Welcome to the International GSA Convention 2009!

Dear guests from all over the world,

„This is where the music plays! “ - a German saying tough to translate meaning "Where the action is at"! And that's what it is: four days of excellent action, speakers, music and networking at the International GSA Convention 2009 in Mannheim/Germany.

The offbeat iwill be performed at the pre-convention on Thursday, September 10. The sessions of the Professional Expert Groups (PEGs) will meet and share experiences and learn from each other in a “poco agitato”-mood will be the overture. In the evening the Board invites to the general meeting. We are looking forward to many creative ideas in an “allegro con spirito” session, discovering ways on how to fill the GSA with lots of soul, spirit and fun to make GSA even more attractive.

On Friday and Saturday many musical highlights alternate, from the famous guitar virtuoso Mike Rayburn from the USA, who received standing ovations at all eight of his sold out Carnegie Hall Performances, to Steve Barnett from South Africa, who will excite us with an extraordinary drum workshop. And between it all you will experience a lot of “scherzo grazioso”, inspiring keynotes of speakers who know how to fascinate their audience. For “intermezzo” you can choose from several exciting workshops. Adequate breaks invite you to intensive networking in a “rondo vivace” way.

On Friday evening we invite you to “Adagio” to the Gala-Banquet with the German Speakers Hall of Fame-Awards. There you will also experience the official delivery of the baton to our new president. The gorgeous jazz singer, Claudia Carbo will fire us up with Latin-American rhythms and lead us to further musical highlights. Lubricate your voice!

The “Finale furioso” will be on Sunday. During the post-convention you have the possibility to let the engines scream with hot wheels. If you prefer to take it a bit easier join a guided tour (in English) through the lovely streets of Heidelberg - one of Germany's most beautiful cities. If time permits, you should try to attend one of these activities.

Our desire: connecting seriousness and fun, professionalism and facility, rhythm and beat in order to learn together, to experience and to come to new conclusions. Come to Mannheim, this is where the music plays!