VVM

Vereniging van Milieuprofessionals

President: Mr Jaap Jelle Feenstra
CEO: Mrs Rachel Heijne

Address:
Vereniging van MilieuProfessionals
Postbus 2195
5202 CD 's-Hertogenbosch
Netherlands
Website: http://www.vvm.info/

Contact:
Mrs Linda van Duivenbode
Strandwal 81
2241 MJ Wassenaar
Netherlands
Phone: +31 70 4040100
Fax: +31 73 621 69 85
Email: bureau@vvm.info

ABOUT THE NETHERLANDS ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS

OBJECTIVES
By integrating the various professional specialities and views on the environment, the Netherlands Association of Environmental Professionals (VVM) wants to give new impetus to the development of environmental policy to the solution of environmental problems. Independence, quality and opportunities for discussion are prominent within the scope of activities in which the association is enrolled.
The association stimulates the co-operation between individuals and institutions that work in the field of environment. The same is true for the development of environmentology as an interdisciplinary science. Next to it, the association looks after the interests of the group of the Netherlands environmental professionals in the field of education and labour market questions.

MEMBERS
The VVM is a fast-growing network of policymakers in the civil service, industry, executives, professionals, academics and trainees. The professional background of the members is rather divers: the VVM is the home base for, amongst others, lawyers, planners, public administrators, toxicologists, environmental technologists, biologists and civil engineers. The Association has about 2000 members.

ORGANISATION
The Association has a General Board, consisting of eleven members. The Board convenes six times a year. The composition of the Board is so, that all mayor fields of the environment and working fields are represented. The Board prepares the policy of the Association and guards the financial and managerial activities of the Association.
The President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer together form the Executive Board of the Association.
The office responds to inquiries, maintains the members and financial administration, liaisons with the Board, supports with managerial and substantive contributions the activities of VVM and maintains the VVM-network.

SECTIONS
The VVM has established 18 sections, dedicated to Waste; Soil; Sustainable Development; Energy; Ethics; Safety; Noise and Vibrations; Health; Environmental Quality; Air and Climate Change; Communication; Environmental Impact Assessment; Education and Employability; Environmental Strategy; Innovaton and Management Systems; Licences and Enforcement; Traffic and Transport; Science
Each section brings together a group of members with the same thematic interests. Each section has an extensive network of relations at its disposal. The sections organise on a regular basis thematic days, symposia and discussion-evenings on current environmental issues.

ACTIVITIES
The VVM organises a broad spectrum of activities to stimulate the discussions amongst environmental professionals and to generate new impulses. The VVM wants to enhance the networks amongst the people in their professional field. The VVM organises yearly numerous discussion and study gatherings, symposia, excursions, training sessions and of course the big Annual Association Conference. These gatherings are an excellent way to meet environmental professionals from various professions and divers specialities. Where possible gatherings are organised in collaboration with other organisations. This fits very well in the vision of the VVM to integrate perceptions.

PUBLICATIONS
Milieu, the VVM-members periodical, is issued eight times a year and is of a size of 48 pages in Dutch. Apart from association news, Milieu contains opinion-forming articles on topical issues, with opportunities for challenging points-of-view. Milieu is a periodical by and for environmental professionals.
The member’s list is issued on a yearly basis. It contains all the relevant information on the association and its members. The list supports the individuals' network. The corporate members are mentioned in a separate overview of institutions.

DISCOUNTS
The members of VVM obtain discount on all activities, organised by VVM. The same applies to activities, organised in collaboration with other organisations. On top of that, VVM members eligible for discount on some important periodicals in the field of environmental policy.

BECOMING A MEMBER
The VVM has regular members, student-members, pensioners and corporate memders. The annual membership-fee for regular members is 85 euro; for student-members and graduates up to 25 years of age 25 euro and for pensioners 55 euro. These prices are valid for 2008. Subscription fees are reviewed annually. If you are interested in joining the VVM, contact our secretariat.