E M T C  N E T W O R K

  By using its network of 13 leading environmental management training institutions and more than 100 environmental training professionals across Central and Eastern Europe, the EMTC Network and its members assist the region's stakeholders, including national and local governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and the public, to identify and effectively address their environmental training needs.

  In 1997, the REC and the EMTC Network are pursuing major international training projects, including the following:

• In June the REC hosted a Training of Trainers course entitled "How to Manage an Environmental Organization." The module was developed by the USEPA, and it was the first opportunity for the workshop to be delivered on site. The evaluation and outcome of this course will amend the module material and will be further used throughout USEPA global training activities (see article Cooking up successful projects).
• Soon after the June course, a regional training needs assessment meeting was held to track and update the training needs of Central and Eastern Europe so that the EMTC network can meet such needs. The following needs were identified, some of which have been already identified in the past: lobbying, working with media, fund-raising, Internet access, strategic planning, risk assessment, hazardous waste, sustainable development, water and tourism issues.

  To enhance its operations, the EMTC Network is offering the following products and services to its members:

• "Training, Management, Funding" - these monthly information sheets dealing with relevant aspects of training, management and funding contain a wide range of practical ideas and suggestions with the aim of providing environmental training professionals with practical advice which is brief, to-the-point and can be used immediately.
• Insight - this quarterly newsletter provides features, interviews and columns on environmental training, trends, institutions, techniques and new developments in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Internet services - this expanded version of a service provides the most pertinent information on the EMTC Network. For more information see http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/EMTC/EMTCNetwork.html.

  How can you make the best use of your membership?

• Take part in projects. Participate in our international training projects. Make the most of your training expertise and gain international experience. To find out about the opportunities, write to us about your expertise and inquire about new and upcoming projects.
• Try out the ideas. The information you will find each month in your mailbox is meant to be used rather than read. Scan it for ideas try them in your practice.
• Turn the ideas into your own. Do not feel that you have to follow the suggestions to the letter - try them out in your own way. Find out how they best work for you.
• Let us know how you are getting on. Are you interested in learning how your colleagues throughout Central and Eastern Europe have been using the ideas? So are they! Write to us about your successes and we will be delighted to add your ideas and comments to the next issue of the Forum (with due acknowledgement, of course). Similarly, if you would like to share things that went hopelessly wrong for you, we shall be pleased to include them in the next Forum issue (with due anonymity, if you wish).

If you would like to enjoy the benefits of being a member of the EMTC Network, please write to: The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, EMTC Network, Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000 Szentendre, Hungary, Tel: (36-26) 504-000, Fax: (36-26) 311-294