FIG General Assembly
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Minutes
32nd General Assembly
4 and 8 May 2009 in
Eilat, Israel
FIG 32nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MINUTES
of the meetings to be held in the Big Blue Hall
at the Dan Eilat Hotel, Eilat, Israel
on 4 and 8 May 2009
Introduction
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Changes after the minutes have been distributed to the member
associations:
- No changes or additional files
List of Minutes Items
Monday, 4 May, 09:00-12:00 and 13:30-15:00
-
OPENING PROCEEDINGS
-
ROLL CALL
-
APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
-
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
-
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 31st GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
-
MEMBERSHIP
-
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
-
CHANGES IN THE FIG COUNCIL AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
-
HONORARY MEMBER
-
ELECTION OF COMMISSION CHAIR ELECT FOR
COMMISSION 8 AND 10 FOR 2009-2010
-
REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT
INSTITUTIONS
-
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION
-
REPORTS OF CURRENT TASK FORCES
-
NEW TASK FORCE ON SPATIALLY ENABLED SOCIETIES
-
NEW FIG AFRICA TASK FORCE 2009-2014
-
YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK
-
CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
WORLD BANK
-
LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL
ORGANISATIONS
-
CHANGES TO THE FIG INTERNAL RULES
-
FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2008 AND AUDITOR’S REPORT,
AND BUDGET FOR 2009, 2010 AND 2011
-
SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2010
-
ELECTION OF COMMISSION 8 CHAIR ELECT 2009-2010
-
COMMISSION REPORTS
Friday, 8 May, 9:00-11:00 - Presidents’ Meeting (by invitation
only)
-
PRESIDENTS’ MEETING
Friday, 8 May, 11:30–12:30
-
ROLL CALL
-
MEMBERSHIP
-
REPORTS ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE FIG CORPORATE
MEMBERS, FIG FOUNDATION AND YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK
-
DECISION ON THE VENUE OF THE FIG WORKING WEEK
2013
-
7th FIG REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN HANOI, VIETNAM,
19-22 OCTOBER 2009
-
REPORT THE CONGRESS 2010 IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA,
11-16 APRIL 2010
-
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
MINUTES
First Session, Monday 4 May 09:00-12:00 and 13:30-15:00
Big Blue Hall, Dan Eilat Hotel
1. OPENING PROCEEDINGS
President Stig Enemark opened the 32nd General Assembly and welcomed
the members and delegates to Eilat, Israel.
Noted that several greetings and apologies were received from member
associations, other members, Honorary Presidents Dr. Juha Talvitie and
Prof. Holger Magel and several Honorary Members who were no able to
attend the General Assembly this time. Apologies were also recorded from Vice
Presidents Dr. Dalal S. Alnaggar and Mr. Teo CheeHai who were also
unable to participate.
2. ROLL CALL
Vice President Matt Higgins took the roll call. The roll call was made
only for member associations and affiliate members. Delegates representing
academic members, corporate members and correspondents as well as honorary
presidents and honorary members were entered in the records based on their
registrations to Mr. John Neel, the new General Manager of FIG at the
meeting venue.
Recorded that based on the decision of the General Assembly in 2006
only those member associations that had paid all their membership fees to the
end of 2008 are allowed to vote at the meeting. A list of member associations
that are not allowed to vote was published on the FIG web site as per 30 April
2009.
Appendix to items 2 & 25:
Roll Call (139 kB)
37 member associations out of 99 were present at this session, which is more
than one third of the membership needed for the General Assembly to be
constitutionally valid. 35 member associations were allowed to vote.
Motion: That present members are recorded in the minutes.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
3. APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
Motion: The General Assembly shall appoint two persons as tellers
following the principle adopted at the 22nd General Assembly so that the
tellers will represent member associations hosting the preceding (the
Swedish Association of Chartered Surveyors, SLF – from 1.1.2009 ASPECT –
Association for Chartered Surveying, Property Evaluation and Transactions)
and the current General Assembly (the Association of Licensed Surveyors in
Israel, ALSI). That the General Assembly appoints Ms. Cecilia Lindén
from ASPECT and Mr. Yoav Tal from ALSI as a teller for the two
sessions of the General Assembly.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Motion: That the agenda be adopted.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 30th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Minutes have been circulated previously. The Council did not have any
follow-up issues rising from the minutes that needed to be discussed with
the General Assembly. The members had neither raised any issues on the
minutes prior the meeting.
Appendix to item 5: Minutes of the
General Assembly in Stockholm, Sweden, June 2008
Minutes of the General Assembly in
Stockholm, Sweden, June 2008 without appendices, pdf-format. (171 kB)
Motion: That the minutes be adopted as recorded.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
6. MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Acceptance of new members
6.1.1 Association des Géomètres Experts du Niger (AGEN)
Association des Géomètres Experts du Niger (AGEN) (Association of Niger
Surveyors) has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG
from Niger. The association has been constituted in January 2006 by a law on the
order of surveyors. The association has currently 50 members. The application
meets the criteria for membership in FIG as a member association. The Council
has considered the application and believes that the association meets criteria
for membership of FIG as a member association.
