FPA-Foreign Press Association's

General Assembly Minutes 2008

FPA General Assembly Meeting

Tuesday, 10 June, 2008

Board Members in attendance: Kees Hulsman, Mohammed Khalil, Rafael Bikbaev, Jacques Goditiabois, Denise Ammoun, Mike Nelson and new board member Paivi Arvonen

Total regular members have the right of voting at the General Assembly was 151 members

Present were: 13 voting members and 4 proxies

According to the NGO constitution, in case we didn’t reach the neccessary quorum there is a delay for one hour, before proceeding can continue. So the board delayed the meeting for one hour from 6:00 pm to 7 PM. In the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, Secretary General Kees Hulsman and board member Mohammed Khalil opened the General Assembly.

Agenda:

A- Discussion of Financial Report

1) Clarification on advertising revenues which comes not only from the Directory but also FPA calendar

2) Clarification on revenue from e-mail services to FPA which are paid for announcements posted by private organizations

3) Clarification on FPA air travel certificate revenues which are flights discounts on airline tickets that are purchased by FPA members

4) Clarification about owed customer which is money owed to the FPA for services rendered (usually advertising) which were never paid.  They are carried over ever year as profits need to be accounted for.

5) 2007 Financial Report was put to a vote and approved.

Board member Kees Hulsman put a motion to the General Assembly to vote on giving the FPA Board the authority to decide on whether or not to replace our current accountant Mustafa Abaza. The motion was passed.

Board member Mohammed Khalil introduced our newest board member Paivi Arvonen who had graciously accepted to become a board member.  She was next in line in number of votes from the previous Board Member rotation election.

She replaces long time board member Khaled Omar who has apparently returned to Yemen.  After several months absence from board meetings and several months of attempting to contact him, it was decided to replace him because he was unable to attend and participate in board meetings.

Mohammed Khalil also encouraged members to reach out to sponsors to help finance FPA activities and operations.

Mohammed Khalil also proposed making the FPA office a press club where food and drinks would be served and appealed to members to contribute their ideas.

B- Activities Report discussion

1) Questions about Suez Canal FPA trips in July and December.  Concern and disappointment that such trips promise an interesting visit to the canal and boat excursion into the canal which has not been the case in proceeding visits.  Explanations were given that contrary to what was promised by the Suez Canal Port Authority they canceled the boat trip on numerous occasions citing such reasons as it is too hot or problem finding a boat or security.  Popularity and interest in such trips has diminished significantly due to such problems.

2) Libya trip inquiry.  Still a possibility but may need to wait until after Ramadan

3) The Activity Report was voted on an approved.

Lively discussion ensued on how to make the FPA more relevant to members and how to attract members to participate in activities.

Following discussions an excellent buffet prepared by FPA office staff member Mona Habib was offered.