Dear members,
only a few days ago I was enjoying a great lunch with a gentleman who has a great job, wonderful wife, healthy and smart children. He could not decide whether to order pasta with truffles and shrimps or a foal steak, however as always in the excellent Ljubljana restaurant I have ordered tuna. He began our meeting with the following statement:
»It is really difficult, the situation is very bad«. I usually respond to such findings by simply nodding and having my own ideas, howsoever at that moment the optimism did not leave me in peace. “Really,” I asked him, “what makes you think so?” He persisted that it simply was so. “Does it affect your business?” “No, as a matter of fact, we had a record year last year.” Then I worriedly inquired after the health of his wife and children. “They are great and very well”, he affirmed with for a moment a cheerful expression on his face when telling about the great time they altogether had at skiing recently. We toasted to each other with a glass of Rebula, top wine by Blažič. Why are you complaining then? Why do you yield to discouragement? Why do you allow the fears to push you back? I am aware that many do not have such good luck, however many do not, honestly speaking, devote enough of their energy to make it in life, however all of us having such privilege, in fact do not have anything if we are not internally happy and satisfied.
“Well, it is true, I am fine”, he admitted, “but what if I lose everything? “I think you already had”, I replied, “since you are not capable in enjoying it and you are not grateful for what you are having, not even for a moment.”
Perhaps you think that I should have taken the pink eyeglasses off by now and start realizing the seriousness of the situation. I am very aware of it but will certainly use my life energy instead for fears, for the proactive creating of opportunities enabling as many people as possible to wear “pink specs”.
AmCham Business Breakfast, Friday, 17 February 2012
at 8.00 a.m., at the Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana, Janus Hall, Dunajska c. 154, Ljubljana. You can confirm your attendance till 5 p.m., only 5 seats available!
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Save the dates: AmCham Business Breakfast in March
will be dedicated to the topic of »SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP« with emphasis on entrepreneurship. Confirmed date is Friday 16 March 2012 at 8.00 a.m., venue Hotel Mons. More information on speakers and official invitation will follow.
USAlumni “Creative Networking” event
Did you study or do research in USA? If so, we kindly invite you to join us! Next event will take place on 29th February, 2012.
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Decide now for healthier and more balanced life - AMCHAM RUN
Preliminary confirmations for spring training on: run@amcham.si.
As soon as we will set the clocks forward to summer time in the end of March, our third season of cross-country training will begin. The organization of exercises will be this year divided into two separate groups, based on one` s current condition. Practicing on the running track will be available on Tuesday evenings. In case of interest also a training session along the forest paths will be organized. To make the decision for training easier and more comfortable for young parents, there will be during the time of trainings at the sports stadium, an animation for children above three years of age organized.
We will also have like every year (the optional) competitive goals set, namely, in spring – two competitions of triples run, in Ljubljana and in Bled. You can write for more info to info@abcsport.si
Enjoy in winter training, in spring we will proceed altogether,
Vida, Peter, Grega, Amcham Team and ABC Sport
''Can you write technical specifications for a lettuce?'' - Responsible and Proactive Public Procurement
AmCham Professional Update was held on February 1, 2012. It was organized in cooperation with The Corporate Lawyers Society of Slovenia with 100 participants attended. Guests speakers at round tables: Zlatko Bazianec, Director A.T. Kearney Svetovanje d.o.o., Mojca Brezigar Baš, Senior Contracts and Negotiation, Country Sales Management Support Manager, IBM Slovenija, Dr Hans - Joachim Priess, partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Germany, Vesna Cukrov, former President of the Revision Commission, Goran Klemenčič, M.Sc., president of the Slovenian Anti-Corruption Commission, Sašo Matas, Director of the Public Procurement Agency, Dr Igor Šoltes, President of Slovenian Audit and Miriam Ravnikar Šurk, President of the Revision Commission.
