TIME FOR NEW ACTIONS:That for connecting the area around Hofplein in the city centre. It seems that the plan will be materialised within soon. Please go to www.imakerotterdam.nl for more information. 

Another connection is about to be opened between the Wilhelminapier and the Katendrecht district in Rotterdam. Hopefully close enough to the area at which the historic cruise liner SS Rotterdam has permanently moored.

PREVIOUS actions of the Drag Anchor carrier Janny (please see this picture of the plaque and elsewhere on this site for further explanation) still go on. She still supports the idea of making the statue in dedication of the Unknown Docker reality. The idea of materialising the statue Unknown Docker - made by Sandy Warnaar - is supported by Chief Marketing Officer Mai Elmar and other bigwigs in Rotterdam. The scheme as to how is still under discussion.

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam

Another initial successful venture was promoting to get the outside of Cruise Terminal Rotterdam prettier, the way the parking lot is enclosed in particular. Potted plants alongside the parking lot and elsewhere at the Wilhelminapier area, have done a world of good. Unfortunately there is no sign yet of a flowery welcome outside the terminal building yet.

Janny in action in the port is unveiled at http://vimeo.com/32273032

Welwyn Garden City look-alike Vreewijk

Janny has also embarked project in her own home suburb Vreewijk; the oldest but one Welwyn Garden City look-alike in the Netherlands. On the left is just an impression of her own garden. Entrepreneurs and the organisation of inhabitants of this specific Rotterdam area can look back on nice festivities on the occasion of the official opening of the venue Het Witte Paard in the centre of Vreewijk. They anticipate on further festivities and performances in and around the waterhole annex theatre The White Horse (Het Witte Paard). Janny contributed to a special newspaper on the events The virtually in-house story goes on, including safeguarding the suburb's green character.

THERE is more than meets the eye in the oldest but one garden city in the Netherlands. Please go to http://www.ondernemendvreewijk.nl to find out. Next on the agenda is Mid Summer festival and more to improve business and life at the green district of Rotterdam. VOV_Vreewijk is on Twitter as well.

Call for protection of copyrights and more . . . .

OR FAIR SHARE . . . .the Dutch union of journalists NVJ has started the campaign Fair Share (Eerlijk Deel) in an attempt to safeguard the rights of both publisher and freelance contributor. NVJ proposes to introduce a surcharge on top of the regular rate per contribution of a freelance journalist or photographer, in an attempt to solve the problem of forced assignment of rights by contract the publisher wants freelance to sign. As it is, publishers such as National Geographic, Sanoma and IHS claim these rights for free. Freelance contributors are left with the liability of their work, which is in danger to be deformed by others. “We won’t twist your arm”, publishers say, but warn that contributors who do not sign the contract will be not commissioned. At least, Dutch junior minister Fred Teeven is aware of the copyright subject and plans to adapt legislation. It is really time for action!

New assignments

THIS couple in French Auxerre is continuously  reading just the one paper. Janny reads more than one, and writes for more than just the one special interest papers. Read all about it @ this website by clicking the button Work.

You will find relatively new publications who appreciate Janny's work. They are Offshore Wind and Maritime by Holland.

The latest publications which are likely to commission Janny on a regular bases are the shipping services office SHIPNET and the London-based Hazardous Cargo Bulletin.

Please watch this space or that at Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates.

AFRIKAAD

Dutch-based foundation Afrikaad has a heart beating for the people of the Republic of Ghana and all things related to that country and West-African environs. Foundation president Aad van der Munnik brought Ghana home through importing Ghanaian arts and crafts to the Netherlands, thus building up a business network of Ghanaian artists and craftsmen. In the process Van der Munnik and his wife Willy Schols found their core business in Ghana: that of contributing to further developing education and that offering other practical help for the benefit of people living in Ghana. 

Afrikaad's logo Funtumfrafo – one of the Akan symbols – stands for unity in diversity, and the oneness of humanity in spite of the differences. It is symbolised in the many-headed crocodile with a single stomach.It is no surprise that Funtumfrafo is in the minds and hearts of all involved in the foundation Afrikaad: both in the Netherlands and in Ghana and elsewhere in West-Africa. Please go to http://www.afrikaad.nl to find more about the work of the couple Van der Munnik/Schols and their friends close to home and far away.

Closer to home is IT Doctor Roderick Guépin, owner of ICT United. He used to cooperate with good old IT Doctor Mike Vuyk, who unfortunately had to step down. On the positive side is that Mike is still in the background, keeping abreast of the latest developments within and outside ICT United. Please find out yourself at http://www.ictunited.nl

Queen's Honour to Super Volunteer

STILL happy memories about the surprise Janny's husband Jaap got end April, 2011. He was one of the maany volunteering Dutch who were distinguished by the Queen (or rather the special department of Dutch Queen's Honours) for their outstanding contribution to the Dutch community. In the picture Karoline Bockma of the Welkom in Rotterdam foundation and Jaap in the aftermath

Maritime female senior managers in festive mood

Janny was sent this picture (right) by fellow WISTA members who spotted the Rotterdam-based party goer in London at the Medieval Banquet. And yes, it was all fun and laughter at the so-called Court of Henry the Eight.

WISTA members worldwide look back on a successful WISTA conference which was held in Stockholm last year. WISTA The Netherlands president Karin Orsel was elected WISTA International president. Three cheers for a tough lady! She will chair the next WISTA International meeting of WISTA members, prior to the conference in Paris late September.

Janny is ready to get more assignments for co-hosting conferences. In this pic she is in action at a seminar about sharing valuable information for the benefit of the port community. Recently she co-hosted what was called LijstDuwers Debate, prior to the day members of municipal councils had to be elected.

Janny will do the trick again at Havencongres 2010 in Rotterdam on 15th April in the act of roving reporter. Please click on www.havencongres.nl for further information.

Visitors of www.jannykok.nl as stated by Motigo on 22/03/2009: