Conference information 2014
Conference fee and membership fee
The conference fee is 520 € (early registration fee before 15 March is 490 €) and it includes the personal ECIC membership fee. If you are the institutional delegate of your organization, please add 25 € for the institutional membership.
In order to enable a stronger local participation, there is the option to participate at a reduced rate without accomodation (285 €) or to join only on Tuesday (90 €).
Pay by bank transfer to:
Account name: ECIC Finland
BIC: NDEAFIHH
IBAN: FI271228 3000 0062 78
Bank name: Nordea Finland
Bank Address: Helsinki, Pakilantie 54
Remember to mention the name(s) of the conference participants in the transfer information.
The fee includes full board and accommodation as well as the conference program Monday afternoon, 2 June until lunch on Thursday, 5 June.
In case of cancellation, the participant will bear all costs caused by the cancellation. You may send a substitute to take your place instead.
Please also remember to fill in the registration form.
Arrival and Departure
The conference venue is the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches at Bossey, Switzerland: http://bossey.ch/en/find-bossey
If you arrive by plane , we recommend that you coordinate via the ECIC Facebook group in order to share a taxi (cost: approx. 80 CHF). Make sure to inform the taxi driver that your destination is the Château de Bossey located near Nyon as there is another place called Bossey nearby in France. Information about Geneva airport: www.gva.ch
If you arrive by train , the nearest stations are Nyon and Coppet. You can enter the bus stop “Céligny, Village” in the Swiss rail timetable search mask to get a bus connection to the nearby village. If you contact the Ecumenical Institute Bossey ahead of time, they will be able to arrange a pick-up service from the bus stop (only between 8am-5pm; cost: 15CHF).
If you arrive by car , please download the map and instructions (pdf).
Please note that lunch on Monday, 2 June is not included in the conference fee. If you arrive early and wish to eat at the venue, please inform the Ecumenical Institute Bossey by email.
Language
The language of the conference is English.
The local language in Geneva is French, but you can communicate with reception staff at the venue in English or German as well.
Electricity
Switzerland has 230v electricity. The sockets are compatible with some European two-pin plugs (type C), but for others you will need an adapter:
Currency
Switzerland is not part of the Eurozone, even though some restaurants and shops will accept Euro bills (at a less advantageous exchange rate than you would get from a bank). There are cash points at Geneva airport.
Visa / entry requirements for Switzerland
Switzerland is part of the Schengen area. Citizens of the European Economic Area member states (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) therefore do not need a visa to come to the conference. Please see the website of the Swiss government for more information. Please note that ECIC cannot provide assistance with visa issues for residents of non-European countries.
Things to do in Geneva
The conference program includes an excursion to Geneva on Wednesday, but the limited time will not permit to visit the city's numerous museums and exhibitions on that day. If you decide to extend your stay, here are some ideas for you:
- CERN: the world's largest particle physics laboratory and the birthplace of the World Wide Web
- Palais des Nations: 100,000 visitors each year tour the United Nations offices in Geneva, formerly the headquarters of the League of Nations.
- International Museum of the Reformation: the museum, which won the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2007, retraces the history of the movement that spread in part from Geneva during the 16th century.
- Saint-Pierre Cathedral: enjoy the view over the Old Town from its towers and explore the large archeological site underneath.
- Maison Tavel: Free entry, just next to the cathedral; don't miss the big relief map on the top floor, created by a Genevan architect in 1888-96 to portray the city before the destruction of its fortifications.
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum: newly reopened in 2013, the museum introduces you to the movement initiated by Henry Dunant, one of Geneva's most famous sons.
- From 30 May - 1 June, Geneva will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Swiss confederate troops landing in Geneva's harbour to guarantee safety in the aftermath of Napoleon's rule. More information in French.
For more information, please visit the website of the Geneva tourism agency.
If you wish to stay on at the Ecumenical Institute for additional nights, please contact the Bossey reception directly. However, if you are not travelling with your own car, you may want to consider moving into a hotel in Geneva itself for easier access to sites and transportation.