Appendix to item 6.1.1:
Membership application from the Association des Géomètres Experts du Niger
(AGEN) (710 kb)
Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Association des Géomètres
Experts du Niger (AGEN) to become a member association of FIG.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
6.2 Other membership issues
Affiliates
Nepal was expelled from FIG affiliate membership in Stockholm because of
unpaid membership fees. After the meeting Survey Department, Government of Nepal
wanted to restore the membership after changes in the structure of the Nepalese
government and has paid most of the arrears. The Council has therefore restored
the affiliate membership the Survey Department, Government of Nepal.
After this change the number of affiliate members is 28.
Corporate members
The Council has admitted the following three companies to become a Corporate
Member of FIG:
The number of corporate members is now 36.
Academic members
The Council has admitted the following six universities and institutions to
become an academic member:
- Institute of Land Administration, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia
- School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University,
United Kingdom
- Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine Authority
- National Research Institute of Astronomy & Geophysics, Egypt
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Mapping and Geo-Information
Engineering, Israel
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Topography Department of the Civil
Engineer Institute, Mexico
The Council has decided to expel following academic members because their
membership fees are more than two years in arrears. This list has been updated
based on the payments and information given during the General Assembly.
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Faculty of Agronomy, Guatemala
- Ferris State University, Surveying Engineering, USA
The number of Academic Members after these changes is 83.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council
has taken with other membership matters.
Decision: The motion was adopted. Dr. Yerach Doytsher from
Israel Institute of Technology, Mapping and Geo-Information Engineering was
given the membership certificate for Technion, Israel.
7. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The President has prepared a report on the activities of the President and
the Council between the General Assembly in Stockholm and Eilat.
The President gave a presentation on the Role of FIG in contribution to
professional development and the global agenda. This presentation is available
on the FIG web site as a PowerPoint presentation for members to use in
explaining the role of FIG to their members and partners. The presentation can
be downloaded from:
www.fig.net/admin/images/fig_general_president_may_2009.ppt.
Appendix to item 7:
President’s report (116 kB)
Appendix to minutes’ item 7:
Role of FIG in
contribution to professional development and the global agenda. Handouts of the
presentation given by President Stig Enemark (1.5 MB)
Appendix to minutes’ item 7:
Role of FIG in
contribution to professional development and the global agenda. Powerpoint
presentation for the use of members to be used for explaining the FIG and its
role for their members (6.5 MB)
Motion: That the General Assembly accepts the President’s report.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
8. CHANGES IN THE FIG COUNCIL AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS
The General Assembly elected Mr. Iain Greenway from United Kingdom and
Mr. Teo CheeHai for a Vice President of FIG for 2009-2012. At the same
time the term of office of Mr. Ken Allred from Canada and Prof. Paul
van der Molen from the Netherlands finished at the end of 2008.
The Council has agreed on responsibilities of the Council members after the
new Vice Presidents Teo CheeHai and Iain Greenway took the office
1 January 2009. The revised list of responsibilities responds to the
professional qualifications of the Council members as well as to their regional
distribution.
Appendix to item 8:
Responsibilities of Council
members 2009-2010 (92 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly records it thanks to Mr. Ken
Allred and Prof. Paul van der Molen for the services that they have
provided for the Federation over many years as Council members. That the General
Assembly further records the new Vice Presidents and records that they have
received their FIG officer badge at the Council meeting in February 2009. That
the General Assembly further endorses the list of responsibilities for the
Council members for 2009-2010.
Decision: The motion was adopted. The General Assembly also expressed
its thanks with acclamation to Mr. Ken Allred and Prof. Paul van der
Molen who was present at the meeting.
9. HONORARY MEMBER
The Canadian Institute of Geomatics has proposed to the Council that Mr.
Ken Allred would be awarded with the Honorary Membership of FIG. Ken Allred
is an immediate past Vice President of FIG (2005-2008) and has been active in
FIG for more than 25 years. In addition following contributions from Ken Allred
to FIG should be mentioned:
- Commission 1 Chair 1994-1998 and Vice Chair 1990 – 1994
- Canadian delegate on FIG Commission 1 - Professional Practice from 1981
until 2005
- Member of the organizing committee for the FIG Symposium on the Decision
Maker and LIS in Edmonton in 1984
- Member on the FIG Task Forces on the Exchange of Surveying Personnel; on
Constituting Professional Associations; and on Cultures and Languages
- Chair of the Task Force on FIG Governance Structure
- Director of the FIG Foundation (2005-2008)
- regular attendee at FIG congresses since 1977 to which he has presented
numerous papers and participated in various workshops.
