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EUROPEAN MICROSCOPY SOCIETY (EMS)

 
MINUTES  
 

 

of the General Assembly of the EUROPEAN MICROSCOPY SOCIETY (EMS)

during the 5th MCEM, Lecce, Italy

held in lecture hall D12 of the Ecotekne building D of the University of Lecce, Lecce, Italy on Monday September 24th 2001, 19.30 hrs.

The following members of the EMS Executive Board were present: J.L. Carrascosa (President, Spain), P. Hawkes (Past-President, France), E. Wisse (Secretary, Belgium), members: L. Frank (Czech Republic), R. Sperling (Israel), M. Vittori Antisari (Italy).

Agenda of the meeting:

  1. The EMS membership situation
  2. Planning of scientific activities, workshops and specialized meetings
  3. EMS-extensions in 2002 and 2003
  4. EMC 2004 in Israel
  5. Finances
  6. The yearbook
  7. e.communication
  8. The EMS logo
  9. Any other business

The General Assembly is chaired by J.L Carrascosa, President of EMS, the minutes are written by E. Wisse, Secretary of EMS. The agenda is accepted as proposed.

  1. The EMS membership situation. The president reports that at present seven societies have adopted en-bloc membership of EMS and have payed the fee of 5 Euro per member.This makes a total of 1,561 members and a total income of Euro 7,805. The en-bloc membership concerns the microscopy societies of Greece (60 members), Spain (160), Belgium (122), The Netherlands (498), Czech Republic (139), Israel (213), France (369). An additional seven societies have decided for en-bloc or partial en-bloc membership, i.e. the microscopy societies of Croatia, EMAG-UK, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Their members will bring the total membership of EMS to 2,500 or more. Decisions are awaited from Austria, Germany, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia and Switzerland. No contact has as yet been established with Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania. Apart from en-bloc membership, a procedure for individual membership application will be installed soon and be presented at the EMS web site and the Yearbook 2002.

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  2. Planning of scientific activities, workshops and specialized meetings. The president presents an overview of actions and initiatives that will soon start up.

    • Peter Hawkes (past President) edited an EMS Yearbook with the help of ERI publishers and printers in the Paris region. It should be noted that this Yearbook and its distribution are financed wholly by advertizing revenue. The Yearbook has been sent to thousands of addresses of microscopists all over Europe. Corrections to the addresses have been received together with suggestions for further improvement.

    • The Constitution and By Laws have been written and distributed by the secretary Eddie Wisse. After the collection of comments and additions, a final version has been published in the Yearbook and on the web site, and has been sent by email to all those who have send comments, remarks and constructive criticism. The General Assembly at Brno agreed that this version will govern the society until EMC 2004, where it will be subject to final approval and/or amendments.

    • The President informs the audience about his initiative with the European Science Foundation. A first initiative is the inquiry about financial support for workshops on topical issues within the field of microscopy. Other initiatives concern "Scientific Forward Looks" and contacts with Standing Committees of the EEC.

    • The President has attended workshops on:
      1. Protein structure and function in the post genome era (document obtainable from < mminkowski@esf.org >
      2. Fine Analysis of Matter Expert Group (see: < http://www.icmm.csic.es/fameg >)
      3. FEI Leaders Forum Microscopy 2001

    • Apart from these activities, EMS very much wishes to be involved in the promotion of topical workshops in the field of microscopy. We are seeking the cooperation of active colleagues to organize this type of activity, which EMS wants to support. The education and training of technicians and scientists in specialized techniques is another subject for active support by the EMS.

    • It is the intention to launch soon a printed EMS newsletter. The plan is to distribute this newsletter with one of the 'practical' microscopy journals with a large scale distribution, such as Microscopy and Analysis. The information in the newsletter will also be available on the web site and will also be communicated to the members by email. EMS Members without internet access will thus receive EMS information through this channel.

