Jyrki Pinomaa, Past-President of Inclusion Europe, writes:
I am sitting at Madrid Barajas Airport waiting for my flight to take me first to London Heathrow and then onwards to Helsinki. I was in Madrid to attend an international conference organised by Inclusion Europe member Plena inclusión.
I feel really empowered. As I have every time visiting our members, attending conferences, meeting with our staff and experiencing the very unique atmosphere in the room when people with intellectual disabilities, their family members and professionals come together to discuss and advance inclusion, to change experiences and to encourage each other in continuing this so important work for equality and full inclusion.
I also feel quite emotional. Eight years of my presidency of Inclusion Europe came to an end only two weeks ago when we had our General Assembly as part of our succesful Europe in Action conference in Vicenza, Italy. Jeanne Nicklas-Faust started her term as President of Inclusion Europe. I wish all the best to you, Jeanne!
I am not emotional because my term ended. I am emotional because of all the nice words I have been reading about myself during the two weeks that have passed. I am also emotional because of the goodbyes I have been saying to people first in Vicenza and now in Madrid. It is always hard to say goodbyes. I am also emotional because after serving now altogether for fifteen years in the Board of Inclusion Europe, I strongly feel being a part of and belonging to this great organisation. I might be leaving Inclusion Europe but Inclusion Europe and the global Inclusion movement will never leave me!
Besides, I am not going anywhere yet – I still have one year to go as Past-President. I still continue as a co-opted officer of Inclusion International.
There are so many people I ought to thank. But they are simply too many to list here. So, I just wish to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one you who I have been able to meet with, write with, discuss with, work with and become friends with during my years of service as a Board member and as President of Inclusion Europe!
In this picture are two fantastic ladies – my predecessor Maureen Piggot (to the left) and my successor Jeanne Nicklas-Faust.