text:
Personalia and visits
Global Surveyors' Day
Permanent Institutions
FIG Members
Honorary Presidents
Honorary Ambassadors
Peer Review Journal
Articles about FIG
UNGGIM-Geospatial Societies (JB-GIS)
Regional and Cultural Partners
FIG Foundation
FIG Working Week 2020
Previous FIG Conferences
About FIG
FIG in Brief
FIG Office
FIG General Assembly
37th General Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
16 and 21 June 2014
This is the programme for the General Assembly. Click here to see the FIG Congress 2014 web site.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Conference Hall 2
General Assembly, First Session
Tuesday, 17 June – Friday, 20 June 2014
FIG 2014 Congress
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (and Impiana Hotel), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
www.fig.net/fig2014
Tuesday 17 June – Thursday 19 June 2014
FIG 2014 Congress Exhibition
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tuesday–Wednesday
17-18 June 08:00-09:00
KLCC (See programme for individual rooms) Annual Meetings of FIG Commissions and Networks
09:00-10:45 and
R402,
KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
FIG Member Associations Forum
These two sessions were reserved for Presidents or Heads of delegation (or their representatives) of member associations to discuss issue of their common interest. President of PEJUTA chaired the meeting.
11.00–14.00 (including lunch on site)
Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Meeting point at KLCC
Carbon Offset Programme – Let's Meet & Green Special
This event was reserved for Presidents or Heads of delegation (or their representative) to plant trees as part of the carbon offset program for the Congress. Participation by invitation only and complimentary.
Presidents' Meeting
FIG Presidents' Meeting
This event was convened by the FIG President and reserved for Presidents or Heads of delegation of Member Associations (or their representatives)
Attendance by invitation only
KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ballroom 1, KLCC General Assembly, Second Session including Closing Ceremony
Closing ceremony commenced immediately after the conclusion of the General Assembly and was followed by the Farewell Reception hosted by the Chamber of Graduated Surveyors, Bulgaria, host of FIG Working Week 2015.
FIG 37th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
for the meetings held on Monday 16 June 2014 in Conference Hall 2 and on Saturday 21 June 2014 in Ballroom 1 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In addition to .htm-format these minutes and appendices are published as .pdf files.
To download the minutes in Acrobat format please click here:
Minutes as circulated to the members in July 2014 as Adobe Acrobat version (32 pages)
To download a full set of minutes including all appendices that were not included in the agenda papers in Acrobat format please click here:
Full set of Minutes (250pages - 15.3 MB) Note: Notes from the Presidents' meeting is not included in this set.
Agenda for FIG XXXVII General Assembly 2014
The individual appendix files can be downloaded below under each item in Acrobat format.
List of Minutes Items
Monday, 16 June, 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00
OPENING PROCEEDINGS
APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 36th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY MEMBERS
FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2013 AND AUDITOR'S REPORT AND BUDGETS 2014-2017
SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2016
AMENDMENT TO STATUTES AND INTERNAL RULES
REPORTS FROM FIG COMMISSIONS AND FIG NETWORKS 2013-2014
REPORTS OF TASK FORCES 2013-2014
REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS 2013-2014
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION 2013-2014
CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD BANK
LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT FOR 2015-2018 – PRESENTATION BY CANDIDATE
ELECTION OF TWO VICE PRESIDENTS FOR 2015-2018 – PRESENTATION BY CANDIDATES
DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2017 FIG WORKING WEEK – PRESENTATION BY CANDIDATES
DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2018 FIG CONGRESS – PRESENTATION BY CANDIDATE
Friday, 10 May, 8:30-10:30 – Presidents' Meeting (by invitation only)
Friday, 10 May, 11:00–12:30 and 13:30-15:00
DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2017 FIG WORKING WEEK
DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2018 FIG CONGRESS
APPOINTMENTS OF COMMISSION CHAIRS 2015-2018
ELECTION OF TWO VICE PRESIDENTS FOR 2015-2018
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT 2015-2018
REPORTS FROM AFFILIATE, ACADEMIC AND CORPORATE MEMBERS FORUM (IF ANY)
REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, NETWORKS (by Chairs Elects), AND TASK FORCES (IF ANY)
REPORTS FROM PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS (IF ANY)
REPORT FROM FIG FOUNDATION (IF ANY)
REPORT ON THE WORKING WEEK 2016 IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
REPORT ON THE FIG WORKING WEEK 2015, SOFIA, BULGARIA
OTHER MATTERS (WITH PRIOR NOTICE GIVEN TO COUNCIL)
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
Conference Hall 2, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center
1. OPENING PROCEEDINGS
President CheeHai Teo opened the 37th General Assembly and welcomed all members to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to the current council's final General Assembly with a short address.
The President expressed his gratitude to members and delegates for their participation and acknowledged the efforts of AALSM, the local organising committee and FIG Office towards a successful Congress with over 2500 participants from almost 100 countries.
The President expressed condolences and the general assembly observed a moment of silence in memory of Honorary President Karl-Olof Ternryd, Sweden, who passed away July 2013.
The President welcomed three Honorary Presidents: Juha Talvitie, Robert Foster and Stig Enemark and two Honorary Members: Paul van der Molen and Helge Onsrud to the meeting.
2. ROLL CALL
Vice President Rudolf Staiger took the roll call. The roll call was done only for member associations. Delegates representing affiliate members, academic members, corporate members and correspondents as well as honorary presidents and honorary members were entered based on their registrations and information given to the FIG Office.
Since only member associations that have paid all their membership fees to the end of 2013 were allowed to vote at the meeting, a list of member associations that were not allowed to vote was published and posted on the FIG web site 15 May 2014.
56 members out of 101 were present at the first session which is more than one third of the membership, the requirement for a quorum for the General Assembly. 53 member associations were allowed to vote.
Appendix to items 2 & 23: Roll Call
Appendix to items 2 & 23: List of member associations that are not allowed to vote at the General Assembly because of unpaid membership fees for 2013 and earlier
Motion: Those members present are recorded in the minutes.
Decision: The motion was adopted.
3. APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
The General Assembly shall appoint two persons as tellers for the entire General Assembly. The tellers will represent member association that hosted the preceding (Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, Nigeria) and the host of the proceeding following General Assembly (Chamber of Graduated Surveyors, CGS, Bulgaria).
Motion: TThat the General Assembly appointed Bern. Omo Akhigbe from NIS and Angel Yanakiev from CGS as tellers for this General Assembly.
4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda for the General Assembly was issued as mandated, on 16 April 2014.
Motion: That the agenda be adopted.
5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 36th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Minutes have been circulated previously.
Appendix to item 5: Minutes of the General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, May 2013
Minutes of the General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, May 2013 without appendices
Motion: That the minutes be adopted as recorded.
6. MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Admittance of new member associations
6.1.1 The Institute of Surveyors, St. Lucia, Inc. ISSL (MA-10123)
The Institute of Surveyors (St. Lucia) Inc. ISSL has applied for membership. ISSL was established in 2003. Their total membership (all categories) is 85 and qualified and full members numbered 66. 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 Institute of Surveyors (St. Lucia) Inc. ISSL (application) code of conduct and bye laws
Motion: That the General Assembly admits The Institute of Surveyors, St. Lucia, Inc. ISSL to become a member association of FIG.
Decision: The motion was adopted. Since ISSL was not present their membership certificate will be sent to the association
6.1.2 Botswana Surveying and Mapping Association
Botswana Surveying and Mapping Association was expelled in 2012. FIG office has received a new application from them since they are now ready to be included as FIG member again. They have paid both old arrears as well as 2014 fee. The application for renewal of membership is attached as appendix to agenda item 6.1.
Motion: That the General Assembly reinstate Botswana Surveying and Mapping Association as member association.
Decision/Action: The motion was adopted and the FIG President presented Mr Emmanuel Tembo, representative from Botswana Surveying and Mapping Association the membership certificate.
6.1.3 Ordre des Geometres et Experts Fonciers – Algeria - reinstallment
Ordre des Geometres et Experts Fonciers – Algeria was expelled from FIG at FIG General Assembly 2013. FIG Office has however been in closer contact with the association because they were keen on staying as member of FIG. For over a year they have worked on getting payment to FIG approved. FIG received their membership payment and arrears in June 2014. It was therefore proposed to restore Ordre des Geometres et Experts Fonciers. A new application form is not needed.
Motion: That FIG General Assembly noted the update on the membership of Ordre des Geometres et Experts Fonciers
Decision/Action: The motion was adopted.
6.2 Resignation by member association
6.2.1 Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors has regrettably decided to resign from FIG. FIG Council is thankful that HKIS has cleared all arrears and there are no outstanding dues. FIG looks forward to a time where HKIS will find it fit to rejoin our global community.
Motion: That the General Assembly noted the resignation of HKIS
6.2.2 MA-10052 – The Lithuanian Association of Property Valuers
The Lithuanian Association of Property Valuers has sent a letter to inform that they want to terminate their membership.
Motion: That FIG General Assembly noted the termination of The Lithuanian Association of Property Valuers as a member of FIG.
6.2.3 HARSE, Greece
HARCE, Greece has informed that they want to terminate their membership but will continue their engagement through the other Greek member TCG.
Motion: That FIG General Assembly noted the termination of HARSE, Greece as a member of FIG.
6.3 Expulsion of member associations
Subscriptions of following member associations are more than three years in arrears:
Federación Argentina de Agrimensores FADA, Argentina (MA-10002)
Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico (MA-10069)
Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines are also more than three years in arrears and should also be expelled. However the FIG Council has received a letter from Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines that they will pay their arrears within the following three months.
