Paris, 16 April 2009

To all members,

Cancellation of EAPM Conference 2009 in The Hague

As we all have experienced, the economic crisis that has come over Europe and the world, has an enormous impact on our companies and associations. The global economy has faced stresses and strains not seen since the Great Depression more than 70 years ago and today's executives have never before had to manage through a crisis of this scale.

We already launched and published last month a White Paper ‘Creating People Advantage in Times of Crisis, How to Address HR Challenges in the Recession', based on the EAPM/BCG report that will be published in June 2009. This White Paper has very been well received and has got international publicity and recognition.

One of the outcomes of this White Paper is that companies heavily cut back on company events. The EAPM Conference 2009 in The Hague has registered till now an all times low participation, even given the fact that the theme of the Conference focuses on how to address the HR Challenges in the Recession.

The Dutch NVP being responsible for the organization of the EAPM Conference 2009 has been forced to take a ‘stop loss' decision, already suffering a very substantial loss. As a consequence the EAPM conference in June 2009 in The Hague, The Netherlands has been cancelled.

NVP will study on other scenarios, a.o. the option to postpone the Conference with one year.
It is not excluded that scope, date and scale will have to be adjusted as well.

We will submit a request for postponement and consult the World Federation of Personnel Management Associations (WFPMA). A detailed information and justification of the decision made, will be given at our EAPM Delegates Meeting in The Netherlands.

Despite the losses already suffered, The Dutch NVP has offered its hospitality to host the executive board meeting and the delegates meeting of EAPM on the dates foreseen.

In addition to the delegates meeting we will organize an exclusive meeting in the afternoon of Thursday, 11 June where the full EAPM/BCG report will be presented.

We are happy to inform you that we are collaborating with BCG to set up a virtual conference for the presentation of the report on Thursday afternoon. Interested members of your organizations can call in and join the virtual conference. There is even room for questions from all over Europe. Details will follow in due time.

The commitment towards the national winners of the European EAPM Award will be honored. KLM is considering to arrange the flight tickets for all winners. The winners will be invited to attend the delegates dinner at Wednesday-evening and to attend the exclusive presentation of the BCG Report on Thursday afternoon. One night in a hotel will be offered to all winners as promised.

Attention: We have changed the venue completely.
The meetings will take place in Amsterdam, and not any more in The Hague.

We are in contact now with some good hotels in Amsterdam to offer us hospitality and facilities for stay, meetings and dinner. Please, wait with booking arrangements for hotels until we can give you the proper name and place.

We intend to make a full arrangement, concentrating all activities in one place. We will let you know the details within two weeks from now.

The program now is as following:

Wednesday, 10 June 2009
14 - 18 p.m. Executive Committee Board Meeting
19 p.m. Welcome drinks
19.30 p.m. Delegates Dinner, including honoring European EAPM Award Winners

Thursday, 11 June 2009
9 - 13 Delegates Assembly meeting
13 Fingerfood lunch
14 - 16 p.m. Virtual Conference
Presentation and press conference EAPM/BCG Report 2009.

This letter is ment to give you the necessary global information. Detailed information for delegates and price winners will follow a.s.a.p.

We kindly ask you for your understanding, given the above mentioned circumstances.

Whenever you need more background information, we are fully at your disposal.

Best regards,

Rudolf Thurner
President EAPM

Pieter Haen
vice president EAPM
vice president NVP