Appendix to item 9: The
nomination letter from the Canadian Institute of Geomatics and
CV of Mr. Ken Allred (127
kB and 31 kB)
According to the Statutes paragraph 3.1.7 "an individual who has
materially assisted the development and promotion of the surveying profession at
the international level can be appointed as an honorary member. Nomination for
this appointment shall be made by a member association or the Council, which
will consider it and submit it to a vote of the General Assembly."
The Council has considered the proposal and decided to propose to the General
Assembly that it appoints Mr. Ken Allred as an Honorary Member of the Federation
for the outstanding services he has provided to the Federation in different
positions and functions.
Mr. Daniel Roberge made a presentation on the appointment to the
General Assembly on behalf of CIG.
Motion: That the General Assembly appoints Mr. Ken Allred an
Honorary Member of FIG.
Decision: The General Assembly appointed Mr. Ken Allred as an
Honorary Member of FIG with acclamation. Mr. Allred will be presented his badge
with silver oak leaves and certificate of Honorary Membership by the CIG in
Canada.
10. ELECTION OF COMMISSION CHAIR ELECT FOR COMMISSION 8 AND
10 FOR 2009-2010
According to the FIG Statutes and Internal Rules the General Assembly
appoints Commission Chairs Elect at its meeting two years prior to the Congress.
These Chairs Elect will then automatically become Chairs of the Commissions for
the next term of office. At the meeting in Stockholm all other Chairs Elect were
appointed except Commission 8 and 10.
The Council has asked for nominations for candidates to these two
commissions. For Commission 8 two nominations were received:
- Mr. Wafula Nabutola, Kenya (ISK)
- Dr. Richard Sliuzas, the Netherlands (GIN)
Appendix to item 10 and 22: Nomination templates of candidates to
Commission 8 Chairs Elect for 2009-2010:
The Council has evaluated the nominations and considers that both candidates
are well qualified to chair Commission 8 in the future and thus decided to
propose to the General Assembly that it makes the election between these two
candidates.
At the first session of the General Assembly Prof. Paul van der Molen,
GIN introduced Dr. Sliuzas and Mr. Mwenda Makathima, Chairman of ISK
introduced Mr. Nabutola for the General Assembly. The election will take place
at the end of the first session of the General Assembly.
As there are no nominations for Commission 10, the Council has decided that
it will propose to the General Assembly in Sydney that Commission 10 will be
terminated unless there will be a candidate by the end December 2009. In the
case that Commission 10 will be closed, its activities will be moved to
appropriate Commission(s) as to be agreed with ACCO and decided by the General
Assembly.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the presentations and decides
to make the election at the end of the first session of the General Assembly on
the 4th May 2009.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
11. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS
11.1 International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office
International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF
Prof. Paul van der Molen, Director of OICRF has prepared a report on
the OICRF activities since the General Assembly in Stockholm. He made a short
subsequent oral report at the General Assembly.
Appendix to item 11.1: Report
from the International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International
du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF (145 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report and records its
thanks to the Director and the members of the permanent institution for their
past year’s work.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
11.2 International Institution for the History of Surveying and
Measurement, Permanent Institution of FIG
Mr. Jan de Graeve, President of the IIHSM and Mr. Jim Smith,
Secretary of IIHSM have prepared a report on the IIHSM activities since the
General Assembly in Stockholm.
An FIG Publication on the IIHMS and its achievements is under preparation and
is expected to be launched during 2009.
Appendix to item 11.2: Report
from the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement,
Permanent Institution of FIG (93 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report and records its
thanks to the Director and the members of the permanent institution for their
past year’s work.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
12. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION
Mr. John Hohol, President of the FIG Foundation has prepared a report
on the FIG Foundation activities from June 2008 to February 2009. He made a
subsequent oral report at the General Assembly focussing on the grants and new
scholarship programme of the FIG Foundation.
The FIG Council has appointed Mr. Warwick Watkins from Australia as a
new Director in the Board of Directors for 2009-2010 after Ken Allred’s
term of office in the Council and in the Board was concluded at the end of 2008.
The new Council representative in the Board of Directors is Vice President
Iain Greenway.
Appendix to item 12: Report of
the FIG Foundation activities June 2008 – February 2009 (186 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report of the President
of the FIG Foundation and records its thanks to the President and members of the
Board of Directors of the FIG Foundation for their past year’s work. That the
General Assembly records its thanks to Ken Allred as Director in the FIG
Foundation and endorses the appointment of Warwick Watkins as new
Director for 2009-2010.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
13. REPORTS OF CURRENT TASK FORCES
At the moment FIG has two Task Forces: 1) Institutional and Organisational
Development, chaired by Iain Greenway; and 2) Developing Global Land
Tools for Pro Poor Land Management, chaired by Paul van der Molen
(including the FIG/UN-HABITAT co-operation in Global Land Tool Network and
developing Social Tenure Domain Model).