The General Assembly has powers to expel from the Federation any member association whose fees are in arrears and shall under normal circumstances expel any member association whose fees are three years in arrears. (Article 4.3 of the Statutes). The FIG office has sent a letter to these associations informing that if their membership fees are still in arrears at the time of the General Assembly the General Assembly shall expel the above member associations in Kuala Lumpur.
In accordance with its administrative measures, FIG Council, has deferred the issuance of a membership subscription invoice to the Order of Syrian Engineers and Architects, OSEA as all efforts to maintain contact with them has not yielded results, will deem their membership in suspension giving due consideration to its internal situation. As reported in previous General Assembly, there remain existing sanctions on Iran and Denmark cannot receive payments from Iranian Professional Society of Surveying Engineers (ISS). Again in accordance with its administrative measures, FIG Council deem their membership to be in suspension. Council will reconsider the situation with these associations again in 2015.
After acceptance of new member associations and expulsions the number of FIG member associations is 101 from 88 countries.
Motion: That the General Assembly expels the
That the General Assembly allows Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines until 1 October to pay their arrears and if the arrears are not paid by then they will be expelled at the following council meeting.
6.4 Other membership issues
6.4.1 Affiliate members
The Council has admitted the following national agencies to become affiliate members:
State Committee for Land and Cartography, State Aerogeodesy Corporation, Azerbaijan
Central Office of Immovable Property Registration – IPRO Albania
General Commission for Survey (GCS), General Directorate of Geodesy and Land Survey (GLS), Saudi Arabia.
The council has expelled the following affiliate members because of unpaid membership subscriptions.
Afghan Land Consulting Org. (AF20034)
The council has received information of termination of membership from:
National Geographic Department, Laos
After these changes the number of affiliate members is now 42.
6.4.2 Corporate members
The Council has admitted the following companies as Corporate Members of FIG after the General Assembly in 2013:
MundoGEO, Brazil, (category F, regional level)
The State Enterprise "State Land Cadastre Centre", Ukraine (Category C, silver level)
JKO Surveyors & Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka (category F, regional level)
Thomson Reuters has revised their membership category from category E – basic level to category C silver level.
Following corporate members have resigned from their membership from 1.1.2014:
FARO, Germany (category C –silver level)
ICGC – Institut Cartographic i Geologic de Catalunya
After these changes the number of corporate members is now 22.
6.4.3 Academic members
FIG Council has admitted the following University to become Academic member:
University of Thies, UFR Science of engineering from Senegal
The Council has expelled following universities because of unpaid membership subscriptions:
Zonguldak Karaelmas Univ. Turkey (AC-40111)
The following academic members have resigned their membership:
Fachhochshule Trier, Germany
The number of Academic Members after these changes is 90 from 57 countries.
6.4.4 Correspondents
Council has not made any changes in Correspondent members since General Assembly 2013 and the number of correspondents remains at 3.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council has taken with other membership matters.
7. APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY MEMBERS
Mr. John Hohol
NSPS (formerly ACSM) National Office, United States has sent a nomination letter in which it proposes that FIG appoints Mr John Hohol as an Honorary Member of FIG.
Mr. Iain Greenway
Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors ICES, United Kingdom, has sent a nomination letter in which it proposes that FIG appoints Mr. Iain Greenway as an Honorary Member of FIG.
FIG Council has considered these nominations and considers thatboth applications fulfil the criteria (see criteria at: http://www.fig.net/pub/figpub/pub40/figpub40.htm#Criteria ) for an Honorary Member and therefore proposed to the General Assembly that it appoints Mr John Hohol and Mr Iain Greenway as an Honorary Members of the Federation for the outstanding services both have provided to the Federation. The two candidates were introduced respectively by NSPS and ICES.
Appendix to item 7: The nomination letter from NSPS National Office, United States and from ICES, United Kingdom
Motion: That the General Assembly appoints Mr. John Hohol and Mr. Iain Greenway as Honorary Members of FIG.
Decision: The General Assembly appointed Mr John Hohol and Mr Iain Greenway as Honorary Member of FIG by acclamation. Mr John Hohol was presented his badge with silver oak leaves and Certificate of Honorary Member. As Iain Greenway could not be present, his Certificate and Badge will be presented to him at the next General Assembly.
8. PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President CheeHai Teo has prepared the President's report on the activities of the President and the Council since the General Assembly in Abuja, in May 2013.
Appendix to item 8:
FIG-World Bank Declaration of Fit-for-Purpose 2014
Suva Statement on Spatially Responsible Governance
Presentation hand-outs
Motion: That the General Assembly accepts the President's report.
Decision:The motion was adopted
9. FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2013, AUDITOR'S REPORT AND BUDGETS 2014-2017
Vice President Bruno Razza, responsible for FIG Finances and Office was unfortunately not present. Therefore Vice President Chryssy Potsiou presented the financial report to the General Assembly. This report included the auditors report from 2013, official accounts (income statement 2013) and balance sheet 31 December 2013, a summary of 2013 accounts, an updated budget for 2014 and proposals for budgets 2015-2017 with notes and proposal for membership fees for member associations in 2016.
Appendix to item 09:
Report on Financial Issues (including 2013 accounts and budgets 2014-2017)
Presentation by Vice President Chryssy Potsiou
Annexes:
09A Auditor's Report, Income Statement for 2013 and Balance Sheet at 31 December 2013.
09B FIG Result 2013
09C FIG Budgets 2014-2017
09D List of member associations whose membership fees are in arrears for 2013 and earlier and that are not allowed to vote - published on the FIG web site 15 May 2014.
Motion: That the General Assembly
adopts the audited accounts for 2013,
adopts the Finance Report, and
adopts budgets for 2014–2017
10. SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2016
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 5,500 members. Membership fee structure was changed in 2009. Membership fees have been discussed as part of the finance report, appendix to item 9.
The 2013 General Assembly approved membership fees for 2015 as follows:
Per capita fee Minimum fee Maximum fee
2015 €4.48 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 €2.24 member up to a maximum of 5,500 members. 20 members or €50 (whichever is greater) 5,500 members (€24,640)
The World Bank lists of the low-income economies and the lower-middle-income economies are available at: http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups
Recognising that the level of the 2016 subscription fees is dependent on the strategies of the new council, this Council remains responsible to propose to the General Assembly the level of subscription for 2016. Council has considered that a small rise in subscription might be appropriate given FIG's financial challenges expected over the coming years. Council is however also conscious of the economic condition that members are operating under and in particular member's challenges with their national membership and budgets. Council wishes to respect this as well and believes that the incoming Council and FIG Office will continue to be prudent in its financial management. Council therefore proposes the level of subscription for member associations for 2016 be at the same level as 2015. However, the incoming Council may review its subscription fees strategies for other categories of membership, in the future.
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts following membership fees payable by member associations in 2016:
11. AMENDMENT TO STATUTES AND INTERNAL RULES
Amendments proposed by FIG Council
FIG Council proposed three amendments to the Statutes and Internal Rules for the consideration of the General Assembly. General Assembly was to note that any decision at this first session of the General Assembly to the Statutes and Internal Rules, when adopted, will be implemented at the second session of the General Assembly
FIG Statutes 6.6.
FIG Council proposed to amend item 6.6 of the statutes as follows:
Existing Provisions Proposed Amendments Rationale
A member association may only cast one vote on each issue.
A member association may:
a) cast one vote on each issue provided the member association had in the most recent subscription period an individual membership of 999 or fewer;
b) cast up to three votes on each issue provided the member association had in the most recent subscription period an individual membership of 5,500 or more, and subjected to the maximum subscription for a member association set by the General Assembly ;
c) otherwise cast up to two votes on each issue. The 2012 General Assembly in Rome unanimously adopted the recommendations from the Working Group on Voting Rights that was convened by the 2011 General Assembly in Marrakech that the voting system be changed; that the right to vote remains with members associations; and that a sliding scale of voting, relative to association's membership numbers, be adopted; and that Council prepare and table a proposal (after consultation with the members) to amend Article 6.6 of the FIG Statutes no later than at the 1st session and to be implemented at the 2nd session of the 2014 General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In early 2013, Council prepared and sent out a one-page consultation paper that set out the essentials of Council's recommendation that is reflected in the proposed amendment to Article 6.6 of FIG Statutes. The one-page consultation paper is attached.
Motion: That FIG General Assembly agree to amend FIG Statutes item 6.6 to:
6.6 A member association may:
cast one vote on each issue provided the member association had in the most recent subscription period an individual membership of 999 or fewer;
cast up to three votes on each issue provided the member association had in the most recent subscription period an individual membership of 5,500 or more, and subjected to the maximum subscription for a member association set by the General Assembly ;
otherwise cast up to two votes on each issue.
Decision: The decision was by ballot and 52 votes were casted with 40 votes in favour and 12 votes against. The statute change was adopted and FIG Statutes 6.6 will be implemented at the 2nd Session of the 37th General Assembly.
FIG Statutes 8
FIG Council proposed to amend item 8 of the statutes as follows:
8 Force majeure
In the event of force majeure rendering liaison with the majority of members of the Federation impossible, the Council shall take all measures necessary for the safety of the Federation's funds and its archives and for the custodianship of the Federation; but otherwise all activity of the Federation shall cease until conditions permit activities to be resumed.