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  3. EMS-extensions in 2002 and 2003. The Executive Board wishes to establish yearly European extensions to multinational microscopy meetings. The 5th MCEM in Lecce was the first congress to be selected for European Extension. The 2002 European Extension has been granted to the multinational meeting in Lille, France (organized by the societies of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland). The Executive Board wishes to support such meetings and to make an agreement (contract) with the organizers. At each yearly European Extension, an EMS General Assembly will be held. The Executive Board hopes that, by attracting members from throughout Europe to multi-national congresses, the extensions will improve scientific communication between EMS members. A yearly General Assembly is needed to give the EMS a legal status.

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  4. EMC 2004 in Israel. The chairman of the Israeli Organizing Committee, Ruth Sperling, described the present state of the organization of EMC 2004 in Israel. The scientific Advisory Board, the congress organizer (Kenes International) the congress centre, the date (August 22-27) and a preliminary budget, have all been fixed. There has been no contact with industry regarding the exhibition of equipment so far.

    All parties agree that it would be impossible to have the EMC in Jerusalem in the present situation. On the other hand, nobody is able to predict the development and therefore the following points were accepted by all attendees:

    1. The venue of EMC 2004 is Jerusalem, according to the agreement signed at Brno 2000.

    2. In January 2002, the Executive Board of EMS will, if the international and Israelian situation warrants this, consider the possibilities of a change of venue.

    3. If, in April 2002 the international and Israeli/Palestinian situation is thought to inhibit a successful EMC in Jerusalem, the Executive Board of EMS will take a decision to select a new venue. This decision will be based on an assessment of the situation in April 2002.

    4. At the IFSEM-Durban meeting (September 1 - 6, 2002), EMS will distribute a first circular with complete information on EMC 2004, whether in Jerusalem or elsewhere. This brochure will contain information about the program and the venue.

    5. If the Executive Board of EMS decides to transfer the congress to a new venue, the Israeli Organizing Committee is willing to collaborate with the new organizers and make available all material concerning the congress. Kenes international, contracted by the Israeli Committee, offers to transfer all services to any new venue. Kenes likewise offers to organize future EMC's. In the meantime, the Israeli Organizing Committee will proceed with the organization of EMC 2004.

    6. All parties agreed that the success of the meeting, i.e. the scientific communication between a large population of (European) microscopists, prevails over all other considerations.

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  5. Finances. Thanks to several contributions, EMS is proud to have a budget. The assets are as follows (in Euro):

    Savings of EMS  1986-2000 1,447.06
    EUREM 2000 - EMS 01.01.01 8,617.73
    Greek Society 27.03.01 301.50
    Spanish Society 19.04.01 796.50
    Belgian Society 14.05.01 611.50
    Dutch Society 16.05.01 2,490.00
    Czech Slovak Republic 29.06.01 695.00
    Israel Society 13.07.01 1,065.00
    French Society 13.07.01 1,846.19
    Total  17,869.95

    The financial assets have increased from 1,447.06 EURO in 2000 to 17,869.95 Euro in 2001. Owing to the start of activities, the expenses will start rising in 2002. The Treasurer has prepared a first working budget.

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  6. The Yearbook. The new Yearbook will be produced in the spring of 2002. Towards the end of 2001, the editor Peter Hawkes will start production of the manuscript and will collect additions, corrections etc. for the new book. The EMS- supported lectures, presented at the 5th MCEM in Lecce will be printed in the new Yearbook.

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  7. e.Communication. The secretary reports that a new website is in operation: < http://www.eurmicsoc.org >.
    Email can be send to and from this website. The E-mail address is: < ems@eurmicsoc.org >. EMS intends to have all communications in electronic format. The annual membership fee of 5 Euro does not allow traditional paper surface mail.

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  8. EMS logo. Two designs of a logo are available. A third proposal might be received soon. A logo is urgently needed, because of the arising of EMS activities. A decision about the logo has to be taken soon.

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  9. Since no further business is raised, the meeting is closed by the President

E. Wisse, Brussels, October 15th, 2001

 

 
 
 
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