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee meeting
CSR Committee had at its meeting in January adopted the work plan for the year of 2012. One of the first projects to be carried out upon the Committee` s motion will be the AmCham Business Breakfast held in March upon the topic of Social Entrepreneurship. We will proceed also in the future as the supporters of HORUS Award and Safe journey Institute, EOTO. We are moreover reflecting upon a project for introducing a half-day volunteering.
By all means we also wish to encourage all our members to be part of the action “World Cleanup 2012”. More information may be found on the following website: http://ebm.si/oj/novice/199-oistimo-svet-2012-preve-smeti-za-en-planet.html.
Environment and Spatial Committee meeting
Members of the committee overviewed the Position Paper, which they introduced to the former Ministry of environment and spatial planning. They came to a conclusion that they will insist on it, because there have not been any significant changes made yet.
Membership Committee meeting
Members of the committee supported the proposition regarding participation at the AmCham Business Breakfasts. They also proposed other interesting proposals, which will be deliberated on future meetings.
Intellectual Property Committee meeting
The main focus at present is to define AmCham’s position on ACTA and introduction of Position Paper on The Plain Packaging Initiative prepared by dr. Bojan Pretnar. Position Paper will be published soon on www.amcham.si.
Labor Committee meeting
Members of the Labor Committee met on 14 February 2012 to discuss which proposals should be introduced to the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs this year. An idea apprear that we should invite representatives from the Unions to attend the discussion at the future meeting.
Primož Zupan, former Head of the Cabinet of former Minister Svetlik and presently Sales Manager at Salviol d.o.o. presented his study » Employers In Bologna Process«. Members of the Committee decided to include education system (especially higher) among the topics of the further discussion.
Public Procurement Committee meeting
Tax Committee meeting
meeting was held on 31 January 2012. The main topic of discussion was the plan for 2012 – which proposals will be prepared in the field of taxes to change or amend Tax legislation and therefore improve business environment in Slovenia. Some proposed topics: advanced pricing agreements, social cap, postpone payment of VAT...
New rule for Small Business Membership applicants
in accordance with the criteria and strategy, approved by the President of AmCham, the Board of Governors and the Committee for Membership (MC), that there should be more than 50% of Corporate company members within the AmCham Slovenia.
Therefore, we are till the dates determined, March 1st 2012, June 1st 2012 and October 1st 2012, accepting the applications for membership of companies that fall in small business category. Afterwards the Board of Governors decides upon which companies are to be accepted, also taking into consideration the census. The excess number of companies above the limited number may apply anew for the membership in the next quarter.
Special notice: AmCham Business Breakfast
we are very pleased with the well attendance and your interest in AmCham Business Breakfast. Regretfully, in order to have the event as regards the organization and expense account well in hand, we have to from February onwards in agreement with the proposal made by Board of Governors and consequently its confirmation by Committee of Membership, to introduce the following rule:
for the AmCham members the participation is free of charge, yet according to the following provision: for up to three persons as regards the patrons, up to two persons as concerns the corporate and business companies, whereas for all the rest it holds good per one person. For the additional participants–members the participation fee amounts to half participation fee in amount of 25 EUR, whereas for the non-members it amounts to 50 EUR (VAT not included).
Competition and Partnership: within and among the companies
Top business leaders and managers, Mrs. Biljana Weber, General Manager at Microsoft d.o.o., Ljubljana and Mr. Robert Trnovec, CEO at S&T Slovenija d.d. were guests at the AmCham Young Professionals meeting.
In a relaxed conversation with the participants they spoke openly about their own career paths and the importance of personal and business growth. They stressed the importance of building relationships with their colleagues. In their teams they accept and induce differences of personality, because only this contributes to the creativity of the entire team. Furthermore, a professional relationship and communication with the competitors as well as existing and potential partners is of great importance.
AmCham Young Professionals Meeting
Road trip to the Akrapovič d.d., February 16, 2012.
We are welcoming new members
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INTEREXPORT d.o.o.
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S-INVEST d.o.o.
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Patrons & Partners of AmCham Young Professionals