Iain Greenway has prepared a report on the progress of the Task Force on
Institutional and Organisational Development. He made an oral presentation at
the meeting.
Appendix to item 13:
Report on the Task Force on Institutional and Organisational Development
(128 kB)
Appendix to minutes’ item 13:
Handouts of Iain Greenway’s
presentation on the Task Force on Institutional and Organisational Development
(130 kB)
The tasks of the Task Force on Developing Global Land Tools for Pro Poor Land
Management (www.fig.net/tf/landtools/index.htm)
have in fact been taken over by the President because of change in the policies
of UN-HABITAT. The FIG activities with UN-HABITAT are now concentrated in the
Global Land Tool Network where President Enemark is representing FIG in
the International Advisory Board and in the project on Social Tenure Domain
Model. The President reports on these under agenda item Co-operation with the
United Nations.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the reports and its thanks
to the Chairs of the Task Forces and their members.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
14. NEW TASK FORCE ON SPATIALLY ENABLED SOCIETIES
The Council has decided in February 2009 to establish a new short term Task
Force with the aim to explore the issue of Spatially Enabled Societies (SES)
from a cadastral and surveyor’s point of view. Dr. Daniel Steudler from
Switzerland has been appointed to chair this task force with following members:
Dr. Abbas Rajabifard (President elect of GSDI), Kari Strande
(Norway), and Teo CheeHai (Vice President, Malaysia). The results of the
Task Force will be published in a report that will be launched at the FIG
Congress 2010.
Dr. Daniel Steudler presented the task force at the General Assembly.
Appendix to item 14: Terms of
Reference for the FIG Task Force on Spatially Enabled Societies (131 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the establishment of the FIG
Task Force on Spatially Enabled Societies and endorses its terms of reference.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
15. NEW FIG AFRICA TASK FORCE 2009-2014
The Council established in February 2009 a new FIG Africa Task Force for the
term of office 2009-2014. The Task Force focus is on the African Surveying
Profession and how it can best contribute to meet the key challenges of poverty
alleviation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. The key purpose
is to enable the surveying profession in Sub Saharan Africa to deal with social
responsibility in terms of contributing to achieving the MDGs. The Council
appointed Dr. Diane Dumashie, current Chair of FIG Commission 8, United
Kingdom, to chair this Task Force. Members of the Task Force will include key
persons anticipated to be representatives from East, South, Central and Western
African countries.
Dr. Diane Dumashie made a presentation on the Africa Task Force for the
General Assembly.
Appendix to item 15:
Terms of Reference for the FIG Africa Task Force (100 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the establishment of the FIG
Africa Task Force for 2009-2014 and endorses its terms of reference.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
16. YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK
The Young Surveyors Working Group under Commission 1 has made a good progress
and achieved great results at the Working Week in Stockholm in June 2008
including special programme for students and young surveyors and speed
mentoring. Some of these activities were proposed to be included as permanent
components in future FIG events. The Council decided in February 2009 to give
the Young Surveyors Working Group a more visible role on the FIG agenda and
therefore established the Young Surveyors Network. The Network would give the
group more independency and recognises its cross commission nature. Formally the
Network will stay as a working group under Commission 1 in the same way as the
Standards Network has today. The Council also recognised that to develop the
work of the Young Surveyors Network to more professional and consistent level
some financial support will be needed. This can be partly arranged through the
proposed special reserves in the budget, but it is equally important to get the
member associations to understand their role and responsibility in this respect.
Appendix to item 16: Terms of
Reference of the Young Surveyors Network (151 kB)
Appendix to minutes’ item 16:
Handouts of Cecilia Lindén’s presentation on the Young Surveyors Network
(424 kB)
Ms. Cecilia Lindén as chair of the Young Surveyors Network made a
presentation on the network activities for the General Assembly. The President
expressed his wish to the member associations that they support young surveyors
to participate the network and also to appoint young surveyors in the board of
national associations.
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the establishment of the
Young Surveyors Network and endorses its terms of reference and the appointment
of Ms. Cecilia Lindén from Sweden as the chair of the Network until the
end of 2010.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
17. CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD BANK
As part of the Work Plan 2007-2010 the Council has established the UN Liaison
Committee – FIG Responses to the Millennium Development Goals to coordinate
co-operation with the United Nations and the World Bank. The Liaison Committee
is chaired by the President. The Council appointed in February 2009 Prof.
Paul van der Molen, the Netherlands, as the FIG Liaison Ambassador for the
United Nations for 2009-2010.
President and the Liaison Committee have prepared a report on the
co-operation between FIG and the United Nations including the World Bank since
the General Assembly in Stockholm.
