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COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY
Apart from strategic work, the Board also worked on development organisation’s management and communication between club members and partners:
- During the period of July- December 2022, on its Facebook account the Club regularly presented news about Lithuania and Kaunas, the European Cultural Capital.
- The Club kept its focus on Ukraine, and regularly shared facts and news about the war.
- During six months the Club gained 33 followers on its LinkedIn account and shared economic and political information on Lithuania, Sweden, the European Union and the World.
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Strategic Direction - Lithuanian Business Enablement in Sweden:
A list of LPS Services and a pricelist
- Lithuanian business support, assisting entrepreneurs to better establish themselves on the Swedish market was a defined strategic area for LPS Club. LPS Club aims to contribute to the growth of Lithuanian exports to Sweden, become a valuable business supporting partner and a trusted source of local knowledge.
- During this period a list of possible LPS Club services with the relevant pricing was developed and successfully tested while organising and planning new events.
- The Board has also led the thematic Task Force at the GLL, that developed a list of services and related prices that could be used by professionals’ clubs in their respective countries.
New LPS website with the Business Platform
- The LPS Club’s Board ideated and drafted a concept for a new internet site and updated its contents, to be implemented after the purchased IT service in January 2023.
- Development of the Business Platform module is the biggest innovation that will serve as one source of information for all Lithuanian businesses active in or planning to enter Sweden. It will help businesses to advertise and to be easier found, in one place, by potential customers. A separate section will be devoted to active announcements, where companies, entrepreneurs and private people could advertise their events, exhibitions, service or product discounts and look for specific assistance or potential employees.
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Strategic Direction - Better Visibility and Image of Lithuania in Sweden:
Meeting with Lina Žukauskaite at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Sweden
In September the Club invited members and enthusiasts to meet with Lina Žukauskaite, Head of the Department Global Lithuania. As the Global Lithuania Department is responsible for cooperation with diaspora, the Club presented ideas and proposals on possible cooperation between Lithuania and professional diaspora in Sweden.
The role of the Government’s initiative ‘Team Lithuania’ and ways to engage more Lithuanian professionals abroad into the economic development of Lithuania as well as strengthening the image of Lithuania abroad was specifically analysed.
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Consultancy Meeting with ’Travel Lithuania’ and Honorary Consuls
The Club together with the Commercial Attache of the Embassy of Lithuania in Sweden has invited Club members and supporters as well as Honorary Consuls to Lithuania to share their thoughts and tips on tourism promotion strategies and peculiarities for Swedes to the representative of “Travel Lithuania“ co-head Irena Achonen.
The meeting participants revealed that Scandinavian taste and expectations are rather different from other Europeans, thus specific strategies and marketing approaches are advisable if Lithuania wishes more actively promote tourism for Swedish audiences.
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Consultancy Meeting with ’Travel Lithuania’ and Honorary Consuls
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Event ‘LITHUANIA - "Real Is Beautiful"
In October, aiming to promote Swedish tourism to Lithuania, the Club, together with the National Tourism Development Agency “Travel Lithuania“ and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Sweden held a large event. The event, held in the Ambassador’s Residency, presented to more than 50 guests, Swedes in the majority, the hidden gems of Lithuania.
A fun quiz and prizes for the winners and a networking dinner prepared by a Lithuanian chef closed the event. The Club proved capable of establishing partnerships with Lithuanian organisations that promote Lithuanian tourism in Sweden.
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Strategic Direction - Rising Professionalism and Knowledge
GLL Summer Gathering 2022: Mapping the Future
Representatives of the Club participated at the GLL Summer Gathering in Vilnius, to engage in meaningful discussions and inspiring ideas, followed by our #BackToVilnius Networking event. The gathering focused on the vision of Lithuania for 2050.
Various workshops and discussions strengthened knowledge on cyber security, digitalisation, open organisations and many more. For LPS Club the most valuable part was informal networking and sharing practices of club’s management and activities.
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Swedish elections 2022: Meeting with Virginija Danylaite Karrenbauer
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In September, the Club arranged an online meeting showcasing Virginija Danylaite Karrenbauer, an active Lithuanian who was running in Sweden’s elections 2022. Virginija is a PhD degree neurologist currently working at the Karolinska University Hospital and Institute.
