental protection, education or planning region’s development…). Local governments, which wanted to cooperate in 2011, set up Gdański Strefa Metropolitalny association. Currently, Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area association consists of 57 local governments (the area covers a total of nearly 5.5 thousand square kilometres; according to the area of counties: 6.7 thousand square kilometres, inhabited by nearly 1.5 million of residents).

The representatives of business, who have been talking about metropolis in the context of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot and neighbouring cities for a long time, think in a similar way. However, it has been more difficult to convince local politicians throughout all these years. Of course, among them there were declared enthusiasts of the idea of metropolis, but there were also sceptics who claimed that it is easier to communicate to solve certain problems.

However, at the moment Pomeranian metropolis doesn’t have any enshrinement. Without it, joint problem solving is very difficult in practice.

While searching for ideas and concrete solutions for metropolis, together with “Dziennik Bałtycki” and Strefa Metropolitalny Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot association, we are organising the series of debates entitled “We want metropolis in Pomerania” in Olivia Business Centre. Participants of the first debate, which is planned for 22 of January, will sign in Olivia a declaration of need to create a Pomeranian metropolis. We believe that this declaration will become a cornerstone of this project.

In future debates, which are planned for subsequent months, we, together with politicians and region’s residents, will be thinking of how to solve problems connected with certain spheres of life most effectively: transport and collective communication, environmental protection, education and tourism. In each of these areas we can do better and more if we act together.

Current information on the website dedicated to Metropolitan Debates in Olivia

Topics, which will be covered during the meeting on 22 of January:

• Does the development of metropolis in Poland require special legal acts? If it does, then should the government issue regulations for the act on metropolitan unions passed during the previous parliamentary term, the way it happened in the case of Silesian metropolis, or should it draft a new act?
• Will the creation of metropolis solve our everyday problems? If it will, then which ones?
• How to build a new, common quality – united strength of cities – to be able to act more, better and more effectively?
• Which tasks should future metropolis fulfil?
• Won’t the hypothetical creation of metropolis threaten the sovereignty of boroughs in the neighbourhood of Gdańsk agglomeration?

You are welcome to join us!

_{Source: “Metropolitan Debates in Olivia. We want metropolis in Pomerania! Together we can do better and more”/ author: Jarosław Zalesiński, references:
http://www.dziennikbaltycki.pl/metropolitalne-debaty-w-olivii/a/metropolitalne-debaty-w-olivii-chcemy-metropolii-na-pomorzu-razem-mozna-lepiej-i-wiecej,12844967/}

Nativity play performed by seniors, brain gymnastics, relaxation exercises, and above all, the exchange of knowledge and experience – this Tuesday, 23 January, the first meeting of the “Behind the scenes of Caritas” series will take place at Olivia Business Centre. The guests of honour of this edition of the event will be seniors of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk. The meeting will start at 5.30 p.m. and will last until 19.00.

23 January entrepreneurs, seniors and Caritas supporters will meet in one place. The guest of the first meeting will be Marek Demczuk – photojournalist, cinematographer, collaborator of mines. TVN, who will talk about his experiences in cooperation with Caritas. Then, there will be an opportunity to join the classes that regularly take place in Caritas facilities in Gdańsk, where seniors meet. A few exercises for body and soul: to keep both our muscles and brain in good condition. Later, we can see the fruits of these activities: Nativity play, performed by seniors from the Day Care Home from the Caritas Center. st. Sister Faustina in Rumia. At the end, the participants will be treated to a sweet treat and talk together over tea and the sounds of the guitar. The event will be graced by Photo exhibition entitled “Caritas Seniors”.

The idea of the series of meetings, whose originator and organizer is Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk, is to increase social awareness that today’s 60- and 70-year-olds are active seniors, people who not only have a lot of experience, but also the desire to share it with the environment and actively participate in public life, including professional life. In order for them to achieve this goal, it is important that they can spend time not only among themselves, but also exchange knowledge with people from other backgrounds, in this case – m.in. with entrepreneurs.

– At regular thematic meetings, such as those in Olivia Business Centre, we want to show you the behind-the-scenes of work at Caritas. During the first meeting, we will talk about the fact that life after 60 does not have to be boring and lonely. More and more older people see new perspectives for themselves, and thus “go out” of home to pursue their own passions and spend time actively. It is important to create as many such opportunities as possible for them and to change our perception and, consequently, the existing social model. We also invite you to the next meetings. We will tell you about our children with disabilities, tell you what is happening in our day-care centres and tell you who a volunteer is – says Marta Szulc, Secretary of the Board of CARITAS of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk.

– Olivia is a place that connects people m.in. by taking initiatives and promoting ideas that are important to each of us. By cooperating with the community of people gathered around Caritas in Pomerania, we want to show that it is worth being active and sensitive in various dimensions of social life. We hope that the meetings with seniors or the next ones about the talents and value of being a volunteer will allow us to get to know each other better and contribute to a greater awareness of the importance of matters related to the need to be close to human affairs. As a partner of the meetings, we invite everyone who wants to see how organizations, such as Caritas, join in helping people on a daily basis – says Monika Bogdanowicz from Olivia Business Centre, responsible for CSR projects.

Such opportunities are provided, among others, by the Caritas Senior Club at the Archdiocese of Gdańsk. It is a place where the elderly can not only meet, talk and establish friendly relations, but also spend time together creatively and actively. And there is no shortage of ideas. Numerous games, theatre classes, cooking together are just some of the forms of activity of seniors belonging to the Club. During the meeting, there will certainly be an opportunity to learn much more about this topic.

TAKE PART IN THE MEETING! WELCOME:)

READ THE INTERVIEW WITH MARTA SZULC ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS GOOD IN EACH OF US