If the Council determines that circumstances at the designated venue do not allow the convening of a General Assembly in conformance with these Statutes, the Council will take the steps it considers necessary to continue the work of the Federation, including communicating with the Federation's members. This may include: using postal voting for matters requiring urgent decision (except that of election to office); deferring the business of a General Assembly to the following year's General Assembly; or convening a rearranged meeting of the General Assembly. A rearranged meeting will always be arranged if there is an election to office to be determined. If the Council decides to convene a rearranged meeting of the General Assembly in these circumstances, the timetabling provisions of Statutes 6.1 and 6.2 may be waived.
In the event of force majeure rendering liaison with the majority of members of the Federation impossible, the Council shall take all measures necessary for the safety of the Federation's funds and its archives and for the custodianship of the Federation; but otherwise all activity of the Federation shall cease until conditions permit activities to be resumed. The General Assembly decides four years out the venue of FIG's future General Assembly that is attached to FIG's Working Week and Congress. Council recognized that circumstances at the chosen venue might be impacted by subsequent events and occurrences that do not allow the convening of a General Assembly in a safe and sure circumstances.
The new provision under Item 8.1 allows Council to take the necessary steps to continue the work of the Federation and may include postal voting, deferring the business to the following year or convening a rearranged meeting of the General Assembly. Any election to office must be at a rearranged meeting of the General Assembly and not deferred nor decided by postal vote.
The existing Item 8.1 be renumbered as 8.2
Motion: That FIG General assembly agree to amend FIG Statutes item 8 to:
Decision: The decision was by ballot and 52 votes were casted with 49 votes in favour, 2 votes against and 1 invalid vote. The statute change was adopted.
FIG Internal Rules 13 and 14
FIG Council proposed to amend item 13 and 14 of Internal Rules as follows:
13 Ad Hoc Commissions
13.1 In addition to the commissions, ad hoc commissions may be established by a vote of the General Assembly to carry out special technical assignments, projects or studies, including cross-commission activities. Ad hoc commissions will normally be established for a specified period and disbanded following the acceptance of their reports by the General Assembly. Their composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the Council.
14 Task forces
Task forces may be established by the Council to research and to advise on matters of an administrative or of a general policy nature. They will normally be of short duration and will be concluded on the presentation and acceptance of their reports by the Council and, where necessary, the General Assembly. Their composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the Council. 13 (Blank)
14. Task Forces
Task Forces may be established by the Council to carry out special technical assignments, projects or studies, or to advise on matters of an administrative or general policy nature. They will normally be established for a specified period and disbanded following the acceptance of their reports by the Council and, where necessary, the General Assembly. Their composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the Council. This amendment reflects the fact that recent and current task forces were established to address matters that are more than just administrative or of a general policy nature.
Task forces have been established to consider, research and report on matters that are technical, that are cross cutting as well as emerging issues that are of interest to the profession. They have therefore taken the place of ad hoc commissions, and the proposed deleting of internal rule 13 and amendment of internal rule 14 reflects this.
Motion: That FIG General Assembly agree to amend FIG Internal Rule item no 13 and 14 to:
13 (Blank)
Task Forces may be established by the Council to carry out special technical assignments, projects or studies, or to advise on matters of an administrative or general policy nature. They will normally be established for a specified period and disbanded following the acceptance of their reports by the Council and, where necessary, the General Assembly. Their composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the Council.
Decision: The decision was by ballot and 52 votes were casted with 47 votes in favour and 4 votes against. The statute change was adopted.
FIG Council has received two suggestions to review and amend FIG Statutes and Internal Rules. The first is from Geosuisse and the second from DdL. The suggestions are as follows
Geosuisse, Switzerland – change in the nomination process:
That the nomination process be changed in the following sense:
- No longer the member associations nominate a candidate directly. They can propose candidates to a respective nominating body;
- For Vice-presidents a regional body formed by the regional associations will have the right to nominate candidates. This makes it necessary that a candidate is better known and that every region has a representative. The regional bodies have to check if a candidate is eligible and has sufficient support, also in financial terms;
- For Commission Chairs Elect, the right to nominate should be with the Commissions themselves. They have to evaluate the candidates and to make sure that she/he is able to fulfil the responsibility. The Commissions are the only bodies that have sufficient knowledge of their national delegates and who are able to judge their eligibility. Commissions will discuss with the national association the candidate they wish to nominate.
DdL - Denmark – Term of Office
The term of office, as provided for under FIG Statutes 5.5, for all elected members of the Council is four years subject to the provisions of section 5.6. No individual may serve for more than two consecutive periods on the Council and the term of office of the president is limited to one period of four years. The term of office for the President, Vice Presidents and the ACCO representative starts immediately following their election instead of the current provision, that's on 1st January in the year following their election.
FIG Council sought guidance from the General Assembly and invited Geosuisse and DdL to present their suggestions to the General Assembly. FIG Council also presented their thoughts on the suggestions. Hereafter there was general discussion and deliberations with a number of members weighing in on the suggestions, some speaking for, others against, yet others elaborating and making further suggestions. DdL subsequently withdrew their suggestions and together with GeoSuisse content to allow Council to further consider these suggestions together with the comments from the General Assembly.
Appendix to item 11: Letter from:
Geosuisse, Switzerland
DdL, Denmark
Presentation by DDL
Council comments to the presentations
Motion: That General Assembly provides guidance to the FIG Council on the suggestions forwarded by GeoSuisse and DdL.
Decision: Council to further consider these suggestions together with the comments from the General Assembly and revert to the General Assembly.
12. REPORTS FROM FIG COMMISSIONS AND FIG NETWORKS 2013-2014
Commission Chair, 2011-2014, were required to submit a written report on the Commission activities covering period from Working Week in Abuja to the General Assembly. These reports include reports of the Commission chair and Commission working groups. The reports include also the two FIG networks: Standards Network and Young Surveyors Network.
Each Commission and Network Chair gave a short report on Commission activities to the General Assembly.
Appendices to item 12: Commission reports:
12.01 Commission 1 – hand-outs of presentation
12.10 Commission 10 – hand-outs of presentation
12.11 Standards Network – hand-outs of presentation
12.12 Young Surveyors Network – hand-outs of presentation
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the tabled reports of the Commission and Network Chairs and records its thanks to the chairs and other officers of the Commissions and Networks for their on going contributions.
13. REPORTS OF TASK FORCES 2013-2014
FIG has currently three Task Forces: 1) FIG Africa Task Force (2009 – 2014), chaired by Dr. Diane Dumashie (RICS); 2) Task Force on Surveyors and the Climate Change (2011-2014) chaired by Prof. John Hannah (NZIS); and 3) Task Force on Property and Housing (2011-2014) chaired by Prof. Chryssy Potsiou (TCG/HARSE).
Each Chair gave a short report on activities of the Task Force to the General Assembly.
Appendices to item 13: Task Force reports:
13.1 FIG Africa Task Force (FIG Publication 63) – hand-outs of presentation
13.2 Task Force on Surveyors and the Climate Change – hand-outs of presentation
13.3 Task Force on Property and Housing – hand-outs of presentation
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the tabled reports and records its thanks to the Chairs of the Task Forces and their members for their work and contributions.
14. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS 2013-2014
14.1 International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF
Mr. Christiaan Lemmen, Director of OICRF had prepared a report on the OICRF activities since the General Assembly in Abuja. He made a short report to the General Assembly.
Appendix to item 14.1:
Report from the International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF.
Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report and records its thanks to the members of OICRF for their past year's work and contribution.
14.2 International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement, Permanent Institution of FIG
Mr Jan de Graeve Director of the IIHSM had prepared a report on the IIHSM activities since the General Assembly in Marrakech. Mr John Brock made a short report to the General Assembly on his behalf.
Appendix to item 14.2: Report from the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement, Permanent Institution of FIG.
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 and contribution.
15. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION 2013-2014
Mr. John Hohol, President of the FIG Foundation had prepared a report on the FIG Foundation activities from May 2013to April 2014. He made a short report to the General Assembly.
Report of the FIG Foundation activities 2013-2014
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.
16. CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD BANK
Since the 36th General Assembly, FIG has continued to collaborate with the World Bank and various agencies and structures within the United Nations. The activities with these bodies are in the President's report, appendix to item 8.
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 all those who have contributed to this co-operation.
17. 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 2013 was held in August 2013 where Prof. William Cartwright was retained as Chair for one further year. FIG has collaborative MoUs with a number of the organizations who are part of JB-GIS.
FIG has further bilateral agreements of co-operation with several other international associations like ISM, IFHP, CIB, ION, ICEC, FIABCI, IFHS, PAIGH and PAQS.
FIG is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and working together with ISO and International Valuation Standards Committee (IVSC) on standards. FIG also joined the IPMS (International Property Measurement Standards) Coalition.
Co-operation with international and regional organisations are in President's report, appendix to item 8.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report on the liaison with other international associations.
18. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT FOR 2015-2018 – PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATE
The Council has received one nomination for the post of FIG President: Chryssy Potsiou, Technical Chamber of Greece. The profile template of the candidate is attached to this agenda. In the first session of the General Assembly the candidate will be given time (not more than 5 minutes) to introduce herself and make a presentation focussing on her ideas, goals and agenda for furthering FIG's objects and global stature.
The election, notwithstanding that there is only one candidate, will take place at the second session of the General Assembly by blind votes on Saturday 21 June. 2014
Appendices to item 18 and 29: Nomination templates of candidate to FIG President 1.1.2015-31.12.2018:
Ms Chryssy Potsiou, TCG, Greece
Handouts of presentation
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the presentation of the candidate, make its careful consideration at the election during the second session of the General Assembly on the 21 June.
