Minutes

27th General Assembly
23 and 27 May 2004 in Athens, Greece

Introduction

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Changes after the minutes have been distributed to the member associations:

• No changes

1. OPENING PROCEEDINGS

President Holger Magel opened the 27th General Assembly and welcomed the participants to the Working Week in Athens. Noted that several greetings and apologies were received from member associations, other members and Honorary Presidents Juha Talvitie and Peter Dale and Honorary Members John Curdie, Clifford Dann, Seppo Härmälä, Milan Klimes, Grahame Lindsay, Taichi Oshima, Ian Williamson and Jane Woolley, who were not able to attend the meeting.

2. ROLL CALL

Vice President Andreas Drees made the roll call.

Appendix to items 2 & 20: Roll Call.

51 member associations out of 91 were present at this session, which is more than one third of the membership needed for the General Assembly to be constitutionally valid.

During the roll call member associations were given voting papers for the election of Vice Presidents.

Motion: That present members are recorded in the minutes.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

3. APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS

Motion: The General Assembly shall appoint two persons as tellers following the principle adopted at the 22nd General Assembly so that the tellers will represent member associations hosting the preceding (Ordre des Géomètres-Experts, OGE / Association Française de Topographie, AFT) and the current General Assembly (Technical Chamber of Greece, TEE / Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers, HARSE). The French member associations have proposed Dr. Michel Kasser (May 23) and Dr. Michel Mayoud (27 May) and the Greek member associations Mr. George Tsoukalas (May 23) and Ms. Mina Stagianni (May 27) as tellers. That the General Assembly appoints Dr. Michel Kasser and Mr. George Tsoukalas (May 23) and Dr. Michel Mayoud (France) and Ms. Mina Stagianni (May 27) as tellers for the two sessions of this General Assembly.

Decision: The General Assembly resolved to appoint Dr. Michel Kasser (France) and Mr. George Tsoukalas (Greece) for 23 May and Dr. Michel Mayoud (France) and Ms. Mina Stagianni (Greece) for 27 May as tellers for the two sessions of this General Assembly.

4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Motion: That the agenda be adopted.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 26th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Minutes have been circulated previously.

Appendix to item 5: Minutes of the General Assembly in Paris April 2003

Minutes of the General Assembly in Paris April 2003 without appendices, .pdf-format.

Motion: That the minutes be adopted as recorded.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6. MEMBERSHIP

6.1 Acceptance of new members

6.1.1 Ordre des Géomètres-Experts Fonciers (Algeria)

Ordre des Géomètres-Experts Fonciers from Algeria has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG. The association has 378 members. The current member association from Algeria Association des Géomètres Algériens has been informed about the application. The Council has received information that the AGA has ceased to exist according to the national legislation in Algeria. The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets the criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.1: Membership application from the Ordre des Géomètres-Experts Fonciers.

Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Ordre des Géomètres-Experts Fonciers from Algeria as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.1.2 Association Nationale des Ingenieurs Géomètres-Experts Tunisiens (ANIGET)

The Association Nationale des Ingenieurs Géomètres-Experts Tunisiens (ANIGET) has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG. The association has 59 members. The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets the criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.2: Membership application from the Association Nationale des Ingenieurs Géomètres-Experts Tunisiens (ANIGET).

Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Association Nationale des Ingenieurs Géomètres-Experts Tunisiens (ANIGET) as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted. Mr. Ahmed Trigui, FIG representative of ANIGET addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the new member association and he was given the FIG membership certificate.

6.1.3 Unión Nacional de Arquitectos e Ingenieros de la Construcción de Cuba (UNAICC)

The Unión Nacional de Arquitectos e Ingenieros de la Construcción de Cuba (UNAICC) has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG. The association has 256 members. The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets the criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.3: Membership application from the Unión Nacional de Arquitectos e Ingenieros de la Construcción de Cuba (UNAICC).

Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Unión Nacional de Arquitectos e Ingenieros de la Construcción de Cuba (UNAICC) as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted. Ing. Yalexy Guerra Castellini, FIG representative of UNAICC, addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the new member association and invited FIG to organise its regional conference in 2005 in Cuba. Ing. Guerra Castellini was given the FIG membership certificate.

