On September 18th and 19th September 2015, 300 allotment gardeners (delegates and guests) met in Holstebro for their statutory congress, which is held every third year.
H. C. Østerby, mayor of Holstebro welcomed the delegates and presented his town, the reputation of which is well-established in the cultural area, and the local allotment movement.
M. Weirich, secretary general of the International Office, presented the international union.
She told the delegates that today lobbying is a key requirement, both on national and international level.
• "The gardeners must make the politicians, the authorities and the population aware of their contribution to the environment protection which is a win-win situation for the gardeners, society and nature.
• They must integrate all classes of society and show that the allotment movement is a colourful world for all
• Gardening is trendy today. So they must take into consideration the new trends and people's new wishes while opening up and developing.
The allotments have to be and remain places of friendship and integration, places where voluntary work is valued, places that are an oasis for fauna and flora, places that are a valuable part of the green lungs of our cities".
The delegates then attended to their statutory obligations and tried to set new steps for the future by discussing many statutory amendments.
President Preben Jacobsen and Vice-President Carsten Bjørk Olsen were re-elected for a 3 year mandate.
After 8 years of service as secretary general Mogens Ginnerup-Nielsen will stop his work by October 1st and will be replaced by Ditte Jensen.
Thank you Mogens for your good cooperation within the International Office and good luck for the future. Also welcome to you Ditte among the international allotment gardeners.
The congress ended with a fine banquet with nice musical and dancing presentations.