19. ELECTION OF TWO VICE PRESIDENTS FOR 2015-2018 – PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
The Council has received six nominations for the two posts of FIG Vice President:
Yerach Doytsher, The Association of Licensed Surveyors in Israel;
Diane Dumashie, RICS, United Kingdom;
Kate Fairlie, SSSI, Australia;
John Hannah, NZIS, New Zealand;
Mikael Lilje, Swedish Professionals for the Built Environment, Sweden; and
Rudolf Staiger, DVW, Germany
Council with deep regret accepted Yerach Doytsher's withdrawal of his candidacy. The profile templates of each candidate as well as presentation hand-outs are attached to these minutes. Each candidate introduced her/him and made a presentation focussing on his/her ideas and goals for developing the FIG agenda to the General Assembly.
The elections will take place at the second session of the General Assembly by blind votes on Saturday 21 June, one position at a time.
Appendix to item 19 and 28: Profiles of the candidates for FIG Vice President 1.1.2015-31.12.2018:
Diane Dumashie, RICS, United Kingdom; handouts of presentation
Kate Fairlie, SSSI, Australia; handouts of presentation
John Hannah, NZIS, New Zealand; handouts of presentation
Mikael Lilje, Swedish Professionals for the Built Environment, Sweden; handouts of presentation
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the presentations of the candidates, makes its careful consideration at the elections during the second session of the General Assembly on the 21 June.
20. DECISION OF THE VENUE FOR FIG WORKING WEEK 2017 – PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
The FIG Working Weeks are organised by FIG together with the local member association. FIG will together with the local member association have full responsibility of the arrangements and of the financial result. This offers FIG better opportunities in terms of organising events and generating revenue. Therefore the Council has to ensure that all candidates are aware of the role of FIG and split of responsibilities for organising the Working Week. This General Assembly will decide on the host for the 2017 Working Week.
The FIG Council has received three bids to host the FIG Working Week 2017:
Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) and Finnish Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) with the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) as partner in Helsinki
Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS) in Kathmandu,
Vietnam Association of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing (VGCR) in Hanoi
The Council had prepared a desktop summary on the bids and had also carried out an evaluation together with the FIG Office that was presented at the General Assembly. In the summary report the following considerations, as laid out in the invitation documentation, are described for comparison:
Rotation of the conferences (region);
Country (hosting of earlier FIG events, experience);
Member association (its activeness, commitment to FIG and to FIG 2017, execution ability for local association);
Supporting organisations (local support to the Working Week, governmental support, financial support, general support);
Host city (characteristics and interest from congress programme point of view, host city attractiveness, host city offerings);
Venue (price/affordability, location of venue, internet availability suitability of rooms, size of venue, structure and layout of the venue, catering, value for money, hotels nearby facilities for exhibition);
Accessibility (flight connections, several access possibilities, security, visa issues, air fare to destination);
Safety and security (political stability, airport safety, city safety, political stability in the country - rating must be 3 or higher);
Proposed dates (must meet FIG requirements, Following FIG statutes, practical dates, availability of venue, other conferences at the same time)
Technical programme (coverage of all FIG Commissions, potential partners, originality, special ideas);
Technical tours (coverage of all FIG Commissions, originality, ideas proposed);
Social programme (attractiveness and variety, proposals for dinners, attractiveness of offered dinners, proposals for tours, is the programme following the overall FIG concept);
Attendance (expectation of international, regional and local attendance, realistic number of international and national participants);
Finances (estimate of surplus and financial risks, realistic fees proposed, fees in an acceptable price range, difference between international and national fees, realistic budget, estimated revenue);
Sponsorship (estimate sponsorship and exhibition income, proposed income, how realistic is proposed income, local sponsor offerings, sponsor interest to conference);
Why host (reason for hosting);
Objectives and outcomes (thought through why conference should be held at destination, difference to other destinations, short term outcome, long term outcome);
Suggested theme (thought of possible theme that fits to local/regional situation);
Events organised in the past three years (how experienced is the host in organising events)
Major events planned in the proposed city in 2017 (many events might affect the price level):
Initiatives for sustainable conference environment (is host city, venue and local host paying attention to environmental issues);
New initiatives or activities (originality – but within the overall FIG concept)
What legacy to leave locally from the Working Week (with host, hosting city, for the surveying community)
The summary report will not give a recommendation or a preference to any candidate but it will provide useful information on each items listed above and summarise the pros and cons of each candidate to assist the member association in making their decision. General Assembly must note that, especially in these past years, the issue of security and financial viability has come to the fore. The purpose of the evaluation process is to maintain the continued viability, high standard and quality of the FIG Working Week.
The Council has considered the bids and decided to present all submitted bids to the General Assembly for its decision. The General Assembly was recommended to read the summaries and the bids carefully.
Appendix to item 20 and 25:
Summary Report on the Bids for FIG 2017 Working Week
Bidding documents for FIG 2017 Working Week:
At the session each candidate was given the same time (not more than 10 minutes) to make a presentation of their proposal and framework of the Working Week and their bid. FIG Council presented its evaluation and the impact on FIG on the various bids.
Decision on the venue of FIG 2017 Working Week was made at the second session of the General Assembly on 21 June. The voting will be made by blind votes. If there will be no absolute majority in the first voting for any of the proposals, a second vote will be organised between those two candidates that have most votes.
Presentation by Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) and Finnish Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) with the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) as partner in Helsinki
Presentation by Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS) in Kathmandu,
Presentation (video) by Vietnam Association of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing (VGCR) in Hanoi
Presentation on FIG Council's evaluation
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the submission, the summary report, the presentations and FIG's evaluation of the candidates, makes its careful consideration and decision during the second session of the General Assembly on 21 June.
Decision: The motion was adopted
21. DECISION OF THE VENUE FOR FIG CONGRESS 2018 – PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATE
The FIG Congresses are organised by FIG together with the local member association. FIG will together with the local member association have full responsibility of the arrangements and of the financial result. This offers FIG better opportunities in terms of organising events and generating funds. Therefore the Council has to ensure that any candidates are aware of the role of FIG and split of responsibilities for organising the Congress. This General Assembly will decide on the host for the 2018 Congress.
The FIG Council has received one bid to host the FIG 2018 Congress:
Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadastre Engineers in Istanbul, Turkey
The Council has prepared a desktop summary on the bids and has also carried out an evaluation together with the FIG Office that will be presented at the General Assembly. In the summary report the considerations, as laid out in the invitation documentation, are described for comparison.
The summary report will not give a recommendation but it will provide useful information to assist the member association in making their decision. General Assembly must note that, especially in these past years, the issue of security and financial viability has come to the fore. The purpose of the evaluation process is to maintain the continued viability, high standard and quality of the FIG Congress.
The Council has considered and decided to present this submitted bids to the General Assembly for its decision, notwithstanding that there is only one candidate. The General Assembly is recommended to read the summary and the bid carefully.
Summary Report on the Bid for FIG 2018 Congress
Bidding document for FIG 2018 Congress by the Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadastre Engineers in Istanbul, Turkey
Presentation by Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadastre Engineers
The candidate was given not more than 10 minutes to make a presentation of their proposal and framework of the Congress and their bid. FIG Council will present its evaluation and the impact on FIG. Decision on the venue of FIG 2018 Congress will be made at the second session of the General Assembly on 21 June.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes the submission, the summary report, the presentation and FIG's evaluation of the proposal, makes its careful consideration and decision during the second session of the General Assembly on 21 June.
Friday, 20 June, 16:30-19:00
Tbc, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Presidents' Meeting (by invitation only)
22. FIG PRESIDENT'S MEETING
A memo of the Presidents Meeting will be distributed to all presidents (to be added).
Saturday, 21 June, 09:00–13:00 and 14:00-16:00
Conference Hall, Nicon Luxury
General Assembly, Second Session and Closing Ceremony
23. ROLL CALL
Vice President Rudolf Staiger took the roll call. The roll call was done for member associations only. Delegates representing affiliate members, academic members, corporate members and correspondents as well as honorary presidents and honorary members will be entered in the records but they shall register before the meeting starts the staff of FIG Office. Since only member associations that have paid all their membership fees to the end of 2013 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 15 May 2014. Members who paid their arrears at the General Assembly will also be allowed to vote.
After the roll call, 58 members out of 101 members were present and 56 were allowed to vote with a total of 74 votes in accordance with the amendments to FIG Statutes Item 6.6.
Motion: That present members are recorded in the minutes.
24. MEMBERSHIP
There were no new membership issue to bring before the General Assembly.
Motion: That the General Assembly notes that Council has no new membership issue to bring before the General Assembly.
25. DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2017 FIG WORKING WEEK
Candidates for FIG 2017 Congress have made their presentations in the first session of the General Assembly and FIG Council has presented its evaluation. The decision was made between:
Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) and Finnish Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) with the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) as partner in Helsinki;
Vietnam Association of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing (VGCR) in Hanoi.
The decision took place by blind votes following the FIG statutes and internal rules. If there were no absolute majority in the first round of voting, a second vote will be organised between those two candidates that have most votes.
A total of 73 votes were cast and the results of the ballot was as follows -
Candidate A (Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) and Finnish Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) with the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) as partner in Helsinki): 50 votes
Candidate B (Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS) in Kathmandu): 8 votes; and
Candidate C (Vietnam Association of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing (VGCR) in Hanoi): 15 votes.
Motion: This General Assembly decides the host and venue for FIG 2017 Working Week.
Decision: General Assembly decided that the 2017 FIG Working Week would be co-organized together with the Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) and Finnish Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) with the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) as partner in Helsinki.