6.1.4 Ordre des Géomètres du Togo

Ordre des Géomètres du Togo has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG. The association has 16 qualified members and the association is constituted by a law. The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets the criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.4: Membership application from the Ordre des Géomètres du Togo

Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Ordre des Géomètres du Togo as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.2 Expungements

6.2.1 Expungements 2002-2003

The General Assembly decided in Paris in 2003 that following member associations would be expelled automatically if their membership fees were still in arrears 31 December 2003:

• Association des Géomètres Algériens, Algeria
• Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia, Indonesia
• Union of Surveying Engineers (Serbia and Montenegro), Serbia and Montenegro
• Union of Geodesy Societies of FYROM
• Licensed Surveyors Association in Palestine

The Council informs the General Assembly that the Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia and the Licensed Surveyors Association in Palestine (supported by the Arab Union of Surveyors) have paid their arrears and that the membership of these two associations has been restored. The Association des Géomètres Algériens has paid part of its arrears in 2003 and the membership was restored at that time. At the moment this association is again in arrears for more than three years.

That the General Assembly notes that the Union of Surveying Engineers (Serbia and Montenegro) and the Union of Geodesy Societies of FYROM have been expelled from the membership of FIG at the end of 2003. The General Assembly is, however, further informed that it is expected that the new Serbian association will take over the membership from the Union of Surveying Engineers before the General Assembly in Athens. That the Union of Surveying Engineers Serbia has taken over the membership of FIG and is now representing Serbia in FIG as a member association. The new member association has also taken care of the arrears of the former association.

Motion: That the General Assembly records that

• Union of Surveying Engineers (Serbia and Montenegro)
• Union of Geodesy Societies of FYROM

have been expelled from the membership of FIG at the end of 2003 and that the membership of Serbia and Montenegro has been restored after the Union of Surveying Engineers Serbia and Montenegro has taken over the membership and paid the arrears.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.2.2 Expungements 2004

The subscriptions of the following member associations are more than three years in arrears:

• Association des Géomètres Algériens, Algeria
• Professional Association of Real Estate Specialists and Surveyors – PARESS, Armenia
• Sociedad Colombiana de Topografos SCT (Colombian Society of Surveyors), Colombia
• Ukrainian Society of Surveying, Ukraine

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).

Motion: That the General Assembly expels the

• Association des Géomètres Algériens, Algeria
• Professional Association of Real Estate Specialists and Surveyors – PARESS, Armenia
• Sociedad Colombiana de Topografos SCT (Colombian Society of Surveyors), Colombia
• Ukrainian Society of Surveying, Ukraine

if their membership fees still are in arrears 31 December 2004.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.3 Other membership matters

The Council wants to inform the General Assembly on the following changes in the membership of FIG:

Member associations

The Council has recorded that the Dutch member association Nederlandse Vereiniging voor Geodesie, NVG has merged with other Dutch surveying and geomatics associations 1.1.2004 to Geo-informatie Nederland (GIN), which has about 3,500 members (about 600 in NVG). That the General Assembly records the change of the name of the Dutch member association in FIG.

Affiliates

The Council has admitted the following organisation to become an affiliate member of FIG:

• Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Corporate members

The Council has admitted the following companies to become a Corporate Member of FIG:

• Eimar Arabia Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. (membership category D)
• GEO:connexion Ltd (membership category E)

Terramapserver has resigned from FIG membership after it merged with Intergraph. Berntsen International Inc. has resigned from the FIG membership in January 2004.

SICAD has changed its name to AED-SICAD Aktiengesellschaft.

The Council has expelled MicroSurvey and SECO Manufacturing for unpaid subscriptions.

