Dear WG II colleagues,

As you prepare to travel to NYC for WG II, just a reminder that we will aim to hold the SDG for this meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6:15 p.m., right after the close of the second session.  The Vienna in-person SDG was a smashing success -- thanks to everyone here (and others who may not be on the email list) for your contributions! 

No doubt that the NY session of the SDG will be equally successful but the NY venue poses two challenges:  location and residual drinks.  While I don't think we were kicked out of the hallway location during WG II, we were not so lucky during WG V or the Commission meeting itself.  If the weather were going to be nicer, we could perhaps hold the SDG where we eventually did in the summer for the Commission -- at a lovely picnic area further away from the main building on the UN grounds.  As of now, though, my weather app is predicting 50% chance of rain and a high of 6 C/42 F, which might be fine and balmy for Canadian and Nordic delegations but perhaps less so for the rest of us!  🙂  So, stay tuned for where we will meet - hopefully we will have a breakout room that we can use and create a kind of "speakeasy" vibe!  

The second challenge is residual or leftover drinks.  Before, we could give Kiesha all of our leftovers because she lived in the area.  Kiesha has now been succeeded by her colleague, Mike Coffee, who lives in DC, and like me, probably doesn't have enough room in his luggage to bring everything home.  Also, unlike Vienna, we can't leave half-drunk liquor bottles at UNHQ.  So, although certainly not required, you might want to consider bringing a slightly smaller size bottle for your contribution if you are bringing spirits, unless you know from past experience that your contribution is never left over, like Gustaf's excellent whiskey, to name one such popular contribution!  Of course, Itai might also step up as co-chair and offer to drink anything that is left over, so perhaps that might inspire you to bring a bigger rather than smaller size!  🙂

As a reminder, all contributions are welcome -- alcoholic or non-alcoholic, liquid or solid (i.e., snacks) -- and as participants we must all commit to do our best to leave no contribution behind!  

If there is someone who is not on the list who should be, please feel free to add them or forward the invitation!  

See you all next week! 

Best,

Karin and Itai (WG II SDG co-chairs)