Roger Staves
Monique organized as part of the main celebration of the 10 Year Birthday of the Wadden Sea World Heritage the portion of the Bike tour that took place in the Netherlands. I was on this tour from the beginning to the end in Wilhelmshaven on the 30th of June. She did a great job before the trip working to clear up questions that came up and find a way that I could take my own bike. Her organizational talent was quite apparent during the trip as we met at each station along the way a variety of mayors, selectman, NGOs, even someone representing the Royal Family. It started right from the beginning on the Island on Vlieland because the tour began at the end of a meeting of the Wadden Sea Board on Vlieland! What better way to start the tour and on top of that we toured a few portions of the trip with members of the environmental ministry which I thought was great.
Monique was always good for some adventure as well: for example as we drove off the beach in a huge high wheeled truck which was to take us to the dock where we were to meet the ship to take us to Texel. She didn't tell us that the dock was out in the Wadden Sea Flats which at that time was covered with water. Quite impressive and was great for getting discussions going with the tourists who were also on the truck who asked what we were doing. There were countless interesting meetings along the way organized to fit our tight time schedule with precision. Rental bikes for the others were arranged, super accommadations and meals were organized and she showed her flexibility when she had to get special bikes when some persons joined our tour (because you never was 100% sure who would be joining the tour) who were definitely not bikers decided to join the tour. On top she was partly responsible for the PR of the trip. At the end she certainly had earned her vacation!
