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SECRETARY’S REPORT 2004–2005
THE ETRS
held a Board meeting in July 2004 during the World Union of Wound Healing
Societies meeting in Paris. The full minutes of that meeting have been
published in the ETRS Bulletin. The ETRS held a further Board meeting
in January 2005, largely to consider arrangements concerning the Stuttgart
Meeting.
ETRS Focus Groups occurred in Switzerland – organised by Prof. Alexis
Desmouliere in November 2004 and in Southampton – organised by Dr
Raj Mani in 2005. The ETRS continues to enjoy a close working relationship
with the Wound Healing Society in USA and is closely involved and has
been consulted through its appropriate representatives, about matters
relating to the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration.
Constitution of the Society
Following the appointment of various officers at the last Board and Annual
General Meeting, the current officers and Board of the European Tissue
Repair Society and their terms of office are outlined below.
ETRS Officers and Board from 15 September 2005
The Statues and Guiding Principles of the European Tissue Repair Society
state the following concerning the membership and status of the ETRS Board.
Membership and Status of ETRS Board
Terms
- Board
to consist of twelve voting members elected by members of the Society
normally for a term of five years. All Board members must be fully paid
up members of the Society.
- Normally
no more than two Board members from any one country should serve at
the same time.
- Board
to consist of approximately equal numbers of laboratory and clinical
researchers.
- Two
members of the Board should retire in rotation each year. This will
ensure opportunities both for new members to join and for members with
experience to serve at the same time.
- The
Board retains the right to co-opt additional members as appropriate
and as approved following a discussion at a formal Board meeting.
- The
Society is currently registered in Belgium so at least one Board Member
should be a Belgian citizen/ resident.
Officers
President
- To
be elected by the Board and serve for a 2 year term Past President
- To
follow that as President for a two-year term.
Secretary
- To
serve for a minimum period of three years.
Treasurer
- To
serve for a minimum period of three years.
Conference
President
- This
individual to serve for the year prior to hosting the Annual Meeting.
The previous arrangement of linking the conference organisation and
presidency of the Society will cease. Note: this individual is not required
to be a Board Member.
Working
Groups
- These
are to be set up and chaired by a member of the Board but consisting
of ordinary members of the Society.
Society
Registration
- Registration
of the Society and reporting to tax authorities in Belgium will continue,
but arrangements should be reviewed at least every five years.
Clearly
the numbers of individuals on the Board vary, especially when existing
Board members are appointed to become Officers of the Society, with a
consequent extension of their terms of office.
There are, therefore, two vacancies available immediately for the Board
of the ETRS. It is recommended that the membership is balloted for nominations
for these two vacancies immediately following the ETRS Annual Meeting
in Stuttgart. The Secretary and Business Office will make the appropriate
arrangements.
The proposed Board Election Cycle is as outlined on the attached piece
of paper with that heading. This will clearly need to be modified from
time to time with the election or reappointment of various officers.
Finally, it is noted that a number of officers, e.g., the
Secretary and Treasurer, have been in office for some time and it would
be healthy for the Society to replace them with new blood and additionally
to elect dynamic new individuals to its Board.
Specific attention is drawn to the fact that the Society is currently
registered in Belgium, so at least one Board member should be a Belgian
citizen/resident. This requirement is currently fulfilled admirably by
Dr Mieke Flour.
The Secretary has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with all officers
of the Society, with the ETRS Business Office and with the Board. I thank
them all for their helpful suggestions and constructive interactions.
Professor Mark W J Ferguson
12 September 2005 - Manchester
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