Executive Committee and Council News
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Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held in Budapest on 27 and 29 August 2004, during the 22nd European Crystallographic Meeting.
| Member-Countries | Councillors or Proxies [] = not present p: = proxy | day(s) present | ||
| Dz | Algeria | Achoura Guehria Laidoudi | 27 | 29 |
| At | Austria | [Ekkehart Tillmanns] p:Herta Silvia Effenberger | 27 | 29 |
| Be | Belgium | Luc van Meervelt | 27 | 29 |
| Hr | Croatia | Boris Kamenar & Stanko Popovic | 27 | 29 |
| Cz | Czech+Slovakia | Jindrich Hasek | 27 | 29 |
| Dk | Denmark | [Robert Feidenhans'l] p: Sine Larsen | 27 | 29 |
| Eg | Egypt | Mostafa M. Radwan | 27 | 29 |
| Fi | Finland | Pekka Suortti & Merja Blomberg | 27 | 29 |
| Fr | France | Jean Louis Hodeau | 27 | 29 |
| De | Germany | Wolfgang Neumann | ---- | 29 |
| p: Wulf Depmeier | 27 | ---- | ||
| Gr | Greece | [Irene Mavridis] p: Nikos Pinotsis | 27 | 29 |
| Hu | Hungary: | Alajos Kalman | 27 | 29 |
| Il | Israel: | Joel Bernstein | ---- | 29 |
| It | Italy: | Paola Paoli | 27 | 29 |
| Ma | Morocco: | Abdelmalek Thalal | ---- | ---- |
| Nl | Netherlands: | [Sybolt Harkema] p: Ton Spek | ---- | ---- |
| No | Norway: | Carl Henrik Gorbitz | 27 | 29 |
| Pl | Poland: | Adam Pietraszko & Marek Glówka | 27 | 29 |
| Pt | Portugal: | [Ana Margarida Damas] Teresa Duarte | 27 | 29 |
| Su | Russia: | Svetlana Zheludeva | 27 | 29 |
| Yu | Serbia: | [Slobodanka Stankovic] | ---- | ---- |
| Si | Slovenia: | [Ivan Leban] | ---- | ---- |
| Za | South Africa: | Susan Bourne | 27 | 29 |
| Es | Spain: | Xavier Solans | 27 | 29 |
| Se | Sweden: | [Sven Lidin] p: Anders Liljas | 27 | 29 |
| Ch | Switzerland: | [Helen Stoeckli-Evans] p: Radovan Cerny | 27 | 29 |
| Tr | Turkey: | Yalcin Elerman & Engin Kendi | 27 | 29 |
| Uk | United Kingdom: | Christine Cardin | 27 | 29 |
| Ua | Ukraine: | Roman Gladyshevskii | 27 | 29 |
| Elected: | Giovanni Ferraris | 27 | 29 | |
| Elected: | [Elspeth Garman] p: Jane Endicott | 27 | ---- | |
| P: Colin Nave | ---- | 29 | ||
| Elected: | Hans Grimmer | 27 | 29 | |
| Elected: | Carlo Mealli | 27 | 29 | |
| Elected: | Paola Spadon | 27 | 29 | |
| Quorum count: Total: | 29 | 30 |
| IUCr: | Davide Viterbo | 27 | 29 |
| Belarus: | Alexander Lyakhov | 27 | 29 |
| Bulgaria: | Stanislav Ferdov | ---- | 29 |
| Moldova: | Yurii Simonov | 27 | 29 |
| Tunisia: | Mongi Debbabi | 27 | 29 |
| SIG.1 | Anders Liljas | 27 | 29 |
| SIG.2 | Heinz Graafsma | 27 | ---- |
| SIG.3 | Vaclav Petricek | 27 | 29 |
| SIG.4 | Ute Kolb | ---- | 29 |
| SIG.5 | Herta Silvia Effenberger | 27 | ---- |
| SIG.6 | John Helliwell | ---- | 29 |
| SIG.7 | Paola Gilli | 27 | ---- |
| SIG.9 | Ton Spek | ---- | ---- |
| SIG.10 | Mikail V. Kovalchuk | 27 | 29 |
| SIG.11 | Alain Polian | ---- | 29 |
| SIG.12 | Pamela Thomas | 27 | 29 |
| SIG.13 | Chick C. Wilson | 27 | 29 |
| ECM-21 | AndreasRoodt | 27 | 29 |
| ECM-22 |
Alajos Kalman
Petra Bombicz Laszlo Fabian |
27
27 27 |
29
29 29 |
| ECM-23 |
Luc van Meervelt
Harry Reynaers |
27
27 |
29
29 |
| President: | Hartmut Fuess | 27 | 29 |
| Vice-President: | Mariusz Jaskolski | 27 | 29 |
| Past-President: | Claude Lecomte | 27 | ---- |
| Secretary: | Giuseppe Filippini | 27 | 29 |
| Treasurer: | Teresa Duarte | 27 | 29 |
| Members: | Anders Liljas | 27 | 29 |
| Andreas Roodt | 27 | 29 | |
| Chick C. Wilson | 27 | 29 |
| Bill Duax | 27 | 29 |
| Rached Ben Hassen | ---- | 29 |
| Santiago Garcia-Granda | 27 | ---- |
| Enrique Gutierrez-Puebla | 27 | ---- |