The main issues in the co-operation with the United Nations and the World
Bank during this period have been:
- Attendance to the 4th World Urban Forum organised by UN-HABITAT in
Nanjing, China, 4-8 November 2008 including the meetings of the Global Land
Tools Network
- Co-operation with UN FAO including the joint FIG/FAO/CNG International
Symposium in Verona, Italy, 9-10 September 2008
- The Joint FIG/World Bank International Conference on Land Governance in
Support of the Millennium Development Goals: Responding to New Challenges,
Washington DC, USA, 9-10 March 2009
- Participation to the work of the International Committee on Global
Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG)
Appendix to item 17: Report
on the co-operation between FIG and the United Nations and the World Bank
(144 kB)
President Stig Enemark made a presentation on the United Nations
activities to the General Assembly.
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report on the
co-operation between FIG and the United Nations, its agencies and the World Bank
and records its thanks to the members of the Liaison Committee and all those who
have contributed to this co-operation.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
18. LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The Joint Board of Spatial Information Societies JB-GIS was formally
established during the FIG Working Week in Cairo in 2005 and meets annually
during a major conference. The meeting of JB-GIS in 2008 was held in conjunction
to the XXI ISPRS Congress in Beijing, China in July 2008. The meeting included
some fruitful information on current activities and discussions on future
cooperation and collaboration between the organisations. A key issue was
development of the Geographic Information Knowledge Network (GIK Network) that
is a huge common project led by GSDI to serve the global geographic information
community at large. The goal of this facility is to enhance communications and
sharing among geospatial specialists and organisations from all nations. Another
key project is about establishing an ad hoc committee on Risk and Disaster
Management.
FIG has further bilateral agreements of co-operation with several other
international associations like ISM, IFHP, CIB, ION, ICEC, FIABCI and IFHS. Some
of the partners are also working together in the Habitat Professionals Forum.
President Stig Enemark has been acting as Chairperson of the Habitat
Professionals Forum until the end of 2008 when the chairmanship was moved over
to the President of IFHP.
FIG is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and working
together with ISO and International Valuation Standards Committee (IVSC) on
standards.
President Stig Enemark made a presentation on the co-operation with partner
professional associations welcoming partner association representatives to the
Working Week: President Orhan Altan, ISPRS, President Bas Kok,
GSDI and President Henning Elmstroem, CLGE.
Motion: That the General Assembly confirms the report on the liaison
with other international associations.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
19. CHANGES TO THE FIG INTERNAL RULES
The FIG General Assembly endorsed the FIG Statutes and Internal Rules in
Stockholm in June 2008. After the meeting geosuisse from Switzerland has sent
the Council a letter proposing two changes to the FIG internal rules related to
nominations for elections. These proposals are: 1) Candidate shall decide
clearly for which function he/she will apply and to omit multiple choice
applications; 2) Same association should not lead more than one commission at
the same time.
The Council has considered these proposals and decided to propose to the
General Assembly to add a new Internal Rule 9.4 § and to change Internal Rules
11.4 § and 11.8 § that take into account the proposals of geosuisse. In addition
to the geosuisse’s proposal the Council decision includes a change into the
Internal Rules so that it will not be possible for a current Commission Chair or
Chair Elect to stand up as a candidate for the Council or other position in the
Federation so that the terms of office would overlap.
Appendix to item 19:
Changes to Internal Rules
(96 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly approves the proposed new Internal
Rule 9.4§ and proposed changes to Internal Rules 11.4 § and 11.8 §.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
20. FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2008 AND AUDITOR’S REPORT, AND BUDGET
FOR 2009, 2010 AND 2011
Vice President Iain Greenway and General Manager John Neel have
prepared a report on the FIG Financial Issues. Iain Greenway will present the
report to the General Assembly. This report includes summary of 2008 accounts,
an updated budget for 2009 and proposals for budgets 2010-11 with notes.
The Auditors Report includes the auditors report from 2008, official accounts
(income statement 2008) and balance sheet 31 December 2008.
Appendix to item 20: Report
on Financial Issues (including 2008 accounts and budgets 2009-2011) (148 kB)
Annexes:
Appendix to minutes’ item 20:
Handouts of Iain Greenway’s
presentation on finances (1.3 MB)
In the discussion Mr. Steven Nystrom (Appraisal Institute, USA)
expressed thanks to Iain Greenway for the finances and improved reporting
system. He asked about the impact of the finance crises on the FIG finances in
2009. Iain Greenway confirmed that the arrears at the end of April are lower
than in 2008.
Mr. Steve Jackson (ICES, United Kingdom) asked about the investment
policies. It was confirmed that all investments are in cash deposits using Euro
and Danish crone.
Mr. Michael Doran (RICS, United Kingdom) asked about the principles in
determining bad year in subscription terms. Iain Greenway explained that the
Council will consider this carefully and this is why the review will be made
biennial basis.