Academic members

The Council wants to inform the General Assembly that 8 new Academic Members have joined FIG after the General Assembly in Paris and that the number of academic members 10 May 2004 is 70 from 45 nations. The new academic members are:

• University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland
• University of Southern Mississippi, Marine Science, USA
• RMIT University, Department of Geospatial Science, Australia
• Arabian Gulf University, College of Graduate Studies, Desert and Arid Zone Sciences Program, Bahrain
• Institut de Geomàtica, Integrated Geodesy and Navigation, Castelldefels, Spain
• University of New South Wales, School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems, Australia
• University of Technology Jamaica, Division of Surveying and Geographic Information Sciences
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Engineering, Department of Geomatics Engineering

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council has taken with other membership matters.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

7. HONORARY MEMBER

The Association Française de Topographie (AFT), France has sent the Federation a nomination letter in which it proposes that FIG appoints Prof. Jean-Marie Becker, Chair of FIG Commission 5, 1998-2002 and Vice Chair (1994-1998) as an Honorary Member of the Federation. Prof. Becker has represented both French and Swedish surveyors in FIG. About his contributions can be mentioned:

• Member of FIG since 1972 through SLF and later AFT and Swedish national delegate to FIG Commission 5
• Vice chair (1994-98) and chair (1998-2002) of FIG Commission 5
• Participated to all FIG Congress from 1977 in Stockholm to Paris 2003
• Member and chairman of different Working Groups:
  • 1984-1998: chair of the instrumentation & calibration WG
  • 1988-1998: member of FIG WG6E on laser techniques and applications
• Organiser or co-organiser of several technical seminars as Copenhagen (1998), Gävle (1999), Strasbourg (1999), Malta (1999), Seoul (2001), Akranes (2001) and Hanoi (2002)
• Member of the Task Force on the FIG Secretariat (1994-1998)
• FIG Representative and Liaison at the ISO/TC172 SC6: Standards for geodetic and surveying instruments and ISO/TC 211 (1998-2002)
• FIG representative to IAG

According to the Statutes paragraph 3.1.7 an individual who has materially assisted the development and promotion of the surveying profession at the international level can be appointed as an honorary member. Nomination for this appointment shall be made by a member association or the Council, which will consider it and submit it to a vote of the General Assembly.

The Council has considered the proposal and decided to propose to the General Assembly that it appoints Prof. Jean-Marie Becker as an Honorary Member of the Federation for the outstanding services he has provided to the Federation as a Chair of Commission 5 and as a Chair and member of several working groups and task forces.

Appendix to item 7: The nomination letter from AFT.

Motion: That the General Assembly appoints Prof. Jean-Marie Becker an Honorary Member of FIG for the great services he has provided for the Federation.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

8. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The report of the President of the Federation includes a review on the activities of the Federation, the Council and the FIG office from April 2003 to May 2004.

Appendix to item 8: President's report.

Motion: That the General Assembly accepts the President’s report.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

9. REPORTS FROM CHAIRS OF COMMISSIONS

The Commission chairs have submitted their written reports on the Commission activities since the FIG Working Week in Paris. Their reports include progress reports of the working groups in each Commission. All Commissions as well as most of their Working Groups will have meetings during the Working Week. The Council proposes that the reports will be recorded as circulated without oral presentations. In the second session of the General Assembly on Thursday May 27, a slot has been allocated for discussion between the delegates and Commission chairs on topics of interest to all commissions.

Appendices to item 9:

• 9.1 Commission 1
• 9.2 Commission 2
• 9.3 Commission 3
• 9.4 Commission 4
• 9.5 Commission 5
• 9.6 Commission 6
• 9.7 Commission 7
• 9.8 Commission 8
• 9.9 Commission 9
• 9.10 Commission 10.

Motion: That the General Assembly

• adopts the written reports of the Commission chairs and records its thanks to the chairs and officers of the Commissions for their past year’s work;
• endorses following three new working group chairs:
  • Dan J. Schnurr (UK) to chair WG 5.4: Cost Effective Surveying Technology and Techniques for Developing Countries (joint WG Comm. 3, 5 & 7)
  • Prof Theo Kötter (Germany) to chair WG 8.4: Risk Management – Preventing Environmental Catastrophes by Spatial Planning and Land Management (joint WG Comm. 3, 5, 7 & 8) – and to include this new Working Group in Commission 8 work plan
  • Sara Wilkinson (RICS, UK) to chair WG 10.4: Standard, Research and Development in Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering and Project Management

Decision: The motion was adopted.

10. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS

Appendices to item 10:

• 10.1 Report from the International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF
• 10.2 Report from the FIG Multi-Lingual Dictionary Board
• 10.3 Report from the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement, Permanent Institution of FIG

Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the reports and records its thanks to the Directors for their past year’s work.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

11. REPORT OF UN ACTIVITIES

Appendix to item 11: Co-operation with the United Nations and Its Agencies April 2003–May 2004

Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report on the co-operation with the United Nations and its agencies and records its thanks to the UN Co-operation Network.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

12. LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

After the International Union for Surveys and Mapping (IUSM) was disbanded in 1999 the co-operation with traditional sister organisations has been based on bilateral agreements. Memoranda of understanding have now been signed with all former members of IUSM. The last of these is the MoU with the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB/IHO), which will be signed in Athens. A new body called the Joint Board of Spatial Information Societies has been established. Its main task is to coordinate the co-operation with the United Nations on geoinformation.

FIG has further bilateral agreements of co-operation with several other international associations like ICEC, IFHP, CIB and FIABCI. Some of the partners are also working together in the Habitat Professionals Forum.

FIG is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and working together with ISO and International Valuation Standards Committee (IVSC) on standards.

Appendices to item 12:

• 12.1: Report on the Co-operation with International Organisations
• 12.2: Memorandum of Understanding between FIG and IHB/IHO, signed copy

Motion: That the General Assembly confirms the report on the liaison with other international associations and endorses the MoU between IHB/IHO and FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

13. ELECTION OF TWO VICE PRESIDENTS FOR TERM OF OFFICE 2005-2008

According to the FIG Statutes, Internal Rules and the General Assembly decision on election of the Council members in the transition period, the General Assembly has to appoint two new Vice Presidents for the period 1.1.2005-31.12.2008. During the first two years these new Vice Presidents will be ad hoc members of the current Council.

Member associations have made five nominations for these two open posts during the nomination period. These nominations are:

• Ken Allred, CIG, Canada
• Hak Chan, HKIS, Hong Kong SAR, China
• Stig Enemark, DdL, Denmark
• Michel Mayoud, AFT, France
• George Papavassiliou, TEE, Greece.

The Nomination Review Group, appointed by the General Assembly in Paris, has made its evaluation of the candidates. The NRG is chaired by Mr. Robert Foster, Honorary President of FIG and its members are John Parker, Tom Kennie, Teo CheeHai and Sam Zhou.

Appendices to item 13:

• 13.1 Nomination letters and Curriculum Vitae of the nominated candidates:
  • Ken Allred, CIG, Canada
  • Hak Chan, HKIS, Hong Kong SAR, China
  • Stig Enemark, DdL, Denmark
  • Michel Mayoud, AFT, France
  • George Papavassiliou, TEE, Greece.
• 13.2 Summary report of the recommendations of the Nomination Review Group for Election of Vice Presidents for 2005-2008.

In its recommendation to the President the NRG has considered that all candidates are qualified but recommends that the General Assembly make the election between three candidates (Allred, Enemark and Mayoud). The member associations that have made the nominations have been informed about the recommendation of the NRG. According to the Internal Rule 9.5 the member association has to reconfirm its nomination, if its candidate is not among the proposed candidates. This should happen before or at the latest in the General Assembly:

Internal Rule 9.5: “The Council shall promulgate guidance notes for the NRG requiring it, inter alia, to review the nominations for president and vice-presidents and, in making its selection, to consider the candidates’ qualifications and ensure a balanced distribution of candidates as between different geographical regions and different surveying disciplines. The recommendation of the NRG, together with relevant information on the candidates, shall be circulated to members with the agenda and papers for the General Assembly which will be voting on the recommendation. If a nominee of a member association is not included in the recommendation of the NRG that member association has to reconfirm that its candidate remains a nominee and for which post(s) before or at the General Assembly.”

The discussion was opened by Mr. Robert W. Foster, Chair of the Nomination Review Group, who explained the terms of reference of the NRG and their recommendations. On behalf of the Technical Chamber of Greece Mr. George Papavassiliou expressed critical comments on the terms of reference of the NRG and proposed that the Council should consider whether any changes to the internal rules would be needed before the next elections in 2006. President Magel replied that these comments will be considered by the Council but at the moment we have limited experience how the system is working.

