Message from the Outgoing President

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT ISGE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

PATTAYA BEACH THAILAND 22-24 MARCH 2009

I welcome you all to the Annual Scientific Meeting of the ISGE. It is not so long since some of us have been together in Mexico, in particular the new president and myself.

It has been a good year for the ISGE with successful meetings and old debts settled (India and UK).

At this stage Mexico has not been resolved but I have had contact with Yves LeRoy and hopefully we will have more to report in the not too distant future. The meeting in Mexico was successful and it really reflected a personal journey for Yves LeRoy in the twilight of his career. It was a credit to all the Mexicans involved.

The lack of interplay between local societies and the ISGE Conference Committee is an issue, which must be addressed more closely in the future by the ISGE Committee personnel.

The Treasury has reported a positive result for 2008-2009, which will be addressed in the treasurer’s report. I wish to acknowledge the enormous contribution that Ray Valle has made to the ISGE over twelve years and would like suggestions as to how we can honour him in some way e.g. honorary chair at the forthcoming meeting in Brazil.

I am very indebted on behalf of the ISGE to the excellent job done by Lydia Lacey (Secretariat) in finally getting the ISGE house in order. We have been through eight years of turmoil and it appears now that most housekeeping issues i.e. membership lists, website updated etc are being addressed successfully and at a very reasonable cost in terms of international currency.

I am pleased that our affiliated societies program is progressing satisfactorily and now with APAGE, the IAGE and the Chinese society affiliated to the ISGE we have more than half the world population covered. I am, however very disappointed that some societies have not even responded to our offer, not the least of whom include the Italian Society, home of our next president. I hope that Stefano Bettocchi will have a very positive influence on the Italian Society, which will result in a positive response.

I do think that it is time that the Society offers free registration to all invited speakers at its conferences. For this meeting following considerable complaints from some of our members I have instructed the Thai Organizing Committee to give free registration to all speakers but I have also said that the cost of this exercise can come off the bottom line of monies due to ISGE. Future arrangements of course will be discussed at a later date and will depend of course on the thoughts of the current executive.

I have instigated that the position of Honorary Chair at this meeting be Jack Sciarra, the past president of the ISGE as the inaugural incumbent. I would like to think that future executives would continue this concept in line with many other national societies around the world.

I am pleased with how this meeting is shaping up. I am told that there are more than four hundred delegates. As you all know the meeting was severely threatened before Christmas and but for the efforts of Lip Kee Yap, Robert O’Shea and myself probably would not have proceeded.

There was considerable grumbling from some members at this particular time and it highlighted the importance for us as a community to work together to make the society more successful. I have tried in my time as President to be inclusive and have shared my thoughts through the e-mail with you all, sometimes good and sometimes not so good. I think that open governance is a much better concept than a secretive approach. It is surprising how much work is involved in the President’s position and I hope the incoming President will be well supported by an active vice-president.

My advice to the new president is to keep all lines of communication open at all times with his ex-co and his Board. I am very grateful for those of you who have corresponded freely with me via the telephone and the e-mail during my time as president. I hope that the executive and the board continue to have very active input as this society is entering a new phase in its development.

I will step down at the end of this meeting but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the new Presidential team of Stefano Bettocchi and his Vice President Charles (Chuck) Miller. I wish them well in their endeavours for the ISGE and I am looking forward to taking more of a back seat.

Thank you and goodbye.

PETER MAHER

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Message from the Outgoing President

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