Spanish Fulbright Alumni Association invites EMA Representative to Annual Dinner

Andrea Piehl was invited to represent EMA at the annual dinner of the Spanish Fulbright Association. In the following report, she discusses her impressions and the experiences of other Student and Alumni Associations, which she believes are valuable for the EMA as well...

Twice a year, the Spanish Fulbright Association organizes a dinner to welcome Spanish and American Fulbright scholars. This meeting gives scholars a unique opportunity to meet and network with both current and former American and Spanish Fulbright scholars, academics, and professionals. This year the dinner took place at a privileged location in Madrid, el Club de Campo.

I was personally invited to represent the EMA by Dr. Ángel Álverez Rodriguez, a member of the board of Spanish Fulbright Association,. Dr Álvarez is also the Associate Vice-Rector for International Affairs at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Rectorate where I also work, and is in charge of the Erasmus Mundus Programme at the University.

The philosophy around the Fulbright Association’s activities is the idea of “Give back to the Community”. Normally the ceremony includes presentations of Spanish newcomers from their Fulbright period as well as presentations by the US Fulbright scholars in Spain. The presentations give them the opportunity to share their academic and non-academic experiences with the audience.

The dinner was sponsored by two recruitment companies, Norman Broadbent and Neumann International, who recruit individuals for high positions in leading companies. In addition, two “special guests” were invited; the German Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Wolf-Ruthart Born, also a Fulbright alum, and Spanish poet and former State-Secretary for Culture, Dr. Luis Alberto de Cuenca.

Also invited to the event were members of Ryder Club España, a group of alumni associations and clubs that work together to share experiences and knowledge. Among their associates there are many well known universities in the US (e.g. Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Georgetown) and relevant associations in Europe, including La Caixa Alumni Association, London Business School, Section Ibérique de l'Association des Sciences Po.

An example of successful activities in the Spanish Fulbright Association is the organization of meetings around a key speaker. Relevant people are invited to share and discuss their experiences with the audience. Past speakers have included Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, before he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs and film director Gillermo Fesser, best known in Spain as part of the comedian couple “Gomaespuma”.

The Spanish Fulbright Association has existed for almost 20 years, and their activities and success as an alumni association can bring ideas to help ensure the sustainability of EMA. I learned that the meetings based around key speakers who are mostly Fulbright alumni in relevant positions, are one of the association’s most successful activities. These events are consistently well attended and may be some similar activity for the EMA to consider for the future In addition, the association’s ideal to “give back to the community” creates an environment that welcomes new members who have come back from a period abroad and lived the Fulbright experience. This helps the association build open and powerful network links between it’s members and creating an environment to foster “exchange” which keeps the networks alive. These are both examples of valuable lessons the EMA can learn from the Spanish Fulbright Association.
Links:
Spanish Fulbright Association: www.asoc-fulbright.es
Norman Broadbent: www.normanbroadbent.es
Neumann International: www.neumann-inter.com
RCE FAQs available at: http://asoc-fulbright.es/comisiones/croa/ryder