In the discussion President Magel asked the Technical Chamber of Greece if it would reconfirm the nomination of Mr. Papavassiliou as candidate for a Vice President. The Technical Chamber confirmed that Mr. Papavassiliou would not stand as a candidate for the election.

The four candidates were invited to make a short introduction of themselves and their agenda how to develop FIG, if they would be elected. Each candidate was be given 5 minutes to make his presentation.

The election was took then – after a coffee break – between following candidates:

• Ken Allred, CIG, Canada – recommended by the NRG
• Hak Chan, HKIS, Hong Kong SAR, China – nomination reconfirmed by the HKIS
• Stig Enemark, DdL, Denmark – recommended by the NRG
• Michel Mayoud, AFT, France – recommended by the NRG

The election followed the following procedure:

Election of the first Vice President

In the election of the first Vice President every member association has one vote to give to one of the 4 candidates. If one candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the given votes, he will be elected. If there is no majority in the first vote, a second vote will be carried between those two candidates that have got most votes in the first vote. The candidate with most votes will then be elected.

Election of the second Vice President

In the election of the second Vice President every member association has one vote to give to one of the remaining 3 candidates. If one candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the given votes, he will be elected. If there is no majority in the first vote, a second vote will be carried between those two candidates that have got most votes in the first vote. The candidate with most votes will then be elected.

Motion: That the General Assembly elects two Vice Presidents for the Federation for the term of office 1.1.2005-31.12.2008 following the election procedure described above.

Decision: In the first vote of the election of the first Vice President following results were recorded:
Prof. Stig Enermark (22 votes), Mr. Ken Allred (12 votes), Dr. Michel Mayoud (10 votes) and Mr. Hak Chan (7 votes). As there was no majority of the valid votes for any of the candidates, the second vote was taken between Prof. Enemark and Mr. Allred, who got the most votes in the first election. In the second vote Prof. Stig Enemark got 32 votes and Mr. Ken Allred 19 votes and thus Prof. Enemark was elected as the first Vice President.

In the election of the second Vice President the three candidates got the following votes: Mr. Ken Allred 27 votes, Dr. Michel Mayoud 17 votes and Mr. Hak Chan 7 votes. When Mr. Allred had received more than 50 per cent of the given 51 valid votes he was elected as the second Vice President.

The General Assembly elected Prof. Stig Enemark and Mr. Ken Allred as FIG Vice Presidents for term of office 1.1.2005-31.12.2008.

14. ELECTION OF COMMISSION CHAIRS ELECT 2004-2006 AND CHAIRS 2006-2010

According to the FIG Statutes and Internal Rules the General Assembly appoints Commission Chairs Elect two years prior the Congress. These Chairs Elect will then automatically become Chairs of the Commissions for the next term of office. Thus the General Assembly will appoint all Commission Chairs Elect for term of office 2004-2006 and these Chairs Elect will then become Commission Chairs from Congress 2006 to Congress 2010.

Member associations have made following nominations for the open posts during the nomination period:

The Commission Review Group appointed by the General Assembly in Paris has made its evaluation of the candidates. The CRG was chaired by Mr. Robert Foster, Honorary President of FIG and its members were John Parker, Tom Kennie, Teo CheeHai, Sam Zhou and as commission representatives Peter Laarakker, Robin McLaren and Vaclav Slaboch, appointed by ACCO.

Appendices to item 14 and 22:

• 14.1 Nomination letter and Curriculum Vitae for the candidate to Commission 8 chair for
         2004-2006
  • Diane Dumashie (RICS, UK)

         Nomination letters and Curriculum Vitae of the nominated candidates

  • Yaacoub Saade (Ordre des Geometres-Topographes du Liban)
  • Bela Markus (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
  • Chryssy Potsiou (Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers, Technical Chamber of Greece)
  • Robert Mahoney (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, UK)
  • Rudolf Staiger (DVW – Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen – Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement, Germany)
  • Alojz Kopacik (Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers of Sloval Republic)
  • András Osskó (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
  • Winfried Hawerk (DVW – Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen – Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement, Germany)
  • Spike Boydell (RICS UK), separate CV
  • Simon Adcock (The Institution of Surveyors, Australia)
  • Kauko Viitanen (Finnish Association of Surveyors MIL, Finland)
  • Andrew Morley (Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors ICES, UK)
• 14.2 Summary report of the recommendations of the Commission Review Group for Election of Commission Chairs Elect 2004-2006 and Chairs 2006-2010

In its recommendation to the President the CRG states that it has found that all candidates are suitably qualified for the position, have the support of their member associations, have been active in the commissions, are members of their respective Member Associations and are known and recognized in the profession and in FIG.

