Special evening walk through Westerveld memorial park

On 3 June, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium in the Netherlands organized a special evening walk through the monumental memorial park. 

AGM 2013 report

On September 19th, the Annual General Meeting 2013 took place. This time in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The complete event of AGM 2013 was a lively experience with 85 participants from 15 countries. In 3 days we held the AGM, workshops, visited 2 significant cemeteries and experienced Amsterdam secrets in a boat tour.

Thanks to presidency, steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, we took big steps forward in the life of our association. You can see our experience in the lively video and photo album of AGM 2013.

The AGM was guided by president of ASCE, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, and all steering committee members were present or forwarded their votes to other members. During the AGM, several things were outlined and discussed:

1. Financial report

Financial report for 2012 and first 8 months of 2013. A very well balanced finances statement provides secure future for general work of ASCE.

2. PayPal integration

Possibility to pay membership through PayPal was introduced. With this we have approached and listened to many members who wanted this option.

3. Process of recognizing Significant Cemeteries

For the past years many requests were made in this direction. Steering Committee has prepared a process which will ensure that in future there are clear requirements on how to make your cemetery become recognized as Significant Cemetery of Europe.

The process is mainly oriented into providing many important details that describe the cemetery (basic statistic data, cultural data, important monuments or graves,...). This is an important step into reaching our mission, to preserve and protect cultural heritage in cemeteries.

4. ASCE official registration

ASCE official registration as a non-profit organization was presented. Since 2011 presidency took important steps into adapting to changes in Italian legislation. ASCE was officially confirmed renewed registration in November 26th 2012.

5. New address of ASCE

Due to changes in organization at the ASCE seat in Bologna, official address is now:

Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe
via de' Musei, 8
40124 Bologna
Italy

6. New members and significant cemeteries

Within past 12 months following new cemeteries joined ASCE:

• Cimetiere du Parc, Clamart, France
• Sant Antonio Abat or Cantagallet Cemetery, Alcoy, Spain
• The English Cemetery in Malaga, Spain
• Highgate cemetery, London
• Referat Friedhöfe, Innsbruck, Austria

We have seen interesting presentations of each cemetery and took note about their acceptance into our organization. Besides Cemetery members ASCE accepted many new individual members and researchers.

7. Website and communication

In past years we are noticing steady growth of membership, website visits, social media presence and emailing lists. Our work is recognized daily by more and more cemeteries professionals, visitors and general public. Still we are planning many more developments in our communications in the future.

• Together with scientific committee we will further develop the research segment of website.
• We are inviting new editors to cover stories from their region or countries. If you wish to become an editor please send an email to admin@significantcemeteries.org and we will include you into the process.
• You are as well welcome to join us at our Facebook and Google+ page to follow our stories and work.

8. Finalization of EUCEMET project

All members are again invited to participate in organizing Photo exhibition: “European cemeteries: Soul gardens, variety and heritage”. All material is available at ASCE secretariat. Any member who wishes to participate can send an email to admin@significantcemeteries.org.

9. Vision and strategy of European Cemeteries Route

The vision was presented with strong focus on developing tourism in cemeteries. Within following months members will be able to join many new and some mandatory activities within the Route. Secretariat will take care of establishing a new website and mobile guide which will be more user friendly and at the same time provide data from existing ASCE website.

10. Common project 2014: "European peace graves"

It is a project that can serve as part of Cemeteries route to promote visits of the cemeteries. Further information will be sent to members in following month.

11. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2013

As noted in the report many members are actively organizing events during the week. In future we will present the common theme of such weeks and try to amplify the overall effect in media.

12. New marketing materials

All materials are always available at this ASCE webpage for download and print.

13. Upcoming AGMs

• 2014 in Barcelona, Spain
• 2015 in Bucharest, Romania
• 2016 in Dublin, Ireland

14. Conclusions

We are very proud to continue important work for our cemeteries and seeing growth of membership and activities by members. AGM 2013 proved there is a lot of interest in expanding such work and we are sure that in Barcelona in 2014 we will see even more amazing projects which will bring our visitors in touch with the cemeteries.

AGM 2013: Video and photo album

Highlights from the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2013.

The AGM 2013 was a lively experience with 85 participants from 15 countries. In 3 days we held the AGM, workshops, visited 2 significant cemeteries and experienced Amsterdam secrets in a boat tour.

Thanks to presidency, steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, we took big steps forward in the life of our association.

Discover the highlights of AGM 2013 in the lively video below or explore the photo album from the event at THIS LINK.

AGM 2013: Big steps forward

First impressions from the exciting last week in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

After months of preparations by presidency and steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, AGM 2013 launched in full touch.