| Frank van Meurs | ---- | 29 |
The proposed agenda, some reports, and additional information have been distributed by e-mail circulars (April 23: Agenda; June 1: SIG-3, -5, -6, -8, -9 reports; July 27: SIG-2, -10 reports; August 6: SIG-12 report). Enclosed with these minutes: Treasurer's, SIG-1, -4, -7, -11 reports.
Professor Hartmut Fuess, the ECA President, was in the chair.
1. Opening
1.1 Welcome to Council and Guests
The Chairman welcomed the Councillors, the observers and the guests.
He reminded the Councillors the sudden death of Professor Jacek Grochowski, the Vice-Chair of SIG-6 and one of the organizers of ECM20 in Krakow. The Council joined in a moment of silence.
1.2 Application for membership
The Secretary informed the Councillors that application from Algeria has been submitted according to our Statutes and By-Laws. The Chairman asked for approval. The Council unanimously approved with cheers.
Professor Mrs. Achoura Guehria Laidoudi was asked to take the seat as member of the Council. She expressed her thanks for the warm welcome, reported briefly on the Algerian Crystallographic Association and announced the next Algerian Crystallographic meeting in Constantine (2005).
The President introduced the observers and invited them to say a few words on the situation of crystallography in their Country. Drs Lyakhov (Belarus), Simonov (Moldova) and Prof Debbabi (Tunisia) reported briefly and thanked the EC and the Council for the opportunity of attending the ECM-22. Further contacts have been planned, with the presence of members of the EC at the national meetings.
Professor Gladishevskii expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the EC to encourage Ukraine to return into the ECA.
1.3 News and information from the Executive Committee.
1.3.1 Max Perutz ECA Prize
The President informed the Council that the Executive Committee decided to give the ECA Prize the name of Max Perutz. Perutz was born 1914 in Austria. He went to Cambridge in 1936 being fascinated by biochemistry and started to work with Bernal at the Cavendish on haemoglobin. In 1939 he became assistant of Sir Lawrence Bragg supported by different grants. After many years of hard work he was successful by introducing the isomorphous replacement method in the early fifties. Finally the structure of haemoglobin has been solved and Perutz became a Nobel laureate in 1962. His scientific perseverance, his pioneering work in one of the leading fields of crystallography and his personal life makes him an ideal patron for the prize of our association.
Professor Liljas, chair of the selection Committee, reported briefly on the procedures.
The European Crystallographic Association has awarded the Max Perutz Prize to Professor George Sheldrick of the University of Göttingen Germany. Professor Sheldrick is being recognised "for seminal contributions to the development of direct methods and for converting the theory into straightforward procedures for solving small and large crystal structures".
1.3.2 ECANEWS
The President thanked Prof. Davide M. Proserpio, the former webmaster, for his dedicated contribution in maintaining the site and introduced the new one, Prof. Massimo Nespolo. It has been stressed that every Country should have a responsible liaison in order to speed up the flow of information. As a start the Councillors themselves will act in this office. Links with the National and SIGs' websites will be implemented.
2.Former e-mail decisions
No decisions were taken by e-mail between the Council in Durban and the present one in Budapest.