The General Assembly is informed that, because there were no candidates proposed for Commissions 4 and 6 the Council has together with the relevant Commission chairs searched for a candidate for these two Commissions. The proposal from the Council is:

• Commission 4: To be elected at the General Assembly in Cairo in 2005
• Commission 6: Alojz Kopacik (Slovak Republic)

At the first session of the General Assembly each candidate was given 3 minutes to introduce him/herself and his/her work plan if he/she will be elected. Mr. Jan Hardos made the presentation on behalf of Dr. Alojz Kopacik and Mr. Sakari Viertiö on behalf of Prof. Kauko Viitanen. Mr. Yaacoub Saade and Prof. Rudolf Staiger were not present in this session and their presentations were postponed to the second session of the General Assembly.

Before the election of the Chairs Elect and Commission Chairs for 2006-2010 the General Assembly has to appoint the new Chair to Commission 8 for 2004-2006 after Paul Lohmann resigned from this post in November 2003. The Council has decided to propose Diane Dumashie to be appointed as the chair to Commission 8 for 2004-2006 after the second candidate to this post has been withdrawn.

The elections for Commissions will take place in the second session of the General Assembly, 27 May 2004.

The election will take place in one election, in which all commission chairs are elected at the same time.

Motion: That the General Assembly appoints Diane Dumashie nominated by RICS, United Kingdom as the Chair to Commission 8 for term of office 2004-2006. That the General Assembly further records its thanks to Paul Lohmann for his chairmanship in Commission 8.

Decision: The motion was adopted. Diane Dumashie was presented with her badge with bronze oak leaves.

15. FIG DEFINITION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SURVEYOR

The FIG Definition of Surveyor was adopted by the General Assembly in 1991. After more than ten years the Council considered that it is time to review it so that it better reflects the changes in technology and society and also to consider whether any other changes will be needed. The revised version called “FIG Definition of the Functions of the Surveyor” has been prepared during the past year and comments have been sought from the member associations and other members. The revised version includes some changes that are based on the development in the surveying and geoinformatics profession. It further integrates better than earlier the basic sciences within our profession to research and professional practice.

By request of the RICS and ICES delegations some minor changes have been made to the language of the definition.

Appendix to item 15. FIG Definition of the Functions of the Surveyor

Motion: That the General Assembly endorses the FIG Definition of the Functions of the Surveyor as circulated.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

16. FIG INFORMATION POLICY

Based on the discussions with the member associations and at the President’s meeting during the recent years the Council has prepared a document on FIG Information Policy. The working group has been chaired by Vice President Bettina Petzold. The draft has been posted on the web site and comments from the member associations sought.

Appendix to item 16. FIG Information Policy with list of action

Motion: That the General Assembly endorses the FIG Information Policy as circulated. To be noted that there will be a round table meeting on this topic on Wednesday 26 May 11:00-12:00 at Commission 2 meeting room.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

17 FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2003 AND AUDITOR’S REPORT AND BUDGET FOR 2004 AND 2005

Vice President Ralf Schroth has prepared a financial report on the economic situation of the Federation. This report includes summary of the accounts for 2003, an updated budget for 2004 and proposal for budget 2005 with notes.

The Auditors Report includes the auditors report from 2003, official accounts (income statement 2003) and balance sheet 31 December 2003.

