FPA Board Meeting Minutes

On 2010

 

 

Minutes of the FPA Board Meeting

9th June 2010

 

In attendance:  Volkhard Windfuhr, Jacques Goditiabois, Paivi Arvonen, Kristina Bergmann, Ulises Canalz, Nadim Zuaui and Sayed Gouibal


Topics of discussion:

1)   Next FPA GA meeting 18 hrs 1st of July

2)  Next FPA board meeting 17 hrs 1st of July

3)  welcoming Mr    Sayyed  Goubial, new board member  replacing Mike Nelson

4) Libya visit, ask participants if agree to 2 more nights for ghadames and lakes

5) the FPA General assembly regular meeting on Thursday 1st of July 2010

6) Discussion an FPA visit to Cuba and Mexico in November

7) Continuing the production of calenders

8) Actvities after summer holidays (September) : Smart village, Wind farm and solar energy project,

9) New rule: Three board members volunteer to edit a report of all FPA trips in Egypt and broad

10) Round table discussion on Ghaza – find out the possible and ready invitees Palestinian embassy, Hamas and Ghaza speakers (Gobial), European embassy.

Coming board meeting on 1 st of Jul

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Board Meeting Minutes on Tuesday 30 March 2010  at 6: pm


In attendance at the 30 March 2010 board meeting were the following board members:  Volkhard Windfuhr, Mike Nelson, Paivi Arvonen, Denise Ammoun, Nadim Zuaui, Jacques Goditiabois


Items discussed:

1) Yemen trip agenda.  16  members expected to participate on trip that will take place from 9 April to 15 April

2) Qatar visit:  Proposed tentative date:  end of May/beginning of June with side trip to Bahrain

3) Salary increase for FPA staff of 20 percent was agreed upon to take affect 1 April and an automatic 10 percent yearly increase to be instigated at the beginning of each year.

4) The purchase of a photocopier (not to exceed 3,500 EGP) was approved

5) Vacant FPA office room and use as a charge-for-use facilitate for journalists was discussed.  Office staff will look into cost of furnishing the space with desks and other office necessities.

6) Letter to the Minister of Finance, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, asking to increase the monthly resident journalist duty free amount to 100 US$ was approved.


Regards,
Mike Nelson

FPA Vice Chairman

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FPA Board Meeting Wednesday March 3rd  2010

 

Attending Board members:

Paivi Arvonen, Kristina Bergmann, Doaa Al-Sherif, Volkhard Windfuhr, Jacques Goditiabois, Mike Nelson and Ulises Canales

 

We discussed the following topics:

 

1.- Yemen Trip. It's necessary the confirmation of FPA members interested in the trip, because all visa arrangements only can be done as a group, and before it we need coordinate a specific program, number of participant and other aspects. Mr Windfuhr assured that the Yemeni minister who invite us will give confirmation this Thursday (4th of March). Mike reminded that the trip must take place between 18-24 of  March. The previous Board meeting discussed the options of traveling by  Yemenia or Egypt Air, prices, hotels and the places to include in the tour: Sanaa, Aden, Hudaydah, Marib, Shibam and others.


2.- FPA board members commented the upcoming Arab summit in Libya, and the problems for journalists from countries of European Union who are banned to travel and enter there. Colleagues with double nationality with Arab passports maybe get easier authorization to travel and cover the summit.


3.- Colleague Doaa asked to all us answer her proposal of press  conference with Mr. Dhahi Khalfan, chief of Dubai´s Police, about the  murder of Islamist leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh. Without enough quorum, she can not fix day to Mr. Kahlfan travel to Cairo. We agreed that only active FPA members will be allowed to attend  this meeting. So, please, people who have not paid yet the year's  membership, try to do it as soon as possible.


4.- Finally, Ulises announced the visit of the chairman or president  of his company PRENSA LATINA, Francisco González. He will pay a visit  to Egypt as part of a tour to the region.   Ulises proposed a round table with FPA members to know more about  Prensa Latina, and discuss issues about media in Latin America, Cuba  and the World. This meeting will be in Tuesday 6 of April. Later we  will inform all you the time.

 

Signed: Ulises Canales

Cairo, 4th of March 2010.

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FPA Board Meeting Tuesday February 2nd 2010.


Attending Board members:

Paivi Arvonen, Kristina Bergmann, Denise Ammoun, Doaa Al-Sherif, Volkhard Windfuhr, Nadim Zuaui, Mike Nelson and Ulises Canales


We discussed the following topics:


1.- Mr. Windfuhr reminded  the upcoming events we have, such as the press conference with the Secretary General of OIC, Dr. Ihsanoglu, next Saturday February 6 at Marriott Hotel.   He also reminded the meeting with Mrs. Moshira Khatab, Minister of Population, next Tuesday at 12:00.


2.- Mr. Windfuhr also made an explanation about the next trip to Yemen, invited by Yemeni ministers of Information and Foreign Affairs, which will take place from 18 to 24 March. (5 nights). There are options to travel in Egypt Air or Yemenia Airways with a price around 1 700 LE both ways, and hotels between 45 to 70 usd.

There is a possibility to meet  President Abdullah Saleh or Prime Minister, and also travel around Sanaa and go to Aden, Hudaydah, Marib, Shibam, and other places. Colleague Mike suggested fix the tour to Aden at the end of the trip, to allow people interested to possibly travel to Socotra Island. The Board agreed that proposal.


3.- The Board voted against the proposal to change the current FPA card by buying the equipment to make it with more professional looking (laminated)

The issue of more professional looking FPA membership cards was discussed as FPA members have brought this to board members attention as well as the office staff. Instead of the laminated cards currently in use, a proposal was put forth to buy a machine (3,500 EGP) to produce non-laminated plastic identification cards similar to those used by most professional organizations.  The machine would be a one time cost and the id cards would be produced on the office premises. Currently it costs approximate 1,000 to 1,500 EGP annual in material for the current cards.  The proposition was not passed.


4.- Also, we agreed to propose the owner of the FPA flat sign a new contract for 3 years by 4 500 LE. She wanted to renew the contract rising the rent from current 3 500 LE to 4 200 LE, but only for one year after make a discount of 20 %.


5.- Finally, we discussed and voted a proposal of Mike about a work of USAID at the FPA premises, which was rejected.

Mike Nelson put forth a proposal by an FPA member and consultant for the Festival of Photography (which is being promoted by USAID Media Development Program) to host "An Evening of Photojournalism" by a world renown photographer who has been invited by the festival to present his work and talk of his experiences.  The event would take place at the FPA office and the Festival of Photography organizers would provide the projector and screen and possibly refreshments for the event.  The event would be open to all.  The proposal was not passed with the argument that FPA should not hold events on its premises in collaboration with other organizations.

Mr.Windfuhr argued that FPA should refrains from sharing its activities with other organizations in its premises.

Signed: Ulises Canales

Cairo, 2 February 2010.

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