26. DECISION ON THE VENUE FOR 2018 FIG CONGRESS
The sole candidate, Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadastre Engineers, for hosting the FIG 2018 Congress in Istanbul, Turkey has made their presentation in the first session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly was to affirm the sole candidate by voting to host the FIG 2018 Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.
A total of 73 votes were cast and the result of the ballot was 72 votes in favour and 1 vote against.
Motion: That the General Assembly decides on the host and venue of FIG 2018 Congress
Decision: General Assembly decided that the 2018 FIG Congress would be co-organized with the Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadastre Engineers in Istanbul, Turkey
27. APPOINTMENTS OF COMMISSION CHAIRS 2015-2018
According to the FIG Statutes and Internal Rules the General Assembly elected Commission Chairs Elect at its General Assembly in 2012 in Rome, Italy. These Chairs Elect will then become Chairs of the Commissions for the next term of office, 2015-2018. Thus the General Assembly shall appoint at this meeting Commission Chairs for the term of office 1.1.2015-31.12.2018. Their respective nominating member associations have reconfirmed all nominated Chairs 2015-2018.
Appendix to item 27: Nomination form from 2012 and reconfirmation by association:
Commission 1: Mr. Brian J. Coutts, NZIS, New Zealand - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 2: Ms. Liza Groenendijk, GIN, Netherlands - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 3: Mr. Enrico Rispoli, CNGeGL, Italy - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 4: Ms. Angela Kesiena Etuonovbe, NIS, Nigeria - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 5: Prof. Volker Schwieger, DVW, Germany - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 6: Dr. Ivo Milev, USLMB, Bulgaria - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 7: Ms. Gerda Schennach, OVG, Austria - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 8: Mr. Kwame Tenadu, GhIS, Ghana - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 9: Prof. Liao Jinping (Patrick), CIREA, China PR - nomination form - confirmation
Commission 10: Mr See Lian Ong, RICS, United Kingdom - nomination form - confirmation
Young Surveyors Network: Ms. Eva-Maria Unger, OVG, Austria - confirmation
Motion: That General Assembly unanimously appoints for term of office 1.1.2015-31.12.2018 as follows:
Commission 1: Mr. Brian J. Coutts, NZIS, New Zealand
Commission 2: Ms. Liza Groenendijk, GIN, Netherlands
Commission 3: Mr. Enrico Rispoli, CNGeGL, Italy
Commission 4: Ms. Angela Kesiena Etuonovbe, NIS, Nigeria
Commission 5: Prof. Volker Schwieger, DVW, Germany
Commission 6: Dr. Ivo Milev, USLMB, Bulgaria
Commission 7: Ms. Gerda Schennach, OVG, Austria
Commission 8: Mr. Kwame Tenadu, GhIS, Ghana
Commission 9: Prof. Liao Jinping (Patrick), CIREA, China PR
Commission 10: Mr See Lian Ong, RICS, United Kingdom
Young Surveyors Network: Ms. Eva-Maria Unger, OVG, Austria
28. ELECTION OF TWO VICE PRESIDENTS FOR 2015-2018
This General Assembly will elect two Vice Presidents for the term of office 1.1.2015-31.12.2018. The election took place between: Diane Dumashie, RICS, United Kingdom; Kate Fairlie, SSSI, Australia; John Hannah, NZIS, New Zealand; Mikael Lilje, Swedish Professionals for the Built Environment, Sweden; and Rudolf Staiger, DVW, Germany.
The elections took place at the second session of the General Assembly by blind votes one position at a time. If there was no absolute majority in the first round of voting, a second vote will be organised between those two candidates that have most votes.
74 votes were cast and the results of the ballot were as follows:
1st Vice President 1st vote:
Candidate A (Diane Dumashie): 19/74
Candidate B ( Kate Fairlie): 7/74
Candidate C (John Hannah): 3/74
Candidate D (Mikael Lilje): 15/74
Candidate E (Rudolf Staiger): 30/74
1st Vice President 2nd vote:
Candidate 1 (Diane Dumashie): 28/74
Candidate 2 (Rudolf Staiger): 46/74
2nd Vice President 1st vote:
Candidate 2 ( Kate Fairlie): 10/74
Candidate 3 (John Hannah): 1/74
Candidate 4 (Mikael Lilje): 24/74
Invalid: 2/74
2nd Vice president 2nd vote:
Candidate B (Mikael Lilje): 35/74
Motion: This General Assembly elects two Vice Presidents for the term 2015-2018.
Decision: The General Assembly elected Rudolf Staiger (DVW, Germany) and Diane Dumashie (RICS, United Kingdom) as Vice Presidents for FIG for the term 2015-2018.
29. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT 2015-2018
General Assembly to affirm the sole candidate, Ms Chryssy Potsiou, nominated by TCG, Greece by ballot. 74 votes were casted and the result was 62 votes in favour, 11 votes against and 1 invalid vote..
Motion: This General Assembly elects a president for the term 2015 – 2018.
Decision: The General Assembly elected Prof. Chryssy Potsiou as President for FIG for the term 2015-2018.
30. REPORTS FROM ASSOCIATION, AFFILIATE, ACADEMIC AND CORPORATE MEMBERS FORUM (IF ANY)
During the congress there was Member Association Forum, the Director General's/Affiliate Members Forum (in cooperation with UN-HABITAT/GLTN), Academic Members Forum (in cooperation with FAO) and Corporate Members Meeting. Brent Jones, ESRI, reported back to the General Assembly from the Corporate Members Meeting and FIG Commission 2 Chair-elect, Ms Liza Groenendijk provided a verbal report for the Academic Members Forum.
In addition, at the Joint FIG/UN-GGIM-AP Technical Sessions on Global Geodetic Reference Frame, a joint Statement was adopted. The UN-GGIM-AP/FIG Statement on Global Geodetic Reference Frame recognized the growing need for an accurate and stable Global Geodetic Reference Frame to support, inter alia, earth observation, including sea level and climate change monitoring, natural hazard and disaster management and a wide range of other activities in public and private sectors throughout the World, contributing towards inclusive social progress, environmental sustainability and economic development.
The Statement was adopted by the UN-GGIM-AP Executive Board at its meeting on 20th June during the XXV FIG Congress and urges -
member states and their representatives within UN-GGIM-AP together with all member states and their representatives at the fourth session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, to support the approval of a draft resolution on Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development, and to submit to the 2013-14 session of the UN General Assembly for final adoption; and
FIG member associations and all other membership groups of FIG, to take appropriate initiatives to inform and encourage the representatives of their respective countries to the fourth session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, to support the approval of the draft resolution on Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development and its submission to the UN General Assembly.
Report from Corporate Members Meeting - Presentation by Brent Jones
UN-GGIM-AP/FIG Statement on Global Geodetic Reference Frame
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report presented and adopts the Statement on Global Geodetic Reference Frame.
Decision: The reports presented were recorded and the General Assembly adopted the UN-GGIM-AP/FIG Statement on Global Geodetic Reference Frame by acclamation.
31. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, NETWORKS AND TASK FORCES (IF ANY)
Commission Officers (ACCO), Commissions, Networks and Task forces had their annual and other administrative meetings in Kuala Lumpur. The incoming commission chairs reported back to the General Assembly on any issues that may need the endorsement of or are of general interest to the General Assembly.
Appendix: Reports from:
Commission 3 – Presentation by Enrico Rispoli
Commission 5 - Presentation by Prof. Volker Schwieger
Commission 9 – Presentation by Prof. JinPing Liao
Young Surveyors Network (video)– Presentation by Eva-Maria Unger
Motion: That the General Assembly records the reports presented.
Decision: The General Assembly recorded the reports
32. REPORTS FROM PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS (IF ANY)
The permanent institutions had various activities during the congress and may report back to the General Assembly on any matters of general interest. IIHSM reported back on its History Symposium that was held Friday 20 June as part of the Congress. IIHSM Director and FIG Honorary Member Jan de Graeve requested General Assembly's concurrence to support on-going effort to accord UNESCO recognition for William Light's Adelaide City Plan, the basis of the founding, development and growth of the city. He also handed over a copy of that plan to FIG.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report presented and considers IIHSM's effort for UNESCO recognition for William Light's Adelaide City Plan.
Decision: The reports presented were recorded and the General Assembly supported IIHSM's request by acclamation
33. REPORT FROM FIG FOUNDATION (IF ANY)
FIG Foundation board held their annual meeting during the Congress. The Foundation organized a special session on how to write a good grant application. FIG foundation had sponsored 8 young surveyors to the congress from various parts of the world. The candidates were selected from applications they had submitted. The participants were introduced to the General Assembly. Part of the support required each of them to present papers including on the future challenges for Young Surveyors at a special session.
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report including the 8 young surveyors sponsored by the Foundation
Decision: The motion was adopted and the General Assembly applauded the efforts of the FIG Foundation in encouraging and supporting young surveyors to be involved in FIG.
34. REPORT ON THE FIG WORKING WEEK 2016 IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
President Jeffrey Needham of NZIS and Simon Ironside, Chair of the Local Organising Committee gave a presentation on preparations of FIG Working Week 2016 that included a video.
Presentation by NZIS
Video on 2016 FIG Working Week
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report.
35. REPORT ON THE FIG WORKING WEEK 2015 IN SOFIA, BULGARIA
President Yanakiev Angel Krumov and Co-Conference Director Zlatan Zlatanov from the Chamber of Graduated Surveyors in Bulgaria gave a presentation on preparations of FIG Working Week 2015.
