LSE AAB Newsletter
Summer 2009
LSE Alumni
Association Belgium
Edito - Word from the presidents
Summary: Dear fellow alumni,
• Edito
p. 1 By August, when most of you are hopefully spending your holidays at some far
• Pre-Departure &
away sunnier location, it will have been exactly two years since the first Annual
Welcome Home Event General Meeting of the re-launched LSE Alumni Association Belgium was held in
p.3 Brussels. It’s therefore time to reflect back on the past two years and look into our
• Annual Alumni BBQ future.
p. 5
• LSE AAB In the second year of our association we have successfully launched our
Arts & Culture Group Membership Scheme. More than 150 alumni have already expressed their
p. 6
support by contributing to the LSE Alumni Association Belgium. We are pleased to
• Advisory Board see that our efforts have been appreciated as we see more and more alumni
Launch Report
p. 7
donating their Membership fee (20 EUR) to our bank account to become a
Contributing Member. This is very important to us as it enables us to build up the
• LSE AAB alumni association that the many alumni in Belgium deserve, and it facilitates the
Wednesday Drinks
p. 8 organisation of events. At the same time, the network of active alumni that we
reach through our mailings has steadily continued to grow to several hundreds.
• LSE Annual Fund
2008-2009
p. 9 The LSE AAB has continued its effort to offer you diverse social, academic and
• LSE AAB Membership cultural events. Our Monthly Drinks - every first Wednesday at different locations
2009-2010 in Brussels – have been especially popular. We held a special Christmas edition
p. 10
of our drinks and organised joint events with the Yale and Oxford alumni in
Brussels.
In March, we had the second visit of Sir Howard Davies who gave us an
interesting update on the enduring financial and economic crisis. The event was
kindly hosted by the British Ambassador, H.E. Mrs. Rachel ARON, at her official
residence. In the same month, we also co-hosted the LSE’s European Internship
Fair where dozens of LSE graduates find internships at international organisations,
think tanks, consultancies, PR/communication firms, law firms, industry
associations and professional service firms in Brussels. In June, Advisory Board
Member and alumnus Mr Etienne de Callataÿ hosted us for the exclusive launch of
his book ‘Confessions of an ordinary economist - The lessons from the Financial
Crisis’ at Bank Degroof.
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LSE AAB Newsletter
Summer 2009
On Sunday September 13, we invite you to our second ‘Pre-Departure &
Welcome Home Event’ for future LSE students, their parents, and recently
graduated students. This event will be followed by our Annual Alumni BBQ,
which is open to alumni, their partners and families to mingle and have a bite on
the leafy grounds of the VUB campus in Brussels
Besides the ‘visible’ events, the whole board has also worked hard behind the
scenes on other aspects of the association. A key element in establishing our
presence in Brussels is facilitated by the support of highly accomplished and
respected individuals. This was made possible by the creation of the Advisory
Board of our Association launched earlier this year in the presence of Howard
Davies. The current Advisory Board regroups 11 former diplomats and decision-
makers from both private and public world.
The LSE AAB also wholeheartedly supports the LSE's Annual Fund. Thanks to
their generosity, alumni and friends of the LSE have a positive impact in the life of
the School. With 80,000 alumni world wide, we have the potential to have a huge
impact on the future of LSE. We warmly invite you to make a difference in name
of the Belgian alumni,.
In the next 12 months we aim to continue on this enriching path. Several new
interesting speakers and other events are already in the pipeline: to be
announced soon! Furthermore, we will continue to build our alumni base in
Brussels, work closely with the School in London, and establish our network with
more organisations in Brussels.
Finally, once again, please get in touch if you would like to get involved, have
suggestions or ideas for events or other activities, or if you would like to attend
one of our monthly board meetings.
A warm thank you to all the board members, everyone who has supported us,
and of course, the wonderful alumni base in Brussels on which we thrive!
On behalf of the LSE AAB board,
Lieven Brouwers & Olivier Van Horenbeeck
2
LSE AAB Newsletter Future
Summer 2009 Events
Pre-departure & Welcome Home event
Annual Alumni BBQ
3
LSE AAB Newsletter Future
Summer 2009 Events
Pre-Departure & Welcome Home Event
Sunday 13 September — 14.00-15.30
Sunday The LSE Alumni Association Belgium (LSE AAB) is holding its second ‘Pre-
13 September 2009 Departure & Welcome home Event’ for future LSE students, their parents,
14.00-15.30 recently graduated students and alumni.