At a physical meeting Virginija explained what has triggered her to turn into politics, what are her focus areas she is going to promote, and many other questions. The meeting with Virginija has inspired many of us to be bold and brave in trying new fields and chasing one’s dreams.
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Initial discussion of proposed strategic areas
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In September, in an online meeting, the Board invited to an initial discussion of the draft LPS Strategic Focus Areas. The Strategy was developed by the Board on the basis of past activities, surveys and interviews with LPS members. The new contextual factors, such as societal and political developments, government’s initiatives like ‘Teams Lithuania’, and the rise of the role of diaspora professional clubs worldwide have been considered in the Strategy.
The Club members supported the need of having a Strategy and highlighted the need for a better balance of focus areas that are directed towards the members needs. An experience of joyful creation and enjoying the process of sharing was unanimously named as a key factor for the Club’s work.
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A visit to Mälarenergi AB and Västerås
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In October, LPS organised a visit to the Mälarenergi AB Company headquartered in Västerås, a company that supplies electricity, heating, water, cooling and broadband solutions to Mälardalen region, with turnover of SEK 3 billion.
The company’s leadership gave a detailed presentation of company’s history, process and production, showed the restricted areas of the plant, and demonstrated the process of waste that transforms into energy - like in a Hitchcock movie!
The visit continued to the old town of Västerås guided by the local Lithuanian community members and ended at an amazing restaurant on the boat standing in Mälaren lake.
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A guided tour to Norra Begravningsplatsen cemetery in Solna
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"The Northern Cemetery" in Swedish is a major cemetery in the Stockholm urban area, located in Solna that was inaugurated in 1827.
On a sunny November day, the Club engaged a tour guide Ira Stomberg, to share her stories to the members and supporters through the famous burial site for many Swedish notables - Alfred Nobel, August Strindberg and Ingrid Bergman. The tour gave another valuable insight into the Swedish culture, history and traditions.
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This event in November 2022 aimed to show appreciation to the most supportive Club members who helped to organise Club events and other activities. Learning ice-sculpting on ice blocks transported from Northern Sweden involved practicing techniques that would turn ideas into sculptures.
The Ice Bar cocktails are taken from real ice cups, while sitting on real ice benches invited for warm hugs. The cozy dinner at a nearby restaurant full of laughter and talks crowned this memorable evening.
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In October, 80+ Lithuanian professionals from 14 professional clubs abroad met at Oslo Summit to share experiences and know-how, to discuss common topics and network.
All participating clubs discussed how to attract new members, ensure continuity and leadership of Boards, and ensure financial sustainability.
They also touched upon services to deliver, how to work with partners and the need to boost government’s support to clubs through its initiative ‘Team Lithuania’. At the end of the meeting the clubs signed a Partnership Memorandum.
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WONDER WHAT'S NEXT? HERE ARE PLANS FOR 2023
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- Online lunch meeting with Masterclass, and HR company from Lithuania, with the presentation on change leadership, January-February.
- Annual General Meeting of LPS Club members to elect new Board, Chair and adopt numerous strategic documents and amended By-Law, February 2nd.
- Start of the year event at the Ambasador’s Residence to present LPS new plans, new Website, Business Platform and Strategic focus areas followed by networking with wine planned, end of February.
- Joint event with the Estonian Chamber of Commerce, where famous Swedish culture expert and editor Sofi Tegsveden Deveaux, with whom a service contract is already signed, will deliver a lecture followed by networking, planned on March 22nd.
- Visit to Svensk Tenn boutique shop followed by AW, April.
- A visit to Delaval Hamra Farm near Stockholm, an exemplary digital experimental cow farm of the future, foreseen for May.
- Tour to Västerås County to visit famous industrial, cultural and nature sites together with the local Lithuanian community, August.
- Tour to the basis of Veteran Flottiljen of ex-military boats in Musko, including a ride on a missile boat ‘R142 Ystad’ of the Swedish Association of Missile Boats and learning about torpedo attack, September 23rd.
- Monthly After-Work events are planned to continue for members to network and share ideas and plans for the Club.
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Do you have other inspiring ideas, interesting experiences or valuable information? Let us know! Email: info@lpsclub.se
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Become a member and have your share of the Club’s value creation!
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LPS CLUB LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON IN 2023!
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Saturday lunch at Glashuset restaurant
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Rūta Smertinienė Neda Nordin Virginija Langbakk Inga Grinytė - Fedčuk
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