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Dear EMG members:

We have already been through the first 4 months of 2009, and it is time for a report from your President. I am at the moment packing your new EMG wall signs and pins to be mailed out to you during this week. I hope that you will wear the pins on your shirts and jackets when you go to exhibitions and customer meetings to stir up some curiosity for the EMG.

January started for me with a visit to Holland. As I am invited to participate in all the CAPI board meetings, the first one of the year took place in Haag. The CAPI group is very focused on the progress of their work, and I hope that their presentation at our AGM coming up in Barcelona, will convince you of the importance of the EMG support.
While in Holland, I was invited to visit Bierman at their streamline facility not to far from Amsterdam. Bierman manufacture kits for rear entry low floor vehicles, and has a complete showroom for the sales of new and second hand vehicles, completely converted for the use of disabled customers. They also have a converted vehicles rental service available.

Late January I also visited Gothenburg, to go through the EMG financial situation with Maj Svanström, our trusted treasurer at Autoadapt AB. She keeps everything in good order, but she is still pushing some of the members for the 2009 fee. Please pay ASAP.

I was preparing my speech for the Mobility Debate meeting in Brüselles in March, but as you all know, it was cancelled at the last moment. There has been no indication of a new date set for this meeting. I continue, however, to work on the EMG 2010 AGM, to be hosted in Denmark, and to include a selected group of our disabled users with their vehicles, to celebrate the 30th. anniversary of the Car and Van club for disabled drivers. Henning Andersen at Handi Mobil is my working partner in this respect.

During late March, I was invited to participate at the Grand Opening of the super nice new facility of Handi Mobil in Herning, Denmark. The warehouse included a large stock of both Ricon and Braun lifts, as well as products from Autoadapt and many other EMG members. Please log in to the Handi Mobil website, and read more.

April saw a trip to the Czeck Republic, to visit Miroslav Bartos at API. They have purchased a piece of land in Tabor, apx.100 km south of Praha. In the 400 m2 facility, they manufacture a low floor rear entry kit, as well as a gas/brake/clutch kit . The company employ 13 people, including 5 wheelchair users that operate as salesmen and installers. The different communities supply financial support for the customers, and the market is rapidly growing. Miroslav intend to expand another 200 m2 very soon.

In early June I will go to the UK for the Mobility Road Show, and also for the CAPI meeting. I hope to see many of you there with your new EMG pins on.

Please see my pictures:- http://store.redgap.cz/visit_oistein_hagfors.zip

Enjoy the lovely spring time, and benefit from all the extra energy.

Best regards,
Øistein Hagfors
EMG President