KultuurKaffee, After last year’s success, the board
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 of the LSE AAB reiterates the
Brussels experience of the 'pre-departure
event' which provides a great
On the premises of
introduction to the School for the
the VUB
students who are London-bound
(Free University
Brussels)
and an important aspect of their
LSE experience by giving them
advice and support.
At the same time it is also an
Please confirm your excellent ‘welcome home’ for newly created alums, who can share their LSE
participation by experience with those who will soon take their place at the LSE, and an
sending the reply opportunity to strengthen links between the School and the local alumni.
form of the next page
to The LSE AAB also kindly invites all future LSE students, their parents, and the
events@lsealumni.be recently graduated students who were present at the ‘Pre-Departure' & 'Welcome
before home' event for the informal BBQ event immediately afterwards. This would give
September 9, 2009 the opportunity to prospective and recently graduated students to get to know
more about life post-LSE in an informal setting.
Programme of the day:
13.45 Welcoming prospective and current students and their parents
14.00 Welcome and introductory remarks by the Presidents of LSE Alumni
Association Belgium
14.15 Presentation by two LSE AAB board members: Life@LSE: From the
1997' to 2008' Class
14.30 Presentation by recent graduates of the LSE Benelux Society 2008-
2009: 10 things you should know about LSE & 10 pieces of advice
about life in London
14.45 Questions & Answers Session
15.00 Free drinks reception & Social networking between prospective &
current students, their parents and the LES AAB board members
15.30-15.45 Close of the 'Pre-Departure and Welcoming Event' & invitation
to continue the social networking with LSE Alumni at the BBQ that
will follow
4
LSE AAB Newsletter Future
Summer 2009 Events
Annual Alumni BBQ
Sunday 13 September — 16.00-...
KultuurKaffee, The LSE Alumni Association Belgium kindly invites LSE Alumni of all ages
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 currently residing and working in Belgium, with their respective partners and
Brussels families to share the grill at a beautiful green and family-friendly location close to
the centre of Brussels.
On the premises of The LSE AAB also kindly invites all future LSE students, their parents, and the
the VUB recently graduated students who were present at the 'Pre-Departure' & 'Welcome
(Free University home' Event for this informal BBQ event. This would give the opportunity to
Brussels) prospective and recently graduated students to get to know more about life post-
LSE in an informal setting.
Prices:
• Children under 12 years: €7
• LSE AAB Members, outgoing and current students:
€15 pp
• Non-member alumni and others: €20 pp
Tickets include food (meat or vegetarian dish +
vegetables) + 2 drinks
Please confirm your participation by sending the reply form
at the bottom of this page to events@lsealumni.be before
September 9, 2009. (you can copy-paste the form in an email
and fill out your details)
and wire the amount corresponding to your order to the LSE
AAB Bank account at ING 377-0106390-18 clearly stating 'LSE AAB BBQ event', 'your
name' and 'the number of people' you are paying for.
This event is
open to all: REPLY FORM
LSE Alumni, their Surname ________________________________
partners and First name _______________________________
families, Year of graduation and programme at the LSE___________________________________
E-mail_____________________________________________________________________
prospective and Please put '[ X ]' where appropriate
recently graduated
students, and their I will attend the [ ] Pre-departure & Welcome home Event and/or [ ] Alumni BBQ (Please inform us
in case of last minute cancellation)
parents I am a [ ] prospective Student, [ ] Current Student, [ ] Alumni and I will be accompanied by
______ persons in total (please fill out number)
* Children under 12 years: ____ x 7 EUR pp = _____ EUR
* LSE AAB Members, outgoing and current students: ____ x 15 EUR pp = ___ EUR
* Non-member alumni and other friends, partners and relatives: ____ x 20 EUR pp = ____EUR
Therefore I will wire a TOTAL amount of ______ EUR to ING 377-0106390-18 clearly stating 'LSE AAB
BBQ event', 'name' and 'the number of people' I am paying for.
Special request for [ ] vegetarian (vegetarian burgers)
Please return this reply form by email to events@lsealumni.be before September 9, 2009
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LSE AAB Newsletter
Summer 2009 LSE AAB’s
Arts & Culture Group
Visit to the Old RENE MAGRITTE Museum
Saturday 17 October 2009, at 11 a.m.