Appendices to item 17:

• 17.1 Financial Report – Accounts 2003 and Budgets 2004 and 2005
• 17.2 Auditor's Report, Income Statement for 2003 and Balance Sheet at 31 December 2003

Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the audited accounts for 2003 and budgets for 2004 and 2005.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

19 SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2006

The General Assembly is required to set the levels of fees for member associations two years in advance of the year in which they become payable. Fees are payable in respect of each individual member up to a maximum of 4,000 members; member associations with more than 4,000 members pay fees in accordance with a sliding scale. Fees for 2004 and 2005 are:

President’s Meeting, Thursday 27 May, 9:00– 11:00, VIP / Lamda

19. PRESIDENT'S MEETING

Almost 50 Presidents and leaders of the delegates attended the President’s Meeting in which co-operation between FIG and its member associations were discussed. Among the topics discussed were the FIG Information Policy Concept, need for a database of international experts and issues related to accepting public organisations as affiliate members (without voting rights). A separate memorandum of this meeting is circulated to the participants of the meeting and to the Presidents of member associations.

Second Session, Thursday 27 May, 11:00–13:50, Ballroom III

20 ROLL CALL

Vice President Andreas Drees made the roll call.

Appendix to items 2 & 20: Roll Call.

48 member associations out of 91 were present at this session, which is more than one third of the membership needed for the General Assembly to be constitutionally valid. Totally 55 member associations attended the General Assembly in Athens.

During the roll call member associations were given voting papers for the election of Commission Chair Elect and Chairs 2006-2010.

Motion: That present members are recorded in the minutes.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

21 MEMBERSHIP

Member associations

The Colegio de Ingenieros Topógrafos de Costa Rica whose representatives attended the General Assembly for the first time was given the FIG membership certificate. Ing. Juan Manuel Castro Alfaro, President of the CFIA and MA Luis Fernando Ramírez Arguedas, Secretary General of CFIA addressed the General Assembly on behalf of CFIA.

Affiliates

The Council has admitted the following organisations to become an affiliate member of FIG:

• Patrimonial Documentation Administration, Belgium
• Földemérési és Távérzékelési Intézet (FÖMI), Hungary

Academic members

The Council wants to inform the General Assembly that one new Academic Member have joined FIG after the first session of the General Assembly and that the number of academic members is now 71 from 45 nations. The new academic member is:

• Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council has taken with other membership matters.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

22 ELECTION OF COMMISSION CHAIRS ELECT 2004-2006 AND CHAIRS 2006-2010

Candidates for the Commission Chairs Elect for term of office 2004-2006 and for Chairs 2006-2010 have been introduced in the first session of the General Assembly. At this session Mr. Yaacoub Saade and Prof. Rudolf Staiger made their 3 minute presentations.

Candidates for Commission Chair Elect 2004-2006 and Chairs for 2006-2010 are:

Appendices to item 14 and 22:

• 22.1 Nomination letters and Curriculum Vitae of the nominated candidates
  • Yaacoub Saade (Ordre des Geometres-Topographes du Liban)
  • Bela Markus (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
  • Chryssy Potsiou (Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers, Technical Chamber of Greece)
  • Robert Mahoney (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, UK)
  • Rudolf Staiger (DVW – Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen – Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement, Germany)
  • Alojz Kopacik (Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers of Slovak Republic)
  • András Osskó (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
  • Winfried Hawerk (DVW – Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen – Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement, Germany)
  • Spike Boydell (RICS UK), separate CV
  • Simon Adcock (The Institution of Surveyors, Australia)
  • Kauko Viitanen (Finnish Association of Surveyors MIL, Finland)
  • Andrew Morley (Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors ICES, UK)
• 22.2 Summary report of the recommendations of the Commission Review Group for Election of Commission Chairs Elect 2004-2006 and Chairs 2006-2010

The election will take place in one election, in which all commission chairs are elected at the same time.

Motion: That the General Assembly elects the Commission Chairs Elect for 2004-2006 and Chairs for 2006-2010.

Decision: The election of Chairs Elect for 2004-2006 and Chairs for 2006-2010 following votes were recorded in those Commissions in which there were more than one candidate: Commission 3: Dr. Chryssy Potsiou 41 votes and Mr. Robert Mahoney 6 votes; Commission 7: Mr. András Osskó 24 votes and Dr. Winfried Hawerk 22 votes (1 vote was rejected); and Commission 9: Prof. Kauko Viitanen 25 votes and Mr. Simon Adcock 22 votes.