Honorary President Robert Foster, USA expressed his thanks on the
improved finance situation and reporting and raised the issue whether an
internal auditing system from the General Assembly could be considered. The
Council will consider this when it discusses the finance reporting system next
time. At the time the official auditing system has been considered to be
sufficient together with the reporting on the reserves to the General Assembly.
Motion: That the General Assembly approves following motions from the
finance report:
- changes to the financial reporting template, presented as Annex 20B
- creation of general and specific reserves for FIG, as described in
section 5 of the finance report (including commission reserves; office
development activities; support for very poor member associations; support
for Task Forces; and activities with young surveyors
- that the General Reserve will be managed by the Council in the range
90-100% of regular annual expenditure, and that Council will review this
range every two years (when agreeing the work plan for each new Council, and
at the mid-term review of the work plan.
That the General Assembly adopts the audited accounts for 2008 and budgets
for 2009–2011.
Decision: The General Assembly adopted
- the audited accounts for 2008 as presented;
- changes to financial reporting template;
- creation of general and specific reserves for FIG and their management
as proposed; and
- budgets for 2009-2011 as proposed (after confirmation of subscription
rates).
21. SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2010
The General Assembly has to set levels of fees for member associations two
years in advance of the year in which they become payable. Fees are payable in
respect of each individual member up to a maximum of 4,000 members; member
associations with more than 4,000 members are paying fees in accordance with a
sliding scale. Membership fees have been discussed as part of the finance
report, appendix to item 20.
The 2008 General Assembly approved membership fees for 2010 as follows:
|
Per capita fee |
Minimum fee |
Maximum fee |
2009 |
4.18 € per member up to a maximum of 4,000 members.
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.09 €
per member up to a maximum of 4,000 members. |
200 € |
136 per cent of the fee payable by an association
with 4,000 members |
2010 |
4.30 € per member up to a maximum of 4,000 members
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.15 €
member up to a maximum of 4,000 members. |
200 € |
139 per cent of the fee payable by an association
with 4,000 members (equal to 5,440 members). |
The World Bank lists of the low-income economies and the
lower-middle-income economies are available at the
World Bank web site.
On consideration of the table above, and in light of comments by a number of
(small and large) member associations, the Council proposes two structural
changes:
- To fix the sliding maximum scale for subscriptions at 5,500 members from
2010;
- To reduce the minimum number of members used in calculating the
subscription to 20, and the minimum annual subscription to €50 (whichever of
the two figures is the greater). This is to address particular concerns
raised by some African countries.
In addition, the Council has reflected on the size of the FIG reserve, and
the current financial situation. The Council believes that the finances of the
Federation are healthy enough to freeze 2010 subscriptions at 2009 levels.
Recognising the impacts of the current economic situation on all members,
Council therefore proposes that the General Assembly amend the subscription
rates for member associations for 2010, and sets 2011 subscriptions as in the
table below:
|
Per capita fee |
Minimum fee |
Maximum fee |
2009 |
4.18 € per member up to a maximum of 4,000 members.
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.09 €
per member up to a maximum of 4,000 members. |
200 € |
136 per cent of the fee payable by an association
with 4,000 members |
2010 |
4.18 € per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members.
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.09 €
per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members. |
20 members or 50 € (whichever is greater) |
5,500 members (22,290 €) |
2011 |
4.30 € per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.15 €
member up to a maximum of 5,500 members. |
20
members or 50 € (whichever is greater) |
5,500 members (23,650 €) |
The Council intends to follow the same principle of freezing 2010
subscriptions at 2009 levels when setting subscription levels for other
categories of members.
The Council proposes to the General Assembly to increase membership fees for
member associations for 2011 with 2.9 per cent to 4.30 € per member from 2010.
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts following membership fees
payable by member associations in 2010 and 2011:
|
Per capita fee |
Minimum fee |
Maximum fee |
2010 |
4.18 € per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members.
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.09 €
per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members.
|
20 members or 50 € (whichever is greater) |
5,500 members (22,290 €) |
2011 |
4.30 €
per member up to a maximum of 5,500 members
Member associations from countries listed by the World Bank as
low-income economies or lower-middle-income economies shall pay 2.15 €
member up to a maximum of 5,500 members. |
20
members or 50 € (whichever is greater) |
5,500 members (23,650 €) |
Decision: The motion was adopted.
22. ELECTION OF COMMISSION 8 CHAIR ELECT 2009-2010
The General Assembly has listened to the presentations of the two candidates
for the position of Commission 8 Chairs Elect earlier at this session. The
election will take place in this session. The term of office of the elected
Chair Elect will be 4.5.2009-31.12.2010. Under normal circumstances the Chair
Elect will be automatically elected as Chair of his Commission for the term of
office 1.1.2011-31.12.2014. According to the Internal Rules the election takes
place with blind ballots.