Video from the FIG Meeting in 1983 in Sofia, Bulgaria
36. OTHER MATTERS (WITH PRIOR NOTICE GIVEN TO COUNCIL)
FIG Council had received a request to table matters that may be of general interest to the General Assembly.
Jean-Yves Pirlot and John Hohol, CLGE and NSPS submitted a request to discuss their joint proposal on an "International Day of the Surveyor". John Hohol introduced the matter and informed that it was changed to "International Week of the Surveyor". The hope is to make this a Week for surveyors globally. The request is for FIG member associations and/or regional structures within FIG to similarly adopt that week in March as the "Week of the Surveyor" and for FIG to work towards an "International Week (or Day) of the Surveyor".
Presentation on Global Surveyors Week
Motion: That the General Assembly records the report and considers the request made by CLGE and NSPS.
Decision: The report presented was recorded and the General Assembly supported the request that FIG do work towards an "International Week (or Day) of the Surveyor by acclamation.
37. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
The President acknowledged all involved in the preparation, organizing and delivery of the XXV FIG Congress including the 37th FIG General Assembly. Certificates of appreciation were handed out including to the Principal Supporters and the four Platinum Sponsors. AALSM President Mohammad Azmi and Co-Congress Director Hasan Jamil accepted certificates of appreciation on behalf of the LoC.
The President presented his closing address that summarized the main outcomes of the XXV FIG Congress as well the four-year Council work plan. In his closing address, the President also announced that FIG has entered into a period of transition, from this current Council to the next, led by President-elect Chryssy Potsiou.
Handouts of the President's Closing Address.
At the closing ceremony the FIG banner was handed over by Mr. Mohammad Azmi Mohd Zin president of AALSM to Mr. Yanakiev Angel Krumov, President of the Chamber of Graduated Surveyors in Bulgaria and Co-Conference Director Zlatan Zlatanov.
The FIG Working Week 2015 will be held in Sofia on 17-21 May 2015.
President CheeHai TEO adjourned the 37th FIG General Assembly at the XXV FIG Congress closing ceremony.
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.
Statutes & Internal Rules
Internal Task Forces
2019-2022 FIG Governance
2015-2018 FIG Commission Structure
2015-2018 Scientific Journal
2015-2018 FIG Corporate Members
2005 FIG Governance Structure
2000-2002 Cultures and Languages in FIG
2000-2002 Review of FIG Commissions
1998 Future Governance of FIG
Subscribe to FIG e-Newsletter Email address: GO
International Federation of Surveyors, FIG
Kalvebod Brygge 31-33
DK-1780 Copenhagen V DENMARK
FIG@fig.net
FIG Publications
Surveyors Reference Library
Article of Month
FIG Congress 2022
All Forthcoming Events
Young Surveyors Network
Capacity Building Network
International Federation of Surveyors, FIG, is a United Nations and World Bank recognized non-governmental organization of national member associations and covers the whole range of professional fields within the global surveying community. It provides an international forum for discussion and development aiming to promote professional practice and standards.
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Welcome to a city church growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We began in the Tolbooth Mission, a sanctuary for homeless men and women on Sunday 27th October 1985. The mission was located only a few minutes stroll from the buzz of the city centre with its shops, cafes and universities.
Soon we had to re-locate and over the next two years we met in a variety of hired halls. Finally we moved into the almost derelict Govan South Town Hall on one of the most run-down areas of the city.
For years we re-built the Town Hall while planting many new congregations around the city.
Tragedy struck on the 5th of August 2002 when workmen, repairing our roof, accidentally caused a fire that totally destroyed our magnificent building. The local congregation was quickly scattered while we closed down all but one of our outreach congregations.
In October 2005 we moved back to Govan and our new building with only eighty people, including children, present. We have grown steadily since then and are becoming once again a significant presence in our city.
Today our emphasis has changed from planting new churches to building a city church reaching out and embracing the city with the love of God and with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Victory Christian Centre is a registered charity in Scotland (SCO07962).


text:
A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star: Rwendigo Tales Book 3 (Rwendigo Tales)
Publisher : New Growth Press
Myhre, J. A.
Paperback FMYHREJAFORESTAFLOODANDANUNL9781945270178 $15.51
Paperback / Single
A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest
Myhre, Jennifer
A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
Lloyd-Jones, Sally
The Gospel-Centered Parent: Study Guide with Leader's Notes
Miller, Rose Marie; Klumpenhower, Jack
What's Up: Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You Really Are (Student Guide)
Klumpenhower, Jack & Harrell, Deborah
On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church
Reju, Deepak
Wise Up: Ten-Minute Family Devotions in Proverbs
"Not disease, poverty, or poachers can quench the determination and courage of young Kusiima, the boy hero in this third Rwendigo tale. But the raging waters of an African flood test the limits of his courage and love, plus how far he must go to find forgiveness and healing. Myhre has gifted us with an epic page-turner set amid todays prevailing challenges for the wonder and the heartbreak that is Africa."
Mindy Belz
Senior editor, World Magazine
"In A Forest a Flood and an Unlikely Star, J. A. Myhre brings the challenges of rural Africa to life through a story of rebels, poaching, disease, and disaster. While it is fiction, it tells of the true hardships we rarely face in our western land of opportunity. Get a copy and read it together as a family and allow the unfolding drama to provoke the kind of substantive discussions we desperately lack in our screen time society."
Marty Machowski
Family Pastor; author of Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God, The Ology, and Dragon Seed
"We must see new worlds to understand our own. We swim in our own language, culture, and history with little awareness of the wounds, heartache, and glory that is birthed out of our own context. But when we see the drama, intrigue, heartache, and courage in the life of another from a radically different world, then our eyes are open not merely to their story, but renewed to look more honestly at our own. Jennifer Myhre is a masterful story teller and a genius at capturing our heart for the characters you will come to love. I was riveted and frightened, enlivened and humbled by her writing. If you consider this a childs story, then it is written with the same allure as the Narnia tales. Most importantly for me, I am asked to enter a broken world and believe that love and courage can turn the tide of greed and cruelty toward redemption. I cant wait to read this new volume with my grandchildren."
Professor of Counseling Psychology and Founding President, The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology
"Having just finished Jennifer Myhres, A Forest, A Flood, and An Unlikely Star, Book 3 in The Rwendigo Tales, several images come to mind (and heart): a non-spin, non-sugarcoated story of redemption, the brokenness and beauty of life in Gods story and world, an intense longing for life in the all-things-new kingdom Jesus has won for us, the hand and heart of God are not always easy to discern, dont minimize or waste your suffering, the disrupting and delivering power of Gods grace. Once again, Jennifer has written with a hand of honesty, wisdom, and grace, and with the heart and art of a women engaged in the doxological drama of redemption. The echoes of Eden, nostalgia for life in the new earth, and riches of the gospel permeate Jennifers life, writing, and work. I cannot recommend her new book, and the whole Rwendigo Tales series, too highly."
Teacher in Residence, West End Community Church, Nashville, TN
"A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star takes the reader on an adventure they will not soon forget. Myhre shows a world you and your kids may not be familiar with and challenges your hearts to open right here at home. Enjoy this exciting read with your kids or by yourselfyou will not be disappointed."
Jessica Thompson
Author; speaker; podcaster
"A Forest, a Flood and an Unlikely Star transported me, moved me, taught me, and entertained me. I know Jennifer wrote this book with older children and teens in mind, but adults, this book should also take the top spot for your next book club pick. Youll discuss family, forgiveness, redemption, and courageall against the breathtaking backdrop of African skies. I loved this book."
Kimberly Stuart
Author of the Heidi Elliott series and Sugar: A Novel
"Dr. Myhre transports us to the lyrical world of the African village. She teaches you to love by entering the world of those who appear to be poor, but are rich in love. What an amazing way to disciple your children with the heart of God."
See Jesus; author of A Loving Life
"What an amazing book! Jennifer Myhre not only tells a beautifully written and compelling African adventure story, but she also deftly incorporates significant social and spiritual issues in the life of a teenage boy. I highly recommend A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star for kids and teens but also for families and school groups to read, enjoy, and discuss together. It is an exciting, engaging, and inspiring book."
Robert A. Fryling
Former publisher of InterVarsity Press; author of The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How You Lead by Who You Are
"A tale through African forests to gorilla lands and ranger rescues. What adventure story could be better than that? The journey of the heart through potential bitterness and sorrow to forgiveness and peace courageously embraced. A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star is a tale well told and well taken to heart."
Pastor; author
Just thirteen-years-old, Kusiima has no time for school, sports, or hanging out with the other boys in his African village. With no father or mother to take care of him, he works long hours to support his grandmother and sickly baby sister. Then one day, Kusiima's life suddenly changes when he travels into a nearby protected forest. In the forest, Kusiima is presented with many choices, all with uncertain outcomes. Should he go along with illegal logging? Help to save an endangered baby gorilla? Follow a donkey to who knows where? With each choice, Kusiima has to make yet another decision about what is right in front of him. As he does, he meets a mysterious doctor who holds the key to his past and his future. In the end, Kusiima is faced with the hardest choice of all. Can he forgive a great wrong and heal a broken relationship?
Readers of all ages won't want to put down this exciting book that addresses current realities like AIDS, malnutrition, and environmental destruction, all set in a richly detailed African adventure story. Following along as Kusiima makes his decisions, readers will find themselves considering their own choices and growing in empathy for others. This action-packed tale of a boy, his sister, and an orphaned gorilla is also a clear call to give up bitterness and forgive deep hurts, restoring broken lives and relationships.
A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star is the third book in the Rwendigo Tale Series and follows Book One, A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest, and Book Two, A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue.