The General Assembly elected the following Commission Chairs Elect 2004-2006 and Chairs 2006-2010:

• Commission 1: Yaacoub Saade (Ordre des Geometres-Topographes du Liban)
• Commission 2: Bela Markus (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
• Commission 3: Chryssy Potsiou (Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers, Technical Chamber of Greece)
• Commission 5: Rudolf Staiger (DVW – Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen – Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement, Germany)
• Commission 6: Alojz Kopacik (Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers of Slovak Republic)
• Commission 7: András Osskó (Magyar Földméresi, Térképészeti és Távérzkelési Társaság, Hungary)
• Commission 8: Spike Boydell (RICS, UK)
• Commission 9: Kauko Viitanen (Finnish Association of Surveyors MIL, Finland)
• Commission 10: Andrew Morley (Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors ICES, UK).

The General Assembly will elect the Chair Elect and Chair of Commission 4 at its meeting in Cairo in 2005.

23 REPORT FROM ACCO

The Advisory Committee of Commission Officers (ACCO) has met on 22 May 2005. Vice President Andreas Drees, Chair of ACCO made an oral presentation of the results of the ACCO meeting.

The General Assembly is informed that 30 minutes will be served for a podium discussion between the Commission Chairs and the delegates under this item. The goal of this discussion is to exchange experiences on the role of Commissions in FIG and other topics that are of joint interest to all Commissions.

Appendix to item 23: Report from the ACCO meetings and link to Surveyors Reference Library (SRL)

Motion: That the General Assembly actively participates in the discussion on the role of commissions and that it further confirms the report and its recommendations and records its thanks to ACCO for its past year’s work.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

24 REGIONAL REPORTS

As started in 2003 the Council has decided to activate the role of member associations at the General Assembly by encouraging the exchange of experiences between member associations and regions. Therefore, the Council has decided to ask reports from regional groups or representatives to address the problems and latest achievements in the regions.

The Council has invited reports from followed groups and regions:

• The Francophone Group, Dr. Michel Mayoud, Spokesman of GFF
• The Arab Union of Surveyors, Dr. Sarkis Fadous, President of the Arab Union of Surveyors, to be given by Yaacoub Saade
• Africa, Alick Mwanza, Surveyors Institute of Zambia
• Latin America, Ing. Juan Manuel Castro Alfaro, President of the Colegio de Ingenieros Topógrafos, Costa Rica, to be given by MA Luis Fernando Ramírez Arguedas, Secretary General of CFIA
• Asia and the Pacific, Vice President T.N. Wong (Hong Kong SAR, China)

Appendices to item 24:

• 24.1 Groupe Francophone de la FIG (GFF)
• 24.2 The Arab Union of Surveyors
• 24.3 Africa
• 24.4 Latin America
• 24.5 Asia and the Pacific

Motion: That the General Assembly records the discussion and the reports.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

25. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION

Appendix to item 25.1: Report of the FIG Foundation 2003
Appendix to item 25.2: Additional report of the FIG Foundation.

Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report of the President of the FIG Foundation.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

26. REPORTS OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE 2004, WORKING WEEK 2005, CONGRESS 2006 AND WORKING WEEKS 2007 AND 2008

The hosts of the FIG Regional Conference 2004 (Indonesia), Working Week 2005 (Egypt), Congress 2006 (Germany) and Working Weeks 2007 (Hong Kong SAR, China) and Stockholm 2008 have been asked to make brief reports on the preparations for their respective events.

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the reports.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

27. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

President Holger Magel presented at the closing ceremony certificates of appreciation to members of the local organising committee of the Working Week 2004 and other persons that had actively participated in the arrangements of the successful conference. Special thanks were recorded to Mr. George Papavassiliou, Chair of the Organizing Committee and the two Vice Chairs of the LOC, Mr. Polychronis Akriditis and Mr. Gerasimos Apostolatos and Dr. Chryssy Potsiou, Secretary General of the LOC and to the two host associations, the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers.

28. CLOSING PROCEEDINGS

The President formally closed the 27th General Assembly of FIG.

At the closing ceremony the FIG banner was handed over by Mr. George Papavassiliou, Chair of the Organising Committee of FIG 2004 to Eng. M. Hisham Nasr, Chair of the Organising Committee of FIG Working Week 2005 in Cairo.

Data supplied by the FIG Office. 

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this data is accurate errors might exist. Requests for updates and corrections should be emailed to the FIG Office.

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