The election takes place between following candidates:
- Mr. Wafula Nabutola, Kenya (ISK)
- Dr. Richard Sliuzas, the Netherlands (GIN)
Appendix to item 10 and 22: Nomination templates of candidates to
Commission 8 Chairs Elect for 2009-2010:
Motion: That the General Assembly elects the Chair Elect to Commission
8.
Decision: At the election 35 votes were given. Mr. Wafula Nabutola
got 24 votes and Dr. Richard Sliuzas 11 votes, so Wafula Nabutola from
ISK, Kenya was appointed to Chair Elect of Commission 8 for period
4.5.2009-31.12.2010.
23. COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice President Matt Higgins, Chair of ACCO made an introduction
presentation on behalf of the ACCO on the Commission activities and on results
of the ACCO meeting that was held in Eilat 3 May 2009. In his presentation he
raised a few questions that were discussed with the FIG members at the meeting.
At the General Assembly more than one hour was reserved for a podium discussion
with Commission chairs. The discussion was chaired by Matt Higgins. Each
Commission presented one topic on Commission highlights and one on its future
challenges.
Each Commission Chair has submitted a written report on their Commission
activities since the FIG Working Week in Stockholm. These reports include
progress reports of the Commission working groups. Each Commission will hold an
annual or other meeting during the Working Week in Eilat.
Appendices to item 23: Commission reports:
Appendix to minutes’ item 23:
Handouts of Matt Higgins’s
presentation on the Commission activities (170 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the reports of the Commission
chairs and records its thanks to the chairs and other officers of the
Commissions for their past year’s work. That the General Assembly endorses
following changes in the Commission work plans and Working Groups:
- Commission 1: David Martin will take the position as Chair of the
FIG Standards Network during 2009
- Commission 1: Young Surveyors Working Group will be turned to Young
Surveyors Network and will be chaired by Cecilia Lindén to the end of
2010
- Commission 9: Dieter Kertscher from Germany has taken over the
chair in Working Group 9.5 – GIS-analyses in Real Estate Market Analyses and
Valuation
- Commission 10: New chair is sought for Working Group 10.2 – Commercial
Management
That the General Assembly records the discussion with the Commission Chairs
at the ACCO podium discussion and gives the follow-up action to the Council and
ACCO.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
Presidents’ Meeting, Friday 8 May, 9:00-11:00,
Tarshish Hall, Dan Eilat Hotel
24. PRESIDENTS' MEETING
Totally 36 people attended this Presidents’ Meeting out of which 28 were
Presidents or leaders of delegations. At the meeting relations between
member associations and FIG were discussed as well as experiences from the
FIG Working Week 2009. A separate memorandum of this meeting is circulated
to the participants of the meeting and to the Presidents of member
associations.
Appendix to item 24:
Invitation to Presidents of
FIG member associations (70 kB)
Appendix to minutes' item 24:
Memo of the Presidents'
meeting (189 kB)
Second Session, Friday 8 May, 11:30 - 12:30
Big Blue Hall, Dan Eilat Hotel
25. ROLL CALL
Vice President Matt Higgins took the roll call. The roll call was made
only for member associations and affiliate members. To shorten the roll call it
was made based on the list of attendees from the first session of the General
Assembly. Delegates representing academic members, corporate members and
correspondents as well as honorary presidents and honorary members were entered
in the records based on their registrations to John Neel, the new General
Manager of FIG at the meeting venue.
Recorded that based on the decision of the General Assembly in 2006
only those member associations that had paid all their membership fees to the
end of 2008 are allowed to vote at the meeting. A list of member associations
that are not allowed to vote was published on the FIG web site as per 30 April
2009.
30 member associations out of 99 were present at this session.
Noted that the General Assembly has appointed Ms. Cecilia Lindén
from ASPECT, Sweden and Mr. Yoav Tal from ALSI, Israel as tellers to this
session of the General Assembly.
Appendix to items 2 & 25:
Roll Call
(139 kB)
Motion: That present members are recorded in the minutes.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
26. MEMBERSHIP
The Council wants to inform the General Assembly that the list of academic
members has been updated based on the information received during the week and
on onsite payments. The changes have been included in the minutes.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the situation with membership
issues.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
27. REPORTS ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE FIG CORPORATE MEMBERS,
FIG FOUNDATION AND YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK
Co-operation with the FIG Corporate Members
A traditional meeting for FIG Corporate Members was held on Wednesday 6 May.
At the meeting the continuous support from the corporate members was recorded. A
proposal to create a more flexible partnership model for the corporate members
has been discussed and is under preparation. This will include more tailor-made
and longer term options as well as increased benefits especially to platinum
level corporate members.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report and records its
thanks to Peter Normann Hansen, FIG Ambassador for Corporate Members.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
FIG Foundation
President John Hohol, FIG Foundation reported on the Foundation
meeting and introduced the first two scholarships that the Foundation had given
to attend the Working Week in Eilat. These were given to Mr. Habtemicael
Weldegiorgis, Eritrea who also made a short speech at the meeting and to Dr.