3. Annual Reports by the Executive Committee (Aug. 2003 - 31 Dec. 2003)and preliminary progress reports (up to Aug. 2004)
3.1 Report by the President
Professor Fuess made a brief report on the main activities of the Executive Committee (EC) after the ECM-21 in Durban.
The EC met in Darmstadt on February 7/8, 2003. In between the meetings the members corresponded by e-mail.
The Executive Committee has decided to spent some money for the support of young scientists to attend International Meetings of Crystallography. Applications have to be addressed to the Vice-president.
Membership - The members of the EC used their personal relations to establish or reestablish contacts with countries in Central and Eastern Europe. They were partly successful.
Finances - The questions of collecting money from Individual Members has not yet been solved. Progress has, however, been made to obtain the contributions from National Members and Corporate Affiliate members.
ECA has arranged to have a contribution in the IUCr-Newsletter. The first two will be prepared by Professor Jaskolski, on the ECM-22 and the relationship with the former SU-Countries, and by Professor Roodt on the development of crystallography following the ECM-21.
Most of the special interest groups (SIG's) work well. Their representation in the program committee of ECMs has to be reconsidered. Relations with the powder community (EPDIC) will be further strengthened.
3.2 Report by the Secretary
Dr Filippini thanked the Councillors for many fruitful contacts during the previous year and pointed out some points which may be overcome only with the help of the Councillors.
Individual Members - It is very important to keep in contact with them, but some have left their positions, some have moved, some have decided not to continue to be a member: very few inform the Secretary of these events. Putting the load of organizing the flow of information on the National Councillors is somehow at odds with the spirit of the existence of the IM's, however we cannot have so many difficulties in updating the files and getting the fees. Suggestions are welcome!
Special Interest Groups - It is proper, after seven years of existence, to re-examine their terms of reference and decide about possible merging or the necessity of new ones. From this point of view, most are very keen to give answers, produce reports, while some are reluctant to collaborate.
National Members - The correspondence with the Councillors is always a point of honour for the Secretary. There is a sincere effort from the Executive Committee to increase the number of National members and it is very important the idea of having their representatives as observers, without the financial involvement which may prevent them from participate to the activities of our Association.
The more the Association is growing, the more the Secretary needs the help of everybody to keep the pace with the dissemination of the information.
3.3 Report(s) by the Treasurer
At the Treasurer's request, the Council agreed to postpone this item to the second session of the Council meeting.
4. Approval by the Council of the submitted accounts (re 3.3)
At the Treasurer's request, the Council agreed to postpone this item to the second session of the Council meeting.
5. Reports regarding SIG's
All the SIG's representatives were invited to say a few words of comment on their reports, whether already distributed or not.
5.1 SIG.1 Macromolecular Crystallography
Professor Liljas made a brief report, pointing out the contributions to ECM22. The full report is enclosed with the minutes.
5.2 SIG.2 Charge, Spin & Momentum Density
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.3 SIG.3 Aperiodic Crystallography
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.4 SIG.4 Electron Crystallography
This point is postponed to the second session of the Council meeting.
5.5 SIG.5 Mineralogical Crystallography
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.6 SIG.6 Instrumentation and Experimental Techniques (IET)
This point is postponed to the second session of the Council meeting.
5.7 SIG.7 Molecular Interaction and Recognition (MIR)
Dr Gilli made a brief report, pointing out the contributions to ECM22. The full report is enclosed with the minutes.
5.8 SIG.8 Powder Diffraction (SIGPD)
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
Dr Cerny reminded that the next meeting will take place in Geneva in 2006.
5.9 SIG.9 Crystallographic Computing (CCSIG)
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.10 SIG.10 Diffraction physics and optics
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.11 SIG.11 Extreme Conditions
This point is postponed to the second session of the Council meeting.
5.12 SIG.12 Material Science
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.13 SIG.13 Molecular Structures and Chemical Properties
Professor Wilson made a brief report, pointing out the contributions to ECM22. The full report will be sent as soon as possible.
5.x Further developments re SIG's
The President informed the Council on the decision taken by the EC to monitor the activities of the SIGs with the help of the EC members and on the necessity of having a proper homepage for each SIG.
