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The Board is happy to share the good news that since January 2022 the number of members has reached 32! This shows the interest of people in the Club and expands our opportunities to do more things together.
WHY ARE LITHUANIAN PROFESSIONALS JOINING THE LPS CLUB?
The Club aims to connect Lithuanian professionals in Sweden to help them integrate and thrive in the Swedish market by strengthening their networks, self-support, learning and joint activities.
The Club is also a bridge between Sweden and Lithuania as it seeks to promote the image of Lithuania and business opportunities by facilitating connections and raising knowledge of the cultural, social, and business environment in Sweden.
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HIGHLIGHT OF ACTIVITIES: JANUARY-JUNE 2022
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The most important development during this half a year was the Board’s initiative to develop the Club’s strategy with the goal to increase the attractiveness, impact and sustainability of the Club operations. The Board has also started preparing the definition of common values and standards of professional behavior that we encourage as well as planning new projects and partnerships.
After all, we wish to better engage our members in the Club’s activities that create long-term value. We believe in professionally fulfilling voluntarism that seeks to promote Lithuania’s impact and visibility in Sweden while strengthening meaningful and lasting relations among our members.
Aiming for more focused value creation, the Board has formulated four strategic directions:
- Lithuanian business enablement in Sweden
- Better visibility and image of Lithuania and Lithuanians in Sweden
- Raised professionalism and knowledge of members
- Cooperation and partnerships
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LPS CLUB ORGANISATION’S MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
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Apart from strategic work, the Board also worked on the board developed a few new procedures for sustainable management and communication between club members and partners:
- The amendments to the By-Laws (Statute) of LPS Club were prepared to reflect new needs. The final draft of the document will be presented for adoption at the Club’s General Annual Meeting.
- The first After-Work dinner (21 of April) on the restaurant - boat Angbatsbryggan and the second members’ After-Work meeting (25th May) at the Bonnier Konsthall cafe allowed to introduce new members of the Club and to discuss members’ expectations.
Meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Kingdom of Sweden on 21st April.
- Strategic directions and plans were shared with the members at the meeting held in the Lithuanian Embassy on the 21st of April. They will be further discussed with the rest of the members in autumn.
- Aiming for closer cooperation with the Lithuanian Embassy in Sweden, the Board held a meeting with the Embassy staff on 29th June. Planned projects and activities for the remaining part of the year were shared and discussed. The actions that support business and the stronger image of Lithuania had a special focus during the meeting.
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LPS CLUB ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS RELATED TO STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
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Strategic Direction - Lithuanian Business Enablement in Sweden:
- The Club has continuously provided information and contacts to Lithuanian businesses, which plan to expand to Sweden. For this purpose, the Club has established a list of possible services and a price list.
- Based on the information prepared by the Club Board of the previous term, the Club Board prepared a project proposal for the Swedish-Lithuanian Cooperation Fund. The project aims to establish a digital network and a platform to support the visibility and expansion of new Lithuanian businesses in Sweden. As the project needed more verification, the submission of the proposal has been moved to a later date.
- The Club, in cooperation with the Commercial Attaché of Lithuania to Sweden Mr. Aleksandras Laurinavicius, has delivered four seminars to the business communities in Lithuania about the Swedish market peculiarities and how the Club can support. The co-organisers in Lithuania were the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts in the largest cities.
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We are grateful to the Lithuanian Embassy for close and meaningful cooperation!
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Strategic Direction - Better Visibility and Image of Lithuania in Sweden:
On behalf of the Embassy of Lithuania in Sweden, on 26th April members met Dovilė Butnoriutė, Head of International Relations at KAUNAS – European Capital of Culture 2022 who presented an innovative programme of events in Kaunas. The Club actively shared the programme via social media channels, which received large attention.
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Strategic Direction - Raised Professionalism and Knowledge of members
On 22nd June a guided tour was organised in Drottningholms Slott, which is the first architectural place of Sweden listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. A stone palace was built by King John III of Sweden in 1580 for his queen, Catherine Jagiellon (Kotryna Jogailatė), a Lithuanian-Polish princess, Duchess of Finland and Grand Princess of Finland. It was a good opportunity to increase our knowledge about the historical links between Lithuania and Sweden. The tour was followed by a picnic in the meadow and walks in the park.
