The Organization holds a general business meeting every four years, in conjunction with the World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress. So, in 2011 this will take place in Amsterdam, on 20th June.
Every member country can send up to three delegates to the meeting, all of whom must be physiotherapists/physical therapists and their attendance authorised by their national women’s health / pelvic group. Everyone who attends the meeting has the right to speak, but only one delegate per country can vote. In addition to the executive committee and delegates from member countries, observers may be invited to attend the meeting and, on occasions, speak.
The meeting is chaired by the President and in order to carry out Organization business, and vote on motions, there must be representation from at least half of our member countries. Motions are passed by a simple majority vote.
In order to prepare for the meeting, a call for motions and nominations to the executive committee is sent out six months in advance. An agenda is then prepared by the executive committee and sent to chief delegates two months before the meeting. This is to enable them to ask the view of their membership on important issues, which will then be debated around the table in June. Proceedings of the meeting are noted, and these minutes are published in the subsequent newsletter, freely accessible via the website.
As with all business meetings there is a degree of formality to the meeting, but the President and executive committee do try to keep the atmosphere as relaxed as possible, and encourage participation from everyone present. We appreciate that English is not the first language of the majority of our members which can make it a daunting experience for some.
Following the General Business Meeting the executive committee will meet again, to plan its actions and activities for the next four years.
For further information about the Organization you can access the Constitution at this link.