=== Second session: 29 August ===
3.3 Report(s) by the Treasurer
Professor Duarte, reported on the budget, countersigned by the auditors - Professors M.A. Carrondo and S. Garcia-Granda. Sending on time annual invoices to the Councillors improved the payments. A few Countries haven't yet paid the national fees and the Councillors were invited to take the necessary steps to solve the situation. For the IM's, it has been suggested to sponsor a five-year fee and to introduce a National collector in order to simplify the procedure and save money. The situation of the budget is fine, and will even improve if the ECM's organizers will be willing to give some money to the ECA.
4. Approval by the Council of the submitted accounts (re 3.3)
4.1 Auditors for 2003
The Councillors approved the audited accounts for 2003 and, deciding to continue with the internal auditing, confirmed Professors Maria Armenia Carrondo and Santiago Garcia-Granda as auditors for the year 2004.
5. Reports regarding SIG's
5.4 SIG.4 Electron Crystallography
Dr Kolb reported on the Nato Summer School held in Erice last June, with some help from the SIG. The full report is enclosed with the minutes.
5.6 SIG.6 Instrumentation and Experimental Techniques (IET)
Professor Helliwell reminded the involvement of the SIG in many non-ECM directed activities.
The report has been e-mailed. No comments were put forward by the Councillors.
5.11 SIG.11 Extreme Conditions
Professor Polian made a brief report, pointing out the contributions to ECM22. The full report is enclosed with the minutes.
6. Reports regarding ECM's
6.0 Relationship between ECA and the ECM's
It seems to the Council that the relationships between the ECA and the ECM work properly: the presence of two members of the Executive Committee ensure both the scientific level and the continuity.
The President thanked Dr Frank van Meurs, of Bruker-Nonius, for taking care of the good relationships between the exhibitors and the ECM's organizers.
6.1 ECM-21 (2003) Durban
Professor Roodt submitted the financial report on the meeting. The main problem was the revaluation of the Rand over the euro and the US dollar by some 20%, which devaluated the contributions made by the IUCr and the ECA. It has however been succeeded in returning to the ECA account 13000 of the 20000 € lent.
500 participants registered to the ECM from 45 different Countries, additional 50 to the Neutron School and 100 to Indaba. Some 100 students were helped in different ways, from waiving of the registration fee to free accommodation to bursaries for travel and accommodation.
6.2 ECM-22 (2004) Budapest
Professor Kalman and Dr Bombicz gave a detailed report.
16 Keynote Lectures, 40 Microsymposia, with a total of 203 oral presentations, two Posters sessions, each lasting two days, with about 400 abstracts.
Registration and abstract submission were fully electronic. The internet corner consisted in 22 computers. One satellite (Mathematical and Symmetry Aspects) was held before the ECM. The exhibition attracted 30 firms for 4.5 days. Bursaries totalling 10000 € were awarded to some 95 participants.
The registered participants were more than 600, of which 150 students, plus 60 accompanying members.
The Council expressed its appreciation.
Professor Fuess agreed on the necessity of a "grey" period before and after the ECMs for sponsorship to concurrent meeting from the IUCr.
6.3 ECM-23 (2006) Leuven
Professor Van Meervelt gave more details on ECM-23 (2006) in Leuven.
The meeting will take place from Sunday 6 to Friday 11 August.
The website is at www.ecm23.be/.
6.4 ECM-24 (2007) Marrakech
Professor Thalal commented briefly the report emailed to the Councillors on August 6th, 2004. The meeting will take place from 26 to 31 August, 2007 at the Congress Center in Marrakech. The website is at www.ucam.ac.ma/fssm/ecm24/.
7. Preliminary information regarding ECM-25 (2009)
There are standing invitations from Darmstadt, Valencia, Edinburgh and Istanbul.
The Council decided that the Secretary will ask for a written letter of invitation at the beginning of Spring 2005. Later, the proponents will be asked to submit a detailed proposal. It is foreseen that decision may be taken in Florence for both ECM-25 and ECM-26 (2010).
8. The ECA : what to do - where to go
9. Any other business
The President thanked all the participants for the useful discussion.
10. Close
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Marrakech 2007
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Leuven 2006
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Florence 2005
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Durban 2003
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Geneva 2002
Minutes of the ECA
Council , Krakow 2001