Third book in J. A. Myhre's Rwendigo Tales, an adventure fiction series for kids and teens (A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest and A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue published 2015-16 by New Growth Press)
Captivating illustrations by Acacia Masso, who grew up in east Africa in a missionary family
Gently draws children and teens to the truth of the gospel through a page-turning action & adventure story
Addresses current, but sometimes faraway issues like AIDS, animal poaching, and deforestation as well as relevant and relatable themes such as broken families, loss, and forgiveness
Written by a long-time medical missionary to Africa who handles cross-cultural issues with grace, sensitivity, and love.
What Is the Product for? Addressing real-life, if sometimes faraway, issues like AIDS, malnutrition, orphans, and environmental destruction, A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star raises awareness of the realities facing a majority of the world's children. This action and adventure tale blends magical realism and compelling storytelling with gospel themes to point young readers towards deeper truths. Myhre spins a realistic tale about a part of the world that is underrepresented in children's literature and celebrates the resilience and kindness of some of the world's poorest people, expanding readers' empathy for others with underlying themes of courage and forgiveness.
Who Is the Product for? A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star is written for children and teens who love reading and learning about faraway and different parts of the world, while relating to characters and issues that seem much closer to home. The third book in the Rwendigo Tales series, this book will especially resonate with readers who deal with broken families and relationships, and who need to give voice to their losses but also forgive. Addressing real-life issues such as AIDS, malnutrition and environmental destruction, this action and adventure story appeals to environmentally and socially aware kids, as well as parents, grandparents, and other adults who are hoping to broaden empathy and appreciation for others in children under their care.
Endorsements for A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star: Rwendigo Tales Book 3 (Rwendigo Tales)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Fauci recalls the terrifying early days of the AIDS epidemic
The rush hour traffic was tightening up, but Anthony Fauci, making the short commute from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to his home in Northwest Washington, D.C., wasn't thinking about the flashing brake lights up ahead. Instead, his mind was consumed with strange reports of an unexplained disease among gay men on the other side of the country.
At that moment 40 years ago, no one could have guessed they were witnessing the dawn of a worldwide outbreak that would infect more than 75 million people and kill some 35 million.
The first hint that something ominous was arising came in a little-noticed item in the June 5, 1981 edition of the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Five gay men in Los Angeles had been treated for pneumocystis pneumonia, a rare fungal infection of the lungs caused by a severely weakened immune system. Not mentioned in the report: Two of the men had already died. Another would soon succumb to the infection.
Then came a second MMWR report in early July. Now no fewer than 26 gay men—this time not only in LA, but also in New York and San Francisco—were suffering from both pneumocystis and Kaposi's sarcoma, a lesion-causing cancer of the blood vessels, and other opportunistic infections.
"I got chills up and down my spine," Fauci recalls. "I said to myself, 'Oh, my God, this has to be a new disease.'"
Fauci had only recently been named chief of NIH's Laboratory of Immunoregulation at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Still, he was among the nation's most experienced infectious disease experts, having joined NIH in 1968, right out of his medical residency. But his vast scope of knowledge and experience only made the case more perplexing.
"I kept going over it in my mind," he says, "and the only conclusion I could come up with was that we were dealing with a brand new infection. It was likely a virus, because if it was a bacteria, we could probably see it. Viruses tend to be elusive."
Fauci and his colleagues went with the tentative assumption that this new virus was zoonotic—originally transmitted from animals—because about 75 percent of all infections in humans start out that way. (Their assumption would prove correct.) The first step was to seek out patients who were suffering from the reported symptoms and bring them into the hospital for observation. (Watch Fauci discuss how we can stop pandemics before they begin.)
Nearly a decade after HIV/AIDS first appeared, effective, accessible drug treatments were still elusive. A 1990 demonstration at the National Institutes of Health demanded changes in policy that eventually led to new drug regimens.
Agonizing years
In a world where the COVID-19 virus was identified within weeks of its discovery and effective vaccines were developed within months, it's easy to forget the agonizing years between the emergence of HIV and effective treatment of it. In July 1982, more than a year after HIV's outbreak in the gay community, the CDC reported cases among hemophiliacs, an indication that the disease was blood borne.
A month after that, on September 24, 1982, the CDC applied a name to the new disease: acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In mid-December, CDC reported that infants in New York, New Jersey, and California were showing signs of AIDS. The growing number of cases in the gay community was particularly devastating.
"In mid-1981, we could see things were happening to people around us," says Gregory Ford, an actor and AIDS activist in Washington, D.C. "Some people would suddenly get sick and die of pneumonia. Others would simply disappear from the community."
Around the beginning of 1982, "the terror started," Ford says. "We knew something was happening, but we had no idea how widespread it was…and how devastating it would become."
It was clear the symptoms of AIDS were spreading, but until the virus causing it could be isolated and a screening method developed, doctors could only guess how many people in the general population were walking around with the disease.
The good news: In 1983 the HIV virus was identified, and a screening test was quickly developed. The bad news: Screening tests revealed that AIDS was widespread.
"We were horrified," says Fauci. "We had been dealing with only the tip of the iceberg. There were many, many, many-fold people who were infected who had not yet gotten clinically ill."
Months went by and the global scale of the outbreak became clear. "We realized we were dealing with something not peculiar to the United States," Fauci says. "The Europeans were seeing it, and in fact everything pointed to Africa as the place where it all began."
Although Dr. Anthony Fauci (right) regularly briefed members of President Ronald Reagan's commission on AIDS, he never felt the administration embraced efforts to educate the public and fully fund research.
You can see Fauci, circa 1984, on YouTube addressing an AIDS conference at NIH, where he had recently been named director of the NIAID. His shock of black hair is a little startling, and his Brooklyn accent hadn't yet taken on the warm, gravelly charm of his later years. But Fauci's straight-forward approach—and sometimes perplexing enthusiasm for describing the nature of horrible diseases—was already well-hewn.
"It gives me a great deal of excitement and pleasure to talk about AIDS," he said from the podium, "because it really is one of the…only subjects in all of the subjects that we tackle…where you really have to change your lecture every month because of the extraordinary advances in the evolution of this syndrome."
After 50 minutes of clinical exhortation, Fauci turns to the problem of prevention— the single most divisive element of the AIDS era, during which a large percentage of Americans, including medical professionals, insisted on viewing AIDS as "the gay disease."
Ironically, it was that inaccurate and hurtful label that kept many members of the gay community from trusting mainstream medicine as the crisis spread, according to Ford.
"The fact that they were talking about a 'gay disease' made no sense to me," he says. "If you think a disease is going to confine itself to a particular group of people, I can't trust what you're doing."
As a result, Ford says, a comprehensive self-help network grew within the gay community. Through organizations like ACT Up in New York and Us Helping Us in Washington, D.C., people shared numerous unconventional AIDS treatments, including diet and natural remedies.
"People kept these huge files filled with information about treatments," Ford recalls. "Things like, 'If you're taking one particular treatment, then you also need to take this to counteract the negative effects.' Basically, you were your own science experiment."
As early as his 1984 NIH address, Fauci was already taking note of the gay community's proactive approach to HIV.
"The male homosexual community has responded in the most extraordinary and encouraging way by educating themselves and their brethren about the dangers of certain types of contacts," he said.
One could argue that Fauci should also have spoken about the need for blood-supply screening and contact tracing. In 1984 Marty Keale, the father of a hemophiliac son named Stephen, was invited to a Los Angeles meeting between hemophilia community representatives and gay activists. But this was no friendly confab between allies. Because hemophiliacs at the time used concentrated clotting factor derived from human blood, and because thousands of them were becoming infected with AIDS due to tainted blood donations, relations between the two groups were strained.
"Some people in hemophilia health care had said some things—probably unintentionally—that implied blame on the gay community's part," Keale recalls. "And the gay community was not happy. In fact, they were very angry. We were sitting at this big round table with these people, all glaring at us."
With the help of USC hematologist Edward Gomperts, a leading expert in the field of hemophilia, Keale soothed the raw nerves that day. But even after he moved to Sacramento and became executive director of a regional HIV/AIDS healthcare center, Keale continued to see such confrontations.
"I think guilt played a role," he says. "I was on a community advisory council that helped decide how federal AIDS funds would be spent. It became clear that, gay or not, at that time people tended to feel guilty about having contracted AIDS. And rather than accept that guilt, they had to blame somebody else. Things could get pretty heated."
Left: Waving placard effigies of Reagan era political figures, ACT UP demonstrators shut down the FDA for an entire day in 1988, accusing the Reagan administration of ignoring the AIDS crisis. The group also demanded that experimental AIDS drugs be made available to such vulnerable groups as IV drug users, people of color, and the poor.
Right: While much of the nation's focus was primarily on AIDS patients who were either gay males or hemophiliacs—also overwhelmingly male—women, too, suffered from the disease. A 1990 demonstration "For Women's Lives" at NIH was aimed at righting that discrepancy.
Lonely voices
Despite the agonizing wait for a treatment while tens of thousands died, today Keale still feels confident the NIH was doing all it reasonably could in those early years. Fauci was one of the few government health officials willing to speak about AIDS at all—and especially about the fact that AIDS was much more than an isolated threat.
"This was a massive outbreak," Fauci says. "But in those early years, officials in the Reagan administration were not particularly amenable to going out and speaking about this. They didn't use the bully pulpit of the presidency."