The LSE AAB presents On June 2nd 2009, under wide (international) media coverage, the new Musée Magritte Museum
a newly formed opened its doors in a 2.500 m² building of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium at the Place
Arts & Culture Group Royale, in the very heart of Brussels. www.musee-magritte-museum.be
With all the praise and positive feedback this museum is
This “spin-off” of the getting and due to its prime location, one might forget that this
LSE AAB got off to a is not the first Museum in Brussels dedicated to this famous
surrealist painter. In the spirit of the LSE, the ACG wants to
good start in June
offer the LSE alumni an opportunity to go off the beaten track
and join us in a visit to the old Magritte Museum in
For its first event, the Brussels. Rue Essenghem 135, 1090 Brussels. Metro
LSE AAB’s ACG Belgica. www.magrittemuseum.be
attended Handel's This René Magritte Museum occupies the house in which the
Messiah at Flagey Belgian surrealist painter worked nearly 24 years of his life.
His premises, faithfully reconstituted, reveal the painter in
rather discreet touches. Leaving the home behind we can
admire a permanent exhibition displays more than 400 original documents over a biographical
journey; the main stages of Magritte's life are recalled through most varied documents: mascots,
surrealist brochures, adverts, correspondence etc. Besides, some 30 drawings, gouaches,
paintings from Magritte punctuate the journey, among which "Olympia", "La lampe d'Aladin" or
"Lola de Valence", one of the most complete pieces of his "période vache". Last but not least we
find a room devoted to other surrealists such as Mesens, Mariën, Paul Delvaux, Rachel Baes etc.
We plan to meet at the Cafe Cristobald (Ave Charles Woest e172, 1090 Jette) before and again
after the visit to the museum to start a ‘Socrates Café’ discussion about Magritte: Art / Culture /
Symbolism / Law / Economics / History: it is all there!
While touring the Museum we challenge you to think of topics for a discussion afterwards. The
more challenging and unique the question or point is - the more fun and the more interesting! Art /
Science combination stimulates both sides of your brain and helps you to think outside your box!
Then we all discuss the points you raise and see where it leads!
All LSE Alumni and friends are most welcome. Please indicate by 30 September if you intend to
join us by sending an email to arts@lsealumni.be
We are planning our programme for the coming months.
Please indicate which of the following ideas interest you:
• Attend concerts / opera / contemporary dance / ballet / theatre
• Visit exhibitions
• Attend lectures on a wide range of intellectual and cultural topics with high level specialists
in their field
• Participate in a 'Socrates Café' for intellectual conversation, rational thought and sceptical
thinking in the areas of history, science, philosophy, the social sciences, literature, the arts,
and current affairs
• Play chess on friendly basis & or pit your wits in an LSE ACG chess tournament
• .…
We invite you to respond by email: arts@lsealumni.be We look forward to hearing from you, we
welcome your suggestions and we look forward to seeing you after the holidays.
The Arts and Culture Group. 6
LSE AAB Newsletter Event
Summer 2009
report
Launch of the Advisory Board of the LSE AAB
March 2009
On Monday 16 March 2009 in Brussels, the LSE Alumni
Association in Belgium launched its Advisory Board with the
company of the LSE Director Sir Howard Davies and H. E. Dr.
Rachel Aron, British Ambassador to Belgium.
During the event, LSE Director, but also former Chairman of the
Financial Services Authority, and former Deputy Governor of the
Bank of England, Sir Howard Davies gave a keynote lecture
entitled 'The Credit Crunch and its Consequences’ where he
talked about the causes of the crisis and how to revive global
economic growth and promote.
“There have been things that have
been problems in the financial
system but where the political
consensus to do something about it
We congratulate has not been available” Howard
Davies said at the Residence of the
Advisory Board British Ambassador at the launch
Members H.E. Mr. event attended by an audience of
over a 100 LSE Alumni from all ages
Karel DE GUCHT and the most international
on his appointment backgrounds.
to the European “In times of crises, one needs to think outside the box and this is what the LSE Alumni
Association in Belgium aims at doing” Olivier Van Horenbeeck, the President of the LSE
Commission, and Alumni Association stated, adding that “our prestigious advisory board will help us doing
Mr. Syed KAMALL so.”
and Mr. Claude About the Advisory Board:
The Advisory board of the LSE Alumni Association Belgium regroups former diplomats and
MORAES on their decision-makers from both private and public world among which
re-election to the • H.E. Mrs. Rachel ARON, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Belgium
• H.E. Mr. Karel DE GUCHT, former Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU Commissioner
European for Belgium
• Baron Paul BUYSSE Chairman of the Board of Directors of NV Bekaert
Parliament. • Roderick ABBOTT, Visiting Fellow at the LSE,
• Etienne de CALLATAŸ, Chief Economist at Bank Degroof,
• Philippe JADOUL, President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium,
• Patrick JANSSENS, Mayor of Antwerp,
• Syed KAMALL, MEP
• Claude MORAES, MEP
• Lode WILLEMS, Fortis Bank External Affairs Director and former Ambassador of
Belgium to the UN and UK,
• Peter WITT and Partner at GPlus Europe and former Deputy Permanent Representative
of Germany to the EU.