We took big steps forward towards even better and more visible ASCE in the future. Cemeteries route, significant cemeteries recognition method, scientific research and new projects cooperation were outlined. Cemeteries from landscape architectural points of view enriched our perception and experience. Visit of Westerveld and Moscowa cemeteries were exciting and amplified our vision.

Yes, we are ready to get each European citizen in touch with the heritage resting in cemeteries.

In following days we will post full report and details on many projects we are developing. For now you are welcome to enjoy the few photo glimpses of 3 amazing days we have enjoyed in Amsterdam.

Thank you Facultatieve group for making us feel special.

Thank you Westerveld and Moscowa for joyful hospitality and wonderful guidance through your heritage.

Thank you dear members for attending and participating with your valuable comments and views.

Thank you dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, Karel Werdler, Muriel Ghys, Wim van Midwoud, dr. Julie Rugg, Olaf Ihlefeldt for amazing lectures and knowledge exchange.

Thank you all the new members for presentations of your wonderful cemeteries.

Thank you Barcelona for beautiful invitation to AGM 2014.

AGM 2013: Programme

Programe of the annual general meeting AGM and Conference 2013 in Amsterdam with title: "Gardens, forests, cities. European cemeteries as a cultural landscape.".

AGM and Conference will take place at Crown Plaza hotel in Amsterdam.

Thursday, September 19th

08:30 | 09:00

Registration

09:00 | 10:45

Henry Keizer, President & CEO ‘the Facultatieve Group’
Welcome

Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE
Members of Steering Committee of ASCE
Annual General Meeting

10:45 | 11:00

Coffee break

11:00 | 13:00

dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, University of Sevilla
Understanding and Managing the Complexity. Cemeteries as a Cultural Landscape

Karel Werdler, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam
Dutch cemeteries and landscape in relationship to dark tourism

Muriel Ghys, Les Amis du Musèe Funèraire National
Evolution of cemeteries in France over the last century

Wim van Midwoud, Dutch National Association of Cemeteries
Harmony between burial and cremation

13:00 | 13:30

Lunch break

13:45 | 19:30

Visit of Westerveld cemetery
(transport arranged)
Buffet dinner at Westerveld

Friday, September 20th

09:00 | 11:00

dr. Julie Rugg, Senior Research Fellow, Cemetery Research Group, University of York, United Kingdom
The changing landscape of death

dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, University of Sevilla
Coauthor Martin Ernerth, Stiftung Historische Kirchhofe und Friedhofe in
Berlin-Brandenburg
Trees and stones. A brief introduction to the relation between cemeteries and nature

Olaf Ihlefeldt, South Western Cemetery Stahnsdorf
South Western Cemetery Stahnsdorf

11:00 | 11:15

Coffee break

11:15 | 12:00

New ASCE members
Presentations of new members

Jordi Valmana, Cemeteries of Barcelona
AGM host 2014: Barcelona

12:15 | 13:15

Lunch break

13:15 | 19:00

Visit of Moscowa cemetery
(transport arranged)

20:00

Gala dinner at the hotel Crowne Plaza Amsterdam - south

Saturday, September 21st

09:15 | 09:30

Gathering at hotel lobby
09:30 | Departure to Amsterdam centre

10:00 | 12:00

Canal boat tour

12:00

Departure to hotel

AGM2013: Call for papers

The theme of this year's conference is "Gardens, Forests, Cities. European Cemeteries as Cultural Landscape".

The aim of this years workshop at AGM is the analysis of European cemeteries as a landscape in this double significance: the generic one, concerning to their heritage and cultural values, and the more specific of the past, present and future of these places in which nature has always played a so decisive role.

If you have an interesting article or presentation from your own region, expose it to other members at AGM 2013. To do so,

AGM 2013: Accomodation

Make your hotel reservation for your stay in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, during the AGM and Conference 2013.

AGM will take place at Crown Plaza hotel in Amsterdam. (click for location)

Please click on this link to make the reservation on special discounted prices that are arranged for ASCE members:

• Double room, single use: 139,00 €
• Double room: 159,00 €

This is a limited time offer so please hurry up. The group code will be automatically entered for you in the website.

If you will extend the period of your staying, the prices will not show up, but you can still make the reservation.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Groups & Events supervisor of the hotel:

Marjan Elgersma
Crowne Plaza Amsterdam - South
marjan.elgersma@ihg.com
c/o George Gershwinlaan 101 / 1082 MT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 20 504 3611 / Fax: +31 20 504 3626

You can as well find many attractions and tourist information at the Amsterdam tourist office website.