Fauci didn't have the presidency behind him, but he did have the voice of authority and a growing sense of comfort before news cameras. While the Reagan administration remained relatively quiet, he gave one interview after another, pushing for increased research funding and trying to explain the nature of AIDS to the public. After Reagan left office, he says, "I developed very strong relationships with the succeeding Presidents."
The war on AIDS lasted much longer than even Fauci could have imagined. In 1987 the FDA approved AZT to treat AIDS symptoms, even though the drug often caused serious side effects. The early 1990s brought antiretroviral drug treatments—followed by multi-drug therapies, the descendants of which now treat people with HIV with remarkable effectiveness.
"The journey of these past 40 years has been extraordinary," says Fauci. "One of the great successes of biomedical research is the treatment of persons with HIV—and prevention in the form of prophylactic drugs."
Although some recent drugs have claimed isolated HIV "cures," Fauci remains skeptical.
"It's a tough nut to crack," he says. "This virus' ability to integrate itself into the genome cells makes it very difficult to eradicate it from the body. But the good news is we have a single pill that contains three antiretroviral agents that directly act at three different vulnerable parts of the virus' replication cycle. It's been spectacularly successful."
'You were own your own'
For the earliest HIV/AIDS patients, such a well-stocked medicine cabinet was beyond imagination.
Ford and his partner were both diagnosed with HIV in 1987. "People said to us, 'Why even bother to get tested?'" he recalls. "For one thing, there was no treatment. Plus, you couldn't tell anybody except maybe your closest friends. You couldn't tell anyone at work. You sure couldn't tell your insurance company. What was the point? As far as the world was concerned, you were on your own. That was the hardest part."
Ford's partner died in 1989. And for an entire decade after his diagnosis, Ford refused conventional medical treatment, until he finally developed an opportunistic infection. "Even then, my doctor and I had to talk it though for quite a while," he says. "Because I just wasn't going to do it!"
Forty years after HIV made itself known, Ford is still a force on the D.C. arts scene, where he heads a theater company that provides a platform for people affected by HIV.
It's tempting to superimpose America's recent rapid mobilization against COVID-19 over the relatively slow progress made against HIV/AIDS, but Fauci believes there is very little room for comparison.
"COVID-19 was an explosive respiratory outbreak that put everyone at risk just by being near someone who was breathing," he says. "It exploded throughout the world. HIV insidiously crept up on us." (Read about the latest developments in the quest for an HIV/AIDS vaccine.)
The differences between how HIV and COVID-19 were ultimately attacked by science highlight the unpredictable nature of virology.
"For HIV we have spectacularly effective therapies, but no vaccine," Fauci observes. "And with COVID-19, we have spectacularly good vaccines but no really good therapies."
For Fauci, nearly four decades as director of NIAID has involved overseeing responses to the likes of not only HIV and COVID-19, but also Ebola, swine flu, resurgences of measles and whooping cough, and SARS. Epidemics don't wait patiently in line; they can pop up any time, any place.
"That's the reason we have good surveillance systems," says Fauci, "so you don't miss something lurking under the radar screen."
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We got the chance to talk to Ballyhoo!'s lead singer/guitarist Howi Spangler. Ballyhoo! is an up and coming reggae band that brings "beach music" to a whole new level by adding pop-punk. They are currently on the Vans Warped Tour 2012.
Click here to read our interview with Howi.


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Touch Wood!
Submitted by Richa Prakash on Thu, 2016-05-05 05:00
Mankind's association with wood has been a long and varied one. As a pliable material with its beautiful textures and colors, wood has, over the centuries, lent itself to many uses: as weapons, building material, furniture, transport and as a material that could be carved into a beautiful object of use in daily life, something of artistic value that could last decades.
With huge forest cover at one time, and a large variety of trees, Indian artisans and craftsmen have made maximum use of wood over the years. The carved wooden doors of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the inlaid wood tables of Punjab and traditional wooden furniture with from nearly every region in the country immediately come to mind. In the modern world, wood is also extensively making an appearance in home decor products and accents, chosen for their aesthetics rather than utility.
Wood is a harmonious material, slipping into the existing scheme of your home without much fanfare, yet elevating its overall persona. And that is what makes it a material of choice for many design outfits that are experimenting vigorously with new forms and borrowing inspiration from far and wide.
Using Gamari and Lukath, two unusual types of tree-woods, New Delhi based Ethaan Design Studio draws on the rich culture of Nagaland, India, using prominent motifs like the Indian Hornbill – a bird that has immense significance to the people of Nagaland. Other motifs too, like the "Mithun Horn" used by Ethaan, are contemporary takes on traditional Naga patterns and designs and decorate items like trays, containers and butter dishes.
Objectry, a Gurgaon, India-based design studio relies on their own imagination to create minimalistic designs reflecting contemporary aesthetics and a high-utility quotient. Using pinewood, walnut and red oak, and simple wood-working techniques, they create products that add swathes of sophistication to a home's décor. From tissue boxes, platters and unusual designs for bowls, Objectry aims to craft products that show off the natural look of the wood and integrate the form with the material.
The Beehive, a New Delhi based research and design studio works with a wide variety of woods for making products like subtly elegant wooden accents and serve-ware. Beehive employs traditional wood decorating techniques like inlay work done by craftsmen from Mysore in Karnataka and Kanghi craft of Bijnour in Uttar Pradesh. The designs, inspired by nature and its lines, forms, colors, textures, appeal to an audience looking for contemporary, efficient designs.
At one time, it would have been more of a challenge to find a market for products like these; an audience with refined aesthetic has always existed, but either they visiting the region of a wood craft's origin or at an exposition, where they were able to purchase a wooden accent for their home. The retail revolution in India changed that at an accelerated speed and now a discerning customer not only has a wide variety of products to choose from but also the facility of making a purchase from anywhere on the planet.
With the increasing use of different types of wood, a new scenario is emerging: the motifs on a variety of woods like the well-known sheesham and teak to more uncommon choices that are etched by hand. Other techniques include wood burning and Kanghi craft, reviving the use of these traditional processes and becoming popular in a new urban milieu. The artisans and the designer, both are able to explore new avenues for their creativity and skills, while the consumer is able to acquire something that celebrates India's rich heritage of handmade crafts that varies between traditional and avant-garde but also completely Indian.
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Posted inShopping
New Store In Greenpoint – Alluvium Brings Us Uniquely Beautiful Objects
by Tony L October 23, 2013 October 23, 2013
(sponsored)
Alluvium House, located at 209 Franklin Street, on the corner of Freeman Street, is the new shop in Greenpoint that offers it's collection of vintage and antique furnishings, decorative art objects and ancient antiquities, with attention given to small and unusual gifts.
Though the store's inventory ranges in period from 2000 BC. to present, it doesn't limit itself to any specific period. Shop owner, Walter Baker, insists that he never wanted to have ' just another stodgy antique store '. Rather, he wanted to curate and offer a collection of uniquely beautiful objects that one would feel compelled to have for a very long time or that he would choose to decorate a specific interior.
On any given visit to Alluvium House, you'd find quite the diverse smattering. Some examples would be: An Eames Mid-Century Table, an Italian Post-Mod Floor Lamp, a Deco Gold Leather Chaise Lounge, an Egyptian Gilded Bronze Serpentine Bracelet, a pair of Chinese Minority Textile Embroidered Shoes, a 13th century Thai Bronze Buddha, a 1st Century AD. Roman Glass Jug, a Japanese Edo period Lacquer Jewelry Box or a Maison Jansen Etagere etc.
Check out some of Alluvium's uniquely beautiful objects:
Alluvium House is located at 209 Franklin Street
Store Hours: TUES-SAT 12-7PM 917-371-0448
Follow Alluvium on Instagram
Sponsored Post courtesy of Alluvium.
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Tagged: Alluvium, ancient, antiques, decorating, decorative art objects, franklin st, furnishings, Greenpoint, interior, interiors, new store, shopping, Vintage, Walter Baker
tempestentertainment – Tempest Entertainment was founded in 1990 with a staunch vision and commitment to cultural fusion and collaboration and has grown to become a multifaceted marketing and management company and producer of international private, public and corporate events, based in New York City and Salvador, Brazil. Concept programming has been a cornerstone of Tempest's work since its inception and through this creative and unique avenue, Tempest Entertainment has propelled the careers of some of the world's greatest musical luminaries including Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Gal Costa, Hugh Masekela, Gilberto Gil, Mercedes Sosa, Angelique Kidjo, NG La Banda, La India, Jorge Ben Jor, Eddie Palmieri, Ismael Lo, Maria Rita and Daniela Mercury. Tempest Entertainment's signature series, Expresiones Latinas TM, debuted at Lincoln Center in 1997 and marked its arrival as a premiere programming and media concept, and underlined a Tempest mission, "To create a forum where established, emerging artists, and audiences alike, have an opportunity to experience and appreciate the diversity found within Latin music". Expresiones Latinas has consistently wowed audiences and critics alike with its programming finesse and original talent. Our continued work with the most prominent performance arts centers and organizations in North America and abroad have distinguished us as first rate consultants, advisory board members and programming entity for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Out-of –Doors,,The Disney Corporation, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco Jazz, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, JVC Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Caixa Economica Federal, The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Lehman Brothers, and The CitiParks Foundation – presenter of Central Park's Summerstage. Tempest Entertainment ~ Brazil specializes in strategic planning and integrated management of entertainment investments through the production of concerts by renowned international pop acts, the sponsorship of special projects and promotions throughout Brazil. Tempest Entertainment ~ Brazil has as its partners the most successful and prominent advertising, marketing and event planners in the country.
lian says:
Walter has great taste. Nice addition to Gpoint.


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