Opportunities Abound in CEE Countries - CEPA's Message at EBACE

The newly appointed Board of the three-year old CEPA (Central Europe Private Aviation) will be in Geneva this week, meeting with their members and aiming to raise awareness internationally of viable investment opportunities available in business aviation in such countries as Poland and the Czech Republic. 

“The CEE region has not been so affected by the financial turbulence in Europe this year and we have a reason to smile at this year’s EBACE,” said CEPA Founder Dagmar Grossmann.  “We have a number of international events coming up in the region, not least the UEFA European Cup, which will inevitably see more western business aviation charter companies flying in - to Poland and the Ukraine.”  CEPA Chairman Brendan Lodge added: “This year’s EBACE is important for our new Board to talk about the region and the high international standards our members’ companies are consistently setting, as well as hearing about the trends affecting operators in Europe.  Attending this premier business aviation gathering is very valuable as we look to enrich our third annual networking conference toward the end of the year.”

CEPA Expo scheduled for November 29-30

Dates have now been confirmed for CEPA Expo 2012 (www.cepa.expo), the leading business aviation networking and conference event for Central and Eastern Europe.  The event will start from midday on 29th November through to 30th November at the Prague Congress Centre.  Last year’s event, attended by over 120 delegates, highlighted the wishes of CEE operators to compete on an equal playing field; the reticence among banks to finance business aircraft and the many challenges they share with their western counterparts – including ETS, slot allocation rules and obtaining access to European airports.  

“EBACE, the premier international business aviation event in Europe, is a good opportunity to meet with lenders and financiers – to educate about them about the opportunities in our region, but also operators and charter providers - those who conduct business in Eastern and Western Europe.  Our aim is to explore best practices and identify what these two groups of operators can learn from each other,” Brendan Lodge added. 

CEPA is a voluntary, non-governmental and non-profit members association which co-ordinates the interests of executive aviation manufacturers, operators, airports, service providers, training establishments, fixed wing and rotary brokers to improve standards and best business practice in the region. Supporting services including financial, legal, insurance and publishing companies are also welcomed. The Association's primary goal is to represent its members' interests to support the growth of private aviation in the Czech Republic and abroad. For the future CEPA plans to develop an educational arm which will be responsible for providing information and data about the current climate in business aviation in Central Europe.

www.cepa.aero

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Holy Week speaker has bit of fun with serious 'unfinished business' message - Abilene Reporter-News

Phil Christopher took the opportunity Friday to have a little fun and to bring a serious message, both based on the theme of "unfinished business."

Christopher was the final speaker for the annual Holy Week luncheon series, which is hosted each year by five local churches. Each day this week, one of the pastors spoke during a luncheon held at a church other than his own.

The overall theme of the series was, "Cross Words," with each pastor speaking on Scripture related to Jesus' words from the cross.

On Friday, Christopher, pastor of First Baptist Church, spoke in the gym of First Central Presbyterian Church. He couldn't pass up the opportunity to cut down the basketball net over the lectern in celebration of the women's basketball team at his alma mater, Baylor University, winning the national championship.

The Lady Bears' theme for the year had been, "Unfinished Business," in reference to losing out on the grand prize last year.

At the end of Baylor's victory Tuesday night, star player Brittney Griner scratched out the word, "Unfinished" from the slogan. The team's mission was now finished. The Lady Bears cut down the net on an undefeated season.

After having a little fun with that — and giving First Central pastor Cliff Stewart a replacement net — Christopher switched to the more serious message of "unfinished business."

Jesus' dying words from the cross, "It is finished," could have been taken the wrong way by those who heard it, Christopher said.

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who authorized Jesus' execution, may have thought, "Finally, he is gone out of my hair — finished, case closed," Christopher said.

People sometimes wonder what their own last words will be, Christopher said.

"The truth is," he said, "all of us have some kind of unfinished business on our plate."

That's not a reference to unfulfilled potential, Christopher said, but rather to conversations that need to be held or changes that need to be made.

The good news, Christopher said, is that it isn't up to us alone to fix it.

"Those final words from the cross are our only hope," he said.

The title of Christopher's talk was, "It Is Finished ... Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit."

Jesus trusted that God would have the final word, Christopher said, and his victory over death proved it. Jesus' death and resurrection were about more than just personal forgiveness, Christopher said.

"There at Golgotha" he said, "God reclaimed us and he reclaimed the world."

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