From left to right, Maria Mullen (Latin America Zone), Jim Cargin (North Europe Zone), Bernard Lebleu (Web dev. Manager Canada), Anna Davis-Hutto (USA), Véronique Segalini (France), Tina Bovermann (L'Arche International), Lindsay (interpreter), Arno Thijs (L'Arche International), Anne Lhuillier (South Europe Zone - Middle East).

Even if this meeting was taking place for the third time, it was a first experience for many of us. That shows how recent the communicator function is in the organization.

It was the case for Maria Mullen, attached to El Arca Argentina community and responsible for communications in Latin America. It was also a first time for Anna Davis-Hutto, communications and development manager for the USA, who came in that function in September 2007. Besides the l'Arche International team (Tina Bovermann and her assistant, Arno Thijs), were also present Anne Lhuillier, responsible for the SEMEZ (South Europe and Middle East Zone) and Jim Cargin, responsible for the NEZ (North Europe Zone) and coordinator for Poland. As for me, I was delegated by Jean-Louis Munn, held in Canada by the L'Arche Canada Board meeting. Sadly, there was no representation for the Asia-Pacific and Africa Zones.

A diversity of experiences
Each manager presented the situation in his/her Zone, the original and fruitful initiatives, the difficulties, the needs. Of course, the constrast is stark between what needs to be communicated in Latin America, and in France or Canada where communities are numerous and well established. The situation is also completely different for the SEMEZ, represented by Anne Lhuillier and based in the La Corolle community near Geneva. Through this Zone extending from Croatia to Egypt and including Spain, Italy, Syria and Palestine, 10 different languages are spoken. The fundamental issue for that Zone is the interreligious dialogue in those territories frequently divided between Islam and Christianity. The vocabulary itself has to be invented: the concept of community can't mean anything to Muslims but the wide familiy, the immediate environment.

The USA Zone is quickly organizing and building its capacity to support the growth of new communities. Deprived from government support, the communication work is indissociable from fundraising.

Bring Jean Vanier's message beyond L'Arche?
Should L'Arche carry Jean Vanier's messages, that of the gift of people with an intellectual disability, that of peace, beyond the communities? Should it become their spokesperson, take part in ethical debates on abortion and any question touching intellectual disability? These were a few of the questions tackled during the meeting. These questions are, as Jim Cargin reminded us in his presentation, the heart of the challenges of communications within L'Arche, and of L'Arche towards the world, and this since the very beginnings of L'Arche.

Is it possible to define a common approach, to agree on essential principles during debates on ethics? The interreligious dimension within L'Arche, within one Zone, turns such an approach very complex.

Share information and develop common tools
I was invited to present the work done in the last months in Canada, notably the Intranet (Common Ground) around which L'Arche Canada plans to orient all its information management tools and Web communication strategy

I pleaded for the sharing of the work done in the different Zones. Website and information management tools development is a problem in L'Arche, due to a lack of human resources able to properly evaluate the needs and available tools. Costs are high and most projects lead to overspending.

Through lack of other, better adapted platforms to respond to the needs of the different Zones, we proposed the other Zones to build a common platform based on the L'Arche Canada Intranet.

Same views on the information level. The different Zones of L'Arche create enormous amounts of information that communicate little or badly from one Zone to the other. We proposed to develop gateways to foster the exchange and sharing of information -- news, letters, multimedia, etc -- from Zone to Zone. With the intention to create a very strong and coherent global presence for L'Arche throughout the world.

These propositions were welcomed with lots of enthusiasm by managers from all Zones. An enthusiasm that should translate itself in concrete cooperative actions in the upcoming year.

Jean-Vanier.org and deficience-intellectuelle.org sites
Tina Bovermann, Communications Director at L'Arche International, told us of recent developments in the websites projects she's running. Most of you probably had the opportunity to visit the Jean Vanier website (jean-vanier.org). She worked closely with him to create a site that's faithful to the message he wants to convey to the world.

The deficience-intellectuelle.org website project is completely different, extremely innovative, and therefore offers many challenges. Tina's team made a series of interviews with core members who express themselves freely on themes important to them. She also gathered images of artwork created by community members. In order to do that, she asked the direct participation of several communities. All the room will be given to people, in an interface integrating audio and video, easy to access for those who can't hear or read. A first version should go online in September, on time for the Kolkata meeting.