From 3 to 6 October 2025, the SAME Board met in Lübeck, Germany, to review network developments, discuss governance challenges, and prepare key priorities for the months ahead. The meeting brought together the Board, the Council Coordinator, and the SAME Office, creating a working space where strategic, organisational, and programme-related questions could be addressed together.
The Board discussed a wide range of developments across the network, including follow-up from SAD4Beginners, cooperation with potential and current member organisations, funding applications, website redevelopment, volunteer support, and preparations for Act.ival 2026. Special attention was given to the network’s capacity to grow responsibly, the support needed for newly engaged organisations such as PNTP Moldova, and the importance of keeping outreach linked to real organisational follow-up. Another important part of the meeting focused on preparation for General Assembly 2026, including deadlines, application procedures, role clarity, and the documents needed to support a smoother, more transparent governance process. Key outputs included clearer task division for GA preparation, progress on website responsibilities, discussions on capacity distribution for Act.ival 2026.
The meeting also created space for honest reflection on internal challenges, including organisational knowledge gaps, governance clarity, and the limits of SAME’s current capacities. These discussions were important not because they solved everything immediately, but because they helped the Board identify where the network must become stronger. The main outcome of the meeting was a more realistic and focused understanding of SAME’s priorities: nurturing the network, strengthening capacities, and serving member organisations in a more structured way.