Jayanta Kumar Ghosh from India.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
Young Surveyors Network
Chair Cecilia Lindén, Young Surveyors Network, made a presentation on
the activities of the Young Surveyors Network.
Appendix to minutes’ item 27:
Handouts of Cecilia Lindén’s presentation on the Young Surveyors Network
(444 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
28. DECISION ON THE VENUE OF THE FIG WORKING WEEK 2013
According to the statutes the venue of the FIG Working Weeks and Congresses
will be decided four years prior the event. For hosting the FIG Working Week
2013 the only bid received was made by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
(NIS). NIS proposes to organise the FIG Working Week 2013 in Abuja, the capital
city of Nigeria. FIG General Assembly has been organised earlier in Ibadan,
Nigeria in 1976, when the PC Meeting was for the first time held in Africa.
In the NIS’s bid it is stated that NIS shall be hosting the Working Week in
co-operation with all FIG accredited member organisations in Nigeria. All the
relevant Federal Government of Nigeria Ministries/Para-statals such as
Presidency, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Housing, Tourism, Federal Capital
Territory, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surveyors Council
of Nigeria, Oil & Gas Multinational Companies, etc. are to partake in sponsoring
the Working Week.
The Council has considered the proposal and made the conclusion the NIS is
well prepared and able to host the Working Week. It is also on of the most
active member associations to attend and contribute to the FIG conferences. The
Council further stated that meeting and other facilities in Abuja will satisfy
the needs of FIG and its meeting requirements. The Council however stated the
NIS’s bid requires some clarifications so that it will fit to the concept of FIG
Working Weeks, and guarantees right split of responsibilities between FIG and
NIS. The Council is working on these open issues, so that a preliminary
agreement on the arrangements can be signed in Eilat before the final decision
will be made by the General Assembly.
Mr. Alabo C. D. Charles, NIS Vice President for International Affairs
will make the presentation on behalf of NIS at the meeting.
Appendix to item 28: Bid from
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors to host FIG Working Week 2013 (645 kB)
Appendix to minutes’ item 28:
Handouts of Mr. Alabo D. C. Charles’s presentation on the Nigerian Institution
of Surveyors bid to host FIG Working Week 2013 (7.5 MB)
Motion: That the General Assembly decides to adopt the bid from the
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors to host the Working Week 2013 jointly with FIG
in Abuja, Nigeria.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
29. 7th FIG REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN HANOI, VIETNAM, 19-22
OCTOBER 2009
The 7th FIG Regional Conference will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam 19-22 October
2009. It will be organised jointly by the Viet Nam Association of Geodesy,
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and FIG. Representatives of VGCR will give the
General Assembly a report on the arrangements of the Regional Conference. The
conference web site: www.fig.net/vietnam.
Presentation on the 7th Regional Conference was given at the General Assembly
on behalf of VGCR.
Appendix to minutes’ item 29:
Handouts of presentation on the 7th FIG Regional Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam,
19-22 October 2009 (236 kB)
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report for information.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
30. REPORT THE CONGRESS 2010 IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 11-16
APRIL 2010
Mr. Warwick Watkins, Surveyor General of New South Wales gave the
General Assembly a report on the preparations of the next FIG Congress to be
held in Sydney, Australia, 11-16 April 2010. Conference web site:
www.fig2010.com.
Appendix to minutes’ item 30:
Handouts of Warwick Watkins’s presentation on FIG 2010 in Sydney, Australia,
11-16 April 2010 (3.3 MB)
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report for information.
Decision: The motion was adopted. The President thanked Warwick
Watkins for the presentation and welcomed all members to Sydney for the
spectacular venue and congress.
31. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
President Stig Enemark presented at the closing ceremony certificates
of appreciation to members of the local organising committee of the XXXII FIG
General Assembly and FIG Working Week 2009 and to other persons that had
actively participated in the arrangements of the successful Working Week.
Special thanks were recorded to the Association of Land Surveyors in Israel,
ALSI and its President Joseph Kraus and to Survey of Israel and its
Director General Dr. Haim Srebro, Congress Director FIG Working Week
2009.
CLOSING CEREMONY
The President formally closed the 32nd General Assembly of FIG.
At the closing ceremony the FIG banner was handed over by Mr. Joseph Kraus,
President of ALSI and Dr. Haim Srebro, Conference Director to Mr.
Warwick Watkins and Mr. Craig Sandy from the Organising Committee of
FIG Congress 2010. The FIG Congress 2010 will be held in Sydney, Australia 11-16
April 2010.
Data supplied by the FIG Office.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this data is
accurate errors might exist. Requests for updates and corrections should be
emailed to
the FIG Office.
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