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Strategic Direction - Cooperation and Partnerships:
The Club promptly responded to the geopolitical and humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and took an active position to support Ukraine via communication events and donations. Many of these activities have also contributed to raising Lithuania’s image and visibility:
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In cooperation with the Lithuanian Embassy in Sweden, the online event “Price of Freedom” was arranged on 14th March, with participation of H.E. Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Plakhotnyuk and H.E. Lithuanian Ambassador Giedrius Čekuolis.
The event was facilitated by Linas Kojala, Director of the Center of East European studies. The speakers highlighted historic similarities and H.E. Ambassador of Ukraine asked for continued support, both political and humanitarian.
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In cooperation with the Lithuanian Embassy in Sweden, an online meeting with the Defence Attaché Giedrius Valintelis to Sweden, Norway and Finland was arranged on 29th April.
He talked about the security, role of the Embassy and coordination of defense actions in the context of Russian invasion.
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On 13th May, the Club has invited Dr. Alina Zubkovych, Chairperson of the Ukrainian Nordic Forum, to an online discussion on the best ways to help Ukraine.
The Forum involves specialists in giving free consultations to Ukrainian children and women, and provides advice and books to children.
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The Club has invited its members to donate to practically support Ukrainian refugees.
Thanks to the efforts of one Club member, one international company has donated 10 laptops to Ukrainian Nordic Forum.
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The Club has campaigned its support for Ukraine on social media and
encouraged people to donate funds via the NGO ‘Blue-Yellow’ in Lithuania.
We mediated the transfers for those who did not have a bank account in Lithuania.
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PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDUM WITH THE GLOBAL LITHUANIAN LEADERS
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The Club aims to establish a closer cooperation with similar professional clubs worldwide and share learnings and networks.
The Board contributed to the preparation of the Partnership Memorandum with the Global Lithuanian Leaders (GLL) and signed it on 22nd June. GLL is a non-governmental organisation that connects 25+ clubs of Lithuanian professional clubs.
The agreement aims to strengthen the network of the clubs and their impact on supporting the diaspora and raise the image of Lithuania abroad.
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WONDER WHAT'S NEXT? HERE ARE REMAINING PLANS FOR 2022
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- In autumn we plan the main event of the year aiming to promote Swedish tourism in Lithuania. This event will also greatly contribute to raising Lithuania’s visibility and developing cooperation with relevant Lithuanian businesses and organisations. Established as a regular yearly event, this autumn gathering could offer a possibility for the Club to establish its niche among other actors.
- The Board intends to finalise validation and submit the project proposal to the Sweden-Lithuania Cooperation Fund as mentioned above. In order to validate the idea, we will ask members to join the initiative and help us collect information.
- The LPS Club internet site’s content and design will be updated with the help of an outside programmer.
- The Board, in cooperation with members, is actively looking for possibilities to organise visits to some large Swedish business organisations or other relevant institutions.
- We will continue organising monthly After-Work events focused on specific topics and in some worth visiting places. Again, ideas and suggestions of members are very welcome.
- The Club board members will participate at the GLL Summer Meet in Vilnius on the 4th of August and in professional clubs meeting in Oslo in September to share our experience and learn from each other.
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Do you have other inspiring ideas, interesting experiences or valuable information? Let us know! The easiest way to get in touch with us is via email: info@lpsclub.se
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NOT A MEMBER YET?
Your membership will be valid once your membership application is approved and the membership fee is paid. Click on "Become a member" to fill in the application form.
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THE LPS CLUB'S BOARD WISHES YOU SUNNY SUMMER DAYS!
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN AUTUMN 2022!
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Rūta Smertinienė Neda Nordin Virginija Langbakk Inga Grinytė - Fedčuk
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To gather meet professionals with connections between Lithuania and Sweden. 
