Volcanic Ash May Weigh on European Economy

via The New York Times

By JACK EWING

FRANKFURT — The past weekend was definitely not a good time to be a Kenyan flower grower, an Israeli avocado farmer, a package tour operator or anyone else trying to run a business that depends on air transport to or from Europe.

Consider TUI, the largest travel operator in Germany. With all the country’s airports closed because of the danger posed by a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland, the company, based in Hanover, had to take extraordinary — and costly — steps to bring customers back from Mediterranean vacations.

Late Saturday, TUI flew 540 of its customers from the Spanish island of Mallorca to Barcelona. After staying overnight in hotels paid for by TUI, the vacationers boarded a dozen buses for a 20-hour trip to Frankfurt. From there they continued home by train.

Economists have begun considering when, and to what extent, the extra costs sustained by companies like TUI — not to mention the airlines — will start to damage Europe’s already shaky economy.

Most say the effects will not be catastrophic if the skies clear soon.

There were signs of hope Sunday as airports in Frankfurt, Berlin and some other European cities reopened on a restricted basis, at least temporarily.

But a longer spell of airport closures — or intermittent disruptions in the coming weeks and months as the volcano continues to erupt and winds carry the ash to Europe — could start to take a toll.

“Given that the recovery of the euro-area economy is anyway so weak, it might have an impact,” Daniel Gros, director of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels, wrote in an e-mail message.

While most economists are not predicting that the volcano will push Europe back into recession, there is a risk of unexpected consequences that could amplify the economic damage.

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Attaboy!!! The Un-Comfort Zone

THE UN-COMFORT ZONE with Robert Wilson

Seventeen years ago, I became the president of my community association. It was a lively organization with scores of activist members who were busy gentrifying an inner city neighborhood. One of my responsibilities was to deliver a monthly speech and conduct a formal meeting with a loud and raucous crowd.

Over the course of my two year stint, I always spoke from behind the lectern with my hands firmly attached to the sides in a white knuckle grip as I read from my notes. When my term ended, I felt that I might have been a more effective leader if I had some real speaking skills, and if I wasn’t so afraid of being in front of an audience.

So, I joined a Toastmaster’s club and began my training as a public speaker. A year later, I had completed ten speeches and the basic program, but I was still firmly attached to both the lectern and my notes. My mentors encouraged me to work without notes and to move away from the lectern. “At least stand to one side of it!” they cajoled. But I was not about to leave my comfort zone. I was plenty uncomfortable just giving a speech. Besides no one could see my legs shaking behind the lectern.

Then the club held a speech contest. A humorous speaking contest. Now, I can tell jokes, so I was game! Four of us entered the competition, and I managed to win the third place ribbon without venturing an inch beyond the safety of the lectern. I can’t recall who placed second, but I’ll never forget the winner. Les Satterfield talked about an airplane flight and he soared about the room with his arms spread wide and the audience roared in laughter at his comic yarn. Later on, as I watched him receive his shiny gold statuette for First Place, I knew I had to have one. I was motivated... but not quite enough.

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Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a motivational speaker and humorist. He works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert's programs please visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com