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LSE AAB Newsletter
Summer 2009 Alumni Life
LSE AAB Wednesday drinks
5 August 2009—Michael Collins Pub
For the Summer edition in Brussels on Wednesday 5 August 2009 we have
reserved the garden of Michael Collins Pub as from 7.30 pm.
Michael Collins Pub, Rue de Bailli 1 ,1000 Brussels, on the corner of Avenue
Louise & Rue de Bailli. The nearest metro is Metro Louise and then take either
a 93 (Marie-José) or 94 (Wiener) Tram and jump off right outside the pub at
tram stop "Lebroussart".
If you are driving there are many parking spaces
opposite the pub. http://www.whatsupin.be/en/
nightlife/1122/michael-collins-brussels
We hope to welcome you there to enjoy the Summer in
Brussels with a fresh pint!
LSE AAB Wednesday drinks
Every First 2 September 2009—Piola Libri
Wednesday In September, the LSE AAB invites you at the friendly Italian bookshop Piola
Libri in the European Quarter. Join us for an
of the end of Summer apero and good quality
Italian wine. Check their website:
Month www.piolalibri.be
When?
Wednesday 2 September 6.30pm-21h30pm
- How to get there?
66-68 Rue Franklin, B-1000 Bruxelles Schuman metro station Click here for a
map
Looking forward to see you there and please pass on the word to fellow LSE
Alumni in Brussels!
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LSE AAB Newsletter LSE Alumni
Summer 2009
LSE Annual Fund
Making a Difference
The Annual Fund is LSE’s annual giving fundraising initiative, which raises
funds from alumni, parents, governors, staff and friends of the School. It
includes all unrestricted donations made from 1 August to 31 July and can be
used immediately to meet the School’s most important needs as well as for
departmental and student projects which cannot be funded from traditional
sources.
Support of the Annual Fund makes a real difference to life at the School. These
generous donations have a direct impact on current and prospective students in
need, on public policy, on the amount of extra-curricular activities available to
students and help to maintain LSE’s global reputation and so the value of an
LSE degree.
This year, Annual Fund donations have helped to:
• Provide financial support for students in need
• Fund teaching and research awards
• Enhance the campus environment
• Improve Students’ Union facilities
• Provide extra resources for student clubs and societies
• Partly fund public lectures and international conferences
For more information on how your support improve the lives of everyone at LSE,
see Making a Difference
Until the end of July 2011, your gift is worth even more to LSE. The UK
Government has introduced a Matched Funding Scheme to encourage the
philanthropic support of Higher Education in England. Under the terms of the
scheme, every donation to the LSE Annual Fund will be matched on a 3:1 basis,
meaning for every £3 you donate, LSE will receive another £1 from the UK
Government! For more information, see Matched Funding Scheme
Please support the LSE Annual Fund and make your gift today!
http://www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/olc/pub/LHE/filemanager/annualfund/default.htm
9
LSE AAB Newsletter The LSE AAB
Summer 2009
Sign up and join the LSE AAB !
Advantages, details, procedures
Dear alumni,
Since we are about to begin a new membership year, we would like to thank you
for your support during the last 12 months and kindly ask you to continue your
support to our organization by transferring the annual Membership Fee of 20
EUR to our bank account.
Please note that our account number has changed from last year.
Account Number: 377-0106390-18
Bank: ING
Why a fee?
Your membership will help us to finance our basic working costs (website,
Contributing newsletter, preparation of events) and provide other alumni benefits. It will allow us
Members to better communicate with you, to serve you and continue to offer you a wide
actively variety of events. LSE provides no financial support to LSE AAB. Your membership
support the is therefore essential to our operations.
further
development What is in there for me?
of the LSE The membership guarantees you privileged access and discounted pricing to
Alumni social, professional and intellectual LSE AAB events. At specific events non-
network in members (either alumni or friends) will be charged per event. Also, members-only
Belgium events will be organised in the future. Further, members can promote their own
event on our members’ wall using the network of over 600 LSE Alumni in Brussels.
A list of LSE AAB members is published on our website.
Thank you for your support!
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