February 12, 2009

Alumni Group Discusses More Active Participation

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty’s (FNF) International Academy for Leadership (IAF) alumni gathered at the FNF office in Makati City on 12 February 2009 for a planning session and the launch of the yearly alumni directory.

Attorney Jose Luis Martin "Chito" Gascon, 1993 alumnus and Liberal Party director general, opened the session by speaking on the challenges that liberals face. He outlined that the potential threat to democratic institutions is the perceived plan of the administration to change the charter before the national elections next year. He cautioned liberals to be watchful.

Left to right: Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Atty. Chito Gascon and Mr. Miel Moraleda

Atty. Gascon stressed that the issue of constitutional reform is a legitimate one. However, the timing and, above all, the interests of the proponents of charter change have to be carefully analyzed. Any attempt to introduce a sweeping charter change that would affect the 2010 elections should be met with vigilance.

FNF Resident Representative Siegfried Herzog then introduced the alumni group to an “Open Space” planning session on how to focus their involvement for this year. The group generated its own focus groups where they discussed how to use the FNF Website, social networks and the alumni e-group to encourage more participation and activity. “I liked this self-determined style of planning,” one participant remarked as he left. “It is a really liberal way of running meetings.”

For more information on the IAF 2009 programs, please visit: http://www.fnf.org.ph/seminars/2009-iaf-program.htm